Harry Houdini's War (audio story)

 was the two hundred and fifty fifth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Steve Lyons and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri.

Publisher's summary
The world is at war, and Harry Houdini wants to fight for his adoptive country. He might get the chance, when an old friend crashes his New York show.

The Doctor is on the trail of a Central Powers spy ring, which has somehow acquired unearthly technology. But he is also keeping a dangerous secret…

Finding himself on the run behind enemy lines, the world’s greatest escape artist has to work out who he can trust – and fast.

Part one
to be added

Part two
to be added

Part three
to be added

Part four
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Colin Baker
 * Peri - Nicola Bryant
 * Harry Houdini - John Schwab
 * Mrs Helen Smith / Hartmann - Fiona Bruce
 * Oberst Brandt / Reynolds - Mark Elstob
 * Professor Winter - Glen McCready

Crew

 * Cover Art - Lee Johnson
 * Director - Ken Bentley
 * Executive Producer - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
 * Music and Sound Design - Joe Meiners
 * Producer & Script Editor - John Ainsworth
 * Writer - Steve Lyons
 * Senior Producer - David Richardson

Worldbuilding

 * Houdini has not met this particular incarnation of the Doctor before.
 * The Doctor makes use of a tuning fork.
 * Houdini is aware of the Doctor's penchant for Venusian aikido.
 * Peri and the Doctor both independently claim the TARDIS is Houdini's vanishing cabinet, when questioned.
 * Houdini can hold his breath for minutes at a time.
 * Houdini was once lowered into the East River while in leg irons and handcuffs, which were themselves nailed onto a crate.
 * An Estrati spacecraft crash-landed in the Spandauer Forest, near Berlin, in 1911. It was brought into the courtyard of a nearby early 16th century castle. On seeing said spaceship, turned nearly inside out, Harry remarks its resemblance to something made by Rube Goldberg.
 * The Doctor tries to explain away his binary vascular system on an X-ray scan by claiming it must be double exposure.
 * Harry finally gets to ride in the TARDIS, though he was unconscious throughout.
 * Houdini Mentions facing the Kleptons and the Selachians alonside the Doctor in the past.

Continuity

 * The Doctor has previously met Houdini, on several occasions. (AUDIO: Smoke and Mirrors et al.)
 * Houdini indicates having met multiple incarnations of the Doctor before. In fact, he has previously met at least the First and Third Doctors, (AUDIO: Smoke and Mirrors) and would go on to meet at least the Fifth Doctor, (AUDIO: Smoke and Mirrors) the Eleventh Doctor, (PROSE: Houdini and The Space Cuckoos) the Twelfth Doctor (COMIC: Theatre of the Mind) and the Thirteenth Doctor. (PROSE: Who-Dini?)
 * The Doctor mentions that he always finds himself saying goodbye to Peri. (TV: Mindwarp, AUDIO: Her Final Flight, Peri and the Piscon Paradox)