War Song

"The universe didn't need a Doctor any longer."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 06

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Grace, Chang Lee, Cass, War Doctor, Ninth Doctor, Rose, Mickey, Captain Jack

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

War Song was a decent story to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection! I was really intrigued to see where things would go after Vogue as that was a bit of a disappointing mashup of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors’ time inside the TARDIS. This followed in the same fashion in covering three different incarnations of the Doctor but it just worked better given the short on screen nature of the Eighth and War Doctors. I think there are some questionable choices regarding the companions choice for the Strays section when so many others from formats that aren’t television were mentioned, but I digress. I understand that it’s difficult enough to incorporate every televised story into a book like this but we basically had reference to The Night of the Doctor with the name dropping of companions ranging from Charley to Lucie and Tamsin to Fitz. I thought you could at least include a few in more detail! The Journey Log is also a little vague when it comes to the Eighth Doctor which is a shame because his travels off screen have been spectacular! And I’ve still only scratched the surface which is awfully exciting. I completely understand it for the War Doctor and the explanation given of history always changing and being in flux was really good. It sells the Time War as a devastating and cataclysmic event and shows just how much the TARDIS was impacted by it. I liked that and the hazy recollection on the details there is something I can buy into. In terms of the TARDIS recollecting, I'm less certain on why travels with the Eighth Doctor would be disrupted. I thought the focus on The Movie was great and I love the explanation of why a human eye was required to access the Eye of Harmony because of the chameleonic nature of the interior matching those who inhabited it. It would just be a matter of time before the Eye of Harmony followed suit. I also thought the Stray description for Grace was the best yet with a snap summary of everything that happens to her in meeting the Eighth Doctor. From kissing to dead to back to life! She was glad that she left! The TARDIS touching upon its power when referencing bringing her and Chang Lee back to life was something that ought to have more elaboration, but it did feel like something a little different which was good to explore. I did think it was a tad weird to combine eras but if it was going to happen, this was always going to be the one with the limited time of the first two incarnations. I just wish more of an opportunity was taken and we could have got a sample of an in-depth look into the TARDIS's reaction to the Time War. I did like the joy she had when the Doctor took his name again though and would save the world again beginning in Rose. That was a really nice touch. I thought the whole God-Parent section recalling the events of Boom Town was a little bit of an odd choice, but it does set the basis for Rose looking into the heart of the TARDIS ahead of The Parting of the Ways. The description of the burning regeneration was excellent too. I thought the Ninth Doctor's segment of the Journey Log was by far the best from the entire book so far and that's purely because it went into some detail! There was more room to play with which was wonderful and allowed some fun little quirks. The take on Dalek with the Time War not actually being over was excellent, as was that of Father's Day with the actions of Rose and the impact it had on the TARDIS. She became just an empty police box! Overall, a bit of a mashup crossing eras but a strong little story regardless. 

Rating: 7/10