Drawing on unseen and iconic material from the BBC archive and private collectors, The Vault is an unforgettable journey through 50 years of Doctor Who, via carefully selected photographs, props, costumes designs, production memos, letters, scripts and more. This is the full and official story of Doctor Who, from the first pre-production memos in 1963 to the most recent props created for the 2013 series, including interviews with key contributors and scores of prop photos, design sketches and behind the scenes stills from every decade of the show’s production. Taking you year by year through the world’s longest running science fiction series, Marcus Hearn explores the show’s groundbreaking innovations as well as its impact on popular culture through books and comics, magazines and toys, merchandise and ephemera. The Vault is a collector’s dream and the ultimate celebration of Doctor Who.
BBC Books 50th anniversary celebrations come to a head with the launch of The Vault, a 320 page behemoth of a book by TV historian and all round Doctor Who expert Marcus Hearn. Breaking open the archives (passing Marco Polo on the way) Hearn aims to deliver a definitive yet entertaining account of the shows production and cultural impact since it’s birth. The book aims to be both lavishly illustrated and informative throughout, very much in-keeping with Hearn’s similar work on the films of Hammer Studios, The Hammer Vault.
The forward of the book is of course by Steven Moffat, current head-honcho and big cheese in Cardiff. It sets out immediately the tone of the book, one that is almost too deferential to its subject-matter, certainly in terms of the ongoing series. While there is, admittedly justified, criticism levelled at aspects of the classic series, this doesn’t translate over into equal criticism of certain aspects of the show post-2005, making the book a perfect argument for the subsection of fans who believe the classic series has been treated unfairly in recent years.
Hearn cuts a diplomatic figure however, treading lightly through the controversies of the 1980s under Producer John Nathan-Turner and equally the 1990s while the show was off the air, all be it for one memorable night in 1996. While obviously this is a BBC book and one that acts as a celebratory tome in this anniversary year, the work comes across as disjointed and one that seems like it has something to say without actually saying it. In combining both the classic series, of which the BBC believe criticism is fair comment, and the ongoing series, where they don’t, you have a work that appears at once honest and at the same time a marketing piece for the ongoing series.
Yet that is the strongest criticism that can be levelled at the book. The Vault is an entertaining read, very much the coffee table book that The Legend by Justin Richards was before it. Logically taking the series in chronological order, the book picks out key topics to expand upon throughout Doctor Who’s 50 years in a series of succinct essays. We cover topics as diverse and entertaining as the companions, the fanzines, the Master, the audios, the Target novelisations, Doctor Who Magazine and the concerns of Mary Whitehouse, quoting extensively from original source material and lavishly illustrated with rare and unseen photos as well as designs and imagery from throughout the shows unique history.
Hearn describes the book as “a journey through a museum that never was” and it is an apt description. From Sky Ray lolly wrappers to cereal packets, annuals to newspaper clippings, press releases to production information that gives us a unique insight into how the show was produced, it’s all here in The Vault. Starting with An Unearthly Child and coming bang up to date with An Adventure in a Space and Time, the book succeeds in the mammoth task of covering as much of the shows rich tapestry as is feasible in 320 pages.
The Vault will be a delight for casual Doctor Who fans wishing to know more about this iconic series and hardcore fans alike will undoubtedly appreciate much of the content as a trip through memory lane. Full of rare archival material that ranges from costume photos and design images to behind the scenes shots and internal documentation, the book should be taken as a good-natured celebration of the series as opposed to a more analytical work. One for the Christmas lists… If you can wait that long!
Buy this because: Any book that features the layout of Lime Grove Studio D inside it’s inlays is bound to be something special. It’s got everything except the Tom Baker underpants!
The Vault is available from retailers now with an RRP of £30.00 (£19.20 on Amazon)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: BBC Books (24 Oct 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1849905819
ISBN-13: 978-1849905817
Product Dimensions: 28.2 x 25.4 x 3 cm
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