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{{Infobox Story
{{ImageLink|The Toy audio story}}
|image           = The Toy.jpg
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series          =  
|image             = <gallery>
|anthology      =  
The Toy.jpg|2015
|number          =  
The Toy2.jpg|2016</gallery>
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|series          = [[Short Trips (series)#Rarities|Short Trips Rarities]]
|companions      = [[Nyssa]], [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], [[Adric]]
|team            = [[Nyssa]]
|enemy          = {{Dreyfus|c}}
|enemy          = [[The Master's early life|The Master]]
|setting        = [[Arcadia (city)|Arcadia]], [[Gallifrey]]; [[The Doctor's TARDIS]]
|featuring = Fifth Doctor|featuring2 = Tegan Jovanka|featuring3 = Adric|featuring4 = First Doctor|featuring5 = Susan Foreman
|writer          = [[Nigel Fairs]]
|setting        = [[Arcadia (city)|Arcadia]], [[Gallifrey]]<br>[[The Doctor's TARDIS]]
|writer          = Nigel Fairs
|director        = [[Lisa Bowerman]]  
|director        = [[Lisa Bowerman]]  
|music          = [[Toby Hrycek-Robinson]]
|music          = [[Toby Hrycek-Robinson]]
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|read by        = [[Sarah Sutton]]
|read by        = [[Sarah Sutton]]
|producer        = [[Michael Stevens]]
|producer        = [[Michael Stevens]]
|cover          = [[Anthony Lamb]]
|cover          = [[Anthony Lamb]], [[Tom Saunders]]
|publisher      = Big Finish Productions
|publisher      = Big Finish Productions
|release date    = [[October (releases)|October]] [[2015 (releases)|2015]]
|release date    = 21 October 2015
|format          = CD
|format          = 1 CD<br/>Download
|production code =  
|epcount        = 1
|production code = BFSTRARE01
|isbn            = ISBN 978-1-78575-984-0
|isbn            = ISBN 978-1-78575-984-0
|series = [[Short Trips (series)#Rareties|Short Trips Rareties]]
|next            = Museum Peace (short story)
|next            = Museum Peace (short story)
|nav            = 1
|nav            = 1
}}{{audio stub}}
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was an audio story originally released solely to online subscribers of ''[[The Complete History]]'' magazine, alongside issues #4 and #5 of the magazine. It was later released as part of Big Finish's ''[[Short Trips Rarities]]'' series. It was read by [[Sarah Sutton]].
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was an audio story originally released solely to online subscribers of ''[[The Complete History]]'' magazine, alongside issues #4 and #5 of the magazine. It was later released as part of Big Finish's ''[[Short Trips Rarities]]'' series. It was read by [[Sarah Sutton]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
In her bedroom on board the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]], [[Nyssa]] dreams of her long lost home, and a Forbidden Archway that never really existed — or did it?
In her bedroom on board [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], [[Nyssa]] dreams of her long lost home, and a Forbidden Archway that never really existed — or did it?


In the TARDIS corridors she finds a flight of steps, a door marked 'keep out', and beyond, a locked room full of secrets. In particular a casket containing a jewel seems to call to her. “Nyssa of [[Traken]], do you want to be my friend?
In the TARDIS corridors she finds a flight of steps, a door marked 'keep out', and beyond, a locked room full of secrets. In particular a casket containing a jewel seems to call to her. "Nyssa of [[Traken]], do you want to be my friend?"


So begins a journey that takes Nyssa from snow capped mountains to vast cities, and introduces her to people she seems to know so well. What dangerous landscape has she wondered into — and can she ever escape to safety, and the comfort of her travelling companions?
So begins a journey that takes Nyssa from snow capped mountains to vast cities, and introduces her to people she seems to know so well. What dangerous landscape has she wondered into — and can she ever escape to safety, and the comfort of her travelling companions?
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Wandering around, Nyssa eventually finds a doorway that is an exact match for the forbidden archway she keeps dreaming of. Ignoring the ornate, "Do Not Enter" sign on the door, she enters the room to find a sort of map room. Examining what appears to be a star chart, she touches one of the stars on there, only for the star chart to show the destruction of that solar system. Horrified, Nyssa backs away, but is startled when a voice begins to call out to her.
Wandering around, Nyssa eventually finds a doorway that is an exact match for the forbidden archway she keeps dreaming of. Ignoring the ornate, "Do Not Enter" sign on the door, she enters the room to find a sort of map room. Examining what appears to be a star chart, she touches one of the stars on there, only for the star chart to show the destruction of that solar system. Horrified, Nyssa backs away, but is startled when a voice begins to call out to her.


Nyssa identifies the source of the voice, a small red jewel located in a box. The voice asks her if she would like to get away from her current situation, and implores her to touch the jewel. Hesitantly, Nyssa touches it and is instantly transported to Arcadia, where she meets an [[First Doctor|old man]], who calls her [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]. Confused, Nyssa insists she is not Susan, until a [[The Master|man]] appears, and claims that he can help Nyssa escape her current predicament.
Nyssa identifies the source of the voice, a small red jewel located in a box. The voice asks her if she would like to get away from her current situation, and implores her to touch the jewel. Hesitantly, Nyssa touches it and is instantly transported to Arcadia, where she meets an [[First Doctor|old man]], who calls her [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]. Confused, Nyssa insists she is not Susan, until [[The Master|another man]] appears, and claims that he can help Nyssa escape her current predicament.


Just as Nyssa is about to help, the old man, now with a [[Second Doctor|younger face]] implores her not to help. Before Nyssa's eyes, the man transforms into a [[Third Doctor|tall old man with white hair]], [[Fourth Doctor|the first Doctor she ever met]], before eventually becoming [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor she travels with]]. All the while, the Doctor implores Nyssa not to give in to the Master, who similarly transforms through different forms, including the face of Nyssa's father, [[Tremas]]. As Nyssa struggles with the Master, she sustains a cut to her face and a part of her hair is cut off.
Just as Nyssa is about to help, the old man, now with a [[Second Doctor|younger face]] implores her not to help. Before Nyssa's eyes, the man transforms into a [[Third Doctor|tall old man with white hair]], [[Fourth Doctor|the first Doctor she ever met]], before eventually becoming [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor she travels with]]. All the while, the Doctor implores Nyssa not to give in to the Master, who similarly transforms through different forms, including the face of Nyssa's father, [[Tremas]]. As Nyssa struggles with the Master, she sustains a cut to her face and a part of her hair is cut off.
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* [[Tegan Jovanka]]
* [[Tegan Jovanka]]
* [[Adric]]
* [[Adric]]
* {{Dreyfus|c}}
* [[The Master's early life|The Master]]
* [[First Doctor]]
* [[First Doctor]]
* [[Susan Foreman]]
* [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]
* [[Second Doctor]]
* [[Third Doctor]]
* [[Fourth Doctor]]
* [[Sixth Doctor]]
* [[Seventh Doctor]]
* [[Eighth Doctor]]


== References ==
== Crew ==
 
* Narrator - [[Sarah Sutton]]
* Cover Art - [[Mark Plastow]]
* Director - [[Lisa Bowerman]]
* Executive Producers - [[Nicholas Briggs]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
* Music and Sound Design - [[Toby Hrycek-Robinson]]
* Producer & Script Editor - [[Michael Stevens (writer)|Michael Stevens]]
* Writer - [[Nigel Fairs]]
 
== Worldbuilding ==
* [[Satona chlorensis]] was a flower that grew on [[Traken]].
* [[Satona chlorensis]] was a flower that grew on [[Traken]].
* Nyssa dreams that Tegan is her chambermaid.
* There are [[island]]s in the [[Dark Hemisphere]] of Traken.
* [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] contains a [[replicator]] that can copy clothing.
* [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] contains a [[replicator]] that can copy clothing.
* As a child, Nyssa spent many hours studying etiquette when she would have preferred to have been playing with other children.
* The [[First Doctor]] once planned to live in [[Arcadia (city)|Arcadia]] with his granddaughter [[Susan Foreman]].
* Both of Nyssa's grandfathers died before she was born.
* The First Doctor always wanted to visit Traken.
* [[The Master]] refers to the [[Prydonian Chapter]] as "[[hippie]]s".
* [[The Master]] refers to the [[Prydonian Chapter]] as "[[hippie]]s".
* Adric once described Tegan as being "unreasonably highly strung".
* Adric says a [[Website|computer program]] called [[Facebook|The Facebook]] was banned on [[21st century]] [[Earth]] for turning people into "mindless, incommunicative zombies".
* The Doctor retains a jewel that Susan used to own, which was given to her by the Master.
* Adric says a [[Website|computer program]] called [[Facebook|The Facebook]] was banned on [[21st century]] [[Earth]] for turning people into "mindless, incommunicative zombies".


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
[[File:The Toy2.jpg|thumb|Short Trips Rarities cover by [[Tom Saunders]].]]
* ''The Toy'' was originally advertised in ''[[VOR 66]]'' and ''[[VOR 67]]'' as part of Big Finish's monthly ''[[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]]'' range for release in May 2015, before being replaced by ''[[The King of the Dead (audio story)|The King of the Dead]]''. Whilst early promotional material retained the ''Short Trips'' title on the cover, this was dropped for the final release.
* ''The Toy'' was originally advertised in ''[[VOR 66]]'' and ''[[VOR 67]]'' as part of Big Finish's monthly ''[[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]]'' range for release in May 2015, before being replaced by ''[[The King of the Dead (audio story)|The King of the Dead]]''. Whilst early promotional material retained the ''Short Trips'' title on the cover, this was dropped for the final release.
* The CD also features a behind the scenes featurette on Big Finish as a company, ''[[Inside the Audio Worlds of Doctor Who (audio documentary)|Inside the Audio Worlds of Doctor Who]]'', with trailers and interviews with [[Jemma Redgrave]], [[Ingrid Oliver]], [[Katy Manning]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Russell T Davies]] and [[Paul McGann]], and narrated by [[Nicholas Briggs]] and [[David Richardson]]. Some of these interviews are repurposed from previous releases.
* The CD also features a behind the scenes featurette on Big Finish as a company, ''[[Inside the Audio Worlds of Doctor Who (audio documentary)|Inside the Audio Worlds of Doctor Who]]'', with trailers and interviews with [[Jemma Redgrave]], [[Ingrid Oliver]], [[Katy Manning]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Russell T Davies]] and [[Paul McGann]], and narrated by [[Nicholas Briggs]] and [[David Richardson]]. Some of these interviews are repurposed from previous releases.
* It is the first release exclusive to a magazine since ''[[The Revenants (audio story)|The Revenants]]'' in 2012.
* It is the first release exclusive to a magazine since ''[[The Revenants (audio story)|The Revenants]]'' in 2012.
* On [[30 September (releases)|30 September]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]], this story was made available for general release as part of the ''[[Short Trips Rarities]]'' range.
* On [[30 September (releases)|30 September]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]], this story was made available for general release as part of the ''[[Short Trips Rarities]]'' range.
* This story was recorded on [[28 January (production)|28 January]] [[2015 (production)|2015]] at [[The Moat Studios]]
* This story was recorded on [[28 January (production)|28 January]] [[2015 (production)|2015]] at [[The Moat Studios]].
* The Doctor's attempts to stop the Master from tricking Nyssa through the communication node see him cycle through his [[First Doctor|first]]-[[Eighth incarnation]]s, while the Master is seen with a grey-beard and swept back dark hear, as well as his [[Tremas Master|Tremas]] and [[Decayed Master|Decayed]] forms. The "real" Master involved is explicitly from before he left Gallifrey, trying to find out where the Doctor is. It isn't clear which Doctor is involved, but it seems to be the Fifth Doctor, as he falls over, dripping with sweat when Nyssa returns to consciousness, and is aware of what was occurred.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Nyssa has a dream about the [[Melkur]] and her father [[Tremas]] and mother. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'')  
* Nyssa has a dream about the [[Melkur]] and her father [[Tremas]] and mother. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'')
* Nyssa recalls {{pratt}} stealing Tremas' body ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'') and the destruction of Traken in [[1981]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'')
* Nyssa recalls {{pratt}} stealing Tremas' body ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'') and the destruction of Traken in [[1981]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'')
* Nyssa refers to Tegan's bad experiences with dreaming when she was possessed by [[Mara]] on [[Kinda]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kinda (TV story)|Kinda]]'')
* Nyssa refers to Tegan's bad experiences with dreaming when she was possessed by [[Mara]] on [[Kinda]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kinda (TV story)|Kinda]]'')
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* Nyssa asks if the Master is still out there. The Doctor says that he has a habit of surviving. ([[TV]]: ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'', ''[[Time-Flight (TV story)|Time-Flight]]'')
* Nyssa asks if the Master is still out there. The Doctor says that he has a habit of surviving. ([[TV]]: ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'', ''[[Time-Flight (TV story)|Time-Flight]]'')
* The Doctor says that the Master could not bear a universe without him to cross swords with. He suggests this could be why the Master left Gallifrey in the first place. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
* The Doctor says that the Master could not bear a universe without him to cross swords with. He suggests this could be why the Master left Gallifrey in the first place. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
* Nyssa sees a future projection of the Master as a snake. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'')
* Nyssa sees a future projection of {{Roberts}} as a snake. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'')
 
== Cover gallery ==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
The Toy.jpg|Original CD cover by [[Anthony Lamb]]
The Toy textless.jpg|Textless original CD cover
The Toy2.jpg|''[[Short Trips Rarities]]'' cover by [[Tom Saunders]]
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{bigfinish|releases/v/1544}}
{{bigfinish|releases/v/1544}}
* http://www.hachettepartworks.com/our-titles/dr-who/
* http://www.hachettepartworks.com/our-titles/dr-who/
{{BFSTA}}
{{BFSTA}}
{{Master stories}}
{{Master stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Short Trips audio stories]]
[[Category:2015 audio stories]]
[[Category:Fifth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Fifth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:The Master audio stories]]
[[Category:The Master audio stories]]
[[Category:2015 audio stories]]
[[Category:First Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Short Trips audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set entirely in the TARDIS]]
[[Category:Audio stories set in dreams]]
[[Category:Audio stories that use the Peter Howell theme]]
[[Category:Time Lord audio stories]]
[[Category:Audio stories set on Gallifrey]]
[[Category:One part audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 10:15, 7 May 2024

RealWorld.png

The Toy was an audio story originally released solely to online subscribers of The Complete History magazine, alongside issues #4 and #5 of the magazine. It was later released as part of Big Finish's Short Trips Rarities series. It was read by Sarah Sutton.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

In her bedroom on board the TARDIS, Nyssa dreams of her long lost home, and a Forbidden Archway that never really existed — or did it?

In the TARDIS corridors she finds a flight of steps, a door marked 'keep out', and beyond, a locked room full of secrets. In particular a casket containing a jewel seems to call to her. "Nyssa of Traken, do you want to be my friend?"

So begins a journey that takes Nyssa from snow capped mountains to vast cities, and introduces her to people she seems to know so well. What dangerous landscape has she wondered into — and can she ever escape to safety, and the comfort of her travelling companions?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Nyssa wakes from another dream of her time on Traken, and the mysterious "forbidden archway" that she keeps seeing in her dreams. Resolving to tell the Doctor about these dreams, she travels to the console room, only to find the Doctor, Tegan, and Adric arguing yet again. Nyssa instead leaves to go be alone, and breaks down into tears in the TARDIS hallway.

Wandering around, Nyssa eventually finds a doorway that is an exact match for the forbidden archway she keeps dreaming of. Ignoring the ornate, "Do Not Enter" sign on the door, she enters the room to find a sort of map room. Examining what appears to be a star chart, she touches one of the stars on there, only for the star chart to show the destruction of that solar system. Horrified, Nyssa backs away, but is startled when a voice begins to call out to her.

Nyssa identifies the source of the voice, a small red jewel located in a box. The voice asks her if she would like to get away from her current situation, and implores her to touch the jewel. Hesitantly, Nyssa touches it and is instantly transported to Arcadia, where she meets an old man, who calls her Susan. Confused, Nyssa insists she is not Susan, until another man appears, and claims that he can help Nyssa escape her current predicament.

Just as Nyssa is about to help, the old man, now with a younger face implores her not to help. Before Nyssa's eyes, the man transforms into a tall old man with white hair, the first Doctor she ever met, before eventually becoming the Doctor she travels with. All the while, the Doctor implores Nyssa not to give in to the Master, who similarly transforms through different forms, including the face of Nyssa's father, Tremas. As Nyssa struggles with the Master, she sustains a cut to her face and a part of her hair is cut off.

Coming to in the Doctor's TARDIS, Nyssa finds the Doctor, Tegan, and Adric standing over her with worry. The Doctor is angered that Nyssa could give in to such a trick, while Tegan and Adric try to defuse the situation. Relenting, the Doctor explains the origins of the red jewel: that it was a toy gifted to his granddaughter, Susan, by a family friend. The Doctor explains that the jewel is a communication node that acts as a telepathic conduit into an intergalactic transdimensional network. He explains that Susan once used the toy too much, and the Doctor had to hide the toy away. After Tegan and Adric leave, Nyssa asks the Doctor if the family friend was the Master, and the Doctor confirms that. Asking the Doctor if the Master is still alive, the Doctor tells Nyssa that the Master has a nasty habit of surviving. The Doctor then replaces the sign on the window, and heads back to the console room with Nyssa.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]