Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Doctor Who writer Joy Wilkinson has adapted the groundbreaking fantasy novel Lud-in-the-Mist into a play for BBC Radio Drama, which airs in October.

The novel by Hope Mirrlees was published in 1926 and is considered a pioneer of the fantasy genre that is all too often overlooked. Wilkinson aims to put that right – with the help of one of the book’s greatest advocates, Neil Gaiman, who has a star cameo in the production.

Gaiman has long championed Lud-in-the-Mist as “a little golden miracle of a book” that is among his top 10 favourite novels. Wilkinson was absolutely thrilled when he agreed to play a pivotal role in the cast, which is led by Richard Lumsden, Olivia Poulet and Lloyd Hutchinson, and includes Doctor Who audio drama alumni Ellie Darvill and Jane Slavin.

The story is set in the fictional state of Dorimare, which borders Fairyland, and follows Mayor of Lud Nathaniel Chanticleer’s quest to rid the town of Fairy fruit and rescue his son who has fallen under its corrupting influence.

“The book has such an original, spellbinding vision. It is Mirrlees’ masterpiece and has been under-appreciated for far too long,” Wilkinson told Sci-Fi Bulletin. “It was a challenge to pack that whole world, which teems with unique details, into a single drama, but we’ve captured as much of Mirrlees’ essence as we can with our fantastic cast and a magical score from The Ciderhouse Rebellion, who I suspect genuinely hail from the borders of Fairyland!”

The play goes out on October 30th on BBC Radio 4 in a Halloween double-bill with Lolly Willowes a feminist classic with fantasy elements by Sylvia Townsend Warner, adapted by Sarah Daniels. Both dramas will be available on iPlayer following the broadcast.

Joy Wilkinson’s past work includes The Witchfinders episode for Doctor Who season 11, the Target novel of that episode, and several Doctor Who short stories. She is currently writing for the new supernatural Netflix series Lockwood & Co, helmed by Joe Cornish.