The second volume of 9th Doctor audio stories, collectively called Respond To All Calls, is a string of three unrelated stories. Well, they’re unrelated in a narrative fashion, but they are a thematic union, kind of like how a lot of the monthly range trilogies were arranged. And, as much as Ravagers was enjoyable, this box set really sold me on the 9th Doctor’s return as a glorious return. He didn’t quite sound like himself in the first round, which is partly unavoidable simply due to 15 years of ageing, but in this set he captured even more of his Doctor-ish voice.
The first story is called Girl, Deconstructed. It is a spooky story of a girl whose matter is scattered into an incorporeal space within her house, turning her into a spectre, almost a poltergeist if she concentrates. Doctor Who has done a number of haunted house stories in the past, and the science fiction behind this one is pretty unique (and more believable than most) – an incorporeal alien race that travels great distances often stops off on Earth and sometimes tries to help humans who want to “get away” travel with them, but aren’t able to upload them properly, thus scattering their consciousness in a bodiless localized space.
The Doctor is able to save her and several others, but not everyone to whom this happened. His de facto companion in this story is a police officer, who is investigating the missing people, and their chemistry is a lot of fun to listen to. The way he messes with her by traveling by TARDIS a couple times during the narrative is priceless, and he even briefly runs into himself in front of her when he arrives a few seconds too early!
It’s also interesting that this takes place in 2004, reinforcing this incarnation’s “home time” on Earth as the mid-2000’s, leading up to his eventual travels with Rose.
Girl, Deconstructed has a great balance of science fiction, spookiness, and heart. Excellent stuff.
Ripples in my Tea 
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