Northern Lights (audio story)
Northern Lights was the second story in the audio anthology Pioneers, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Robert Valentine and featured Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor crashes to Earth and finds himself in the Arctic - but not quite alone. The Aurora Borealis are even more unearthly than usual...
Intrepid explorer Fridtjof Nansen is trying to get home as alien forces close in. The Doctor knows Nansen has a part to play in history - can he save the future?
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
The TARDIS crash lands in the arctic in the year 1896 after passing through an electro-magnetic plasma field. Explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen spots an object falling from the sky and the run to investigate, assuming it's a meteorite. On the way there, Fridtjof is attacked by a bear before witnessing it being swept up by the fog and is cleaved in half. It is at this moment the Doctor encounters the pair, just missing the miraculous event the two explorers witnessed. After introducing each other, the Doctor recommends them to head indoors. The three men drag the half of the polar bear to the explorer's hut while the Aurora observes them.
The trio eat polar bear meat for lunch while the Doctor asks about how Fridtjof and Hjalmar pass they days. Fridtjof makes it clear he doesn't trust the Doctor. As they go to bed later that night, the Doctor expresses his annoyance at Hjalmar's snoring. The Doctor's plasma detector beeps as something draws near. They wake up and look outside to see the Aurora coming down from the sky towards the hut. The Doctor uses the detector's built-in defense mechanism to chase the Aurora away with a burst of light. The Aurora retreats and the Doctor explains the Aurora is the reason he's here. As Fridtjof and Hjalmar arm themselves with the rifle, they argue with the Doctor before suddenly, Hjalmar is taken by the Aurora.
The Doctor and Fridtjof trek through the snowstorm to find Hjalmar, guided by the Doctor's plasma detector which is picking up strange readings. They eventually reach a large crystalline structure built by the Aurora which they enter. The Aurora detects their intrusion. The Doctor stays in the main chamber while Fridtjof splits off to find Hjalmar. Fridtjof finds Hjalmar asleep and rescues him. Meanwhile, the Aurora confronts the Doctor and the Doctor tries to convince them to not consume Fridtjof and Hjalmar by stating their future. Unbeknownst to the Doctor, Fridtjof and Hjalmar are sneaking past and overhears him. Both Fridtjof and Hjalmar rejoin the Doctor when the Aurora notices them. After negotiations, the Aurora agrees to let them go.
The trio returns to Fridtjof and Hjalmar's hut. The Aurora fixes the TARDIS before leaving. The Doctor heads inside and bids farewell to Fridtjof and Hjalmar. Both Fridtjof and Hjalmar agree to not mention this to anyone, as agreed with the Doctor. The two explorers photograph details of their expedition. The next day, they were rescued by Frederick Jackson and return to Norway.
Several years later, the Doctor visits Fridtjof Nansen after a speech from winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The Doctor takes Fridtjof on a trip in the TARDIS to the North Pole to fulfill a dream of his.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor - Christopher Eccleston
- Fridtjof Nansen - Ian Conningham
- Hjalmar Johansen - Gerard Kearns
- The Aurora - Ginnia Cheng
- Frederick Jackson - Daniel Cerqueira
- Steward - Homer Todiwala
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor notes if he had landed in Tunguska, 1908 he might've knocked some trees down.
- The Doctor mistakes Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen for Soviets.
- The Doctor, Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen eat Polar bear meat.
Pop-Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor notes the Aurora's ice structure resemble Superman's Fortress of Solitude from Superman II.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The TARDIS activates the Cloister Bell. (TV: Logopolis [+]Loading...["Logopolis (TV story)"])
Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]
Textless cover
Alternate cover
_Alt.jpg)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official Northern Lights page at bigfinish.com
