The Art of Destruction - Stephen Cole

Stephen Cole's The Art of Destruction is the fifth of the New Doctor Who Adventures to feature the Doctor and Rose as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper in the BBC TV series.

In the 22nd Century, the TARDIS materialises in Africa, in the shadow of an apparently dormant volcano. Agri-teams are growing new foodstuffs in the baking soil that surrounds the volcano in attempt to feed the world's starving millions, but the Doctor and Rose have detected an alien signal somewhere close by, hence their arrival. When a nightmare force begins to surge along the dark tunnels under the volcano, the Doctor realises that an ancient trap has been sprung. But for whom was the trap intended, and what is the secret of the eerie statues that stand at the heart of the volcano? The Doctor and Rose find themselves dragged into a centuries-old conflict and trying to elevate survival into an art form, as ancient alien hands practice arts of destruction all around them.

This book is also available in Audiobook format and from Amazon.com.

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The BBC officially launched the third season of New Doctor Who (which starts in nine days time) last night, airing "Smith and Jones" for the press. And poor David Tennant got asked for the umpteenth time when he was leaving the show. He graciously refused to answer - I'm not sure I'd be half so gracious in his shoes since he's been asked that question at regular intervals ever since being cast in the role of the Doctor (great way to make someone feel wanted, press people !) Even if he wasn't going to continue to play the role for the officially commissioned fourth season, he and the BBC aren't very likely to say so when the new season is about to begin airing. The news of Christopher Eccleston's departure was leaked before the first season had barely begun and it really cast a shadow over the show. I'm quite sure the BBC has learnt a lesson from that debacle and would only announce David's departure towards the end of the season which would be his last.

Some fun facts about series three of Doctor Who - it required 20 gallons of latex rubber, 40 gallons of silicon rubber, four tonnes of clay, 10 litres of prosthetic adherent and three sets of prosthetic dentures.