Spinning off from Candy Jar Book’s successful Lethbridge-Stewart range comes a new series of novels, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries!
Lucy might be a new character in the Doctor Who universe, but she has an illustrious heritage – as the granddaughter of the iconic Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, one of Doctor Who’s most iconic regular stars. The Brigadier was obviously played by the late Nicholas Courtney, whose death in 2011 prompted the show to pay tribute to him in the series finale, The Wedding of River Song.
The Lethbridge-Stewart books began with The Forgotten Son, continuing on from The Web of Fear; but three years into the series, Shaun Russell, head of publishing, thought the time was right to broaden the Brig’s horizons. He says:
“The great thing about Doctor Who is that it appeals to adults and children alike. There’s something for everybody to explore, from The Sarah Jane Adventures for the very young, to Torchwood for those a bit older. Lethbridge-Stewart’s last appearance in any Doctor Who media was, in fact, in The Sarah Jane Adventures. I’m sure that sent a lot of kids back to the classic series to see what all the fuss about. And once you’re a fan of that, you’re generally a fan for life.
“The Brig is such a fundamental part of classic Doctor Who, but after Nicholas Courtney’s death, he’s naturally become less a part of the ongoing programme. We thought that, with the Lucy Wilson series, we could ensure his legacy continues into the modern day – at the same time hopefully sending young fans back to the classics! This is why we have decided to pit Lucy up against the iconic Great Intelligence.”
Not only is the Great Intelligence making a guest appearance, but so does the Brigadier and a couple of other characters well known to fans of the Lethbridge-Stewart novels and short stories, and The Web of Fear.
Not that Lucy needs much help. A modern girl with strong values and opinions, she’s dauntless, loyal and whip smart – qualities long embodied by the Doctor himself. 11-year-old Lucy Wilson doesn’t want to move from London to sleepy Ogmore-by-Sea in South Wales. But when she arrives in her new seaside home, it isn’t as boring as she expected. The village is under the control of a mysterious alien force, and it falls to Lucy and her new friend, Hobo, to stop it. Here’s the blurb for the debut book, Avatars of the Intelligence:
Lucy Wilson doesn’t want to move from London to sleepy south Wales. But when she arrives at her new seaside home, it doesn’t appear to be as boring as she expected.
Ogmore-by-Sea seems to be under the control of a mysterious and powerful force. But why is Lucy its target? And why, when students at her new school start to disappear, does no one seem to care?
With the help of her new friend Hobo, Lucy Wilson must assume the mantle of her grandfather, the legendary Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and defeat an invisible enemy before it’s too late.
The Lucy Wilson Mysteries is a Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off adventure and features licensed characters created for Doctor Who by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln.
Writer, Sue Hampton, author of two previous Lethbridge-Stewart stories, says:
“I’m sure that the new Doctor will defeat her enemies with smarts and ingenuity – and with the help of her friends. It’s great for kids to have someone like this as their role model. They’re the values of the show. And while she’s very much her own girl, we see Lucy as embodying similar traits. We hope young readers will find her just as inspiring.”
The book has already been endorsed by Eggheads presenter and Radio 2 DJ, Jeremy Vine. He says:
“A great read – brilliant characters and a plot that keeps surprising you. Sue Hampton writes in three dimensions! Avatars of the Intelligence draws you in from the very first page.”
Cover art is provided by Steve Beckett, a freelance writer and illustrator who has contributed artwork for The Beano, including The Bash Street Kids, General Jumbo, and Bully Beef and Chips. He says:
“I am very excited to have contributed to the expanding Lethbridge-Stewart universe. Shaun contacted me because he was familiar with my work for The Beano. He wanted something that could appeal to the young and adults alike. Hopefully I have achieved this. I have certainly grown quite fond of the characters and I look forward to hopefully drawing them again very soon.”
The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Avatars of the Intelligence by Sue Hampton is available to pre-order for £7.99, exclusively for fans until the end of September 2017, with dispatch shortly thereafter. The commercial release of the book will be early 2018. Expect a review on the DWC very soon!