Scorpio: Jealous, Possessive

"I am the original K9."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 08

Featuring: K9

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

Jealous, Possessive was a pretty average story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips. This really isn’t shaping up to be the best of collections as I’m now eight stories in and not many have been great. It’s almost amazing to me that so many books followed in the range because at the moment I wouldn’t exactly say the series started well! I can certainly appreciate the way the story was trying to do something new in the form of the letters, but I’m just not sure two different versions of K9 were the correct choices for that. I do like the idea of a conversation between K9 Mark I and Mark II, but I don’t think the content of said letters came close to being good characterisation for the robot dog companion we all know and love so well. Mark II even addressed some of the content regarding feelings and how K9 couldn’t have those being what he is, but it didn’t then do a lot to sound authentically like a robot. It was far too sophisticated and not at all like a logical letter. It was though really insightful to catch up with each version of K9 and their respective mistress. I love getting any insight into what is happening on Gallifrey and K9 announcing to his counterpart that Leela is expecting a baby was quite lovely! Andred being shocked and almost worried was amusing and I’m intrigued by the line of this being the first infant in the natural way to be born on Gallifrey in a long time. That fits in with Wish World/The Reality War very intriguingly! It was also great to look into life for Mark II in E-Space with Romana very much still enjoying an adventure. That was really good and I like the concept of them being rich in another universe! Talk about living it up. I found it weird that the letters were dated given that neither were anywhere close to Earth being on Gallifrey and in E-Space, but alas it is what it is. K9 Mark I getting pedantic and almost defensive about being the original was pretty amusing and the retort from Mark II about his predecessor simply being the prototype was by far the best moment of the story. The sass! Despite it being marvellous, it just didn’t feel like K9 which was a shame. I was also surprised by just how short the story was as there were only a couple of letters sent each way from the respective K9, and half of the content was them addressing the tone of the previous letter! It was just strange and I know that’s part of what you would expect from Paul Magrs, but this wasn’t anything close to some of the whacky stuff he’s done in the past. K9 Mark I not having knowledge of the whole Key to Time cadaver was intriguing though and it’s impressive to think just how hushed up that is! The Guardians? Please. Don’t be absurd. I thought it was great though for that to be so hidden and that certainly gave an edge in favour of the Mark II version. It did feel like was a little inferior not being on Gallifrey. The way things finished in concurrent timeline with the events of Logopolis was very good as the Fourth Doctor regenerating does seem to signal the end for K9, at least until School Reunion that is. Although that episode might have felt like an impossibility at the time of this book’s release! Overall, an intriguing discussion between two versions of the same character and whilst quirky, it just didn’t feel good in terms of characterisation. 

Rating: 5/10