But Doctor, Haven't We Been Here Before?

A war fought between the most powerful civilisations in the galaxy, dragging in the whole of time and space, distorting reality with paradox after paradox as the war threatens the very fabric of the universe. The most famous hero of the 'good' civilisation refuses to involve himself, choosing instead to keep running as the conflict worsens. As the conflict drags on, those we are supposed to be supporting become ever more brutal in their prosecution of the war. The enemy draws nearer and nearer to victory. Eventually, with them at the gates of the capital, our hero feels forced to intervene. But it's too late. For a man who always saves the day, this is his no-win scenario. In order to stop the victory of his enemies, he is also forced to kill his own people. Double genocide with one hand movement.

But wait! Years later, we discover this was not the end we all thought it was. The hero's home planet has been preserved as a memory of its former self, thanks to previously unknown interventions of said hero. So it turns out he has, once again, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Of course, to reclaim it will be hard work, and he barely knows where to begin. But it doesn't matter. He'll get there.

The Doctor never loses.

This is broadly the plot line of the Eighth Doctor Adventures, the BBC Books series published between 1997 and 2005. Any resemblance between this and the 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who is entirely coincidental...

P.S. I'm aware this reveals me as a *massive* sc-fi nerd. Frankly, if you hadn't worked that out by now...

Doctor Who at 50

"I once dreamt that all Time Lords would be like you, that we would explore the universe once more, help those who needed it, destroy those who would destroy. You do good... but perhaps it is as well that you are one of a kind."

Marnal, the second last Time Lord, to the Eighth Doctor, The Gallifrey Chronicles, BBC Books, 2005

Deplorable Words

"It was my sister's fault," said the Queen. "She drove me to it. May the curse of all the Powers rest upon her forever! At any moment I was ready to make peace - yes and to spare her life too, if only she would yield me the throne. But she would not. Her pride has destroyed the whole world. Even after the war had begun, there was a solemn promise that neither side would use Magic. But when she broke her promise, what could I do? Fool! As if she did not know that I had more Magic than she! She even knew that I had the secret of the Deplorable Word. Did she think - she was always a weakling - that I would not use it?"

"What was it?" said Digory.

"That was the secret of secrets," said the Queen Jadis. "It had long been known to the great kings of our race that there was a word which, if spoken with the proper ceremonies, would destroy all living things except the one who spoke it. But the ancient kings were weak and softhearted and bound themselves and all who should come after them with great oaths never even to seek after the knowledge of that word. But I learned it in a secret place and paid a terrible price to learn it. I did not use it until she forced me to it. I fought to overcome her by every other means. I poured out the blood of my armies like water - "

"Beast!" muttered Polly.

"The last great battle," said the Queen, "raged for three days here in Charn itself. For three days I looked down upon it from this very spot. I did not use my power till the last of my soldiers had fallen, and the accursed woman, my sister, at the head of her rebels was halfway up those great stairs that lead up from the city to the terrace. Then I waited till we were so close that we could see one another's faces. She flashed her horrible, wicked eyes upon me and said, "Victory." "Yes," said I, "Victory, but not yours." Then I spoke the Deplorable Word. A moment later I was the only living thing beneath the sun.",

"But the people?" gasped Digory.

"What people, boy?" asked the Queen.

"All the ordinary people," said Polly, "who'd never done you any harm. And the women, and the children, and the animals."

"Don't you understand?" said the Queen (still speaking to Digory). "I was the Queen. They were all my people. What else were they there for but to do my will?"

"It was rather hard luck on them, all the same," said he.

"I had forgotten that you are only a common boy. How should you understand reasons of State?"

The Magician's Newphew, by C.S. Lewis, who (also) died on 22/11/1963. Widely understood to be an analogy for nuclear weapons and the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction.

Nearly Wit and Nearly Wisdom

My friends and fellow citizens: I cite these facts and figures to make it clear that America today is stronger than ever before. Our adversaries have not abandoned their ambitions, our dangers have not diminished, our vigilance cannot be relaxed. But now we have the military, the scientific, and the economic strength to do whatever must be done for the preservation and promotion of freedom.

That strength will never be used in pursuit of aggressive ambitions — it will always be used in pursuit of peace. It will never be used to promote provocations — it will always be used to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes.

We in this country, in this generation, are — by destiny rather than choice — the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of "peace on earth, good will toward men". That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: "except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

Ending of a speech due to be given by US President John F Kennedy in Dallas, Nov 22nd 1963. He was cut down by an assassin's bullet on his way from the airport.

Meeting Nick Clegg

On Tuesday I ran a college trip to Lancaster House, where the Deputy Prime Minister's Office and lots of employers were running an event called Opening Doors, to persuade those still in school that it's not who they know but what they know which will help them succeed in the future.

Needless to say, I had a *field-day*...

1. The woman from Random House publishers may have missed the point of the day when she said to me 'Well, you do seem like the type of person we'd like to have come and work for us... Are you interested?'

2. Thankfully I bit down my response of 'Really, then why didn't you employ me when I applied for a job last year?'

3. I was mistaken for a student more times than I can count.

4. 'Don't bother with going to university, come straight into our apprenticeship scheme!' Thanks, Lloyds, but I've already done four years at university, so thanks for belittling that...

5. Also, I'm not sure taking long term advice from a bank which is mostly owned by the taxpayer, thanks to its lack of long term thinking.

6. Finally, I've never been more proud of the students at my college as I was at the Q&A with Nick Clegg; one of mine got the last question:

So, if you think it's still important we go to university if we want to and can get the grades... why did you go and break your promise on tuition fees?

Apparently the face of every adult in the room froze. Apart from one. I was apparently beaming from ear to ear.