Hot on the heels of Monday’s announcement that Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer will be one of eleven well-known children’s authors to write a series of short stories featuring the Doctor; the author has sat down with The Guardian for a light, far-reaching Quickfire Interview.

The novel, A Big Hand for the Doctor, featuring the First Doctor, as played by William Hartnell, is set in 20^th century London and sees the Doctor both lose his companion and his hand as he comes face to face with a  ”a strange beam of soporific light, and a host of marauding Soul Pirates”.

So what affinity did Colfer feel for the often cantankerous, original incarnation?

Of course, no Doctor is complete without a companion so, if, in an alternate universe he found himself not the creator of a series of successful children’s novels but a 900 odd year-old time traveller, who would he drag along with him?

And finally, what if anything, would he use a sonic screwdriver for if such a device existed and wasn’t just used to change channels:

A Big Hand for the Doctor will be released as an eBook on 23^rd January – with each subsequent novel appearing on the 23^rd of every month until the anniversary date itself in November – for £1.99.

For a sample of the start of the novel head over to The Guardian now.

(With thanks to Jason)