The Alchemists

"What difference does being a Jew make?"

Writer: Ian Potter

Format: Audio

Released: August 2013

Series: Companion Chronicles 8.02

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in Berlin in the 1930s, where Hitler and his National Socialist party are in the ascendant.

Some of the greatest scientific minds are gathering here: Einstein, Heisenberg, Planck, Schrodinger, Wigner. The people who will build the future of planet Earth.

But the Doctor and Susan have brought something with them. Something apparently harmless, something quite common. Yet something that could threaten the course of history...

Verdict

The Alchemists was a very good Companion Chronicles audio! I thought this was a solid adventure from start to finish and I really liked Carole Ann Ford's narration in this one. She was hugely impressive and I thought her take on the First Doctor was terrific. That was an unexpected delight I have to say. I'm always a fan of stories set prior to the events of An Unearthly Child because that is unchartered territory and there is so much potential for things to go wrong and skew just a little bit from what we are used to. Hearing the TARDIS described with the chameleon circuit intact will never fail to be a little strange but I love that it happens because it shows that it did once work and also gives importance to that first televised serial whilst also establishing that this wasn't where things began. I liked the idea of Susan writing a letter to Barbara describing the events of this particular adventure before she and Ian came aboard and her envisaging a time where she would no longer be travelling with her grandfather in the TARDIS showed a level of maturity which was fantastic. I thought she was great in this one. The TARDIS arriving in Germany during the rise of Nazism was magnificent and such a good setting. Placing the curious and daring First Doctor in this period was superb and let's not forget, his favourite period of Earth history was during the French Revolution so who knows what he made of this era! The suggestion from Susan of Hitler being the person he was hoping to see whilst in the time was fun and I enjoyed how her grasp on German history wasn't quite up to scratch. The Doctor's fascination with the scientific breakthroughs of the time and locale was wonderful and he really did seem like he would fit in well. Given the range, it was a good move to have him left at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. The cliffhanger with the suggestion of help from the SA was decent, but surely the moment of him being kidnapped would have been better? I thought Pollitt was a good character and Strittmatter was fantastic! The humour regarding the latter's taxi service was brilliant and I liked how the pair linked up by the audio's conclusion as British spies. The desire to create gold in secret and economically was a very unique premise for a Doctor Who story but I really enjoyed that this was a pure historical. There's nothing better sometimes and having the Doctor and Susan mixed up in current affairs of the time is just terrific. The way the German economy and the continued impact of reparations following World War One were used to present the society was good, and the Doctor and Susan presenting gold that seemed recently pressed because it was new was marvellous! I do think there could have been more of the Doctor featuring despite the companion focus of this series/range and I wasn't a huge fan of how easily he and Susan escaped the hands of Pollitt. It seemed a bit quick and easy and from nowhere the audio seemed to be over which was a little shame as I was enjoying it very much! The mentions of history and not being able to change it was fun and educational and pondering over whether the Doctor and Susan ensured that World War Two still took place was a good element. The thought! Overall, an enjoyable audio! 

Rating: 8/10

Gardens of the Dead

"It is a conjuring trick, and nothing more."

Writer: Jenny T. Colgan

Format: Audio

Released: January 2016

Series: Short Trips 6.01

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

Turlough has joined the TARDIS – the snake in the orchard – and is trying, with limited success, to gain the others' trust.

Bet when they land in the Gardens of the Dead, the whole tea, – Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough – will have to join forces and fight together to keep the Doctor safe. And discover what is behind the very last door in the TARDIS.

Verdict

Gardens of the Dead was an excellent little Short Trips audio! This was a real treat and gem of an audio adventure and certainly one I would recommend to any Doctor Who fans! The price of £2.99 really is a steal for a story like this, and if I remember correctly I think I paid even less than that as part of a sale. So in my eyes this was certainly money very well spent. I thought the placement of the adventure within the Black Guardian trilogy of Season 20 was terrific and gave us a rare and brand new outing with the quartet of the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough which was a lot of fun. This one seemed to come straight after the events of Mawdryn Undead which I very much liked and there was definitely a feeling of tension amongst the TARDIS team. That is somewhat rare so provided a very nice dynamic. The Australian humour between Turloguh and Tegan was great fun and you could just hear that it was going to aggravate the Doctor. The placement of this adventure was magnificent partly because of Turlough still hearing the voices in his head and being under the mission orchestrated by the Black Guardian. That was incorporated into the adventure fantastically well with Turlough having at least one opportunity to kill the Doctor as requested. The idea of the Doctor fixing the guidance system of the TARDIS was good and the reactions that garnered from his companions was terrific. They weren't going to believe that! Turlough using the controls of the TARDIS to prove a point against Tegan was an unexpected and interesting moment as well! Nyssa's apparent possession was good and I thought the idea behind the Gardens of the Dead was outstanding! It was what it says on then tin in regards of it giving physical representation to those you had lost. It did this through a psychic feel of dust which was good and I liked that its purpose was comfort. So when a death occurred that didn't quite meet the peaceful remit! Nyssa seeing an amalgamated form of the Master and her father Tremas was excellent and I really did feel sorry for her that her memories had been stamped upon meaning she saw the two together and struggled to separate them in her mind. That must be torment! The dusty figure who died seemingly being the Doctor was a good temporary moment of panic and the explanation of there being a parasite was fantastic. I thought it worked well to have it immobilised by water and Turlough ending up saving the Doctor after dragging him through nearly every room in the TARDIS was terrific exploration! I am always in favour of delving deep into the depths of the TARDIS so I enjoyed that element very much. Turlough toying with his mission and the mental presence of the Black Guardian was brilliant and I really liked how he enjoyed the feeling of being trusted by his fellow companions. His finding of a replica of the Gardens of the Dead inside the TARDIS was an intriguing development and harked back nicely to a point earlier in the audio with the Doctor not wanting to see those he had lost. The companions somewhat begrudgingly getting along and agreeing to trust Turlough at the end was good and hearing his thoughts post-Planet of Fire about Nyssa and the events of Terminus that followed was wonderful. Overall, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10

The Murder Game

"Do hand-held energy weapons come as standard issue for hoteliers these days?"

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Novel

Released: July 1997

Series: PDA 02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben

Synopsis

The faded glamour ion a hotel in space, spinning in an all-but-forgotten orbit round the Earth, is host to some unusual visitors this weekend – including a party that claim to travel in a batter blue police box...

It is the year 2146. Answering a distress call from the dilapidated Hotel Galaxian, the TARDIS crew discover a fames enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But it seems someone from this motley group of guests is taking things a little too seriously. 

While the Doctor, Ben and Polly find themselves joining in the shadowplay, it becomes clear that a real-life murderer is stalking the dark, disused corridors of the Galaxian. But worse than this, there's a sinister force waiting silently in space for events to unfold. A terrible secret is hidden on board the Galaxian, and if it is discovered nothing – least of all murder – will ever be the same again. If this is a game, the stakes just got higher.

Verdict

The Murder Game was a fantastic novel! As far as Past Doctor Adventures go, this was a terrific read and based upon my notes containing my ratings for all original novels, this was the best Second Doctor original book I have read! So that's quite the feat so far. I really enjoyed the premise of the plot with the idea of a futuristic murder mystery in space being very appealing! The Hotel Galaxian setting made that work brilliantly well and we were rapidly introduced to a number of characters and they would all play a big part. I did like that aspect of the story in that there weren't really any minor characters and everybody meant something to the mystery of the murder. I thought the likes of Daphne and Henry Mace were really good and I enjoyed the latter's turn towards the end. Hornby was a good character and he must have been revelling in the fact he was playing the part of an affair with Polly. The insinuation there was good and the sexual tension without mentioning it was evident in a big way in this book, especially with the relationship that developed between Ben and Terri. I thought that was excellent and I loved that Polly was looking on with jealousy. Ben was clearly interested and attracted to her, but he felt guilty because of his feelings to Polly which were so much more than mere looks. The mutual feeling between the pair and the way they came to embrace at the end of the novel was superb. Their characters and relationship as a whole was written fantastically well. Ben's initial reaction to taking part in a role playing game was good and what I'd expect, but one of the highlights came with the Doctor taking on the role of Lucy - Ben's character's fiancé! The image of the Second Doctor adorning a dress was magnificent and fitted in really well with the placement between The Power of the Daleks and The Highlanders. It was interesting to get a new tale without Jamie accompanying this trio as it's quite a rare occurrence so expanding on the time between television serials is something I always endorse. The Adlers were very good characters and the way their true identities were slowly revealed worked really well. I thought the death of Matlock provided a good basis for a true murder mystery and the concept of a role playing game turning into the real deal was terrific, even if that's exactly what I anticipated. I loved that a novel by this book's title made its way into the story and actually had quite a big role. Melrose's death was an intriguing development and from there it seemed that no character was safe! The Selachians were ruthless and I really liked the concept of them being aquatic creatures who had not only mastered land, but beyond and into the realm of space. They were utterly devastating and the moment they murdered in cold blood in front of a large party showed they meant business. Everybody was at risk and the demeanour in the Doctor clearly changed from that point. The writing of the second incarnation was terrific. The basis of the mystery hinging on the disks containing the ultimate weapon of programmable death was excellent and seeing it in action was really good. It was almost bulletproof in terms of delivering a result, but the inclusion of failsafes meant that it would only kill its chosen target and that came into play in a big and fun way. The Doctor essentially concocting the very first sonic screwdriver was something I loved and the suggestion that this might be where he also picked up the John Smith pseudonym suggests this adventure is pretty important in Doctor Who history! I was surprised that Terri attempted to kill Ben towards the conclusion as that was an unexpected final twist, but despite her protection from the weapon she met her fate. Ben's reaction to realising he had been used all along only for Polly to iterate that there was a semblance of feelings from Terri towards him was great stuff. But Ben deserved better apparently. The suggestion earlier on that Polly and Ben had the same descendants was magnificent. I thought the continuity from adventures set after this was fantastically done with the likes of T-Mat and the Doctor's dealings at UNIT featuring. The events of The Tenth Planet being mention was also terrific and I loved how Polly and Ben used the experiences with computers in The War Machines in this story. The conclusion on the Selachain ship and the passages under water were tense and Ben's final moments heading to the TARDIS and tricking the programme into destroying the entire Selachian ship was excellently done. That tied up everything very neatly. The use of the TARDIS in the book was a lot more extensive than what we would see on television at this point, but it's refreshing to see its full capabilities used during this era. Overall, I thought this was a brilliant book!

Rating: 9/10

The Eternal Battle

"We face our bleakest hour."

Writers: Cavan Scott & Mark Wright

Format: Audio

Released: February 2017

Series: FDA 6.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

The TARDIS has landed in a war zone. The Doctor, Romana and K9 find themselves traipsing through an inhospitable battlefield. Strange lights flicker in the sky, and stranger creatures lurk in the darkness.

When rescued from an attack by a Sontaran tank, the time-travellers discover they're facing a far more dangerous foe than the battle-hungry clones. This terrifying fight has been going on longer than anyone can remember... and shows no signs of stopping.

With the TARDIS missing and their luck running thin, the Doctor and his friends' only hope of survival is to uncover the truth about what is happening on this planet. If they can discover the secret of the eternal battle they might just survive... but it might just mean the end of them all.

Verdict

The Eternal Battle was an excellent audio adventure! I really am a big fan of the Fourth Doctor Adventures as I think the one-hour format works really well and is very much suited to Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor. Coupling him with Lalla Ward as the second incarnation of Romana and you have what is potentially my favourite TARDIS pairing. They're just terrific together and that chemistry and relationship was there from the off as soon as they were pitted against the Sontarans. I'm a massive fan of the Sontarans as enemies and I loved the premise behind this story. The concept of the Sontarans being scared is magnificent and I think it's just wonderful that the only thing that caused them to admit fear was themselves. The irony from a personal perspective with the fallen Sontarans returning to life was that I listed to this audio shortly after watching the film World War Z and the parallels were quite uncanny! That made me chuckle for sure. The Doctor intending to take Romana to a pencil museum was a fun way to start the audio given her somewhat lack of enthusiasm and this reminded me of a trip to Bratislava I had last year and made sure to go to the Museum of Clocks. It's fair to say my social media replies were echoing the sentiments of Romana! Having K9 in an adventure is always a lot of fun and his logical and point blank humour never fails to amuse me. I thought Lenk was an excellent Field Major and I loved how things developed from his initial plans to execute the Doctor and his associates on sight. The Doctor not fearing that would come into fruition was a lot of fun as well and showed his boldness. There was something more at play here and zombie Sontarans is a wonderful way to go. The addition of 'human scum' into the story worked really well and I liked how they thought it was the Sontarans that were responsible for the dead returning to life. Stom was another marvellous Sontaran and I really loved his relationship with the Doctor. The Sontarans being a little surprised by the Doctor and Romana's willingness to help was wonderful stuff. The theme of dishonour was brilliant here and with the Sontarans devoting their lives to Sontar and the honour that comes with battle and death was made fascinating given that returning to life after falling and not truly dying was seen as an incredible dishonour. I was a big fan of that. The Sycon was an unexpected and intriguing element of the audio and her place at the far future and ends of the universe was really good. I liked how the Doctor likened the Sontaran-human conflict to being specimens in a jar and it was just fantastic that the Doctor had always wanted to meet one. That said a lot about their standing in the universe. Them doing this to show the futility of conflict was a terrific idea and there is no species better to incorporate into a situation like this one than the Sontarans. Their intentions for a time loop to keep the war going, but it going wrong in the code resulting in the dead returning to life rather than events being repeated was really well done. I thought that was an excellent concept and a fun way to resolve things for the Doctor. Romana's reaction when the TARDIS and Doctor finally came for her was marvellous. I thought the ending with the use of the probic vent and the Sontarans allowing the Doctor and Romana to leave, but with a slight semblance of honour, was just terrific. Overall, a hugely enjoyable listen!

Rating: 9/10

The Enemy of My Enemy

"No Dalek is an ally of mine."

Writer: Tracy Ann Baines

Format: Audio

Released: October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious #2

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The people of Wrax are happy to begin peaceful negotiations with the Dalek Empire. The two species are preparing to engage in an alliance that will last throughout the ages.

The only one who seems to object to this happy union is the Doctor. He knows that you can never trust the Daleks.

But more than that, he knows that the Wraxians should never have existed...

Verdict

The Enemy of My Enemy was an outstanding audio adventure to continue the Time Lord Victorious arc! I think this was the best of the stories so far across any medium and I loved the immediate continuation from He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not with the Doctor being confronted by the Daleks. Paul McGann was magnificent as the Eighth Doctor here and I loved him toying with the Daleks and almost revelling in the fact that he had a welcome committee in excess of fourteen Daleks. The concept of the Daleks requesting help from the Doctor is always fun and the idea of them being scared by time being rewritten and the whole universe being at stake was excellent. Their mentioning of a mutual enemy was good and the Doctor describing a family outing between he and the Daleks to Wrax was a great deal of fun. This planet's predicament being new to the Doctor in the fact that it shouldn't have an atmosphere was very good and continued the overarching theme of things not being as they should be. Something was going very wrong somewhere in time and space and this was another effect. The Daleks claiming to be honoured and saluting the Wraxians upon arrival to the planet was uncharacteristic but very enjoyable. President Sarathin was a magnificent character and the humour that came with the instant and blunt response from the Daleks when they were offered refreshments was just marvellous. The Gallery of Victories was a wonderful part of Wrax with it containing the history of every world they had defeated and crushed beneath their feet. No wonder the Daleks fancied an alliance! The Doctor's realisation of what he had been brought into here was fantastic. The Devolver weapon was a superb concept and the interest the Dalek Scientist had in it was really great. The Doctor and the Daleks both not believing that the Wrax were the party responsible for the time distortion was good and their different reactions to the Devolver were good. The concept of it being a miracle of rebirth was sublime and I enjoyed Boros demonstrating it. The origin matrix containing the biodata of a species and it being left behind by the Kotturuh was just excellent. The Doctor being confused as to whether the Kotturuh were still alive or dead was also an intriguing element. The Eye of Wrax amplifying and beaming out across the universe was quite something and it was a chance for life to restart. The threat of one member of species potentially causing the restart of an entire race was magnificent. I was a huge fan of the weapon for sure! The Daleks were understandably impressed. The Doctor's Time Lord data being sampled was such a fun danger with the potential of turning the Eye on Gallifrey, and the threat that was then used against the Daleks with their data also being sampled was superb. I just adored the concept and the scale of the threat it provided. The Dalek deception wasn't exactly a surprise with them turning against Wrax but I still really enjoyed it as that's what I want and expect from the Doctor's greatest enemy. The Daleks having saved the Doctor certainly showed their contrasting nature here! I enjoyed the Doctor trapping Sarathin inside the Eye with him which meant she couldn't detonate the Devolver as the origin matrix was just part of a ritual. All that was required was a body, but it would focus on what was within the Eye and that would mean death for all Wraxians. The Doctor once again turning down the chance to wipe out the Daleks was a good way to hark back to Genesis of the Daleks but he didn't ponder the chance of genocide here which was interesting. I thought the ending was brilliant with the Doctor convincing Sarathin to destroy the Devolver and the Daleks eliminating their own biodata, before activating the weapon against the Wraxians out of spite. They were clearly deceiving the Doctor and his connecting of the TARDIS and the Dalek time ship was fascinating as he headed to the Dark Times to locate the source of all the distortion. I'm intrigued to hear what happens in the next audio as the Eighth Doctor is still with the Daleks at the end of The Knight, the Fool and the Dead so this alliance seems set to last. Overall, a wonderful audio!

Rating: 10/10

He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

 

"I'm not sure your world or whole society should even exist."

Writer: Carrie Thompson

Format: Audio

Released: October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious #1

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

On the deserted world of Atharna, the Doctor's life is about to be changed forever.

Looking to visit one of the Seven Hundred Wonders of the Universe, he's quickly embroiled in a web of deceit. Worse than that, this Wonder of the Universe is missing, and the Doctor is about to encounter one of his most dangerous and duplicitous adversaries.

The Doctor is about to meet Brian.

Verdict

He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not was a very good audio adventure to kick off the full cast contributions of Big Finish to the Time Lord Victorious range! I must admit that this wasn't quite what I was expecting but I did very much enjoy what we got. This served as a fun little introduction to Brian the Ood assassin and considering we have met him already in The Knight, the Fool and the Dead, this was not how I would have expected the Doctor to meet him. The relationship between Sophie and Felicity was really good and a nice way to start the story and having Brian there hunting Sophie as the target of his hired assassination was a lot of fun. I thought the continued mentions of Mr Ball were magnificent and I also found the voice really intriguing as he didn't sound like a traditional Ood. Felicity's father being the one to hire Brian to assassinate Sophie was a good dynamic considering that she was his daughter's partner! The Doctor in the TARDIS wanting to visit the 700 Wonders of the Universe was fantastic and I thought Paul McGann was fantastic. The Eighth Doctor is always a favourite of mine and placing this during the Time War was just another fun element of the wider story. Samson and Katherine were really good characters who shared some nice banter and their American-like accents certainly had an impact on the ears! The humour surrounding the harbouring of fugitives sign was terrific. The Doctor meeting Brian was a magnificent moment and I thought it was really interesting that this appeared to be the Doctor's first encounter with an Ood. The mention of the Sense Sphere was fantastic. The intrigue that came with the coordinates and the world of Atharna itself just being wrong was really good and followed a similar theme to Defender of the Daleks which I enjoyed. Katherine as the sheriff was brilliant and I really liked that she and Samson thought the Doctor was the assassin that Sophie had warned them about. That was a really good scene full of false tension. Felicity's father having designed his own child was quite the concept so because she had rebelled and broke her promise of devotion, he wanted his wife assassinated! Brian and Felicity entering the abode of Samson was excellent stuff and I liked the devious nature of the Ood in suspecting that Sophie was actually close at hand. There's something about an Ood voice that is just creepy brilliance. The Doctor having his TARDIS referred to as a time travelling clinic was something I was a big fan of as I'm not sure anybody has ever considered taken him to quite literally be a doctor to this extent! Craddock was a decent character but I was a little put off by how much he was interested in getting involved in any affairs involving females. He was a fellow doctor though which was good. The hologram disguises to try and get past Brian and deceive the assassin was unique to say the least! It was pretty good. All of them wearing the image of the Doctor or Craddock was good and I did quite like that Brian did kill one of them. Craddock was the unfortunate and Katherine wanted justice which I very much admired. She attempted to kill Brian herself, but the Doctor was offering him safe passage out in return for him breaking his contract which was fantastic. I liked the cliffhanger ending with the TARDIS suddenly being taken through the Time Vortex and the Doctor being united with the Daleks. Brian seemed to be a goner, and that has set things up very nicely for the next audio! Overall, a really good audio adventure. 

Rating: 8/10

Lesser Evils

 

"His own people had cast judgement."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious: Short Trips #2

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Kotturuh have arrived on the planet Alexis to distribute the gift of death to its inhabitants. The only person standing in their way is a renegade Time Lord, who has sworn to protect the locals. A Time Lord called the Master...

Verdict

Lesser Evils was a very good little Short Trips adventure to continue the Time Lord Victorious story arc! I was a fan of the simplicity of this audio and thought it did a really good job of giving the Kotturuh a voice. I must admit, I had been pronouncing their name entirely wrong but thankfully now that won't be the case in the future! I loved how things started with a single Kotturuh and establishing this individual as a woman was very good as it instantly provided some personality we were familiar with. I enjoyed getting to know this veiled woman quite well and hearing her cast judgement at the nature life on the planet Alexis was terrific. It was chilling with how easily she just decreed how long a species could live. The introduction of the Master into the audio was very good and I thought Jon Culshaw did a stellar job in bringing Anthony Ainley's excellent incarnation to life with his impression. It was magnificent and uncanny. It was impressive for him to also get the laugh in there as that is such a crucial component of the Ainley incarnation in my opinion. Except, the Master didn't have a lot to be laughing about with his circumstances during the events of this story. The idea of him being exiled (I presume) here on Alexis without his TARDIS must have drove him mad, but instead he seems to have become more sombre and at touch with nature which is quite a surprise. The calm nature in which he was presented was chilling because we know the capabilities of this incarnation and after listening, I found it intriguing that Simon Guerrier intended for the placement of this story from the Master's perspective to be between The Trial of a Time Lord and Survival. That certainly makes sense and works well in explaining how we found the Master in the latter serial. The conversations between the Master and the Kotturuh were magnificent and I loved how the latter appreciated the audacity and slyness of the former. That was the Master at his best there and even when he understood what capabilities the Kotturuh had, he was still his old mischievous self. That was admirable to say the least. His fascination and appreciation for the Mogellans was lovely to hear even though it was so uncanny of the Master we know and love as a villain. The way he was almost defending them and putting a case forward for the Kotturuh to judge them favourably was fantastic. I thought the idea of someone trying to persuade the Kotturuh and lean their judgement either way was a fun concept in of itself. The Master trying to get the Kotturuh to almost cast judgement upon themselves was also outstanding. The pace of the audio was good in that it was methodical and calm and that really did suit the Alexis setting with just the right level of background noise. As well as his impression, Jon Culshaw did a marvellous job in the narration and I do hope this isn't the last we hear from him. I don't expect it to be! I thought this one improved on Master Thief in that it felt much more a part of Time Lord Victorious and was just a more interesting story! I was intrigued from the off and I liked how it hooked me regarding the Kotturuh. Overall, a really positive and enjoyable listen!

Rating: 8/10

Master Thief

"Death is inevitable, even when you think you hold all of the cards."

Writer: Sophie Isles

Format: Audio

Released: October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious: Short Trips #1

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master wants to plunder one of the most secure vaults in the universe, the Repository. He's got a plan, and a deadly new weapon to assist him. However, as the Master quickly discovers, getting in might be easy, but getting away with it might cost him everything.

Verdict

Master Thief was a decent little Short Trips audio adventure to kick off Big Finish's contribution to the Time Lord Victorious range! However, despite a positive rating I couldn't help but feel this was somewhat a letdown as the placement in the range didn't really seem to make an awful lot of sense. As is the case with the connectivity amongst stories within this multi-platform range, I do hope there are answers to the questions presented here as this literally just felt like an ordinary tale featuring the Master with no connections to the Dark Times or the Kotturuh for example. Now, the story itself was hardly a bad one but it just seems misplaced at this moment in time. I will admit that I felt the opening of this adventure sadly lagged which considering the range it is a part of, that's not a positive! There was an awful lot of unnecessary description for what was actually quite a simple action of the Master going into the vaults of the Repository under supervision. Once we got there, things picked up thankfully and made for an entertaining listen but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried after the first fifteen minutes or so! I thought Jon Culshaw did a really good job as narrator and his impression of Roger Delgado's incarnation of the Master was fantastic. I felt like he grew into the performance and the benefits of having an impressionist as the sole actor for a story were felt here in a big way. Moving between narration and performing as the Master, it wasn't at all obvious that both parts were played by the same actor so that made listening really enjoyable. The mannerisms were there but credit also must go to Sophie Isles as the writer as her description of this incarnation of the Master was excellent. I felt it captured him really well. I liked the simple nature of the Master grinning when things didn't quite go his own way and Georgina not responding to his mental prowess on command was a terrific moment. The description of the pools of people (yep - literally!) was quite disturbing and I loved the Master's initial lack of remorse. His hunt for the map of the boneyard was very good and gave us an end goal, but the way the story developed I don't think it ended how anyone would have expected! The very concept of personalities being fed upon and consumed is outstanding and I just wish that this was presented from the start. As even though I still gave a very positive rating, I can't help but feel that an idea like that should be part of a better story. The image of the Master, and especially this Master, feeling remorse for his victims was brilliant and I loved how he was toying and almost arguing with himself about what he was enduring. He was clearly impacted because he left a visual message for his future self in the TARDIS with a stark warning of what was happening to him as he was literally becoming and feeling other people within, whilst also giving a stern reminder and using the last of his mental powers to ensure his future self obeyed him and remained the Master. He must remember who he was. Toying with the idea of presenting the Roger Delgado's Master regenerating was really intriguing and I think they should have gone with it and provided some sort of ordering for the multitude of Masters we now have. That could have been if it turned out the emaciated form we would see in The Deadly Assassin didn't follow the Delgado Master. Regardless, it was an excellent ending to a story that sadly started a little too slowly. The lines about the Master knowing a thing or two about shrinking things with his large structure in hand was definitely a highlight though! Overall, a decent outing. 

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who and the Robots of Death

"Robots never forgot anything, they were incapable of error."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: May 1979

Series: Target 53

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

On a desert planet the giant sandminer crawls through the howling sandstorms, harvesting the valuable minerals in the sand. 

Inside, the humans relax in luxury, while most of the work is done by the robots who serve them.

Then the Doctor and Leela arrive – and the mysterious deaths begin. First suspects, then hunted victims, Leela and the Doctor must find the hidden killer – or join the other victims of the Robots of Death.

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Robots of Death was an excellent novelisation of the cult classic of the same name (almost!). I was surprised before reading to find that this would only be 108 pages and that meant I absolutely flew through it! It has been some time since I watched this one and one thing that I always remember the story by is the incredible design of the server Robots. They look incredible and their appearance on the book cover definitely makes this design one of my favourites. I thought the description of the Robots was really well done in the novelisation and I also enjoyed the information surrounding the different types of Robots and their functions. The distinguishing between the D or Dums to then likes of the VOC and SV types was really good and actually crucial to the plot of the adventure as we would come to know. I really liked the continuity with The Face of Evil and it was fun for this to be Leela's first trip in the TARDIS since joining as companion. Her annoyance when she discovered that her use of a yo-yo had no bearing on the 'magic' of the TARDIS was wonderful and even this early on, the chemistry and relationship between the Doctor and Leela was palpable even in prose. I was a huge fan. Leela's hunter instincts kicking in throughout was very good to see and I liked how she had suspicions regarding Poul from the start. His suffering of Robophobia was presented very well and I liked how he was susceptible even as a double agent. That revelation was magnificent and I thought it was a lot of fun for the Doctor to interact with D.84 after knowing that the Robot could speak and was far from a Dum. I thought the role of the Company was decent and I enjoyed how quickly thing actually proceeded. Everything started to go wrong with the Doctor's arrival and the imagery of the sandminer itself was terrific. The cliffhanger within when it seemed the Doctor and Leela were doomed was fantastic. SV.7 made for an excellent villain and him being the lead Robot under the true command of Taren Capel was magnificent. I thought the mention of this character throughout the book before being revealed as Dask was very good indeed and I liked his last ditch attempt to get access before confirming his true identity. The logic of the Robots was brilliant throughout and the calm nature in which they carried out orders of killing was superb. That certainly added to the Robophobia! Uvanov was a great character as the head of the sandminer mission and his organisation, or lack thereof, when it came to trying to deduce who the murderer was at the start of the book was enjoyable. The back and forth and blame games being attached was fantastic stuff and the conflict made for a really good way to get to the know all of the characters quickly. Having a contained setting like the sandminer also helped with that. Toos was another very good character and her assuming command after Uvanov was relieved of his duties was terrific. Zilda, Cass and Borg all dying showed just how much death there was within this story but that was necessary to showcase the evil nature of Capel and his servitor robots. The conclusion to this one with the feedback loop is quick and easy but it works and having something simple in a story where logic is so prevalent works well for me. It's incredible how suddenly the Doctor and Leela depart and that is even more obvious in prose. Overall though, a really strong novelisation!

Rating: 9/10

The Daemons

"You have summoned me here, but I am not your slave."

Writer: Guy Leopald

Format: TV

Broadcast: 22 May - 19 June 1971

Season: 8.05

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

In the peaceful village of Devil's End something very strange is happening. A professor is preparing to open a nearby burial mound and a local white witch foresees death and disaster. Meanwhile, the new vicar looks suspiciously like the Master and he is using black magic to conjure up an ancient Daemon. Can the Doctor, Jo and UNIT stop their old enemy before he succeeds?

Verdict

The Daemons was an excellent Doctor Who serial and a fantastic way to end the eighth season! I have been looking forward to rewatching this particular story for quite some time because it has something of a cult classic standing amongst fandom and I have only seen it once before and that was back in 2012 amidst a mammoth and speedy run through the show from the very start. Watching as a standalone here was beneficial and I thought part one in particular was outstanding. It felt completely different to anything that had come before it and the build up to the midnight reveal with the news report atop Devil's Hump was superb. I was a really big fan of that and I liked the simplicity of the camera actually playing a part in the storytelling. It was very good directing and definitely made a positive impact on the serial. I really liked the relationship with the Doctor and Jo in this one and the latter definitely had a strong outing as companion. She was a lot of fun and even her hairstyle here was great. It was good to get continued hints regarding the relationship between Yates and Jo as well. I also really liked the simplicity of Yates and Benton catching the rugby highlights instead of watching the BBC programme covering the opening at Devil's Hump. The fact it was broadcast on BBC3 was a lot of fun and after watching, I thought it was great that this channel didn't come about until 2003. That's another one there for the UNIT dating controversy! The Brigadier had a humorous story here and his reaction to everything that was going on from afar with the Doctor and the predicament he'd got himself into was a lot of fun. The Devil's End setting was outstanding and a big highlight of the serial. It was a perfectly contained village setting for this type of story and I also have to praise Miss Hawthorne. She was a brilliant character and I really loved that she was proudly a white witch. The occult theme of the story and seeing the Master disguised as the Magister and dealing in black magic was tremendous. Roger Delgado looked the part in his robes and the sense of evil that came with his summons and incantation was superb. I liked the threat that the Master's black magic possessed and his summoning of Azal was really good. I thought the special effects were impressive for something five decades old and the booming presence of Azal worked well. The acting from Delgado and Jon Pertwee in looking at this ancient figure was magnificent. I thought the Demon was a lot of fun and a disturbed gargoyle-like appearance was great to see. I was a big fan of the fire barrier that surrounded Devil's End and the Doctor trying to help Osgood conjure up the means of breaking through was terrific. The cliffhangers in this one were impressive and I particularly enjoyed the Doctor being frozen and apparently dead. It was also fun to have a cliffhanger with the Master in peril. I thought the action in this one was very good and the use of explosions and impactful occurrences was terrific to see. The eureka moment from the Doctor after waking up was good and I loved the opening sequence of the first part with the stormy conditions and the animal shots. It set the tone so well for what was to come. The Master shone and that was just fantastic and I like how he ended up getting captured by UNIT at the end. The Doctor's magical demonstrations were tremendous and I loved how he used it to get out of being burned at the stake as a wizard. There was the right level of humour, action and tension and combining that with a brilliant contained setting and the dark magic and religious theme was brilliant. Overall, a really strong serial! 

Rating: 9/10

Patient Zero

 

"Everything about you is wrong."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: August 2009

Series: Monthly Adventures 124

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

Finally, the Sixth Doctor challenges Charlotte Pollard to tell him the truth. Who is she really? What is she doing in the TARDIS?

To discover the answers, the Doctor must travel back in time, beyond all known civilisations to the vast, mysterious Amethyst Viral Containment Station. But answers lie within the TARDIS too. Someone who has there a long, long time...

Meanwhile, the Daleks have travelled back in time on their own missing, to bring them the ultimate victory they crave. But it is a mission so complex and delicate that even they know they must beware the web of time...

Who is Patient Zero? What has happened to Charley? And why have the legendary Viyrans been summoned?

Verdict

Patient Zero was an excellent audio adventure to continue my way through the Big Finish Monthly Adventures! I thought this was a really strong story from start to finish and I like how close we are to getting answers regarding the Sixth Doctor and Charley. The former has grown tired of the latter's lies and deception and it was good for him to challenge her whilst also caring deeply about her. I did really enjoy how part of the Doctor's liking of Charley was in the enigma she presented and that is obviously right up the Doctor's alley. I thought the pace of this audio was really good and played out well over the four episodes. The emergence of the Daleks was fantastic and the irony of them saving the Doctor after an impressive cliffhanger to the first part with the Doctor sentenced to execution was terrific. The setting of the Amethyst Viral Containment Station was very good and I thought Fratalin, all of him, was a magnificent character. The idea of a splinter personality in the form of several bodies was fantastic and his desire for the cause of his planet and the station in guarding the secrecy of its mission and purpose was very good. Charley being infected with a virus was intriguing and not what I expected following on from the end of The Raincloud Man and how things were left. Her being placed in the zero room was good and I liked how she had been out of it for quite some time. The Doctor had been tracking down the virus in the hopes of a cure and that led him to the Station here. I thought Mila was an outstanding character and her position as Patient Zero was magnificent. The very idea of her having been in the TARDIS ever since the events of The Chase was wonderful and she had an adoration and so much admiration for the Doctor which was lovely to hear. However, there was also a clear sense of evil there and who could really blame her after being unseen for so long inside the TARDIS. The idea of a Dalek virus that mutated the infected's DNA into that of those they were infected by was really good and I liked how the Daleks were hoping to create more and more Daleks at the expense of their enemies. Mila as the first of those but things not working out was terrific and I loved how the Doctor's reputation as the greatest enemy of the Daleks meant he was who she wanted to be with. So she stowed away the TARDIS, except the virus meant that she wasn't seen and had been watching his adventures unfold from within ever since. That was an incredible concept and her references to the likes of The Daleks' Master Plan, The Power of the Daleks and The Evil of the Daleks were marvellous. Her attempt to use the virus after the TARDIS didn't protect Charley like all previous companions was fascinating and the virus had a bounced effect and now Mila was becoming Charley, and vice versa. That was so much fun and Mila (as Charley) using her real life situation with the Daleks and their experimentation as a way to explain the mysteries of Charley with the Doctor was fantastic. It sets thing up really nicely for the future which I am very much looking forward to. I thought the Dalek Time Controller was a brilliant villain as the head of the Daleks and the idea of the Daleks also thinking of the impact of events on time was great. I really liked how he wanted all possible information to compute possibility of events. The Viyrans returning was very good and I thought their presence and arrival was met with great anticipation. They were here to take the viruses away which was good. The explosion at the end with the Daleks stuck in perpetually keeping it at bay, only for it to be revealed as the cause for a number of viruses being spread across time and space with the Doctor revealed as the cause of one of the Daleks' greatest victories was magnificent. It was a fantastic ending to a really strong story, with things not left on a positive note for the Doctor and Mila (as Charley) as they tried to escape the wave of the explosion. Charley with the Viyrans post-credits was also good and I look forward to hearing what role, if any, she has in the next adventure and if she gets cured. Overall, a terrific listen!

Rating: 9/10

The Knight, the Fool and the Dead

"Death is the Kotturuh's gift."

Writer: Steve Cole

Format: Novel

Released: October 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious 01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor travels back to the Dark Times, an era where life flourishes and death is barely known...

Then come the Kotturuh – creatures who spread through the cosmos dispensing mortality. They judge each and every species and decree its allotted time to live. For the first time, living things know the fear of ending. And they will go to any lengths to escape this grim new spectre, death.

The Doctor is an old hand at cheating death. Now, at last, he can stop it at source. He is coming for the Kotturuh, ready to change everything so that life wins from the start.

Not just the last of the Time Lords.

The Time Lord Victorious.

Verdict

The Knight, the Fool and the Dead was a brilliant novel to kick off the BBC Books contribution to the Time Lord Victorious range! I am starting to feel like I'm really getting into the arc now and this was definitely the meatiest of the releases I have blogged so far. I loved the placement with things clearly taking place soon after the events of The Waters of Mars with the Tenth Doctor not quite himself and going by the name of Time Lord Victorious and rewriting the rules. He was the last of the Time Lords and he could do as he please. Like take a trip to the Dark Times. I thought the setting was fantastic and following on from The Dawn of the Kotturuh, the species who decreed lifespans were well into their role in the universe and had condemned so many to death. The Kotturuh were feared and now they were here on Andalia to provide their judgement. The Doctor getting involved in the pitch for the sale of Lifeshrouds which would save a wearer from the Kotturuh and whatever lifespan they placed on your species. I thought that concept was magnificent and the way Estinee's story came full circle with the prelude and her position here with Fallomax in showcasing that the Lifeshroud did work was fantastic. Things weren't all they seemed regarding the device though as they weren't effective in bulk and it was actually Estinee who was the one immune to the touch of the Kotturuh and to death itself. The introduction of Brian the Ood to the story was fantastic and I really liked how he recalled being brought to the Dark Times by the TARDIS, the same TARDIS with a different interior design, but the Tenth Doctor had no recollection of him. That was a lot of fun and I'm intrigued to hear Brian with the Eighth Doctor once I get to the Big Finish contributions to the arc. The idea of an Ood assassin was really fun and I liked how he calmly went about killing people which was certainly not something the Doctor agreed with despite his changed attitude. The concept of the Doctor not following the Laws of Time anymore and taking the universe into his own hands is just excellent and it's such a perfect place in this incarnation's timeline to do something like this. His interactions with the Kotturuh were sublime and I liked how they knew that both the Doctor and Brian should not be in this period. Their efforts to toy with the Doctor and reveal their knowledge of the Time Lords and how they will simply decree that they have a short lifespan to spite the Doctor was wonderful stuff. I thought the little interludes that broke the novel up were terrific and the links with An Unearthly Child with Barbara telling the First Doctor about the story of Brothers Grimm and Death and how death could be cheated with a simple turn of the bed was really well done. It was fun to have the Eighth Doctor and Brian in one interlude along with the Ninth Doctor and Rose amidst the events of Monstrous Beauty. It worked very well and was a magnificent theme to have running through the book. Chalksal was a fun character as the hirer of Brian as assassin and the true nature of him and his turn worked very well. I wasn't exactly surprised by the twist that it was actually Fallomax following the Kotturuh instead of the other way around in order for him to capitalise on the fear of the impending arrival and judgement to sell her products, knowing they didn't work anyway, and picking up the scraps from the dead to then sell to the next planet. It was a disturbing process and way to go about things but I thought it was really well done despite being a little predictable. The Doctor's way of dealing with the Kotturuh and bringing death to them by reversing their mutated effect was really good and I loved that we got some sort of explanation as to how they were able to impose their judgement. The gateway to their realm and the small crack in the shield also was very good. The image of the Tenth Doctor being dressed in Time Lord robes for ceremonial purposes was outstanding and I loved his lack of remorse for the Kotturuh. Maybe if he could defeat death at its source then the universe would be better off. His dropping of the vial that offered the Kotturuh a second chance and just deciding on death anyway was telling, and the way the book ended on a cliffhanger with the Tenth Doctor being stopped and confronted by both the Eighth and Ninth Doctors with the former fronted by the Daleks and the latter with a Vampire coffin ship was just incredible and has set up All Flesh is Grass in spectacular fashion! Overall, an exciting book and a terrific read. 

Rating: 9/10

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