[open post] Looking for academic Doctor Who material

[adamdobay]

   As my friends already know, I'm writing both of my MA theses from the new series of Doctor Who, focusing on its format; the genres it visits in different episodes; the social, cultural, psychological and mythological issues it touches upon; and what the new series as a whole is trying to achieve. While I have a general idea of what I want to

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[adamdobay]

From an academic point of view, this is probably one of the best books on the series, because it's largely based on research in the BBC archives, and has a full bibliography and footnotes, which fan-produced works tend not to have.

That's great, that definitely is the thing for me.

You're right that it doesn't have any academic material. However, the episode guide section of the BBC's official website is made up of the full text of this, albeit combined awkwardly with that of The DisContinuity Guide (which isn't academic at all, although it is fun).

Huh? How did that work concerning copyrights?

I haven't read this, but my understanding is that it looks at the use of theological themes in the show.

That may be worth considering then if I want to look into the show's mythology. (Which is one of my main areas of study.)

Again, I haven't read this, but I believe it's an academic work analysing Nation's writing. As he only wrote for the original series, it probably won't be much use to you, but as you wanted information on British SF in general, it might be some help, as I presume it deals with Blake's 7 and Survivors (both of which Nation created) and perhaps other science fiction shows he worked on.

I'll surely have a section of the thesis dedicated to the Daleks so it may help. And I'm very under-read on British Science Fiction in general. Bah. I'll convince my parents to pay for all these books and then I'll be all right :P

I'm in two minds about suggesting the About Time books to you. They aren't academic, mix standard episode guide stuff in with the more detailed analysis, focus on the original series and do contain some serious factual errors. OTOH, they have all kinds of interesting ideas about the cultural and social influences behind every story which might help you. This is the publisher's website.

These seem very interesting, especially how the serials connect to their respective eras, but I'm afraid it'd be too much for me to order.

Also, I don't know if this site is any use to you.

*gasp* Wow, this is brilliant! This is a lot of articles, and just by scanning through the page it seems a couple of them will be relevant.
My only concern about it is, how do you academically refer to something if the only author given is a nickname... Well I guess I'll email these guys if they're still around.

Sorry I can't be more helpful!

You were extremely helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to reply in detail!
Thank

[prezzey]

And I'm very under-read on British Science Fiction in general.

I have an academic book on the New Wave of British SF (Moorcock etc.), The Entropy Exhibition by Colin Greenland. if you find that sort of thing interesting. I admit I haven't read it yet, I picked it up for like cents and it's been lying around somewhere in Budapest since then. I can lend it to you when I return.

And of course I can always lend you actual British SF. And more academic books on SF, though on British SF in particular the above-mentioned volume is the only one I recall owning.

[adamdobay]

I think an academic book about basic SF, the genre, how it works, etc. would be good to start me off. I don't know the academic basis on SF so I'll need something like that I guess.