The Fourth Doctor and his companions Romana and K-9 visit an old friend and stumble on a nefarious plot. The Time Lord known only as the Doctor brings his traveling companions Romana and K-9 to Cambridge University in order to visit an old friend, Professor Chronotis. Unfortunately for the Doctor, and Chronotis, an alien menace known as Skagra is looking for something in the Professor's possession: a book called The Worshipful and Ancient Laws of Gallifrey. The Professor unknowingly lets one of his students, Chris Parsons, borrow the book, drawing both Chris and the object of his affection, Clare Keightly, into the adventure. Skagra uses a device that sucks the memories – and life – from people to locate the book, which he takes away from Earth and the Doctor. The Doctor, Chris, and K-9 use Skagra's sentient ship to chase after the villain, while Romana and a resurrected Chronotis use his office – in reality an old-model TARDIS – to chase after everyone. Their destination: Shada, the forgotten prison of the Time Lords, where the Gallifreyans imprisoned the worst criminals in their history. Skagra seeks to free them all in order to steal their power and annihilate the entire universe, and only the Doctor and his companions stand in his way.
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Best part of story, including ending:
Originally a screenplay by Douglas Adams, this story has many of the same hallmarks that made The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Adams' other novels such classics.
Best scene in story:
I enjoyed the scene where Romana realizes that Chronotis' office is actually a TARDIS - and Chronotis himself is not who he seems to be.
Opinion about the main character:
There is little to dislike about the goofy, toothy Fourth Doctor - except maybe his obsession with jelly babies. Those candies are pretty fattening.