The Plotters

"It's Guy Fawkes, going down to the cellar, the lantern in his hand."

Writer: Gareth Roberts
Format: Novel
Released: November 1996
Series: Missing Adventures 28

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Synopsis 

'If anyone tries to interrupt this opening of Parliament, there'll be fireworks!'

London, November 1605. The TARDIS materialises at a crucial moment in British history. While Ian and Barbara set off for the Globe Theatre, Vicki accompanies the Doctor on a mysterious mission to the court of King James.

What connects the King's advisor Robert Cecil with the sinister hooded figure known as 'the Spaniard'? Why is the Doctor so anxious to observe the translation of the Bible? And could there be some dastardly plot brewing in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament?

As a history teacher, Barbara thinks she knows what to expect when she encounters a man called Guy Fawkes. But she is in for a very unpleasant surprise.

Verdict

The Plotters was a tremendous novel! I really enjoyed this one and even though it was quite clearly stated at the start and apparent throughout that the historical element of the story wasn't exactly accurate, I think that was a large part of its charm! I was a huge fan of the setting go 1605 in November with the potential of Doctor Who's take on the Gunpowder Plot being such a great idea. I think the choice to go with the First Doctor was excellent and I was hugely impressed with how perfectly this book fitted in with the early era. This could have so easily been a televised story and would have been superb as an educational story despite some of the false takes on historical characters and events. It was amusing for the Doctor to be so confident that he had returned Ian and Barbara to their own time, with his only miscue apparently being that they'd landed in Dundee. In fact, they did end up in London, just 360 or so years too early. Barbara and Ian being intrigued by when they had landed and wanting to do some exploring was really nice to read and I would definitely be the same! I also loved how sneaky the Doctor was in wanting to do some particular exploring of his own without his school teacher companions present. He was more concerned with the translation of the Bible that was ongoing at this time and it was just another example of his curiosity overcoming him which I always enjoy. Splitting the quartet of main characters worked really well and it's nice to explore the relationship between the Doctor and Vicki, something that I think gets forgotten with Susan more fondly thought of in hindsight. Vicki had an amusing story having to follow a similar predicament as in The Crusade where she took on the appearance of a boy where, as Victor, she caught the eye of none other than King James! He was a fun historical character and didn't seem too fussed on performing the duties that came with his monarch status. That damned speech! Robert Cecil is a name I am familiar with from my historical studies in which I have briefly touched over the events of the Gunpowder Plot, albeit not in as much detail as I might like. He was a good character here and his central role in knowing that the Doctor was not one of Divinity and seeing through Vicki's disguise was good, but the Doctor was able to counter him with his foreknowledge of the plot. When any of the TARDIS foursome revealed the intricate details of the plot when they couldn't possibly know of them, the reactions were a great deal of fun. The characterisation of the First Doctor in this one was fantastic and I loved his reaction to being referred to as a winter apple! He privately defended how he was quite a looker in his day which was just magnificent. Barbara realising when exactly in 1605 they had arrived and encountering Guy Fawkes herself was very good, but I was very surprised when she revealed all of her journeying through time and space! I enjoyed the plot device of Vicki stealing and then losing the TARDIS key from the First Doctor, and there were no spares! That provided quite the tricky predicament. However, things would get much trickier when it came to ensuring history occurred on its right path with Ian inadvertently ensuring that Guy Fawkes was killed before the Gunpowder Plot was uncovered! That was a sublime way to end the chapter. Hay served as a good lead villain and I was very surprised to find that not only was he also disguised as the mysterious Spaniard, but also Sybil! I was taken aback by the latter revelation in particular but it was fun for everyone to react and realise how his clothing took in all three of his personas. The Doctor being believed as a Great Behemoth was also very good and I loved how he quickly utilised the advantage he was provided with that status. I thought the ending was good with Hay taking the place of Guy Fawkes in history with the help of Cecil, and the statesman gratitude to the Doctor whilst also never wanting to see him again was great. Everyone catching up on events inside the TARDIS was very good and I liked how the Doctor wasn't exactly in everyone's good books! Overall, this was a fine story and I'm so glad it was a pure historical, even if some of the historical elements went a little long. An excellent read!

Rating: 9/10