Letter from the Editor (short story)

Letter from the Editor was the introduction to the anthology Lady Stardust. It was credited to "Art Critic Panda".

Plot
Panda writes an introduction to the readers of "this stupendous tome" whilst drinking G&T with Cilla playing on a stereogram. He is delighted to have edited edited such a collection of stories about himself and Iris, despite his usual habit of trying to keep a low profile in their adventures. He admits that while he loves Iris, he does like a bit of alone time to himself.

Panda mentions how he is nude on the cover, and he explains that a few days prior he had been resting in Jardin du Luxembourg and he had bought a "most marvellous, stripey cravat" from Le Bon Marché after a detour in La Grande Epicerie. However, after he had tossed the cravat behind the chaise lounge inside the bust after Iris had acted uncaringly towards his new garment, Iris gave him a few cocktails and a dinner at Le Meurice. That was when a photographer took their photo for the cover, hence Panda's nudity. However, Panda isn't too bothered as he thinks that people will be distracted by Iris doing one of her impressions of Worzel Gummidge's sister.

Panda wishes that the readers will enjoy the collection, especially as he went through an entire box of red pencils and had not yet received his case of gin in compensation from his publishers, who he believes are amateurs.

Characters

 * Panda

Referenced only

 * Cilla
 * Photographer
 * Worzel Gummidge
 * Worzel Gummidge's sister
 * Panda's publishers
 * Panda's publishers

Worldbuilding

 * Panda mentions that just the other day both he had Iris had had to retreat backwards up a hill from an unspecified Horror.
 * He was frustrated at Iris' lack of respect towards him and his short legs, lack of balance, and age.
 * Panda's cravat was blue, green, and purple.
 * During his argument with Iris over the cravat, he had thrown an empty bottle of Bombay Sapphire at her, but it instead hit a window in the bus and cracked it.
 * Iris called Panda an "actor" due to his behaviour.

Continuity

 * Iris' bus has a chaise lounge. (AUDIO: The Wormery, PROSE: Deleted Scene from 'Iris Wildthyme and the Key Lime Pie 2 Time' - 'Part 3: The Stones of Blood')
 * Iris drinks Bombay Sapphire. (PROSE: Verdigris, Preface, AUDIO: The Iris Wildthyme Appreciation Society)