Mastodawn

Philip Purser-Hallard Jul 28, 2024

@mrdalesmith
"I've an idea for a searing political drama about rent boys, homelessness and civic corruption in 1980s New York."
"Sounds great! Can we cast Benedict Cumberbatch?"
"OK, but only if he's playing an unlikeable, uncharismatic arsehole."
"Love it! Oh, and we're contractually obliged to add a muppet."

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Philip Purser-Hallard Jun 30, 2024

@emma Disconcertingly, I read that as "I don't make coats for the living..."

Philip Purser-Hallard May 11, 2024

I know people who claim that the Doctor is always the same character and it's only the performances that set the various incarnations apart, but I'm having serious trouble imagining Jon Pertwee delivering the line "Half the universe is knackered, babes" with anything like the same conviction.

Philip Purser-Hallard Apr 17, 2024

I wrote about Gridlock for Jim's newsletter. I hope you enjoy it.
The things Jim writes are very good, and if you're interested in Doctor Who you should look into subscribing.
https://buttondown.email/cooray_smith/archive/gridlock-god-knows-i-want-to-break-free/

Gridlock - “God Knows I Want to Break Free…”

It's a guest post this week, as the brilliant Philip Purser-Hallard offers his thoughts on the magnificent Gridlock to celebrate its (gosh) 17th birthday....

Philip Purser-Hallard Jan 26, 2024

I've written another Black Archive, this time about the 2008 Doctor Who story Midnight. I particularly enjoyed interviewing those involved in the three stage adaptations of the episode.
https://obversebooks.co.uk/product/69-midnight/

69. Midnight

'You need my voice in particular. The cleverest voice in the room.' Written in haste and mostly confined to a single set, Midnight (2008) is a masterpiece of minimalist Doctor Who. Three times adapted as a stage play, it rejects the conventions of the series to examine the nature of evil and how it can corrupt human society. In the process it deconstructs and interrogates the nature of the Doctor himself, in an absurdist retelling of the myth of Echo and Narcissus.

Obverse Books

Philip Purser-Hallard Jan 26, 2024

Obverse Books Jan 26, 2024

Available to pre-order now - the 69th Black Archive, in which Philip Purser-Hallard climbs aboard the Midnight bus...

https://obversebooks.co.uk/product/69-midnight

69. Midnight

'You need my voice in particular. The cleverest voice in the room.' Written in haste and mostly confined to a single set, Midnight (2008) is a masterpiece of minimalist Doctor Who. Three times adapted as a stage play, it rejects the conventions of the series to examine the nature of evil and how it can corrupt human society. In the process it deconstructs and interrogates the nature of the Doctor himself, in an absurdist retelling of the myth of Echo and Narcissus.

Obverse Books

Philip Purser-Hallard Jan 8, 2024

@mrdalesmith My view is that he found out there was an actor called Susan Twist and thought it would be a hilarious way to wind us up.

Philip Purser-Hallard Nov 16, 2023

Philip Purser-Hallard Nov 2, 2023

I'm increasingly using Bluesky for my social media needs (https://bsky.app/profile/purserhallard.bsky.social). I have some invitation codes, so if you'd like to join me there (and I know you're not a giant arse), let me know.

Philip Purser-Hallard (@purserhallard.bsky.social)

Philip Purser-Hallard writes stuff -- mostly urban fantasy, Sherlock Holmes novels and Doctor Who criticism. Sherlock Holmes: The Monster of the Mere is out now. Posting about writing, science fiction, politics, language, crosswords, things I like, things

Bluesky Social

Philip Purser-Hallard Nov 10, 2023

Obverse Books Nov 10, 2023

'How far, Doctor? How long have you lived?'

Long ago, eight past lives were brought briefly into focus, only to disappear once more.

Now, those Doctors return in the final stories from their forgotten lives.

FORGOTTEN LIVES III - pre-order open from now to 1 December.

https://obversebooks.co.uk/product/forgotten/

Forgotten Lives 3

A third and final set of FORGOTTEN LIVES tales... A person is the sum of their memories. A Time Lord even more so. But some people live so long that there is no longer room for all the memories; they find themselves diminished, whittled away piece by piece… For many years, Doctor Who has implied that William Hartnell played the Doctor’s first incarnation — but in The Brain of Morbius, we were given glimpses of eight stern-faced men in assorted historical costumes — Doctors before the one we know as the first. What were they like, these forgotten Doctors? What worlds did they visit, and what adventures did they have there? Who were their companions, and who were their enemies? And perhaps just as interesting — what sort of stories would this forgotten prehistory of Doctor Who have told? PRE-ORDER ONLY. PUBLICATION EARLY DECEMBER. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO ALZHEIMER'S CHARITIES .

Obverse Books

Philip Purser-Hallard Nov 2, 2023

@mrdalesmith Is that a request? Very happy to make an exception if so...