The Shadow Trader

"The traders had a little bit of skill, little bit of patter, and a little bit of magic."

Writer: Charles Williams
Format: Audio
Released: August 2011
Series: Short Trips 4.07

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Salim finds he's picked on the wrong girl when he tries to steal the shadow of Ace in a space-shipyard on a lonely planet...

Verdict

The Shadow Trader wasn't a bad Short Trip at all. Wonderfully read by Sophie Aldred, the tone of the story was magnificent! I liked the emphasis and basis of the story on shadows, and how Salim was a trader in them. What use people get out of a shadow is up to interpretation but unbeknown to Salim himself, it would have a detrimental effect on the person losing their shadow, in due time, as the Doctor explained. Sophie did a very good job of impersonating Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, albeit if it wasn't for too much of the story's duration. The background on the character of Salim was welcomed and allowed insight into the story itself and why he trades in shadows. I think the problem with most Short Trips audios is that the balance of the story is never spot on. The writers either try to do too much in a minimal amount of time, or too little somehow. The only Short Trip I adored was Rise and Fall and that was 22 minutes long, and perfectly balanced. The Shadow Trader worked to an extent, but all the background on Salim, despite being good, sort of rushed the ending a bit when there was absolutely no need. 16 minutes isn't long enough for a Doctor Who story, so why couldn't it just be extended by a few minutes? Ahh well, the climax was still pretty good and overall, mainly thanks to Sophie Aldred I think, still a good adventure!

Rating: 7/10