"It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for". Yes the end of an era as we lament the passing of the New Adventures and Virgin Publishing lose their licence. But wait - around the corner comes dear Auntie Beeb who are only too willing to sell you their brand new range of would you believe it, 'Doctor Who' books. From the organisation (leeches) that cancelled the show comes yet another way to bleed fans dry, but this time they keep all the cash.
It all started a long time ago (well 1990(ish)) when the BBC were approached about an original range of fiction. So in 1991 'Doctor Who - The New Adventures' was born, with the publication of the Timewyrm Series. First out, Genesys (a bit controversial with 'nudity in a Doctor Who book' GASP!) This was followed by Exodus, Apocalypse and Revelation (Exodus and Revelation being two of the best from the entire series.)
The books then began to move from strength to strength. The Cats Cradle series started to explore the Doctor, and his and Gallifrey's past. Later came the loosely connected Future History series with Love And War seeing the torturous exit of Ace, and the introduction of new companion Bernice ('Benny') Summerfield, supposed eminent archaeologist. Within a few adventures Ace is back on board as a leather clad, Dalek-killing psycho who doesn't like the Doctor very much. They do get back on better terms eventually.
The Alternative Universe Cycle is the next major event as BloodHeat halts the perceived downward spiral. This sees the Doctor transported to a parallel universe where he failed to find a cure for the Silurian Virus (see Doctor Who and the Silurians). Events during this period are later found to have been manipulated by Mortimus (a.k.a. The Meddling Monk.)
Bringing back old adversaries is quite a popular theme in the New Adventure for obvious reasons, popularity and marketability being two. During the novels after the Alternate Universe Cycle various old enemies reappear, e.g. Legacy (the Ice Warriors and the familiar setting of Peladon), Blood Harvest - the Great Vampire et al, First Frontier - The Master (Ainley and new regeneration), Original Sin - Tobias Vaughn, Shakedown - Rutans and Sontarans. (Plus many more. See information and checklist). Some of those varied novels have been given rave reviews and are highly recommended to the first time NA reader who wants a bit of familiar territory.
Moving on, Set Piece sees the final departure of a far more rounded Ace, but you can't get rid of her that easily, as she makes a reappearance in Head Games, Happy Endings and Lungbarrow.
The Doctor, half human?! Well Virgin did it first - sort of. Human Nature saw the Doctor become human for a better understanding during which time he fell in love. To find out more, read it, it's damn good. This book is followed by Original Sin and the introduction of the final two NA companions Chris Cwej and Roz Forrester who are adjudicators (futuristic coppers).
The last great story arc is the Psi Powers series, wher 'something' is interfering with the Doctor's adventures. These also see the break up of the NA team - Benny marries Jason Kane in Happy Endings and Roz dies in So Vile A Sin. From Return of the Living Dad onwards the Doctor sees the onset of regeneration, and so the change from Time's Champion/ grand manipulator, to the more at ease figure seen in the TV Movie begins to occur.
Lungbarrow sees the return of the Doctor to his family home on Gallifrey. The 'final' appearance of Ace, the departure of Chris, Romana as President, Leela, Andred and two K9's all appear in this story. The background of the Doctor seems to be finally revealed but only more questions are unearthed - is the Doctor really who he says he is? Is he the Other? And why do his cousins call him Wormhole and Snail? The finale sees the Doctor on his way to perform the mission that will lead up to his seventh regeneration.
So the final curtain approaches. The Dying Days being the closing New  Adventure (not the last printed - due to various problems this