A strange invitation brings the Doctor, Steven and Vicki to Venice in the year of our Lord 1609: a place of politics and poison, science and superstition, telescopes and terror. Galileo Galilei is there demonstrating his new invention to the Doge, and William Shakespeare is working as a spy for King James 1. And there are other visitors too: inhuman ones that lurk in the shadows, watching - and killing.

Vicki is abducted to a flying island. Steven is accused of murder and challenged to a duel. The Doctor, meanwhile, finds himself at the centre of what looks like an attempted incasion. But who are the invaders? And why can't they proceed without his help?

This adventure takes place between the television stories THE TIME MEDDLER and GALAXY FOUR.

ANDY LANE is responsible for three New Adventures, including the recent ORIGINAL SIN. He has also written a number of short SF and horror stories which have appeared in various anthologies and magazines over the past few years.