Byzantium!

Keith Topping

2001

This book, featuring the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki, is a return to the original mission statement of Doctor Who, being a purely historical story. Although there are aliens, they are no tentacled being or Dalek rampaging through the streets. Just our ancestors, for never was the comment "The past is an alien place…" ever more true than in the twisted streets of Byzantium!

Byzantium, unique even in the Roman Empire of Nero for the level of depravity and intrigue that split its population.

When the TARDIS materialised in the plains nearby, the Doctor is initially doubtful, but Barbara finds the lure of the city irresistible and her wishes finally persuade everyone that it would be fun to see the glory of the Romans at its height. However, after a few days stay in the reeking reality, they found the glory to be well hidden under the mutual loathing and suspicions that split the city between Roman, Greek, Pharisee and Zealot.

After making up their minds that they had really seen enough, the party are in the great Market Place buying provisions for the trek back to the TARDIS when a murderous riot breaks out. Initially just the Zealots murdering anyone not a Zealot, it soon became a happy free-for-all. Unable to keep together, the party are separated and each thinks that they are the only one still alive. Reluctantly, they make their individual adjustments to exile while the Doctor makes his way to the TARDIS. Ian finds himself in the household of the city's Governor, where he finds deep currents swirling round his host, threatening to bring the city into true chaos. Barbara finds herself the ward of the city's Chief Pharisee, who had designs on her body after she had bested his chief acolytes in verbal combat. Vicki is taken in by a sympathetic Greek family but finds it difficult to be properly subservient.

It's the Doctor, though, that had the greatest shock when he can't find the TARDIS. Taken in by a group of Christians fleeing the growing chaos in the city he is initially sceptical of their belief. However, he comes to admire their devotion to their cause, if not that cause itself.

Will the four ever meet up again? Will they be able to find the TARDIS, or are they doomed to spend the rest of their existence in this distant past?

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