Written by Nigel Robinson

Originally released : October 1991

Read: February 2025

Context: so returning to the VNA, third one in this mega (foolhardy?) reading adventure. I had a few vague memories of this one from the first time I read this, something gross in a tank?…anyway, its a short one and I happened to be on annual leave when i started this one so I read this quickly, quicker than the first two in this set of four anyway.

THE REVIEW

What I thought: overall this exceeded my expectations, it was tightly paced and the story was pretty interesting. I was surprised by the flashbacks to the second doctor, completely forgot about that, and i enjoyed that, not overdone or crazy inclusion of past Who stuff, it has a very clear narrative purpose, I liked this part of the narrative very much. Lovely alien planet realised well, and the interplay with the supporting characters is good too, very strong story.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Daleks – really good and perhaps the best one of the Timewyrm series thus far, great portrayals of Ace and the 7th Doctor, he is already right into the chess grandmaster that we all know he becomes/is. Fascinating incarnation, love him! The more I read the 7th doctor the more i love this incarnation.

What I felt:

What am I left thinking?

• I am a little unclear what/where is the Timewyrm now?
• How the doctor is going to finish the Timewyrm off? Where the final book goes/fits with the ending of this one.

Memorable bits

• The second doctor post regeneration, very evocative and unexpected (despite having read this before!)
• The ‘orrible’ blob monster hybrid in a tank of its own bodily fluids. Rank.
• The setting felt a bit like Greece in space! A nice place for a holiday perhaps?