Venusian Sunset is a short story written by Paul Leonard. Released in 1998, it is a part of the Doctor Who anthology Perfect Timing and shows the Doctor returning to Venus.
Characters[]
- Second Doctor
- Ben Jackson
- Polly Wright
- Rignontojij - a master of Venusian aikido
- Krenantihil - Rignontojij's student
- Suri-Cator - member of the Guild of Assassins
Plot[]
Shortly after the Doctor's first regeneration, he returns to the planet Venus. His companions notice some of the native Venusians (which they first think are animals) before the Doctor dances and sings with one of them - who promptly attacks the Doctor. Ben begins punching the Venusian but it is revealed that the Venusian is a teacher of the "Fighting Art" named Rignontojij. Rignontojij sends the Doctor's companions with a younger Venusian named Krenantihil.
Krenantihil brings Ben and Polly to a beach to watch the Venusian sunset. While there, they spot a boat which is being driven by a mysterious black-clad Venusian. This Venusian is revealed to be Suri-Cator - a member of the Guild of Assassins - who has been sent to kill Rignontojij.
Rignontojij meets with his assassin and tries to shoo the Doctor out of the room while refusing to talk about his assassination. The Doctor is able to deduce that the reason that his teacher is to be assassinated is that he was teaching the non-Venusian Doctor and demands that Suri-Cator duels him. Suri-Cator accepts this battle and is defeated by the Doctor. Shortly before the Doctor leaves, it is revealed that Suri-Cator visits every one hundred days and does battle with one of Rignontojij's students. Once inside the TARDIS, the Doctor sets off for eighteenth-century Earth to get a new chaise-longue.
In-universe continuity[]
- The Doctor has recently regenerated. He later uses Venusian aikido throughout his third incarnation.
- In Jonathan Morris' audio drama Voyage to Venus, it is stated that the Second Doctor learned aikido with Jamie and Victoria. This is presumably featured in Paul Ebbs' short story The Year of the Drex Olympics.
- The Venusian setting makes this short story a somewhat direct sequel to Leonard's Doctor Who novel Venusian Lullaby.