''Conundrum'' is an original novel written by Steve Lyons and based on the long-running British

science fiction television Science fiction first appeared in television programming in the late 1930s, during what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary ...

series '' Doctor Who''. It features the

Seventh Doctor The Seventh Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', and the final incarnation of the original Doctor Who series. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy. ...

Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

and Bernice. A prelude to the novel, also penned by Lyons, appeared in '' Doctor Who Magazine'' #208. This novel is the fourth book in the " Alternate Universe cycle" which continues until '' No Future''.

Plot

What seems to be a simple murder investigation in a quiet English village becomes something far more deadly for the

and his companions when the inhabitants begin to exhibit superhero abilities...

Continuity

* ''Conundrum'' features the Land of Fiction first seen in the 1968 television serial ''

The Mind Robber ''The Mind Robber'' is the second serial of the sixth season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in five weekly parts from 14 September to 12 October 1968. The serial is set outside of time ...

''. Lyons' later ''New Adventure'' '' Head Games'' is a sequel to this novel and also relates to the Land of Fiction. * This novel is effectively written in the first person by Jason, the Master of the Land of Fiction. This enables metafictional concepts; for instance, he grows frustrated that he finds it impossible to read the Doctor's mind, a reference to the New Adventures guideline that the books should not show what the Doctor is thinking. * This novel features the second occasion in which the Doctor manages to repair the TARDIS's chameleon circuit, the previous occasion being the

Sixth Doctor The Sixth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Colin Baker. Although his televisual time on the series was comparatively brief and turbulent, Ba ...

story '' Attack of the Cybermen''. Although technically this is not the same TARDIS.

References

1994 British novels 1994 science fiction novels Virgin New Adventures Metafictional novels Novels by Steve Lyons Seventh Doctor novels {{DoctorWho-stub