The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Time Traveller by Joanne Harris
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Time Traveller, Joanne Harris, BBC Books, 2014, 73 pages,
Epub ISBN 978 1 448 14186 9
The Doctor is dying - again. One consistent thread throughout the long life of the Doctor Who series is that when the leading actor is to be changed, the current iteration of the Doctor must die so that metaphorically the new Doctor can spring Athena-like from the dead predecessor’s corpus. Anyone not living on a mountaintop beyond the clutches of electronic media must be aware that The Doctor Who television series is and has been a massive attraction for all kinds of consumers. To placate viewers between series, BBC Books has been publishing the Doctor Who: Time Trips, a number of short (60 - 80 pages) titles elaborating on the adventures of one of the Doctors.
In this new release, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Time Traveller, Joanne Harris, already well known for Chocolat and more recently, The Gospel of Loki brings her formidable imagination and empathy for human suffering and weakness to a fable that addresses the maxim, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’
The 3rd Doctor, aware of his eminent demise has directed the Tardis to return him to earth where he hopes to say goodbye to Sarah Jane, his companion during his time as Doctor. The Tardis, however, either from an attack of the wobblies or adherence to some higher principle has set him down in a place that superficially resembles a postcard-perfect village in Oxfordshire. Exiting the Tardis, he faints, only to waken in a room that resembles the insides of a Wendy-house under the scrutiny of a woman who identifies herself as The Queen.
In the process of trying to escape from what the Queen sees as a great danger, and recover his Tardis, he becomes acquainted with the perfect citizens and pastel ponies of The Village, and The Wellness Parade. This event which occurs every day, and at which attendance is compulsory, seems at first glance a model of delightful characters and scenes - a perfect parade. Closer observation shows the glittering fangs and sharp teeth behind the permanent rictus of its participants. This nightmarish dichotomy brings to mind the Big Rock Candy Mountain from Disney’s Pinocchio which had a powerful influence on me as a child.
Clearly there is a story behind these perfect surfaces. How the Doctor penetrates to the truth and brings a kind of resolution to The Queen and to The Village, make up the remainder of a very enjoyable read, enlivened throughout by Joanne Harris’ quirky imagination and wonderful descriptive skills. Perhaps I’m more cynical than other reviewers here, but the ending didn’t make me cry, although I found myself thoughtfully quiet for a longish hour after finishing.
Definitely 5*****