With the Release of “Dracula”, a first Doctor Book penned by the Man himself, I thought it would only be appropriate to open up a Thread about him: Paul Magrs. An expanded Universe Writer who has been with the Show since the 90s BBC Books.
His first Story in the World of Who was also the first Story for his very own Character, “Iris Wildthyme”, these days portrayed by Katy Manning (who previously played Jo Jones in the Program). Magrs not only wrote Spin Off Audios, but has her feature in plenty of his other Who Works.
Over Time Magrs has written for almost every Doctor, the only Exceptions being 2nd, 9th, 15th and all the one-off Incarnations such as 14th, War and Fugitive. The most amount of Stories was done for the fourth Doctor, thanks partially because he was basically the mastermind behind the “Nest Cottage” Saga (Thread to it here: The Nest Cottage Chronicles)
Magrs writing has gone beyond many Mediums and Ranges, so doing a Poll would be impossible with the amount of Stories he has written. Some notable Ranges, that he worked on, include his few EDAs (8 Doctor BBC Books), Short Trips, Companion Chronicles, some Main Range Stories, as well as his recent Entries in the Puffin classics Crossover Book Series.
Besides that Magrs has also written for a few Doctors more than once or twice, those being the third/sixth Doctor (4 each), the tenth Doctor (5), the fifth Doctor (7) and the Eight Doctor (11)
What are people’s opinions of his Work? Have you read his Books/Short Stories? What is his best Audio Story? Have you read Verdigris? What Doctor does he write the best? Which are your favorites of his?
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Paul Magrs. When he’s good, he’s really good, and when he’s bad, he’s bad. I often find myself struggling with his writing.
On the other hand, I’m a big Paul Magrs fan. Even when his works don’t quite land for me, I can respect what he’s doing with them. His books are pretty much always “fun to read”, which I’d an achievement not everyone reaches
So, I haven’t read/listened to a lot of his stuff, but In Wonderland, for instance, is a fun little mix of Alice in Wonderland and Doctor Who. It’s well-written, with good characterisation of the TARDIS team and it uses the Alice elements very well. The Thing of the Sea and The Winged Coven from the BBC Originals are well-written and create a good atmosphere but are pretty dull and forgettable stories. The Stones of Venice and The Wormery have similar problems: great worldbuilding and characters, but boring stories.
I feel the same way about him tbh, The Peterloo Massacre and Doctor Who in Wonderland are absolutely brilliant, but Organism 96 and The Zygon who fell to Earth were struggles for me to get through.
I think the biggest issue with Paul Margs’ writing I have is that I always feel like he is trying to emulate Douglas Adams’ humour - and never really getting close to succeeding.
I read this duology last year and it was a struggle to get through, nothing in those books worked and the plot was constantly interrupted by such sidesteps that Douglas Adams mastered but they just aren’t funny and only functions to kill all momentum.
Paul is probably my favourite Who writer, all things considered. At the very least he’s up there with Orman, Blum, Rose and (on a good day) James Goss. I LOVE his work!
He’s so tuned in to story– he’s all about the art of storytelling, and he weaves together influences from all sorts of places in his writing, from folklore and fairy tales to classic sci-fi to kitchen-sink drama. His stories are full of science pretending to be magic and magic pretending to be science. His characters are over the top and full of life, but his settings feel so lived in and vivid– and setting is of huge importance for me in fiction.
To be honest, I’ve never felt this. I’ve read a lot of work that is actively trying to emulate Adams– so many comedy sci-fi writers do it– and Magrs has never struck me as a full-on comedy writer, nor someone who is trying to copy a particular style of writing. I’m sure Adams is an influence of his, but one of many.
(Although to be fair I also had a bit of trouble with Enter Wildthyme, which features so many returning characters from across Magrs’ oeuvre, from within and without Who, that I got confused plenty!)
I may return to this thread with a top 5 or top 10 (let’s be realistic, it might have to be top 20) of my favourite Magrs works. I love his work <3 (if that wasn’t already clear )
Oh, and I’ll take this chance to drop a link to his Youtube channel, which is a delightful and relaxing place to be. He just talks about books and stories and sometime you get to see his cat!
Paul Magrs is one of my favourite Who writers. If you’re familiar with any of his Fifth Doctor stories it’s no surprise why, very few writers seem to just get that Doctor and those companions’ characters the way he does. The Peterloo Massacre deservedly gets its flowers, though The Lady of Mercia and In Wonderland come highly recommended from me, especially if you like Turlough. He’s not even a particular focus of the former one, but Magrs has such a lock on everything appealing about his character.
Outside of that - perhaps to my shame - I’m familiar with very little of his work. Though someone linked his YouTube channel above which I very much second the recommendation of. Other stories of his I’ve enjoyed have been Josephine and the Argonauts (even if pacing wise it starts to feel like checking off a bucket list at points) and The Horror of Glam Rock. Though there is another I can think of…
I can’t speak for The Wormery (I’ve never read or listened to anything involving Iris ever, shocking I know) but The Stones of Venice is the first 8 and Charley story I actually like.
I’m in the ‘up and down’ camp too. There are stories of Magrs which I rate 4 or 5 stars like Verdigris and some of his Iris standalone stuff. And then there is the Nest Cottage series which I hate so much I pretty much don’t ‘count’ it as Doctor Who (and I’m Mr ‘There is No Canon - Everything is Part of the Rich Tapestry’).
I adore Magrs. I adore Iris and something about the way he writes really works for me. There are a couple of his stories that are misses for me (naming no Boy That Time Forgots), but by and large, I really vibe with his style.
@BillFiler I really want those anthologies, I’ve just never got round to seeking them out. I want to 100% Iris !
I always forget he wrote The Peterloo Massacre as it seems the complete opposite of what Magrs is known for. It proves how versatile a writer he is because it is also excellent.
Yeah, agree! That’s always at least a good Sign for a Writer’s staying Power!
Love that Story! It’s excellent! And you pretty much explain it well!
Can’t comment much on either, but appreciate your examples! (Surprised those are also from Magrs)
I do HEAVILY disagree. I really enjoy Stones of Venice, even if it’s mainly a Story held by its vibes than the Story itself. The Wormery really depends if you can get on board with such a Story I find, while I respect and can see why it’s for some boring, I find it a Story in similar vain as with many of S24 Stories. Which either really work or really don’t work for one. That said, while I disagree I appreciate your elaboration and can see it either way!
Peterloo Massacre is superb, really him getting out of his comfort zone and it’s so good. In general, he seems to be at his A-Game when writing 5, even the rather not so great Execli Entry he has written and is helped by some of his witty writing.
That seems to be the popular Opinion about his Work going by this thread so far, haven’t read either of those Books, so can’t comment on their Quality. I do however sort of disagree from what I have heard and read while he surely likes Adams Style a bit, I don’t think he is actively out there emulating it. His Stories are much different, where Adams is often witty humor with a tongue in cheek dialogue to it, Magrs’s Work is much out there and sightly more meta but with an emotional Core often as a vocal Point. (just read the Words @nyssaoftraken has left about Magrs and yeah basically that (that’s the trouble with trying to reply chronologically to the Things you can reply you never quite know what others have already pointed out )
To come back to @nyssaoftraken yeah wonderfully said I do love Magrs’s Work so far from what I read and listen to, which is admittedly not as much as I’d like, but I think enough for me to have an Opinion of his. He is really a Writer where I typically get a grin reading he did the Story I am about to experience. It’s clear he is very much inspired by a lot of different Stories, Writers and so on, I mean he’s probably the biggest Bookworm who has written for Who going off his lovely YouTube Channel (where he shows off his Cat, so subscribe!!) Really excited for you to mention what your favorite Stories of his are, but of course take your time!
Also, yeah well said @CrashedOnDido, he is definitely brilliant with 5 and his Crew, probably the most consistently amazing Output he has for any Doctor really (from the Stuff I am aware of at least). I do have to say I am not too big on The Horror of Glam Rock, I do think it’s solid but a bit more meh compared to other Things he worked. I do recommend you maybe giving some of his Short Stories a Chance, he has written a few and most of them are quite lovely and a quick read!
Woah- I admit I can’t comment on the Nest Cottage Series I only listen to two of its Audio, I am not really sure what to think about those, but yeah definitely on his weaker Side. But yeah, fair enough he does seem to be somebody that can be really hit-and-miss, which is valid! Hmm, do you also recommend Verdigris highly?
Yeah, same here really! I must admit I am mixed on The Boy That Time Forgot, I don’t like nor do I hate it or don’t get on with, it has its REALLY good and REALLY ehh Moments for me. Do you have any other Stories that you would consider misses of his, if I may ask? Also, yeah, in this Thread there shall be ONLY Iris Love
Also, yeah, Peterloo Massacre is such a good story that breaks the typical Magrs Mold. I do however think it’s easily one of his best. Shame he never wrote another Pure Historical again, from what I know (although I could be wrong)
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