The Masters of Luxor

"The TARDIS was dead."

Writer: Anthony Coburn (Adapted by Nigel Robinson)

Format: Audio

Released: August 2012

Series: Lost Stories 3.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

The TARDIS is drawn to a mysterious signal emanating from a seemingly dead world. Trapped within a crystalline structure, the Doctor and his friends inadvertently wake a vast army of robots that have lain dormant for many, many years. Waiting... for the Masters of Luxor. 

The Perfect One wants to become more than just a mockery of a man, and will stop at nothing to achieve it. But will the cost prove too great?

The travellers are about to uncover a horrifying tragedy. A tragedy that threatens to engulf them all.

Verdict

The Masters of Luxor was a really good Lost Stories audio adventure! It's quite incredible to think that was conceived by Anthony Coburn as the second serial and it beggars belief how the life of Doctor Who might have been altered had this story made it to screen in place of The Daleks. Thankfully, that didn't happen but it was fascinating to listen with that in mind. I thought this was a really solid tale that would definitely have worked as part of the first season and whilst it's clear that it has been altered slightly to fit in with the Lost Stories continuity for this TARDIS quartet, it was very much of those early days and that's lovely to hear. I'm a big fan of ensuring continuity so the references to The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance and Farewell, Great Macedon were terrific, especially in establishing that the events of the latter were only the previous day. At over three-and-a-quarter hours, this was a mammoth listen and I was worried that with only three actors that time may feel like an awful lot. However, that was far from the case and the switching from dialogue and narration by Carole Ann Ford and William Russell was really well done. The transitions to Susan, Barbara, Ian and the Doctor were effortless and it was nice to hear Russell's take on the First Doctor. It's a brilliant job. I thought the characterisation of the first incarnation was strong and the idea of him taking Ian and Barbara back to their own time never felt believable. At least on this occasion it wasn't his fault as they got caught up in the signal dragging them to Luxor. The introduction of the Perfect One was intriguing and I thought the entire history and backdrop of his character was excellent. Playing with the idea of robots becoming human and not the other way around was very interesting. I particularly enjoyed Ian's reaction to that being a man of science, but it was his reaction to what the Masters of Luxor had done to women that provided his strongest moment. The revelation that they saw women as bearers and not much more so experimented on them was shocking and caused an outrage, so I was a little surprised that the Doctor didn't back Ian more and actually challenged what humanity had done for the advancement of science regarding other life. The Derivatrons were a fun bunch of robots despite what they stood for and their inability to accept anything they regarded as illogical as being able to happen was a challenge. A lot didn't compute with the presence of the TARDIS team. My favourite aspect of the adventure was the TARDIS being drained of its power, and then that power being used by their new environment. I always like the threat posed by the helplessness of no TARDIS and that seems even more pertinent in the early days. Tabon was a strong character and the emotion that was revealed over the course of the six parts was really well done. He initially seemed like an evil creator of the Perfect One but it soon transpired that it was against his will and he'd gone into sleep for seven years instead of face death as a coward because of what he'd done. His sacrifice and aiding of the Doctor to get power back to the TARDIS was fantastic. I loved the desperation heard in the TARDIS with them wanting the time rotor to begin motioning, and having that mirrors with Tabon holding the Perfect One in his arms as the planet collapsed was very powerful. Overall, a great story!

Rating: 8/10