The Library of Alexandria (audio story)

The Library of Alexandria was the tenth story of the seventh series in the Companion Chronicles audio range. It was produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Simon Guerrier and featured Ian Chesterton.

Publisher's summary
The port of Alexandria, 5th Century AD.

The Doctor, Ian, Susan and Barbara have taken a break from their travels, and are enjoying a few weeks in the sunshine — and the chance to appreciate the magnificent Library of Alexandria.

Ian also takes the chance to enjoy friendship with the philosopher Hypatia — but things here will not last forever.

The time travellers know that the library will soon be lost to history.

What they are about to discover is the terrifying reason why...

The Library of Alexandria (1)
to be added

The Pathway to the Stars (2)
to be added

Cast

 * Ian Chesterton - William Russell
 * Hypatia - Susan Franklyn

Continuity

 * This will not be the last time that the Doctor, Ian and Barbara visit the library during peculiar happenings. (PROSE: The Book of Shadows)
 * Ian recalls seeing the Transit of Venus in 1770. (AUDIO: The Transit of Venus)
 * Following the library's destruction, the Fourth Doctor was ejected from the premises and had his lending privileges suspended because they did not trust him after he misshelved the Dead Sea Scrolls. Nevertheless, he still had one of their books, Ptolemy's Treatise on the Structure, Position and Medicinal Nature of Celestial Bodies out on loan some 2093 years and four months after it was due back. (PROSE: Eye of Heaven)
 * At some point prior to his seventh incarnation, the Doctor saved two of Aristophanes' plays from the flames. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Apocalypse)
 * The Eighth Doctor would later tell his companion Tamsin Drew that he was present for the burning of the Library of Alexandria but could not prevent it from happening due to the Web of Time. (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars)
 * Being able to read the Mim's reconnaissance report without any problem, Ian explains to Hypatia that he has a gift for being able to read and understand languages without even knowing them. (TV: The End of the World et al).
 * By the time of his sixth incarnation, the Doctor had rescued several scrolls from the Library of Alexandria during the fire. (AUDIO: The Carrionite Curse)