Christopher Bulis

Christopher Bulis is a British author primarily known for writing original novels based on the Doctor Who television series during the 1990s and early 2000s. He contributed multiple books to Virgin Publishing's Doctor Who New Adventures and Missing Adventures lines, as well as BBC Books' Past Doctor Adventures series. Bulis wrote his first Doctor Who novel, State of Change, in 1994 and went on to pen additional titles including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, A Device of Death, and The Ultimate Treasure. His work often incorporated detailed historical settings and science fiction concepts aligned with the Doctor Who universe. Beyond his Doctor Who contributions, Bulis maintained a low public profile and limited his published work primarily to tie-in fiction. His last Doctor Who novel, Palace of the Red Sun, was published by BBC Books in 2002. The plotting and world-building demonstrated in Bulis' novels earned him steady commissions from both Virgin Publishing and BBC Books during the years when Doctor Who was off television. His stories typically featured the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Doctors from the classic series.

Doctor Who fans find Bulis' novels competent but unremarkable. Readers note his attention to historical detail and world-building, particularly in "State of Change" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Readers appreciated: - Clear, straightforward plotting - Historical accuracy and research - Faithful characterization of the TV Doctors - Solid science fiction concepts Common criticisms: - Workmanlike prose lacking style - Predictable storylines - Underdeveloped supporting characters - Safe, conventional approach to the franchise On Goodreads, his books average 3.5-3.8 out of 5 stars. One reviewer called his work "reliable but not revolutionary." Another noted: "Bulis delivers exactly what you expect - no more, no less." Amazon reviews echo these sentiments, with readers describing his novels as "serviceable" and "by-the-numbers" but praising his consistency and attention to established Doctor Who lore. Ratings across platforms suggest readers view Bulis as a dependable but unexceptional contributor to Doctor Who fiction.

City at World's End - The Sixth Doctor and Peri arrive on a colony world where the population lives in fear of a mysterious force causing people to vanish into thin air.

Imperial Moon - The Fifth Doctor, Turlough and Kamelion become entangled in a Victorian British mission to establish a lunar colony in 1878.

Palace of the Red Sun - The Sixth Doctor and Peri explore a seemingly perfect garden world that harbors dark secrets beneath its peaceful exterior.

Shadowmind - The Seventh Doctor and Ace investigate mysterious disappearances on the colony world of Shadowmind.

State of Change - The Sixth Doctor and Peri find themselves in an alternate ancient Egypt where modern technology exists alongside traditional culture.

The Eye of the Giant - The Third Doctor and Liz Shaw become involved in events surrounding a 1934 expedition to a mysterious Pacific island.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - The First Doctor and his companions encounter magic and intrigue in medieval Spain.

Twilight of the Gods - The Second Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria visit a colony world where the inhabitants worship ancient Norse gods.

Vanderdeken's Children - The Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith investigate a derelict spacecraft with connections to the legendary Flying Dutchman.

Terrance Dicks wrote over 60 Doctor Who novels and novelizations as the show's primary adaptor during the classic era. His straightforward plotting style and characterization of the Doctor matches Bulis' approach to tie-in fiction.

Gary Russell produced multiple Doctor Who novels for Virgin and BBC Books while also writing for other sci-fi franchises. His work combines historical elements with science fiction concepts in a similar way to Bulis' stories.

Paul Cornell established himself writing Doctor Who novels for Virgin Publishing before moving into television writing. His books feature the same type of detailed world-building and historical settings found in Bulis' work.

Kate Orman wrote numerous Doctor Who novels for Virgin Publishing during the same period as Bulis. Her stories focus on detailed plots and characterization within established Doctor Who continuity like Bulis' contributions.

Justin Richards served as creative consultant for BBC Books' Doctor Who line while writing multiple novels himself. His output parallels Bulis in terms of focusing on classic Doctors and incorporating both historical and science fiction elements.