Gallifrey to Trenzalore #9: The Price of Conviction by Richard C. White

Short Trips: The Quality of Leadership
"The Price of Conviction"
Written by Richard C. White
Published: 10th May 2008
Read: 26th February 2016

Being set prior to An Unearthly Child, it is interesting to see how the Doctor and Susan handle this visit to Earth's past. While in the actual series, our heroes stumble out of the TARDIS dressed in their normal outfits and soon bungle into trouble, in this, the Doctor makes efforts to restrict all interference and remain incognito. He ensures that repairs are conducted on the chameleon circuit so that it takes on the appearance of a small hut in pre-Renaissance Germany, he also ensures that he and Susan dress for the period in which they are visiting. In all, this is a very scientific and Star Trek-y approach to visiting history and, I must say, I prefer this approach. Think how the other historical stories could have changed had our heroes made the effort to blend in.

Of course, this being a Doctor Who story, our heroes don't stay out of trouble for long. Pretty soon, Susan is set upon by a couple of would-be assassins after she overhears them, and she and the Doctor are soon taken into protective custody by the local High Magistrate. You see, the person that they planned to assassinate is Martin Luther, who is soon to face a trial for speaking out against the Pope. What unfolds is the traditional intrigue and twisty-turny plot that we saw in The Massacre and several other historical stories.

What makes this story stand out for me though is the various insights it gives us. Not only do we explore the story from Susan's perspective, indeed this is a great story for her, but we also look at the Doctor's approach which is very much one of non-interference, and that he only becomes involved once the lives of himself and Susan are at stake. What this makes this different from the upcoming "Urrozzdinee" is that Susan is determined that they stay and try and resolve the situation, which she didn't do in the previous story. Indeed, she is the active element in the resolution and saved Martin Luther's life, while the Doctor stood back.

Highlights for me would have to be Susan's interactions with Martin Luther and the pro-active role she took in this story. Not being interested in religion, I must admit that I was fascinated in how Martin Luther was portrayed and everything he stood for. It certainly wanted to make me read up some more. Kudos to Mr. White.

9/10

Next Story

"The Arboreals"