Written by Marc Platt, this unsolicited story was submitted to script editor Robert Holmes in late 1975 and dealt with a sentient star using the Time Lord libraries as a means of invading Gallifrey. Holmes felt that it lacked action and drama, and was in need of a proper antagonist. Even so, Robert Holmes thought that "Fires of the Starmind" had more potential than most of the other amateur submissions and he encouraged Marc Platt to continue writing. "Fires of the Starmind" was rejected on 15 December 1975.