selenak

There has been a delightful Dr. Who ficathon,

unit_family, giving us a look as to what several Old Who characters (specifically those working for and with UNIT) are doing during New Who and Torchwood events. Even if you're a New Who only fan and don't know these people, you should take a look at some of those stories.

Perfect for New Who and Torchwood only watchers: Occupation, which takes place after the first season of Torchwood ended, and is narrated from Tosh's point of view - and Tosh doesn't know the people swooping in to take over Torchwood III after the series of disasters culminating with the disappearance of a certain someone, either. It shall be my eternal regret that the second season of Torchwood won't open like this, because it would make so much sense. After all, UNIT has been referenced on the show (by Jack, on the phone) several times, and being the competent lot they are... Extra bonus for adding a certain Ms McShane to UNIT'S civilian staff and letting her bond with Tosh. (Dorothy McShane is Ace's real name.)

My Way is trickier to read without Old Who background knowledge, but I think it could be done; after all, New Whovians know who Sarah Jane is, too, and the point of view character, Harry Sullivan (who used to be a companion of the Fourth Doctor), is so engagingly written that you understand what's essential about him very quickly. In this story, Harry comes across a girl named Ace and a certain odd little man. "Former companion meets Doctor in new regeneration with new companion" will never get old, and again, since we're in Harry's pov, you don't need to know more than he sees about Ace and the (Seventh) Doctor.

Old Soldiers is a wonderful take on the events of the New Who episodes "World War Three", "The Christmas Invasion" and "Army of Ghosts" through the eyes of the Brigadier. Old Whovians: it's a perfect Brig, and it made me misty eyed. New Whovians: the Brigadier is a kind of UberCompanion, having worked with several of the Doctors on screen and with the rest of them in the audios and books. That's all you need to know.

astrogirl2 writes him so well that you'll feel as if you've watched him for years by the time you finish reading.

Lastly: While Rome Burned, which takes on Liz Shaw, Sgt. Benton, the Brigadier, Jo Grant, Harry, Sarah Jane and Yates during The Christmas Invasion is something that probably does not work for newbies. But Old School fen should love it.

***

And speaking of Old and New Who intermingling: . According to the Independent, John Simm, aka Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, has been cast as, wait for it, THE MASTER. Considering The Independent should be a bit more reliable than The Sun, this could actually be genuine. Simm as the Master to Tennant's Doctor... excuse me while I drool...!!!