BASIC PLOT
The Nestene Consciousness is taking over Hyperville, a hi-tech, 24-hour entertainment complex.

DOCTOR
Tenth.

COMPANIONS
None.

MATERIALISATION CIRCUIT
Pg 8 We don't see it happen on this end, but the TARDIS lands near Hyperville in 2009. (We see the other end of the materialisation on page 238.)

Pg 18 In an alcove in Hyperville, 2013.

Pg 238 The TARDIS rematerialises in the same place in 2013 after visiting 2009.

PREPARATORY READING
A passing familiarity with Spearhead from Space, Terror of the Autons and Rose would be helpful.

CONTINUITY REFERENCES
Pg 16 "She'd done an interview with him for Metropolitan a few months ago" Metropolitan is the magazine Sarah Jane Smith worked for.

Pg 69 The psychic paper makes an appearance (The End of the World et al).

"Oooh, you've had some cowboys in here!" The Girl in the Fireplace.

Pg 81 "Ohh, this is brilliant! Like the SnowGlobe." SnowGlobe 7

Pg 88 "Animatronic synchro-thesp." The similarity in the name suggests this might be an obscure reference to Synthespians™, which also featured Autons.

Pg 91 "Ahhh! Molto bene!" Midnight.

Pgs 102-103 "They've tried to invade this planet at least three times before and almost succeeded." Spearhead from Space, Terror of the Autons, Rose.

Pg 118 "A homocidial homunculus." The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

Pg 119 "So where did you get that from? Planet Zog?" Zog is the imaginary planet that Russell T Davies always referenced.

"'Doctor, you said it just now. As if the murderer isn't human.' 'Oh it isn't,' said the Doctor cheerfully. 'Not remotely human.'" Remembrance of the Daleks.

Pg 156 "And a lovely piece of warp-shunt containment technology." Rose.

"Yeah, defeated it three times now. Or four. Actually, could it bne five?" Spearhead from Space, Terror of the Autons, Rose, Synthespians™.

Pg 165 "The distress signal that this unit has been sending out is to a Consciousness spearhead cluster located at the fringes of your solar system." Spearhead from Space.

Pg 185 "You know, when I first met the Nestenes, they were tuned into Seventies retro. Telephones, coloured vinyl, hideous troll-dolls." Terror of the Autons.

Pg 186 "Mind you, I can talk. I used to dress like Jimi Hendrix." The third Doctor.

Pg 197 "Well, I'm trying to formulate a bit of an anti-plastic cocktail." Rose.

Pg 198 "We - are - in - a - bar." School Reunion.

Pg 203 "Not exactly going to be a Harvey Wallbanger, this." The Unicorn and the Wasp.

Pg 204 "'Anti-plastic, fantastic,' said the Doctor softly. 'Even better than my last formulation, if I do say so myself.'" Rose.

Pg 210 "He sounded the hooter on the train. 'You know, I've always wanted to drive one of these.'" Black Orchid.

Pg 218 "Shower of meteorites. Well, that's what it'll look like." Spearhead from Space.

Pg 222 "I mean, your previous attempts at invasion didn't go brilliantly, did they?" Spearhead from Space, Terror of the Autons, Rose.

Pg 228 "'You owe me for a new suit, you daft beggar!' 'I'll buy you a hundred!' The Doctor nodded." The Three Doctors.

Pg 237 "That UNIT woman - what's she called, Magambo?" Turn Left, Planet of the Dead.

OLD FRIENDS AND OLD ENEMIES
The Nestene Consciousness and the Autons.

NEW FRIENDS AND NEW ENEMIES
Kate McGuire, Sir Gerry, Chantelle, Reece and Tricia Stanford.

CONTINUITY COCK-UPS
None.

PLUGGING THE HOLES [Fan-wank theorizing of how to fix continuity cock-ups]
N/A

FEATURED ALIEN RACES
Pg 102 Autons and the Nestene Consciousness.

FEATURED LOCATIONS
Pg 8 England, 2009.

Pg 18 The same location, 2013.

IN SUMMARY - Robert Smith?
This is quite sweet. It's an Auton invasion of a shopping centre, so it's not exactly going to set the world on fire for originality, but it has some nice parts. Kate McGuire is that rarity: a one-off companion who's actually decent, while Sir Gerry is distinctive enough to be memorable. Sadly Derek, the guy who won't speak, doesn't really work - and the drama is undercut enormously when his stepchildren are told about his death and barely react at all. The idea of plastic clothing that can be controlled by the Consciousness is a great one, although in the end it only claims one victim. And the entire threat is neutralised by... anti-plastic. Again. But a few niggles aside, this is quite enjoyable and won't waste your time.