Space-Age Versery Rhymes (short story)

Space-Age Versery Rhymes was a short story printed in TV Century 21 in 1965 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe. Published as part of the short-lived Music Box series, it adapted the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet for the space-faring age of the 21st century, where TV 21 was set. In doing so, the story referenced the Daleks, who had their own comic strip within the magazine.

Summary
Little Miss Muffet sits on a puffet and reads TV 21. A big spider soon comes along and sits down beside her, inquiring as to whether he can look on. Little Miss Muffet replies amicably and makes room for the spider on the puffet while expliciting stating her intention not to run away. The spider reads of the adventures of Stingray and Fireball XL5 before exclaiming about the fun he is having. Believing the magazine to be a "must", the spider then asks Little Miss Muffet if he can take her copy back to his web in order to show it to his friends.

Characters

 * Little Miss Muffet
 * Mister Spider

Worldbuilding

 * Little Miss Muffet is "as proud as a deb" when Mister Spider expresses his enjoyment of TV 21.

Story notes

 * While other instalments of Music Box established an in-universe version of writer Barry Gray as the narrator of other "versery rhymes" from 2065, this story contained no additional comments from him.
 * This story is another crossover with Supercar, Fireball XL5, and Stingray.

Continuity

 * The Daleks, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and Supercar are all featured in TV 21. (PROSE: Graham Page)