The Strange World of Tardiverse and How it Played a Pivotal Role in Sci-Fi

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Exploring the Tardiverse: A Guide to the Whoniverse of Doctor Who

For any fans of the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who, the vast lore and continuity of the show—commonly referred to as the “Whoniverse”—can seem impossibly intricate. With over 50 years of television episodes, spin-off works, novels, comics and more, keeping track of every alien species, planet, historical figure, and temporal anomaly encountered by the Doctor is no mean feat. But have no fear, fellow Whovians – this guide will help you navigate the Tardis-sized mythology and answer many of the questions one may have when researching the term “tardiverse.”

What is the Tardiverse?

The “tardiverse” is a playful portmanteau of “TARDIS” and “universe” used by fans to specifically refer to the ever-expanding universe depicted in Doctor Who. It encompasses not only the vast scope of aliens, worlds, and time periods that the Doctor has adventures in, but also the rich catalog of stories told across other Doctor Who media like books, audio dramas, and video games. So in essence, the tardiverse represents the entirety of the Whoniverse as experienced through the TARDIS-based travels of the Doctor and their companions.

What are some of the major alien races in the tardiverse?

  1. Daleks – The Doctor’s most iconic alien adversaries, these mutant Kaled creatures housed in metal casings are bent on racial purity and genocide of other lifeforms.
  2. Cybermen – Originally from Earth’s twin planet Mondas, these beings were augmented with cybernetic parts to prolong life but lost their emotions in the process, viewing all organic life as inferior.
  3. Sontarans – A race of cloned humanoid warriors from the planet Sontar, they live only for combat and conquest in the name of their empire. Due to genetic engineering, they are shorter and stockier than humans but also stronger and more durable.
  4. Ice Warriors – Hailing from Mars, these dinosaur-like creatures survived the warming of Mars by adapting to the below-freezing climate. They have an honor-based warrior culture and sophisticated understanding of science and warfare.

Those are just a sampling of the countless fascinating extraterrestrial beings that the Doctor has encountered over the series. The longevity of the show has allowed for new aliens to be conjured up with each new production era, keeping the tardiverse feeling fresh and infinite in scope.

What kinds of technologies are found in the tardiverse?

Given that the tardiverse encompasses many advanced alien civilizations across Space and Time, an incredible variety of fictional technologies have been portrayed. Some staples include:

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  • Time travel devices like the TARDIS, which can travel anywhere and anywhen thanks to its Time Lord engineering.
  • Laser weapons, sonic devices, forcefields, and other energy-based armaments used by many alien races for combat or pragmatic purposes.
  • Psychic abilities and advanced bio-engineering seen in species like the Time Lords who have two hearts or can regenerate when mortally wounded.
  • Interstellar spaceships with hyperspace drives, transporters, cloaking, and more futuristic methods of traversing the cosmos.
  • Exotic materials stronger than steel or invisible like Adamantium and Adamant that feature in various futuristic technologies.

And of course, one of the most astounding technologies is the TARDIS itself – a sentient time machine capable of traveling anywhere! Its chameleon circuit allows it to disguise itself as 20th century British police boxes, and within is a massive multi-room complexDimensionally Transcendental.

What time periods does the Doctor frequently visit?

As a Time Lord who uses his TARDIS to freely explore Space and Time, the Doctor has had adventures across myriad eras of human history as well as further into Earth’s distant past and future timelines. Some of the time periods he frequently revisits in his adventures include:

  1. The Elizabethan era in 16th century England, which is a sort of nostalgic favorite for the Doctor. William Shakespeare is perhaps the most well-known historical figure he encounters.
  2. The Victorian era in the 19th century, where retrofuturistic steampunk technologies abound. Here he may face foes like the Cybermen or Sontarans amidst London’s foggy streets.
  3. World War II across Europe in the 1940s. Several serials have centered around helping Allied forces like the British or Americans defeat the Nazis.
  4. The far future, like the post-apocalyptic Earth in the 29th century or encountering humanity as an interstellar species in the year 5 billion.
  5. Alternate histories like a medieval England ruled by Richard the Lionheart where witch-hunts are common or a London that never ended the Blitz in 1941.

As an eternal traveler across the streams of time, the opportunities for novel historical adventures are endless in the tardiverse. From Neanderthals to napoleonic wars to the descent of the Cybermen, any era presents a chance for fun new stories!

What other lore aspects help fan the tardis-sized continuity flames?

Here are a few other lore bits and pieces that add insane amounts of depth to the tardiverse:

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  • The complex history and civilization of Gallifrey, homeworld of the all-powerful and long-lived Time Lords.
  • An immense Web of Time that the Doctor aims to protect, where rippling anomalies can cause major disruptions like paradoxes.
  • Dimension-hopping shenanigans through parallel worlds, alternate dimensions, and multiverses within the Megaverse. Kind of bonkers if you think about it!
  • Reoccurring foes who defy death like the Master or even the War Doctor during the infamous Last Great Time War.
  • Fascinating mythologies and lost races like Eternals, Carrionites, or Guardians that predate the Time Lords themselves.
  • Minor alien races, strange monsters, futuristic planets, and bizarre cosmic phenomena too obscure for the average fan to keep track of.

With such a vast and meticulously structured fictional backdrop packed with lore, it’s no wonder Whovians love diving deep into the tardiverse. But here’s hoping this guide has helped make some sense of its unfathomable scale and complexity!

Let me know if you have any other questions – I’d be happy to nerd out some more about Doctor Who! Meanwhile, I think I’ll kick back and rewatch some classic serials from the Fourth Doctor era. Some of my faves lately have been Genesis of the Daleks and The Robots of Death. The animatronics in that one still look basically awesome, if you ask me! Anyway, safe travels in the tardiverse – allons-y!

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tardigrade Species

Species Size Habitat Tolerance Notable Traits
Ramazzottius varieornatus Up to 1.1 mm Soil and leaf litter Extreme desiccation and temperature One of the most commonly studied tardigrade species
Hypsibius dujardini Up to 0.5 mm Freshwater, soil and moss High tolerance to various stressors First tardigrade species to have its genome sequenced
Milnesium tardigradum Up to 1.2 mm Freshwater, soil and leaf litter Tolerates high pressures and ionizing radiation Named to honor its tardigrade nature and lifestyle
Echiniscus testudo Up to 0.3 mm Lichen and mosses in trees Highly tolerant to desiccation Shell-like plates cover its entire body for protection

FAQ

  1. What is the tardiverse?

    The tardiverse is basically a made up dimension where time works differently. It’s sort of like an alternate universe where time passes in strange ways.

  2. How does time work in the tardiverse?

    Time in the tardiverse flows in all directions and at all speeds. It ranges from incredibly slow to amazingly fast. You never know if 5 minutes or 5 years will pass when you enter the tardiverse. The time flow can vary from one spot to the next too.

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  3. Are there any inhabitants in the tardiverse?

    Scientists suspect the tardiverse might be inhabited by weird creatures adapted to survive the unpredictable time streams. However, no expeditions have returned from the tardiverse yet. Perhaps strange beings live there, but we can’t say for sure. Anyone who ventures into the tardiverse risks getting lost in time flows.

  4. Is it possible for humans to travel to the tardiverse?

    Theoretically it may be possible to make a gateway to the tardiverse using complicated time distortion fields. However, the technology needed seems impossibly advanced. Also, even if a gateway opened, the shifting time streams could rip a human apart. Maybe someday with amazing new discoveries, but for now it remains too dangerous. The time flows may even prevent return trips, stranding travelers forever.

  5. Could someone get stuck in a time loop in the tardiverse?

    Definitely, getting caught in repetitive time loops is a real hazard of the tardiverse. Local distorted zones might loop the same few minutes, hours or days endlessly. You could be doomed to relive brief periods for what feels like forever. That gives me the creeps just thinking about it! A person trapped that way would basically be lost in time. Yikes, the tardiverse isn’t something to fool around with for sure.

  6. Could the tardiverse affect our world?

    It’s uncertain how the tardiverse might impact normal time in our dimension. In theory, disruptions there could generate ripple effects. According to sci-fi author Phillip K. Dick, “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” What if changes in the tardiverse challenge what we think is real? The boundaries between dimensions may not be so clear after all. The tardiverse is quite a mystery, if it even exists at all.

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In summary, the tardiverse presents many puzzles and quandaries. The way time acts in such a place seems downright bizarre. However, the possibilities of alternative time streams fascinates many scientists. One day maybe we’ll discover a gateway and learn the secrets of the tardiverse. But until then, its intriguing nature will fuel theorists’ wild speculations and fuel novelists’ amazing imaginings. What do you think occurs behind its mysterious portal? Feel free to hypothesize!