Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box

Doctor Who: Icons #3

by Kalynn Bayron

The best stories should never be unwritten…

When a strange signal echoes through time to the heart of the TARDIS, the Doctor follows it to the home of Shirley Jackson.

But the strangeness deepens when they find a sinister figure sowing chaos and discord with the use of a glowing box – encouraging a crowd to murderous deeds.

Catapulted back to Shirley Jackson’s own era by the TARDIS, the Doctor (with the help of the time-struck author) must discover the origins of the box, and the terrible power that it wields . . .

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2025

Reviews

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much! I discuss the novella on Episode 762 of the StarShipSofa podcast.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I'm a little disappointed with this book, especially in the wake of the previous two volumes. Perhaps I don't find Shirley Jackson that interesting a subject? The previous two volumes punched well above their weight by comparison, in terms of emotional impact and epic-ness that they managed to pack into a concise package. This one just felt too short and too ephemeral...it simply didn't make much of an impression on me.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

After discussing his favourite story, the Doctor brings Ruby to visit its writer, Shirley Jackson, but a strange box is making people act angrily. Together, Ruby, Shirley and the Doctor must try to stop it.

A fine story, which introduces the great Shirley Jackson to a new generation of readers.

[Mesh'la Cyar'ika · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box" is a sweet and simple short story. I've never really heard about or read any of Shirley Jackson's work, but I enjoyed this story nonetheless. I'm sure that someone who's a big fan of her will find alot of fun in this book aswell. I'm sure that for alot of people, especially kids, this book will act as an introduction to Shirley Jackson and they will be inspired and learn more about her and her books.

The Doctor and Ruby are characterized perfectly, albeit a little bit more toned down than usual, which I love because I'm sick and tired of Doctor Who books specifically mischaracterizing the majority of the characters.

Overall, "Doctor Who: Shirley Jackson and the Chaos Box" is a simple and enjoyable read for any fan of the show or the author herself and It's made me really excited for this book series.

[Pigeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short read featuring a historical figure I hadn't consider for Doctor Who before.

I have previously read some of Shirley Jackson's work before ("The Haunting of Hill House" and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle") and its cool to see that some of her themes of paranoia and inner darkness is referenced here but it could have been a little stronger.

I have also read Kalynn Bayron's novel "Cinderella is Dead" which (although not dr who related) was pretty good, however I feel her writing is a little simplistic here. I guess because its a shorter story, so it had to be tighter.

I liked that Ruby gets to bite back a little at the Doctor here, even if it was under mind control, as this is something that was missing from her time on the show. To be honest I feel this book would have made a pretty solid episode if they fleshed it out a bit more.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea these little novellas were even in existence! This is the third book in the ICONS series. It's primarily aimed at the younger reader, but is a must read for the Whovians out there.

Shirley Jackson is the legend behind some of the great horrors including The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery. I'm sure you need no introductions to the Doctor, do you?

The Doctor's favourite story is The Lottery and on the back of this he decides that he's taking Ruby back in time to meet his heroine. As we've come to expect NOTHING is that simple...who or what is the strange box that's having a negative effect on everyone?

It's a fun read and is a great way to introduce the younger generation to Jackson and her books.

[Rhys Causon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Positives I can give this short book include:
The author, Kalynn Bayron, really captures the 15th Doctors voice.
You can tell Ruby is still in the early days of being a companion and still has the feeling of awe with each adventure.
It’s a quick read.

Unfortunately the negatives include:
Being more interesting at the start when it was just the Doctor and Ruby.
Shirley Jackson feeling a bit tacked on to the story.
The villains being a bit boring in their motivation, though given the story is 85 pages long you don’t have much time to explore motives.

So while I enjoyed the first half more, I imagine if you’re part of the middle section in a Doctor Who/Shirley Jackson fan Venn Diagram, you’ll enjoy this.

[Alexa Neslon · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a fun story but really clearly not written by someone with much knowledge of doctor who like they googled a bunch of facts before writing this. the doctor and ruby are not the same people we see in the show at all and Shirley Jackson seems like a self insert somehow which seems odd. one thing I noticed is the author describes the wrong sonic screwdriver which is fine but it's such an iconic part of doctor who it just seems like they didn't even watch any of the fifteenth doctor episodes at all. I mean it's the kind of story you would see in fanfic but without the characters having any personality.

[Ian Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonably fun romp, but even though it's quite short it feels overwritten and repetitive. There's only so many times the sonic screwdriver can be described! I'm not really keen on in-story time travel as that seems an easy way out but this was pretty well done. With the Icon being Shirley Jackson I was expecting a bit more horror, but it's more like a Twilight Zone episode and I can't say I really know Jackson any better. So overall it might feel a little underwhelming, but it does feel like a 15th Doctor TV story.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

If nothing else, this got me to read Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." This book takes place after "The Devil's Chord," so Ruby is still a bit new to traveling with The Doctor. I could definitely hear their voices. For a bit, this felt like it could've had the makings of an episode-worthy story. But I think the short length hinders it from reaching better heights.

[Gabor Hernadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book of the series the Fifteenth Doctor meets the famous horror writer, Shirley Jackson. Obviously aliens are involves as well, trying to manipulate the feelings of the people.

[Taelor Rye · Rating 2 out of 5]

this kinda feels like a setup…

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

Shirley Jackson and the Doctor along with ruby face mob justice and very wrong aliens with misconception of work ideas.

[Jose Arias pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy emotivo, merecido homenaje a Shirley Jackson que recuerda a 'Vincent and the Doctor', aunque me hubiera gustado que la historia/trama fuera más elaborada.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This not a book but a short story it's only 79p long by time you remove the blank pages.As for Spoiers the Doctor does that for you. One thing I hate is people who talk about the end of a movie or book.But whole plot of this book does just that.
I never heard of Shirley Jackson and I had to look her up here. When I did and found out who she was another one of America 's weaker so called horror writers that don't scare the skin of rice pudding.
The only reason that this get two stars is there is good case in it.But it's braking the Doctor 's own rules and when black man goes to America in 1937 why does know one make racist comment?
I am not saying it's a bad story just a spoiler one by talking about Jackson 's Lottery story which whole book is based on.This set in season one before Boom.