Changes: Tautology (short story)

Revision as of 02:45, 27 June 2019

Tautology

Main character(s):

Marius, K9 Mark I, K9 Mark III

Main setting:

Earth and Bi-Al Foundation, 12-27 May 4997

Key crew

Writer:

Glenn Langford

Release details

*Brief Encounter*
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Toy	In the Community

Tautology was a Brief Encounter short story published in Doctor Who Magazine 194.

Summary

Professor Marius writes in his computer diary that he has been posted to a station close to the space lanes, and anticipates being bored there. He acquires an old computer from his niece's fiancé. Strangely, although it is from the 20th century, its technology is far in advance of that time. However, due to shuttle weight restrictions he is forced to not only have it scrapped, but also to leave behind his dog Toby. He keeps the computer's motherboard and Toby's dog tag as mementos. At the station, he befriends an electronic specialist who helps him construct a new computer based on the motherboard and sketches Marius drew. The professor plans to name it after the old computer: K9.

Characters

References

Frank is a descendant of Sarah Jane Smith.
Marius uses a couple of tautologies in his diary, for which he chides himself.
Frank inherited K9 from his mother.

Notes

"Memento" is misspelled "momento" in this story.
This story reveals that K9's existence is the result of an ontological paradox, as Marius gets the inspiration to construct K9 Mark I from his examination of K9 Mark III, who was himself constructed or obtained by the Doctor after meeting K9 Mark I.
Professor Marius appeared in the television story The Invisible Enemy, in which his dog (who went unnamed) was mentioned.
K9 Mark III first appeared in the television story A Girl's Best Friend.
This story was later contradicted by the television story School Reunion, in which K9 Mark III was destroyed and replaced by a fourth model.
Marius' dog and the creation of K9 were given a different background in the short story One Man and His Dog.

Continuity

to be added

External links

Tautology at the Doctor Who Reference Guide

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{title dab away}}
 {{real world}}
+{{Infobox Story
-{{TitleShortStory}}
+|image          = Tautology.jpg
-{{Infobox Short Story|
+|series         = ''[[Brief Encounter]]''
-name=Tautology|
+|main character = [[Frederick Marius|Marius]], [[K9 Mark I]], [[K9 Mark III]]
-image=Tautology.jpg|
+|setting        = [[Earth]] and [[Bi-Al Foundation]], [[12 May|12]]-[[27 May]] [[4997]]
-series=[[Brief Encounter]]|
+|writer         = [[Glenn Langford]]
-doctor= |
+|publication    = [[DWM 194]]
-companions= |
+|release date   = [[26 November (releases)|26 November]] [[1992 (releases)|1992]]
-main character=[[Marius]], [[K9 Mark I]], [[K9 Mark III]]|
+|cover date     = [[23 December (releases)|23 December]] [[1992 (releases)|1992]]
-year=|
+|prev           = Toy (short story)
-writer=[[Glenn Langford]]|
+|next           = In the Community (short story)
-publication=[[DWM 194]]|
+}}
-prev=Toy (short story)|
+'''''Tautology''''' was a ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' short story published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 194|194]].
-next=In the Community (short story)|
-|}}
-'''''Tautology''''' was a ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' short story published in the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''.
 == Summary ==
+[[Professor]] [[Frederick Marius|Marius]] writes in his [[computer]] [[diary]] that he has been posted to a [[Bi-Al Foundation|station]] close to the space lanes, and anticipates being bored there. He acquires an [[K9 Mark III|old computer]] from his niece's [[fiancé]]. Strangely, although it is from the [[20th century]], its technology is far in advance of that time. However, due to [[shuttle]] weight restrictions he is forced to not only have it scrapped, but also to leave behind his dog Toby. He keeps the computer's motherboard and Toby's dog tag as mementos. At the station, he befriends an electronic specialist who helps him construct a new computer based on the motherboard and sketches Marius drew. The professor plans to name it after the old computer: [[K9 Mark I|K9]].
-''to be added''
 == Characters ==
-* Professor [[Marius]]
+* [[Frederick Marius]]
 * [[K9 Mark I]]
 * [[K9 Mark III]]
-* [[Gloria (Tautology)|Gloria]], the Professor's niece
+* [[Gloria (Tautology)|Gloria]]
+* [[Frank (Tautology)|Frank]]
-* [[Gloria's fiancé]] (unnamed)
+* [[Moore (Tautology)|Moore]]
+* [[Toby (Tautology)|Toby]]
 == References ==
+* Frank is a descendant of [[Sarah Jane Smith]].
-''to be added''
+* Marius uses a couple of [[tautology|tautologies]] in his diary, for which he chides himself.
+* Frank inherited K9 from his [[Frank's mother (Tautology)|mother]].
 == Notes ==
+* "Memento" is misspelled "momento" in this story.
-* Gloria's unnamed fiancé is a descendant of [[Sarah Jane Smith]], and [[K9 Mark III]] has been in his family for generations.
+* This story reveals that K9's existence is the result of an [[bootstrap paradox|ontological paradox]], as Marius gets the inspiration to construct K9 Mark I from his examination of K9 Mark III, who was himself constructed or obtained by the Doctor after meeting K9 Mark I.
-* Professor [[Marius]]'s dog is called [[Toby (Tautology)|Toby]], but as the Professor is travelling to [[Titan]], he has to put Toby in a dog home.
+* Professor Marius appeared in the television story ''[[The Invisible Enemy]]'', in which his dog (who went unnamed) was mentioned.
+* K9 Mark III first appeared in the television story ''[[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)|A Girl's Best Friend]]''.
+* This story was later contradicted by the television story ''[[School Reunion]]'', in which K9 Mark III was destroyed and replaced by a fourth model.
+* Marius' dog and the creation of K9 were given a different background in the short story ''[[One Man and His Dog (short story)|One Man and His Dog]]''.
 == Continuity ==
+''to be added''
-* The destruction of K9 Mark III in [[TV]]: ''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]'' means that the events of this story can now no longer be considered "canon".
-== External Links ==
+== External links ==
-* {{dwrefguide|brief.htm#dwm194|Tautology}}
+{{dwrefguide|brief.htm#dwm194|Tautology}}
-{{prose stub}}
+{{BE}}
 {{TitleSort}}
 [[Category:BE stories]]
 [[Category:Brief Encounter stories]]
 [[Category:Doctor Who short stories]]
-[[Category:Stories released in 1992]]
+[[Category:1992 short stories]]
 [[Category:K9 short stories]]
+[[Category:Stories set in 4997]]
+[[Category:Short stories set on Earth]]

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