"Manussa intends to use the weapon to freeze entire planets."
Writer: Richard Dinnick
Format: Short Story
Released: June 2017
Printed in: Myths and Legends 02
Featuring: Sixth Doctor
Synopsis
Persis is recruited by the Time Lords to prevent the terrible Manussa from using her special crystals to wreak havoc across the universe and causing unprecedented damage. She has always yearned for adventure, but she will need to keep the words of the most adventurous Time Lord close in her mind if she is to defeat the Mara...
Verdict
The Terrible Manussa was a superb continuation of the Myths and Legends collection of short stories! Unlike the first story in the collection, the legend of Madusa is actually a myth I know relatively well from childhood stories and past depictions in Doctor Who adventures. I thought it worked really well here and is just a great little idea that can be adapted for this wonderful show. The short story format worked wonders as things stayed simple and I think in having Persis as the lead character, there was a lot of unexpected depth given quite early. Learning of her growing up on Gallifrey and her intrigue of the Celestials and the CIA was terrific as she clearly had an enquiring mind. The Doctor would have loved her and my only wish was that she actually got to interact with him for longer. It was pretty much a cameo appearance for the Sixth Doctor but a very good and important one as he provided her with the sonic shield and the means for Manussa’s defeat. The little passage on Grey-Eye was very good and I would love for the Doctor to meet Persis once again as she was magnificent. Her desire for adventure was brilliant and she even got to have a Time Ring! The little nod back to Genesis of the Daleks there was sublime with the similar dialogue and mission, as was the line about the Ogrons always having complications. That was really humorous. Persis showing her training and oozing an authoritative presence was really fantastic and she didn’t take any questions! She was firmly in control which was great. The return of the Mara was very logical but excellent and obviously the perfect monster for a story based on Madusa. The snake-like symbol being synonymous and spreading to become the only religion was good and I really liked that Persis got to encounter it. She was firm and strong with the words of the Doctor echoing in her mind. She would not be tempted despite the Mara’s plea to take it back to Gallifrey and assume a place of power. It could tell that she yearned for that but her emphatic response of no resonated with the alien snake. Persis noticing and understanding that the snake tattoo was the link between Manussa and the Mara was terrific and with a sudden ending where the sonic shield was used as a reflection sending the power of Manussa and the Mara right back at them, cutting them in half. Persis had carried out her mission in impressive fashion but the ending with the Mara tattoo sliding onto Manussa’s servant was a lovely way to leave things open for a future return and a reminder that the Mara would take a lot of defeating. Overall, a fantastic short story!
Rating: 9/10
Printed in: Myths and Legends 02
Featuring: Sixth Doctor
Synopsis
Persis is recruited by the Time Lords to prevent the terrible Manussa from using her special crystals to wreak havoc across the universe and causing unprecedented damage. She has always yearned for adventure, but she will need to keep the words of the most adventurous Time Lord close in her mind if she is to defeat the Mara...
Verdict
The Terrible Manussa was a superb continuation of the Myths and Legends collection of short stories! Unlike the first story in the collection, the legend of Madusa is actually a myth I know relatively well from childhood stories and past depictions in Doctor Who adventures. I thought it worked really well here and is just a great little idea that can be adapted for this wonderful show. The short story format worked wonders as things stayed simple and I think in having Persis as the lead character, there was a lot of unexpected depth given quite early. Learning of her growing up on Gallifrey and her intrigue of the Celestials and the CIA was terrific as she clearly had an enquiring mind. The Doctor would have loved her and my only wish was that she actually got to interact with him for longer. It was pretty much a cameo appearance for the Sixth Doctor but a very good and important one as he provided her with the sonic shield and the means for Manussa’s defeat. The little passage on Grey-Eye was very good and I would love for the Doctor to meet Persis once again as she was magnificent. Her desire for adventure was brilliant and she even got to have a Time Ring! The little nod back to Genesis of the Daleks there was sublime with the similar dialogue and mission, as was the line about the Ogrons always having complications. That was really humorous. Persis showing her training and oozing an authoritative presence was really fantastic and she didn’t take any questions! She was firmly in control which was great. The return of the Mara was very logical but excellent and obviously the perfect monster for a story based on Madusa. The snake-like symbol being synonymous and spreading to become the only religion was good and I really liked that Persis got to encounter it. She was firm and strong with the words of the Doctor echoing in her mind. She would not be tempted despite the Mara’s plea to take it back to Gallifrey and assume a place of power. It could tell that she yearned for that but her emphatic response of no resonated with the alien snake. Persis noticing and understanding that the snake tattoo was the link between Manussa and the Mara was terrific and with a sudden ending where the sonic shield was used as a reflection sending the power of Manussa and the Mara right back at them, cutting them in half. Persis had carried out her mission in impressive fashion but the ending with the Mara tattoo sliding onto Manussa’s servant was a lovely way to leave things open for a future return and a reminder that the Mara would take a lot of defeating. Overall, a fantastic short story!
Rating: 9/10
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