AYEAR AFTER THE MASTER HAS ANNIHILATED one-tenth of the Earth’s population, the instrument banks of an alien space vessel show that travellers are advised to avoid the planet, which is entering “terminal extinction”. During the 12 months of his absolute rule, with the assistance of the so-called Toclafane and his Archangel satellite network, the Master has succeeded in entirely subjugating the human race. Contemporary society has collapsed, globally; the islands of Japan, for example, have been intentionally incinerated, killing millions. Central London is now home to packs of vicious, feral dogs and is largely impassable after dark. The Toclafane patrol the planet, subduing the few pockets of human resistance.
