5. The Nameless City And Beyond
One of the best things about the series of 50th anniversary e-book series is the number of different avenues they open up for the Doctor involved. And this one is no different. With 'The Nameless City' Michael Scott has managed to craft a possible future story arc for Shearsmith's Second. After a meeting with the mysterious Professor Thascalos, Jamie McCrimmon is given a book which he then innocently gifts to the Doctor. That book could be the spur for a brilliant series of stories set on another world. What neither the hardy Caledonian piper or the Doctor know is that the tome is actually the Necromicon. Having made a deal with the Archons, the Master (using the Thascalos name as an alias) plans the seemingly coincidental bump into Jamie to the last detail knowing that the Doctor will get his hands on the weighty book. But it's no ordinary reading material, as fans of HP Lovecraft will tell you. And this particular copy has an agenda the Archons are keen to get revenge on the Time Lords for a longstanding grudge. The nature of the quarrel dates back to Gallifrey's early years. Remember how TARDISES are grown and not built? Turns out the Time Lords stole the seeds to do so from the Archons. And now they want payback. The story journeys as far as the Great Desolation and Scott does a great job of nailing the characters of both Doctor and companion as well as providing a short forewarning of the Master. All the Second knows at this point is that he hasn't seen him for a long time and hates him. If Scott could be persuaded on board to help expand 'The Nameless City' and its events into a full-length book, audio or even television series it could be a fantastic introduction to a classic Doctor for new Whovians as well as a great tribute to Lovecraftian ingenuity. There's the potential for all sorts of stylised scares and even a nod to the Music Of The Spheres ( as in the Pythagorean concept) as the Archon tunes of choice which would allow Murray Gold or one of the Big Finish composers/sound designers the chance to realise it and maybe try out a few new musical ideas in the process. If done well it couldn't possibly fail.