h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here is where it begins: A clean slate wiped cleaner, a 'Nth' Doctor waiting to join the literary universe. This is where planning, discussion occurs.

Each one present- Lance, Martin, Mike and Richard select a part of the whole and writes an episode, we then wait and watch to see how the next writer challenges the story, what depths they can bring to it?

What is the story, what theme will it take and will the story stay together?

Truly a challenge for everyone involved, testing our strengths by abandoning our own continuity, canon and starting fresh, starting properly.

Where do go from here is the Triumvirate's decision?

Who would like to start the discussion but keep your actual ideas to a secret, let them be a suprise to us, both as writers and readers.

Would it hurt to set this story's location in an unexplored area, although it would be nice to have a Chinese connection to the proceedings?

How about we each submit a character, an incidental character of our own creation- no links to our continuity!

Instead we present here, characters for use in the story, all must be used properly and effectively?

To begin I 'nominate' PROFESSOR BASIL ROGER LANDRIDGE: a historian, typical Englishman, tall, proud with short dark hair, a bit greying around the edges. Dressed in a brown, smart suit, looking like a typical Englishman, educated at Eton with a well spoken voice.
A ladies man, married once but divorced two years later, enjoys Cricket and has a clear, focussed mind although he falls away to a coward at times.

'Mister Arthur Smith', lower middle class Englishman with strangly hair and well worn clothing consisting of a simple white shirt and grey trousers. He speaks with typical "Cockney" slang, people tend to underestimate him. But they don't realise he has a secret, one which leads to his part in the adventure ...

Hmm? Sounds intriguing Arthur Smith- he is going to be the ancient reincarnation of the solar God Phentatorum who is readying himself for a battle against the forces of darkness but now spends his time sleeping, drinking and being merry with the ladies?

G'day mate! How's you on this foine day?

As for the others I'm sure they'll add something further to the mix?

How's Nibbles?

I be doing fine, me old son. Or .. erm .. something.

So in this story we will be following on from each other, taking the story in different directions but keeping it firmly the same story? allowing us to create a story that mixes each of our styles, is that the idea?

"Part 12-A" of The Trial of a Time Lord is now up. I think I've cornered the market as far as obscure places in the canon in which to set a missing adventure goes!

Take care.

Something like that Lance, someone amongst us starts episode one, then another takes two, then, three and so on until we have written an episode in a different style but essentially the things we add, add to the story as a whole.

But of the esteemed guests we bring to this story, what will happen?

What I think would be interesting as a setting is:

CHINA 1900.

Honoured guests find themselves invited to a meal a the Imperial palace of Lord Mai Shu Cheng on the ancient island of Death's Head Rock off the East coast.

Present is Professor Landridge; esteemed teacher of history and a ladies man, Arthur Smith; a low life from the streets of London with a mysterious talent, someone else, someone else and a time traveller called the Doctor...

For my art I submit the character of Mou Sheng Tui once Lord Mai's Court Entertainer but now elevated to the level of personal friend. Despite no longer being in the trade he still keeps his skills sharp and is a master of many of the martial arts, an able magician and also rather quick on his feet.

So we have Mou Sheng Tui, Professor Landridge, Arthur Smith at the court of Lord Mai Shu Cheng.

They each need a purpose, a reason to be there but ultimately Lord Mai has an agenda for bringing them together!

Very interesting character you have there Mike, Martial arts, Magician, yes very good. I can use that for what I'm thinking of doing?

Well done, now we need Raspy's character and then we can sort out whom starts?

I don't mind which episode I do really. I really am looking forward to this story though. I'd always wanted to write a story set in China but never got around to it for some reason or other.

Neither did the 7th doctor! (cf "Dimensions in Time")

And we're all here together. Where's Martin?

Have you looked down the back of the sofa. That's where most Pennys end up

Martin

{In an ancient mystical tone}

So then, out of us three, whom wishes to go first. When the last appears shall we decide then?

What path we travellers shall walk? The path to safety, clean, clear and straight Or the path of treacherous, winding, jagged and dangerous?

Well, who stands here to take the first step?

(Mike looks around)

Why has it gone all dark and why has Richard's surname changed from Wilden to Burten?

It's okay, it's only McCow's cocoa doing it's usual work.

I thought it ahd been labelled unfit for human consumption

I am not human- Well it's no surprise really that I'm actually a host for the incarnation of the demon God Mahkreock, a force of darkness so insidiously evil that no one can stare me in the eye long enough without being corrupted on the spot into their twisted alter egos aside from my arch nemesis.

At the dawn of time we fought, dark against light, black against white, good versus evil, from that day, after a climatic battle of a thousand years we were shapeless beings seeking out husk to inhabit and preparing for that day when we would rise to fight again!

Where is my enemy now?

It has. Doesn't stop us drinking it though.

This is what it does to you:

Considering whatever happens- has anyone here great ideas for what they would like to do?

For you see I feel like doing a dark and haunting story, something with full of atmosphere and rich in intrigue and mystery.

I've even considered a cliffhanger of a sorts, dark, twisted and chilling!