Lawrence Miles (born 15 March 1972 in
Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...
) is a science fiction author known for his work on original ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' novels (for both the
Virgin New Adventures
The ''Virgin New Adventures'' (NA series, or NAs) are a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. They continued the story of the Doctor from the point at which the televisio ...
and
BBC Books
BBC Books (also formerly known as BBC Publishing) is an imprint majority-owned and managed by Penguin Random House through its Ebury Publishing division. The minority shareholder is BBC Studios, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasti ...
series) and the subsequent spin-off
Faction Paradox
''Faction Paradox'' is a series of novels, audio stories, short story anthologies, and comics set in and around a "War in Heaven", a history-spanning conflict between godlike "Great Houses" and their mysterious enemy. The series is named after a ...
. He is also co-author (with
Tat Wood) of the ''About Time'' series of ''Doctor Who'' critiques.
Life and work
Miles's first professionally published fiction was a 3-page comic strip, illustrated by
Richard Elson
Richard Elson (born 1962) is a British people, British comic book artist best known for his work on ''Sonic the Comic'', ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' and ''Thor (Marvel comics), Thor''.
Biography
Richard Elson is a fine art graduate with over ...
and run under the generic title ''
Tharg's Time Twisters
''Tharg's Future Shocks'' is a long-running series of short strips in the British weekly comic '' 2000 AD'' in 1977. The name originates from the fictional editor of 2000 AD and the book titled ''Future Shock'', written by Alvin Toffler, publi ...
'' in the weekly science fiction
anthology comic
A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication t ...
''
2000 AD''. It appeared in issue 722 (March 1991) and to date is Miles's only contribution to ''2000 AD''.
Miles's major contribution to the ''Doctor Who''
expanded universe is the "War in Heaven"
arc begun in his novel ''
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 Pa ...
''.
He has also written several novels and short stories outside this arc.
After most of the elements contributed by Miles were removed from the BBC novel range in the novel ''
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 ...
'', Miles reused the major elements of this arc, without the ''Doctor Who'' references, to create the
Faction Paradox
''Faction Paradox'' is a series of novels, audio stories, short story anthologies, and comics set in and around a "War in Heaven", a history-spanning conflict between godlike "Great Houses" and their mysterious enemy. The series is named after a ...
universe
The universe is all of space and time and their contents, including planets, stars, galaxies, and all other forms of matter and energy. The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological description of the development of the universe. Acc ...
, which now encompasses books, comic books and
audio drama
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...
s.
Miles has used his
web site
A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Wikipe ...
The Beasthouse, where he has posted since 2004, initially as a venue for "analysis of British popular culture using the
UK Hit Parade
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
as a framework and all-purpose excuse." Since then, its format has shifted often, from actual diary format entries to postings consisting simply of lists. Currently, the site is down.
His weekly reviews of ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' episodes can be found on his other blog, Lawrence Miles' Doctor Who Thing. In May 2008, Miles temporarily posted online a
spec script
A spec script, also known as a speculative screenplay, is a non-commissioned and unsolicited screenplay. It is usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned and eventually purchased by a producer, production company, or ...
for the TV series entitled "Book of the World", in a self-described attempt to provide a legitimate basis for his polarising criticisms of the production team behind the revived series.
''About Time''
Miles is the co-author of the first five volumes of ''About Time'', a ''Doctor Who'' episode guide which examines the series in its cultural and historical context. Co-written with
Tat Wood, the guide contains detailed accounts of the various concerns that fed into the making of the series and a number of essays answering specific questions (e.g. "How might the sonic screwdriver work?" and "Why didn't they just spend more money?"). In contrast to other ''Doctor Who'' guides, ''About Time'' is divided by "era" rather than by the lead actor, broadly reflecting different production philosophies and cultural climates. The several volumes are published in order of popularity rather than chronologically; volumes three and four were published first, covering the early and late 1970s. There are six volumes in total, the last covering the late eighties, the 1996 television movie and everything up to, but not including, the new 2005 series. Miles chose to leave the project after the completion of volume two, and the sixth and final volume was written by Wood. The sixth volume also featured additional material by publisher
Lars Pearson
Lars Pearson (born 1973, in Iowa) is an American writer, high school teacher, editor, and journalist. He is the owner/publisher of Mad Norwegian Press, a publishing company specializing in reference guides to television shows including ''Buffy th ...
.
Bibliography
Doctor Who
*
Virgin New Adventures
The ''Virgin New Adventures'' (NA series, or NAs) are a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. They continued the story of the Doctor from the point at which the televisio ...
:
** ''
Christmas on a Rational Planet
''Christmas 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''. It features the Seventh Doctor, Chris and Roz.
It also contains the first ...
'' (featuring the
7th Doctor,
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''. His surname is properly pronounced "Shva ...
, and Roz Forrester)
** ''
Down'' (featuring
Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Surprise Summerfield (later Professor Bernice Summerfield or just Benny) 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 ...
)
** ''
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''. Though ...
'' (featuring
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''. His surname is properly pronounced "Shva ...
)
*
Eighth Doctor Adventures
The ''Eighth Doctor Adventures'' (sometimes abbreviated as EDA or referred to as the EDAs) are a series of Doctor Who spin-offs, spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and published unde ...
:
** ''
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 Pa ...
''
** ''
Interference: Book One'', "Shock Tactic"
** ''
Interference: Book Two'', "The Hour of the Geek"
** ''
The Adventuress of Henrietta Street
''The 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
Fitz (pronounced "fits") ...
''
* "The Judgement of Solomon", short story from ''
Decalog 5: Wonders'' (featuring
Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Surprise Summerfield (later Professor Bernice Summerfield or just Benny) 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 ...
)
* "Vrs",
short short story from ''
Short Trips and Sidesteps''
* ''
The Adolescence of Time'', audio drama from
Big Finish (featuring Bernice Summerfield)
Faction Paradox
*Books (published by
Mad Norwegian Press
Mad Norwegian Press is an American publisher of science-fiction guides and novels. The company has worked with authors such as Harlan Ellison, Peter David, Diana Gabaldon, Tanya Huff, Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGu ...
):
**''The Book of the War'' (fictional work presented in the form of an encyclopaedic guide to the Faction Paradox universe, edited and co-written by Miles)
**''
This Town Will Never Let Us Go'' (first in the series of Faction Paradox novels)
**''
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''. Though ...
'' (re-issue of the Virgin title, includes short stories "Toy Story" and "Grass")
*
Audio drama
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...
s:
**(produced by
BBV):
***''The Eleven Day Empire''
***''The Shadow Play''
***''Sabbath Dei''
***''In the Year of the Cat''
***''Movers''
***''A Labyrinth of Histories''
**(produced by
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. Originally set up to produce the Kaldor City audios, in 2004 they acquired the right ...
):
***''Coming to Dust''
***''The Ship of a Billion Years''
***''Body Politic''
***''Words of Nine Divinities''
***''Ozymandias''
***''The Judgment of Sutekh''
*Comics:
**''Faction Paradox'' #1–2 (with
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''.
Ca ...
,
Image Comics
Image Comics is an American comic book publisher and is the third largest comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry in both unit and market share. It was founded in 1992 by several high-profile illustrators as a venue for creator-ow ...
, 2003)
Other short stories
*''
Tharg's Time Twisters
''Tharg's Future Shocks'' is a long-running series of short strips in the British weekly comic '' 2000 AD'' in 1977. The name originates from the fictional editor of 2000 AD and the book titled ''Future Shock'', written by Alvin Toffler, publi ...
'': "Wraggs to Riches" (with
Richard Elson
Richard Elson (born 1962) is a British people, British comic book artist best known for his work on ''Sonic the Comic'', ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' and ''Thor (Marvel comics), Thor''.
Biography
Richard Elson is a fine art graduate with over ...
, in ''
2000 AD'' No. 722, 1991)
* "Toy Story",''Perfect Timing'' 2 (December 1999), edited by Helen Fayle and Julian Eales
* "Grass", ''
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher ...
'' issue 599 (September 2001), edited by
Gordon van Gelder
Gordon Van Gelder (born 1966) is an American science fiction editor. From 1997 until 2014, Van Gelder was editor and later publisher of ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'', for which he has twice won the Hugo Award for Best Editor Shor ...
; also appeared in
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
''Year's Best Fantasy and Horror'' was a reprint anthology published annually by St. Martin's Press from 1987 to 2008. In addition to the short stories, supplemented by a list of honorable mentions, each edition included a number of retrospective e ...
15th Annual Collection (2002), edited by
Ellen Datlow
Ellen Datlow (born December 31, 1949) is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist. She is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Bram Stoker Award (Horror Writers Association).
Career
Datlow began her career ...
and
Terri Windling
Terri Windling (born December 3, 1958 in Fort Dix, New Jersey) is an American editor, artist, essayist, and the author of books for both children and adults. She has won nine World Fantasy Awards, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and the Bram Stoke ...
Non-fiction
*(published by
Mad Norwegian Press
Mad Norwegian Press is an American publisher of science-fiction guides and novels. The company has worked with authors such as Harlan Ellison, Peter David, Diana Gabaldon, Tanya Huff, Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGu ...
):
**''About Time: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who: 1963–1966: Seasons 1 to 3'' (co-written with
Tat Wood)
**''About Time: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who: 1966–1969: Seasons 4 to 6'' (co-written with
Tat Wood)
**''About Time: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who: 1970–1974: Seasons 7 to 11'' (co-written with
Tat Wood)
**''About Time: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who: 1975–1979: Seasons 12 to 17'' (co-written with
Tat Wood)
**''About Time: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who: 1980–1984: Seasons 18 to 21'' (co-written with
Tat Wood)
**''Dusted: The Unauthorised Guide to
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
'' (co-written with
Lars Pearson
Lars Pearson (born 1973, in Iowa) is an American writer, high school teacher, editor, and journalist. He is the owner/publisher of Mad Norwegian Press, a publishing company specializing in reference guides to television shows including ''Buffy th ...
and Christa Dickson)
References
*
*
*
*
Lawrence Milesat Barney
External links
*
Lawrence Mileson Twitter
ewest account*Miles'
general blogan
Doctor Who blog*A
interview concerning the Faction Paradox comicswith online
comic
a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...
fanzine
A fanzine (blend word, blend of ''fan (person), fan'' and ''magazine'' or ''-zine'') is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by fan (person), enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) ...
br>
Ninth ArtInterview with Miles on the BBC ''Doctor Who'' websiteMad Norwegian Press who publish most of Miles's current output
Magic Bullet Productions publishers of Miles's Faction Paradox audios
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miles, Lawrence
English science fiction writers
Living people
1972 births
Writers of Doctor Who novels