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Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere

(Time Trips)

Jenny T. Colgan

3.64 · Rating details · 293 ratings · 49 reviews

The Eleventh Doctor and Clara land on an unknown alien planet. To the Doctor’s delight and Clara’s astonishment, it really is unknown. It’s a planet the Doctor has never seen. It’s not on any maps, it’s not referenced on any star charts or in the TARDIS data banks. It doesn’t even have a name. What could be so terrible that its existence has been erased?

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ebook, 49 pages

Published January 16th 2014 by BBC Digital (first published January 9th 2014)

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· 293 ratings · 49 reviews

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Jan 14, 2014 Dan Schwent rated it liked it

Shelves: 2014, doctor-who

The Doctor and Clara land on a planet that's not on any maps and neither the Doctor or The TARDIS have any knowledge of it. After a series of harrowing experiences, a walking skeleton beckons them to follow. Will they survive their meeting with the King of Bones? Of course they will. He's The Doctor!

I got this from Netgalley. Thanks, Netgalley!

Into the Nowhere is a short adventure featuring The Eleventh Doctor and Clara. Unlike some Doctor Who fiction I've read, The Doctor and his companion, Cla ...more

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May 03, 2015 Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, doctor-who

photo tumblr_n9l00pH7ZF1rsjd4ho1_500_zps8uuxkwmg.jpg

"Planet with its own atmosphere, not on any star charts, not recorded, not in the Tardis databanks. Well, that's not right, is it?"

"You don't have to find out. You're not the policeman of the universe," said Clara. "No, wait, that's exactly what you are, isn't it? You've got the box and everything."

Jenny Colgan has rapidly risen in esteem to become my favorite female Doctor Who author. (Justin Richards is my favorite male Doctor Who author and will most likely stay that way.) She completely ...more

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Jan 16, 2014 Dani rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I absolutely loved this book, for the simple reason that Clara's complex character was explored in a way it hasn't been in the show. The plot it brilliant too; a proper adventure. It's a quick, fun read and definitely worth it -- especially if you're a huge Clara fan like myself. ...more

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Dec 29, 2014 Bookschatter rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, reviewed

Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere (Time Trips) is part of the "Time Trips" series of novellas, and it is my very first Doctor Who read.Admittedly, being Italian, I did not grow up with this TV series, and, although I have watched the occasional episode, it has never truly appealed to me - I think it had something to do with the production itself.I do however love science fiction and I am very glad to have picked up this title, as I enjoyed every line. I felt that the story was very well constructed a ...more

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Jan 16, 2014 Kribu rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, doctor-who, short-story

Um. Yeah.

One star + another for all the lovely skeletons.

I liked the skeletons.

I'm not sure what the rest was about. Maybe I'm too tired, or maybe I'm just too dim, but I admit I didn't really get the point of the whole thing at all - I think something of importance happened there at one point, but maybe I blinked, or something, and... basically, I think there were metaphors? Maybe? Or something. Something to do with religion, I think.

Or, yeah, maybe I'm just not smart enough for this kind of ...more

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Apr 18, 2019 Melenia rated it it was ok

Shelves: doctor-who

Unfortunately, I really don’t understand this one at all and struggled with even finishing it. I’ve never really understood all the back story stuff with Clara so if you’re more familiar with her I think you will enjoy this story much more than I did.

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Jan 16, 2014 Megan rated it really liked it

Shelves: media-tie-in, whoverse-books

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This Doctor Who short story had a very strong beginning but quickly fell apart once Clara and the Doctor went planet side.

The characterization of the 11th Doctor and Clara was phenomenal. One of the best I have read. I could clearly see and hear the Doctor and Clara having their unique, quick and witty back and forth dialogue. I could see the Doctor caress the TARDIS, hear the sound his hand made against the machine, and Clara ...more

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Jan 20, 2014 Rinn rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, review-copy, read-2014

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

From the very first paragraph of this book, I immediately knew it was more skillfully written than previous Doctor Who reads – at least in terms of the description. The story wasn’t quite as fun as some of the books aimed at younger audiences. Jenny T. Colgan captures the personalities and mannerisms of the Eleventh Doctor and Clara really well, and I could easily picture e ...more

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Jan 19, 2014 Karen Cole rated it really liked it

As a long time fan of Doctor Who I am ashamed to admit I've read very few DW books (although I did enjoy Patrick Ness' Fifth Doctor story, Tip of the Tongue recently). If they're all as good as Into the Nowhere (part of the Time Trips series) then I've been foolishly denying myself and have some serious catching up to do.
This is a beautifully described story which manages to be chilling at one moment then touching the next. The Eleventh Doctor and Clara come across a mysterious planet without a ...more

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Jan 26, 2015 Chris Kiley rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There isn't a single aspect of this plot that is believable, even for a Doctor Who novel. The first half is a rip off of "The Mind Robber" (2nd Doctor) with a far off operator manipulating a "place with no name" and the Doctor and companion overcoming obstacles to get to the fortress where the operator is holed up. In The Mind Robber, the operator is manipulating imaginary things in imagination land, in this novella, we are supposed to believe that a Jabba the Hut sized computer hacker is contro ...more

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Jun 03, 2015 Kayla rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviews-completed, netgalley-and-edelweiss

Lately, I've been binge reading Doctor Who novels and short stories. I just can't get enough. That was going really well until I reached Into the Nowhere. It's the first Doctor Who short story I read that I really didn't care for. There were several things I didn't like about it.

The biggest thing that bothered me is that the way the author portrayed the eleventh doctor drove me absolutely crazy. It was like she was trying too hard to develop his wit and sarcasm. It just came off as forced and aw ...more

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Jun 08, 2014 Rachael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, science-fiction, doctor-who

NOVEMBER 2015 UPDATE: I am still in denial about last night's episode of Doctor Who (Face the Raven) so I thought I'd re-read this adventure featuring Clara and the Eleventh Doctor. Also it's quite apt timing considering it has been 52 years since Doctor Who was first shown on TV.
Into the Nowhere is just as good if not even better the second time round. There were bits I obviously missed before and now I understand it more. It includes interesting characters who may not be as monstrous as you th ...more

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Jan 20, 2014 Sydney rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed it, being the massive doctor who fan that I am, I got to relive the show through a book AND it featured one of my favourite Doctor/Companion pairings. The story was like a dose of fanfiction, except everything in it was canon, which made me even more excited about the events that were taking place. I also loved the references to other events and characters from the tv show, as well as the snarky sarcastic comments by both Clara and the Doctor, as well as the relationship growth ...more

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Mar 20, 2014 Megan rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2014, doctor-who, out-of-this-world

Into the Nowhere was a fast paced and fun read. Both the Doctor and Clara were beautifully written, I could imagine Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman behaving just as these characters were written - well done! My only complaint would be that the ending was a bit rushed and, for me, wasn't really explained. This is the reason I'm only giving it four stars. Still a very good story and I recommend it to any Whovian.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opi ...more

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May 23, 2014 Hilary rated it really liked it

Shelves: short-story-novella, sf

One thing fans always want to know about novelizations and extra adventures: are they true to the characters? No fears here - I could picture the Doctor and Clara in my head. He can't resist meddling, and she can't leave him to it, and here they make an excellent pair as they investigate the secret of this mysterious, missing planet. The story seems a little rushed, but there's a limit on what can be done in 49 pages.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest rev ...more

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Jun 23, 2014 Colin Paylor rated it it was amazing

I have never read a Dr Who book before but am a fan of the tv series . I found the book very enjoyable. The story grabbed hold of me and took me on an adventure on a bleak dead planet with many hidden secrets. I didn't think Dr Who books could be this good. The author captures exactly the atmosphere, thrills and drama of the tv show . I shall be telling everybody to start reading these books and i'm looking forward to reading another myself. ...more

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Jan 17, 2014 Leilani rated it liked it

Shelves: tie-in

I enjoyed the chance to spend more time with Eleven and Clara, and they were well characterized, but some of the central metaphors seemed kind of strained, and the villain was a rather lazy cliche. The story seemed to have more ambition than could be fulfilled in something so short - even if It didn't quite succeed, it was a good effort. ...more

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Jan 17, 2014 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, egalley, 2014

I had a few minor nitpicks with it, bit overall it was a good story. She did good with continuity and had some nice nods to the doctors (mostly nine and ten), and wrote eleven's doctor pretty accurately too. ...more

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Jun 11, 2019 Shadowsword rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, doctor-who

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 25, 2014 Tamara Epps rated it really liked it

When the Doctor and Clara land on a planet neither the Doctor nor the Tardis recognize, it doesn’t take long for the Doctor to want to start exploring. But the more of the planet they see, the further into danger they seem to be. As they try to navigate traps that seem to be alive, they start finding messages, and Clara’s fear grows. Can the Doctor help her through her fears, and does he know more than he is letting on?

I would classify myself as a fan of Doctor Who, but I have never read any Do When the Doctor and Clara land on a planet neither the Doctor nor the Tardis recognize, it doesn’t take long for the Doctor to want to start exploring. But the more of the planet they see, the further into danger they seem to be. As they try to navigate traps that seem to be alive, they start finding messages, and Clara’s fear grows. Can the Doctor help her through her fears, and does he know more than he is letting on?

I would classify myself as a fan of Doctor Who, but I have never read any Doctor Who books before. I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading Into the Nowhere but finished knowing I will definitely be seeking out more Doctor Who books to read.

As it is a narrative, there is more explanation of thoughts and feelings than in a television episode, yet the action keeps the story fast-paced and exciting. It didn’t feel all that different from watching an episode, which gave me my Doctor Who adrenaline fix that honestly I wasn’t expecting a book to be able to offer. My main issue was that, while obviously a reading speed is slower than watching, this particular book felt a little short; it was as if the author had rushed through it and missed a lot of potential in the process. As I said, this was the first Doctor Who book I’ve read, but I’m hoping that they don’t all leave me with this feeling of being cheated of a full story.

Most of the book seemed to be in Clara’s point of view, and it gave me a completely different view of the character. In Into the Nowhere, Clara’s fear is stated many times, and a large part of me felt this wasn’t the Clara I knew. I also wish that the author had focused on creating the feeling of fear, rather than telling the reader about it, as being told pulled me out of the world, meaning I wasn’t completely invested in it.

Overall, the book excited me to the possibilities of Doctor Who stories. The fact that, even though it is a different media, it can still create a world of intrigue and raised emotions is something I always look with Doctor Who, and for the most part the book delivered on this. However, I do hope this isn’t the best of what is available, as it seemed to be slightly off in the deliverance, meaning that I, as a reader, had to work harder to stay in the world, when that is something that I feel reader’s should feel without noticing until they finish a book.

This book wasn’t all bad, as I stated earlier, a pleasant surprise was that it gave me the Doctor Who fix I wasn’t expecting. Of course it may be my unfamiliarity with Doctor Who books that makes me unsure of this story in particular, but I will definitely be reading more, and hope they are all able to include the excitement and intrigue that Into the Nowhere did.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Aug 05, 2014 Lis Ann - The Indigo Quill rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, reviews, sci-fi

See full review @ The Indigo Quill

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere is the eleventh doctor’s turn to be captured in print by the Time Trips series. He and Clara stumble upon a mysterious planet with no name or known history. Not even the TARDIS knows where they are. Not long after they leave the safety of the TARDIS, they realize that the world might not want its secrets uncovered and it seems as if the elements themselves turn against See full review @ The Indigo Quill

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere is the eleventh doctor’s turn to be captured in print by the Time Trips series. He and Clara stumble upon a mysterious planet with no name or known history. Not even the TARDIS knows where they are. Not long after they leave the safety of the TARDIS, they realize that the world might not want its secrets uncovered and it seems as if the elements themselves turn against the Doctor and his companion.

The Doctor and Clara encounter a dizzying number of obstacles from the get-go in this fast-paced mystery. At times there was so much being thrown at them that it seemed chaotic, in a nail biting and enjoyable sense. For instance, at one point they escape a moving forest closing in on them, run into a conflagration of sorts, jump through it and almost fall off a cliff with a valley full of huge maggots beneath and an animated skeleton on the other side. Then they get attacked by a giant snake, all without catching their breath. Whatever forces exist on this planet, mean business.

All the authors that write for this series have done an exceptional job at writing their characters into some original and entertaining circumstances. The same can certainly be said for Jenny Colgan in this story. What has consistently amazed me with every installment in this series, is the way the authors are able to replicate the mannerisms and details from the characters we know and love from the television show, and make them believable. The eleventh doctor is full of quirk and insanity, energy and goofiness. Jenny has done Matt Smith proud with her installment, just as she has done a service for Whovians by creating this wonderfully diverting short story. Clara seemed to be a bit angrier than usual, and maybe a tad whiney at times but such is the lot for a Doctor Who companion. I didn't feel that her character was as believable as the Doctor for most of the story but that doesn't hurt things too badly.

As long as you don’t expect to have all the answers by the end, you won’t be disappointed by Into the Nowhere. It’s funny and action packed and it’s chocked full of timey-wimey adventure that any fan would enjoy. In looking back, the fact that there were still questions at the end didn’t detract from my over-all enjoyment of the story. The missing pieces add to the story and I hope one day to read (or possibly see) more from this story-line in the future. ...more

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Jan 21, 2014 Timothy Pecoraro rated it really liked it

I’ve pretty much loved all of the Doctor Who Time Trips Series and this book is no exception. While in some cases the size of the book does not gel with the price. I think that they are getting better about that. While overall, the story here is a little lackluster and for some people having Clara be so close to the beginning of her time with the Doctor rather nearer to the end might be a bit weird. I found the whole thing wonderful and if my time permitted me; I would have read the whole thing ...more

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Jan 26, 2014 Dan rated it really liked it

Shelves: doctor-who

This is a great short story featuring the Eleventh Doctor and Clara set between the last two Eleventh Doctor TV stories, The Day of the Doctor and The Time of the Doctor. They arrive on a planet which apparently doesn't exist and inevitably bad things happen, involving skeletons and a really creepy villain.

Colgan really nails the characters here, perhaps more than virtually any Doctor Who author has managed. She really gives us an expansion of Clara, especially given how in the show more time wa ...more

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Feb 07, 2014 Erikka rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, short-stories, 2014

While I was generally content with this book, there were a few things that made it imperfect. I think the characterization of Clara was the thing that bothered me the most; Jenna Coleman plays a very nuanced character that is almost hard to nail down into an archetype, and unfortunately that doesn't translate well in a text-only environment. I did appreciate the Doctor's jokes, and I feel like he was well-written (except the line about him fixing his eyebrows, because come on...it's Eleven. His ...more

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May 19, 2014 Andrea Guy rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, netgalley, scifi, doctorwho, 2014-reviews, 2014-netgalley-reading-challenge

Jenny Colgan definitely has The Eleventh Doctor down. I was glad that this time, she wrote a story with current companion, Clara. I liked that it was obvious that this story took place after The Day Of The Doctor. There were a lot of references to things in the past, particularly K-9 at the very beginning of the story.

I also liked how when they landed on the "Nowhere" planet...aka "Anthony" she referenced Gallifrey too. Jenny kept with canon quite a bit. Even the fez attempts to make an appearan ...more

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Oct 23, 2014 Jim C rated it really liked it

A short story that has Clara and the Doctor (portrayed by Matt Smith) on a planet which no record of the planet exists. This duo cannot let this mystery go unsolved and they are on their way to investigate.

I have read this author's other book in this universe and she has a good grasp of the characters. She does a good job with their portrayals and she includes their mannerisms that the reader has no problem envisioning the characters. I will say that Clara was a little off but not enough to detr ...more

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May 25, 2014 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: short-stories-essays

The wait is almost over! That's right, Whovians, the Doctor is set to return in August. Until then, BBC Books has a great new series of e shorts to tide us over!

The second installment in the series is from Jenny T. Colgan, who also recently penned the Doctor Eleven adventure Dark Horizons. In "Into the Nowhere" Doctor Eleven and Clara land on an unmapped and unnamed planet that immediately seems intent on killing them! They can leave if they can only get back to the TARDIS, but nothing intrigues ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Trae Stratton rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, doctor-who

Tight, atmospheric tale that fits seamlessly in the Eleventh Doctor's Universe. It should be pointed out how the television show goes out of its way to establish "absences" in its timeline to allow and make these expanded universe tales more rewarding. The only drawback here is the use of some cliched dangers, but that is more than made up for by the expert handling of how they effect, and are ultimately handled/vanquished by the Doctor and Clara. I think the best thing that can be said of any D ...more

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Jan 15, 2014 Jess rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-kindle-copy, netgalley-approved

*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Randon House UK, Ebury Publishing and Jenny Colgan*

2.5 stars

The Eleventh Doctor and Clara arrive on a planet that doesn't exist but they soon discover how dangerous it is.

There were parts of this story that I liked (seeing more of the Eleventh Doctor with Clara and certain points of the plot) and parts that I didn't (certain points of the plot and I didn't find the story as engaging towards the end) but ove ...more

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Jan 17, 2014 Glennis rated it liked it

I have to admit I am behind on my Doctor Who watching so I know nothing about Clara and 11 and their backstory. The TARDIS takes them to a planet that has no name and it looks like no one lives there. Of course there is a reason for this and it is a good story and the Doctor does his usual thing and upsets the apple cart on the planet, A good read for the fans and a nice way to dip into the series without having to worry about all the back history to try and catch.

Digital review copy provided by ...more

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About Jenny T. Colgan

Jenny T. Colgan

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Jenny T. Colgan is a pseudonym of author Jenny Colgan.

Jenny Colgan is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including 'The Little Shop of Happy Ever After' and 'Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery', which are also published by Sphere.' Meet Me at the Cupcake Café' won the 2012 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, as was 'Welcome to Rosie Hopk ...more