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“PRELUDE TO WHITE DARKNESS: THREE’S A CROWD IN SEVEN’S SHADOWY SETUP”

Released in Doctor Who Magazine #201 as a lead-in to the Virgin New Adventure White Darkness, this prelude proves surprisingly captivating for such a short piece. Though brief, it immediately establishes a tone of mystery and atmospheric intrigue, kicking off in Port-au-Prince with a man named Paul Richmann, who’s steeped in memories of his father and a strange encounter involving an antique pocket watch.

Then, without warning, the story shifts across the Atlantic to the US, where none other than the Third Doctor and the Brigadier are unearthing that very same watch. What does it mean? Why are we seeing the Third Doctor when White Darkness is famously a Seventh Doctor story? And how do these fragments of plot connect? This mini-story doesn’t provide answers—but it does leave just enough breadcrumbs to spark curiosity.

A WATCH, A WAR, AND A WHIFF OF MYSTERY

The central motif here is clearly the pocket watch, a seemingly innocuous object that links disparate timelines and characters. The fact that Paul Richmann is likely to feature in the main novel makes his introduction here feel purposeful. His brief but vivid characterisation and the eerie undertones of his memories already suggest something deeper at play—possibly something supernatural, given the Haitian setting and the novel’s known themes of voodoo and horror.

The appearance of the Third Doctor and the Brigadier is perhaps the most tantalising element. Their investigation into the watch feels like a historical echo or narrative misdirection, raising questions about how much the upcoming novel will play with time and perception. It’s a clever trick—especially since seasoned fans will be wondering what on Earth (or off it) is going on.

A WELL-WRITTEN, WELL-PACED CURTAIN RAISER

The prose is surprisingly engaging—detailed enough to create atmosphere but never overstuffed. It’s descriptive, vivid, and accessible, with just enough narrative propulsion to keep the pages turning. Better still, it doesn’t spoil the novel it precedes. Instead, it deepens the mystery, offering a compelling hook without giving the game away.

You can tell this isn’t just a fluff piece—it’s written with purpose. It aims to get under your skin and plant questions in your mind, and in that, it succeeds. It’s not every prelude that can make you immediately want to dive into the main book, but this one manages it handily.

📝VERDICT: 7.4/10

Prelude to White Darkness is a smart, eerie setup that plays its cards close to its chest. With strong prose, an intriguing character in Paul Richmann, and the unexpected (but very welcome) presence of the Third Doctor and Brigadier, it’s a compelling little mystery that whets your appetite without giving too much away. It teases connections that will no doubt pay off in the full novel, and even on its own, it’s an enjoyable, well-written piece.