Mad Dogs and Englishmen (novel)

Mad Dogs and Englishmen is a BBC Books original novel written by Paul Magrs and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Eighth Doctor, Fitz and Anji.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen
AuthorPaul Magrs
SeriesDoctor Who book:
Eighth Doctor Adventures
Release number
52
SubjectFeaturing:
Eighth Doctor
Fitz and Anji
PublisherBBC Books
Publication date
January 2002
Pages249
ISBN0-563-53845-7
Preceded byThe Adventuress of Henrietta Street 
Followed byHope 

Plot

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A race of alien poodles alters a 20th-century fantasy epic to aid their civil war.

The Doctor infiltrates a groups of writers known as the Smudgelings, Anji experiences some very, very special effects in 1970s America and Fitz meets an old friend.

The book also features a jolly hotel chef and dogs with opposable thumbs.

Writing and development

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The novel contains a spoof of J. R. R. Tolkien's experiences writing The Lord of the Rings. The character representing C. S. Lewis in this also appears in Magrs's non-Doctor Who novel To the Devil — a Diva! and the Smudgelings reappear in his novel Something Borrowed. Another character represents Ray Harryhausen.

Noël Coward plays a major role in the novel. The title of the book is based on the classic Noël Coward song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen".

John Major makes a short cameo in the climactic scene at the Champagne Supernova club.

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