Big Finish’s Short Trips are basically audio versions of the anthology series of the same name. One episode adventures recounted by a single narrator. Sometimes in first person perspective, like a shorter companion chronicle, and sometimes told in third person instead. There’s always only one narrator, and some audio production, but the series is more like an audiobook than a full cast play. However, unlike the novel collections, these stories are often sold individually rather than as a connected anthology.

Steven and the Doctor land inside a pine forest on Christmas day, where the only sign of civilization is a lone cottage in the middle of the wood. There they find a little girl and her ill grandfather. The girl’s father is missing.... and there’s something wrong with the trees...

Yes, we have yet another Christmas themed short story, and no I did not plan it that way. Just believe me when I say this is a common reoccurring theme in Doctor Who.

We also have another Steven focused adventure, only this time he and Doctor are traveling alone. This takes place between that brief period where Vicki has left the TARDIS but Dodo hasn’t joined them yet.

Peter Purves reprises his role as Steven, telling the story in first person, and plays the part beautifully as always. I do enjoy the insights into what Christmas growing up was like for him, as he’s from the far future. It contrasts nicely against the very rustic early 20th century setting. There’s no exact date to the story, but the only technology shown is a gramophone, so that gives one a vague idea.

Speaking of the gramophone, the sound design is excellent and incorporates the title song into the scene seamlessly, setting up a nice atmosphere. And indeed, atmospheric is the best word to describe this tale. The plot and it’s resolution, (the trees are spoiled teenaged aliens and just need a good lecture from the Doctor to convenience them to stop kidnapping people), is rather silly, but the story doesn’t break immersion because of it’s confidence in itself and its presentation.

I give this tale a solid recommendation of, ‘Good’.