Doctor Who Review: ‘The Stones of Venice’ (Eighth Doctor Audio)
By James Aggas
It’s curses, fishmen, and mad cults for the Eighth Doctor and Charley, in another exciting audio adventure!
Paul Magrs is a writer for Doctor Who who is quite unlike any other. I’ll be honest, I’ve not always been a fan of his work. But it has to be said that, even by Doctor Who standards, his stories and his style have always been distinctive.
‘The Stones of Venice‘ is a very clear example of just how unusual his stories can be. The Eighth Doctor and Charley arrive in Venice, but at a point in its future when it’s ready to sink at any moment. Some people believe it’s a natural disaster, others believe it to be the result of a curse.
Along the way, there are many memorable characters introduced to us. There’s Count Orsino, who cares less for the citizens of Venice than he does for his long-dead wife. Pietro, a gondolier who wants to give power back to the people. Vincenzo, the High Priest of a local cult. And Churchwell, a curator who clearly enjoys the quiet life, yet somehow finds himself caught up in the Doctor’s current adventure.
There are so many plot threads running through ‘The Stones of Venice’ and — while there’s more than a hint of science fiction beyond the simple future setting — none of these plot threads feel like typical Doctor Who. There’s no alien invasion that the Doctor has to stop, no great evil that he has to face. Even the cult seems like a rather small problem compared to the sinking of an entire city. They don’t want the end of the world, just the return of their dead countess.
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This has made the story somewhat difficult to review. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about how different and unusual ‘The Stones of Venice’ is. It’s just strange to digest compared to most other Doctor Who stories. It’s certainly quite a contrast to ‘Sword of Orion,’ where my main complaint was that it was almost too traditional!
When I first listened to ‘The Stones of Venice’ several years ago, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. After my latest listen, however, I can certainly say that it’s grown on me.
My favourite aspect of the story is how memorable and distinctive the characters are. All the characters I’ve mentioned have their own quirks, strengths and faults, and they all have their own distinct lives in the story – all are dealing with their own problems before they all collide in the final episode.
How many plotlines there are is something else that I rather enjoy. For some stories, having a plot that lasts for two hours can be a problem, with the author running the risk of simply padding the story out to make time. Here, there’s thankfully no such problem. As I’ve said, the story has a lot of different plot lines, but they never feel rushed, and the story builds to a natural climax.
But I think what I enjoyed most about this tale is the genre it really fits. More than science fiction, more than fantasy, it is unashamedly romantic. And I don’t mean that in a modern day “romantic comedy” sort of way. Rather, it feels romantic in a more classical sense, with a story of a doomed love in a doomed city. The setting of Venice, even a future version of the city, only enhances this feeling of romanticism. As a romantic by nature, the story does rather appeal to me.
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