A Fifth Doctor story based on Alice in Wonderland and written by Paul Magrs was always going to appeal to me, so from the very first announcement I had my eyes on this book. I am pleased then, that I can call this book an utter delight.

Arriving in Oxford, The Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa, and Turlough meet Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and very quickly find themselves caught up in an adventure straight out of his works.

Paul Magrs makes it clear from the beginning that he knows his stuff, as he writes our TARDIS travellers flawlessly, while incorporating elements of the Alice stories in a delightful manner.

The Doctor (who introduces himself as Doctor Who within the story) gets swallowed by a Jabberwock, drinks a potion labelled “drink me”, and meets up with Alice herself. He rarely sleeps, but when he does, he usually bursts awake with a great long list of things he wants to get done. He’ll happily play cricket, as long as it doesn’t involve exploding hedgehogs.

Tegan, much like Charley, holds fond memories of Alice in Wonderland from her childhood, and finds herself matched up with The Mad Hatter, The March Hare, and the Dormouse (from her favourite chapter of the story), who are well characterised and fun across the story, to the point where it’s something of a shame when reality is reasserted and the Dormouse is returned to a normal mouse (albeit one with a fondness for tea). She listens for the mocking laugh of The Mara deep inside her soul.

Nyssa and Turlough are paired up for most of the story, the latter being sickened by Nyssa’s optimism, refusing to take the situation seriously or show respect to any of Wonderland’s inhabitants – which gets him kicked out of a tea party, and nearly loses him his head. It is Turlough, under the Black Guardian’s orders, who creates the situation, spilling a potion into the TARDIS console. After mentioning Adric, The Black Guardian tells him that the Doctor didn’t save him because he doesn’t care for those he travels with. The Guardian hears Adric’s lonely screams in the Abyss.

Overall, Paul Magrs delivers a delightful story, packed with love for the Fifth Doctor and the Alice in Wonderland books, which will leave you struggling to put the book down until the end.

10/10