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From: lepine@ctoavx.DEC
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: Why is a TARDIS so big?
Message-ID: <52@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 19:07:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.52
Posted: Tue Aug 20 19:07:44 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Aug-85 08:38:56 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 38


   Well, the most obvious, but not quite so interesting answer is "Why 
not?".  Since the TARDIS interiors are in another dimension, which is
presumably otherwise empty,there is no reason why they shouldn't be huge.
   To understand the second, more scientific, reason you must take into account
the reason for which TARDISes were originally designed.  Their purpose was to
be used in scientific and technical study.  To this end, hundreds of Time Lords
could be transported through the entirity of time and space to study other 
cultures, etc.  (Bear in mind that the Time Lords knew about the Reptile Men
and the Doomsday weapon before either of the stories concerning them took 
place.  Also consider the TARDIS wardrobe.)  Such ventures would require
adequate facilities to house many people as well as bathrooms, recreational
areas, a zero room, and, of course, laboratories equipped with all the latest
in the field of technology.
   Aside from this, TARDISes may have been used for other things.  There was a 
period in Gallifrey's history before the Minyos incident when there was 
interference with other races.  Indeed, during Rassilon's time and before,
meddling was widespread (mainly involving the use of the time scoop and the 
Death Zone).  TARDISes could have been used to house vast armies.  In "THE WAR 
GAMES", SIDRATs (which preceeded TARDISes) were utilised in this manner.
   It has also been suggested that perhaps certain powerful Time Lords have 
their own private TARDISes, in which case, they would be free to do any
interior designing that they wished.  This could account for certain luxuries
present in some TARDISes (eg.the presence of cloisters in the Doctor's TARDIS,
although these seem to act as a sort of meditation centre for the Doctor rather
than just a luxury commodity).
   Evidence seems to suggest that later models than the good Doctor's own (all 
type forties have long-since been recalled) are smaller.
   
   Now for a quick trivia question. See if any of you can pinpoint the story 
where the following quote hails from:-

   "Funny,isn't it?"
   "What?"
   "How we keep landing on your Earth!"

--Simon Barker
       (an English "Whovian" in exile in Glastonbury,CT)