Small Wonders is the story that was never told way back in 1963. Most old-school fans will know, though perhaps not all the new 2005+ ones, that Verity Lambert didn’t want the cavemen story to follow the introduction of The Doctor and Susan in Unearthly Child. What had been planned was a story in which they returned to the science room at Coal Hill School, but due to a TARDIS fault, they were reduced in size. Exactly what the problem was, be it the script, or the problem of building a set recreating the science room in huge dimensions – which must have been frighteningly expensive – or some other issue, the whole story was abandoned. Miniaturisation was covered in ‘Planet of the Giants’ in the second series, but with a different setting.

So obviously I had to fill the gap. This is my take on the idea. Only instead of The Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara back in Ian’s classroom, we have The Doctor, Amy and Rory. Or, for the biggest part of the story, The Doctor and Rory. One problem with multiple companions is finding them all something to do. If one companion is trapped, asleep, or otherwise unavailable it can make life easier. In this case, The Doctor and Rory together work very well.

Fortunately I didn’t have to build a giant set. But keeping perspective in mind all the way through the story was an important factor. Getting them down from the shelf, the corridor, the trip in the satchel, all had to be to scale. Fortunately I have quite a large collection of Doctor Who 5 inch action figures, and comparing them with skirting boards, shelf heights etc. was a doddle. Being surrounded by the figures while writing this story was an inspiration in its way, too.

Of course, this was going to be an easy ride. No monsters to deal with, just the problem of familiar surroundings that are made unfamiliar by the unusual dimension, and the time factor introduced to give a sense of urgency to heir mission.

tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Coal_Hill_School
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/An_Unearthly_Child
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Remembrance_of_the_Daleks

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Barbara_Wright
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Ian_Chesterton

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Susan_Foreman