The Force of Death

"We will destroy them with the very technology we have taken from them."

Writer: Andrew Lane

Format: Audio

Released: October 2024

Series: BBC Audio 26

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor is working undercover in 1890s Galway whilst investigating the mysteries sinking of the RMS Majestic. Witnesses recall something huge crashing into the sea, causing a massive wave which overturned the ship. Could it have been the mythical sea creature known as the Dobhar-chu?

Also on the scene is James MacFarlane, intrepid journalist and friend of the Doctor. Reunited, the pair discover death stalking the area in the form of animated corpses. The Doctor soon realises that aliens are present, and unless stopped their plans could kill everyone in County Connemara! 

Verdict

The Force of Death was a great story to add to the BBC Audio originals! This is another adventure for the Eighth Doctor alongside James MacFarlane who just keeps bumping into this incarnation. Considering the unlikely nature of this happening now for the fourth time, it's even more amazing that it's always the Eighth Doctor he runs into. And the settings across the UK and beyond vary quite considerably! We've gone from Cardiff to the Antarctic to Galway. That's quite the variety and I'm a big fan of it. Considering that this format is just one narrator telling the story, I feel quite an affinity with James. I was very intrigued to hear how the dynamic between him and the Doctor would be given how things were left at the end of The Teeth of Ice, but the Doctor was rather in an ebullient mood which surprise me slightly! He didn't seem shocked that James arrived and I thought the way he deduced the Doctor's presence there was tremendous. It was almost like a disguise of the Master for the Doctor to be claiming to be the Irish name of John Smith! I absolutely adored it though and the realisation for James was tremendous. Here he was again! I think James being a journalist is good and of course the Doctor is no stranger to those when it comes to his companions, but I wouldn't consider him as such. Not until he has a full stay in the TARDIS. I loved that the events he was experiencing with the Doctor here wouldn't become public knowledge as despite MacFarlane's profession, the ludicrous nature of what was happening just couldn't be published. Nobody would take it seriously! And another such case was on hand here. The Doctor was merely posing as a vet because of some strange goings on with cattle and the like, which became actually rather dark towards the end of the story. Dealing with mutilation that goes as far as removing brains and organs is pretty disturbing but it fits in well with a story of this title and the dark atmosphere. Things were definitely presented as bleak which was nicely done and definitely the right kind of tone for this adventure. Commander Moret (sp?) turned out to be a decent villain as the man taking advantage of the crashed ship of the Fomorians. He had used them and even had a hostage to create semi-automata weaponry. And it was a century early! The devastation potential there was obvious for all to hear, He had no remorse but I loved how James was actually on the verge of challenging the Doctor because he was getting involved and doing the very thing he had berated him for on the Antarctic. That was a strong moment but things luckily didn't blow over. I liked how the Doctor remarked that he was a changed man and whilst it had been barely a year for James since their last meeting, for him it was so much longer. This was the Eighth Doctor when he was on the verge of having to pick a side in the Time War. Something terrible was coming and that meant he saw things from a different perspective. I appreciated that as an explanation. I liked the simplicity and quite quick nature of the conclusion in having the Doctor resonate the sea to stop Moret and company, and without the Fomorians wouldn't be under control. It was a neat way to tidy things up! Overall, an intriguing tale and one that I really enjoyed. A fine way to pass an hour! 

Rating: 8/10

The Boy and the Dalek

"The only fruit the Daleks should harvest is death!"

Writer: Mike Tucker

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2024

Printed in: The Adventures Before 01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

Discover what happened before...

What did Osgood do the morning of The Day of the Doctor?

What happened to Tegan before Arc of Infinity, and why does it involve strange sentient lights in the Australian outback?

What was the Tenth Doctor doing in a hall of mirrors, right before Planet of the Dead?

Answers to all these questions lie in an incredible collection of new Doctor Who short stories that give a glimpse into the moments just before we saw the Doctor step on screen.

From Skaro to Apalapucia, from a shop front drained of colour to Rassilon's tomb, join a host of incredible adventures across the universe with Doctors, companions, friends and foes.

Verdict

The Boy and the Dalek was a great story to kick off my reading of The Adventures Before set of prequels! The idea behind this book is right up my alley as I'm a sucker for any kind of continuity when it comes to Doctor Who adventures. I think it works well to split between the classic and modern era and you can't get much more Classic than doing a prequel to The Daleks! I think it's such a good prospect and whilst I would define this as something of a loose prequel, it didn't make it any less enjoyable! I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a Second Doctor story and his reaction to finding a Dalek in the crashed ship was fantastic. I did think it was a little strange for him to proclaim that he hadn't visited Skaro in quite a long time considering that his current companions of Jamie and Victoria were there with him during The Evil of the Daleks. That must be set before this story as that's where Victoria made her debut as companion., but other than that I thought this went by very nicely! I thought the TARDIS reacting to a distress call and having a somewhat annoying tone in doing so was fun although it didn't quite feel befitting of the era. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Emperor Dalek featured in a prominent way and the description of the golden dome was another treat. We never got that version on screen and it returned in all its glory a few years ago for the Time Lord Victorious saga, but for it to feature in official prose was a nice treat. Its thoughts towards Dalek 444 as a designated scientist were intriguing and that Dalek became the central character pf the piece. It was a fascinating insight into what the Daleks could be at this early stage in their development. Clearly from the reactions of the scientist and Emperor, they hadn't yet ventured into space travel but that was something desired. Finding Harrison and his ship would potentially give them the means, but 444 saw the potential in cooperation with other species. That felt very un-Dalek like. Almost disturbingly so in how good this Dalek was. I loved that the Emperor thought he'd been lied to with 444 previously stating that its vision was not impaired, but how could it not be with the attachment built to Harrison? That attachment was almost literal too when it exterminated two other Daleks after they questioned its claim of Harrison being a scientific and experimental attachment. That was quite amusing! I liked how the Scientist was pondering on the potential of engaging with other races but actually sacrificed the potential of Dalek space travel by helping Harrison get home. It had been space worthy all along and after seeing the actions, the Dalek Emperor wasn't having it. I thought the twist of the Dalek casing being opened and Harrison actually greeting the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria was brilliant and something I must admit I didn't see coming! The fact it offered up its casing as safe passage for Harrison given the experimental plant sap that made it immune from extermination was quite something. It painted quite the picture and showed just how different the Daleks could be at this point. I thought Jamie and Victoria were a little too keen to show a Dalek mercy and compassion, but it worked well. The description of the agonising crawl of the Dalek mutant creature into the petrified forest worked well and I also loved that we had continued mentions of the menace that was the Magnedon. That was really strong continuity that I greatly appreciated! The mutant being on the verge of death and believing itself hallucinating when it came to the materialisation of the TARDIS and the arrival of the First Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara was very well played. Before that I was wondering how this was a prequel at all! Overall, a very strong outing to kick off what looks set to be an exciting collection.

Rating: 8/10

Lost in Translation: Gallifrey

"I'm about to watch my best friend die."

Writers: Guy Adams & AK Benedict

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.04

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

The Doctor has come home. But he doesn't belong here. And Bernice thinks there's something very wrong with Gallifrey.

Verdict

Gallifrey was an excellent episode to conclude the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! After a strong gradual build over the course of the series to send the Unbound Doctor to Gallifrey, this was a fascinating tale. The Time Lords were far from happy to see this version of the Doctor and they almost spat in the face of Benny when she referred to him as the Doctor. They only saw him as the Abomination which was rather harsh, but it soon made sense when we learned that Gallifrey wasn't quite itself. I'm not entirely sure where this episode fits in terms of the continuity with the Gallifrey spinoff series, but I would assume it would be very early on. Maybe even prior to the first series! It was lovely to hear from Narvin again but he was a little more callous and egotistical than the version we saw accompany Romana II and Leela across an ever changing Gallifrey. It didn't make it any less interesting though! It was a really fascinating listen. I loved that Narvin was the prosecutor coming forward against the Doctor and it was quite fun for Benny to be appointed as the defence for her best friend. She wasn't entirely thrilled with that at the start, but instead of using the four hours recess given to prepare her case to say her goodbyes, she actually went ahead and would provide a legal argument! I mean, the whole trial was a little odd considering it was there purely to prove the existence of the Abomination. I mean, he was right there. What was there to defend? That came into play nicely at the end though when the Doctor's execution by dispersal chamber had been carried out. Benny had found a backdoor though which was very amusing and lovely to hear. The image of the Doctor getting comfortable under the bed when she went to greet him after his sentence was carried out was hilarious! What were his plans for escape? We'll never know, but it was brilliant for Benny to play into the fact that by Gallifreyan law this Doctor was dead. And you couldn't prosecute or execute a dead man! She shone there which is absolutely right given this is her spinoff series. I was so impressed with her in this episode and it's no surprise she has such an expanded run across numerous forms of media. I've so much to catch up on but I love filling in some gaps here. I thought the Doctor being blamed for what was happening on Gallifrey was really good and logical, but the truth being the Now was terrific. It came around full circle in a great way with the Doctor hearing the Gallifreyan morse code being knocked to spell out 'now', but he found that message a little useless. His realisation at the end of the significance though was very good. I thought Benny witnessing the effects of the Now was rather horrifying as regeneration was actually fatal. That sounds rather contradictory! But the imagery of endless regeneration as the cycle was exhausted before literally bursting into flames was quite spectacular and frightening. The Doctor was rather stunned by this revelation, but not as much as he was by the actions of Narvin in defeating the Now. I thought Benny's plea to the Inquisitor about asking the Doctor for help against the true problem was tremendous and whether they liked it or not he would take up the task. He knew that to revert the Time Lords meant genocide towards the Now and that wasn't something he was going to do because of how much sacrifice was required. Narvin took no such qualms which was a considerable surprise and it really was shocking! The ego spook. The Doctor was disgusted and was quick to point out that he would not consider this version of Gallifrey as anything close to home. I'm intrigued to hear where this Doctor and Benny go forward from here, but it's exciting times! Overall, a fantastic ending to what has been a tremendous series! 

Rating: 9/10

Lost in Translation: Inertia

"It's just another roll of the dice."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.03

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Bernice

Synopsis

A remote island on a dull world. Some boring natives, some uninteresting ruins. Can two time travellers manage to do nothing for a month?

Verdict

Inertia was another very strong episode to continue the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This feels like something of a pit stop ahead of the finale because given how things ended at the end of the previous episode of The Undying Truth, I thought we head straight into a double billing of the Unbound Doctor involved with the Time Lords. Of course, this entire episode was having the Doctor and Benny deal with being on the run from the Time Lords, but it wasn't until the end that actual involvement would be heard. It's set to be an explosive finale which I am incredibly excited for, but this was a decent way to stall and keep the listening wanting more. The umbrella theme was utilised very well in having Benny try and use her archaeological skills to decipher the story of the planet they were on. I thought the Doctor switching the TARDIS off completely was exciting because that provided a strong sense of vulnerability. The Doctor without the TARDIS as something to fall back upon feels a little wrong and a tad scary. I like that a lot. I thought Benny wanting the TARDIS on for the help it would provide in her research was fun but the Doctor was having none of it. He wouldn't even have the heating on, but he would pop back for a wooly scarf which was quite amusing. I liked the logic though in not wanting the Time Lords to be able to track them. That was felt more especially at the end with the Doctor being referred to as an abomination! That was quite a drastic tone and it's clear the Time Lords mean business here. Benny knows of them as the most powerful species in creation so having her involved will be fun too. I thought the premise of the episode from the synopsis actually sounded quite boring and whilst it was basically what it said on the tin in having the Doctor and Benny sitting around twiddling their thumbs, that became very entertaining! Just days and days of the Doctor and Benny playing board games was hilarious with the former always cheating or changing the rules to ensure he won. Even at snakes and ladders he was inventing new rules when it came to rolling a double. Of course it would mean you go down a snake! It was really good though and the dynamic between this pairing is just good fun with them bickering. I thought the song of the natives was intriguing and it was fun to learn right at the end thanks to Benny's deductions that they were counting down. This society would not advance by choice and I liked that it was because of alien involvement in their history and the destruction of a spaceship causing explosive and widespread damage. It happened twenty-seven days after the aliens arrived, so their society would only tolerate outsiders for that long. And Benny just so happened to work that out on day twenty-seven. That was a little too coincidental for my liking, but the concept was unique which I always appreciate. It was a very different kind of translation! I thought the way things ended in being extremely reminiscent of The War Games was fascinating as the Doctor called in the Time Lords for a cleanup job whilst knowing full well that he would be captured in the process. But he was expecting this. He'd actually planned for it. There's something more at work for the Unbound Doctor and I'm very fascinated by that! I can't wait to hear this version of the Doctor on Gallifrey and it's great to have Narvin featured as well. I can't wait for the finale! Overall, a really strong listen as the series heads to a close.

Rating: 8/10

Lost in Translation: The Undying Truth

"The hands of the dead pulling me down."

Writer: JA Prentice 

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.02

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

A mysterious mission has discovered a body, one that should never be found. Can the Undying really be dead after all?

Verdict

The Undying Truth was another great episode to continue my way through the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This was a very strong follow up to an excellent opener and I was a big fan of the vibe once again. This series feels much grittier than all of its predecessors and that suits this alternate incarnation of the Doctor right down to the ground. It's a good vibe and judging by how things concluded, we're about to get a whole lot more exciting. Before we get to the end though we had a damn good story to last the course of an hour or so. I thought the setting was strong and I liked the mystery behind a figure being found. That felt right up Benny's alley given her position as an archaeologist and it just worked well. I thought the guest characters really complimented the story as well. They were hugely impressive and I was honestly stunned by how Vikram was killed off pretty early on. He was literally squelched to death as he fell below the sinking mud and the audio effects there conveyed it fantastically. It was gruesome stuff and considering I was listening before 7am, it was a startling beginning to my morning! It had a lasting effect on me for the rest of the episode though and I couldn't not use the quote I selected. It was just eery and that works for me. I like that kind of dark art feel and this had it in abundance. I thought Arn was a strong character as well as the local and she was actually quite unfazed by what had happened. Nobody went after those that sank because there was just no way back. It was an awful way to die! The helplessness must be horrifying but it can't be a quick death either. Some nice thoughts here! Euphemia was another strong character and I liked how she developed over the course of the episode. We had heard about the legend of the Undying and with it being named as such, it was fun to ponder on whether it was actually dead. Her accusations towards the Doctor actually did seem to make something of a logical sense as far as the traits of the legend were concerned, but he didn't do himself too many favours by denying it as ridiculous. He was a little too dismissive which meant he was still going to be suspected. The true nature of the Undying as a fungus was intriguing and hearing that have the effect it dod on Euphemia was good stuff. I liked that a legend was actually natural and whilst there was credence to the story, it was great to have an actual scientific and logical explanation. There didn't seem to be anything fancy about it whilst maintaining a strong threat. That worked well for me! I thought the means of tackling it at the end by fire and heat was pretty good and it was certainly effective! It was dealt with quite hastily and suddenly which certainly had a big impact. It didn't take long at all once the resolution was found. I liked how things ended for the Doctor and Benny moving forward also as the conclusion was rather reminiscent of The War Games as the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe struggle to make their way to the TARDIS. Having the Unbound Doctor go to Gallifrey is incredibly exciting and it's happening an episode earlier than I expected going off the story titles! It's no secret we were heading in that direction with the series cover art and Benny wearing an infamous collar, so I'm incredibly excited and intrigued to hear where things head from here! Overall, a really strong listen to continue what has been a terrific series thus far! 

Rating: 9/10

Lost in Translation: Have I Told You Lately

"Open up you blasted thing."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.01

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Bernice and the Doctor find themselves lost in the dark with the only clue to their surroundings a mysterious voice.

Verdict

Have I Told You Lately was an excellent start to the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I love the dynamic between Benny and the Unbound Doctor with them constantly bickering at each other and having a tetchy atmosphere within the TARDIS. Despite it sounding rather negative it actually works brilliantly well. This was an intriguing tale following on from the Buried Memories series and we see the Doctor in an emotional state perhaps like never before. Certainly not in this alternate incarnation. It is quite easy to forget that this Doctor is from a different universe. And not just a different one, but one that was literally dying. Considering the nature of the Doctor and how he strives to save people, even in this seemingly grumpy incarnation, having him deal with the literal end of his universe will obviously take its toll! Hearing him express that here was fantastic and really allowed us to open up into the character which I absolutely welcomed. I thought the format of the episode was very unique and very clever. It was different and unlike anything I'd heard before so I appreciated the effort there. I thought the Ark of Whispers was a strong setting and the way words literally developed over the course of the story was terrific. It was fun for Benny and the Doctor to communicate in unusual means through the Speaker and that form of artificial intelligence was learning through them. Their language was quite amusing and I couldn't believe how many times I heard the phrase I took for my opening quote! Hearing Benny mimic the Doctor and it actually open the door because of what the Doctor had programmed through his speech was delightfully amusing. The Speaker just referring to Benny by her surname because of how the Doctor addresses his companion was a nice touch and a good confirmation of how Benny knew she was communicating with the Doctor through it. Albeit in very unusual circumstances! I liked that the Doctor and Benny were separated and the vibe of the episode was dark. Not in terms of tone but literally in atmosphere and that's impressive to portray on audio. It was deliciously gritty. The fall from the TARDIS at the start of the episode with the Doctor warning Benny not to follow him was good because obviously that would not happen! Hearing how the Doctor and Benny got closer and closer through their communication was good and it was on obvious place to build towards throughout the story. I really liked how we heard each of them working out what was occurring and having them finish off each other's sentences as far as the listener was concerned. That was unique and just a bit of fun. I liked how this episode played into the umbrella title of the series with the play on words, and just having a story with a dialect dampener is quite impressive! That's a fun concept and I was glad that Benny could work it out. She feels much more on the Doctor's level here than the usual companion dynamic. I suppose that should be the case though given the title of the spinoff series! I liked how things ended with the Doctor admitting that he should talk to Benny about his feelings, but not just yet. They wouldn't quite venture to the end of the universe yet to be reunited with the Speaker. They'd do some of the fun little things first. That was a nice touch. Overall, a fantastic start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Restoration of the Daleks

"It's like they were never gone."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Dalek Time Strategist restores the Dalek armies to the universe but wants to dispense with Davros.

Verdict

Restoration of the Daleks was a great episode to conclude the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I'm not really sure why but I did expect this to have more of a finality in its feel, but I think that really was kind of impossible. We know the Time War goes on for quite some time yet and we don't even have the Doctor in his War incarnation yet, and here we are having the Daleks restored to the universe after the Valeyard had already ended the Time War and wiped out the Daleks from memory. The scale of this conflict really is stretched and I'm loving what Big Finish are doing in filling in that gap between The Movie and Rose. There's so much life in the Eighth Doctor and whilst this would take us somewhere close to the end of his incarnation, it's nice to know that at this point he remains committed to not entering the frontline of the Time War. He doesn't want any part despite doing what he can to help the Time Lords. Of course, Bliss was against him not helping as that's literally what he told him he does where he can so when the people of Cosca needed him, he didn't take too much convincing from his companion. I thought the dynamic between Bliss and Rasmus in particular was intriguing and whilst I'm not sure how Bliss will end her story, it's good to know that she has a place on Gallifrey. I did like that she felt her place was alongside the Doctor for now though. Davros being the link that the Dalek Time Strategist was drawing upon to restore the Daleks to the universe was good and I loved that we got some more Dalek civil war. In tapping into the multiverse, the advantage the Daleks had on the battleground was paramount as the number of casualties they were suffering simply didn't matter. More and more versions continued to come. Whilst I'm usually a huge fan of the interaction between the Doctor and Davros, it was actually the former's conversation with the Dalek Time Strategist that I found most intriguing in this episode. The prospect of the Strategist being scared of killing the Doctor because of his position in their future history was excellent and we got some incredible namedropping of the likes of the Cult of Skaro, Dalek Caan and even the New Dalek Paradigm! That's some future. The Strategist foreseeing the fall of Gallifrey was not something the Doctor was happy with as you might expect, but he couldn't deny that he was entwined with the Daleks. They were a necessary evil. I thought the restoration of the Dalek Emperor was fantastic and I wonder if that was intended as a way to explain his presence in The Parting of the Ways following on from the Time War. I found the dynamic between Davros and the Emperor fascinating and the creator of the Daleks being labelled as false seemed odd because he literally did conjure them into existence, and his position in this episode of extracting the Dalek in every species was something I'd have liked more time spent on. That was a brilliant concept. Bickering between different sets of Daleks basically causing their downfall here was interesting and did work, but it just felt slightly quick after a lengthy buildup and story arc. I feel like this boxset could have done with an additional episode to really flesh things out, but what we got was still really great. The Dcotor being enticed with his own family connection in the form of his great-grandson Alex was excellent and completely unexpected, but a fine addition. The impact of To the Death on this incarnation of the Doctor will never be forgotten so to have it come into play here was really well done. I thought Davros at the end after being thwarted was maniacal as ever and his laugh of almost relief and joy at being kept alive and needed by his children was eery and just fantastic. Overall, a really strong finale to what has been an incredible run of Time War adventures! And we're far from over.

Rating: 8/10

Dreadshade

"Imagine forgetting the Daleks."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Time Lords, including the General and the Twelve, adjust to life after the Time War, until the Doctor and Bliss return with a warning.

Verdict

Dreadshade was an excellent episode to continue my way through the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was a triumphant follow on to Palindrome as a double length opener and really did follow up the climactic events of The War Valeyard in the previous boxset finale. It was incredible to think that at this point in time, long before the War Doctor was even a factor, the Time War was thought won. The only issue was that the Time Lords had forgotten who their opponents had been! That was a really fun situation to be in and with the trip from the portal playing havoc with the memory of the Doctor and Bliss, it was only the Twelve being in stasis that provided them with the answer. She revelled in that answer though and this was a tremendous outing for the female incarnation of this whacky and wonderful Time Lord. This is what I was hoping for coming off her previous appearances in the story where she wasn’t appearing to be wholly evil. She was the villain of the piece here which was delightful. I thought the Doctor and Bliss forgetting each other provided a fun dynamic with the latter’s reaction to being labelled a companion very amusing. Her questioning what the Doctor did with these companions and how many he had at a time was a delight. It was such good and innocent fun. The General playing a major role in the story was fantastic and he’s such a booming presence. His description of events to the Doctor was great as he revealed that the Time War was over. Except they had no idea who they had been fighting. The description of the scale of conflict was amazing and I love the prospect of them being in a state of decommission ahead of the Daleks returning for restoration. That’s going to be a big surprise for sure! Despite being completely forgotten, it now feels like it’s advantage Daleks. That’s really fun. I thought the titular character of the Dreadshade was a really intriguing concept and the desire of the Time Lords to fill it with complete fear of the Daleks was horrifying. The weaponisation of a being like that showed the lengths the Time Lords were going to and throwing her into a bunch of them and petrifying her into destroying them was quite something. I certainly appreciated the unique nature. The Doctor understandably wasn’t impressed, but once he returned she had forgotten what she was scared of. The Twelve pouncing on that and injecting her with fear of the Time Lords was tremendous. She wanted to force her way onto the High Council which was an interesting career aim and I appreciated the effort. The General retorting how you had to earn your place on the Council was fantastic. The Twelve joking around about being the only one to remember the Daleks was good fun and her exterminate mock impression was a delight. I think this was definitely the best episode yet for the Twelve in this incarnation, although I must admit I much preferred the interaction with the previous incarnations within her mind in the previous incarnation. It doesn’t quite feel the same but I guess that’s down to the inhibitor. The way she sparked the Doctor and Bliss’s memory was good stuff along with the Dreadshade was a fine way to end things and wrap things up, as we head into what is sure to be an explosive finale! A fantastic listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part Two

"I must turn my people into Daleks."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01b

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome concluded in excellent style with this second part! This has been a fascinating listen over the course of two hours and really did spread the Time War far and wide which I'm a huge fan of happening. The fallout from The War Valeyard continues and it actually only seems to have made things worse. Eradicating N-Space of Daleks on paper sounds like a good idea and certainly a surefire way to end the Time War, but when the Dalek Time Strategist looms large and escaped, he would concoct some whacky way to restore the race. They are never truly dead and we've seen that countless times before and after the events of this story, but at least we did get some means of their return. The Time Strategist was building something here and linking with the portal to merge both time and alternate reality was spectacular! I thought the opening was good in starting at day one in using the portal and with the first part going backwards, time was somewhat on track here as the Doctor had said would happen. Davros believing himself to have awoken from a dream was fascinating, but his conversation with the Strategist was even more so. That purple Dalek was able to show Davros the extent of his existence and convinced him that in order to save his wife Charn, he had to die. He saw that and accepted it, welcomed it even, but the toll that he went through was extraordinary! Of course, the cover artwork gives things away a little with the altered appearance from any version we've seen on screen before, but I loved the concept behind an amalgamation of alternate versions of Davros. The version in love with his Thal wife was still the base line, but he became something like the version we know. I like that with the Time War setting the appearance of Davros resembles the casing seen in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End onwards, and also hearing a glimpse of his fate at the hands of the Nightmare Child as referenced in that story was excellent. I almost half felt like the finale of this boxset would showcase that, but some things are better left to the imagination. Especially in the unknowably bad Time War. The relationship between Davros and Charn was explored in a strong way and when the merging was happening it was something that helped keep him strong. The Davros that we know being sickened by the very idea of the pair sharing blood due to their Kaled and Thal species makeup was magnificent. It was quite fitting that the Daleks exterminated them both at the end at the behest of Davros without him ever actually realising who they were and what they meant. That was fun stuff. I thought the Doctor and Bliss being absent for a large chunk of the story was actually a good decision and the companion wanting to eradicate Davros was impressive! She actually shot him twice, but the Doctor being on hand to explain his life support systems as a means of survival ever since Genesis of the Daleks was fun stuff. But the Doctor and Bliss were actually immune too as numerous realities were merging where all kinds of possibilities existed and overwrote. That was good and something that Bliss realised could be used to their advantage. Davros was rather pompous in his ability to survive, but the Doctor knowing that he could die if taken away from the portal was great. The Time War beckoned. Overall, the two parts comprise one really clever story. It's incredible how much emotion there is here given Davros as the main character, and I liked that the Time Strategist sought out the Dalek creator to provide an amalgamation of the best of the Dalek race in preparation for their restoration. And here they were. This sets things up very nicely moving forward! Overall, an excellent episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part One

"Your first death unwrote your second."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome started in excellent style! Kicking off the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures in this style was not something I expected, but I absolutely loved it! It was an incredible take on Davros and a different reality to say the least. The creator of the Daleks joining the fight within the Time War is incredibly exciting, but this is fat from what I was expecting! This was a very different Skaro from the one in the Doctor's universe and the audacity of the author in having Davros living a happy life married to a Thal was extraordinary. When the version we are more familiar with came into play, I was surprised he could even acknowledge this alternate version of himself! The alternate version referring to the creator of the Daleks as a half man was excellent stuff too. There was so much going on here and it was just richly filled with emotion and intrigue. I just loved how different everything was. Davros living an ordinary-ish life with his wife and showing compassion and love. They're not exactly traits he would pass onto the Daleks. Charn was a really nice character and Davros having to toy with the idea of losing her was something he couldn't face. This was so different to the Davros we knew and whilst we have seen a much younger version in The Magician's Apprentice, this was altogether different. This felt wrong and yet somehow absolutely the same man. I can't quite place my finger on how that was the case, but I must give kudos to the writer for capturing that essence. It's not an easy character to change! The use of the portal on Skaro was really good and would prove an important access point. The Time War spilling over into different universes is tremendous and as we build to something of a crescendo for these Eighth Doctor Adventures, it feels right that it's happening. It's such a big event that it cannot be contained in just one universe. Hearing the Doctor and Bliss be on friendly terms with Davros and Charn was intriguing, although the relationship with the former in particular just felt off. In the best way possible. The Doctor and Davros shouldn't just be having casual conversation! But I absolutely love it. I liked how knowledgeable and mature Bliss felt in the story and it's easy to forget just how long she has been a companion now. And it might be even longer given the temporal nature of the Time War. Is time linear within it? I think that's inconclusive. I thought the Doctor's reaction to seeing the version of Davros he knew and had fought for the first time in a long while was magnificent and really sold just how much distain he had for the Dalek creator. If anyone didn't know, the history between them was rife. I thought the alternate Davros having to battle with the survival of his wife or the universe was a situation where he couldn't win, and just hearing the two versions of Davros converse was brilliant. The trust there must come from them technically being the same person and it provided us with a strong cliffhanger going into the second part as the Doctor and Bliss would be emerging from the portal, but the creator entrusted his alternate self. It was excellent stuff and now I really can't wait for the second part to conclude the story. That's where the final rating will come as I'll judge the two parts as one despite the separate blog entries, but for now this was an excellent opening half! I can't wait for more. I love me some Davros so having him arrive in the Time War is incredibly exciting! Overall, a terrific listen. 

The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery

"Not everyone in this world wants to be a famous movie star."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2012

Printed in: Summer Falls & Other Stories 02

Featuring: River

Synopsis

Movie star Rock Railton thinks someone is out to kill him – and detective Melody Malone is on the case. At the press party for Railton's latest movie, studio owner Max Kliener invites Melody to become their next star. But the cost of fame is greater than she could possibly imagine.

Verdict

The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery was a great short story to tie in with the broadcast of The Angels Take Manhattan concluding the first half of Series 7. I think it's a really strong idea to have books within a Doctor Who episode and then release them, or at least something close as is the case here, for the consuming public. It just works a treat. I think this was far superior to Summer Falls which I also read recently that ties in with The Bells of Saint John because despite there being no Doctor present, this felt very much like a Doctor Who adventure. Of course, the story is told with Melody Malone as the narrator which is good fun and the cover enough tells us who this woman really is. Whilst she is never referred to as such, it's tremendous to be getting a full River Song prose adventure. I think it serves well as essentially a prequel to the aforementioned mid-series finale in which the Weeping Angels take over Manhattan, and having them present is really good. I think it's clever to not fully utilise them or alert their presence to things until quite late on as it would be the television episode where they would make their mark fully. But River is very much aware of their presence in Manhattan and it's pretty dangerous! It's also incredibly widespread. I thought Melody alluding to the difference between doctor and Doctor was very amusing and getting a quick glimpse into their past from her perspective was terrific. I was amused with how cheeky this story was and definitely aimed to the older reader. I guess this is a detective story after all but I didn't think I'd be reading the word cleavage in a Whoniverse published story! And River was making more than one reference throughout on how she was presenting her own cleavage. Unbuttoned and pushed up. It was rather detailed! But that is the River we know. She's not a companion for the children and I think she's presented in a very real way here. Her flirting was on point and I loved the idea of her having a detective agency. I thought some of the characters in the story were good and it was amusing to have multiple versions of Hank. His surname was ludicrous though and I liked how he was on hand to reveal to River that there were more of him. I thought Kleiner as the studio owner revealed himself as a strong villain in his merry-go-round of movie stars on repeat, but River knew right away that there was more than met the eye when it came to the glass jars. She had experience with the Weeping Angels and she knew they were present. That immediately brought a sense of added danger to the story which was terrific. I was a big fan of the touch of an Angel being referred to here as a kiss as it just sounded a little more poetic. It was very nicely presented and just feels the right kind of thing for Melody Malone. Her allusions to her own name in the story was also brilliant as she basically admitted openly that this was not her name. I liked the simplicity of the conclusion and it seemed pretty fast paced once all the details were out, but that was always going to happen with the nature of the story being a prequel for River. We know where she'll lead. It's a shame this wasn't the actual book the Doctor was reading as I think the prose of her encountering Rory and then the goodbye of Rory and Amy with the last chapter title and goodbye would have been sensational. But I understand why repetition from what we heard on screen wasn't preferred. Overall though, a really strong read! I'd definitely read more Melody Malone mysteries. 

Rating: 8/10

A Boy's Tale

"I wanted a pet."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 05

Featuring: Adric

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

A Boy's Tale was a great adventure to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! This was a fantastic use of Adric as a character and it was a really fun dynamic to have much of the story in the form of a letter. That is something I usually enjoy and it certainly worked well. I’d have been absolutely fine if the entire story was presented in the letter italics, but alas it was good to get those interludes throughout the actual story. I thought having an Adric story prior to the events of Full Circle was very exciting! It was also excellent to establish the point in which he was writing the letter as being between The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis. I liked that a lot and it was nice for Adric to touch upon how much he enjoyed Nyssa. It’s nice to know for him that she will shortly return and join Adric and the Doctor on their travels. The form of the letter was good and I liked that Adric was using the TARDIS databank to write the message. His feelings towards the Fourth Doctor in particular were intriguing to read as he seemed to think he was quite grumpy and not affectionate. That’s not wholly incorrect of the Season 18 version of this incarnation of the Doctor and it provided a good sense of vulnerability towards Adric. I’m not a bit fan of his as a companion in the slightest, but I found myself feeling rather sorry for him. That was good in terms of an emotional pull and I was engrossed in the content. I just loved learning more about Alzarius and it is always fun to encounter a companion before they met the Doctor. We get to know more about their history and their true personality as obviously things will change considerably once they join up on the TARDIS! I thought his fascination with learning was clear although he didn’t strike me as the kind of person to be fascinated by dogs! I wouldn’t have Adric down as any kind of animal person but he was determined to learn about them here. Specifically about the concept of a pet and why people had them and cared for them. They even named them! That was fun stuff and I liked how Adric enlisted Zayn to help him on the way. He wanted physical books and not just electronic means of education which I could appreciate, but the dangers were clear to see. I loved that his entire world was opened up once he met up with Marie and she could show him that there was far more to the world on Alzarius. Even the First Decider in Draith was part of the secrecy which was great. I liked how he came to a mutual understanding with Adric about neither party seeing each other involved on the south side. Adric was rather shocked that someone as high ranking was involved in fabrication. His planet wasn’t all he thought it was. I liked how things ended with Draith actually helping Adric escape and sort things out for him whilst he was being looked for by family and friends, and that little nod of understanding with Zayn was a nice touch. There was a good degree of caution there. I thought the revelation at the end of the letter with Adric having actually written to K9 was hilarious because I just completely assumed he was writing to Romana! But it went right over my head with his focus to learn about dogs. Of course he was addressing K9! That really did make me laugh because it was so obvious and I couldn’t believe I’d missed it. Overall, a really strong story to continue my way through the collection!

Rating: 8/10

Summer Falls

"She was alone in a world that was a dream."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2013

Printed in: Summer Falls and Other Stories 01

Featuring: Amy

Synopsis

"When summer falls, the Lord of Winter will arise..."

In the seaside village of Watchcombe, young Kate is determined to make the most of her last week of summer holiday. But when she discovers a mysterious painting entitled The Lord of Winter in a charity shop, it leads her on an adventure she never could have planned. Kate soon realises the old seascape, painted long ago by an eccentric local artist, is actually a puzzle. And with the help of some bizarre new acquaintances – including a museum curator's magical cat, a miserable neighbour, and a lonely boy – she plans on solving it. 

And then, one morning Kate wakes up to a world changed forever. For the Lord of Winter is coming – and Kate has a very important decision to make.

Verdict

Summer Falls was not the most enjoyable of stories unfortunately. There was enough about it to appreciate what was tried but at the end of the day I thought this was just pretty jumbled and clunky. I'm not entirely sure the story was actually long enough for what was trying to be presented, and it seems the author started rushing towards the last third of the adventure. Of course, in universe this book is glimpsed in The Bells of Saint John as a favourite of Clara's to read. However I am a little sad to say I don't know why it would be! Especially with her being a teacher of English literature. I don't think it was the most well written story and it was just all over the place. I thought it was a good setting and the wintery feel was nicely presented which I would have expected given the name of the story and the synopsis promising the coming of the Lord of Winter. It all sounded very Game of Thrones style which was good, but the quality was so far removed from that incredible series and universe. One thing that really put me off was how the comment from Clara in the aforementioned television episode about chapter eleven being sad never really felt like it had credence. Was it really that sad? I'm not so sure. It wasn't all that long either. I think the story needed to have more chapters because the second one in particular was excessively long. Clara's comment in the episode didn't feel like the eleventh chapter was the penultimate one and her comment would seem to be more indicative of a mid-story twist. I didn't get that feeling come across here which is a shame. Kate Webster wasn't the most enticing of characters but she was just fine in doing the job. I think a bit more personality would have been welcomed but I did like the relationship she built with Armand as she was the new girl in a new town. And the prospect of a new school season was in order and she wasn't all that excited. She wanted to enjoy the last week of holidays. The quest format within the world of the Lord of Winter was strange and I just don't think we had enough clarity on where we were or what was happening. The puzzle within the painting sounded good on paper but it just wasn't clear enough. It seemed rather rushed at the end then when the Lord of Winter actually arrived with not enough time for him to make a big impact after all of the buildup. That was a bit of a shame as the concept behind him was actually pretty good. The way he would return was a little clunky and odd with the puzzle in the artwork, but the shift in seasons was very exciting. That was such a big change in dynamic and showed some immense power! I thought the character of the Curator was undoubtedly the highlight of the story and it's intriguing to think that this was released prior to the broadcast of The Day of the Doctor where this mysterious version of the Doctor was revealed. It's clear from the description of the 'shed' vanishing representing what was said in The Doctor's Wife and just the general clumsy nature of the man called Barnabus that Amy as author would have based him on the Doctor. It is good to think that the Doctor will feature in some regard despite him not always finding it easy to gain access to help Kate in her mysterious wintry domain. The twist regarding Milo felt a little off with him actually being Mr Stevens and shifting from a child, and the moments with the cat just didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure if they were meant to be funny but they just seemed to get in the way which was a shame. Overall, not the best read for me and I think it's because it was halfway between actually being a Doctor Who adventure and not. I love the idea of presenting this from the in universe perspective, but it falls a little short for me. 

Rating: 5/10

Masters of Earth

"We work together and we die together."

Writers: Mark Wright & Cavan Scott

Format: Audio

Released: November 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 193

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The year is 2163. Ten years since the Daleks invaded the Earth. One year until the Doctor, in his first incarnation, will help bring the occupation to an end. But for now, their reign of terror goes on.

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Peri to Scotland - enslaved, like everywhere else on the planet. But there are rumours of Dalek-free islands off its coast. Places where resistors and refuseniks are coming together, gathering arms and armour, preparing to strike back against the enemy.

When the Doctor falls in with an unlikely group of freedom fighters making that dangerous journey to Orkney, he finds himself trapped - but not only by the Daleks, their robotised henchmen and their human collaborators.

By history.

Because history shows that for another year, resistance is useless...

The rebellion must fail - and as a Time Lord, the Doctor can do nothing to help 

Verdict

Masters of Earth was an excellent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This seems to be a fascinating point in time for the chronology of the Sixth Doctor as we fill that gap between The Trial of a Time Lord and Time and the Rani, with this incarnation's adventures fleshed out before he would go onto meet Melanie Bush. I think it's a lot of fun to have Peri back in the TARDIS after her on screen departure, and there's now knowing what will happen to her as a companion. There's definitely some jeopardy there for the companion which isn't always the case with Big Finish, and what better place to start than on a Dalek occupied Earth? I think it's a sublime idea to do a story set a year prior to The Dalek Invasion of Earth and have the Doctor pretty much helpless. He would go onto stop the Dalek invasion in 2164, but here he was rather helpless. Having him battle the predicament of having to leave the Daleks in control of Earth because of what he did in his first incarnation was just brilliant. I liked the continuity with Revelation of the Daleks as far as Peri was concerned and it was great for her to acknowledge how the Daleks here seemed a little more primitive than the ones she met. It was amusing for her at the start of the story to be impressed by the Dalek saucer and it's a little funny that the Doctor was aiming for the twentieth century. Crikey did he get that wrong! I thought it was really intriguing for these Daleks to have no knowledge of the Doctor and that was actually something that worried the Doctor. If he was captured and subjected to a mind probe, the foreknowledge the Daleks would gain would be very troublesome. Despite all this, Peri was having trouble getting to grips with the actions of the Doctor. She was not interested in the established events which was a surprise given her experience as a companion. I thought she would understand, but she doesn't seem to be getting along all that well with the Doctor at this moment in time. It's a strange and interesting dynamic. I look forward to hearing it develop further. It was a delight to hear the Robomen in the story and they were presented fantastically. They sounded like the genuine article and I think it's terrific that they were utilised to prevent an added threat in the story to what we already had with the Daleks. The development of the Robomen Elite seemed to contradict what we would see on screen with the First Doctor's encounter, so it was clear they would always be defeated, but I appreciated the effort and experiment! I thought the Doctor knowing about Moira was very good and her position as someone used to fight up was fantastic. Of course, the truth didn't quite turn out to be as accurate as the tale that would be told, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story. It would aid resistance against the Daleks and I like that. It seemed an important point to finish on given that the Doctor couldn't actually thwart the Daleks here. It was a little weird with that being the predicament as we know how the story ultimately ends in a year's time, but the Robomen Elite provided a good enemy to actually thwart. Moira went way too far in her efforts to make humanity part of the Elite even if they did defeat the Daleks themselves. Overthrowing them just wasn't enough. Peri being scratched by a Varga plant was a good threat and it was fun to learn of their presence on Earth during the invasion. The way the Doctor was appealing to her to stay herself was really good and I loved the desperation and emotion in his voice. He so deeply cares about doing right by Peri now he has a second chance. Overall, a brilliant setting and a rather fun dynamic with the Doctor being ahead of the Daleks chronologically. An emotional tale. A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

Kiss of Life

"We just have to wait for a crash?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2008

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Martha receive a distress call, they go to the site of the crash to offer the help they can. But there's more to the first response than meets the eye.

Verdict

Kiss of Life was a great story to continue my way through the 2008 Doctor Who Storybook! I really liked this one and it grasped my attention right from the off which doesn't always happen with these kind of adventures. I thought the illustrations in particular were fantastic! The style was so good and I was really impressed with the quality. It really helped bring what was already a pretty visual and vibrant story to life. It certainly aided with my reading of the story which is exactly what you want when we get these kinds of drawings alongside the text. It just injects life and this certainly had that in abundance with a rich dose of colour and just a strong variation of illustrations. There didn't seem like any shortcuts taken and we got a good range from the castle to the lizard creature and then even Martha in her gown. It was fantastic. The story itself is a little cheesy by the end but it works very well. I thought the starting point with the premise of the Doctor and Martha receiving a distress call in the TARDIS was good, and even more so by the fact the former couldn't do anything to prevent. He had a somewhat semi solution though in regards to getting to the crash site before it actually happened so they could be the first response. That was a nice touch and worked well. When disaster couldn't be averted, it was nice to know that the Doctor and Martha would be on hand to help. Except they weren't the first to meet the ship. That honour went to Sastra as one of the servants, supposedly, on board the ship of Prince Rodrique. He was an interesting little character and the description of him being half in and half out of the crashed ship made it a little surprising that he made such a recovery. But that was the beauty of an alien world like Geravalon. It was home to the best medical machines and a quick overnight usage meant he was ripe as rain. Of course, the same kind of medical treatment would not be on offer to Sastra as a mere servant. And this is where Martha absolutely shone. I thought she was presented in stellar fashion as a companion and it was brilliant for her to utilise her medical expertise. She was keen to help and as a woman of colour, she could relate to the suppression of the servants. She tried on numerous occasions to make the likes of Rodrique and Padros see that servants deserved equal treatment and ensured that Sastra would get a chance to go to the ball. It was a bit too Cinderella in parts and especially once midnight hit, but it was fun for the Doctor to acknowledge the ridiculousness of the situation. The whole slipper fit was just a bit silly considering that Sastra could not have gone too far! I liked the illustrations in particular here with the period dress captured well and it was nice for Martha to also be drawn in regal get up. I thought it was quite funny for the Doctor to just be holding his mask in front of his face because everyone knew he was already as the mystery man, but it was actually Sastra getting all of the attention. She was witty and intelligent which was lovely and that eventually piqued the interest of Rodrique. It came just a little late though as once midnight struck the Doctor's digital painkillers wore off immediately and the truth about her came out. She was actually one of the chameleon lizard creatures the Doctor and Martha had met earlier and whilst we'd seen it take on the tones of a striped suit and then the darker tones of the companion, the one here had got too much of the blood from Rodrique and became the full thing. At least it was trying to maintain that but it would need a continuation of the genetic template. And that would come in the form of a kiss. Every twenty-four hours. So no time apart for those two! The little Smith and Jones reference to give credence to the genetic transfer was nicely done too. Overall, a great little read!

Rating: 8/10

The Iron Circle

"It's not every day you see a pylon going for a walk."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2008

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

With the TARDIS drawn to 1973 Isle of Wight, the Doctor and Martha encounter a rather unique metallic monster.

Verdict

The Iron Circle was a decent little story to continue my reading through the 2008 Doctor Who Storybook. It's quite crazy to me that I still haven't completed my way through all of the content from this era but given the boom and success of the first Russell T Davies era, there was just so much released! There's so much to cover and whilst I will certainly get there eventually, it's always fun to dip back into the era and time. This was where I became a Doctor Who fan during Series 3 being broadcast and I've actually had this book in my collection probably since it was released. I've held onto it for an awful long time to ensure the story content is blogged and covered, and it's better late than never! One thing I noticed right away about the story that I perhaps wasn't wholly on board with was the style of illustration. I'm not sure on the technical term when it comes to the artwork but this looked a little blocky and clunky. I'm not sure the actual colouring was best presented as it was either and whilst I know technology in that regard has advanced exponentially since 2007, this felt like some bad printing. It might have just been a publishing issue rather than the artist, but this felt like a bad bit of computer art in places which is a shame. I thought the choice of illustrations for the most part was good in giving us a visual representation of a rather whacky adventure, but I don't know why these kind of stories persist in presenting an image of the Doctor and companion inside the TARDIS console room. We see that almost every episode on screen so we don't need it in prose either. I thought the concept at the heart of the story was a decent one in having a creature drawing a circle and then consuming and absorbing all of the metal within. Of course, with what is certainly a younger target audience for these kind of releases, it was given a little bit of a childish interpretation with the focus on schoolchild Ben. He was fine and I liked his exasperation at being sent home from school for damage caused by his wristwatch that had decided upon itself to unstrap and smash out of the window. I mean that is what happened but obviously nobody is going to believe that! Especially not teachers and parents. Are there any less trusting people on the planet? One thing I don't quite understand though is why just the watch from Ben's wrist was subjected to being sent on its way to the metal creature. That can't have been the only item within the schoolroom? Also, I think one element of the story that knocked a mark off the rating was the lack of explanation for the watch ending up in the TARDIS console room. The TARDIS itself being drawn to 1973 was good and I liked how even it was subjected to the pull of the metallic creature, but the link needed to be a bit more at the forefront for my liking. I thought the concept of a walking pylon was quite entertaining for the younger audience, although the illustration looked a bit too comedic. I mean on paper that could be rather scary, but when the metal conglomeration of a creature was all put together it just looked a tad ridiculous. It had the giant ghost vibes from Ghostbusters. It didn't quite work. I thought the ending was a little bit of a let down as it just seems a bit rubbish when the Doctor gets the opposition to just set up and go. It feels anticlimactic and that the Doctor didn't really do much. Overall, a fun idea and some decent ideas. A worthy read nonetheless. Kudos to the Isle of Wight setting as well! 

Rating: 6/10

The War Valeyard

"I'm the saviour of time."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Valeyard has returned to the universe amid the Time War – and the Time Lords see his potential to end the conflict for good.

When the Doctor discovers that his twisted future self has been conscripted, he sets out with Bliss to find him, braving a planet ravaged by Daleks. 

But in a world where he can finally be a hero, will the Valeyard want to leave?

Verdict

The War Valeyard was an excellent episode to conclude what has been an enthralling third Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! The episode title alone is more than enough to peak my appetite and I loved that we got to hear the Valeyard within the realms of the Time War. That's such a fun concept and it just absolutely works. A version of the Doctor that is everything on his dark side amalgamated into one. Why wouldn't the Time Lords see him as a war asset? I liked that we got two different versions of the Valeyard with them referred to as 'Doctor Valeyard' and 'Trial Valeyard' to differentiate. That's obviously also illustrated on the cover art for the story at that central image of an older version of the Valeyard adorning the attire of the Eighth Doctor is spectacular! I liked the description of how the Doctor Valeyard came to be following on from the events of Fugitive in Time with the Doctor having stepped foot through the genetic modifier and his darker alter-ego emerged. The premonition he had seeing that future version of himself was brilliant and his reveal to Bliss of just who and what he had seen was very amusing. It was completely contradictory and didn't make much sense at all, and yet it was terrific. Given where we are now in Doctor chronology and seeing seventeen different versions on screen, the existence of the Valeyard is quite clearly something that can be refuted. We know that between regenerations twelve and thirteen that the Valyeard didn't emerge, so the reveal from Tamasan regarding his fate post-The Trial of a Time Lord and how not all of the High Council wanted to see him destroyed was intriguing. It wasn't a big surprise given the sneaky nature of the Time Lords, but Bliss's reaction said a lot really for an outsider's perspective. Someone who tried to wipe out the High Council wasn't put to death? Only on Gallifrey. I thought the Doctor Valeyard was a fantastic concept and it was really interesting to hear the Valyeard embrace that inner Doctor. It was a touching performance from Michael Jayston at times and I was sad to learn after listening that this was his final appearance in the iconic role. He will forever live on in folklore and it's been a privilege to hear him bring back this character for the Time War. Truly nothing is off limits. I thought the mission he had embraced was similar to that of the Twelfth Doctor's in Hell Bent with everything continuously resetting, but thanks to his actions he was believed to have ended the Time War! Now, that's a bold claim and it's ironic that a version of the Doctor would bring this into action. The machine being used on Grahv was really interesting in that it was a wide scale version of the Eleventh Doctor at the end of Series 6 in erasing his own memory. The Valeyard was going to erase all memory of the Daleks and by default the Time War would be over. I'm not sure that was a cement method of stopping the conflict with only the Time Lords set to remember them, but I liked it. The Dalek Time Strategist would escape to ensure war would go on, but I sense that the Daleks may actually utilise a lack of memory to their advantage. The Valeyard toying with his Trial inner self was a fun moment and whilst I was glad to get an appearance for him, I was much more interested in this newer version. One that was able to sacrifice itself and be the Doctor was so different to what we saw on screen! The Time War really does strange things. The Doctor's outrage at the Valeyard fighting within the Time War because it was a version of himself was good stuff and I loved that he took Tamasan's TARDIS to break the time lock to reach Grahv. Overall, an unexpectedly emotional finale! And one in which the Daleks have received a massive setback. I look forward to picking this up in the next boxset! A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

Fugitive in Time

"We need to find out how she survived."

Writer: Roland Moore

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

Returning a favour for Major Tamasan, the Doctor and Bliss accompany her to extract a dangerous fugitive from an isolated medieval world. 

Shonnath is the last of her kind and has her reasons to be wary of Time Lords. What's more, the Daleks are also on her trail – and when the Doctor and friends arrive, the enemy is already closer than they think.

Verdict

Fugitive in Time was a great episode to continue my way through the third Time War series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I liked the follow on from The Famished Lands with the Doctor and Bliss returning a favour to Tamasan, but I must admit I am getting a little surprised by the number of incarnations we’re now meeting for her. It’s fine and actually quite fun in showing that the Time War is having a deadly effect, but it is a little difficult to follow on audio or become attached to a character. It’s no major issue though but certainly something to comment on. I thought it was good for the Doctor to once again reiterate that he had no part in the Time War but given everything that’s going on and his unique status on Gallifrey, he’s always going to play a role in some part. The Thellian setting worked well and I loved the story behind Shonnath. It was a fine example of what toll the Time War was having and the exploration of how she had survived an entire species deletion from time was very intriguing! She was obviously a desired asset on both sides of the Time War and I was fascinated by the Time Lords wanting her for protection. Not hers but their own. They feared the Daleks might try something to do with their genetics and actually hearing them appeal to Shonnath and relate their own genetic manipulation in history was brilliant. It was really intriguing to hear things play out and I love the differentiation in having the Doctor firmly believe that the Time Lords are still a force for good. He trusts them and knows they’re not anything close to being as bad as the Daleks. Of course, that will change by the end of his next incarnation but for now it’s really good to hear with the listener’s foreknowledge. The hunt for the genetic modifier worked well and whilst it was clear that Dransino wasn’t actually going to be the Dalek agent, the moment Vashko revealed himself in that role was still pretty good! Bliss wasn’t wholly surprised as the hint was there in the tapestry and his sudden shift in attitude three months previously. The real Vashko had been replaced with this Dalek duplicate. I liked the Daleks actually being involved in the story here as they sought the modifier and the cover artwork adoring the Time Strategist is just stunning. It must rank as one of my very favourite Dalek designs. It definitely helps with the visuals in my mind! Hearing the way that Shonnoth survived being erased from time was full of emotion as she revealed that she had to change her own genetic makeup. She’d lost her husband and child, but for the sake of her entire species she had to become something slightly different. She held the memory of an entire race which is almost unfathomable to think about! The Hexilara were almost gone so when she passed away it felt like a big and pretty sad moment. I liked that she did give the modifier to the Doctor though despite the Dalek plea. Vashko being exterminated was exactly what I expected to happen and I was delighted that it did. Nothing less should happen from the Daleks! The cliffhanger finish leading into the finale with the emergence of a confused Valeyard was really good and I can’t wait to hear where and when he fits into things! Overall, a really strong episode to continue an exciting series!

Rating: 

The Famished Lands

"It fills them... but doesn't feed them."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

Trying to make a difference far from the front lines, the Doctor and Bliss arrive in the Vale of Iptheus, where the Time War is starving populations out of existence.

The inhabitants have taken matters into their own hands – but are now on course for something worse. Bliss discovers exactly how the robot Enablers are helping the people, while the Doctor uncovers a terrifying secret...

Verdict

The Famished Lands was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third instalment of Time War within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a really strong look at the impacts the Time War is having on everyday planets and species who had no position in the fight. Following on from the events of State of Bliss, it was a really nice approach to have the Doctor and Bliss wanting to make a difference. They would do so in a big way here whilst also realising that it wasn't just the Time War bringing out the horrors of the universe. I thought the Vale of Iptheus setting was very good and I was fascinated by their trade routes being impacted by the conflict between Time Lords and Daleks. Aeronwen was a strong character as the defacto person in charge on Iptheus, and the truth that she had helped implement at the Vale was soon learned and it wasn't exactly positive. I find it very intriguing when we have stories like this as it's quite fun to think of planets the same way we would think of countries in ordinary life. Is the whole of the Vale of Iptheus united as one and not separated by hundreds of borders as is the case on Earth? Taking that kind of scale to an intergalactic level is tremendous and just fun to think about. An entire world ravaged into starvation because of a trade route being decimated. The knowledge Aeronwen had on the Time War was good but she clearly didn't have all of the details. When the Doctor begrudgingly admitted his place of origin as Gallifrey, she thought him a Dalek at first! She also thought the Daleks and Time Lords were as one in an army, but the Doctor was able to shed some light that they were actually the two factions in a war against each other. Neither side were interested in the Vale of Iptheus and they were just another of many casualties. The Enablers were really strong in how blunt and forceful they were. They enabled one to die, and that was happening a lot here. There simply wasn't enough food to go around and the population were starving, but they were doing it with hope and happiness. The concept behind the ichor as the sludge food was awful. A food that didn't feed you but gave you the illusion of being well fed. It would soon have an effect on Bliss as she thought she was eating some fancy eggs, but the Doctor was immune. It didn't end there though as whilst it didn't give nutrition, it did strengthen the eater's bones as their flesh was ravaged. The skeleton army was a scary concept, especially with the description of the brain still working and being completely enraged. I think I would have some sort of rage built up within me too if my body was reduced to a skeleton to fight in an army of apparent protection. Of course, they would be no match for a Time Lord and the Doctor stopped them all quite simply with the sonic screwdriver, but Aeronwen was so delusional. She actually believed it was better to give the population hope instead of a simple death. The entitlement of choosing 10% of the population to survive for four years on the food supply that remained was scary but not surprising, and the rest were left to essentially rot and starve or be at the mercy of the Enablers. It was quite the societal make up! The Doctor trying to get the Time Lords to leave the sea trade route alone seemed to go on deaf ears as the Daleks are attacking on a multiverse level now which is exciting moving forward, but this felt very much like a real issue. The Doctor showing Aeronwen the future and eventually that there was hope and to prevent the ichor endemic was excellent. She finally saw sense in the end. Overall, this was a fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10