The port of Alexandria, 5th Century AD.
The Doctor, Ian, Susan and Barbara have taken a break from their travels, and are enjoying a few weeks in the sunshine – and the chance to appreciate the magnificent Library of Alexandria.
Ian also takes the chance to enjoy friendship with the philosopher Hypatia – but things here will not last forever.
The time travellers know that the library will soon be lost to history.
What they are about to discover is the terrifying reason why…
THE COMPANION CHRONICLES: THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
A Companion Chronicle starring William Russell and written by Simon Guerrier? Sign me up! Yes, it’s “The Library of Alexandria,” a very impressive story that begins with the trappings of a historical before going in an unexpected direction.
There’s no reason to expect this story to go in the direction it does, because it seems for all the world as though it’s going to be a traditional Hartnell historical. Much like “The Romans,” we have the TARDIS crew taking a well-deserved holiday in antiquity. Ian gets himself into trouble in his interactions with the locals. There’s a lesser-known historical figure in Hypatia (Susan Franklyn) and a historical event in the destruction of the Library of Alexandria that we know very little about. When Susan mentions that there are rumors that sea monsters destroyed the Library, it’s clearly meant to pique our interest – but this type of story conditions us to expect a believable explanation for why people think that. Perhaps there will be ships in the harbor decorated like sea monsters, or something along those lines – and then we’ll get a knowing chuckle from the Doctor as the crew escapes danger and takes off once more in the TARDIS.
But Guerrier doesn’t do that. It turns out the reason why it is said that sea monsters destroyed the Library is that it actually happened! The first episode cliffhanger is brilliant because it completely undercuts the listener’s assumptions about what’s coming. Most “pseudo-historicals” reveal their sci-fi credentials early on; this one reveals them with a flourish halfway through. (Assuming you don’t look at the cover, of course, which has tentacles all over it.) From there, it becomes a mad scramble to save whatever can be rescued from the Library while the Doctor defiantly turns aside the alien invasion. Guerrier uses the Mim as his invasion force, the same alien race he used in “Shadow of the Past” and several Bernice Summerfield stories. In a particularly sharp scene, after using focused light to burn one of their number, the Doctor basically talks the Mim right off the planet – and it’s very easy to picture William Hartnell with chin outthrust and lapels firmly in hand.
There’s also a bit of interesting character work, as Ian and Hypatia have a long conversation about science and philosophy and, when Ian returns to the TARDIS crew, everyone assumes he’s returned from a date! Doctor Who doesn’t feature many romantic entanglements with locals; there are a ton of instances where locals will fall for companions, but rarely is it reciprocated. And while there’s little romance in Ian’s interaction with Hypatia, they have an easy chemistry, and the mutual appeal is obvious – no wonder Barbara is so irritated! Ian insisting he and Barbara are just friends rings appropriately false – I like stories from this era that don’t shy away from their growing relationship.
William Russell is fantastic as always in this story, while Susan Franklyn turns in a fine supporting role. Guerrier even lets her have control of the narrative for a short while in a surprisingly effective scene. Everything else is as good as one would expect from director Lisa Bowerman and sound designer Toby Hrycek-Robinson. Overall, “The Library of Alexandria” is a very strong story that plays with the listener’s assumptions about Doctor Who in a rewarding manner.
Highly recommended.
8/10