Doctor Who: Short Trips Volume 13: Tales from the Vortex

Doctor Who: Short Trips Audio #13

by Riley Silverman, Ben Tedds, Daniel Hardcastle

An audiobook anthology of six new Doctor Who short stories.

Dark Watchers of California by Riley Silverman (A Twelfth Doctor and Bill adventure read by Rebecca Root) - Susie hides out in California's Big Sur, but finds she cannot entirely escape a 1966 San Francisco riot. Can the Doctor and Bill Potts catch up with Susie before her past does, and discover what the menacing Dark Watchers want with her?

When I say run... by Ben Tedds (An adventure for you and the Tenth Doctor read by Clare Corbett) - You love listening to these audio stories as you go about your daily routine, so it’s awkward when an alien entity takes control of you during your morning run. Maybe the Doctor can have a word in your ear?

Rise of the Eukaryans by Daniel Hardcastle (An Eleventh Doctor story read by Laura Aikman) - A busy factory owner unexpectedly finds her own face burned into her breakfast toast. As if that’s not bad enough, someone’s rearranged the contents of her fridge. Luckily for Jean, the Doctor’s popped up to help her avert an uprising by alien yeast creatures.

Ahead of Time by Paul Booth (An Eighth Doctor and Charley adventure read by India Fisher) - Kairon lies in ruins, its timeline destroyed by a reckless temporal Ponzi scheme. Amid the chaos, Kenz Qindi holds the secret to saving her planet. But there’s worse to come. The Time Lords might eradicate Kairon from existence, unless Charley and the Doctor can help Kenz set things right.

Emerald Isle by Christian Markham (A Seventh Doctor and Ace adventure read by Kaye Brown) - Family and friendship are at stake on the Caribbean island of Montserrat as ghosts of the past come for Ace and her childhood friend. What is the tangled web that connects them both, and will they be able to find a way home?

Dark is the Devil that Walks by Mags L Halliday (A Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough adventure read by Janet Fielding) - In 1814 Devon, palaeontologist Isabella Kerslake rescues the Doctor from a cliff collapse. But while he is incapacitated, who is there to protect Isabella and her sisters from the mysterious figure that stalks their estate?

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Watchers of California - The (Twelfth) Doctor and Bill in California after the 1966 unrest in San Francisco that helped inspire the Stonewall Riots. A fascinating look at one of the darker eras of US history with the touch of the surreal that only Doctor Who can provide. (3/5)

When I say run... - This one features you and The (Tenth) Doctor. It’s an interesting concept, but it didn’t really work for me. (2/5)

Rise of the Eukaryans - This (Eleventh) Doctor story is clearly just a narrated tale. Nothing particularly interesting or enthralling about this one. But I have to add that the idea that Time Lords, and The Doctor in particular, use telepathic nudges to get humans to trust them is rather offensive. Far better to leave it as his charisma and perhaps the assistance of some psychic paper. (1/5)

Ahead of Time - The (Eighth) Doctor and Charley on a mining world with a unique mineral that allows people to translocate into the past. Fascinating premise, and developed in very interesting ways for the story. Good stuff. (4/5)

Emerald Isle - The (Seventh) Doctor and Ace get caught up in some strange events of temporal shenanigans on a Caribbean island. (2/5)

Dark is the Devil that Walks - The (Fifth) Doctor, Tegan and Turlough arrive in 1814 and get involved with the horrors plaguing a group of sisters in an old house. (3/5)

[Thomas Sherlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is a nice injection of new talent and an interesting mix of stories. When I Say Run… is easily the standout for its format breaking via second person storytelling. If you just want a decent anthology of shorter stories (they’re not really that short anymore, given shortest running time is 32 minutes), this is a good place to look.

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know that I loved EVERY story, but the first one, "Dark Watchers of California" by Riley Silverman was definitely great, and I enjoyed the premise of "When I Say Run..." by Ben Tedds a lot. All had their moments for sure.

[Sanjay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a joy to listen such a brilliant array of stories. Brilliant utterly brilliant!

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quite fun guessing which Doctor would be in each story based on the theme songs.