| THE SAVAGES by Ian Stuart Black |
| Story 26 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands in what the Doctor calls a time of peace and prosperity. But Dodo and Steven are sceptical. The Doctor is welcomed by the Elders as "The Traveller From Beyond Time". Dodo finds a room where scientists are up to odd schemes. Jano, the leader of the Elders, reveals the secret of their utopia has been to transfer energy from members of their species, who are then forced to live in the wilderness, as savages. Steven and Dodo meet up with these people. The Doctor opposes Jano, and so the latter absorbs some of the Doctor's energy. He also absorbs the Doctor's good qualities, and sees sense about the abhorrence of what the Elders do. He assists in a revolution, after which Steven is chosen to be the new leader. The Doctor and Dodo leave in the TARDIS. |
| Review:- From the craziness of the Old West, to an alien planet in the future, and a future that seems to be as wonderful as the future is supposed to be! Of course, progress comes at a cost, and it's rather a simplistic one here - the Elders are leeching their success from the Savages. In some ways, this story is reminiscent of The Space Museum, with an oppressive regime causing havoc to the underclass, and the Doctor held hostage whilst his companions work on the revolution. Here, though, it is the Doctor who provides the breakthrough, as Jano's fury at the Doctor's opposition, combined with his greed at the thought of taking the Doctor's energy, and his viciousness in the wish to punish the Doctor in this way, all combine to cause Jano to undergo a change. A change for the better, as he receives the Doctor's conscience, and realises the wisdom of the Doctor's complaints. Then, after a bit of good old smash-the-system, it's time for a change... a compromise candidate to become the new ruler... and a space pilot finds himself lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Over the course of his adventures, Steven had been able to display a level of maturity not often seen (chiefly because he never bothers wasting time fancying his fellow companions, perhaps), and is as worthy a candidate to fill the power vacuum as anyone. Quite what else he could have done, I am at a loss to consider. But it's a good way to leave. Unlike a certain other companion was about to do, anyway... There's nothing ground-breaking here - in fact, it's almost by-the-book stuff. But no less decent for all that. I can recommend this. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book. |