Tat Wood

Lore & Background

Tat Wood began the About Time series in 2004 with Lawrence Miles, producing the first five volumes that highlight British political, cultural, and scientific contexts. After Miles left, Wood co-wrote volumes Seven, Eight, and Nine with Dorothy Ail, and solely authored Volume Six except for a guest piece by Robert Shearman. Wood and Ail updated e-book editions of volumes Five and Six, and Wood substantially expanded Volume Three alone in 2008, retaining some of Miles's work; this volume was longlisted for the BSFA Award for non-fiction. A revised two-part Volume Four was published in 2023.

Beyond the About Time series, Wood contributed to non-fiction works such as Time and Relative Dissertations in Space (2006), The Cult TV Book (2010), TARDIS Outside In, Volume 2 (2013), and Outside In Boldly Goes (2015). In November 2014 he gave a talk for the 'ON TV' symposium in Sheffield by the University of Northampton. With Dorothy Ail, he wrote World History in Minutes for Quercus Books in 2015. Wood has also written for Doctor Who Magazine, Starburst, TV Zone, Film Review, and XPosé on topics including crop circles, art fraud, adapting children's novels for television, and the Piltdown hoax. In a 1993 edition of Dreamwatch, he published 'Hai! Anxiety', criticizing the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who.

Active in Doctor Who fandom, Wood served as editor of the fanzines Spectrox, Yak Butter Sandwich, and Spaceball Ricochet. Some of his fan writing was included in the anthology Licence Denied, published in 1997.

Reader's Guide

Tat Wood's significance lies in his detailed, context-driven analysis of Doctor Who through the About Time series, which set a standard for understanding the show within British cultural and political history. His work, co-authored initially with Lawrence Miles and later with Dorothy Ail, has been recognized by a BSFA Award longlist for non-fiction. Wood's contributions extend to other academic and fan publications, demonstrating his breadth as a commentator on science fiction and popular culture. His editorial role in fanzines and inclusion in Licence Denied highlight his longstanding engagement with Doctor Who fandom. The ongoing updates and revisions to the About Time volumes, including the 2023 two-part Volume Four, indicate the enduring relevance of his analytical approach. Wood's legacy is that of a meticulous chronicler who bridges academic analysis and fan scholarship, providing a framework for appreciating Doctor Who as a product of its time.

Did You Know?

• Wood's updated Volume Three of About Time was longlisted for the BSFA Award for non-fiction.
• He wrote a piece titled 'Hai! Anxiety' in a 1993 edition of Dreamwatch criticizing the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who.
• He co-wrote World History in Minutes with Dorothy Ail for Quercus Books in 2015.