14. Death By Helium (The Robots Of Death)
There was no escape from an army of positronic killers in Chris Boucher's perfect blend of Isaac Asimov and Agatha Christie. Trapped on a sandminer surrounded by flesh-slicing dust, Tom Baker's Doctor faced a waking nightmare of servants turning on masters. One minute they were serving tea. The next they were throttling everyone! It turned out to be a plot by "mad scientist, very mad scientist" Taren Capel (David Bailie) who'd disguised himself as a crew member in order to orchestrate this metallic terrorist atrocity - his aim being to free all robots by slaughtering their human beverage-and-massage-requirers. Luckily, the invincible Fourth incarnation had a surreal idea. Getting companion Leela to squirrel away with a tank of helium, he altered the pitch of Capel's voice which meant that the the emotionless murderers didn't recognize his vocal commands. Watching the evil genius get strangled to death whilst shouting in a tone not far off a chipmunk having a coronary was one of the highlights of this classic story.
Steve Palace
Contributor
I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.
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