Faction Paradox
Encyclopedia
Faction Paradox is a fictional time travel
ling cult
/rebel
group/organized crime
syndicate, originally created by the author Lawrence Miles
. The Faction's belief-system as portrayed has some similarities to voodoo, and is sometimes described as such. The family/organization were originally featured as recurring antagonists in the BBC
Doctor Who
Eighth Doctor Adventures
novels, but have since featured in their own continuing tales. Although the Faction Paradox stories outside of the BBC Books share situations and characters in common with the Doctor Who universe, the two continuities are presented as similar but distinct.
set-up, in several cases with names changed or obscured for reasons literary (most of the groups or items mentioned are described in rather different terms with a different emphasis on certain aspects) and legal (the Faction and The Enemy are Miles's creations, but other elements are not — thus the Great Houses are the new series' equivalent to Doctor Whos Time Lord
s). Faction Paradox themselves are not the Enemy, and play a relatively small, neutral part in the War, willing to act against both sides in their own interests. Lawrence Miles has described them as "a ritualistic time-travelling guerrilla organisation".
The semi-mythical founder of Faction Paradox is Grandfather Paradox, named after the grandfather paradox
of time travel theory. Originally a member of the Great Houses himself, the Grandfather created a new group after he became frustrated with the ways of the Great Houses. Faction Paradox therefore takes a good deal of pleasure in irritating the Great Houses, and many of their traditions and rituals are aligned in direct opposition to the way the Great Houses do things. Their time machines are bigger on the inside, in much the same way as TARDISes are, and the titles its members use such as 'Cousin' reference family units which the Great Houses have lost since they became sterile. In the BBC novel The Ancestor Cell
, it is indicated that Grandfather Paradox may be an alternate future form of the Doctor
, but this book is explicitly not part of the independent Faction Paradox canon
. This BBC-only version of the Grandfather is followed up in The Gallifrey Chronicles
by Lance Parkin
which states that Grandfather Paradox is everyone's possible future self, and according to Gallifrey
an myth, he was a Time Lord
who acted out the grandfather paradox.
Faction Paradox also take a perverse pride in causing time paradoxes (something that is against the laws of the Great Houses) and achieving impossible or absurd effects for their own sake. For instance, they typically wear ritual skull masks which are in fact the skulls of creatures that, in the Great Houses' version of history, never existed. Their stronghold on Earth exists in a version of London, within what they call "The Eleven-Day Empire", bought from the British government in 1752. In that year, the British Empire
first adopted the Gregorian calendar
, and in so doing had to correct their dating scheme by 11 days (2 September 1752 being followed by 14 September 1752). Faction Paradox claimed the missing 11 days as their base (even though, logically, only the numbering scheme changed and no days were actually "missing").
, a series of Doctor Who
novels published by BBC Books
featuring the Eighth Doctor
(as portrayed by Paul McGann
on television and in audio dramas). The most relevant books to the Faction Paradox Universe are:
. These novels roam the ongoing War in Heaven; the Faction and its members are sometimes featured only as minor characters. The books have also featured characters from the Doctor Who novels, including Chris Cwej
and Compassion
. Mad Norwegian's final book in the series, Erasing Sherlock
, was published in December 2006.
After 'The Book of the War,' five 'Faction Paradox' novels were produced:
, publishers of the Iris Wildthyme
short story anthologies, announced that it had also acquired a license to produce collections of Faction Paradox short stories, to be edited by Stuart Douglas and Lawrence Miles.
This Virgin New Adventures
novel contains the earliest (though only a passing) reference to the Faction, at least in the form of its founder Grandfather Paradox.
Originally published by Virgin Publishing in 1999 as something of a standalone part of their Virgin New Adventures
line, Mad Norwegian Press later republished this novel, which features several characters and concepts connected to the Faction Paradox universe.
between 2001 and 2004. All were written by Lawrence Miles. These stories centred around two Cousins of the Faction, Justine and Eliza. (Justine features in the BBC
novel Alien Bodies
and Eliza is implied to be the character Christine Summerfield from Dead Romance
.) The first two stories were set in the Eleven-Day Empire, the second two in 18th Century London, and the last two split between Cousin Justine's past before joining the Faction, and the Great Houses' prison facility (analogous to Shada
, the Time Lords' prison planet from the unfinished Doctor Who serial). Although there were six releases and an ongoing story, each pair (usually released close together) formed a two-part story. In order they were:
In 2004 Magic Bullet Productions
, known for their Kaldor City
audio dramas, obtained the license to produce further Faction Paradox audios, dubbed The True History of Faction Paradox. The narrative of this series continued from the BBV releases, although the first CD was also written to be accessible to newcomers. Like the BBV audios, these stories focused on Cousin Justine and Cousin Eliza, but the characters were recast.
The dramas in the series, released between 2005 and 2009, have featured guest stars including Julian Glover
, Peter Miles
, Philip Madoc
and Gabriel Woolf
. Woolf plays the ancient Egyptian god Sutekh
, whom he had previously played as a Doctor Who villain in the 1975 story Pyramids of Mars
. The six titles are:
. The series was subsequently cancelled. The comic was written by Lawrence Miles
with art from Jim Calafiore
, and inks by Peter Palmiotti. It was set after the events of the War in Heaven, although due to its short run it did not give much detail on the post-War universe.
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
ling cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
/rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
group/organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
syndicate, originally created by the author Lawrence Miles
Lawrence Miles
Lawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
. The Faction's belief-system as portrayed has some similarities to voodoo, and is sometimes described as such. The family/organization were originally featured as recurring antagonists in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
Eighth Doctor Adventures
Eighth Doctor Adventures
The Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall...
novels, but have since featured in their own continuing tales. Although the Faction Paradox stories outside of the BBC Books share situations and characters in common with the Doctor Who universe, the two continuities are presented as similar but distinct.
Overview
The Faction Paradox universe is centered around the "War in Heaven", a history-spanning conflict between the "Great Houses" and the "Enemy". Originally a subplot in the Eighth Doctor Adventures, the War features characters and concepts evolved from the original Doctor WhoDoctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
set-up, in several cases with names changed or obscured for reasons literary (most of the groups or items mentioned are described in rather different terms with a different emphasis on certain aspects) and legal (the Faction and The Enemy are Miles's creations, but other elements are not — thus the Great Houses are the new series' equivalent to Doctor Whos Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
s). Faction Paradox themselves are not the Enemy, and play a relatively small, neutral part in the War, willing to act against both sides in their own interests. Lawrence Miles has described them as "a ritualistic time-travelling guerrilla organisation".
The semi-mythical founder of Faction Paradox is Grandfather Paradox, named after the grandfather paradox
Grandfather paradox
The grandfather paradox is a proposed paradox of time travel first described by the science fiction writer René Barjavel in his 1943 book Le Voyageur Imprudent . The paradox is this: suppose a man traveled back in time and killed his biological grandfather before the latter met the traveler's...
of time travel theory. Originally a member of the Great Houses himself, the Grandfather created a new group after he became frustrated with the ways of the Great Houses. Faction Paradox therefore takes a good deal of pleasure in irritating the Great Houses, and many of their traditions and rituals are aligned in direct opposition to the way the Great Houses do things. Their time machines are bigger on the inside, in much the same way as TARDISes are, and the titles its members use such as 'Cousin' reference family units which the Great Houses have lost since they became sterile. In the BBC novel The Ancestor Cell
The Ancestor Cell
The Ancestor Cell is a novel by Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, based on the science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner, Compassion and Romana III- as well as a brief appearance of the Third Doctor in a ghost-like state due to the Faction's...
, it is indicated that Grandfather Paradox may be an alternate future form of the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
, but this book is explicitly not part of the independent Faction Paradox canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
. This BBC-only version of the Grandfather is followed up in The Gallifrey Chronicles
The Gallifrey Chronicles (2005 novel)
For the John Peel book of the same name, see: The Gallifrey Chronicles The Gallifrey Chronicles is a BBC Books original novel written by Lance Parkin and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
by Lance Parkin
Lance Parkin
Lance Parkin is a British author, best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular Doctor Who and Emmerdale...
which states that Grandfather Paradox is everyone's possible future self, and according to Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
an myth, he was a Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
who acted out the grandfather paradox.
Faction Paradox also take a perverse pride in causing time paradoxes (something that is against the laws of the Great Houses) and achieving impossible or absurd effects for their own sake. For instance, they typically wear ritual skull masks which are in fact the skulls of creatures that, in the Great Houses' version of history, never existed. Their stronghold on Earth exists in a version of London, within what they call "The Eleven-Day Empire", bought from the British government in 1752. In that year, the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
first adopted the Gregorian calendar
Calendar (New Style) Act 1750
The Calendar Act 1750 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain...
, and in so doing had to correct their dating scheme by 11 days (2 September 1752 being followed by 14 September 1752). Faction Paradox claimed the missing 11 days as their base (even though, logically, only the numbering scheme changed and no days were actually "missing").
Doctor Who (BBC Books)
Faction Paradox debuted and appeared repeatedly in the Eighth Doctor AdventuresEighth Doctor Adventures
The Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall...
, a series of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
novels published by BBC Books
BBC Books
BBC Books is an imprint majority owned and managed by Random House. The minority shareholder is BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation...
featuring the Eighth Doctor
Eighth Doctor
The Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
(as portrayed by Paul McGann
Paul McGann
Paul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
on television and in audio dramas). The most relevant books to the Faction Paradox Universe are:
- Alien BodiesAlien BodiesAlien Bodies is an original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor and Sam. This story marks the first appearance of Faction Paradox, a time travelling Gallifreyan voodoo cult...
— Lawrence MilesLawrence MilesLawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
(1997) - Unnatural HistoryUnnatural History (Doctor Who)Unnatural History is an original novel written by Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Jonathan BlumJonathan BlumJonathan Blum is an American writer most known for his work for various Doctor Who spin-offs, usually with his wife Kate Orman although he has also been published on his own...
and Kate OrmanKate OrmanKate Orman is an Australian author, best known for her books connected to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who.-Biography:...
(1999) - Interference: Book One (Shock Tactic)Interference: Book OneInterference: Book One is an original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Lawrence Miles (1999) - Interference: Book Two (The Hour of the Geek)Interference: Book TwoInterference: Book Two is an original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Lawrence Miles (1999) - The Taking of Planet 5The Taking of Planet 5The Taking of Planet 5 is a BBC Books original novel written by Simon Bucher-Jones & Mark Clapham and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz and Compassion. It is, in part, a sequel to the television serial Image of the...
— Simon Bucher Jones and Mark ClaphamMark ClaphamMark Clapham is a British author, best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular Doctor Who in his book : Who's Next....
(1999) - The Shadows of AvalonThe Shadows of AvalonThe Shadows of Avalon is a BBC Books original novel written by Paul Cornell and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Paul CornellPaul CornellPaul Cornell is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield....
(2000) - The Ancestor CellThe Ancestor CellThe Ancestor Cell is a novel by Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, based on the science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner, Compassion and Romana III- as well as a brief appearance of the Third Doctor in a ghost-like state due to the Faction's...
— Stephen ColeStephen Cole (writer)Stephen Cole is an author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing...
and Peter AnghelidesPeter AnghelidesPeter Anghelides is an English author and dramatist best known for his work on various spin-offs related to the BBC television series Doctor Who.-Work:...
(2000). (Lawrence Miles has stated that the events of The Ancestor Cell will be ignored in all of the Faction Paradox spin-offs.) - The Adventuress of Henrietta StreetThe Adventuress of Henrietta StreetThe Adventuress of Henrietta Street is a BBC Books original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz and Anji....
— Lawrence MilesLawrence MilesLawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
(2001). (The book does not feature the Faction, but introduces the character of SabbathSabbath (Doctor Who)Sabbath is the name of a recurring villain from the Eighth Doctor Adventures — spin-off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. The character was created by Lawrence Miles and first appeared in The Adventuress of Henrietta Street...
who subsequently made appearances in the Faction Paradox audio adventures.) - The Gallifrey ChroniclesThe Gallifrey Chronicles (2005 novel)For the John Peel book of the same name, see: The Gallifrey Chronicles The Gallifrey Chronicles is a BBC Books original novel written by Lance Parkin and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
- Lance ParkinLance ParkinLance Parkin is a British author, best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular Doctor Who and Emmerdale...
(2005). This is not part of the Faction Paradox story arc, but further explores the destruction of GallifreyGallifreyGallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
and Grandfather Paradox.
Faction Paradox (Mad Norwegian Press)
In 2002 the Faction started appearing in a series of books of their own, published by Mad Norwegian PressMad Norwegian Press
Mad Norwegian Press is an American publisher of science-fiction guides and novels. The company has worked with authors such as Peter David, Harlan Ellison, Robert Shearman, Lance Parkin, Elizabeth Bear, Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGuire, Jody Lynn Nye, Catherynne M...
. These novels roam the ongoing War in Heaven; the Faction and its members are sometimes featured only as minor characters. The books have also featured characters from the Doctor Who novels, including Chris Cwej
Chris Cwej
Christopher Rodonanté Cwej, usually just known as Chris Cwej, is a fictional character from the Virgin New Adventures range of spin-offs based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who...
and Compassion
Compassion (Doctor Who)
Compassion is a fictional character in the Eighth Doctor Adventures novels based upon the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Compassion was originally from a people known as the Remote, a splinter group of the time travelling voodoo cult Faction Paradox...
. Mad Norwegian's final book in the series, Erasing Sherlock
Erasing Sherlock
Erasing Sherlock is an original novel by Kelly Hale set in the Faction Paradox universe.It is the last Faction Paradox novel to be published by Mad Norwegian Press, though not the last in the series...
, was published in December 2006.
- The Book of the WarThe Book of the WarThe Book of the War is a hypertext multi-author novel presented in the form of an encyclopedia of the first 50 years of the War in the Faction Paradox universe based on the Doctor Who universe. The book was edited by Lawrence Miles, and written by Miles, Simon Bucher-Jones, Daniel O'Mahony, Ian...
— Lawrence Miles et al. (2002)
After 'The Book of the War,' five 'Faction Paradox' novels were produced:
- This Town Will Never Let Us GoThis Town Will Never Let Us GoThis Town Will Never Let Us Go is an original novel by Lawrence Miles set in the Faction Paradox universe.Although taking place in a shared universe, it is a stand-alone work that does not require any prior knowledge and features no recurring characters...
— Lawrence Miles (2003) - Of the City of the Saved...Of the City of the Saved...Of the City of the Saved... is an original novel by Philip Purser-Hallard set in the Faction Paradox universe. Laura Tobin, who first appeared in the BBC Doctor Who books, is a major character in the novel....
— Philip Purser-HallardPhilip Purser-HallardPhilip Purser-Hallard is an author and scholar whose interests in science fiction and religion have been expressed both in fiction and non-fiction....
(2004) - Warlords of UtopiaWarlords of UtopiaWarlords of Utopia is an original novel by Lance Parkin set in the Faction Paradox universe. It has been described as 'possibly [Parkin's] finest accomplishment to date'....
— Lance ParkinLance ParkinLance Parkin is a British author, best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular Doctor Who and Emmerdale...
(2004) - Warring StatesWarring States (novel)Warring States is an original novel by Mags L Halliday set in the Faction Paradox universe. It has been described as 'another resounding success for the Faction Paradox line' -Plot introduction:...
— Mags L HallidayMags L HallidayLiz Halliday is an author who writes under the name Mags L Halliday in Doctor Who-series of science fiction. She is distinct from the writer Liz Holliday, who has also contributed to Doctor Who-related science fiction....
(2005) - Erasing SherlockErasing SherlockErasing Sherlock is an original novel by Kelly Hale set in the Faction Paradox universe.It is the last Faction Paradox novel to be published by Mad Norwegian Press, though not the last in the series...
— Kelly HaleKelly HaleKelly Hale is an American author. Her first novel was the e-book Erasing Sherlock Holmes, which mixed Sherlock Holmes with a time-travel plot. Her next novel, co-written with Simon Bucher-Jones, was the BBC Doctor Who novel Grimm Reality...
(2006)
Faction Paradox (Random Static)
In 2007, New Zealand-based publishers Random Static announced they would be publishing further Faction Paradox novels. The first title of the new range was published in January 2008.- Newtons SleepNewtons SleepNewtons Sleep is an original novel by Daniel O'Mahony set in the Faction Paradox universe. .It is the first Faction Paradox novel to be published by Random Static, and was launched on the 12th of January 2008. Although taking place in a shared universe, it is a stand-alone work that does not...
— Daniel O'MahonyDaniel O'MahonyDaniel O'Mahony is a half-British half-Irish author, born in Croydon. He is the oldest of five children, his siblings including Eoin O'Mahony of the band Hamfatter, and Madeleine O'Mahony, who has designed and made hats for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.-Biography:O'Mahony's first professionally...
(2008)
Faction Paradox (Obverse Books)
In June 2010 Obverse BooksObverse Books
Obverse Books is a British publisher, best known for publishing books relating to the character Iris Wildthyme. The imprint was founded by Stuart Douglas in 2008 to provide an outlet for adult-oriented fiction relating to Doctor Who,...
, publishers of the Iris Wildthyme
Iris Wildthyme
Iris Wildthyme is a fictional character created by writer Paul Magrs, who has appeared in short stories, novels and audio dramas from numerous publishers...
short story anthologies, announced that it had also acquired a license to produce collections of Faction Paradox short stories, to be edited by Stuart Douglas and Lawrence Miles.
- A Romance in Twelve PartsA Romance in Twelve PartsA Romance in Twelve Parts is a short story anthology edited by Lawrence Miles and Stuart Douglas, published by Obverse Books in May 2011, featuring the voodoo-style time-travelling cult Faction Paradox....
(May 2011)
Other
- Christmas on a Rational PlanetChristmas on a Rational PlanetChristmas on a Rational Planet is an original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Lawrence Miles
This Virgin New Adventures
Virgin New Adventures
The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
novel contains the earliest (though only a passing) reference to the Faction, at least in the form of its founder Grandfather Paradox.
- Dead RomanceDead RomanceDead Romance is an original novel by Lawrence Miles, originally published as part of the Virgin New Adventures series. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
— Lawrence MilesLawrence MilesLawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
Originally published by Virgin Publishing in 1999 as something of a standalone part of their Virgin New Adventures
Virgin New Adventures
The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
line, Mad Norwegian Press later republished this novel, which features several characters and concepts connected to the Faction Paradox universe.
Audio
A series of full-cast audio dramas dubbed The Faction Paradox Protocols was produced by BBVBBV
BBV is a video and audio production company specialising in science fiction drama, known for its links with the British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
between 2001 and 2004. All were written by Lawrence Miles. These stories centred around two Cousins of the Faction, Justine and Eliza. (Justine features in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
novel Alien Bodies
Alien Bodies
Alien Bodies is an original novel written by Lawrence Miles and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor and Sam. This story marks the first appearance of Faction Paradox, a time travelling Gallifreyan voodoo cult...
and Eliza is implied to be the character Christine Summerfield from Dead Romance
Dead Romance
Dead Romance is an original novel by Lawrence Miles, originally published as part of the Virgin New Adventures series. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
.) The first two stories were set in the Eleven-Day Empire, the second two in 18th Century London, and the last two split between Cousin Justine's past before joining the Faction, and the Great Houses' prison facility (analogous to Shada
Shada
Shada is an unaired serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was intended to be the final serial of the 1979-80 season , but was never completed due to a strike at the BBC during filming...
, the Time Lords' prison planet from the unfinished Doctor Who serial). Although there were six releases and an ongoing story, each pair (usually released close together) formed a two-part story. In order they were:
- The Eleven-Day Empire
- The Shadow Play
- Sabbath Dei
- In the Year of the Cat
- Movers
- A Labyrinth of Histories
In 2004 Magic Bullet Productions
Magic Bullet Productions
Magic Bullet Productions is an independent audio-production company formed in 2000 by Alan Stevens, focusing on Doctor Who and Blake's 7 spinoff audios...
, known for their Kaldor City
Kaldor City
Kaldor City is a human city of the future on an unspecified alien world, created by Chris Boucher for the Doctor Who serial The Robots of Death broadcast in 1977, and reused in his Past Doctor Adventure Corpse Marker in 1999...
audio dramas, obtained the license to produce further Faction Paradox audios, dubbed The True History of Faction Paradox. The narrative of this series continued from the BBV releases, although the first CD was also written to be accessible to newcomers. Like the BBV audios, these stories focused on Cousin Justine and Cousin Eliza, but the characters were recast.
The dramas in the series, released between 2005 and 2009, have featured guest stars including Julian Glover
Julian Glover
Julian Wyatt Glover is a British actor best known for such roles as General Maximilian Veers in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the Bond villain Aristotle Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only, and Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.-Personal life:Glover was born in...
, Peter Miles
Peter Miles
Peter Miles is a British actor. He has played many television roles including several different characters in Z-Cars and Doctor Who. His other television work has included Survivors, The Sweeney, Dixon of Dock Green, Moonbase 3, Poldark and Bergerac.In the science fiction series Blake's 7 he played...
, Philip Madoc
Philip Madoc
Philip Madoc is a Welsh actor who has had many television and film roles.One prominent role was the title character in the BBC Wales drama The Life and Times of David Lloyd George...
and Gabriel Woolf
Gabriel Woolf
Gabriel Woolf is an English film and television actor.-Career:His roles include Sir Percival in the 1953 film,Knights of the Round Table and Sutekh in the 1975 Doctor Who serial Pyramids of Mars....
. Woolf plays the ancient Egyptian god Sutekh
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
, whom he had previously played as a Doctor Who villain in the 1975 story Pyramids of Mars
Pyramids of Mars
Pyramids of Mars is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 25 October to 15 November 1975.-Synopsis:...
. The six titles are:
- Coming To Dust
- The Ship of a Billion Years
- Body Politic
- Words from Nine Divinities
- Ozymandias
- The Judgment of Sutekh
Comics
In 2003, the first two issues of a Faction Paradox comic were produced by Mad Norwegian and published by Image ComicsImage Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
. The series was subsequently cancelled. The comic was written by Lawrence Miles
Lawrence Miles
Lawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
with art from Jim Calafiore
Jim Calafiore
Jim Calafiore is an American comic book penciller and inker, known for his work on Marvel Comics Exiles, and DC Comics' Aquaman. His other work includes Faction Paradox, and writing Marvel's Exiles and Millennium Visions....
, and inks by Peter Palmiotti. It was set after the events of the War in Heaven, although due to its short run it did not give much detail on the post-War universe.
External links
- Paction Maradox
- Faction Paradox at Mad Norwegian Press
- Random Static
- Obverse Books
- The History of the Time Lords: Future Gallifrey - The War in Heaven - chronicles The War, Faction Paradox and the Future of Gallifrey