Exodus

"People? In my TARDIS?"

Writer: Alan McKenzie
Format: Comic Strip
Released: January 1986
Printed in: DWM 108

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Frobisher

Synopsis

On the planet Sylvaniar, a group of impoverished large-eyed humanoids with yellowish skin watch as a dilapidated space craft leaves the planet.

Why are the farmers going missing? And how did a spaceship get on board the TARDIS without causing damage?

Verdict

Exodus was an interesting little start to my reading of The World Shapers graphic novel. It has been quite some time since I found myself reading a collection of comic strip stories from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine, but it is something I have wanted to return to for a while now. So after receiving some birthday money, I was quick to get this one off eBay and begin my reading. I am in the process of moving house after some good job news so stories of this length are quite ideal at the moment to keep my daily fix going. I have to say, not a great deal actually happened but I think it was the Sixth Doctor himself that provided this story with a decent rating. The characterisation of Colin Baker's incarnation was sublime throughout and so in line with the personality we would associate with the Sixth Doctor during Season 22. It really was uncanny how well things were written for the Doctor and that always makes for good reading. He showed impatience, frustration and a lack of compassion and that was perfect. It seems a little weird saying those things about the Doctor, but that's how unique the sixth incarnation is and I think the dynamic it brings, especially with Frobisher alongside Peri for the comic strips, is terrific. I look forward to this collection continuing and getting some bigger stories, although I realise that is still a little while away yet. The Doctor's reaction to people being on board the TARDIS was hilarious because he just felt it was so preposterous that it could happen. Of course, he quickly deduced what had actually occurred and that was the TARDIS had materialised around the ship rather than any kind of crash so fast that damage didn't occur. Peri wasn't impressed with the Doctor's reaction to the poor people and made a point of letting him know. He did take things into consideration, despite potentially not fully seeming like he cared, in giving them food when he would just be dematerialising to ensure that the ship would be free again. I did like that he was going to follow up what he had learned about the farmers of Sylvaniar and how they went missing. The Doctor certainly enjoys some curiosity and wanted to solve the mystery and I guess we will get some answers in the next adventure. I hope we get a little more from Frobisher in that one as all he really did here was find the people and pass the Doctor a tool. That is a typical role for the companion, but in stories this short there still needs to be something a little more! It doesn't have to be much, but when you're a shapeshifting penguin well then there is a lot of potential that could be utilised much better. It's a little bit of a nitpick, but I think there needed to be a tad more involving the people of Sylvaniar because of what I presume is to come with the Doctor going there. I know he may not need too much convincing to go and explore and find what is wrong, but as a reader there probably should have been a little more of an incentive to take things further. Overall though, there's a mystery for the Doctor to follow and I like that idea. A decent comic strip adventure.

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks

"I am their creator. The Daleks need me!"

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Novel
Released: November 1979
Series: Target 21

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis

Landing on an apparently devastated planet, the Doctor and Romana make a horrifying discovery.

The planet is Skaro, home-world of the Daleks.

The Daleks are excavating in order to find and revive Davros, the mad, crippled, scientific genius who first created them. They hope that he will give them the scientific superiority to break the deadlock with their Movellan enemies.

Faced once more with the deadly and seemingly indestructible Daleks, the Doctor's wits and strength are stretched to their very limits...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks was a lovely little read! I was quite surprised that the page count was so low at just 110, but that allowed for a very fast-moving story and the pace definitely made things exciting. It took a little while for the Daleks to actually arrive, something that I always find amusing when their involvement is nearly always given away in a story's title, but with the Doctor and Romana scenes in the TARDIS keeping things on track, there was absolutely no issue there. The follow on from The Armageddon Factor was great with Romana trying on different bodies but eventually settling on that of Princess Adastra, much to the Doctor's annoyance. I loved how quickly things developed though and we had that infamous chemistry between Tom Baker and Lalla Ward permeating on the page. Their relationship throughout was just wonderful and one of my favourite moments was one that may actually go unnoticed. It was where the Doctor saw a burial mound and believed that Romana was beneath, but of course she quickly surprised him from behind much to his delight and that momentary thought of horror was forgotten. It was a little window into the seriousness of the Fourth Doctor which can often be overlooked thanks to that boyish humour and huge smile. I was a big fan of that. The hunt for Davros was an intriguing objective in the novel and having the Daleks and the Movellans at a stalemate was a superb dynamic. I loved that idea and it was good that it wasn't so obvious initially because we didn't know the Movellans were robots despite numerous hints. When Davros was revived, thanks to some questionable tidying up of his death in Genesis of the Daleks, the anger shown by the Doctor was very interesting. He still seemed to be regretting his actions in that adventure in not wiping out the Daleks, but he was also sick of Davros making large claims about ruling the universe and Dalek superiority. He had been asleep for a long time and the Doctor knew all about the Daleks over that period and he knew they didn't need him long term. They just needed to break the stalemate. One thing that struck me about this story in a prose format was just how much the story is about Davros rather than the Daleks. That was brilliant though as he's such a brilliant character and I really do think he works best alongside the Fourth Doctor. The image in my head of him wheeling the Dalek creator around was just fantastic. The Movellans were very good throughout and I liked how they were now enlisting the Doctor as their man to break through the logical impasse. The Doctor proclaiming this to be the perfect remedy for peace was a terrific little statement as well. The Doctor actually going ahead and pressing the switch that he intended to detonate Davros with was quite a shock for me and it really sold me on how much he regrets his actions on Skaro back when the Daleks were created. The moment the Doctor realised he had returned to that planet was terrific and it was nice to have some foreshadowing earlier when they had exited the TARDIS. Romana also feeling it was a nice addition. Back to the conclusion though and it was pacy and logical if I do say so. I thought the image of the Daleks adorned with bombs may have been more impactful, the action figure of that is one of my very favourites, but as a whole it was good. Overall, a terrific little read!

Rating: 8/10

One Mile Down

"Your city is drowning."

Writer: Jenny T. Colgan
Format: Audio
Released: May 2019
Series: TDA 3.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Donna and the Doctor take a holiday in the beautiful underwater city of Vallarasee.

Things have changed since the Doctor last swam through. Vallarasee is now enclosed in an airdome, with Judoon patrolling historic sites. Now, instead of tourists wearing breathing-helmets, native Fins are forced to adapt.

But leaks are trickling into the dome. The Judoon must be persuaded that disaster is imminent, or thousands will be trapped, as the waters rise...

Verdict

One Mile Down was a very good little story to continue along the third volume of the Tenth Doctor Adventures! The prospect of reuniting the Tenth Doctor with the Judoon was very exciting and I was very intrigued to discover that Donna would actually meet them before their first on-screen encounter in The Stolen Earth. This really wasn't what I expected from a Judoon story and that's not a problem at all, but it was nice to have something new with the junior Judoon. The Doctor had a lot of fun with them and was able to manipulate his position from being detained. The way he got put into detention was quite humorous and the literal way in which the Judoon take legislation was utilised pretty well. I have always enjoyed the problems that causes and it can also lead to some comical frustration from the Doctor. I thought the relationship between the Doctor and Donna was much better here compared with No Place and this seemed like it would seamlessly fit in with the run of Series 4. The Vallarasee setting was very good and it worked well that the Doctor had visited in its past where it wasn't under an airdome and that immediately meant that things had gone wrong. Donna watching infomercials was quite funny and I loved how much she liked the idea of the undertaker city holiday destination. The Doctor was sceptical throughout and that was really good. His reaction once he found out the truth and the extent of what had taken place to enable Vallarasee to be placed in an airdome. The Fins were a decent species, but I do think that they could have been improved. I think a little hint about the sabotage before it actually happened would have been beneficial but it was good that they were in their own helmets because the water had been completely sucked out of the city. That horrified the Doctor and he really wasn't impressed with all of the damage caused for monetary gain. It was obvious that he was going to be displeased with everything, but I also liked how apologetic he was when asked for change by a homeless person. His enthusiasm for giving a tip though was hilarious and so typical of this incarnation of the Doctor. Patricia was an interesting, if annoying, character and her role was definitely better than her voice. That sounds really harsh but I don't think her accent was too well-suited to the audio format. I really don't mean to offend there, it's probably a Welsh thing. Anyway, the ending was full of excitement and tension and I liked the danger of the airdome collapsing and the Doctor having to try and save 20,000 people who were 5,000ft below water. That was quite the conundrum! The use of the top of the spire and Donna seeing what the Doctor had seen on his past visit, and disagreeing with his conclusion, was excellent. The Doctor planning to use the Judoon's scoop as seen in Smith and Jones was very clever. Pickus was another good character, but again a slightly annoying one which was quite strange to have characters that were simultaneously interesting but annoying. Maybe I just listened to the story in a weird mood? Who knows, but I was offered a new job today so I don't think that's it! Regardless, the ending was good and the Doctor reflecting on the method used to restore the city was good because he didn't like it and he knew its people wouldn't either. Overall, a very good little audio adventure.

Rating: 8/10

The Black Hole

"It takes a meddler to know a meddler."

Writer: Simon Guerrier
Format: Audio
Released: November 2015
Series: The Early Adventures 2.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

On a research station near a black hole, time keeps standing still. Investigating the phenomenon, the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria discover a power far greater than any of the monsters that have challenged them on their travels... The Doctor's own people.

With the safety of thousands balancing out the need to flee, and a policeman from his home planet working at his side, the Doctor reluctantly finds himself involved in a race against time.

But nothing is ever as simple as it appears. And if you can use the Doctor's compassion against him, you have the makings of a perfect trap...

Verdict

The Black Hole was a very good story to serve as my first Early Adventure featuring the Second Doctor! Frazier Hines was simply sublime as both the Second Doctor and Jamie and he really did bring back the era gloriously. It was so well suited to its time and whilst I thought Deborah Watling was somewhat questionable as Victoria, I enjoyed the tale as a whole very much. In hindsight, I'm probably a little disappointed that I knew that Rufus Hound was actually the Monk, but that moment at the end of part two was still just wonderful. Hound is obviously a renowned actor and we even saw him on television during the Twelfth Doctor era, but his incarnation of the Monk really was magnificent. It was a good level of balance between maniacal and cunning and that is exactly what I would expect the Monk to be based upon his appearances in The Time Meddler and The Daleks' Master Plan. I have been longing for a return and whilst I did get that randomly in a recent short story with the Twelfth Doctor, a performed adventure is always that bit better. The basis of the plot was quite intriguing and I was delighted that we got a full adventure exploring the concept of a black hole. It has always been something that has fascinated me and whilst my knowledge of science in action is rather inefficient, I liked the explanations we got from the Doctor here. The idea of it being a gateway from another universe for the Seeth was intriguing and it was good how the Monk had put together an alliance between them because they'd ran out of things to conquer in their own universe. That made them seem pretty daunting and whilst they were never going to live up to their reputation once arriving in the final part, their leverage over the Monk was good to see. Pavo was a fantastic character throughout each iteration of the Time Lord constable and I loved that we got a regeneration during a Second Doctor era! I think they're overdoing it a bit in terms of the political correctness, but it actually worked superbly well in revealing that he was actually Flail all along! I definitely didn't see that one coming and really enjoyed the moment of realisation for the Doctor and Jamie. They'd arrived back at the habitat a little earlier and they were able to use their future knowledge to their advantage and thwart the Monk from opening the black hole. The theme of the Time Lords permeating throughout the audio was superb and the explanation for the Doctor and Jamie's presence and knowledge in The Two Doctors was most unexpected! I liked it a lot, even if it does contradict a past novel but keeping things coherent throughout all of Doctor Who over the years is near impossible. It's a nice take on things though and definitely works well. It also tells me that I would love for a solely Second Doctor and Jamie story where they were pitted against the Sontarans. The ending was pretty exciting and whilst I think the battle of extending the TARDIS reach and how that counterbalanced the black hole, or didn't, was overplayed one too many times, the fate of the Monk at the hands of Pavo was pretty brutal! He's a meddler though and will be able to find a way out I'm sure. The memory loss at the end was kind of necessary to keep true the televised continuity during the Second Doctor era, and the foreshadowing of the The War Games especially, but the story it allowed us was fantastic. Overall, a great audio!

Rating: 8/10

Orbis

"The universe can't do without him."

Writers: Alan Barnes & Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: March 2009

Series: EDA 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

The Doctor has fallen to his death. His companion, Lucie Miller, has returned to her life on Earth, grief-stricken. Then, one night, an alien visitor arrives at her front door and shoots her.

Could it be that Lucie's days with the Doctor are not over? She will only find the answer on the planet Orbis. A planet where all forms of life are facing violent extinction.

Verdict

Orbis was an excellent start to the third series of the Eighth Doctor Adventures! I was lucky enough to have the entire series as a birthday present and following on from the incredible cliffhanger at the end of The Vengeance of Morbius, it didn't take me long to get listening. I thought the continuity from that finale was very good and that led to things not quite feeling like a season opener. That's not a problem at all as I was very keen for things to get resolved and I was happy with the way that was done. We all knew that the Eighth Doctor wasn't really dead but how he would survive falling into oblivion with Morbius was quite something to get out of. The answer lay in the control for a stellar manipulator that Morbius had intended on using, and it was the Sisterhood of Karn who wanted to make sure that it was retrieved. Including the Headhunter, a familiar character in the EDAs by now, as a bridge between those and the Doctor, as well as bringing Lucie and the TARDIS to Orbis, was very good. The story proceeded at a logical pace and everything seemed to be timed just terrifically. This really was very close to getting a perfect score, but the plot wasn't quite there for that justification. Lucie was excellent as the companion in this one and with her thinking that the Doctor was dead, we got to see a side of her that she has rarely shown in her travels in the TARDIS. She admitted that she had cried for days after the Doctor's death, but here she was answering the door and getting shot with a time bullet. The concept of those was great and I liked how Lucie then ended up shooting the Doctor with one to save the universe, even though it meant taking Orbis out of existence. The Doctor's place on Orbis, along with the planet itself, was really intriguing and I really enjoyed how he was referred to as 'Old Doctor'. When it was learned that he'd been there for 600 years and was experiencing memory loss, my interested in things certainly deepened. I was just fascinated and it really did seem something resembling The Time of the Doctor, despite the fact this was released some four years previously. Selta was a lovely character and the moment where she had pulled Lucie from the water and found that she had tights was just incredible. It was only topped by the emotional reuniting of the Doctor and Lucie, or so it appeared, only for the former to be absolutely delighted that he had access to a pair of tights! It was brilliant stuff. Once Lucie had arrived on Orbis, things started to come back for the Doctor, especially once he realised that the TARDIS meant she was being translated. The conflict on the planet between the Keltans and the Molluscari was good and I really enjoyed that the Headhunter's true purpose in being there involved those and the right to the planet. Of course, she begrudgingly had to admit that the Doctor was needed if the universe was in danger, but that was just all talk and a ruse for Lucie. The scenes depicting the TARDIS manual were very funny, but the comic highlight of the audio goes to Lucie for her 'Jelly Furtado' comment. Sublime. Overall, a superb start to the series!

Rating: 9/10

Ghost Light

"This isn't a haunted house, is it?"

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: TV

Broadcast: 4th-18th October 1989

Season: 26.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

London, 1983: an old house mysteriously burns to the ground. One hundred years earlier, the Doctor and Ace arrive at a sinister mansion in the rural hamlet of Perivale. Horrors old and new await the Doctor amongst the peculiar residents of Gabriel Chase... but it is Ace who must confront her own worst nightmares when she discovers that her past and the house's future are inextricably linked...

Verdict

Ghost Light was a great little story! It really is quite unique in the Doctor Who history as there is just nothing anywhere close to being like it. It is whacky from the get go and wastes absolutely no time in getting started which I liked. I remember reading the Target novelisation of this one and finding it a little challenging to understand just what was happening, but the visuals that come with the televised format eradicate that. Now don't get me wrong, I am not going to try and claim that I perfectly comprehended everything that occurred in this story (I definitely didn't), but I don't mind that as I just enjoyed what I was watching. I do definitely think that it could have benefitted from a fourth part as things would surely have been a little clearer, but it was still brilliant. I'm a big fan of when the weird and wonderful is happening with all sorts of whacky nonsense. It's just such fun and that was the case here. I thought the setting of Gabriel Chase was really good and the scale of the house was also important. Whilst a confined setting is intriguing, being able to divulge into different rooms was most definitely beneficial. I loved the idea of the Doctor playing on Ace's past despite her explicitly stating that she would want them to be on her own terms. The Doctor barely acknowledged his wrongdoing which was good characterisation of the seventh incarnation and his relationship with Ace. She didn't seem as annoyed as she had done on other occasions which was telling and I got the feeling that deep down she wanted to know more about what she had felt a century in the future at this house and caused her to burn it down. I liked the line where she wished she had blown it up instead as that is just so Ace, and that went well with her reactions to being looked at from a Victorian perspective. She didn't really fit in there! The guest cast were excellent and I really liked Josiah with his mysterious enigmatic feel going on. The theme of evolution was also very interesting and I liked how that was extended once Light arrived in the third and final part. The effects for him were very impressive for the '80s and I found him a very fascinating character. The concept of him being annoyed at Earth for its life constantly evolving was terrific and I just loved that Josiah found the whole theory of evolution preposterous. Redvers was another good character and the moment where he saw himself in the window reflection was stunning. I liked that a lot and the casual nature with which the likes of Lady Pritchard came walking in was just intriguing. Throughout this story, I was just wanting to know more about what was happening. Gwendoline was a terrific character and I liked her relationship with Ace and I also thought that Control was brilliant and got to have a nice ending. I think the actual plot conclusion could have been improved a little, but I did love that Redvers would now be able to explore the stars. I'm surprised there hasn't been a Big Finish series about him yet to be honest! Overall, a thrilling tale that is just barmy on a supernatural scale. But it works and was thoroughly entertaining.

Rating: 8/10

A Perfect World

"You're a version of me that never got anything wrong."

Writer: Jonathan Morris
Format: Audio
Released: September 2008
Series: Main Range 113b

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Brewster

Synopsis

Who wouldn't want a perfect world? Thomas Brewster for one.

Verdict

A Perfect World was a fantastic little audio adventure! I was really impressed with this one and I was delighted because I actually nearly forgot all about it. That is the trouble with the Main Range releases at the point I'm at in my long-winded attempt to catch up as they are made up of three and one-part stories respectively. It's been well over a week since I listened to Time Reef now and I was almost tempted to go ahead and jump to Brotherhood of the Daleks, before a little lightbulb went off in my head that reminded me of this one. I loved it though! The idea of a perfect world is certainly interesting and I think it could easily be explored again. Perfection is something that sounds brilliant but in actuality, it wouldn't appear to be something great. Who wouldn't want to worry if they had their keys or if your phone was fully charged before an away day at the football? As referred to here, it is definitely the little things that make life. Expanding upon the ending of The Haunting of Thomas Brewster and having it known that Brewster had been somewhere else during his solo travels in the TARDIS was intriguing as I really didn't expect that, especially after the three-part story that is also part of this release. I did like how Brewster wanted to see 2008 because of what was seen during the events of The Boy That Time Forgot. That was really good continuity and I have really loved this little story arc with the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. The gap between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity is just getting bigger and bigger, but that's absolutely fine with me. I've really enjoyed Peter Davison's fifth incarnation during this spell of adventure and his annoyance and continued distain towards Brewster for the fact that he had travelled in his TARDIS by himself is wonderful. Had Brewster stuck around for longer, I would have been very keen for that to develop. Connie was a lovely little character and it was no surprise that Brewster was so smitten with her. I was surprised to find that he was so open about coming from the Victoria era and admired the London of 2008 without all of the smog. She took that in her stride as well which was nice and the chemistry between the two actors was obvious. There was a clear connection and I think that is very important when it comes to writing a companion, albeit a short one, out of the series. Nyssa wondering if he had perhaps made a mistake in leaving his space travels at the first opportunity was unsurprising, but the Doctor affirmed to her that he would have made a mistake if he continued alongside them. He had found what he wanted in life. What could possibly be better? I loved how the perfect world came about by existential plumbers. That was so much fun and I would fully approve of a future story where that could be used in an audio with a lot more time to play with. They were so dumb yet brilliant and that made it thoroughly entertaining. Overall, an excellent little audio adventure! Despite its quality, I do hope that this is the last of the three and one-part releases, but apparently there is no end in sight!

Rating: 9/10

No Place

"Our heads trick us into believing we're under attack from the supernatural."

Writer: James Goss
Format: Audio
Released: May 2019
Series: Tenth Doctor Adventures 3.01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

It's 'Haunted Makeover!' The home improvement show with a spooky twist.

The Noble family are hoping to cast out a few spirits along with the old bathroom suite. Presenter Justin joins Donna, Wilf, Sylvia and the Doctor for the latest edition of his reality TV series.

Of course, Justin knows that any supernatural phenomena can be faked. Ghosts can't possibly be real. Can they...?

Verdict

No Place was a decent start to the third volume of the Tenth Doctor Adventures! I was delighted to receive the entire volume for my birthday and couldn't wait to get this started. The prospect of the Tenth Doctor and Donna together again for a new story was great, and they certainly didn't disappoint, but throwing in Sylvia and Wilf was just delightful. The idea of the Haunted Makeover show was intriguing but I do think it could have been utilised a little better. I liked the premise of the story very much but for me the one thing that would have made it even better was an injection of pace. It really was certainly lacking some excitement in parts which was a shame and I think if this was reduced to around 45 minutes then it would have been better. That's not to say it was bad by any means though. The Doctor and Donna pretending to be a married couple was hilarious in parts with David Tennant and Catherine Tate just wonderful together. It was brilliant that they both felt as awkward as each other with the situation, but they were just doing what they had to in investigating Justin and the reality TV show. This story definitely felt like it fitted in nicely with its era of both Series 4 and 2008 and I particularly enjoyed Sylvia's continued distain of the Doctor being in Donna's life. Wilf though was much happier with his granddaughter getting to know the Doctor and I liked the pride he had in pretending that he was his grandson. The whole family dynamic was really good to play on and I liked how they made up pretty much 80% of the cast along with Justin. His refusal to actually believe in the supernatural was good to play on as that's usually the role for the Doctor. He was never insistent on believing but he also wouldn't refuse its existence. I guess that would be because we knew his true role by the story's conclusion and that was to find out exactly why Justin was causing supernatural occurrences. The story of the two alien creatures and how one of them died trying to escape after being buried alive was decent, but I felt there could have been some more connections to how it linked with Justin's head and how that was the purpose of the Doctor's family mission all along. This adventure seemed to have all of the elements for a brilliant story, but they weren't quite threaded out to reach a higher rating. I still enjoyed it, but there also needed to be a tad more clarity as to how the Doctor and co were able to rid Justin of the menace inside his head. My favourite part of the story was possibly the moment where Justin heard that it was his voice on the fm wavelength and that he was now home. One thing I disagree with was that the Doctor seemed confused as to why he hadn't come to Morely Manse for an episode. That seemed a bit farfetched considering the series could span a large location and it being in its third series didn't seem like too much longevity. As a whole though, this was a really fascinating tale and it was nice to get some more of the Noble family. Wilf was just glorious and the humour between Tennant and Tate going along with the mysterious and enigmatic feel still made this a good audio adventure.

Rating: 7/10

Catastrophea

"An entire planet was calling out for my help."

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Novel
Released: May 1998
Series: PDA 11

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

'Look at the way they just call themselves the People,' said Jo. 'They're too humble to give themselves a name!'
Or too arrogant to think they need one,' said the Doctor.

The planet's real name is Kastopheria, but generally it's been rechristened Catastrophea – it's a catastrophe waiting to happen. Supposedly civilised races are exploiting the world, squabbling over its wealth and resources, while the indigenous population – golden-skinned giants – seem not to care what their own fate might be. The Doctor and Jo soon become embroiled in a plan to keep peace between different parties vying for control over the planet.

But what is the strange glowing crystal lying hidden in the impenetrable jungle? How will the arrival of the proud, warlike Draconians affect the fragile peace? In his quest to find the truth behind the secret history of the People, the Doctor risks unleashing a force more terrible than the galaxy has known for aeons...

Verdict

Catastrophea was a really good read! I was always planning on reading a Classic era original novel today, but with all the outpouring of respect and emotion following Terrance Dicks sadly passing away, I was influenced to read this one by DWM. It had some great ingredients with the Third Doctor and Jo encountering the Draconians again without the presence of the Master or the Daleks, although I will admit that I initially thought the true El Llama was going to end up being the former of those enemies. Alas, it wasn't the case but one thing that did surprise me with this book was just how little the Draconians actually featured. That was absolutely fine as well and I liked how well their presence was utilised with the threat they provided from the blockade. It was pretty impactful to find that they had actually invaded, albeit in phoney circumstances. One thing about that element was a little sketchy to me as it was claimed that they were not too far out in the jungle, within walking distance, yet the Doctor had been travelling upriver for days en route to the temple that housed the final crystal of skar. The drug itself was an intriguing part of the story and I'm glad that there was an adult theme to this adventure. The Third Doctor and Jo are possibly the best equipped due to deal with something like drugs and I really liked that it was heavily implied that Jo has used the likes or heroin or cocaine in the past. The setting of Catastrophea as it had been dubbed was really good and I liked how consistent things were. They were also simple with Rik's being a social place of gathering and all sorts could be met there. General Walton was a decent character and I like playing with the military ranks for this incarnation of the Doctor given his UNIT connections. The general's relationship with Charteris was also great, although I did find that they cursed not shooting the Doctor a little too much as they had ample opportunities to get rid of him. The Doctor's trial was fantastic though and the way he was also able to convince Walton that he wasn't El Llama was brilliant. I thought Jo was wonderful throughout too and the foreshadowing of The Green Death was a good use of the publication date and hindsight. It was clear just how much she meant to him and that was nice to see knowing that this book would be followed chronologically with her departure story. The People, a name I thought was a bit naff, were very intriguing and their slow increase in activity throughout the novel was delightful. They went from not reacting to getting beaten despite their clear physical advantage, to storming the city gates in revolt! Zylor breaking through to the Doctor telepathically was excellent and I enjoyed how they communicated. The passage where Jo was left out of their conversation was very humorous. Dove was a good villainous character with him being addicted to skar. His death was also a fantastic moment and just when he thought he'd found his holy grail, the Draconians saw that he was destroyed along with the source of the People's self-imposed lack of care.  The evacuation at the end of the book was quite quick, but it was definitely exciting which is always good! The ease with which the Doctor managed to take control was terrific and I loved how everyone kind of realised when it was already too late to change. They went along with it regardless. The Doctor initially wanting to leave the planet to its fate was a surprise and it was nice that Jo was able to turn him around in the end, even if the TARDIS getting taken was the primary reason! And with me reading this book purely because it was written by Terrance Dicks, I thought the line at the end where Charteris explained what happened to the Doctor and Jo and how they'd disappeared with the TARDIS was just golden. Dicks mocked his own classic description of the dematerialisation being a wheezing, groaning sound. That was very poignant. Overall, a lovely read!

Rating: 8/10

Concealed Weapon

"I don't leave people behind."

Writer: Scott Handcock

Format: Audio

Released: January 2019

Series: The Diary of River Song 5.04

Featuring: River Song, War Master

Synopsis

A deep space exploration mission nears its end – when suddenly, the crew start to die. River must try to protect her colleagues and work out what else is on board their ship.

Something is stalking them, and the deadliest Master of all has his own plans for River Song...

Verdict

Concealed Weapon was a fantastic way to conclude what has been a terrific fifth series of The Diary of River Song! This was probably the best story of the set, although I really am switching between this and The Bekdel Test. Things took a little while to get going for this one, but once they did it was superb! We had Derek Jacobi giving a chilling performance as the War Master and this is exactly what I have been clamouring for in the War Master series. We didn't see enough of it in that, but this was just perfect for my expectations. The Master was at his very best. Cunning is definitely one of the most adequate words to describe him during this story. One thing I am not a fan of but it seems there is just no escaping is the fact that we know the War Master is in this story because of the artwork, that goes without saying, so why is it told to us that the other life sign is the Doctor? We know right away it isn't and I can understand that River doesn't know, but it just doesn't make sense to me to try and deceive the listeners like that when we know the answer. That's my only qualm with this story really. An element that I found incredibly intriguing was that River Song referred to the Time War as something that was happening now. I figured that there might be a comment with her knowing the result and the role the Doctor had in ending it, but there was no indication of that which I was very surprised by. I liked it a lot though, even if it perhaps is an impossibility given the Time Lock and that River was conceived in the Time Vortex some time after the War's conclusion. The setting of the Utorpy was good and even though there are no visuals, the atmosphere was just dark and dingy and that worked perfectly for the arrival of the Master. I really enjoyed how he was just luring some of the crew down and was killing them off with his laser screwdriver. Amita was a decent character and finding out that the Master was actually using her as transportation for a beast created from Time War splicing was unexpected, but the calmness and complete lack of compassion with which he carried out his plans was delightful. That makes me sound quite horrific, but I got what I wanted in a villain with the War Master here. Delightfully callous. The ending was something I really liked with River using a way to get Hugo to her advantage and set the ship's self destruct into accelerate, something the Master hadn't anticipated, and that quickly led to him trying to escape with her in some comical scenes. The way he got a mental advantage over her at the conclusion was sublime though and it was actually quite refreshing to see the Master get away and River not quite standing tall. She had been hypnotised to reveal that there was never anybody else on the ship. The reference back to Animal Instinct was really nice continuity with the Master revealing he had gone and done his research on River, and he was more than prepared now to deal with her. He did so pretty convincingly in my books, even if he had a minor setback. Overall, a brilliant end to what has been an excellent series for the fifth series of The Diary of River Song! Long may it continue, and here's hoping for more encounters with the Master. 

Rating: 9/10

The Lifeboat and the Deathboat

"I'm a survivor."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: January 2019

Series: The Diary of River Song 5.03

Featuring: River Song, The Master

Synopsis

Stranded in the Vortex, a father and daughter do their best to survive, living on salvage in a ramshackle vessel.

Elsewhere, an obsessive ship's captain hunts down a vengeful monster, whatever the cost. And River is caught between them, uncovering an old enemy in the most unexpected new guise.

Verdict

The Lifeboat and the Deathboat was another great story to continue along the fifth series of The Diary of River Song very nicely! One thing I have been wondering ever since this release was announced was just how River would be able to encounter the Eric Roberts incarnation of the Master. I was still none the wiser for the most part of the audio, but when the obvious reveal came that Daniel was in fact the Master, all was explained. I loved that we didn't meet this Master during the events of The Movie, as I expected, but instead we followed on from him falling into the Eye of Harmony itself and how that led him to being drifting in the Time Vortex as was referenced here. Eric Roberts was fantastic as the Master, but despite this I can't help but feel like there should have been more of him outside of his disguise. We have seen very limited time of Roberts as the Master so I felt this was a slightly missed opportunity despite the story being good for the Master as a character exclusive of each incarnation. Setting an adventure within the Time Vortex is always good as there is just so much potential there. That obviously becomes more so the case with time and having a story based around the timey-wimey nature of Doctor Who is something I really like. So I enjoyed those elements big time. The character of Alison was really interesting and I was quite fascinated to discover what her connection would be with the Master. She obviously wasn't his daughter, but I didn't expect her to actually be the daughter of the Vortex creature (that I am not going to begin to attempt to spell). Her being based from a film from the 1980s was quite amusing once it was revealed, especially when the VHS of that film was found by the Master in the Doctor's TARDIS amongst the junk. River realising that the fragment of the TARDIS that they were in was actually her husband's was a great moment and that led her to know who she was face to face with. One line in particular that I found interesting was River's claim that she had met all of the Master's bodies. Well, this body wasn't his of course, so does that sentiment also apply to Anthony Ainley's incarnation? I like how that leaves room open for her to meet the likes of Alex Macqueen's incarnation, who I am yet to encounter, along with a very exciting prospect of her meeting John Simm's version. One thing I also liked about this story was how it gave longevity to Eric Robert's incarnation beyond the 1996 TV movie and the potential for him to survive and live on, as he always does, and perhaps encounter the Eighth Doctor again. The guest cast in this one were good and I felt the background for this story would have been more than efficient for a two-parter. They didn't get as much time as they perhaps deserved, but the focus was never going to be away from River and the Master for long. The ending was quite simplistic and whilst this was probably the weakest plot of the three in the series so far (only by a smidge), it was still very enjoyable! Just hearing Roberts as the Master again was fantastic, if only it was brief behind the disguise. Overall, another very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Animal Instinct

"Everything runs when it's scared."

Writer: Roy Gill
Format: Audio
Released: January 2019
Series: The Diary of River Song 5.02

Featuring: River Song, Decaying Master

Synopsis

On a world where vicious beasts stalk ancient ruins, Professor Song teaches a student the finer points of archaeology.

But then she meets an incarnation of the Master who is desperate to survive.

And if they are going to escape this place alive, they all must work together.

Verdict

Animal Instinct was another great story to continue along the fifth series of The Diary of River Song very nicely! I will admit that I wasn't quite as excited for River to meet the decaying incarnation of the Master that we were first introduced to in The Deadly Assassin, but when the story took on a jungle-like theme then it was a perfect blend. I loved the idea of River taking Luke on his final field exam for an archaeology qualification and it is a nice change to go from the time where she was imprisoned in the Stormcage. Cheska Minor made for a very good setting and the concept of River waking up the Master after his self-imposed hibernation went wrong following a relocation of planets, his disappointment that it wasn't the Doctor who had arrived was terrific. The legends surrounding the Master as a Sun God were fantastic and I loved how it was supposed to be an equal and opposite, meaning the Doctor, who would come to wake him. Alas, it was his wife instead. The Master seeming somewhat jealous of both the Doctor and River for marrying each other was quite something and I just liked how he could see that his nemesis had good taste. It's quite hard to envisage this incarnation of the Master being a romantic, but the Master has history so I wasn't at all surprised by that line. The addition of Christos and Adella to the trio escaping the tomb and heading for the ziggurat was good, but they were merely there to die and provide safe passage from the mutated Therians. They were more interesting than being a good enemy and I wouldn't call them that at all. They were just obstacles and the Master had a ruthless way of getting past them and keeping them occupied. He had to provide these animals with food and that meant sacrificing Christos in horrific fashion. The calmness with which he did it was chilling, and perfect for the Master, but I was more surprised that River was quick to take advantage. I guess there was no room for sentiment at a time like that and there was no way of undoing it, but the conversion towards the conclusion about the Master using River's bio-tracker against her to enhance his mental capacities and attempt to control her was quite fascinating. She refused to admit that she was under his influence, but the ambiguity surrounding that was great. River was more than a match for the Master. I've enjoyed the theme of River working with the Master in this boxset so far, but I do hope we get a full on River vs Master with at least one of the remaining incarnations she will meet in this series. There were some elements here and I really liked that she left him to the mercy of the Therians at the end, but they were largely working together to achieve the same goal for this audio. And there's absolutely no problem with that! Geoffrey Beavers was superb and this was probably one of my favourite performances for his Master. Such simplistic callousness and chills. Luke being reverted from a Therian was good and it was clear that he'd passed his exam. It was also nice for River to admit that the Master would be far from dead despite his TARDIS troubles caused by River by throwing the Therians their means to become human again, but would they just be content with the darkness? I like the ambiguity there. Overall, a great story!

Rating: 8/10

The Bekdel Test

"The Doctor is definitely dead... which is annoying to say the least."

Writer: Jonathan Morris
Format: Audio
Released: January 2019
Series: The Diary of River Song 5.01

Featuring: River Song, Missy

Synopsis

Back at the start of her imprisonment, Dr Song becomes a guinea pig for an innovative new security system.

But it's her fellow prisoners she needs to be most wary of.

Because it's early days for Missy, too. The Doctor is dead, and she is outraged that somebody else killed him first...

Verdict

The Bekdel Test was a brilliant way to kick off the fifth series of The Diary of a River Song! It was a wonderful audio and I certainly was not let down by the meeting of River Song and Missy. That prospect was something I have been longing to hear ever since the release was announced and it did not disappoint. It took a little longer than I wanted for the pair to come face to face, but when they did it was well worth the wait. Placing Missy in a story around the immediate aftermath of the events of The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon was really interesting and I liked the playing with the idea of Missy being annoyed at River for being the one to kill the Doctor. Of course, by the end of the story we knew that Missy knows he isn't quite dead because she's from his future but I was surprised that this was basically told as fact to River at this point in her lifetime. It was that initial meeting that had me in hysterics though with just wonderful writing. With Missy's description described to her, River initially suspected that she was face to face with the Rani. I thought that was just marvellous to include, especially with the hints of the Doctor having a crush at the Academy on Gallifrey. Then River questioned whether Missy was Romana, but the best moment was when she suggested the Monk! Missy's reaction there was just marvellous and from thereon in we had a working relationship between her and River. I didn't quite expect that but they worked really well together. The Bekdel Institute was a good setting and the truth behind it being a way to reveal that the Doctor was actually still alive was very intriguing. I definitely didn't see that being the case but I liked the concept very much. The Director proved to be a pretty decent villain, but I would have liked a tad more on his motive for knowing the Doctor might be alive. Bringing River and Missy together was quite the feat though! That is certainly impressive. Michelle Gomez was just sublime as Missy once again and the character has made a seamless transition onto audio. Her singing and sinisterness were clear to hear throughout which was a big positive, but there was also the obvious signs of her being the Master. The suggestions of going by an anagram and only coming up with Mrs Tea was further excellence. I loved that. The respect between Missy and River was clear throughout the story which was fantastic and I loved that the former knew all about the latter, even including her regenerations. River questioning the personal choice of becoming a woman was interesting, and I liked how Missy just said she feels like me. Why would gender change that? The ending was very good and whilst I wasn't a huge fan of the solidogram concept, it didn't feature too heavily and was actually quite clever when it came to the flashback moment. The cubes were a fun concept and I'd like them to feature again in the boxset and speaking of which, I am intrigued to see if there is anything tying River's encounters with other incarnations of the Master or if they are all just standalone tales. I really hope there isn't a big arc this time around, but regardless, things kicked off in a very good way! Missy providing River with her vortex manipulator but sending her back to Stormcage was a nice ending. Overall, a great audio!

Rating: 9/10

Mistress of Chaos Part 3

"She dies as she lived – in a state of blissful oblivion."

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 14th November 2019
Printed in: DWM 545

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The Doctor and Graham, along with Dogbolter, are trapped in the Catastrophia and are moments away from being consumed by the madness. A logic box is their only route of escape, but what lies waiting for them in the one glint of normality in a universe of pure chaos?

Verdict

Mistress of Chaos continued in decent fashion with another good instalment of the story, but first I will get to what looks set to be a great edition of Doctor Who Magazine! The front cover really is quite something with Davros holding up a red card and being a huge football fan myself, I am quite impressed with this one. It is splendid and just perfect for the edition that will tell all about the Twitter poll of 'The World Cup of the Daleks'. Unlike the similar event for the Third Doctor, I actually took part in the votes for this one but I was hoping that I would aid The Daleks' Master Plan to a little better than it did. I think that's an extraordinary tale! The magazine has a lot more to offer though with the Daleks and I will be very intrigued to see what is put in The Five Best Dalek... categories of audios, comic strips and the like. I do hope there is love for The Mutant Phase and The Apocalypse Element! The toys should also be an interesting element of that as I do love a nostalgia trip into Dalekmania, especially as I did a third year essay on it at university! An interview with Sophie Aldred should be terrific and I'm sure the focus will be on her upcoming novel that sees Ace meet the Thirteenth Doctor – something I really can't wait for! An interview with Andrew Cartmel is always good too so I look forward to that and Carnival of Monsters being the subject of The Fact of Fiction sounds like a positive to me! Now, onto the comic strip itself and I thought things continued very well and at quite a speed. The initial moments in the Catastrophia were not what I expected as I actually thought that it had been implied that Krizanthia had come from there in the first place. The fact that she withered away into nothingness because of the pure madness that was raging around would seem that was not so, although the abilities of the Doctor seem to constantly extend as I'm not sure I could buy her putting Graham and Dogbolter into unconsciousness through pure will. The logic cube was good though and I liked how there was some semblance of normality amidst pure chaos. Dogbolter refusing to help but expecting the Doctor to save her was very good and I think she is growing on me as a villain. Ryan and Yaz were left to the mercy of Sandola which isn't as bad as I made it sound there, but I could have done without the robot supposedly having a crush on the former. Yaz telling him that he'd pulled was a good moment though and exactly what would be said by people of their age. The Doctor not even recognising the equations in the sky of the logic cube was very interesting and I like it when even she doesn't know anything about what's going on. There's a tense atmosphere from thereon in and that's good in my estimations. The return of the Herald was unexpected but I'm a big fan of the continuity and the cliffhanger that came with it was superb. Instead of the Herald just being an imitation of the Doctor, she had her memories. The same memories. The Herald was the Doctor! The Doctor had no doubt about it and was genuinely petrified which was something we have barely seen. Overall, a good continuation of the story and thing have been set up very nicely for part four!

Paradise 5

"We can't have frowns in paradise."

Writers: PJ Hammond & Andy Lane
Format: Audio
Released: March 2010
Series: The Lost Stories 1.05

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The Doctor and Peri visit the planet Targos Delta to check in on old friend Professor Albrecht Thompson, only to discover that he has vanished. He was last sighted taking a shuttle to the holiday resort of Paradise 5, then never seen again.

The Doctor's curiosity is piqued. They must investigate, but they must do so stealthily... Peri will go undercover on Paradise 5, while the Doctor hides in the shadows. Because paradise holds a terrible secret beneath the white marble and golden trimmings. The mute Cherubs have got a story to tell. And the Elohim are coming.

Beware.

Verdict

Paradise 5 was a very good audio adventure and a great Lost Story! I was very surprised to find that this was actually intended to be part of The Trial of a Time Lord and the introductory story for Mel as it was revamped so well and fitted in very well with the continuity of this first series of Lost Stories. Admittedly, I haven't quite listened to the stories in the correct order and I've spread them over a stupendously long time, but I liked that there were references to The Hollows of Time a lot. The theme of the Doctor going to meet an old friend and finding that they have gone missing isn't exactly a new thing but it is always something that provides a mystery. We didn't get to learn a huge amount about Albrecht Thompson and who he was, but the part three cliffhanger where it was revealed that he was actually now one of the Cherubs really shocked me. I didn't see it coming at all and I have to say I was very impressed with it! I always like a surprise and I definitely got one with that. The Doctor's reaction was good and I liked how he realised that it was also his old friend that had helped him earlier on in the story. The infiltration of Paradise 5 by the Doctor and Peri was good and I liked how the latter was forced to become a member of staff while the former got to just relax as a guest. That was good writing and precisely what I would expect of this incarnation of the Doctor. Colin Baker was superb once again as the Sixth Doctor. He really is quite an enchanting Doctor and that's a fantastic quality to have. Gabriel was a brilliant enemy and the calmness that went alongside his severity was really intriguing to listen to. I liked how the Elohim were constantly just referred to as 'they' and it showed you that we were dealing with something quite dangerous. I think more could have been made of the war they were fighting, particularly with it being fought in another dimension. I think there was some missed potential there, but the concept of the Cherubs and how they were people with around 75% of their mind and body removed was just horrific. The death of Albrecht Thompson as a Cherub was quite saddening and it was nice of Peri to comfort the Doctor about it and tell him how he would be better off. Stella and Bella were quite humorous characters and the difficulties in telling them apart despite them not being related was utilised well. I feared it was going to be overused but that was not the case. I liked the ending with Mr Winterbourne, a failed experiment of the Paradise Machine, conjuring the Serpent once more to take out the Elohim. The Doctor pondering over the death and purpose was quite a depressing note to end on, but it was something that needed to be addressed. War is never a just cause and I liked how that was pressed home. Peri wanting to show the Doctor a good time by taking him to Manhattan was nice and I liked how she wanted to take him somewhere for a change. The reference to The Chase was also a delightful little thrown in. Overall, a very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen

"We are searching the universe for the last remains of the Cybermen."

Writer: Gerry Davis

Format: Novel

Released: May 1978

Series: Target 66

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

The Cybermen – silver, indestructible monsters whose only goal is power – seem to have disappeared from their planet, Telos. When a party of archaeologists, joined by the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria land on the Cybermen's barren, deserted planet, they uncover what appears to be their tomb.

But once inside it becomes clear that the Cybermen are not dead, and some in the group of archeologists desperately want to re-activate these monsters! How can the Doctor defeat these ruthless, power-seeking humans and the Cybermen?

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen was a wonderful novelisation of the televised story. Despite that, I can't help but have a slight feeling that the author was a little out of touch with the Cybermen and how their hierarchy works. The story itself is one I know very well as I have watched it at least five times so this blog entry may be a little different in that regard. I am in no doubt that is a revered and classic tale and so it should be. It is an iconic adventure and I definitely got that feeling from this novelisation. I was a little disappointed by the consistency in this book though. I couldn't understand why the Doctor was referred to as his traditional name, Doctor Who and Dr Who. Surely pick one and stick to it? I didn't like the complications there as it just seemed so out of place when things changed. That was also the case for the Cyber Controller. I can't begin to tell you how many times I was shaking my head with all the different title uses for the character. Cyber Leader, Cybercontroller, Cyberman Controller were just a few of the different variants. I wasn't a fan of that at all! I found the deviations intriguing and that came with the description of the Cyber Controller's appearance resembling that of the Cyber Leader we would see in the likes of Revenge of the Cybermen and Earthshock. One thing the novelisation makes you realise is just how long the story takes to introduce the Cybermen despite the entire story being all about them. Some of the history regarding the Cybermen was very interesting and quite amusing to read. The changing of the year for The Tenth Planet to match the release date expectations was interesting and I liked that this story and The Moonbase were referred to and used in conjunction with this adventure. One highlight of the book was definitely Victoria. She was my favourite of the TARDIS trio here and I am unsure whether that would be the case for the televised adventure. I felt quite sorry for her to be honest. She was always left behind and not once was she chosen to go below the hatch. She rightfully felt patronised and I liked that she was overcoming some of her Victorian insecurities to speak her mind. It was really great. Steven Moffat has gone on record concerning this story being fantastic whilst not making much sense and I guess that is right. The idea of the Cybermen plotting their own resurrection is a very roundabout way of getting intelligent life to encounter them, but I do enjoy the idea of playing on the Cybermen needing to be recharged. That is definitely something fun to play with. The iconic scene of the Cybermen emerging from their tombs didn't seem quite so impactful as it did on television, but the book made me appreciate the wider setting a whole lot more. Telos made for a good one and I thought the expedition was brilliant. It is quite staggering how often a member died, but that sold just how treacherous the location was. The Doctor is terrific in this one and whilst his presence might actually lead to many deaths (would they have got the doors open without him?), his method to save the day works well and I liked how it was obvious that he was deeply suspicious of Krieg and Kaftan. The ending with Toberman, a Turk apparently, sacrificing his life to seal the doors to the tombs permanently was written fantastically and I liked how his description was used to go alongside that of the Cyber Controller's. Overall, a fantastic story that was novelised well, even if some of the characters were inconsistently referred to by different titles.

Rating: 9/10

Time Reef

"He's dead and dying, over and over again."

Writer: Marc Platt
Format: Audio
Released: September 2008
Series: Main Range 113a

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Brewster

Synopsis

A curse on this damned reef – and curse the Doctor who brought us here!

Drawn by the siren call of a distress beacon, the TARDIS crash-lands on an uncharted time reef. However, the Doctor, Nyssa and Brewster are not the only mariners marooned on this barren rock. Commander Gammades and his crew of returning war heroes have been similarly shipwrecked, as has the beautiful but mysterious Lady Vuyoki.

But there's something else here, too. A thing of darkness which crawls blindly across the surface of the reef hunting for prey: the Ruhk.

Verdict

Time Reef was a very good audio adventure! I’m liking this unexpected story arc with the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Thomas Brewster and I can’t quite believe that it’s only been three stories! I’m definitely a fan at the moment. Exploring what Brewster got up to when he stole the TARDIS in The Haunting of Thomas Brewster is a terrific concert and it could so easily have been ignored. I’m delighted that it wasn’t and I loved how sceptical this allowed the Doctor to be. He wasn’t impressed with being stuck in the Victorian Age for five months but he was at least happy to have his TARDIS back. However, it wasn’t quite as he left it. The Doctor checking the memory bank and returning to the reef was intriguing and I thought it was quite funny that Brewster had posed as the Doctor during his first visit. It was a concept that worked very well and to think that he’d just left the Gamma crew stranded after selling them some of the TARDIS equipment was very comical. The Doctor’s reaction to that was unsurprisingly not too pleasing. I thought Peter Davison was excellent as the Fifth Doctor here and the nature of the writing with the Doctor really not giving up on hammering home to Brewster what he’d done allowed for a powerful performance. I think I’m getting a bigger fan of Nyssa with each story she features in and I just love how her knowledge is on a level similar to the Doctor. It provides a unique dynamic and having Brewster around really allows her to show off in a rather subtle way. The Gamma crew themselves were pretty decent and I hadn’t read the synopsis before listening, so to initially think that the Doctor was the one that had left them stuck was very good indeed. I thought the Ruhk made for a great element of the story, but I can’t help but think their part in the conclusion needed a bit more clarity. I felt things were going all so well but the ending was just a bit quick and sudden after a potential buildup for a war. That didn’t seem consistent and whilst as a whole it was exciting, I just felt more explanation would have been beneficial. The attraction of the geometer was decent and I loved that the food machine was featured. Even more so to find that Brewster had given it away to Vuyoki to get in her good books. I thought she was a weird character, in a good way, and her reaction when she found that Brewster hadn’t brought her anything was a little stuck up which provided a sense of the character. If that wasn’t enough, her relationship with Gammades filled in any gaps. I liked him for the most part as a character, but the pirate resemblance was something I probably could have done without in all honesty. The ending was intriguing but rushed for my liking and Brewster sacrificing himself to rebuild the TARDIS could have been so much more impactful! I know it was resolved almost instantly after, but that moment could have shocked the listener. Overall though, this was still a terrific little listen!

Rating: 8/10

The Future

"You said you were here to help us."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: October 2004

Series: Dalek Empire 3.06

Featuring: Galanar, Tarkov, Saxton, Elaria

Synopsis

"We should only be scared of the unknown... And we know what's going to happen here!"

The Graxis Wardens, Galanar, Elaria and Tarkov are heading for the planet Velyshaa, where ultimate knowledge, victory or defeat awaits them.

But the Dalek Supreme's forces are in pursuit. They have superior numbers, firepower and technology. And the largest Dalek army history has ever known is being created. How will history remember these final days on Velyshaa?

Verdict

The Future was an interesting and decent way to conclude the third series of Dalek Empire! Well, I'm not quite sure where to begin here as this took a turn I was not expecting with the fate of the majority of the main cast we have come to be accustomed to throughout the series. I must admit that I think another episode would have been beneficial, or rather fitting the first three stories into just two, as there was so much buildup and I just don't think we got the impactful finale that we deserved. It was different I will admit, and that was far from being bad, but it did show that the Daleks were utterly devastating. It was a little too predictable that the Daleks would be following the Graxis Wardens and co to Velyshaa, but I do just wish that we got to have more time on that planet. There was so much around it and I think the ending was just a little rushed and perhaps a tad too ambiguous. I am a fan of the idea of having endings different for each group of characters after they all split up and it was quite something for pretty much everyone to just be exterminated. Elaria was probably the best character in this story with her conflicting allegiances and the ambiguity surrounding whether she got the message out to the Galactic Union was excellent. I liked how that was played but I would have liked it to be clearer that it was actually sent out. I think skipping over the entire seven month journey to Velyshaa was a mistake but it was good to hear how Galanar and Tarkov were now on good terms and could even have some banter. Learning that the story Galanar was telling was being told to the Dalek Supreme, aka Susan Mendes, wasn't exactly a surprise but I just wanted more from that ending. I can't help but feel that if David Tennant hadn't been cast as the Doctor then there was a lot more to come from this spinoff series. Unfortunately, that was not the case. This definitely must have been something of an audition piece for Tennant as the Tenth Doctor with that speech towards the story's end. It was phenomenal! Definitely the highlight of the story for me and the sickening laughter that closed out the audio was great too. I think there needed to be more of the battle, if it can be called that, on the surface of Velyshaa and the actual race for Kalendorf's mental account of the Dalek War and how the Daleks could put right their wrongs. Instead what we got was incredibly grim and I can appreciate that was the intention, but there needed to be something to hang onto in my opinion. Although, this is a series focused on the Daleks so why should there be any kind of happy ending? I was quite saddened to know that Saxton was dead though. And what of Elaria? I think exploring her loyalties was warranted and it is a shame that it wasn't expanded upon after the truth came out. Galanar killing her was quite the move. It really was just a tragic way to end what was as a whole a very good little series, and I look forward to concluding it in series 4. I won't take four years to get around to this one though! Overall, a desperate ending full of death and ambiguity.

Rating: 7/10

The Warriors

"There will be progress."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: September 2004
Series: Dalek Empire 3.05

Featuring: Galanar, Tarkov, Saxton, Kaymee, Elaria

Synopsis

"Fugitives still at liberty!"

Galanar and Elaria have discovered that they were transformed into genetically augmented warriors over two thousand years ago. The Alternative Daleks responsible have long departed. Galanar and Elaria also know that they were created to destroy the Daleks forever... But how can they do that when they are facing a Dalek execution squad?

The Graxis Wardens have penetrated deep into Dalek territory, without a hope of victory. Meanwhile, Kaymee uncovers the truth about the Daleks and the NFS Plague...

Verdict

The Warriors was a superb audio adventure and definitely the best story of the third series of Dalek Empire so far! I loved this one and it was certainly a rapid improvement on The Demons, partly because it actually explored the origins of them! I really liked that and going back to the Dalek War of 2,000+ years ago is great. All sights are set on Velyshaa for the finale and I think that's a fantastic move and direction to go in. The telepathic account of the Dalek War should be quite intriguing and I'm sure it'll involve some nice flashbacks to the war and series two. I look forward to that and I do hope that the series ends on a high, but I must give praise to this adventure because it was just brilliant from start to finish. Everything seems to be coming together and with Kaymee back and seemingly cured of the NFS plague, she was terrific. Her dealing of her dreams and the Daleks was excellent and I loved the idea of her sleepwalking into somewhere she wasn't supposed to go. Carneill  was back again and his good nature was actually quite frustrating given that he was still working for the Daleks. I really would like to know what he is getting out of it, but his suffering from the radiation was a good development and I liked that Kaymee obviously wasn't subject to its effects. So the cure of the NFS plague seems to involve the subject becoming a Dalek! It was quite something to hear a Dalek claim to be Kaymee's father, but I think that is exactly what has happened and that is just magnificent. I'm really a fan of that and it would obviously explain why the Daleks are posing as healers and want to be friends. That is not a new concept but it is always one that just doesn't fit right for the Daleks and that just makes it work. There is no conceivable way that they would be good. Tarkov was undoubtedly the star of the this story with his emotional outburst to Galanar and Elaria. He just couldn't understand why they would have deceived him, especially to the extent of Elaria pretending to be his daughter. Hearing of the hope that her transformation gave him was very sad because it was all a lie. His struggles to understand how they had survived since the time of the Dalek War was good and I was very interested to learn that he still trusted them. Another of their modified traits at work. I wonder if there are any more to come in the finale? Galanar referring to the Dalek Supreme as female was great and I do hope that she gets face to face with someone like Saxton. A description of what is seen would be quite spectacular so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The Graxis Wardens joining up with Galanar, Tarkov and Elaria was great and I think they'll make a good team in the finale where they'll surely come up against the Daleks in a race for Kalendorf's knowledge of the Dalek War. Galanar still debating over whether he can trust Elaria was good and I like how honest he was. I definitely thought things were going to go differently after The Demons but thankfully that is not the case. Overall, a really great audio adventure that brings things together very nicely for the finale.

Rating: 9/10

The Demons

"Have you never wondered what you are?"

Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: August 2004
Series: Dalek Empire 3.04

Featuring: Galanar, Tarkov

Synopsis 

The Galactic Union now knows of Galanar's covert mission to find the Daleks. But what exactly has Galanar discovered?

The Daleks seem poised to eradicate the deadly NFS plague. The Graxis Wardens are adrift in Dalek territory, hopeless outnumbered. It would seem that the future belongs to the Dalek Supreme.

Verdict

The Demons was an interesting continuation of the third series of Dalek Empire audio adventures, but I just felt like some parts of it were lacking in a coherent direction. I was all for exploring the truth about Galanar and how he was actually created by the Daleks, but I was left a little frustrated that we got the answers straight away. Everything just came so quickly and I felt there was far from enough with the wardens from Graxis. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for there to be a story where Galanar takes centre stage, but either have the Graxis Wardens in it properly or not at all. I wasn't a big fan of their use in this adventure. Something I was a fan of was the Dalek Supreme and how it continues to command from afar given the obvious issue it has with the mind and body of Susan Mendes. The start of the story dealing with that merging of the minds was very good and I was glad to get some lengthy involvement in this story. I thought David Tennant was excellent once again and even though I shouldn't really mention it as it has no bearing on the audio at all, I couldn't help but find the irony and coincidence in some of his lines pertaining to doctors. It's obviously just something good to look back on with hindsight. Amur actually being revealed as Elaria wasn't exactly a surprise once it was known that there were more than just Galanar as the supposed demons. Why they were referred to as that seemed a little off and just inaccurate, and despite learning more about their abilities and background, my mind has yet to change regarding that. I think it's great that they can live for a very long time, something I would be incredibly envious of, as well as having the ability to change their features. Their utilisation of that was good after they infiltrated, but that in itself just seemed such a quick development after a well-paced and methodical opening three stories of the series. I fully accept that Galanar had his memory back and learnt of his origin, but it was just a little too quick for my liking. It wasn't bad though, I may sound like that is the case but that's not the case. The development I did enjoy was how Kalendorf fits into things and how his knowledge of the Daleks being stored on Velyshaa will play a part in the series ending. I am very excited for that to come into fruition and I do hope that he features at some point. A reunion between him and what Susan Mendes now is would be quite something. The revelation that the supposed demons were created by The Daleks, the enemy Daleks from another universe we saw in Dalek War that is, to fight the Daleks was definitely unexpected and something that sounds a little complex, and it is, but I like the potential of where it can go and the questioning of loyalties and just who or what is the rightful Dalek cause. The Great Catastrophe keeps getting mentioned which is good but it is surprising that when this series is set is so far removed from that event. It does show how different of a universe this series lives in to what we are used to, and that is a good and unique thing. I am all for the unknown, but for now this one had its moments but I think some more clarity was needed in terms of direction.

Rating: 6/10

The Survivors

"There is no real evidence that these Daleks even exist."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: July 2004

Series: Dalek Empire 3.03

Featuring: Galanar, Tarkov, Saxton

Synopsis

The Galactic Union remain blissfully unaware of the Dalek threat. And in the Border Worlds, the Daleks appear to be helping cure the deadly NFS plague which has claimed millions of lives. Only the Graxis Wardens know the truth about the Daleks... And they have been all but wiped out.

The Daleks are beginning to show their true colours, but now it may be too late to stop them...

Verdict

The Survivors was another great continuation of the third series of the Dalek Empire spinoff series! As I have now reached the halfway point, I have to say I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series continuing this adventure and I liked the focus being on those wardens that survived the Daleks and their destruction of Graxis Major. I didn't expect Carneill to encounter them so quickly, let alone reveal that there were indeed survivors! I liked how Saxton preyed on his good nature that remained somewhere inside of him in allowing herself and her comrades to escape capture, but the news was out and you just know that the Daleks aren't going to be happy about people surviving. Their starting of the geoforming of the planet was intriguing and I would love to know exactly what they plan for the planet. Whatever it is, I'm sure Saxton and co being on the planet as it is carried out is not good news. Kaymee coming down with the NFS plague was quite devastating and I guess my suspicions that she would grow into a major character were wrong, at least for this series at least, as I don't see her playing a part until at least the fifth story now. Even then I think she could display weakness as a result of her infection which is a shame. I thought it was a nice moment where Seth got to check up on his daughter and learn of how successful she was projected to me. Galanar still posing as Dennis is something that interests me and I have been very impressed with David Tennant's performance, and that's not just because I have the benefit of listening in 2019 knowing that he would go onto be cast as the Tenth Doctor. He's just a superb actor! The revelation at the story's cliffhanger was something I didn't see coming with it being revealed that he, whatever he is, was actually created by the Daleks! I am very intrigued to find out just what he is and why the Daleks would create his kind. They really are presented in an interesting way in this series and I think the absence of the Doctor allows for so much depth. I'm turning into a big fan. I'm still feeling incredibly sorry for Tarkov and having to hear of how his testimonies regarding the Dalek threat were dismissed because of his medical condition just didn't seem right at all. I definitely sympathise with him and I do hope that he ends up having the last laugh, or at the very least is at least heard before it is too late. I suspect that'll be the opposite of what happens though! Finding out that Amur isn't actually his daughter was another surprising element of this audio and I have to say it is something I hadn't even contemplated. She has seemed so genuinely emotional about the return of her father but to find out that Tarkov's real daughter died when she was 7, some 15 years prior to when this adventure is set, was unexpected but I like the mystery. Just who is this enigma posing as Tarkov's daughter? What is her motive and what does she hope to gain? I certainly look forward to finding out. Overall, another very good audio story! I hope we get more of the Dalek Supreme/Susan Mendes modification very soon, as I am super keen for that to be explored further.

Rating: 8/10