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Doctor Who: Icons #2
Doctor Who: Charles Darwin and the Silurian Survival
Some discoveries should never be made…
When Charles Darwin takes a break from a long sea voyage to look for shells on the Galapagos Islands, he finds two things that really shouldn’t be there. The first is a sunbathing Doctor. The second is a fresh Silurian skull . . .
When more Silurians are discovered by Darwin’s crew – alive, this time – there is pandemonium. And when the island’s volcano starts erupting, years ahead of schedule, it looks like all-out war.
The Doctor has his hands full. Can he keep Charles – and his evolutionary theory – alive?
The history of science is at stake.
When Charles Darwin takes a break from a long sea voyage to look for shells on the Galapagos Islands, he finds two things that really shouldn’t be there. The first is a sunbathing Doctor. The second is a fresh Silurian skull . . .
When more Silurians are discovered by Darwin’s crew – alive, this time – there is pandemonium. And when the island’s volcano starts erupting, years ahead of schedule, it looks like all-out war.
The Doctor has his hands full. Can he keep Charles – and his evolutionary theory – alive?
The history of science is at stake.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2024
About the author
L.D. Lapinski
16 books214 followersL. D. Lapinski is the best-selling author of JAMIE, Stepfather Christmas, and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency series, including Adventure in the Floating Mountains, which was a 2023 World Book Day title. JAMIE was nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing.
L. D's new middle-grade fantasy series ARTEZANS launches in February 2024 with the first book Artezans: The Forgotten Magic.
L. D.'s books are published around the world in fifteen languages, and each book in the Strangeworlds trilogy has been awarded a Kirkus star - one of the most coveted designations in the book industry,
marking books of exceptional merit.
L. D. Lapinski lives just outside Sherwood Forest with their family, a lot of books, and a cat called Hector. L. D. first wrote a book aged seven; it was made of lined paper and sellotape, and it was about a frog who owned an aeroplane. When L. D. grows up, they want to be a free-range guinea pig farmer.
L. D.'s literary agent is Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency. For Film / TV, contact Emily Hayward Whitlock.
Twitter / Instagram / TikTok: @ldlapinski
L. D's new middle-grade fantasy series ARTEZANS launches in February 2024 with the first book Artezans: The Forgotten Magic.
L. D.'s books are published around the world in fifteen languages, and each book in the Strangeworlds trilogy has been awarded a Kirkus star - one of the most coveted designations in the book industry,
marking books of exceptional merit.
L. D. Lapinski lives just outside Sherwood Forest with their family, a lot of books, and a cat called Hector. L. D. first wrote a book aged seven; it was made of lined paper and sellotape, and it was about a frog who owned an aeroplane. When L. D. grows up, they want to be a free-range guinea pig farmer.
L. D.'s literary agent is Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency. For Film / TV, contact Emily Hayward Whitlock.
Twitter / Instagram / TikTok: @ldlapinski
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 15, 2025
Charles Darwin lands on one of the Galápagos Islands, where he finds the tenth doctor sitting on the beach, casually enjoying a well-earned vacation. But on the island are also Silurians who’ve woken up too soon. The tenth doctor needs to keep both Darwin and his evolutionary theory alive, or history as we know it could change forever.
This is a very familiar Doctor Who story, as all the Silurian stories are pretty much the same story at their core. This book is like a light and short children’s version of that story, with the addition of Charles Darwin, which gives the story some more educational value for the younger target audience. For those who might not be familiar with the concept: the Silurians are reptilians who once lived on Earth but have been in hibernation for a very long time. When they wake up, they want to get their planet back from the humans. It’s a concept inspired by historical conflicts as a result from colonization. And I do like the way the character of Darwin handles this new information.
Overall, it’s a fun and action-packed little story. The Silurian plot is cut short a bit, but it’s executed well enough to serve as the glue that holds this story together. And Charles Darwin as a character feels done well here too. He adds some comedy and educational value, to elevate the story as a whole.
This is a very familiar Doctor Who story, as all the Silurian stories are pretty much the same story at their core. This book is like a light and short children’s version of that story, with the addition of Charles Darwin, which gives the story some more educational value for the younger target audience. For those who might not be familiar with the concept: the Silurians are reptilians who once lived on Earth but have been in hibernation for a very long time. When they wake up, they want to get their planet back from the humans. It’s a concept inspired by historical conflicts as a result from colonization. And I do like the way the character of Darwin handles this new information.
Overall, it’s a fun and action-packed little story. The Silurian plot is cut short a bit, but it’s executed well enough to serve as the glue that holds this story together. And Charles Darwin as a character feels done well here too. He adds some comedy and educational value, to elevate the story as a whole.
February 21, 2025
Shame about the price of a novella but good things come in small packaging
March 2, 2025
An absolutely wonderful surprise. I thought I knew what I was getting into at the beginning of this little book...but it transformed into a tone poem involving the Doctor, Charles Darwin, and two Silurians, trying to come to a peaceful understanding. Meanwhile, the undercurrent in all of this is the Doctor desperately trying to navigate the time lines, as history suddenly goes into flux, and he can feel it in his bones. This story in particular capitalizes on the David Tennant's energy as the 10th Doctor -- his manic, tightly wound personality trying to keep the situation under control, even as he secretly panics at the feeling in his gut of the arc of history slipping out of his Time Lord control. If there is any book you can point to as punching well about its weight, and succeeding brilliantly...then this is it: a perfectly cut little gem.
November 29, 2024
While relaxing on the Galapagos Islands, the Doctor meets Charles Darwin and discovers a secret Silurian base.
A quick, fun, television episode style story with a well characterised Tenth Doctor and a message that science can unite as well as divide.
A quick, fun, television episode style story with a well characterised Tenth Doctor and a message that science can unite as well as divide.
May 4, 2025
False advertising alert: Darwin on the cover looks like he’s ready for a retirement home—inside, he’s barely out of grad school.
July 7, 2025
Loved this book from the very start. The Tenth Doctor is my favourite anyway, but L.D. Lapinski has such a great writing style that I was easily consumed from the first sentence until the very last one. Great read, nice story of the two dominant civilisations of Earth clashing … and the beauty of nature and its discovery. What an enjoyable read. :)
May 8, 2026
This is one of the better Doctor Who historical celebrity stories, and definitely an improvement over the Thirteen / Frida Kahlo adventure that launched this recent novella series. Here instead it's the Tenth Doctor meeting a young Charles Darwin -- cover art to the contrary -- on his famed 1830s voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, where the budding naturalist is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a group of Silurians, the intelligent species of humanoid reptiles whose existence is still a secret to humanity at this point.
The piece takes the rare but appreciated step of situating us in the Time Lord's perspective rather than a companion or outsider's, showing how he can sense the eddies of history and potential crises developing. He knows that Silurians will someday share the Earth openly with humans, for example, although the exact date remains in flux -- a handy franchise excuse for continuity issues that might otherwise arise -- just as he knows of the scientist's future importance and that he's not supposed to encounter the creatures here. (The one false note, unfortunately, is that the green-skinned people are native to this planet and era, not alien intruders -- so if any rogue element is truly in danger of upsetting the proper order of things, it must be the Doctor himself, which goes unaddressed by the text.)
Still, this is a good match between guest figure and science-fiction angle, which this sort of plot doesn't always manage to achieve. The real monster is tribalism and a distrust of differences that each side has to work to overcome, and that's both a solid Whovian moral and a nice connection to the theory of evolution that Darwin will eventually produce. The protagonist's particular manic conversational style is well-captured by author L. D. Lapinski too (and voice actor Jacob Dudman, reading the audiobook), and the whole exercise doesn't overstay its welcome as such projects sometimes can. It's a quick read, but a fun one.
[Content warning for gun violence.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
The piece takes the rare but appreciated step of situating us in the Time Lord's perspective rather than a companion or outsider's, showing how he can sense the eddies of history and potential crises developing. He knows that Silurians will someday share the Earth openly with humans, for example, although the exact date remains in flux -- a handy franchise excuse for continuity issues that might otherwise arise -- just as he knows of the scientist's future importance and that he's not supposed to encounter the creatures here. (The one false note, unfortunately, is that the green-skinned people are native to this planet and era, not alien intruders -- so if any rogue element is truly in danger of upsetting the proper order of things, it must be the Doctor himself, which goes unaddressed by the text.)
Still, this is a good match between guest figure and science-fiction angle, which this sort of plot doesn't always manage to achieve. The real monster is tribalism and a distrust of differences that each side has to work to overcome, and that's both a solid Whovian moral and a nice connection to the theory of evolution that Darwin will eventually produce. The protagonist's particular manic conversational style is well-captured by author L. D. Lapinski too (and voice actor Jacob Dudman, reading the audiobook), and the whole exercise doesn't overstay its welcome as such projects sometimes can. It's a quick read, but a fun one.
[Content warning for gun violence.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
April 1, 2025
3.5 stars.
It says a lot that my biggest problem is the cover of the book showing an older Charles Darwin when he was around 22 at the time the Beagle was in the Galápagos but I get it, that’s the image of Darwin most folk have in their mind.
I feel like this story is a perfectly fine story with the best page count for the story it’s telling.
This is a good use of a historical figure using their personal views (in this case Darwin’s thoughts on how God must have created the world and how the research he did started to disprove that idea) as plot development. Especially when shown a race that clearly goes against what they think of the world.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyable enough.
It says a lot that my biggest problem is the cover of the book showing an older Charles Darwin when he was around 22 at the time the Beagle was in the Galápagos but I get it, that’s the image of Darwin most folk have in their mind.
I feel like this story is a perfectly fine story with the best page count for the story it’s telling.
This is a good use of a historical figure using their personal views (in this case Darwin’s thoughts on how God must have created the world and how the research he did started to disprove that idea) as plot development. Especially when shown a race that clearly goes against what they think of the world.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyable enough.
January 12, 2026
2/50
This book is very short. I read it in one sitting and felt like I was watching an episode of doctor who itself. the Tenth Doctor is written perfectly and captures the energetic, fast speaking, quick witted David Tennant. His companion, Charles Darwin is characterised well as the naturalist he was.
The story however was the Matt Smith Silurian 2 parter from season 5 lite. It has all the same moments, minus the horror elements in the churchyard, and still had me guessing what would happen next.
If you need a Tenth Doctor fix and have watched the show to death like I have, I recommend this book to you.
This book is very short. I read it in one sitting and felt like I was watching an episode of doctor who itself. the Tenth Doctor is written perfectly and captures the energetic, fast speaking, quick witted David Tennant. His companion, Charles Darwin is characterised well as the naturalist he was.
The story however was the Matt Smith Silurian 2 parter from season 5 lite. It has all the same moments, minus the horror elements in the churchyard, and still had me guessing what would happen next.
If you need a Tenth Doctor fix and have watched the show to death like I have, I recommend this book to you.
December 4, 2024
I love these little Icon books, the first two of the series have both been quick and pleasant reads just to fill the time.
Personally I definitely think this is the better of the 2 that have been released so far, maybe because it’s just a better Doctor that has been utilised, but I moreso think the storyline is one that suits this style of book more.
Overall this was a very fun read, and I am definitely looking forward to the 3rd one being released next year.
Personally I definitely think this is the better of the 2 that have been released so far, maybe because it’s just a better Doctor that has been utilised, but I moreso think the storyline is one that suits this style of book more.
Overall this was a very fun read, and I am definitely looking forward to the 3rd one being released next year.
December 7, 2024
Far better than the first Icons book but I’m not entirely surprised because I expected great things from Lapinski; plus, I am a little obsessed with the Silurians & their history.
Ten was spot on & Charles was very likeable. The whole book was pretty well paced & I liked the plot. I hope Lucy gets to write more Doctor Who novels in the future — I’d also love to see them write for the show one day.
Ten was spot on & Charles was very likeable. The whole book was pretty well paced & I liked the plot. I hope Lucy gets to write more Doctor Who novels in the future — I’d also love to see them write for the show one day.
June 27, 2025
under normal circumstances, I would actually recommend this at a good solid three stars but everything just nicely all comes together splendidly, it's almost wholesome the way Darwin and the doctor share their love for evolution.
felt like an episode set around in RTD1 era too so that's bonus points!
felt like an episode set around in RTD1 era too so that's bonus points!
June 19, 2025
I think I liked this a little bit more than the first Icons book, but it still doesn't stack up against Big Finish's Doctor Who: Bloodtide, which also features Charles Darwin and Silurians. This got Tennant's voice down, though.
December 2, 2024
The tenth Doctor accidentally runs into Charles Darwin and together they accidentally run into the silurians. Better than the first book of the series.
December 29, 2024
Charles Darwin, Silurians and the Doctor was done better by Big Finish. This was better than the first Icon book.
February 16, 2025
pretty by the books silurian encounter with some genuine warmth shown in charles darwin's clear love and fascination for every living thing
November 17, 2025
Charles Darwin and Silurians
With the 10th Doctor read this phenomenal story to find out what happens and where. Also enjoy the book when reading.
With the 10th Doctor read this phenomenal story to find out what happens and where. Also enjoy the book when reading.
January 26, 2026
I love it when the books give a bio about real historical characters. Fantastic read.
January 18, 2026
library
great read for only 100 pages
1st read of this author
great read for only 100 pages
1st read of this author
May 16, 2026
This is fine as a Doctor Who short story. Wouldn't really work as an episode, but as a short piece, it's fine.
The Tenth Doctor encounters Charles Darwin while on his 'Beagle' voyage, specifically while in the Galapagos. Unfortunately for them both, they encounter silurians, who as you expect, aren't exactly happy to see apes blundering around on their islands. Anyway, cue shannigans and preservation of the timeline.
Yeah, it's fine. Don't have much to say. The author does a good job of capturing the 'voice' of Ten, and Darwin and his future theory are given their dues as well. It's a nice little historical Who ficlet.
The Tenth Doctor encounters Charles Darwin while on his 'Beagle' voyage, specifically while in the Galapagos. Unfortunately for them both, they encounter silurians, who as you expect, aren't exactly happy to see apes blundering around on their islands. Anyway, cue shannigans and preservation of the timeline.
Yeah, it's fine. Don't have much to say. The author does a good job of capturing the 'voice' of Ten, and Darwin and his future theory are given their dues as well. It's a nice little historical Who ficlet.
June 19, 2025
An engaging novella with solid characterisations of the lead characters. The resolution is straightforward (mostly due to the short length) and some of the Darwinian ideas could have benefitted from a little more room to breathe.
August 19, 2025
A fun, short read. Despite the setting, it's completely different to BF's "Bloodtide". There's not a lot of action and it's more about 10's morality and his awe of Darwin rather than actual drama, but for a short book intended for a younger audience, that's okay.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews