''The Book of the War'' is a

hypertext Hypertext is E-text, text displayed on a computer display or other electronic devices with references (hyperlinks) to other text that the reader can immediately access. Hypertext documents are interconnected by hyperlinks, which are typi ...

multi-author novel presented in the form of an encyclopedia of the first 50 years of the War in 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 based on the ''

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 ...

'' universe. The book was edited by

Lawrence Miles Lawrence Miles (born 15 March 1972 in Middlesex) is a science fiction author known for his work on original ''Doctor Who'' novels (for both the Virgin New Adventures and BBC Books series) and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox. He is also ...

, and written by Miles,

Simon Bucher-Jones Simon Bucher-Jones (born Simon Jones, 6 September 1964) is an author, poet, and amateur actor. He is best known for his Doctor Who novels for Virgin and BBC and as a contributor to the Faction Paradox spin-off series. Between 1988 and Dec 2018, he ...

Daniel O'Mahony Daniel O'Mahony (born 24 July 1973) 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 Ca ...

, Ian McIntire,

Mags L. Halliday ''History 101'' is a BBC Books original novel written by Mags L Halliday and based on the long-running British science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner, Fitz and ...

, Helen Fayle,

Philip Purser-Hallard Philip Purser-Hallard (born 1971 as Philip Hallard) is a fantasy, science fiction and crime author described by the British Fantasy Society as "the best kept secret in British genre writing".

, Kelly Hale, Jonathan Dennis, and

Mark Clapham Mark Clapham (born 1976) is a British author, best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular relating to '' Doctor Who'' (and its spin-offs) and Warhammer 40,000. Writing Clapham started out writing ''D ...

.ISFDB Entry for The Book of the War
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Content

Although various plot threads can be found in the book, its real value lies in the wealth of ideas on display. It's primarily a guide to many of the important factions involved in the War in Heaven. These include Faction Paradox itself, the Great Houses, the Celestis, the Remote, and Posthumanity. A number of hints about the mysterious Enemy against whom the Great Houses at fighting are scattered through the text, but nothing conclusive. The book details many individuals, events, technologies, and concepts related to the War. The book makes references to the ''

'' novels ''Alien Bodies'', ''

Interference Interference is the act of interfering, invading, or poaching. Interference may also refer to: Communications * Interference (communication), anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message * Adjacent-channel interference, caused by extr ...

'', ''

The Taking of Planet 5 ''The 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 ...

'', and ''

The Shadows of Avalon ''The 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''. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz, Compassion, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewa ...

'', and it features the characters

Compassion Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as being sensitive to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on n ...

and

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 ...

who first appeared in ''Doctor Who'' novels. A number of other parallels with ''Doctor Who'' characters and concepts can be found, but these links are not explicit. No familiarity with ''Doctor Who'' is required to appreciate ''The Book of the War''. Characters and settings from ''The Book of the War'' appear in later ''Faction Paradox'' novels including '' Of the City of the Saved...'', ''

Warring States The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...

'' and ''

Newtons Sleep ''Newtons Sleep'' is an original novel by Daniel O'Mahony set in the Faction Paradox universe. It is the only Faction Paradox novel to be published by Random Static. Although taking place in a shared universe, it is a stand-alone work that does ...

'', and the short story anthology '' A Romance in Twelve Parts''.

References

Faction Paradox 2002 British novels Book of War Encyclopedias of fictional worlds Fiction with unreliable narrators Novels by Lawrence Miles Novels by Simon Bucher-Jones Novels by Daniel O'Mahony Novels by Mags L Halliday Novels by Philip Purser-Hallard Novels by Kelly Hale Novels by Mark Clapham Nonlinear narrative novels {{2000s-sf-novel-stub

Content

See also

References