River Song’s Timeline

River_Looks_Left_LKH

Here is ‘River Song’s Timeline’.

N.B. This is in working progress.

I’ve referred to

and

to help me put this version of the timeline together.

I’ve included all the TV stories, audios, books and comics.

The (TV), (Audio) and (Video Game) stories are highlighted in DARK AZURE.

The (Book) stories are to remain un-highlighted for now.

 The short stories are highlighted in DARK AZURE and/or ITALICS; and are CENTRED.

The stories with links to reviews by me on my blog are highlighted in BOLD and DARK AZURE.

COLOUR-CODED KEY for stories with the Doctors

  • 1 – The First Doctor
  • 2 – The Second Doctor
  • 3 – The Third Doctor
  • 4 – The Fourth Doctor
  • 5 – The Fifth Doctor
  • 6 – The Sixth Doctor
  • 7 – The Seventh Doctor
  • 8 – The Eighth Doctor
  • 9 – The Ninth Doctor
  • 10 – The Tenth Doctor
  • 11 – The Eleventh Doctor
  • 12 – The Twelfth Doctor
  • 13 – The Thirteenth Doctor

Regarding the (Book) stories, I’ve identified each of them as follows in the KEY below.

KEY
*BB – BBC Books
*BCB – BBC Children’s Books

Regarding the (Audio) stories, I’ve identified each of them as follows in the KEY below.

KEY
**BFAD – Big Finish Audio Drama
**PAB – Puffin Audio Book

Here is a list of abbreviations for some of the (Audio) stories and what they mean.

  • (DRS) – ‘The Diary of River Song’
  • (TLOCJ) – ‘The Lives of Captain Jack
  • (DLRS) – ‘The Death and Life of River Song’

Regarding the short stories, I’ve identified each of them as follows with abbreviations.

  • (TAW) – ‘Twelve Angels Weeping’

Please feel free to ask questions about this timeline, as I intend to revisit this and add new stories to the list as time goes on.

I’ve divided the timeline into 3 phases
1. Melody Pond
2. Mels Zucker
3. River Song

1. Melody Pond

Melody’s birth on Demons’ Run from ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ (TV) takes place here.
Melody’s appearance in the prequel to ‘The Impossible Astronaut’/’Day of the Moon’ (TV) takes place here.
The Captain Jack and Melody scene from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** in 1969 before Melody’s regeneration takes place here.
Melody as a little girl in ‘The Impossible Astronaut’/’Day of the Moon’ (TV) takes place here before she regenerates into Mels Zucker.

2. Mels Zucker

Mels with Amelia and Rory from ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’ (TV) takes place here.
Mels with Amy and Rory from ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’ (TV) takes place here.
‘Mels at School’ (BB2012)
‘Mels’ Diary’ (Annual)

  • Imaginary Enemies (Comic)

Mel’s regeneration into River Song from ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’ (TV) – (11) takes place here.

3. River Song

The Captain Jack and River scene from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD**  where River attends her first lecture at the Luna University to meet Hark Jackness takes place here.
The Captain Jack and River scene from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** where River attempts to assassinate the Ninth Doctor takes place here during the events of ‘Boom Town’ (TV).
River’s appearance at the end of ‘Closing Time’ (TV) takes place before ‘The Wedding of River Song’ (TV).
The prequel to ‘The Wedding of River Song’ (TV) takes place here.
River inside the astronaut suit from ‘The Wedding of the River Song’ (TV) takes place at the same time as ‘The Impossible Astronaut’ (TV).

Captain Jack’s rescue of River from the transport shuttle taking her to Stormcage from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘First Night’/’Last Night’ (TV) – (11)

The Captain Jack and River scene from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** where she confides her husband has gone off to fight in a war (presumably The Battle of Demon’s Run) takes place during ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ (TV).
Captain Jack and River’s visit to Darillium from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** where they meet an older River takes place here.
The last scene of ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ (TV) takes place here.

River Song’s appearance in ‘The Eternity Clock’ (Video Game) – (11) takes place here.

  • Pond Life (Comic) – (11)
  • An Adventure in Brine and Plaice (Comic) – (11)
  • Double Date (Comic) – (11)
  • Summer Wholiday (Comic) – (11)
  • Timeliney Wimey (Comic) – (11)
  • Take a Bow Tie (Comic)  – (11)
  • New Year, New Who (Comic)  – (11)
  • No Win, No Fez (Comic) – (11)
  • Who Who Who, Merry Christmas (Comic) – (11)
  • The Legends of River Song (Book) – BB*

1. Picnic at Asgard – (11)
2. Suspicious Minds – (11)
3. A Gamble with Time – (11)
4. Death in New Venice
5. River of Time

River’s appearance in ‘The Master Plan’ (Comic) takes place here.

‘The Bekdel Test’ (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘Without A Paddle’ from ‘The Many Lives of Doctor Who’ (Comic) – (11) takes place here.
‘The Lifeboat and the Deathboat’ (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘The Power of River Song’ from ‘Incursions’ (U) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.

River visits Amy and Rory shortly after ‘Flesh and Stone’ (TV) at the end of ‘The Wedding of River Song’ (TV) – (11).
River’s narration of ‘Monster File: Weeping Angels’ (Webcast) takes place here.
River’s narration of ‘Monster File: Vampires’ (Webcast) takes place here.
River’s narration of ‘Monster File: Silurians’ (Webcast) takes place here.
‘Rain Gods’ (DVD) – (11)
River’s appearance in ‘The Day of the Doctor’ (TV) – (11), according to the novelization/audiobook takes place here.

  • The Lady in the Lake (DRS) (Audio) – (5) – BFAD**
  • A Requiem for the Doctor (DRS) (Audio) – (5) – BFAD**
  • My Dinner with Andrew (DRS) (Audio) – (5) – BFAD**
  • The Furies (DRS) (Audio) – (5) – BFAD**
  • Two Rivers and A Firewall (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**

1. The Two Rivers
2. Beauty on the Inside
3. Black Friday
4. Firewall

  • Friend of the Family (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**

1. The Rules of the House
2. The Key to the Door
3. The Bird from the Nest
4. The Isle on the Shore

  • The Orphan Quartet (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**

1. The Excise Men
2. Harvest of the Krotons
3. Dead Man Talking
4. The Wife of River Song

River’s cameo in ‘The Thirteen+ Doctors’ – (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13) takes place here. 

  • Star-Crossed (Audio) – (9) – BFAD**

1. Swipe Right
2. Face of the Apocalypse
3. Archipelago

  • Colony of Strangers (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Abbey of Heretics (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Barrister to the Stars (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Carnival of Angels (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • The Angels Take Manhattan (TV) – (11)

The Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory and River’s appearance in ‘A Stitch in Time’ (Comic) – (11) takes place during ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’ (TV).
‘Lies in Ruins’ from ‘The Legacy of Time’ (Audio) – (8) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘Animal Instinct’ (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
River writes the ‘Melody Malone’ mystery novels ‘Private Detective in Old New York Town’ and ‘The Angel’s Kiss’ (Book/Audio) – BB*+BAB**
‘The Guide to the Dark Times’ (TLV) (Annual) – (13)
‘The Sonomancer’ from ‘Doom Coalition 2’ (Audio) – (8) – BFAD** takes place here.

  • The Unknown (DRS) (Audio) – (7) – BFAD**
  • Five Twenty-Nine (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • World Enough and Time (DRS) (Audio) – (6) – BFAD**
  • The Eye of the Storm (DRS) (Audio) – (6+7) – BFAD**

‘The Eighth Piece’, ‘The Doomsday Chronometer’ and ‘The Crucible of Souls’ from ‘Doom Coalition 3’ (Audio) – (8) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘Songs of Love’ from ‘Doom Coalition 4’ (Audio) – (8) – BFAD** takes place here.

  • The Ruby’s Curse (Book/Audio) – (13) – BB*+BAB**
  • Time in a Bottle (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Kings of Infinite Space (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Whodunnit? (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Someone I Once Knew (DRS) (Audio) – (4) – BFAD**

‘Emancipation’ from ‘The Eighth of March’ (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.

The older River from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** at the end of her years with the Twelfth Doctor from ‘The Husbands of River Song’ (TV) takes place here.
Captain Jack and River’s visit to the Face of Boe’s funeral from ‘R&J’ (TLOCJ) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
‘Concealed Weapon’ (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD** takes place here.
River Song’s appearance in ‘The Lost Dimension’ (Comic) takes place here.

  • I Went To A Marvelous Party (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Signs (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • The Rulers of the Universe (DRS) (Audio) – (8) – BFAD**

‘Student Bodies’ (TAW/Audio) – BAB**
‘Companion Piece’ from ‘Ravenous 3’ (Audio) – (8) – BFAD** takes place here.

  • New Recruit (DRS) (Audio) – (3) – BFAD**

1. The Blood Woods
2. Terror of the Suburbs
3. Never Alone
4. Rivers of Light

  • The Poison of Peladon (Audio) – BFAD**
  • An Unearthly Woman (DRS) (Audio) – (1) – BFAD**
  • The Web of Time (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Peepshow (DRS) (Audio) – (3) – BFAD**
  • The Talents of Greel (DRS) (Audio) – BFAD**
  • Ace and Tegan (DLRS) (Audio) – BFAD**

1. Castaways
2. Driftwood
3. Dead Rising
4. The End is the Beginning is the End

  • The Dissolution of Time (DLRS) (Audio) – BFAD**

1. The Armageddon Game
2. Anne Boleyn Must Die
3. A Good Woman Goes to War
4. The Schism Bloom

1. Book 1 – Apokalypsis
2. Book 2 – Fate & Fatality
3. Book 3 – The Black Hours
4. Book 4 – Book of the Dead

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30 thoughts on “River Song’s Timeline”

    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Omega.

      I have placed ‘The Husbands of River Song’ in between ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’ and ‘Silence in the Library’.

      Do you mean that ‘The Diary of River Song’ and ‘Doom Coalition’ audios with River are set before ‘The Husbands of River Song’? I’ve not listened to those stories yet.

      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  2. Evan's avatarEvan

    The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang cannot have happened that late in the timeline because that’s when she gets the vortex manipulator and she’s seen with it in The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  3. Toymaker's avatarToymaker

    Doesn’t Animal Instinct take place before Carnival of Angels? Mainly because I’m sure the student in that explicitly states he has earned his doctorate come the events of the latter.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Ed's avatarEd

    Hi. Just thinking… If river had got the sonic screwdriver from the 12th doctor to replace her sonic trowel… Why is the audio dramas with her using the sonic trowel placed after the husbands of river song… If she had been given the screwdriver she would have used that instead of the trowel

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Ed.

      Thanks for dropping a line.

      I’m afraid I’ve not heard ‘The Diary of River Song’ audios yet. There are a lot of ‘Doctor Who’-related audios available and I’ve not focused so much on the spin-offs, so I can’t really comment about the sonic trowel stories if they take place before or after ‘The Husbands of River Song’. I tend to rely on what people tell me where they think the audios take place in a certain timeline.

      If you think the sonic trowel audios take place before ‘The Husbands of River Song’, please let me know and tell me which ones so I can re-stituate them accordingly.

      Many thanks,
      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
      1. Ellie's avatarEllie

        I’m rather late to the party, but I thought I’d put my two cents in as to the order of “The Diary of River Song.” The trowel is something of a problem, however the stories must take place after “The Husbands of River Song”. In the audio dramas, River seems to meet a future version of the doctor, and accepts this without a problem. However, before ‘Husbands’, River believed that Eleven was the last doctor (and thus, much of the episode’s comedy and tragedy are created). She therefore needs to know that a future version is possible, so series one must take place after THoRS.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Hi Ellie.

        Thanks for your insight into this. Much appreciated.

        At present, the Series 1 stories of ‘DORS’ are placed after ‘The Husbands of River Song’. There probably will come a time when I will check out the ‘DORS’ stories by Big Finish. For now, anyone who has any more suggestions on where the stories should be placed, please let me know.

        Tim 🙂

        Like

      3. Ellie's avatarEllie

        Hi Tim,
        I definitely recommend giving them a listen. I’m on series two at the moment and absolutely loving them.

        I actually have a rather crazy theory developing in my head that places at least series one of DoRS after The Name of the Doctor. There are a bunch of things that don’t quite make sense character wise unless River has already been to The Library by the time the audio adventures start. But I’m definitely in the minority here!

        Anyway, thanks for compiling this! It’s brilliant.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Surely's avatarSurely

    Is there a guess as to when she was in her timeline when Rory tries to recruit her in A Good Man Goes to War vs when she shows up at the end of the episode after her infant self was kidnapped?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Surely.

      I’ve always assumed the two scenes featuring River Song in ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ take place one scene after the other. But then TARDIS.wiki have suggested that the scene where River turns up after the Battle of Demon’s Run takes place before Rory tried to recruit her.

      If you have a better suggestion on where the scenes take place, please let me know and I’ll see if I can amend it on River’s timeline.

      Many thanks,

      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  6. Roger's avatarRoger

    Thank you for this wonderful timeline! Everyone else has copies of just the tv episodes. I have now almost compiled all the story line in your order. I have three more items still to find but find I have four audiobooks from “The Diary of River Song” #8 not listed on your list here:
    “Glimpses of Tomorrow 8-01”
    “A Brave New World 8-02”
    “A Forever Home 8-03”
    “Queen of the Mechanoids 8-04”

    Where might they go?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Roger.

      Very pleased you like my timeline for River Song. I’ve added the stories from Series 8 of ‘The Diary of River Song’ to her timeline.

      Many thanks for your comments,

      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  7. Roger's avatarRoger

    Thank You !! But,Dog-Gone it…found another… In the comic book “Dr Who – The Eleventh Doctor” #9 April 2015 there is another comic called “Double Date” Comic wise it comes after “And Adventure in Brine and Plaice and Before “Summer Wholiday” so I am guessing its where it goes in the Time line. Something else to add to this amazing collection of data!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Roger.

      Thanks for letting me know about ‘Double Date’. I’ve added it to River’s timeline as well as to the Eleventh Doctor’s, Amy’s and Rory’s.

      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  8. The Great Rojelio! - nah just me's avatarThe Great Rojelio! - nah just me

    Hi, me again…just found out the Books listed on your page, there is actually only one book. The “Angels Kiss” is the only actually one published, with the cover of the one shown in the TV show which is called “Private Detective in Old New York Town”. ALSO, it is said, (THEY – THEM) Alex Kingston made an audiobook of the “Angels Kiss” as well. and THEY/THEM are RIGHT!
    ( I love researching BTW)

    THEY?THEM:( referenced in the “Related Real-World Works” section):
    https://theorderofthelibrary.fandom.com/wiki/Melody_Malone:_Private_Detective_in_Old_New_York_Town

    A brief mention of the audio book only on Fandom Tardis Core in the ” Notes” section:
    https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/The_Angel%27s_Kiss:_A_Melody_Malone_Mystery_(novel)

    Proof of the AUdiobook by audible:
    https://www.audible.com/pd/Doctor-Who-The-Angels-Kiss-Audiobook/B00AISCK2K

    One last note that doesnt actually include River Song is an “EXCLUSIVE PREQUEL SCENE to Doctor Who: The Legacy of Time” where the story “Lies in Ruins” is found, on youtube. It merely refers to “hope(ing) to catch up with an old friend…or two.”

    …again…

    R
    PS you dont have to post this info. its mainly for your reference information only anyway

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Thanks for this info, Roger.

      Greatly appreciate it. I’ve tweaked ‘The Angel’s Kiss’ listing to include the audiobook, which I can’t believe I forgot to do in the first place. Incidentally, I’ve included ‘The Legacy of Time’ prequel scene to my review of the epic story.

      Many thanks,

      Tim. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  9. Blake's avatarBlake

    Alex Kingston’s new novel, The Ruby’s Curse, is entirely written from River Song’s perspective. I believe it takes place around the time she writes the other ‘Melody Malone’ mystery novels; after The Angels Take Manhattan but before The Husbands of River Song. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Blake,

      Thank you for letting me know about ‘The Ruby’s Curse’. I’ve added this story to River Song, Amy, Rory, Captain Jack and the Thirteenth Doctor’s timelines.

      Many thanks,

      Tim 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  10. Blake's avatarBlake

    hi! there was this old video game from 2012 called The Eternity Clock that River was in. I’m not confident but I believe it takes place (from her perspective) after the episode The Big Bang

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

      Hi Blake,

      Thanks for letting me know about ‘The Eternity Clock’. I’m having an issue with the computer at the moment, but I hope to update River’s timeline with ‘The Eternity Clock’ soon.

      Tim 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓
  11. Aaron's avatarAaron

    Hi! Diary of River Song s10 isn’t on this, but I’m not sure where in her timeline it takes place. s11, however, takes place before she becomes a professor but after she becomes a doctor.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
      1. Tygar Tyger's avatarTygar Tyger

        Hi again Tim, so the comics from pond life down to legends of river song book, do know when in the timeline of the eleventh doctor those happen? Because tardis fandom says setting is Amy and Rory’s house 2010’s however the lines they say suggests they at least happen after wedding of river song which is into the 2012’s.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Hi Tygar,

        I’m afraid I’m not very familar with the comic stories featuring Amy and Rory between ‘Pond Life’ and ‘The Legends of River Song’. I’ll have to do some investigating and add the Eleventh Doctor’s appearances in those stories later on.

        Best wishes,

        Tim 🙂

        Like

      3. Tim Bradley's avatarTim Bradley Post author

        Hello,

        I’ve added the Eleventh Doctor backup comic stories and ‘The Legends of River Song’ stories to the respective timelines of the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory and monsters like the Judoon, Ood, Silence, Slitheen, Daleks, Cybermen. etc.

        Enjoy!

        Tim 🙂

        Like

  12. benjamintslp's avatarbenjamintslp

    Hey, just to let you know, the Ace and Tegan boxset is set before River’s death.

    I know that in the first boxset of the new River series, River is resurrected after her death in Forest of the Dead but that doesn’t continue throughout the range – in the second boxset it’s back to adventures throughout her life. Ace and Tegan is set before River’s death, idk when exactly but it’s before her death.

    There’s also been another River set since then but idk when that’s set either, other than before her death.

    Liked by 1 person

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