| THE HORNS OF NIMON by Anthony Read |
| Story 108 Synopsis: A Skonnon ship breaks down en route from Aneth to Skonnos. The TARDIS is also caught in the effect of a black hole, and becomes attached to the ship. The Doctor and Romana set about helping free the ship. Down on Skonnos, the non-arrival of the ship causes worry, as it is the last in a sequence of tributes from Aneth, which have been demanded by the Nimon, who are going to help with a new Skonnon empire in return. The Doctor enables the Skonnon ship to resume its journey, but the pilot leaves the TARDIS behind, holding Romana as hostage along with the Anethans. The Doctor uses a huge rock to knock the TARDIS free from the black hole. Down on Skonnos, the leader, Soldeed, tells the Nimon that the ship has been delayed, but the Nimon refuse to offer help with retrieving it. Soldeed is later told that the ship is on its way at last. The Doctor arrives and confronts Soldeed, recovering the gravitic anomaliser that was used to get the ship free. He is chased into the Power Complex, where the Nimon live. Romana and the Anethans have already been sent in there, and are met by the Nimon, who attacks the pilot of the delayed ship. The Doctor meets up with Romana, and they find a transmat capsule. Romana is accidentally sent to its other end, Crinoth. Two more Nimon arrive on Skonnos. Soldeed begins to realise what a mistake he has done in believing the Nimon. Romana meets Sezom, the last survivor of Crinoth. The Nimon jump from planet to planet, stripping the resources then moving on. The Doctor redirects the transmat beam, after retrieving Romana. K9 finds his way through the maze, and leads the Doctor, Romana and the Anethans out again. The Power Complex is turned into a time bomb by a dying Soldeed, which gets rid of the remaining Nimon. The Doctor instructs Soldeed's replacement, Sorak, to negotiate peace with the Anethans, who will then help rebuild Skonnos. |
| Review:- Tucked away as the season-ending epic (by default, due to the loss of Shada), this story pits several decent sci-fi ideas into a mix, throws in plenty of historical allusion, and aims at the audience jugular. The parasitic Nimon are the fulcrum of the story, and are mostly well-crafted. The story builds slowly, so that all we know of the Nimon is that they are really powerful, and promising to restore the Skonnon Empire, yet could crush them if they do not obey. Their scientific power over Soldeed, and the rest of Skonnos, is enough illustration that they are fearsome. When they eventually appear, they maintain their mystique, and as the rest of their plan is discovered, and their effect on Crinoth is shown, the picture is completed of a really impressive alien menace. Then again, the Skonnons and the Anethans both seem less than impressive. It could just as easily have been the latter oppressing the former, really, with Seth as the bully rather than Sorak. It is also something of a distraction when it seems that the writer is trying to set some sort of record for the number of characters with the same initial. Praise has been given to this story for its showcasing of Romana as the Doctor-alike she seemed to become when played by Lalla Ward. Whereas he is sidelined with silly moments, she leads the Anethans in the maze, and learns the truth on Crinoth. Unfortunately, two equal leads is one too many in a drama like Doctor Who, and though Romana gets moments of triumph, it rather reduces the impact of the lead character, which is dumb. K9 gets to show some ability when rescuing everyone from the maze, although its trouble with Soldeed is another step in the path of diminishing its power. Ultimately, the day is saved, and the Anethans find themselves in an alliance with the planet to whom they had been subservient. This is a keen dramatic point in terms of what happens in places where dictators are toppled, and former enemies suddenly become allies through economic necessity. But that's another story... Overall, as a diversionary entertainment, it passes muster, but there is too much aside to allow full appreciation of the story. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book, and seen the video. |