Houdini and The Space Cuckoos (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
{{Infobox Story | |image = Houdini and the Space Cuckoos.jpg | ||
|image= Houdini and the Space Cuckoos.jpg | |doctor = Eleventh Doctor | ||
|featuring = [[Harry Houdini]] | |||
|enemy = [[Cuculus]] | |||
|doctor= Eleventh Doctor | |setting = [[New York City]], [[1920]] | ||
| | |writer = Joseph Lidster | ||
| | |publication = [[Doctor Who website|''Doctor Who'' website]] | ||
|setting= [[New York City]], [[1920]] | |release date = 15 - 25 December 2012 | ||
|writer= | |series = [[Adventure Calendar]] fiction | ||
|publication= [[Doctor Who website|''Doctor Who'' website]] | |prev = Attack of the Snowmen (short story) | ||
|release date= | |next = Behind You (short story) | ||
|prev= Attack of the Snowmen (short story) | |series2 = ''Doctor Who'' web short stories | ||
|next= Behind You (short story) | |prev2 = Attack of the Snowmen (short story) | ||
}} | |next2 = Behind You (short story) | ||
}}{{prose stub}} | |||
'''''Houdini and The Space Cuckoos''''' was a [[December]] [[2012]] online novella serialised on the | {{dab page|Cuckoo (disambiguation)}} | ||
'''''Houdini and The Space Cuckoos''''' was a [[December (releases)|December]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]] online novella serialised on the [[Doctor Who website|''Doctor Who'' website]] as part of the 2012 [[Adventure Calendar]]. This story can be downloaded as a PDF file from the ''Doctor Who'' website's "Fun & Games" section. | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
=== Part One === | === Part One === | ||
The [[Eleventh Doctor]] is narrating his adventures to an imaginary [[companion]] called "Bob". He tells about how he has been trapped in a glass box in spaceship orbiting [[Earth]]. Once the [[Cuculus|aliens]] start pouring a liquid into the box, the narrative switches to how he got there. | The [[Eleventh Doctor]] is narrating his adventures to an imaginary [[companion]] called "[[Bob (Houdini and The Space Cuckoos)|Bob]]". He tells Bob about how he has been trapped in a glass box in spaceship orbiting [[Earth]]. Once the [[Cuculus|aliens]] start pouring a liquid into the box, the narrative switches to how he got there. | ||
In [[New York City]], [[1920]], [[Harry Houdini]] is about to do his act in the [[Golden Horse Theatre]]. After getting into a locked safe, Harry discovers that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] has connected [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] and the inside of the safe. The Doctor needs help to stop an [[alien invasion]] and takes Harry to the lobby of the theatre. There, they are met by a group of reporters. Harry assumes they are interested in him, but the Doctor reveals that they are actually possessed by the aliens. | In [[New York City]], [[1920]], [[Harry Houdini]] is about to do his act in the [[Golden Horse Theatre]]. After getting into a locked safe, Harry discovers that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] has connected [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] and the inside of the safe. The Doctor needs help to stop an [[alien invasion]] and takes Harry to the lobby of the theatre. There, they are met by a group of reporters. Harry assumes they are interested in him, but the Doctor reveals that they are actually possessed by the aliens. | ||
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=== Part Three === | === Part Three === | ||
After escaping the carriage, the Doctor decides that running away is pointless and they should try to be captured to be brought to the Cuculus ship. After activating his [[sonic screwdriver]], the Doctor and Harry are [[teleportation|teleported]] to the Cuculus ship. Harry easily escapes from his cell and goes in search of the Doctor. When he finds the Doctor in the glass box, it's revealed that the Doctor was pretending to talk to "Bob" in order to stop the Cuculus from reading his mind and finding out about Harry. Harry opens the [[deadlock seal]], freeing the Doctor from the cage. They run to the centre chamber, where the psychic crystal is kept. The Doctor reverses the crystal, returning all the Cuculus minds into the Cuculus bodies and freeing the humans. The Cuculus return the Doctor and Harry to the lobby of the [[Golden Horse Theatre]]. The Doctor slips Harry back into the safe, allowing him to complete his act. Once people started coughing, the Doctor realises that they have been infected with a [[virus]] and the Cuculus plan to kill humanity. | After escaping the carriage, the Doctor decides that running away is pointless and they should try to be captured to be brought to the Cuculus ship. After activating his [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]], the Doctor and Harry are [[teleportation|teleported]] to the Cuculus ship. Harry easily escapes from his cell and goes in search of the Doctor. When he finds the Doctor in the glass box, it's revealed that the Doctor was pretending to talk to "Bob" in order to stop the Cuculus from reading his mind and finding out about Harry. Harry opens the [[deadlock seal]], freeing the Doctor from the cage. They run to the centre chamber, where the psychic crystal is kept. The Doctor reverses the crystal, returning all the Cuculus minds into the Cuculus bodies and freeing the humans. The Cuculus return the Doctor and Harry to the lobby of the [[Golden Horse Theatre]]. The Doctor slips Harry back into the safe, allowing him to complete his act. Once people started coughing, the Doctor realises that they have been infected with a [[virus]] and the Cuculus plan to kill humanity. | ||
=== Part Four === | === Part Four === | ||
| Line 37: | Line 39: | ||
* [[Harry Houdini]] | * [[Harry Houdini]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
'' | ''to be added'' | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* The Doctor describes himself as "Explorer, time traveller and wearer of fine hats", referencing his [[fez]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | * Harry has met [[the Doctor]], in various [[incarnation]]s, many times before. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Smoke and Mirrors (audio story)|Smoke and Mirrors]]'', ''[[Harry Houdini's War (audio story)|Harry Houdini's War]]'') | ||
* The Doctor describes himself as "Explorer, time traveller and wearer of fine hats", referencing his [[fez]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') [[Tricorn]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot (TV story)|The Curse of the Black Spot]]'') and [[Stetson]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | |||
* The box the Doctor is trapped in has a [[deadlock seal]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', ''et al.'') | * The box the Doctor is trapped in has a [[deadlock seal]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', ''et al.'') | ||
* The Doctor connects the TARDIS and the inside of a safe using [[Block Transfer Computation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'') | * The Doctor connects the TARDIS and the inside of a safe using [[Block Transfer Computation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'') | ||
* When Harry suggests the [[Cuculus]] were [[Martian]]s, the Doctor says that Martians are reptilian instead. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ice Warriors (TV story)|The Ice Warriors]]'', ''et al.'') | * When Harry suggests the [[Cuculus]] were [[Martian]]s, the Doctor says that Martians are reptilian instead. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ice Warriors (TV story)|The Ice Warriors]]'', ''et al.'') | ||
* The Doctor is wearing a "I died at [[Lake Silencio]] and all my wife got me was this lousy t-shirt" shirt. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | * The Doctor is wearing a "I died at [[Lake Silencio]] and all my wife got me was this lousy t-shirt" shirt. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'', ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') | ||
* The Doctor criticises a [[horse]]'s [[Horse (language)|bad language]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Town Called Mercy (TV story)|A Town Called Mercy]]'') | * The Doctor criticises a [[horse]]'s [[Horse (language)|bad language]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Town Called Mercy (TV story)|A Town Called Mercy]]'') | ||
* The Doctor causes artificial [[snow]] again. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'') | * The Doctor causes artificial [[snow]] again. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'') | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{elx|page url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/isite-downloads/doctorwho/masks_and_makes/stories/christmas-2012/Houdini-and-The-Space-Cuckoos-Part-One.pdf|page name=Houdini And The Space Cuckoos, Part One|website name=Doctor Who website}} | |||
{{elx|page url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/isite-downloads/doctorwho/masks_and_makes/stories/christmas-2012/HTSC/Houdini-and-The-Space-Cuckoos-Part-Two.pdf|page name=Houdini And The Space Cuckoos, Part Two|website name=Doctor Who website}} | |||
{{elx|page url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/isite-downloads/doctorwho/masks_and_makes/stories/christmas-2012/Houdini-and-The-Space-Cuckoos-Part-Three.pdf|page name=Houdini And The Space Cuckoos, Part Three|website name=Doctor Who website}} | |||
{{elx|page url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/isite-downloads/doctorwho/masks_and_makes/stories/christmas-2012/HTSC4/Houdini-and-The-Space-Cuckoos-Part-Four.pdf|page name=Houdini And The Space Cuckoos, Part Four|website name=Doctor Who website}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Adventure Calendar short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor short stories]] | [[Category:Eleventh Doctor short stories]] | ||
[[Category:2012 short stories]] | [[Category:2012 short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 1920]] | [[Category:Stories set in 1920]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in New York City]] | [[Category:Stories set in New York City]] | ||
Latest revision as of 03:54, 26 March 2024
- You may wish to consult
Cuckoo (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Houdini and The Space Cuckoos was a December 2012 online novella serialised on the Doctor Who website as part of the 2012 Adventure Calendar. This story can be downloaded as a PDF file from the Doctor Who website's "Fun & Games" section.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
Part One[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Eleventh Doctor is narrating his adventures to an imaginary companion called "Bob". He tells Bob about how he has been trapped in a glass box in spaceship orbiting Earth. Once the aliens start pouring a liquid into the box, the narrative switches to how he got there.
In New York City, 1920, Harry Houdini is about to do his act in the Golden Horse Theatre. After getting into a locked safe, Harry discovers that the Eleventh Doctor has connected the TARDIS and the inside of the safe. The Doctor needs help to stop an alien invasion and takes Harry to the lobby of the theatre. There, they are met by a group of reporters. Harry assumes they are interested in him, but the Doctor reveals that they are actually possessed by the aliens.
Part Two[[edit] | [edit source]]
After being mobbed by possessed reporters, Harry realises getting out of a crowd is the same as getting out of handcuffs and slips out. He and Doctor escape, where the Doctor explains the Cuculus and their plans. They run into a policeman who has also been possessed and narrowly manage to escape him as well. In their escape, they are nearly run down by a carriage pulled by a possessed horse.
Part Three[[edit] | [edit source]]
After escaping the carriage, the Doctor decides that running away is pointless and they should try to be captured to be brought to the Cuculus ship. After activating his sonic screwdriver, the Doctor and Harry are teleported to the Cuculus ship. Harry easily escapes from his cell and goes in search of the Doctor. When he finds the Doctor in the glass box, it's revealed that the Doctor was pretending to talk to "Bob" in order to stop the Cuculus from reading his mind and finding out about Harry. Harry opens the deadlock seal, freeing the Doctor from the cage. They run to the centre chamber, where the psychic crystal is kept. The Doctor reverses the crystal, returning all the Cuculus minds into the Cuculus bodies and freeing the humans. The Cuculus return the Doctor and Harry to the lobby of the Golden Horse Theatre. The Doctor slips Harry back into the safe, allowing him to complete his act. Once people started coughing, the Doctor realises that they have been infected with a virus and the Cuculus plan to kill humanity.
Part Four[[edit] | [edit source]]
When people start collapsing, the Doctor says that the disease could be cured with something from the Cuculus ship. Harry reveals that he brought back a crystal as a souvenir. Using the sonic screwdriver, curing the people and eventually causing the crystal to explode into a cloud of dust. Once everyone has been saved, the Doctor admits that he already knows how Harry does his tricks and that he's already met him later so that Harry can teach him how to do it.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Harry has met the Doctor, in various incarnations, many times before. (AUDIO: Smoke and Mirrors, Harry Houdini's War)
- The Doctor describes himself as "Explorer, time traveller and wearer of fine hats", referencing his fez, (TV: The Big Bang) Tricorn, (TV: The Curse of the Black Spot) and Stetson. (TV: The Impossible Astronaut)
- The box the Doctor is trapped in has a deadlock seal. (TV: Bad Wolf, et al.)
- The Doctor connects the TARDIS and the inside of a safe using Block Transfer Computation. (TV: Logopolis)
- When Harry suggests the Cuculus were Martians, the Doctor says that Martians are reptilian instead. (TV: The Ice Warriors, et al.)
- The Doctor is wearing a "I died at Lake Silencio and all my wife got me was this lousy t-shirt" shirt. (TV: The Impossible Astronaut, The Wedding of River Song)
- The Doctor criticises a horse's bad language. (TV: A Town Called Mercy)
- The Doctor causes artificial snow again. (TV: The Runaway Bride)
