Decline of the Ancient Mariner

Short Trips #10.3

Released: 31 March 2020

Listened: 7/5/21

If the title of this Short Trip brings a few things to mind, that’s exactly the intent. The sci-fi half of the story involves the Mariner 10 probe to Venus and Mercury. However, it also involves The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge -- who of course is an old friend of the Doctor’s. Tying these two threads together into a plausible story is kind of a stretch, and has the feel of a writer’s exercise, but because it’s a short story, you don’t have to take it too far. Mark Reynolds reads the story, with a passable Third Doctor, and a decent American accent for a NASA scientist. His Marilyn Monroe, it must be said, isn’t all that good (it makes sense in context, really). Unfortunately, Sarah’s particular skills aren’t of much use in this story, and her role probably could have been filled by other companions, except that Sarah is a more outspoken feminist. If you’re a particular fan of Coleridge or Marilyn Monroe, you’ll like this one.