The Doomsday Contract

Lost Stories #6.2

Released: 17 March 2021

Listened: 6/18/22

This is one of the more recent Lost Stories, a “B-Side,” if you will, to go with “Return of the Cybermen,” which I didn't cover because it's an Unbound version of "Revenge of the Cybermen." As such, this story didn’t really get a ton of attention. It was originally commissioned by Douglas Adams and written by John Lloyd. Here, it’s adapted by Nev Fountain, and they lean into the Douglas Adams schtick so hard, they’re nearly horizontal. All the minor characters and the planets have absurd Adams-type names, bureaucracy has run amok to the level of absurdity, and the Earth is an insignificant planet in danger of being bulldozed in the name of development, unless the Doctor can prove it has sentient life on it…without revealing that he’s ever been there, as that would be a violation of the law. There’s not a lot of plot to be had, as the emphasis is on the style, and Douglas Adams stories have never been huge on plot. Still, the resolution stretches the timey-wimey well past the breaking point. If you’re not looking for seriousness, this is good, Adams-y fun.