Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Sulp Niar]

From Outpost Gallifrey:

"Doctor Who author Craig Hinton, a longtime contributor to the Virgin and BBC Books novel lines and Big Finish's audio ranges, has died. He was 42.

Hinton first became known for his articles about various sci-fi television programmes, including Doctor Who and Star Trek. He was also for a time editor of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's journal Celestial Toyroom. This work brought him to the attention of the editor of Doctor Who Magazine, who offered him the role of reviewing merchandise for the magazine's Shelf Life section. It was whilst writing for the magazine that Hinton had his first novel, The Crystal Bucephalus, published as part of Virgin Publishing's Missing Adventures range. The book - which Hinton often referred to as "The Crystal Bucket" - was originally submitted for Virgin's New Adventures, and 50,000 words of this version were written before the change was made.

This novel was followed by a further Missing Adventure, Millennial Rites in 1995, and then by Hinton's only New Adventure in 1996, GodEngine, which featured the Ice Warriors as well as oblique appearances by the Daleks.

Following Virgin's loss of their licence to produce Doctor Who novels, Hinton began submitting proposals to BBC Books and in 2001 they published his novel The Quantum Archangel as part of their Past Doctor Adventures range. This was followed in 2004 by the novel Synthespians, which again had started life as a proposal for the current incumbent Doctor before being altered to feature a previous Doctor. Synthespians also came into difficulties when an image of the television show Dynasty was used on the cover: the cover's creators had arranged for permission to use the copyrighted image, but had neglected to arrange permission to alter it, and so at the last minute a replacement cover had to be produced. It is this that appeared on the cover of the novel.

Hinton also wrote for Big Finish, with the Doctor Who audio play Excelis Decays being produced in 2002 and the Tomorrow People play The Lords of Forever in 2005. Hinton also contributed short stories to a variety of Big Finish's short fiction collections.

Hinton spoke often of having coined the term "fanwank" in some of his past reviews to refer to novels or stories that relied heavily on past continuity. Ironically, the term would often be applied to Hinton's own work, which frequently incorporated a great deal of Doctor Who history; Hinton himself embraced the label.

His most recent published work consisted of reviews of the 2006 Doctor Who episodes, published in Second Flight: Back to the Vortex II by Outpost Gallifrey's editor Shaun Lyon. Hinton formed part of the international panel of reviewers giving their thoughts on each episode for the book, which was released less than a fortnight before his death. At the time of his death, Hinton was working with co-writer Chris McKeon on a project called Time's Champion, a novel based on a former BBC Books submission of his which would have explained the circumstances surrounding the Sixth Doctor's regeneration. Hinton intended to publish the completed project online, and McKeon intends to complete the work in memory of Hinton and make it available to fans.

Hinton, an active and popular member of the Doctor Who fan community since the 1980s, was a regular poster on the Outpost Gallifrey forum since its inception in 2001. A memorial thread has been opened on the forum to leave tributes and share memories.

Outpost Gallifrey would like to offer its sincere condolences to all of Hinton's family and friends."

I too would like to offer my condolences. I've only read Synthespians, which was fun, so I'm yet to really sample his work, but it's still a tragedy for him to pass away - particularly at the age of 42.

[Greg]

I heard this news via an email at work today, and I was a bit speechless - I was at a meeting this afternoon and was talking about something and became pretty incoherent.

I never met Craig, but I've read his books, listened to audios he's written, and swapped a few emails with him in my time. Craig was a very friendly and knowledgeable guy, he really loved the show and all its minutiae, as is easily witnessed by reading his books. Plus he could dish up the juicy goss on any number of people at the drop of a hat!

If you haven't read one of his books, you might enjoy it.

He was a nice guy, and will be missed.

[Theta Sigma]

I actually got to interact with Mr Hinton in at Outpost Gallifrey when he responded to queries that I made and mistakes that I have noticed in a couple of books. This is as far as I got to knew him and it is quite a shock to learn about his death.

In fact I am currently reading Synthespians™ and I will continue to read and eventually finish it as my tribute to Craig Hinton.

[Greg]

I just add that Synthespians™ features a charcter named after a former regular contributor to this very forum.

[Sean]

Craig and I used to chat online regularly a few years ago and I always appreciated Craig as a writer, a fellow fan and a good friend. As Greg wrote, Craig named a character after me in 'Synthespians' and I still get a buzz out of opening the book and seeing my name in there. I'm just so glad that I have that book as a permanent reminder of the friendship we shared. I don't know what else to say other than I'll miss him but I'll never forget him.

[phase5]

I'll probably get flamed by any number of people for what I’m about to say, but I’m going to say it any way. I’m sure some readers will not consider it an appropriate post. My apologies in advance if you feel that way. No offense to anyone is intended.

It’s very sad that Craig Hinton has died, especially at such an early age.
I’m sure it’s a very distressing and emotional time for his close friends and family.
It always is when someone dies.

I’ll be blunt. I’ve never heard of the man, but obviously he’s had a very positive influence on many people.

So if you want to do something to honour the man’s life and his work at the time of his death, and not just mark his death, may I suggest something real and positive and ongoing.

It’s very easy to say things like “I dedicate” or “as a tribute”; but if it’s something you were doing anyway, or going to do anyway, and you’re not really going out of your way to do something special and positive that contributes to the world, which is a much more real way to honour the person you’re doing it for, you’re not really doing much at all to honour that person. Think about it.

May I suggest that if you want to honour the mans life you consider some of the following small but positive ways:

(1.) Find which charity was his personal favourite and make a donation in his name; and then consider making regular donations. (One off donations are great, but regular donations are better long term). If he didn’t support any charities make a donation to one in his name.

(2.) If you’re of legal age consider becoming a regular blood donor. It’s an hour out of your life once every 3 months. And you could be saving someone’s life every time you visit. Be prepared to become a regular, blood is always needed.

(3.) Consider becoming a volunteer. There are many options available. Check with your church or local community organisations. You’d be surprised at the difference you can make in the life of many people especially the elderly.

And if you want to make what you do truly special, do it without making a fuss. Just do it. Without announcing it to the world. (Dedicating books aside). Do it to honour the person you’re doing it for.

Just some thoughts.

[Greg]

[Ace]

I didn't find that at all offensive Phase5. I thought it was a very good thing to suggest and saying you have never heard of the man isn't offensive either. I imagine there are a few million people on the world who have never heard of him either.

I have heard of Craig Hinton, however and I have to say I'm extremely shocked to hear of his death...and at such a young age. My thoughts are with his family and friends. I have read some of his posts on OG when I used to go there, but was always too scared to reply to a real author

I have enjoyed his books and audios immensely and he will be sorely missed in the DW community. I remember him from his days at DWM as well. He always came across as an honest, intelligent writer and one of his books "The Crystal Bucket" is one of my all time favourite books, one of a very few that I read and re-read constantly.

So to you Mr Hinton, happy travels and thank you for providing me with some great memories of my favourite show,

Ace

[Theta Sigma]

[Greg]

Craig's family has aksed that people make donations to the British Heart Foundation rather than sending floral tributes to his funeral service, which is 14/12 in the UK.

[frobisher]

I am also reading Synthespians tm (got it in a magazine) and it is quite good and quite sad that he died young but does anyone know how he died?

R.I.P. Craig Hinton