Introduction to "Redemption of the Daleks"

By Alan MacKenzie,

illustrated by Adam Bullock

 "Redemption" was written originally in 1993, over a period of approximately four months and is very much a "follow-on" story from "Remembrance of the Daleks", screened on BBC TV in 1989. At that time, it seemed highly likely that "Remembrance" would be the very last Dalek adventure to appear on television, pre-dating as it did, by sixteen years, the advent of the new Doctor Who adventures in 2005.

The plot of "Redemption" therefore, is built very much  around the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, borrowing closely from his mannerisms and attitudes, as well as his darker, introspective side, often hinted at during his tenure as the Doctor.

I have always been fascinated by the concept that the Daleks, one day, may become re-humanized. This theme has been touched upon occasionally over the years, notably in "Evil of the Daleks" (TV, 1967) and many years later, in 2002, with Doctor Who Magazine's "Children of the Revolution", a tale which has its origins in "Evil". On neither of these occasions however, was the concept brought to a happy conclusion. Indeed, "C o t R" ends on a note which I found deeply depressing.

Here, I hope to redress that balance and so in contrast, "Redemption" has been written deliberately to begin on a level field, rising as it progresses, to its upbeat and optimistic finale. To quote a line from the Ninth Doctor, "Everybody Lives!"

It is interesting to consider that whilst I have borrowed the notion of the Daleks' anti-gravity repulsors from "Remembrance" (the first time they appeared), a couple of  features original to my 1993 text, are personal protective force-fields and the concept of a majority of unarmed Daleks, with only a small defence force retaining weapons. Both of these features anticipated by quite some years, their appearance elsewhere ("Dalek" on TV 2005 and C o t R, respectively). Unfortunately, I am unable to claim credit for either of them, as my original storyline was passed round only amongst a few friends!

If "Redemption" may be said to have any kind of moral to its story, I think it is one of hope. Hope that despite all that Mankind does to interfere with the natural order of things in this world, Nature will, in the end, always come out on top. In the Dalek universe it is Davros who has interfered, in the most drastic fashion, with the natural order and it is Nature (albeit given a bit of a nudge by the Doctor) which, in the end, restores the balance.

Read and I hope, enjoy, "Redemption of the Daleks"!

Alan MacKenzie,
October 2006