Mars

"You can't outrun a storm."

Writer: Trevor Baxendale
Format: Short Story
Released: October 2005
Printed in: Short Trips: The Solar System 04

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Vicki

Synopsis

Steven Taylor is about to die on Mars. The First Doctor and Vicki are on Phobos Station, trying to locate him on the planet's surface. When the TARDIS detected a distress signal, Steven took a ship to rescue the pilot, Hazam, but the two crashed and a deadly storm approaches...

Verdict

Mars was a great little story and a vast improvement of The Solar System edition of the Short Trips books. This was certainly a lot better than the previous adventure of Earth and I really liked the return to a traditional form of storytelling. The First Doctor, Steven and Vicki are a great little trio so getting a bonus story with them here was really delightful. Things started straight in the action and that really hooked me from the get go which was a big positive. Steven was an immense danger and I really liked that he had sacrificed himself selflessly in oder to answer the distress call and try and save Hazam. The Jarnian was hardly thankful for Steven's effort and the inner thoughts of the companion were really intriguing and also quite saddening to read. He had risked his life and was doing his utmost to save Hazam, but he just didn't care and seemed to accept that death was imminent. I mean, it was a little understandable given their predicament of limited oxygen, lack of shelter and no shelter anywhere in sight. Steven's monumental efforts to physically move the despondent Hazam to safety despite his oxygen running out made him incredibly likeable, as if that was not the case already! It just added to his qualities as companion which was fantastic to see. The Doctor being something resembling the old and decrepit man that his appearance let on was good and I liked how he seemed to accept that Steven's fate was sealed. Almost. Just when there was a hint of Steven being alive, he instantly turned back into the fun and ebullient man we all love. Vicki didn't have a great deal to do in this adventure but she really shone in refusing to give up hope on Steven being alive. I loved that as it showed just how much he meant to her. The Doctor's admiration for both of his companions was on full display here and I loved it when he proudly proclaimed that he thought of Steven like he was his son. That was quite the compliment! Grys was another good character as Hazam's mother and her refusal to accept death whilst there was a chance her son was alive was very good to read. The story was really impressive in how tense it was with a really atmospheric feel of being on the edge of your seat. It was done very well, especially for a short story where the word count is limited. The Doctor finally convincing Tugwell to allow him to pilot a ship through the storm after all forms of radio communication proved fruitless was fantastic and I loved that he ended up coming on the rescue mission himself. Steven believing he was hallucinating once his oxygen ran out and he could see the Doctor and co coming to save him was a thrilling moment as he must have been on the brink, but his life was saved. The story ending with Hazam, thought dead, also being alive and thanking Steven for saving his life was a lovely touch. A really fitting end to what was a great little story!

Rating: 8/10