The Longest Story in the World (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image =  
|range                  = Short Trips (series)#BBC Books{{!}}BBC Short Trips
|series =[[Short Trips (series)#In print|Short Trips short stories]]
|series in range        = Short Trips and Side Steps
|doctor = First Doctor
|series number in range = 3
|companions = [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]
|number in series      = 1
|writer = [[Paul Magrs]]
|image                 =  
|anthology = ''[[Short Trips and Side Steps]]''
|series                 = [[Short Trips (series)#In print|Short Trips short stories]]
|release date= 6 March 2000
|doctor                 = First Doctor
|prev = Femme Fatale (short story)
|companions             = [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]
|next = A Town Called Eternity (short story)}}
|setting                = {{il|[[Gallifrey]]|[[Palace (The Longest Story in the World)|The Caliph's palace]]}}
|writer                = Paul Magrs
|anthology             = Short Trips and Side Steps
|release date           = 6 March 2000
|prev                   = Femme Fatale (short story)
|next                   = A Town Called Eternity (short story)
}}
'''''The Longest Story in the World''''' was the first short story in the [[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]] anthology ''[[Short Trips and Side Steps]]''. It was written by [[Paul Magrs]]. It featured the [[First Doctor]] and [[Susan Foreman|Susan]].
'''''The Longest Story in the World''''' was the first short story in the [[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]] anthology ''[[Short Trips and Side Steps]]''. It was written by [[Paul Magrs]]. It featured the [[First Doctor]] and [[Susan Foreman|Susan]].


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A girl has been asked, on pain of death, to tell a story that would entertain the Caliph. She decides to tell the longest story in the world, which will prolong her life. Each night she tells her story in the Caliph's bed chamber, with the Caliph, his guards, and his vizier as audience. Her story starts with an old man.
A girl has been asked, on pain of death, to tell a story that would entertain the Caliph. She decides to tell the longest story in the world, which will prolong her life. Each night she tells her story in the Caliph's bed chamber, with the Caliph, his guards, and his vizier as audience. Her story starts with an old man.


:The old man and his adopted granddaughter live in a place where fantasy is considered sacriligeous. Nevertheless, the girl has a vivid imagination and entertains her grandfather with her stories of their future. She tells him of travels in a machine that he will create. As his granddaughter gets older, the old man starts to worry about indulging her, afraid that someone will find out and declare her a witch.  
:The old man and his adopted granddaughter live in a place where fantasy is considered sacriligeous. Nevertheless, the girl has a vivid imagination and entertains her grandfather with her stories of their future. She tells him of travels in a machine that he will create. As his granddaughter gets older, the old man starts to worry about indulging her, afraid that someone will find out and declare her a witch.


:One day he tries to warn her about her stories, and she runs away. He can't follow her, so he goes home to wait for her. But when he arrives home, he finds armed men waiting for him.
:One day he tries to warn her about her stories, and she runs away. He can't follow her, so he goes home to wait for her. But when he arrives home, he finds armed men waiting for him.
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* [[Girl (The Longest Story in the World)|Girl]]
* [[Girl (The Longest Story in the World)|Girl]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The [[Susan Campbell|granddaughter]] in the story talks of how the travelling machine will be vast and like a city inside. This is a reference to [[the TARDIS]].
* The [[Susan Campbell|granddaughter]] in the story talks of how the travelling machine will be vast and like a city inside. This is a reference to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]].
* There is mention also of his name and that he would adopt many on his travels. This is a reference to [[the Doctor]]'s real name, which is unknown at present.
* There is mention also of his name and that he would adopt many on his travels. This is a reference to [[the Doctor]]'s real name, which is unknown at present.
* The Doctor is wearing [[Time Lord]] robes.
* The Doctor is wearing [[Time Lord]] robes.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
''to be added''
* The Doctor and Susan are never mentioned by name, but their identity is obvious from the given descriptions.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Susan is [[adoption|adopted]] according to this story. This is stated in other stories too, such as [[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]''.
* Susan is [[adoption|adopted]] according to this story. This is stated in other stories too, such as [[PROSE]]: ''[[Birth of a Renegade (short story)|Birth of a Renegade]]'' and [[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]''.
:: ''[[A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)|A Brief History of Time Lords]]'' suggests that Susan was the President's daughter, whom the Doctor stole and took on as his own granddaughter.
** ''[[A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)|A Brief History of Time Lords]]'' suggests that Susan was the President's daughter, whom the Doctor stole and took on as his own granddaughter.


{{ST prose}}
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[[ru:Самая_длинная_история_в_мире]]
 
[[Category:First Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:First Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:Short Trips and Side Steps short stories]]
[[Category:Short Trips and Side Steps short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Short stories set on Gallifrey]]
 
[[ru:Самая длинная история в мире]]

Latest revision as of 21:38, 8 February 2024

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The Longest Story in the World was the first short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips and Side Steps. It was written by Paul Magrs. It featured the First Doctor and Susan.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

A girl has been asked, on pain of death, to tell a story that would entertain the Caliph. She decides to tell the longest story in the world, which will prolong her life. Each night she tells her story in the Caliph's bed chamber, with the Caliph, his guards, and his vizier as audience. Her story starts with an old man.

The old man and his adopted granddaughter live in a place where fantasy is considered sacriligeous. Nevertheless, the girl has a vivid imagination and entertains her grandfather with her stories of their future. She tells him of travels in a machine that he will create. As his granddaughter gets older, the old man starts to worry about indulging her, afraid that someone will find out and declare her a witch.
One day he tries to warn her about her stories, and she runs away. He can't follow her, so he goes home to wait for her. But when he arrives home, he finds armed men waiting for him.

The girl ends her story here. The Caliph is eager for more, and she promises to continue the story tomorrow.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The granddaughter in the story talks of how the travelling machine will be vast and like a city inside. This is a reference to the TARDIS.
  • There is mention also of his name and that he would adopt many on his travels. This is a reference to the Doctor's real name, which is unknown at present.
  • The Doctor is wearing Time Lord robes.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor and Susan are never mentioned by name, but their identity is obvious from the given descriptions.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]