2. Dark Horizons
This novel does not need as much work to adapt as the others in this list, because Jenny T Colgan perfectly captures both the style of the Matt Smith era and the Eleventh Doctor in particular. The Doctor, travelling solo for a change, lands on a remote 9th century Scottish island where the locals are fearfully preparing for a Viking raid. Nearby, a boatload of Vikings are on a mission of their own, to escort a beautiful princess to her wedding to another chieftain. When the Norsemen are shipwrecked on the island, the Doctor tries to act as peacemaker between the two suspicious communities, because there is something far more dangerous strange coming in from the sea, a living fire that can both destroy, and possess the dead. Mixing sword swinging action, with the mystery of the alien fire and a sweet love story between a heroic but lowly Viking called Henrik and his princess Freydis, this really is a story with something for everyone. Theres enough going on in fact for a two-part story but by cutting back a few sub-plots, perhaps the father and son problems of the village headman, it could form the basis for a strong episode. Plus it has been a long time since the programme has featured the Vikings. Perhaps they could reuse some of the props from Amazons recent series?
Gareth Preston
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Freelance writer and Learning Support university techie. He's been writing fiction and reviews since the 1980's fanzine boom.
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