City of Death vs Shada

I really enjoy Shada, it's a great example of how to do a Gallifrey story without involving Gallifrey (it and The Brain of Morbius). I think it was the first Eighth Doctor story I ever saw/heard (via the webcast) and it just goes to show how timeless Adams's writing can really be. Whether it's 1979 or 2003, it still works tremendously well. It's mythic without slapping you about the head-and-shoulders about it. Aside from the titular Shada, the stolen Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey is a rather interesting addition. The knowledge has a power, a semi-sentience all its own. Perhaps even its own agenda. It's almost identical to the idea of linking books that would appear in Myst, some fourteen years later.

We also know that Worshipful isn't the only book like this out there either. There's at least one other. The Book of the Old Time -- a cryptic tome, first from The Deadly Assassin, describing Rassilon's taming of the Eye of Harmony -- was also stolen, but not by Salyavin. Before Voyager caught up with him, it was one of the many artefacts snatched up by Astrolabus.

(Controversy alert! )

Shada every time! I rate Douglas Adams' final 'Doctor Who' story very highly indeed - of course it 'goes on a bit' at times, it's a classic six-parter and they mostly did - but it's inventive, has Time Lord mystery and proper monsters, some especially wonderful dialogue and a rather charming (now historic) portrayal of Cambridge college life. Pass me a toasted muffin, please!

OK, here's the controversial bit and I know I'm in a minority of one... 'City of Death' is a clever story and there are some great guest performances and witty lines, but personally I find much of the broader comedy self-indulgent. One of many points which annoys me - Scaroth deceives everyone (even the Countess he is married to!) not by shape-shifting, but by wearing a rubber mask! So presumably all 12 of his fragments have their own rubber masks, including the ones stranded in pre-history... It's a comedy which then turns round and asks us to take it seriously as a story about the end of the world and for me that combination doesn't work. (Also puts on rubber mask to avoid being recognised on DU for a while... )