But Once a Year (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|series=[[Short Trips (series)#In print|Short Trips short stories]] | |series=[[Short Trips (series)#In print|Short Trips short stories]] | ||
|doctor = Seventh Doctor | |doctor = Seventh Doctor | ||
|companions=[[Ace]] | |companions = [[Ace]] | ||
|featuring = David Merrison | |featuring = David Merrison | ||
|setting=[[Christmas Eve]], [[Christmas]] | |setting = [[Christmas Eve]], [[Christmas]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Colin Harvey | ||
|anthology= | |anthology = Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas | ||
|release date = 5 December 2007 | |||
|prev = Faithful Friends: Part 1 (short story) | |prev = Faithful Friends: Part 1 (short story) | ||
|next=For the Man Who Has Everything (short story) | |next = For the Man Who Has Everything (short story) | ||
|enemy = Creature | |enemy = Creature | ||
}} | }} | ||
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* [[Lobson|Mr Lobson]] | * [[Lobson|Mr Lobson]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* David's grandfather adventured with [[Augustus Glavin]] on the [[HMS Rochester|HMS ''Rochester'']]. He collected [[fossil]]s. | * David's grandfather adventured with [[Augustus Glavin]] on the [[HMS Rochester|HMS ''Rochester'']]. He collected [[fossil]]s. | ||
* David's father reads ''[[The Times]]''. | * David's father reads ''[[The Times]]''. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:27, 9 March 2024
But Once a Year was the second short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas. It was written by Colin Harvey. It featured the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
For the last few years, at Christmas time, the Merrison family has been visited by something that each year takes away one of their children. Only David, a wheelchair user, is left, and his parents have become distant.
This year, before the creature arrives, David is visited by the Doctor and Ace. He tells them the story of his brothers and sister. When the creature arrives, it takes Ace instead of David.
The Doctor deduces that a skull that had been collected by David's grandfather is actually an alien artefact. The creature wants the skull, so when it returns, the Doctor offers the skull in exchange for Ace and the Merrison siblings. They return safely, having spent the intervening time in the alien's spaceship, where they worked as its slaves. With the missing children returned, the Merrisons become a family again.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Seventh Doctor
- Ace
- David Merrison
- Lucy
- David Merrison's father
- David Merrison's mother
- Steven Merrison
- Noel Merrison
- Elizabeth Merrison
- Mr Lobson
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- David's grandfather adventured with Augustus Glavin on the HMS Rochester. He collected fossils.
- David's father reads The Times.
- The Doctor mentions Good King Wenceslas.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This story is narrated by David Merrison.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
