Time Works

Main Range #80

Released: 15 March 2006

Listened: 8/30/21

And now we’re back to the high-concept stories again, as this is one of the ones originally intended for the Divergent Universe. However, the Divergent Universe didn’t have a concept of time, and this world is about nothing but time. When the crew arrive, the world is frozen in time, but they eventually discover the Clockwork Men, who live between seconds and can move outside of time. As we learn more about the society, we discover they’re obsessed with time and efficiency. Their language and metaphors are full of references to clocks and time. There’s a feeling of the short story “Repent Harlequin, Said the Ticktockman” by Harlan Ellison, although the plot details are rather different. Once you get past the high concept, though, the story is pretty straightforward. Although the Doctor rediscovers the joy of fighting tyranny, which seems to have been lacking for him of late. It’s a good concept with a so-so resolution.