The Dawn of the Kotturuh

 

"You will now take up as much of the universe as you deserve."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Short Story

Released: September 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious

Featuring: The Kotturuh

Synopsis

The Kotturuh appoint themselves bringers of death and begin to judge all life in the known universe.

Verdict

Dawn of the Kotturuh was an outstanding short story to really delve into something that will be crucial to the Time Lord Victorious story arc! I really was impressed with this and it immediately captured my attention as I was reading it. I was settling down to start The Knight, the Fool and the Dead but remembered I had the newsletter email still sitting in my inbox and thought it would be beneficial to get a bit of insight into what the Kotturuh were as I don't think they really had any bearing on Defender of the Daleks and Monstrous Beauty which actually quite surprised me. However, this little short story told me everything I needed to know and more! I wasn't actually intending on using this little piece as a blogged entry but it was so good that I just couldn't not start writing about it. I can't give it enough praise. It was so simple but I think the very essence of the Kotturuh are what made it so effective. I love the idea of them going from planet to planet in a time where even the Eternals were young and them basically creating the concept of a lifespan is marvellous. The very thought of species living in perpetual existence is certainly envious, but to get an example, the first instance in fact, of the Kotturuh judging a species and deciding their lifespan would be three months was magnificent. The matter of fact way they judged the people of Birinji was fantastic and I adored their calm nature. At this moment, despite what they are doing and the impact it will have a wide number of species and planets, they don't actually seem to have evil intentions. They're simply after a sustainable universe where every species that inhabits it is only around as long as it can offer something or show its worth. That is so much fun and I cannot wait for the Doctor to interact with them. One thing I am intrigued by is how the Kotturuh came to find themselves in the position of judging species and planets. Who gave them the right? I do hope we get that as the Time Lord Victorious story rolls on. Majoral as the main character alongside the Kotturuh in this short story worked well and the disbelief she showed when the Kotturuh were comparing them to the crystal moths was magnificent. Such a small species seemed to offer so much more in the future was terrific. I thought the view the Kotturuh had on the universe was magnificent with it being a great song and I really don't think they are aware of the effect they have on those they judge. It was superb to see how quickly their judgement descended the people Birinji into a manic panic and state of shock. Three months was all they had. Three cycles around a moon. And then, their worth was over. In a longer and more detailed story, I look forward to seeing what elements the Kotturuh judge a species or planet on, but for now this was a wonderful introduction and a really impressive way to bring them into the overall story arc. This was just the beginning. Lifespans were brought to the Dark Times, so where will the Doctor encounter them? How many species will they have judged and condemned to death? I look forward to finding out. Overall, an excellent little short story! 

Rating: 10/10

Monstrous Beauty

"All I know about this period are fairy tales – and every single one of them is terrifying!"

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September-November 2020

Printed in: DWM 556-558

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Ninth Doctor and Rose find themselves in a place where no TARDIS is ever supposed to go – the Dark Times; an ancient era forbidden to all Time Lords. The universe is young but war has already been born: The Vampire Alliance is swarming across the cosmos, consuming everything in its path. The Doctor discovers that not all the stories surrounding Time Lord history match up with reality – but some of the horrors are actually worse than the myths. Rose becomes the first human in existence – and that's a very dangerous thing to be...

Verdict

Monstrous Beauty was an excellent comic strip story and a really great contribution to the Time Lord Victorious arc from Doctor Who Magazine! I'm hoping to kick into gear now with this overarching story and I'm intrigued to see how the threads are tied together as I didn't really sense too many similarities or a common theme in this one with Defender of the Daleks. I'm super intrigued though and I really liked exploring the Dark Times with the Ninth Doctor and Rose here. Getting any new content with the Ninth Doctor alone is just wonderful and I thought Scott Gray did a decent job with the characterisation. His reaction when he realised when he was really emphasised just how deadly and unknown the period was and he genuinely seemed scared for a moment. However, that didn't last too long as once Rassilon was revealed as the female commander, he seemed to be revelling in where he was and just enjoying himself despite the dangers and the potential interference in his own past. I thought the exploration of very early Gallifreyan history was wonderful and getting a glimpse of war agains the Vampires was terrific. I liked the continuity from Tooth and Claw – the comic strip story – with the Doctor acknowledging the Cucerbites encounter and their appearance really did look impressive and a lot of fun. I also loved the line at the end foreshadowing the Tooth and Claw televised episode with Rose proclaiming if werewolves would be next after encountering vampires, a concept she didn't really believe would be true. The Doctor describing how events in the Dark Times left remnants in the future was fantastic and I thought the whole atmosphere was just great. Androkan was a brilliant character and the way the Doctor's presence gave him hope of a Gallifreyan future was terrific. Friar Grystock made for a superb villain and the calm and sudden nature in which he despised of Androkan was excellent. The proud comment regarding the Space Lords of Gallifrey was so much fun and it's just fascinating to think that the Time Lords may have gone by this name in the past. There was a lot of action in this one which worked well and I liked how Rose was utilised as dinner for the Three Mad Sisters. Their appearance was distorted which seems to be trait of Gray's when it comes to chaotic characters and it worked well again here. Her being the first human in the universe was fun and she was able to overpower the Sisters whilst becoming embroiled and taken over by chaos herself. The Doctor just putting her to sleep was a simple yet very effective way of rescuing her. Centia looking after her was a really nice touch as well. The Doctor having a sense of familiarity about him to Rassilon was a lot of fun and the latter's promise to avenge when they would one day meet again was magnificent. I thought Hugo coming as a late addition in the Vampire onslaught was really good and Grystock's reaction when his pet was dealt with was tremendous. There really was a lot to love about this comic strip story and I'm intrigued by the little verse at the start of the comic strip concerning the Kotturah. I look forward to what they bring to the story and how things might tie together with them. But for now, this was a wonderful little look into the Dark Times and Gallifreyan history that showed us that the history books may not be all they set out to be. The Doctor falling back on his fairytale knowledge was also really good. Overall, a brilliant comic strip!

Rating: 9/10

The Mouthless Dead

"Everyone wants to see him past."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: June 2016

Series: Companion Chronicles: The Second Doctor 1.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives in 1920s England, the Doctor, Jamie, Ben and Polly finding themselves in a wintry dusk beside a railway line. The station nearby appears deserted, but there are figures watching from the shadows, all of them waiting for a dead man's train...

Verdict

The Mouthless Dead was an outstanding Companion Chronicles audio adventure! I absolutely loved this one and it was the perfect way to kick off the first volume of the range for the Second Doctor. Hearing the TARDIS proximity alarm during the era of the Second Doctor was really good because we didn't get anything of the sort on screen so it's good continuity as far as the TARDIS is concerned. I really enjoyed how the Doctor explained the TARDIS incorporating a number of different calendars as well, and once he'd narrowed readings down to the Gregorian type, it was clear we had arrived in 1920s Kent which was a good little setting. The TARDIS being hit by a train upon materialisation was a great start and the prospect of the ship actually being wounded was terrific. It needed time to heal so some exploring at the locale was on the cards. This was my first experience of Elliott Chapman in the role as Ben and even though I'm a little sceptical when it comes to recasting, I thought he was actually fantastic! I really enjoyed his take and it was wonderful to hear that Cockney lingo interact with Polly who I thought had a terrific tale. Jamie learning all about trains was a lot of fun and I found it humorous that he ridiculed the prospect of how they worked despite all he'd seen travelling with the Doctor. The creepy setting of a platform at night was good and throwing in a disappearing man made for a tremendous atmosphere. Francis was a very good character and I thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with Polly, even if to the companion her newfound associate felt like a ghost. The use of the Unknown Warrior as a focal point for the platform was magnificent and Francis and others were hoping to see him past on his return from France to pay respects as he represented all those that had fallen during World War One. That was a tremendous use of history. The humour that came from Jamie hearing of a world war and thinking it meant war against aliens was sublime and just peak Jamie as a companion. I was a huge fan of that and audibly laughed. The mystery of the TARDIS light flashing but not dematerialising was good and the 'trespassers' in the tunnel added to the eery feel. Their description of being a ghostly glimmer of decay and advancing upon the girls made for a very good cliffhanger. Francis having lost her fiancé to the War was sad and I liked how her brother had also fought at the Somme so she was effected by the conflict in a big way despite not actually partaking herself. Her thinking that the Unknown Warrior was her fiancé was a really nice touch and Polly's response to that was very nice and comforting. The train actually stopping at their station was good given the signal trouble from the thought soldiers and the voices that came with them for Ben and Jamie, both hearing different sounds from Culloden to the navy, was really well done. The dead hoping to go after the train was a fantastic image and the Doctor questioning whether they were spectral or physical was brilliant. The death of the signalman answered that query! The use of the TARDIS telepathic circuits to actually provide mental thoughts to the warriors and link with the country's climate of grief was superb. Thomas being scarred as a way to protect him from the soldiers was really well done and I liked the danger that came with the thought soldiers hoping to cling onto the train with thousands waiting for the Unknown Warrior in London. That spelled danger which was great. Polly seeing a figure with a tattered outline and shadowy face guarding the Unknown Warrior was brilliant and I loved the revelation that the soldiers were born out of grief and loss. That fitted in with the climate wonderfully. Thomas being a survivor and immune was terrific and I loved how he and the three males from the TARDIS linked hands to get past the soldiers and confront on the train. Thomas, who was the fiancé of Francis, couldn't bare to face his love which was quite emotional as he didn't want her to see his scar. The meeting of the pair with her not initially recognising him was sad but her love for him shone through when she realised which was just lovely. Him being accepted by her was stronger than the grief as he was accepted back into society by Francis and that threw the tide of grief into the reverse, with the TARDIS essentially reversing the polarity which was a lot of fun. The Doctor pondering on wanting to go back and see who the Unknown Warrior was made me smile, but that would be defeating the point as he acknowledged. Overall, a superb audio!

Rating: 10/10

The Magician's Oath

 

"Everyone and everything, frozen in death."

Writer: Scott Handcock

Format: Audio

Released: April 2009

Series: Companion Chronicles 3.10

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Brigadier, Mike

Synopsis

"You must never tell. Not a soul. That's the magician's oath."

A heatwave in July and a tube train is discovered buried in twenty inches of snow. A Saturday afternoon in Hyde Park and scores of people are instantly frozen to death where they stand while the sun beats down from the sky. Freak weather conditions in London, and the Doctor and UNIT are called in to find the cause. 

Meanwhile, a street magician who was witnessed at the scene of the tragedy entertains crowds in Covent Garden. As Jo Grant and Mike Yates disobey orders and investigate alone, they discover an enemy with terrifying powers. And they may not live to share his secrets...

Verdict

The Magician's Oath was an excellent Companion Chronicles audio adventure! I thought this was a great story and Mike Yates was able to shine with him highlighted in the lead role. Hearing him discuss the current UNIT and how it didn't even mean the same thing anymore was intriguing and it was just nice for Mike to reflect on his time at UNIT and all he experienced. It was nice to know that even in 2009 he was still meeting up with Jo and there she'd provided him with an alien artefact that wasn't catalogued by UNIT back into the 1970s. The setting taking place close to The Claws of Axos with the absurd weather conditions was terrific and incorporating that into the plot was fantastic. The freezing over of Hyde Park was quite something and the description of all those that were killed was unexpected. Yates describing how he wasn't sure how UNIT had covered it up was good and I liked placing this close to the start of Mike's time at UNIT. This was a new experience for him. The weather conditions being cold in the middle of summer was good but there was just an incredibly morbid scene painted by Mike with the corpses frozen mid-swim. That was horrific! Geraldine being the sole survivor was intriguing and I liked how she was drawn to Diamond Jack, a mysterious and popular local magician performer. His card trick turning into a disappearing act was really fun and Mike and Jo then going to investigate him was great. The Brigadier and the Doctor running off to Highgate cemetery where the Doctor's scientific evidence led him with his readings was also fun. Jo disappearing whilst Mike was on call to the Brigadier as part of Diamond Jack's performance was superb and I liked how her mind was then linked with the magician. He was scared of the Doctor's powers and abilities and knowing of his experiences was brilliant. The voices stalking Yates through the darkness was eery and really added to the atmosphere for this audio which I thought was terrific. The Doctor warning Yates not to interact with Diamon Jack was fun because it came far too late. Yates finding Jo was good and the possibility of time distortion was interesting. The concept of Diamond Jack's home being frozen around him was very good and I really enjoyed learning about his past and how he'd had his abilities since he was a child and it was good to hear him worrying about the current situation. Jack filtering Jo's memories was great and I thought the concept of him not having any memories of his own and suffering from short term memory was unique and really well done. The Doctor's use of the device from the ship at the cemetery to return Jack's memories to him was intriguing and the device contained all of his memories and personality as a back up. And the Doctor returned them. It turned out the vessel was a prison ship and Diamond Jack was subjected to mental execution which I thought was an excellent punishment. He had been sentenced and given a second chance at life in his new form and the memories and personality were evidence to be used to showcase his change. His powers drawing energy worked well in explaining how the more extravagant meant more extreme effects on the environment. He drew on heat as a source and that explained what had occurred at Hyde Park which I thought tied things up fantastically. Meeting Diamon Jack's other form and true self was very good and the sense of evil that came from its breathing alone was magnificent. Jack having taken Jo to London Bridge was good and the prospect of the troop being called in was building to a ice conclusion. The Doctor selling the evil capabilities of the true creature was good but the only qualm I had with the story was that we needed some more information about the species and why they were evil. The concept of the human element disappearing from him if the true creature caught up was a good plot development and the conclusion resulting in Jack fighting himself across forms without realising it was really well done. I liked that a lot. The final trick of Diamond Jack knowing about Yates and how he felt about Jo was very good and him revealing to Jo that her card was the jack of diamonds which was fun. He was planning to steal Jo's memories and leave her a new person but Yates wasn't having that and shot him dead before he could take full effect of her. Jo having been in a coma and not remembering the events of this story worked well and it turning out that the artefact she brought him when they recently met up was her card was wonderful as it had her memories stored within. She knew now how Yates had saved her and how he felt about her which was lovely and she'd tracked him down to say sorry. I just felt incredibly sorry for Mike Yates by the end of the audio as he didn't have anybody around anymore which was just rather sad. Overall though, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen

 

"The very mention of Cybermen fills me with unspeakable dread."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: May 1976

Series: Target 51

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis

A mysterious plague strikes Space Beacon Nerva, killing its victims within minutes. When Doctor Who lands, only four humans remain alive. One of these seems to be in league with the nearby planet of gold, Voga... Or is he in fact working for the dreaded Cybermen, who are now determined to destroy their old enemies, the Vogans?

The Doctor, Sarah and Harry find themselves trapped in the midst of a terrifying struggle to death – between the ruthless power-hungry Cybermen and the determined, desperate Vogans.

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen was a fantastic novelisation of the Season 12 finale! This was a terrifically typical book from Terrance Dicks that was just a joy to read. I'm a big fan of this serial in the first place so I was excited to see it presented in prose and it didn't let me down. The pace of this one was really good and the follow on from Genesis of the Daleks and the wider continuity with The Ark in Space was brilliant with the return to Space Beacon Nerva. The fact that they had arrived a millennium prior to their encounter with the Wirrn was intriguing and presented a different dynamic with the TARDIS missing and hurtling back towards them in time. That was quite unique so I liked that. The way the Cybermen were written was outstanding from Terrance Dicks and I really think he did a stellar job in making them feel imposing and threatening, as my opening quote suggests. The reactions of the Doctor and the Vogans in knowing that the Cybermen were at play was magnificent! I liked the description of the Cyber War and that is something I am dying for Big Finish to jump on in depth as that just seems right up their alley! A war so big that it sent the Cybermen into hiding for centuries. That could be really good and I do hope that happens or I come across it soon if it has indeed been tackled. The link between Nerva and Voga worked well and I thought the characters of Stephenson and Kellman were very good. The latter's position between the Cybermen and the Vogans and attempting to betray the former was great. I thought the Cybermen knowing the Doctor but thinking the Fourth Doctor here was different to the man they encountered in the past was fun, and I also really liked the little prelude page describing the genesis of the Cybermen. I thought it was interesting for them to supposedly be made of both metal and plastic as that seems different to what we know. Harry and Sarah Jane had strong stories as the companions and their being separated from the Doctor was a lot of fun, especially when Sarah went back to Nerva to warn him about the Skystriker when he was actually on the planet all along. The plot itself didn't deviate too much from what we saw on television which was good. It felt better to explore the Vogan politics in prose and the struggle for power and even existence between Vorus and Tyrum was really well done. The latter's fascination with destroying the Cybermen through his Nerva trap was intriguing and just fascinating. The use of the cobalt bombs with the Cybermen hoping to destroy the last remains of the planet of gold was marvellous and it's a plan I really do admire. I loved how much the Cybermen presented logic in this book and their efforts to restart the desire to take over the universe was terrific. The Cyberleader was very good as the head of the enemy and I also thought the Cybermats were great. The way they were used to ultimately infect the Cybermen with gold dust was brilliant as well! I thought the last few pages and the conclusion of the book as a whole was incredibly frantic and probably slightly too rushed, but it was still very exciting. It just seemed that within a page or two we had the Doctor stopping Nerva crashing into Volga, the Skystriker taking out the Cybermen and then the TARDIS turning up to take the Doctor and his companions away! There just needed to be some breathing room and some threading out of information, but otherwise this was a magnificent read! I also loved the little lead into Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster as that was great continuity amongst the range. Overall, a really enjoyable novelisation!

Rating: 9/10

War Wounds

"Violence is a sickness that creates more violence."

Writer: Mark Wright

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Twelfth Doctor Chronicles 1.02

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Danny

Synopsis

When Danny Pink finds the TARDIS door open in a Coal Hill storeroom, he can't help wondering about Clara's double life and the truth about the Doctor.

But he gets much more than he bargained for. Stuck amid an alien war, can Danny and the Doctor stop arguing long enough to make it out alive?

Verdict

War Wounds was a really good audio adventure to continue my way through the Twelfth Doctor Chronicles! I really enjoyed this one and after the first story of the set, it was nice to have a familiar voice alongside the Doctor in the form of Danny Pink. It's rare to get new material for Danny other than what we saw on television during Series 8, so this is another example of the beauty of Big Finish in giving us an unknown journey Danny had with the Twelfth Doctor. Danny realising he was missing Clara when she was just on a year 9 residential trip was good and his domineering entry into the TARDIS to confront the Doctor after he'd landed it on school property as a lot of fun. I think I made it clear in my blog entries during 2014 that I wasn't the biggest Danny Pink fan, and I stand by that, but the absence of Clara here actually worked well for his character and relationship with the Doctor. The inclusion of the chalkboard within the TARDIS was excellent and really solid writing in capturing the era within which this story is set. I have to say that Jacob Dudman was tremendous as the Twelfth Doctor here and I definitely think that his Peter Capaldi impression is his best. It's truly uncanny. The writing of their interactions was really good, especially with the Doctor continuously calling Danny 'PE'. The pot luck protocols of the TARDIS were good and I liked that we got Danny's first experience of travelling in the TARDIS. The Doctor confronting him on his first alien planet after knowing he'd stowed away was great and the jungle setting was good. I liked throwing Danny into action with a fall and lengthy swim of sorts and then had him thrust in the middle of a war after being greeted unceremoniously by some soldiers. The talking dinosaur was unexpected and just seemed to be there for laughs, especially with him being suited and booted in combat. I thought the war theme of the story was brilliant and well suited to Danny given his experiences and the flashbacks he endured were presented impressively given the format. The border war of the planet was a good basis for the plot and Danny chasing after Yesath who was the Cathillian nurse was very good. It was clear she was good but he wanted to help and also learn. Colonel Quarang was a decent villain and I really enjoyed his relationship with Captain Reagan. Finding out that Yesath was the daughter of Uzek who turned out to be the dictator that started the war in the first place was very good and from there relations between the Colonel and Yesath were strained. Danny not wanting to leave in the middle of proceedings and actively wanting to stay and help Yesath was fantastic and I loved that the Doctor wanted him to make a case for them staying. Playing with the idea of Danny becoming a soldier again was terrific and I liked that he was scared that picking up a gun would just be natural again. His confronting of Quarang for his distain of Yesath after finding the truth out about her was decent and the connections with Dark Water and Danny seeing the little boy he killed was nicely done. His plan of fake surrender was pretty good too but I wasn't expecting the Doctor to then get shot! The farewell to Reagan was and leaving with the war unresolved was actually quite refreshing with the Doctor not able to wholly put things right. His reaction to the painkillers that helped his wound was fun as the memory engrams within did more than just remove the pain! The Doctor collapsed and had no memory of his journey with Danny which was good from a continuity perspective, but I did like how he also admitted he knew that Danny wouldn't have fired during the war before his memory went. Overall, a great listen!

Rating: 8/10

Hall of the Ten Thousand

 

"Nobody ever wins, and everyone suffers."

Writer: Jaine Fenn

Format: Audio

Released: November 2019

Series: Short Trips 9.11

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

The Ten Thousand represent everything the Doctor admires. Ingenuity, creativity and triumph of peace over war. So, naturally, he's taken Charley to see them.

However, their arrival isn't quite the gallery visit they expected. Why is everything slowly falling apart? Why is the artist refusing to see them?

But for Charley, there's a question that's far more urgent. Did that statue just move?

Verdict

Hall of the Ten Thousand was a decent little Short Trips adventure! It was great to be reunited with the pairing of the Eighth Doctor and Charley as I thoroughly enjoyed going through their run together in the Monthly Adventures and whilst things aren't quite the same without Paul McGann alongside India Fisher, the latter still did a pretty good job in rekindling that relationship we heard for so long. For me, I'm still none the wiser regarding Charley's story with the Sixth Doctor but having her back with the Eighth Doctor here was just a lot of fun. I thought the artistic theme worked well and the installation of the Hall of the Ten Thousand provided quite the backdrop for the Doctor to take Charley on a visit. His description of the Hall being done by the work of a genius was good and immediately led me to want to know more about who that was. I thought the concept of the Hall containing ten thousands statues was pretty impressive, and finding out that each statue represented each second that the war lasted on Orlay was a fantastic development! This audio really did start off well and it was good to establish the setting of Orlay and describe how the two continents on the planet had been at war with each other. The genius artist being revealed as the neutral Marania was interesting and I liked how the soldiers on both sides had agreed to her request of a memorial in the form of the Hall of the Ten Thousand. Charley's background living in a post-Great War time coming into play was very well done and good to draw on her experiences of what that world was like for her. The Doctor wanting to meet Marania was fun so when she was busy in seclusion, he jotted back in time to try and meet then. However, from there things developed and Charley saw that there was someone alive and in pain in the statue which was frightening. I don't think the story quite developed as it could have from there, but the mystery of the men being the spitting image of the caretaker from the future was good as we learned about Marania's husband and how he was lost in a previous war, so she'd simply used robotics to recreate him! The revelation that those inside the statues had been gassed and used as a symbol of war's futility was extraordinary and there should have been more impact following that. But the helplessness of the Doctor in being able to change time did work well. Charley wanting to change the past and save those inside the statues was good, and I liked how the Doctor's saying no was described as being full of anguish. The fun that was had with the Doctor playing the security caretakers in messing with their systems when he realised that the artist might not merely be in seclusion was a story highlight! The latter ten minutes or so of the story seemed to be too rushed and probably a victim of the format, but I did like the concept of the soldiers within feeling physical pain of being melded to their suit and the emotional pain of being frozen but conscious. That isn't something I'm keen on thinking about! The Technician CAV666 being freed and sending the Hall of the Ten Thousand into self destruction with the countdown to finish the audio was good, if not slightly predictable, and it was nice that they were all saved in a roundabout sort of way. Overall, a solid little story!

Rating: 7/10

Defender of the Daleks

 

"The Doctor will save Skaro and the Daleks."

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September-October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious #1-2

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor has been mysteriously transported to a rewritten timeline where the Time War never happened and the Dalek Empire is still a fearsome force in the universe. Recruited as an unlikely ally by the Emperor Dalek, the Doctor must now face a deadly alien threat that even the Daleks fear: the Hond. Aided by the Dalek Prime Strategist, the Doctor is preparing for battle, when he encounters the deadly Hond...

Verdict

Defender of the Daleks was an excellent comic strip story and a great way to start Time Lord Victorious! This has been an unprecedented event across a number of licensees which is a wonderful concept and I think starting things off with this comic strip, well the first issue at least, was done really well. It had good continuity from the Titan run which I didn't actually expect but I'm glad that was there for their comic run. Whilst that was the case, this could still very much be read as a standalone piece and what we got was a great deal of fun. I think the addition of a companion might have helped as there was so much dialogue for just the Doctor, but other than that I don't really have any complaints. Placing the Tenth Doctor in a time where the Time War hadn't happened was intriguing and I suspect that point may get developed further as the overall story arc rolls on. I thought the Daleks themselves were terrific and I loved the artwork of the Emperor and the Prime Strategist. The dissension in the ranks between those two Dalek figures was fantastic and I liked how the former was younger than the latter, something that seemed to irk the Strategist given his superior age. The casing was also an interesting note that I really enjoyed and I definitely got a sense of wisdom from this Dalek. He being the one that wanted the Doctor to come to Skaro to help them against the Hond was really good and only added to the potential division between Strategist and Emperor. The very idea of the Doctor being requested for help by the Daleks was terrific and seeing them actually ask quite nicely and request rather than command was quite something! The continuity from a Dalek perspective was really good and I liked how the Doctor mentioned not having been reunited with the Dalek Emperor for a long time. The disdain was clear to hear in the dialogue. The Doctor's reaction to not being shot at was wonderful and I thought the little chase across planets with the Daleks always being outside the TARDIS was fantastic stuff and a lot of fun. The idea of the Daleks being scared isn't quite a new one but it is really fun to play around with because they are pretty arrogant and see themselves as the superior beings. The Hond were an interesting species and them being displaced in time from the Dark Times was great. Their appearance as almost gooey creatures was decent and I liked the image of them pretty much consuming a planet very much. Them being the sentient form of pain was unexpected and something I thoroughly enjoyed as that is quite difficult to fully comprehend. What must it be like to perpetually feel pain? That beggars belief! The Doctor gaining access to the Dalek weaponry systems was fun, especially when it was clear he was up to something other than stopping the Hond. He made it clear he would prevent them from destroying Skaro, and did that with some clever sonic screwdriver action utilising a bioscan and emitting a signal that was the opposite of pain to make them feel free, but he was still far from being trusting of the Daleks. The Prime Strategist calmly admitting that after all, he was still a Dalek, when it came to attempting to kill the Doctor after he'd achieved what they wanted was magnificent and just typical of the Doctor's greatest foes. Him not being recognised as such when the Hond were around almost seemed to upset him as his outburst resembled pride in his status amongst the Daleks, something that was picked up on by the Emperor really well. I thought the cameo save from the Thirteenth Doctor at the end was really good and it's a shame that Alternating Current was delayed in its release, although with that being a multi-Doctor story at least we mostly only see things after that from the Tenth Doctor's perspective. The paradoxical nature of the story was marvellous and I look forward to seeing what caused the Tenth Doctor to go off into a vortex. I'm a huge fan of the relationship and interaction between the Tenth and Thirteenth Doctors, and seeing that again here was brilliant. The relationship between the Doctor and the Strategist was also fantastic stuff. The way things ended with the Emperor being displeased with the Strategist after not foreseeing the involvement of another Doctor was great, and the line about the Doctor's help coming in many faces and the image of the Eighth Doctor was an excellent way to leave things for a different strand of the arc to pick up. Overall, a really enjoyable comic strip!

Rating: 9/10

Full Fathom Five

"I won't be responsible for the consequences."

Writer: David Bishop

Format: Audio

Released: July 2003

Series: Doctor Who Unbound 1.03

Featuring: The Doctor

Synopsis

What if... ?

"If I told you the truth, I'd have to kill you..."

The Deep-sea Energy Exploration Project was apparently destroyed by dirty bombs in 2039 AD, turning the surrounding sea bed into a radioactive tomb. Rumours suggest the DEEP was conducting illegal, unethical experiments...

In 2066 the Doctor discovers the research centre remains intact. The terrible truth about what happened 27 years ago will soon be revealed. The Doctor is determined to be the first to uncover and confront the secrets of the DEEP. 

But unearthing the past can have terrible consequences for your future...

Verdict

Full Fathom Five was a really good and intriguing audio story! This was probably the most unique and different of the stories that make up the Doctor Who Unbound thus far and this presented a very different Doctor than what we would be used to in the normal universe. The dynamic we were presented with at the start with the Doctor and his companion in the form of Ruth was very good and just different and felt more like some sort of soap relationship right from the off. The issue with her father being dead and a sea report that shed new details on what fate had befallen him. She wanted the truth and wasn't accepting not going with the Doctor as he ventured to DEEP. She thought she was very close to the truth and went so far as stowing away on the submarine with the Doctor who was audibly angered by her actions. I thought David Collings' incarnation of the Doctor was a good and very much removed take on our hero and he sounded croaky and angry on a continuous basis which worked well. Hoskins as the submarine pilot was a good character and I thought the whole concept of DEEP itself was actually really good. I liked how the story differentiated in setting between 2039 and 2066 and the simultaneous approach kept things fresh and exciting. The Doctor and co's venture to the research centre amidst dangerous radiation was good and what they found within was terrific! Ruth was hoping to find the answers to her father's death, but coupled with her efforts we were finding out about his actions and experiments with lab creations and how DEEP was actually just a funding smokescreen. General Flint made for a great villain and I also enjoyed Lee as a scientific character. Vollmer, Ruth's father, as the researcher was also a brilliant character who had more than a big part to play! The Doctor suspecting Hoskins worked well and with knowing what we did later about the TARDIS, the lack of reaction from the Doctor when reunited with his trusty ship after nearly three decades was startling. This was clearly not the Doctor we knew. Hoskins being a smuggler was a fun addition to his character and I also enjoyed learning more about the experiments with the evolution justification for the vile experiments. The idea of DNA and stem cells from marine species being injected into test subjects was quite something, but I would have liked more on knowing exactly what they entailed. The Doctor burning all of the research was really good and with Lee being responsible and the scapegoat, the Doctor wanted to ensure that his secrets stayed buried. And he would do that by any means necessary which was quite the departure from the Doctor of our universe. His having been dishonest to Ruth was also different and interesting to listen to. Vollmer being infected and his body struggling to cope with the transformation was a good development and I liked how Flint was willing to sacrifice anything for his cause. The auto destruct sequence provided a tense and exciting conclusion and the revelation that this audio tackled the idea of the Doctor thinking that the ends justified the means was magnificent as hearing him kill Lee in cold blood was fascinating and disturbing all in one. Ruth's reaction was tremendous. The idea of Vollmer still being alive n 2066 and Ruth's shock at seeing her father was brilliant, and I actually didn't see the twist coming with it actually being Flint. The way he used the TARDIS key and hiding it away and separating the Doctor from his trusty ship for 27 years was very good, although I was less keen on there actually not having been the destruction as initiated. The dirty bombs instead went off which cocooned the research centre away. Admittedly, that was a fun dynamic. The Doctor not letting Vollmer leave in 2039 was of further intrigue as he was adamant that Lee's experiments had to end and so much so that he shot Vollmer dead. The deception levels and not risking them getting out was unprecedented for the Doctor anywhere or when and so much so that he had decided Ruth had to die because of what she now knew. Except, she combined with Flint to help kill the Doctor as he refused infection. That was brutal, and the way Ruth then was ready for regeneration knowing the Doctor was near the end of his lives, she killed the new incarnation immediately. It was quite the end to what was a really interesting and enjoyable audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Sands of Time

 

"The figure in the coffin, dead for over four thousand years, was Nyssa."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Novel

Released: May 1996

Series: Missing Adventures 32

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

'If Sutekh had escaped, no power in the universe could have stopped him wreaking havoc and destruction. This time, it's worse.'

Arriving in Victorian London, the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan run straight into trouble: Nyssa is kidnapped in the British Museum by Egyptian religious fanatics; the Doctor and Tegan are greeted by a stranger who knows more about them than he should and invited to a very strange party. 

Why are rooms already booked for the Doctor at the Savoy? How can Lord Kenilworth's butler Atkins be in Egypt and London at the same time? What is the history of the ancient mummy to be unwrapped at Kenilworth's house? And what has all this got to do with Nyssa?

The Doctor's quest for answers leads him across continents and time as an ancient Egyptian prophecy threatens 1990s England. While the Doctor attempts to unravel the plans of the mysterious Sadan Rassul, mummies stalk the night an ancient terror stirs in its tomb.

Verdict

The Sands of Time was an excellent novel! I really enjoyed this one and whilst I do thoroughly enjoy Pyramids of Mars, I personally think it is a bit overrated in fandom folklore. That being said, the idea of a sequel is exciting but I think this was more of a sister story than a sequel and that was absolutely fine. In fact I think I quite preferred it that way and the absence of Sutekh as a character was actually refreshing and allowed Nephthys to shine as the Egyptian-Osiran figure that wanted to wreak havoc and destruction on the universe. I liked the timey-wimey nature of the book and having the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa land in London a day after they were already known was intriguing and the way that later played out was a lot of fun. I was surprised that Nyssa was taken so early as I just didn't expect her to not feature in a traditional role for pretty much all of the novel! She was a crucial feature though which was magnificent and I have to say that the revelation at the end of chapter one with her being revealed as the woman beneath the mummy robes that had been preserved for four millennia was outstanding. I didn't see that coming and it put a huge smile on my face as that was quite the issue to try and resolve! Tegan had a really strong story as companion and it was nice dynamic to make this basically a two-hander with her and the Fifth Doctor given Nyssa's absence. She was worried about her friend which was nice to see and I liked that the Doctor wasn't exactly helping matters, once again highlighting the frosty relationship between the pair. I thought the characterisation of Peter Davison's fifth incarnation was excellent throughout and the era was really well captured in prose. I thought the movement around the settings of London and Egypt and the 1890s and 1990s was very good and kept some freshness going. I particularly enjoyed the little historical inserts as well with the likes of Napoleon in the eighteenth century and then even going back to 5,000 BC. It was a really good format that was educational and given the Egyptology on show, I think that was necessary. Atkins was a very good character and the humour that came with him having been in both Egypt and London during an expedition was terrific, especially when both version of him was questioned on the alternating events! The return of the Osiran service robots was magnificent and I thought they were described really well and just made for a great presence. Sadan Rassul was the main villain of the piece and I really liked that he wasn't trying to revive Nephthys just because he was devoted to following her. He'd only end up being killed after achieving her return, so it was terrific that he was also trying to revive his daughter. Nessa being a clone of Nephyths was a great development and the links between her and Nyssa and the similar names was well done. The Kenilworth House setting for much of the book was really good and I enjoyed that we had a basis for our main characters. Tegan's desire to save Nyssa before she had gone missing and into an eternal coma was brilliant and the Doctor's trying to explain about Time and how events were established was magnificent. The passage when they had to order what they already knew they had was fun because Tegan tried to change things by ordering ham, but she ended up with the lamb cutlets anyway much to her chagrin. Rassul's boasting towards the end of proceedings when the temple replication and the star alignment was in place was great, especially when the Doctor hadn't quite clocked onto the particulars and timing. However, the way things turned when the Doctor revealed he'd had a plan all along and claimed that Nyssa had been slightly awake since 1926 which meant she'd aged and the mind of Nephthys was already gone and lost was outstanding. The way that was rectified as well with Lady Cranleigh and the links to Black Orchid was majestic and I liked how the little two-page insert with the Cranleigh household and wedding came into play. It was just really well done and I loved that he hid the truth from Tegan to ensure a genuine reaction that would convince Russal and end up destroying him into dust as Nephthys ventured back and forth between times and aged to death. Overall, a really great read!

Rating: 9/10

A Little Help from My Friends

"There are statues and mannequins coming to life?"

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Comic Strip

Released: January-May 2020

Series: Thirteenth Doctor #2.1-2.4

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham, Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

Brought together by fate (and a slightly paradox-sick TARDIS), the Thirteenth Doctor and the Tenth Doctor must work together to stop two deadly foes from taking over the Earth – all without causing time itself to implode!

Verdict

A Little Help from My Friends was a wonderful comic strip adventure as part of A Tale of Two Time Lords! I absolutely loved this one from start to finish and I have been anticipating reading for a long time now, so much so that I pre-ordered the graphic novel and despite it being delayed, I have even put off starting Time Lord Victorious to ensure I read the comics in the right release order! Of course, I knew the premise from the off and the very idea of setting a story within the events of Blink is magnificent, but then throwing in a different incarnation of the Doctor is just fantastic. I loved that we got to see events pertaining to Blink from the persecutive of the Tenth Doctor and Martha and then adding in the Thirteenth Doctor and the fam was marvellous. I was a huge fan from the off and I thought after making us wait for two parts before having the different incarnations of the Doctor meet, it was really good to split crews up and have a crossover. The Thirteenth Doctor realising how thick she was back in her tenth incarnation was excellent as now from the side and with hindsight she could see just how much Martha had fallen for the Tenth Doctor. That was quite a shame but it was nice for the current Doctor to acknowledge that and give her a big hug at the end. It was quite humorous to have Yaz, Ryan and Graham chase after the Tenth Doctor with his gizmo gadget as he was trying to find a way out of 1969 without enduring the long way around. There was just so much fun and the links back to Rose were tremendous with the Nestene Consciousness and the Autons returning in emphatic fashion. Linking that then with The Runaway Bride with the Thames underground was very well done and some great continuity. Yaz and the Tenth Doctor meeting was a lot of fun with the companion claiming to be from the Time Agency when the Doctor had confirmation she was a time traveller, but she didn't last very long with that disguise after giving up her mobile. I would have expected a bit more interaction from the Tenth Doctor with him at least wanting to know the names of his future friends, but it was still just a joy to have a crossover like this one. The Tenth Doctor's disliking of the TARDIS paint job was amusing and what I come to expect now in multi-Doctor stories like this. The meeting between the Tenth and Thirteenth incarnations was just marvellous and I thought it was a lot of fun for the male's reaction to simply be about hair colour. Still not ginger! All of the companions being in the background as the two Doctors worked the plan out was great and whilst I think there should have been time for the companions to interact with each other, allowing the Doctors to shine was not a bad thing at all. Having the Autons and Nestene Consciousness alone was terrific, but throwing in a lone Weeping Angel was fantastic given the connotations with Blink. The Thirteenth Doctor's reaction to that was brilliant and I liked how she was unable to leave 1969 because she was convinced the TARDIS had brought them and risked a paradox for a good reason. That reason turning out to be the result of the Weeping Angel's attraction was good and the timey-wimey nature was right up my alley. There just wasn't anything to dislike about this comic strip to be honest. The Thirteenth Doctor's library cards showing past incarnations was great and Graham's desire to get to Woodstock was amusing. The Thirteenth Doctor using a Jane Smith alias to Martha was just magical as well and great to see her using that. The ending with London ravaged was unexpected but I look forward to seeing how this might tie in with the Sea Devils! Overall, an outstanding and super enjoyable comic strip adventure!

Rating: 10/10

Hive of Horror

"We are going to face the Hornets on their own level."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Yates

Synopsis

As a new day breaks over Nest Cottage, the Doctor and Mike know they have to face their enemy for a final confrontation. Reduced to miniature size, and with Mrs Wibbsey along as an unwilling adventurer, they venture inside the hornets' nest itself. The Queen lies in wait for the enemy which she and her brood have faced so many times over the millennia. If she is to guarantee the survival of her alien hornet race for another thousand years, this is a battle she must win! The loyalty of the Doctor's friends will be tested to the limit. And perhaps, at last, they will all understand why Mike Yates is so important...

Verdict

Hive of Horror was a decent conclusion to what has been an intriguing little collection of Hornet's Nest stories. I must admit that this wasn't quite the finale I was hoping for after a big build, but it was still a decent adventure in its own right. I thought it worked well in having Yates recall the events of the previous four stories and how we had led up to this point rather than a 'the story so far' which is essentially a 'previously on Doctor Who' inclusion. The Doctor turning off the force field in the house was intriguing and the use of his machine was unexpected as I couldn't understand why it needed to be done at dawn. There was only a small timeframe once the field was off as everything previously kept safe would be free, but the efforts were all focused on the zebra that the Queen of the swarm was inside of. That was a bit random which is something of a common theme in this anthology, but the Doctor's device miniaturised all of he, Yates and Mrs Wibbsey as they entered the zebra to take on the Hornets at their own level. I liked that Yates was suspicious of Wibbsey once within and one of the highlights of the audio for me was the Doctor's reference to The Invisible Enemy and mentioning when he was shrunk and entered his own head. Really good continuity. I thought it was interesting that Wibbsey realised that their entry and journey throughout the zebra was unimpeded and it was clear that the Hornets were letting them in. Yates claiming his mind was impenetrable after the events of his breakdown in Invasion of the Dinosaurs was great and I knew that it was going to be tested. His thinking that Wibbsey herself was the Queen was an intriguing concept and his efforts to arrest her with his tie were amusing if not a little silly. Yates had become rather erratic since the miniaturisation which was fun as the Queen had clearly entered his mind already. The Doctor taking over the storytelling from that point was a clever move and I liked how when faced with the Queen's physical presence for the first time he thought she was beautiful. Yates bowing before the Queen was very good and I liked how she lured him with the prospect of knighting him. He resisted at first, but it didn't seem to last long. The Doctor questioning if the Queen was all she said she was worked well with him questioning why there was no flesh and just the feeling of her influence. The Hornets being drawn to damaged individuals playing a part again was good and I liked the idea of them wanting to pilot people to take over the world. Wibbsey was a bitter and old woman and that's why she had been susceptible in The Circus of Doom. The Queen's questioning of the Doctor to Mike and whether he actually did travel in time was interesting and I liked how she used the Nest Cottage as her evidence. I was less fussed on her appealing to his ageing whilst the Doctor regenerated because Mike knew he was a Time Lord and had literally seen the process happen. The Queen offering Mike the Doctor's body in return for the world was audacious to say the least, but I'm not sure it made a huge amount of sense with the overall arc of the series. Their efforts to infiltrate the world through Mike's military contacts was also unexpected given that Mike was a mere Captain that was forced to resign. What possible contacts would he still have all this time later to allow the Hornets to take over the planet? That seemed odd. Them wanting to improve the world was good though and I did enjoy how Mike was invigorated by the prospect of becoming the Doctor. It was fun when the Doctor realised that he had placed the advert under the Hornets' control and from there we had a good encounter. I loved that the Doctor used Yates' knowledge of the Hornets after being under their influence to locate the source but I was less a fan of the use of fire against the swarm. The Queen needed to be stopped and the whole royal jelly interference wasn't exactly the big conclusion I had hoped for. The swarm and young just reverting back to normal insects if the influence was gone was good, and it was nice that the Doctor wanted to dissuade the Queen rather than kill. The slipper coming back into play was unexpected but good continuity at least. The Queen snatching the slipper and slurping the jelly was quite sudden but the Doctor using the sonic screwdriver to adjust the slipper and shrinking the Queen who had lost her grip on the swarm was decent and weird at the same time, all happening pretty quickly! The Doctor expelling the Queen to the micro-verse was something I was a huge fan of though with the swarm left in anarchy as the hive burns. The remaining Hornets would be expelled far away from the zebra and everything seems to have been tied up. Overall, a decent listen and conclusion!

Rating: 7/10

A Sting in the Tale

"That pig was not sent to enlighten you."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor arrives in a bleak English midwinter of long ago. Plunging into the snowy landscape of the Dark Ages, he learns that wild dogs besiege the local Tilling Abbey every night. When he is given shelter by the sisters of the abbey, the Doctor begs an audience with the Mother Superior they fiercely protect. Something unearthly has already happened here – and if the Doctor is right, it's connected to hs recent encounters with an ancient enemy.

As night falls again, the dogs can be held off no longer – and the sisters' secret is about to be revealed. Forced to draw his enemy off into the depths of the TARDIS, the Doctor finds himself in a nightmarish chase through his own ship – but is he the pursuer, or the pursued? As they fight him on his own ground, the hornets are determined to possess his mind...

Verdict

A Sting in the Tale was another really good story to continue the Hornet's Nest anthology! I thought this was really well done and before I venture too much into the audio itself, I have to mention how wonderful the CD cover artwork is! It is magnificent and definitely one of the favourite designs I have come across with my recent audio listenings. I liked how in the Doctor's recollection of this encounter there was immediately more mentioning of Mike and it was good for him to get a bit more dialogue between scenes, although I still think there should be slightly more. This adventure taking us to Tilling Abbey in 1039 was really good and I liked how it was a place for religious observants womenfolk. The mentions of demonic insects was fun and I liked that the Doctor was in this period to find the first indication of the Hornets' presence. The devil's hounds were great and a good description and I liked how the Doctor wanted contact with the Mother Superior. What I wasn't expecting was for her to be a pig. That was certainly unique! The sisters were clearly caught up with the Hornets and they were within the pig, as the Doctor could hear within due to that dreadful hum drone. The Queen of the Hive being within was good and something a little different. This one was nice and action packed especially with the Queen transferring presence into the wolf, who we'd later dub Captain which was good. The concept of being t-total as a way to ensure the Hornets could go within was certainly unexpected and came out of nowhere, but the Doctor's efforts to rid the Hornets from the universe and trying to take advantage of them all being within the wolf at one place were fantastic. He wanted to use something to lure them away and be gone with them and the connection with The Dead Shoes and the treats was amusing. The wolfhound in the TARDIS was excellent and I liked how urgently the Doctor was ushering them into his ship. His linking the Mandragora to the Hornets and the TARDIS not being impenetrable was really good stuff. I thought the nuns being contaminated by whiskey was a tad ridiculous but funny and I enjoyed the revelation that they'd kept the Queen prisoner within the pig as a result. It was ludicrous but enjoyable. The Doctor boasting at taking the Hornets out of time was great and the scenes deep within the TARDIS were fantastic. Even the Doctor was entering rooms he didn't even know were within! The Hornets taking over the Doctor was a good effort and I liked that their purpose was to protect the Queen. The Doctor mentioning the Pescatons and Krynoids in an attempt to block his thoughts from the hive was magnificent, but in vain as it appeared they had taken him over and were headed for Earth. The way this linked with The Circus of Doom was excellently done as they left the Doctor in search of humans with complex minds and dangerous thoughts. As we know, this would be Antonio as it was quickly learned the TARDIS had landed in Venice in 1768 and linked everything up with what we have heard thus far very nicely. It all came together well and explained the different paths on the timeline for the Doctor and the Hornets. As expected, the Doctor was completely responsible for the Hornets and what he has encountered in his recollections. Percy Noggins was the one who drew him in the first play and the Hornets had lain dormant in Ernestina which was great. Everything had ended up here at Nest Cottage and we're back where it all began ahead of the final confrontation. I have enjoyed the build and it's been steady and consistent and I hope we get quite an eventful and impactful finale! The Doctor explaining that he hadn't placed the advert for Yates was an unexpected and intriguing way to finish with the suggestion that it was Wibbsey causing confusion amongst both the Captain and the Doctor! What role will Mike have to play? As they emerge from the basement, I look forward to finding out! Overall, a great audio.

Rating: 8/10

The Circus of Doom

"Evil has entered our town."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: November 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

The circus has come to town – and so has the Doctor! Watching the parade pass by in 1832, he finds the people of Blandford strangely drawn towards the garish big top. He knows something is terribly wrong. The only thing to do is pay a visit. Meanwhile Adam Farrow finds his sister caught up with the circus and its sinister ringmaster. What is behind Antonio's almost hypnotic power, and how is it connected with an event in the Doctor's future? Seized by clowns and forced into the centre of the ring, the Doctor encounters the fiercest of all circus acts. Yet something much more terrifying lurks in the wings – and the sound it makes is horribly familiar. Lives will be lost before the circus moves on – and the Doctor will face his own doom on the high wire.

Verdict

The Circus of Doom was a great audio adventure to continue my listening of Hornet's Nest! This was definitely the best of the anthology series so far and was a real joy to listen to. I liked the setting of Blandford in 1832 and whilst it wasn't too much of a surprise with what we got thanks to the information garnered in The Dead Shoes, this was a really enjoyable tale. The scene was set from the off with Sally describing how the whole town had been out to the Circus of Delights and now it was all very quiet which was eery. Sally's fear of the circus was intriguing and I liked how the gossip had travelled about it being a truly amazing spectacle. Of course, the Doctor's interest was peaked and that was heightened when he felt the presence of the Hornets nearby, even if they were laying know. That was something that interested me as well and with five days of shows for the circus, there was plenty of time to explore. The lure of the town to the circus was fantastic and it was good that everyone wanted to attend, and it wasn't entirely down to their choice of entertainment. Antonio as the Ringmaster along with Francesca the bearded tightrope performer made for quite the act and I just really enjoyed the whole Greatest Showman vibe. The exotic nature worked well and Antonio being a dwarf with the hornets inside him was very good and intriguing. The Doctor taking in the circus performance and being enthralled by the show was wonderful and Tom Baker was definitely allowed to shine as the Fourth Doctor once again. Discovering that the Hornets fed on raw negative feelings was great and I found the Doctor's venture with the hallow lion very amusing! Antonio revelling in the audience being invoked with the fear of death was very good and I also enjoyed Farrow's character and him knowing that the circus was evil. He was a man of science and the dynamic that brought with the Doctor's revelations was terrific. Antonio having told Francesca all about the Doctor was good despite being predictable and I like how we are already setting up the next instalment of the series, especially with the Doctor being referred to as the ancient enemy! It worked well for Farrow to be Francesca's brother as she was far from the sister he knew by this point. The connection with the slippers, despite their ludicrous nature, was really good and the Doctor describing how he'd seen the remains was quite chilling. Sally and the others having disappeared was a good plot development and the Doctor's venture inside Antonio's trailer and hearing the buzzing within was very well done.  I really enjoyed Antonio's description of the history he had with the Hornets and telling of how he was 13 and living in Venice consumed by murder. His love of trickery and magic being provided from an appearance of the TARDIS was superb and something I didn't expect. I also didn't foresee the Hornets emerging from within! This was 1768, but the prospect of the Doctor being responsible and to blame for all that the Hornets do and have done was excellent. I thought that was a lot of fun and presents the Doctor with quite the conundrum moving forward as he can't change the future that he's lived through. The Hornets leaving Antonio and stinging the Doctor seemed quick and I was a little confused that we didn't know where they were headed. Sally being found in the cell with the others was good and I liked how she was to rally an evacuation and prevent the town from attending the Circus of Delights. Farrow's hopes that there was something left of Francesca was sad because she didn't last long before being subsumed and going reckless and mad. The Doctor luring her up high to the tightrope was fantastic and the lack of safety net provided tension. The Hornets making Francesca dance perilously was interesting, and I loved how through her the Hornets challenged the Doctor and claimed he was the cause of all they do. Francesca's death was very sudden and impactful and now the Hornets were left with a new nest to lead us into the previous episode from their perspective. The Doctor only turned for a second and it was costly, but he'd brought Antonio's corpse to the future protected by the shield and was actually the gnome that Yates had seen which was pretty disturbing. Now, there was just one more tale to go and it will take us back a millennium. Overall, a great audio story! 

Rating: 8/10

The Dead Shoes

"I believe those shoes are dancing to someone else's tune."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: October 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

Visiting the English seaside town of Cromer in the summer of 1932, the Doctor happens upon the strange world of the Cromer Palace of Curious. The young Ernestina Scott is unusually beguiled by one of the museum's exhibits, and when the Doctor befriends her, they unwittingly embark upon a terrifying escapade. Chased by animated dolls through a nightmarish model house, the Doctor realises he is being hunted by a familiar enemy. The unmistakable sound of hornets is in the air, and they are keen to speak to him. Overseeing this game of cat and mouse is the Palace of Curios' curator – a certain Mrs Wibbsey...

Verdict

The Dead Shoes was another decent story to continue the Hornet's Nest anthology. I was intrigued with the continuation from The Stuff of Nightmares and even though it was established that this audio would be from the perspective of the Doctor recalling a past encounter with the Hornets, I expected Mike Yates to feature more prominently. Whilst he ended up with what was essentially a pair of cameos to bookend the adventure, and they were great, I was just expecting more of him. It wasn't a bad thing in the slightest and him serving as the subject for the Doctor's tale is fun. There probably just needed to be a bit more interruption on Mike's behalf like in the first instalment. I enjoyed the 1932 setting and that worked well as we meet Ernestina Stott and her dancing performances were revelling the local community. The Cromer Palace of Curios was a fantastic museum setting and definitely seems like somewhere I would want to visit! This serving as the place where the Doctor met Mrs Wibbsey was good and unexpected given the time difference. I thought the Doctor's line of "I never forget a face" was excellent in seeing Stott and it just reminded me of The Day of the Doctor line with the Curator which was tremendous. Ernestina having some hornet trouble was good and the idea of a leech detection device was interesting and I actually expected more to come of that. Ernestina claiming to not meet the Doctor when we had heard that very meeting was intriguing and the concept of her dancing slippers giving her ungodly abilities was quite something. I mean, even for Doctor Who, supernatural slippers is beyond bonkers. This is certainly shaping up to be a unique set of stories! The Doctor hoping Mrs Wibbsey had the answers for whose shoes they were was good and a nice development and I liked how she did know that Stott was in grave danger. The storm that came with the Hornets attempting to take over Stott and control her was pretty good but I wasn't a huge fan of the Doctor using his trusty scarf to essentially lasso her to safety from jumping off a cliff. That just didn't seem believable. Wibbsey having been the guard for Francesca as the Hornet host was an intriguing move and one I liked and I thought the concept of once being infected or infiltrated by the Hive, you were weakened and could never be the same. It was clear that Wibbsey was serving the Hornets as her masters and the intention for Stott to be the new host was great. I was less a fan of Wibsbey's vocal chords being used to miniaturise the Doctor and Ernestina, but once they were smaller it was quite fun to have them in the doll house. The peg dolls coming to life might have served for the basis of what we saw in Night Terrors which was fun to think about. Hearing about Francesca's history as a tightrope walker in a circus was brilliant and I liked how that was a hint of what is to come in the next story, with the Hornets describing how it had been a century since they last encountered the Doctor. Except for him, it hadn't happened yet. They were dancing the temporal tango which was the best line of the audio. The Doctor revelling in not having his mind infiltrated was marvellous and this was definitely an improved outing for Tom Baker. The scarf being used again along with Stott's stockings to escape the attic was a bit repetitive and just not quite believable for me. The line from the Doctor claiming that he didn't wear the scarf for fashion was fantastic though! The use of the sonic screwdriver to return to size was logical if not easy, but Wibbsey's reaction made that a tremendous moment. Stott being forced into wearing the slippers again to fall under control was intriguing and the comment about the Hornets having been on Earth for nearly a millennium was mightily interesting. Might we keep reverting back through time as the series rolls on? I thought Ernestina was freed quite simply but the Reverend's reaction to the shoes still dancing with no wearer was very good. The explanation as to how the Doctor acquired Wibbsey as his housekeeper in the future, 2002 apparently, was marvellous and I like how he keeps having to hypnotise her due to her being susceptible to the Hive. The format of things moving forward with the Doctor teasing where the trail led next was really good and I look forward to hearing the next encounter! Overall, a good listen.

Rating: 7/10 

The Stuff of Nightmares

"I was about to encounter a living ghost."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: September 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Yates

Synopsis

Wanted: retired army Captain for light household duties and fireside companionship. Must tolerate mild eccentricity and strong scientific advice. Knowledge of Giant Maggots, Super Intelligent Spiders and Prehistoric Monsters a positive boon.

Responding to an advert apparently worded for him alone, Captain Mike Yates (retired) is reunited with a ghost from the past. But why has the Doctor, that mysterious traveller in time and space, sent for his former UNIT acquaintance? Trapped by a horde of vicious creatures in an apparently innocuous English country cottage, the two old friends are on the brink of an enormous adventure. As the Doctor relates his recent escapades, it becomes clear to Mike that they – and the Earth at large – are facing an enemy of unimaginable power and horrific intent. The nightmare is only just beginning...

Verdict

The Stuff of Nightmares was quite an intriguing audio to kick off the Hornet's Nest anthology of Doctor Who audios! It's quite staggering to think that this is Tom Baker's return to the role of the Fourth Doctor because this rather a barmy tale! I liked how we started with Yates and the advert that adorns the synopsis to attract his attention was magnificent with the references to the Giant Maggots and Spiders. The idea of the Master being the one to place the advert by Mrs Wibbsey was fun and she was a great little character who had a strong introduction, even if she wasn't actually around for much of the audio. The concept of the Doctor owning a little house is a lot of fun and that's the case here with Nest Cottage which I am sure will be good as the series rolls on. The reference to Invasion of the Dinosaurs with Yates having lost his captainship at UNIT was nicely done and I enjoyed his talk of the the timelines for the Doctor and how any old version of him could show up at any time. I like having an older Yates as it's an original and unique dynamic, with unique being the operative word for this adventure. A weasel seemingly emerging from the Doctor's throat and being shot before he then calmed and soothed a loose owl. It was all rather strange as we learned the Doctor needed to concentrate and we would learn the link to museums no longer wanting stuffed animals was a big one and something of a rampage. It was slightly ludicrous but fun at the same time. Percy Noggins was a good character and the Doctor soon hunted after him as he was the one to deal with the dead animals. The Doctor wanting answers and going to the source via a corpse-filled lorry was a startling image but I must admit that I loved the idea of stuffed animals being reanimated and filled with hate. Unique doesn't begin to cut it! The Doctor suspecting that Noggins was not the puppet master was good and he came to that conclusion by thinking him a pathetic man which actually seemed in line with the fourth incarnation. Things did get a bit too silly for my liking when the badger infiltrated the cottage but the continued references to the lingering smell of preservatives was good. It kept us guessing but pointing in a direction. The Hornets emerging from the brain of the badger was an unexpected development but it did seem a bit too weird and strange. Maybe that's the intent? Perhaps it's still too early for me to have a full grasp. The Doctor mentioning he was fond of Dodos was nice but I didn't think it was right for him to say he kept one in the form of his First Doctor companion. The insect mentions of the Zarbi and Wirrn were much welcomed and I liked how Noggins was clearly being controlled from within. His masters being seething with the Doctor was good and their beliefs in them merely being empty vehicles was terrific. The Hornets having the ability to take possession of human minds is a dangerous one and I liked that they can alter size at will. Their talking through Noggins was a bit sudden but their comments about not liking being all skeleton and mankind having a lot of flesh to burrow in and provide food and warmth was very disturbing. The mention of the hive was good, although I couldn't understand why such a big deal was made of the revelation that the insects were alien. Wasn't that obvious all along? The Doctor appealing to Percy within himself and the hive was very good and allowed Tom Baker to shine and he realised that all of the stuffed animals contained a shard of the hive mind within. This required a pied piper in the form of Percy which was great and I liked how them all needing to be together explained the stuffed animal 'artwork' throughout the cottage. The cottage contained a force-shield with some TARDS help, although that wasn't around which was intriguing. The Hornets claiming to have met the Doctor before was interesting and with them wanting his mind at their centre, I thought the concept of him having fought them time and time again as he sought brief respite to be really good and it has kept me interested for the next story. The way the Doctor told the story to Yates was delightful and I liked how his cellar brought similarities to his UNIT set up, but now things are ready for the mystery of the dead shoes which sounds just as barmy as this one was. Overall, a decent story that did venture into being too silly on times. Still, a good listen!

Rating: 7/10