'At Childhood’s End' by Sophie Aldred

Past or future. Which path do you choose?

She lifted the jacket from its hook and slipped it on. It had been thirty years since she had last worn it but it felt like yesterday. It was time to put old demons to bed…

Once, a girl called Ace travelled the universe with the Doctor – until, in the wake of a terrible tragedy they parted company. Decades later, she is known as Dorothy McShane, the reclusive millionaire philanthropist who heads global organisation A Charitable Earth.

Dorothy is haunted by terrible nightmares, vivid dreams that begin just as scores of young runaways are vanishing from the dark alleyways of London. Could the disappearances be linked to sightings of sinister creatures lurking in the city shadows? Why has an alien satellite entered a secret orbit around the Moon?

Investigating the satellite with Ryan, Graham and Yaz, the Doctor is thrown together with Ace once more. Together they must unravel a malevolent plot that will cost thousands of lives. But can the Doctor atone for her past incarnation’s behaviour – and how much must Ace sacrifice to win victory not only for herself, but for the Earth?


Publication Date:
February 2020

Notes:
*Featuring Dorothy 'Ace' McShane, with the Thirteenth Doctor, Graham, Yaz and Ryan, and the Seventh Doctor

*Time-placing: the Seventh Doctor flashback takes place after 'Survival'; it shows Ace leaving the Doctor, which conflicts with stories by Big Finish and Virgin, the latter being explained away as events from an alternate timeline. Perhaps this story is not canon after all..?

*A BBC Books publication