An Ocean of Sawdust

Subscriber Short Trips #2019-3

Released: 3 October 2019

Listened: 10/28/21

This is one of those short stories with a dream-like quality, which makes it appropriate that Stephen Critchlow is doing the narration, because his calm delivery is excellent for a dream. It’s also one of those stories in which the Doctor comes across a small child in need of rescue, not unlike “Night Terrors,” and once again, the situation isn’t what it looks like. In fact, after the Doctor pulls out one of his patented scientific explanations, it’s still not what it looks like. There’s a bit of melancholy to this story, especially at the end, but that’s intentional, as writer Paul Starkey drops several foreshadowing hints of the Time War. It’s a nice change of pace in between these seasons.