Dan Starkey recounts a brand-new adventure in Victorian England for the Eighth Doctor, as played on TV by Paul McGann.

In 1890s Cardiff, reporter James MacFarlane is intrigued by rumours of ‘anaesthesia frolics’, at which gatherings the latest frontier in pain relief is demonstrated to influential guests.

After he speaks to someone who attended several such ‘frolics’—and left with a hand and two fingers missing—James realises that the events have a dark side. Contriving an invitation, he is astounded to find another guest also investigating—it’s his old friend the Doctor!

Reunited in mystery, the Doctor and James enter the murky underbelly of polite Cardiff society, where they uncover a shattering secret—and a monster lurking at its heart.

Dan Starkey, who played Strax in the BBC TV series, reads Andrew Lane’s dark and brooding tale.

Reading produced by Neil Gardner

Project Editor & Executive Producer: Michael Stevens

Sound Design: David Darlington