Walking to Babylon
Encyclopedia
Walking to Babylon is a 1998 novel by Kate Orman
in the Virgin New Adventures
series featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield
(known as Benny).
The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British
science fiction television
series Doctor Who
, but after the publisher Virgin Books
lost the license to do Doctor Who stories from the BBC
, the New Adventures continued, centred around the character of Benny and further characters and settings created for the series. Walking to Babylon is the tenth Benny-led New Adventure.
Orman had previously written several Doctor Who New Adventures, but this was her first for the post-Doctor Who series. As characterises her work, the novel mixes hard science fiction
with strong characters. The book also contains some scenes of a sexual nature, reflecting Virgin's willingness to include more adult content than the BBC had allowed for the Doctor Who New Adventures.
The story features the People, an alien race were created in the Doctor Who New Adventure The Also People
and subsequently appeared in many of the Bernice Summerfield New Adventures. The novel also indirectly refers to the Time Lord
s, a race from Doctor Who; this was to avoid any copyright disputes with the BBC.
The book opens by positing the conduct of a war between two super-powerful, time-travelling
groups. A similar idea was being developed by fellow New Adventure author Lawrence Miles
(which eventually saw its fullest exploration in his Faction Paradox
stories), although Orman has said this was purely by coincidence. Miles has said his later New Adventure Dead Romance
was in part inspired by his dislike of elements of Walking to Babylon.
to try to prevent the powerful race known only as the People from destroying the city with a singularity bomb.
into their third audio drama. The drama stars Lisa Bowerman
as Bernice, but also features actor Elisabeth Sladen
, better known for playing Sarah Jane Smith
in the Doctor Who television series.
The adaptation was by Jac Rayner, who had also adapted the first release in the series, Oh No It Isn't!
.
Nigel Fairs, who performs in the audio adaptation by Big Finish, had previously worked on the Audio Visuals
series of Doctor Who fan
audio dramas.
Kate Orman
Kate Orman is an Australian author, best known for her books connected to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who.-Biography:...
in the 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...
series featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Surprise Summerfield is a fictional character created by author Paul Cornell as a new companion of the Seventh Doctor in Virgin Publishing's range of original full-length Doctor Who novels, the New Adventures...
(known as Benny).
The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series 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...
, but after the publisher Virgin Books
Virgin Books
Virgin Books is a United Kingdom book publisher 90% owned by the publishing group Random House, and 10% owned by Virgin Enterprises, the company originally set up by Richard Branson as a record company.-History:...
lost the license to do Doctor Who stories from 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...
, the New Adventures continued, centred around the character of Benny and further characters and settings created for the series. Walking to Babylon is the tenth Benny-led New Adventure.
Orman had previously written several Doctor Who New Adventures, but this was her first for the post-Doctor Who series. As characterises her work, the novel mixes hard science fiction
Hard science fiction
Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell, Jr.'s Islands of Space in Astounding Science...
with strong characters. The book also contains some scenes of a sexual nature, reflecting Virgin's willingness to include more adult content than the BBC had allowed for the Doctor Who New Adventures.
The story features the People, an alien race were created in the Doctor Who New Adventure The Also People
The Also People
The Also People is an original novel written by Ben Aaronovitch and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor, Bernice, Chris, Roz and Kadiatu.-Plot:...
and subsequently appeared in many of the Bernice Summerfield New Adventures. The novel also indirectly refers to the 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, a race from Doctor Who; this was to avoid any copyright disputes with the BBC.
The book opens by positing the conduct of a war between two super-powerful, time-travelling
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...
groups. A similar idea was being developed by fellow New Adventure 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...
(which eventually saw its fullest exploration in his Faction Paradox
Faction Paradox
Faction Paradox is a fictional time travelling 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...
stories), although Orman has said this was purely by coincidence. Miles has said his later New Adventure 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...
was in part inspired by his dislike of elements of Walking to Babylon.
Plot
Bernice Summerfield travels back in time to ancient BabylonBabylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
to try to prevent the powerful race known only as the People from destroying the city with a singularity bomb.
Audio adaptation
In 1998, Walking to Babylon was adapted by Big Finish ProductionsBig Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
into their third audio drama. The drama stars Lisa Bowerman
Lisa Bowerman
Lisa Bowerman is a British actress.Bowerman trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and was a regular in the first two series of BBC medical drama Casualty playing Sandra Mute, the show's first female paramedic. Her other television work includes: Dodgem, The Count of Solar, Grange Hill, The...
as Bernice, but also features actor Elisabeth Sladen
Elisabeth Sladen
Elisabeth Clara Heath-Sladen was an English actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in the British television series Doctor Who. She was a regular cast member from 1973 to 1976, alongside both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and reprised the role many times in subsequent decades, both on...
, better known for playing Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane Smith is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Sladen in the long-running British BBC Television science-fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-offs K-9 and Company and The Sarah Jane Adventures....
in the Doctor Who television series.
The adaptation was by Jac Rayner, who had also adapted the first release in the series, Oh No It Isn't!
Oh No It Isn't!
Oh No It Isn't! is a novel published in 1997 by Paul Cornell from the Virgin New Adventures featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield....
.
Cast
- Bernice SummerfieldBernice SummerfieldBernice Surprise Summerfield is a fictional character created by author Paul Cornell as a new companion of the Seventh Doctor in Virgin Publishing's range of original full-length Doctor Who novels, the New Adventures...
— Lisa BowermanLisa BowermanLisa Bowerman is a British actress.Bowerman trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and was a regular in the first two series of BBC medical drama Casualty playing Sandra Mute, the show's first female paramedic. Her other television work includes: Dodgem, The Count of Solar, Grange Hill, The... - Ninan-ashtammu — Elisabeth SladenElisabeth SladenElisabeth Clara Heath-Sladen was an English actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in the British television series Doctor Who. She was a regular cast member from 1973 to 1976, alongside both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and reprised the role many times in subsequent decades, both on...
- Jason Kane — Stephen FewellStephen FewellStephen Fewell is a British actor who portrays Jason Kane in the audio adventures of Bernice Summerfield. He has also appeared in classical theatre and as several roles in various Doctor Who audio productions...
- John Lafayette — Barnaby EdwardsBarnaby EdwardsBarnaby Edwards is a British actor, writer, director and artist. He is best known for his work on the popular British science-fiction series Doctor Who. His various roles include being a Dalek operator for the revived series in many Dalek stories...
- WiRgo!xu — Nigel FairsNigel FairsNigel Fairs is a British actor, writer and producer.He trained at Bretton Hall College and has appeared in a number of theatre productions, most notably as Christopher Wren in the long-running London stage production of The Mousetrap. On television, he has appeared in EastEnders and as a Dalek on...
- !Ci!ci-tel — Anthony Keetch
- The Drone — Steven Wickham
- Miriam — Louise Morell
- Babylonian Child — Alex Canini
Nigel Fairs, who performs in the audio adaptation by Big Finish, had previously worked on the Audio Visuals
Audio Visuals
The Audio Visuals were an unlicensed series of Doctor Who audio dramas made by British fans in the 1980s.Featuring Nicholas Briggs as the Doctor, twenty-six audio plays were recorded and distributed on audio cassette between 1985 and 1991 .The first three seasons were produced by...
series of Doctor Who fan
Fan fiction
Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
audio dramas.