In the late 70’s Douglas Adams, acclaimed author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy wrote a six part series of Doctor Who, featuring Tom Baker that was intended to wrap up the season 17th season. For reasons of industrial action at the BBC, filming of the episodes was halted and later abandoned altogether. The serial was called Shada, and the story featured Professor Chronotis, a Gallifrean who has absconded from the empire and now lives a quiet life at Cambridge college. Professor Chronotis is in possession of The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey,  the most powerful book in the universe. An evil scientist named Skagra also desires the tome and is hot on its trail.

Adam’s Doctor Who series are among the few that have never been published. The author always wanted to do it himself, but never found the time. The task has now fallen to Doctor Who scriptwriter Gareth Roberts.

BBC Publishing calls this story “the Holy Grail for Time Lord fans,” and editorial director Albert De Petrillo is excited to bring this wonderful story to the public.

“Douglas Adams’s serials for Doctor Who are considered by many to be some of the best the show has ever produced. Shada is a funny, scary, surprising and utterly terrific story, and we’re thrilled to be publishing the first fully realised version of this Doctor Who adventure as Douglas originally conceived it.”

Exciting stuff. An exact date for the book has not been announced, so check back with us for more Doctor Who news!

[Source] The Guardian