Lurkers at Sunlight's Edge

"Death can't be cheated, but with the Doctor you can never be sure."

Writer: Marty Ross

Format: Audio 

Released: November 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 141

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

1934: the TARDIS lands on a snowy island off the coast of Alaska – one that wasn't there four years, three months and six days ago, according to the Doctor. The island is dominated by a vast, twisted citadel. Inside it, the Lurkers lie dreaming. It's said when they wake the world will end...

Led by the ruthless Emerson Whytecrag, an expedition has come to the citadel to exploit the horrors in its ebon-dark interior. Horrors just like those published in the pages of the pulp magazine Shuddersome Tales, where a hero's only reward is madness, death... or worse. Horrors that the Doctor and his companions are about to wake up.

Verdict

Lurkers at Sunlight's Edge was a very decent continuation of the Monthly Adventures and a somewhat calmer end to what has been an incredibly eventful and emotional trilogy for the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex! This one didn't feel like the threat was on the scale of what we heard in Project: Destiny and A Death in the Family, but the theme of death running through for Hex in particular was excellent. I'm intrigued to hear if that will be taken further as it does definitely seem to be coming a common occurrence for this trio, with Hex believing he'd lost both the Doctor and Ace once again. I was a big fan of the Alaska setting as that's quite unusual for Doctor Who and works really well in audio, and having it in 1934 also worked well and provided some fun comments regarding Ace supposedly being a doctor and Hex revealing himself as a nurse. That was met with more than one scoff! The mystery of the island was really good and I think keeping the secret of that for a bit longer would have been a better approach when it came to the impact of the truth. I thought it was fun to have Ace dangling on an ice cliff and the Doctor referencing the infamous events of Dragonfire involving his dangling from one by his umbrella was wonderful. I really enjoyed that. I liked that it was acknowledged that the TARDIS is still white and that remains an image I still struggle to accept and comprehend. CP Doveday was a strong character and I really enjoyed the relationship he built with Ace. The moments where he was talking in almost story form were strong but I never really bought into the danger that he was the most dangerous man on the planet. That just didn't seem to fit right with him writing stories. Of course, the truth regarding his existence is a sad one with Dr Gabriel having influenced his memories and believing that he had a childhood, when of course he was truly a scout for the Karnas'koi. They were an intriguing race as the titular Lurkers and I'd have liked more emphasis on the dream element of their presence, but the explanation behind them and the island was good even if it came too early. Doveday bouncing between human and Karnos'koi form worked well enough and the emotion that came from his death and him not dying in human form was powerful. Ace was really distraught by that which was fantastic. Whytecrag made for a decent villain and I'd honestly have preferred it if it was just him up to no good with no alien involvment. His fascination with the Karnos'koi story of having invaded the Earth millions of years ago was decent, but I must admit I didn't totally get the logic behind their return. Corbin's role in events as the previous lead of the base and going missing was very good, with Atkins also a very strong character to compliment a great cast. I thought the pace was great and whilst the cliffhangers weren't overly threatening, this flowed well and a had a very decent at the heart of the plot in a really good setting. Hex's final comments in the TARDIS about escaping death and getting closer and closer to it was harrowing and I anticipate a foreshadowing of future events. Overall though, a good audio adventure!

Rating: 7/10