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Doctor Who: Icons #3
Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box
The best stories should never be unwritten…
When a strange signal echoes through time to the heart of the TARDIS, the Doctor follows it to the home of Shirley Jackson.
But the strangeness deepens when they find a sinister figure sowing chaos and discord with the use of a glowing box – encouraging a crowd to murderous deeds.
Catapulted back to Shirley Jackson’s own era by the TARDIS, the Doctor (with the help of the time-struck author) must discover the origins of the box, and the terrible power that it wields . . .
When a strange signal echoes through time to the heart of the TARDIS, the Doctor follows it to the home of Shirley Jackson.
But the strangeness deepens when they find a sinister figure sowing chaos and discord with the use of a glowing box – encouraging a crowd to murderous deeds.
Catapulted back to Shirley Jackson’s own era by the TARDIS, the Doctor (with the help of the time-struck author) must discover the origins of the box, and the terrible power that it wields . . .
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 23, 2025
I enjoyed this so much! I discuss the novella on Episode 762 of the StarShipSofa podcast.
August 6, 2025
I'm afraid I'm a little disappointed with this book, especially in the wake of the previous two volumes. Perhaps I don't find Shirley Jackson that interesting a subject? The previous two volumes punched well above their weight by comparison, in terms of emotional impact and epic-ness that they managed to pack into a concise package. This one just felt too short and too ephemeral...it simply didn't make much of an impression on me.
June 15, 2025
After discussing his favourite story, the Doctor brings Ruby to visit its writer, Shirley Jackson, but a strange box is making people act angrily. Together, Ruby, Shirley and the Doctor must try to stop it.
A fine story, which introduces the great Shirley Jackson to a new generation of readers.
A fine story, which introduces the great Shirley Jackson to a new generation of readers.
June 24, 2025
"Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box" is a sweet and simple short story. I've never really heard about or read any of Shirley Jackson's work, but I enjoyed this story nonetheless. I'm sure that someone who's a big fan of her will find alot of fun in this book aswell. I'm sure that for alot of people, especially kids, this book will act as an introduction to Shirley Jackson and they will be inspired and learn more about her and her books.
The Doctor and Ruby are characterized perfectly, albeit a little bit more toned down than usual, which I love because I'm sick and tired of Doctor Who books specifically mischaracterizing the majority of the characters.
Overall, "Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box" is a simple and enjoyable read for any fan of the show or the author herself and It's made me really excited for this book series.
The Doctor and Ruby are characterized perfectly, albeit a little bit more toned down than usual, which I love because I'm sick and tired of Doctor Who books specifically mischaracterizing the majority of the characters.
Overall, "Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box" is a simple and enjoyable read for any fan of the show or the author herself and It's made me really excited for this book series.
September 30, 2025
this is a fun story but really clearly not written by someone with much knowledge of doctor who like they googled a bunch of facts before writing this. the doctor and ruby are not the same people we see in the show at all and Shirley Jackson seems like a self insert somehow which seems odd. one thing I noticed is the author describes the wrong sonic screwdriver which is fine but it's such an iconic part of doctor who it just seems like they didn't even watch any of the fifteenth doctor episodes at all. I mean it's the kind of story you would see in fanfic but without the characters having any personality.
August 13, 2026
Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box is the third book in the Icons Series, which detailed different incarnations of The Doctor meeting various famous people throughout the history. Apart from American novelist Shirley Jackson, the series featured Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, and the much, much better known Charles Darwin.
In this book, the 15th Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday visit North Bennington, Vermont, where Jackson resided when she wrote her most famous short story “The Lottery” (1948). They then travel further back to 1937 when Jackson was studying journalism at Syracuse University in central New York.
Apparently, Jackson is one of the Doctor’s favourite writers. In his words: “She wrote all kinds of tales, but her horror stories? Those were the ones that stuck with me. Her writing has a way of burrowing under your skin, making your heart race with every turn of the page.”
“Her imagination was a force to be reckoned with. It was one of those rare talents that could reach out from the page and take hold of you. I suppose that’s why her stories have stayed with me all this time. They remind me that the most fantastic adventures often begin in the corners of our minds, where fear and dreams collide.”
Many of us know Jackson through the film and TV adaptations of her horror novels The Haunting of Hill House (1959) and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962). But the Doctor describes “The Lottery” as the “one story in particular that kept me up all night the first time I read it”. His analysis of that story is one of the most memorable parts of this book.
The Doctor and Ruby enlist Jackson’s help in their investigation of a mysterious box that appears to be controlling people’s minds. At one stage, Jackson becomes influenced by the box’s power and reveals a previously unseen side of her personality.
This is a subtle yet brilliant moment in the book, and demonstrates how the author understands Jackson’s life and writing as a woman novelist in the 1940s and 1950s. Unfortunately, those readers who know nothing or very little about Jackson – and those who just want a thrilling, action-packed Doctor Who story with a bit of horror thrown in – may find this book somewhat disappointing.
The Doctor puts it mildly: “She had all these big ideas in a time, this time, when women with big ideas were seen as a threat.” The book may be seen as the author’s tribute to Jackson, who is said to have influenced many successful authors, including but not limited to Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Richard Matheson.
Highly recommended, but please read “The Lottery” first.
In this book, the 15th Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday visit North Bennington, Vermont, where Jackson resided when she wrote her most famous short story “The Lottery” (1948). They then travel further back to 1937 when Jackson was studying journalism at Syracuse University in central New York.
Apparently, Jackson is one of the Doctor’s favourite writers. In his words: “She wrote all kinds of tales, but her horror stories? Those were the ones that stuck with me. Her writing has a way of burrowing under your skin, making your heart race with every turn of the page.”
“Her imagination was a force to be reckoned with. It was one of those rare talents that could reach out from the page and take hold of you. I suppose that’s why her stories have stayed with me all this time. They remind me that the most fantastic adventures often begin in the corners of our minds, where fear and dreams collide.”
Many of us know Jackson through the film and TV adaptations of her horror novels The Haunting of Hill House (1959) and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962). But the Doctor describes “The Lottery” as the “one story in particular that kept me up all night the first time I read it”. His analysis of that story is one of the most memorable parts of this book.
The Doctor and Ruby enlist Jackson’s help in their investigation of a mysterious box that appears to be controlling people’s minds. At one stage, Jackson becomes influenced by the box’s power and reveals a previously unseen side of her personality.
This is a subtle yet brilliant moment in the book, and demonstrates how the author understands Jackson’s life and writing as a woman novelist in the 1940s and 1950s. Unfortunately, those readers who know nothing or very little about Jackson – and those who just want a thrilling, action-packed Doctor Who story with a bit of horror thrown in – may find this book somewhat disappointing.
The Doctor puts it mildly: “She had all these big ideas in a time, this time, when women with big ideas were seen as a threat.” The book may be seen as the author’s tribute to Jackson, who is said to have influenced many successful authors, including but not limited to Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Richard Matheson.
Highly recommended, but please read “The Lottery” first.
June 9, 2026
Pretty good as a Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby story, neatly slipping into the dynamic they shared together over their one season on TV. I can't help feeling like the title figure falls through the cracks a bit, though, despite the whole point of this Doctor Who novella series being to offer those celebrity historicals where the Time Lord teams up with somebody famous. In this case that's the horror writer Shirley Jackson, who's revealed to have been inspired in part by an adventure with the Doctor to pen her classic piece "The Lottery."
It's a fairly tenuous link, roughly akin to how the episode The Unquiet Dead handles Charles Dickens seeing some ghosts, but I'm honestly fine with that, as it avoids directly attributing a real artist's accomplishments to a fictional hero. The bigger problem with an alien 'chaos box' that stirs crowds into a frenzy so that the wielder can feed off the negative energy is that there are actually two of them: two boxes and two villains, operating in 2024 and 1937 respectively, who have a common backstory but never interact on the page. And since the protagonists dispatch one and then the other in turn, this doesn't give either enemy much of a chance to shine in the busy plot.
A streamlined version of this tale, with the guest star more prominent and only one extraterrestrial threat in one time period, might have been the better approach here.
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
It's a fairly tenuous link, roughly akin to how the episode The Unquiet Dead handles Charles Dickens seeing some ghosts, but I'm honestly fine with that, as it avoids directly attributing a real artist's accomplishments to a fictional hero. The bigger problem with an alien 'chaos box' that stirs crowds into a frenzy so that the wielder can feed off the negative energy is that there are actually two of them: two boxes and two villains, operating in 2024 and 1937 respectively, who have a common backstory but never interact on the page. And since the protagonists dispatch one and then the other in turn, this doesn't give either enemy much of a chance to shine in the busy plot.
A streamlined version of this tale, with the guest star more prominent and only one extraterrestrial threat in one time period, might have been the better approach here.
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
September 8, 2026
Comforting that the returning writer for this series is one from the Decades Collection instead of a years-long stalwart, not so much that her follow-up is so disappointingly stale. Points for introducing me to the short story of The Lottery which I’ve marked as one to go through for a potential Halloween read but it’s annoying Bayron doesn’t do a full-on riff of it Hinchcliffe-era style and incorporated the theme of people accepting atrocity as a ‘necessary’ evil in a way that could’ve mirrored modern-day reality (and in doing so be era-authentic in having the heavy political subtext of RTD2) and instead resorts to the ‘villain feeds off people’s fears and anxiety’ trope with such over-the-top fashion that it’s more melodramatic than the more hauntingly subtle way the original story apparently does it - even Ruby and the Doctor having conflict with one another is so forced. I’m not saying this was outright terrible but there’s nothing like a story that has all the ingredients for a genuinely fantastic book but the end result doesn’t come together.
August 24, 2025
A fun short read featuring a historical figure I hadn't consider for Doctor Who before.
I have previously read some of Shirley Jackson's work before ("The Haunting of Hill House" and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle") and its cool to see that some of her themes of paranoia and inner darkness is referenced here but it could have been a little stronger.
I have also read Kalynn Bayron's novel "Cinderella is Dead" which (although not dr who related) was pretty good, however I feel her writing is a little simplistic here. I guess because its a shorter story, so it had to be tighter.
I liked that Ruby gets to bite back a little at the Doctor here, even if it was under mind control, as this is something that was missing from her time on the show. To be honest I feel this book would have made a pretty solid episode if they fleshed it out a bit more.
I have previously read some of Shirley Jackson's work before ("The Haunting of Hill House" and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle") and its cool to see that some of her themes of paranoia and inner darkness is referenced here but it could have been a little stronger.
I have also read Kalynn Bayron's novel "Cinderella is Dead" which (although not dr who related) was pretty good, however I feel her writing is a little simplistic here. I guess because its a shorter story, so it had to be tighter.
I liked that Ruby gets to bite back a little at the Doctor here, even if it was under mind control, as this is something that was missing from her time on the show. To be honest I feel this book would have made a pretty solid episode if they fleshed it out a bit more.
September 29, 2025
I had no idea these little novellas were even in existence! This is the third book in the ICONS series. It's primarily aimed at the younger reader, but is a must read for the Whovians out there.
Shirley Jackson is the legend behind some of the great horrors including The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery. I'm sure you need no introductions to the Doctor, do you?
The Doctor's favourite story is The Lottery and on the back of this he decides that he's taking Ruby back in time to meet his heroine. As we've come to expect NOTHING is that simple...who or what is the strange box that's having a negative effect on everyone?
It's a fun read and is a great way to introduce the younger generation to Jackson and her books.
Shirley Jackson is the legend behind some of the great horrors including The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery. I'm sure you need no introductions to the Doctor, do you?
The Doctor's favourite story is The Lottery and on the back of this he decides that he's taking Ruby back in time to meet his heroine. As we've come to expect NOTHING is that simple...who or what is the strange box that's having a negative effect on everyone?
It's a fun read and is a great way to introduce the younger generation to Jackson and her books.
October 25, 2025
2.5 stars.
Positives I can give this short book include:
The author, Kalynn Bayron, really captures the 15th Doctors voice.
You can tell Ruby is still in the early days of being a companion and still has the feeling of awe with each adventure.
It’s a quick read.
Unfortunately the negatives include:
Being more interesting at the start when it was just the Doctor and Ruby.
Shirley Jackson feeling a bit tacked on to the story.
The villains being a bit boring in their motivation, though given the story is 85 pages long you don’t have much time to explore motives.
So while I enjoyed the first half more, I imagine if you’re part of the middle section in a Doctor Who/Shirley Jackson fan Venn Diagram, you’ll enjoy this.
Positives I can give this short book include:
The author, Kalynn Bayron, really captures the 15th Doctors voice.
You can tell Ruby is still in the early days of being a companion and still has the feeling of awe with each adventure.
It’s a quick read.
Unfortunately the negatives include:
Being more interesting at the start when it was just the Doctor and Ruby.
Shirley Jackson feeling a bit tacked on to the story.
The villains being a bit boring in their motivation, though given the story is 85 pages long you don’t have much time to explore motives.
So while I enjoyed the first half more, I imagine if you’re part of the middle section in a Doctor Who/Shirley Jackson fan Venn Diagram, you’ll enjoy this.
August 10, 2025
A reasonably fun romp, but even though it's quite short it feels overwritten and repetitive. There's only so many times the sonic screwdriver can be described! I'm not really keen on in-story time travel as that seems an easy way out but this was pretty well done. With the Icon being Shirley Jackson I was expecting a bit more horror, but it's more like a Twilight Zone episode and I can't say I really know Jackson any better. So overall it might feel a little underwhelming, but it does feel like a 15th Doctor TV story.
October 16, 2025
If nothing else, this got me to read Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." This book takes place after "The Devil's Chord," so Ruby is still a bit new to traveling with The Doctor. I could definitely hear their voices. For a bit, this felt like it could've had the makings of an episode-worthy story. But I think the short length hinders it from reaching better heights.
March 30, 2026
The Ncuti Gatwa era of doctor who ended far too early and left too much potential unexplored. In this short story (which I think would have translated brilliantly into TV) he, and companion Ruby - meet Shorley Jackson. While I enjoyed this, it gets a little messy and formulaic near the end. Overall a fun addition that could have taken a rewrite in the final act.
July 7, 2025
In this book of the series the Fifteenth Doctor meets the famous horror writer, Shirley Jackson. Obviously aliens are involves as well, trying to manipulate the feelings of the people.
November 17, 2025
Awesome story
Shirley Jackson and the Doctor along with ruby face mob justice and very wrong aliens with misconception of work ideas.
Shirley Jackson and the Doctor along with ruby face mob justice and very wrong aliens with misconception of work ideas.
February 8, 2026
Muy emotivo, merecido homenaje a Shirley Jackson que recuerda a 'Vincent and the Doctor', aunque me hubiera gustado que la historia/trama fuera más elaborada.
June 27, 2025
This not a book but a short story it's only 79p long by time you remove the blank pages.As for Spoiers the Doctor does that for you. One thing I hate is people who talk about the end of a movie or book.But whole plot of this book does just that.
I never heard of Shirley Jackson and I had to look her up here. When I did and found out who she was another one of America 's weaker so called horror writers that don't scare the skin of rice pudding.
The only reason that this get two stars is there is good case in it.But it's braking the Doctor 's own rules and when black man goes to America in 1937 why does know one make racist comment?
I am not saying it's a bad story just a spoiler one by talking about Jackson 's Lottery story which whole book is based on.This set in season one before Boom.
I never heard of Shirley Jackson and I had to look her up here. When I did and found out who she was another one of America 's weaker so called horror writers that don't scare the skin of rice pudding.
The only reason that this get two stars is there is good case in it.But it's braking the Doctor 's own rules and when black man goes to America in 1937 why does know one make racist comment?
I am not saying it's a bad story just a spoiler one by talking about Jackson 's Lottery story which whole book is based on.This set in season one before Boom.
August 24, 2025
this kinda feels like a setup…
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