Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“DISAPPEARING ACT – SLEIGHT OF MIND, SLAVE OF HAND”

One of the standouts in the Heroes and Monsters short story collection, Disappearing Act offers a clever little tale of illusion, manipulation, and poetic justice. It’s essentially Doctor Who meets Now You See Me, with a sprinkling of Ood mind-trickery thrown in for good measure. A conman, a stage show, a stolen string of pearls—this one has all the ingredients of a satisfying mini-heist story.

Set around a magic performance, the story follows sleazy showman Fergus Antelect and his enslaved assistant Ood Delta, who together wow the crowds with apparent feats of telepathic magic. But behind the sleight of hand lies a cunning scam: Antelect uses Delta’s psychic abilities to project thoughts into the minds of the rich and powerful, convincing them that their jewels are still safe in their rooms while he steals them under their very noses. It’s an elegant little con, made all the more interesting when the Doctor and Donna turn up in the audience, suspicious of what’s really going on.

A CLEVER CON AND AN EVEN SMARTER TWIST

The story’s central conceit—Ood Delta projecting images of jewellery to hide the theft—is a genuinely smart idea, and it leads to some engaging layers of uncertainty during the post-show investigation. An agent attempts to untangle the mystery with the help (and occasional interference) of the Doctor and Donna, but the evidence remains slippery thanks to Delta’s telepathic illusions. It’s a scenario that keeps you guessing, and one where memory and perception become part of the battleground.

The real sting in the tale comes when the tables turn: Delta, long mistreated and enslaved by Antelect, ultimately uses his abilities not to deceive but to reveal the truth. He exposes his master’s actions by projecting his memories to the entire room, putting an end to the magician’s run of misdirection and theft. It’s a deeply satisfying moment of justice and liberation—and it’s the Ood, not the Time Lord, who gets the applause.

TOO MUCH PASSIVITY FROM TEAM TARDIS

If there’s one frustration in Disappearing Act, it’s the sidelining of the Doctor and Donna. While they’re present, chatty, and recognisably themselves, they’re not particularly active participants in the plot. The resolution hinges entirely on Delta’s choices, and although that’s thematically appropriate—and even moving—it leaves the Doctor and Donna feeling somewhat passive. They don’t solve the mystery so much as watch it unfold.

Given how proactive the Doctor and Donna are in other stories—particularly those involving injustice or exploitation—it’s a shame not to see them take more direct action. Still, their inclusion adds charm, and Donna’s banter and the Doctor’s amused scepticism keep the dialogue sparkly.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE:

DISAPPEARING ACT is a smart, tight little short story that blends stage magic with psychic manipulation in a satisfying mini-heist narrative. The use of an Ood’s telepathy to hide a theft is inspired, and the final twist is an emotionally satisfying payoff. While the Doctor and Donna are disappointingly passive observers in the story’s main events, their presence adds flavour to what is ultimately Delta’s tale. A quiet but sharp piece of storytelling that shows you don’t need grand scale to deliver a compelling and meaningful Doctor Who story—just a well-placed Ood, a clever idea, and a touch of righteous revenge. 6/10.