Whoblique Strategies

1977: Brian Eno and David Bowie apply random oblique strategy cards to the recording of Bowie’s Low and “Heroes” LPs. From rock ‘n’ roll comes a new kind of art.

2017: Playwright Elton Townend Jones and his Vortex of Wholigans apply the same strategy cards to every Doctor Who TV story. From time ‘n’ space comes a new kind of magic. Over 275 stories, Over 275 bursts of fast fiction, 70 writers,16 Doctors, and a whole new adventure across the history of everyone’s favourite Time Lord. And all in aid of Children In Need.

 

Whoblique Strategies
Whoblique Strategies

Take two of my favourite things in the world: David Bowie and Doctor Who. From that point on, you can pretty much ask me to do anything. Thankfully all Elton Townsend-Jones asked me to do was create a cover for his ambitious charity/literary project; splicing Doctor Who with an art sensibility…oh, and write a few entries for the book. How could I say no? In fact, I don’t even think I said yes – I just got straight on with creating the sort of imagery that Elton was after. It just worked, because it was perfect.

The book itself is quite the enigma and I’ve countless times heard readers say words to the effect of, “I’m not sure why but I think I quite like it!” It’s not a book that plays any kind of game to be liked, or indeed, plays by the usual rules of Who fiction. It takes risks; heads off in new, untapped directions and even challenges all of the things that we, as Doctor Who fans might take for granted. But hey, Who has always been about change and challenges and if anyone tells you otherwise, just give them until the next regeneration to turn around and say that that’s how the show’s always been. (It goes in cycles, you see)

The book is available via Amazon here.