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| Doctor Who Magazine #184 "Who Discovered America?" Written by John Lucarotti Illustrated by Paul Vyse Published: 20th February 1992 |
What's It All About
John Lucarotti returns to Doctor Who with "Who Discovered America?", originally published in February 1992 inside Doctor Who Magazine. Although I'm unsure if this is a completely new tale written by the writer at the time or, like "Rennigan's Record", written during the Sixties but not released until the Nineties.
Regardless, this is the second Lucarotti story we've seen in this marathon. When the writer has been responsible for Marco Polo, The Aztecs and The Massacre it's not much of a surprise to learn that this is going to be a historical story. Although I was surprised upon reading up about him, that Lucarotti actually wrote the first draft of The Ark in Space!
On with the story and the TARDIS has broken down once again, much to the annoyance of the Doctor and his companions. Instead of a "malfunctioning" fluid link or a blown circuit, we have a plutonium leak. Fortunately, the TARDIS has just happened to land in Greenland during the 11th century, just as the Viking Leif Ericson (aka Eric the Red) is about to depart into the unknown and discover Newfoundland, which just happens to be the one place that the Doctor can find a new source of plutonium from.
Bounding out of the TARDIS, the Doctor manages to browbeat Ericson into taking his long boat out past the "end of the world", but taking aboard the four travellers for the week long journey. Once they arrive in Newfoundland, the Doctor is easily able to obtain some plutonium but is caught in a bit of a bind when Ericson insists the travellers remain behind to stake the Viking claim. Using his knowledge of tides, however, he is able to convince Ericson and the Vikings that he can part the seas and prevent them from leaving. Naturally, the terrified warriors agree to take the travellers back to Greenland and the TARDIS.
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| The Doctor and his companions face another adventure... |
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
A four-page story by John Lucarotti is a real treat for me. He wrote some of my favourite Doctor Who stories, so having him back for one more is fantastic. As can be expected in such a short story, the story and plot might be a little thin, but the characters feel as well-rounded and real as those he created for Marco Polo. Eric the Red is portrayed as a bit of a coward (indeed a Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz as Susan sees it), who is easily cowed and swayed by the Doctor into undertaking the endeavour in the first place!Indeed, the Doctor is at his very best in this story. Initially blustering and insulting to Ian when the TARDIS breaks down, but suddenly turning on the charm when confronting Ericson, where the Time Lord is happy to procrastinate until the Viking's arms grow tired from holding a sword above his head. At that moment he has Ericson on the back foot at least until they reach Newfoundland when the Viking grows in confidence. Even then, the Doctor is able to outwit the warrior and manage to achieve the outcome he desires.
Even the companions get a few moments, with Ian's toying with the Doctor a little as well as his knowledge of Newfoundland coming into play. In a call back to Marco Polo, it is Barbara who first becomes suspicious of Ericson's intentions once they reach Newfoundland. Susan isn't as well served, although she does make the comparison to Ericson and the Cowardly Lion as well as initiating a good old sing song during the long boat's trip to the Americas.
In summary then, a cracker of a story that manages to pay homage to the historicals in the era that this story is set. Perhaps not so surprising when Lucarotti was the man the wrote most of them. A rare treat.
6/10
