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

“STAMP OF APPROVAL: A LETTER, A MYSTERY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF STAMPS”

Stamp of Approval is framed as a letter from Rose to Jackie, recounting an adventure she and the Doctor had at a stamp factory in 1840. The story opts for a reported speech narrative style, which can be tricky to pull off. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite capture Rose’s voice, making it feel somewhat detached rather than like a personal and engaging account of events.

A DEADLY MYSTERY WITH A SILLY TWIST

At its core, the story presents a fairly straightforward mystery—there’s a dead body, a hypnotic alien with an absurd name, and a bizarre case of postage stamps bearing Queen Victoria’s image that compel people to kill each other. It’s a quirky premise, but it never quite delivers on its potential.

A BRIEF AND FORGETTABLE OUTING

With its short length, there’s little time to develop the characters or setting in a meaningful way. The alien antagonist is barely fleshed out, and the resolution feels rushed. While the concept of a stamp-based mind-control plot is amusing in theory, the execution leaves much to be desired.

VERDICT: A SHORT, STAMP-SIZED ADVENTURE

Stamp of Approval is a fleeting and forgettable read. The epistolary format doesn’t add much, and the story itself is too brief to leave a lasting impression. While the central idea is enjoyably odd, it never really stamps itself into memory.

📝5/10