The Little Drummer Boy

"Today she was saving our lives."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 13

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Sara

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

The Little Drummer Boy was a great story to continue my way through the Companions edition of Short Trips! This was an intriguing little adventure and I was excited right away to find that Sara Kingdom featured. In a book with the umbrella title such as this one has, I think she has to feature! I was though amazed after reading the story to find that this is the sole Short Trip in which she features. I think that’s staggering given the life her character has been given beyond her sole television appearance. The nature and scale of The Daleks’ Master Plan means there is a lot of room to play with her character and longevity which I’m all far. I love that this story takes place during that serial and the adventure actually starting with the conclusion to The Feast of Steven episode was a really nice touch. That worked well and it was fun to get a nice reminder of the ludicrous nature of that part of an all time epic. The Christmas theme was a delight and despite the date of this blog entry, I was actually reading this the week prior to the big day on the commute into work for the final time before six months of paternity leave. Exciting! It was really good to jump around different Christmases and whilst I would have enjoyed even more time in the different time periods for the Doctor and companions to explore, getting a little Victorian vibe was magnificent. There’s something special about the image of the First Doctor walking around the Victorian era at Christmas. That just fits and I love it. It was a totally different vibe to that of the Christmas during the First World War in 1914 where we actually got to see Steven enjoy in the game! As an avid football fan, I really liked that and having the Doctor egg Steven on after a slide tackle was wonderful. The perspective of Sara was how the story was told and that was fantastic stuff. She was rather monotone here which was good and the humour that came from Steven suggesting she could change her clothes from her SSS uniform was very strong. She wasn’t all that interested and who could blame her when it was able to acclimatise to the different temperatures? Her lack of understanding of the concept of football and just referring to it as a sphere was fascinating. She also couldn’t grasp why the Doctor was unable to control the TARDIS. It was hardly the safest of places for the taranium core! The brief moments of awkwardness between Steven and Sara were good and a fun little hint at the relationship building to come for them. The character of Robert was really interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of a child disappearing across time. Sara’s reaction to seeing him thirty years later from when they first interacted was really good stuff. The reveal of Robert himself being the time ship, or rather almost wearing the doorway as a suit was really interesting! It was a little difficult to visualise but I loved the contorted imagery. The description of it being a suit in particular was a fun idea and unique concept! The emotional pull at the end of the story was very real as Robert was reeling from the death of his twin brother to leukaemia. As an eight year old that must be so difficult to cope with so wonder he was reeling and focused on Christmas when it happened. The Doctor’s idea of breaking all of the laws of time and having Robert’s future self from a timeline that would now no longer exist replace his own twin was staggering! I think it’s quirky and whilst it doesn’t really go ahead with the morales of the Doctor, it’s Christmas. Things are already corrupted and the taranium core playing a part was a neat touch when it came to some explanation. The somber way things ended for Christopher but getting to see one grand finale of Earth from Mars was incredible. For an eight year old’s final moments, that’s rather special. Overall, a terrific read!

Rating: 8/10

Echoes of Eternity: Damned If You Don't

"We knew you were destined to save the Time Shades."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Short Trips: Gallifrey 1.04

Featuring: Narvin

Synopsis

As the Time War rages, Narvin is at the heart of the action – but he has lost so much, he may not have the will to carry on. Until his past returns to haunt him...

Verdict

Damned If You Don't was a great little audio to conclude the Echoes Through Eternity collection of Gallifreyan Short Trips! As I expected, this had strong continuity with the boxset opener of Damned If You Do and that was always going to be the case with how the names of the story were twinned. That's quite a fun idea and Gallifrey is certainly the kind of series to do that in given the timey-wimey nature of things. As also expected, this story took us into the depths of the Time War and it was fun to focus on Narvin's role in actually bringing about this interstellar conflict. He was clearly still reeling from that and didn't exactly want to draw attention to it which was understandable, but then the challenges came in intriguing forms. The continuity with the series' opening episode was really good and I enjoyed the mentions of Kransa. That was good and for Narvin some time will have passed since the time period near the start of where the Gallifrey series starts up to the point of the Time War. The constant moments of deja vu were fun and that just has an added dimension when it comes to Time Lords experiencing it because of their unique relationship with time. Narvin's relationship with Leela was also something touched upon rather wonderfully and having him refer to her as his beloved is just so sweet. I do wonder if there will be any kind of fitting end for their story. Will we get to a point in the Gallifrey series that depicts the final moments as seen in The Day of the Doctor with the Moment being utilised? Will Narvin and Leela be clutched together? It does feel right that they will be together. We basically got a heart wrenching preview of that with Narvin getting a glimpse of the future and the bearded War Doctor as he wonders where Leela was as the Time War ends. Would she be off world and survive? I enjoyed the reflections on the events of War Room with Romana being mentioned and Narvin feeling saddened by the fact she was gone. His thoughts on Rassilon as the Resurrected were excellent and I love the stature the founding Time Lord has. His presence even without being physically there is so impactful. He carries such weight. Narvin's story focusing back onto the Time Shades was really nicely done and I liked how they had basically manipulated him. A little more background on them would have been welcomed, but this is a Short Trip after all so there can't be too much hanging around and dawdling over details! I appreciated it. I thought it was good for them to enlist Narvin to ave them and given their nature with the dimension of time, they foresaw that they would be killed off by the Daleks. Given the wartime setting now, that was no surprise with how ruthless the natives of Skaro are. Instead of trying to defend themselves from the future they saw ahead of them, they had enlisted Narvin and manipulated events to ensure that it was his destiny to save them. You have to admit that's pretty impressive! I thought it was fun and it really did bring the entire series full circle. It rounded out nicely and as a whole this has been a really enjoyable boxset of Short Trips. I love the idea of a different series getting the treatment. So what next? Class, Vienna and Jago & Litefoot would be stellar additions. But for now, getting more Gallifryan adventures was a delight and a second series focused on other characters would be marvellous. Overall, a great conclusion to a really strong boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince

"I don't know how to grieve my own people."

Writer: Blair Mowat

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Class Vol 5.01

Featuring: Charlie, Mateusz

Synopsis

What's it like being an alien stranded on a strange planet in the aftermath of a genocide? What would you think of Earth's culture? What's it like falling in love with a human when you only met one just the other week? Who is the Doctor?

And what happens if your secret diary falls into the wrong hands...?

Verdict

Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince was an excellent story to comprise the fifth volume of Class on audio! It's a shame we didn't get a full boxset of releases, but this was stellar from start to finish. It was so simple in its method of basically being a diary of Charlie's experiences throughout the entire run of Class on screen and even on audio, but it was incredibly effective! Charlie is a troubled character and hearing how he developed and got to grips with the world of Earth after everything that happened to his people was excellent. I have never actually rewatched Class so my memories of a spinoff show I watched at university over eight years ago now is actually surprisingly strong! I really enjoyed getting to hear Charlie's sole perspective on settling in and anticipating his first day at Coal Hill Academy. I thought it was quite amusing to get his insight on the Doctor and he really didn't stick around for long at all did he! It's often easily forgettable the role the Twelfth Doctor had in setting things up for the story that would be told across Class, and with the way the series ended on a cliffhanger and the reveal of the Weeping Angels, I do wonder if he was ever slated to return. The relationship between Charlie and Mateusz was presented really well and I like how Charlie is surprised to learn that liking the same gender is not considered normal on Earth. I also thought it was very fun for Rhodians to refer to love as something more transactional whereas when Mateusz proclaimed it for Charlie, as far as the Prince was concerned he wished for him. I thought that was a nice touch and it's good to consider those small little differences. Charlie enjoying the freedom not being royalty afforded him was great to hear and whilst he was clearly mourning his entire people, he was actually enjoying being able to roam the streets freely. I liked the chronological way we journeyed through the television series and jumping from the likes of April having a link with the Shadow Kin to Mateusz actually moving in with him and Quill was terrific. It was a magnificent way to serve as a reminder of what actually happened and whilst I doubt any listeners wouldn't be aware of what happened in that on screen series, this was a perfect way to catch them up on the series! I really appreciated it. Touching on the relationship Charlie had with Miss Quill was good stuff and I liked Mateusz's reaction to finding out the pair lived together. Charlie being labelled fart boy is a little childish for an Academy and just a felt bit kiddish for a more young adult-oriented series, but thankfully it didn't last long. Charlie almost feeling a little jealous of Ram for being popular despite not being the most intelligent student was fun and I also liked how he felt a bit sorry for Tanya in how she was vilified for being knowledgable purely because she had been moved up an age group. Touching upon the finale that was The Lost was sensational and I loved getting a glimpse of beyond the television series! That was outstanding and a real surprise. Hearing the voice of the Chair as he read Charlie's diary was incredible stuff and hearing the Governers in conversation with the Angels was so exciting. Surely, one day, there has to be a continuation of the series? It's quite clearly never coming back on television so I don't understand why this cannot happen on audio! I'd like to think that the little hint here is confirmation and that we just have to bide our time. I certainly hope that's the case. Overall, a really excellent adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Notre Dame du Temps

"Today she was saving our lives."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 12

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Anji

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

Notre Dame du Temps was an excellent little story to continue my way through the Companions edition of Short Trips! I really enjoyed this adventure and I must admit I was a little cautious when I saw which companion the story featured. I know next to nothing about Anji other than she features in the New Adventures novels and is usually joined by another companion known as Fitz alongside the Seventh Doctor. I liked how this story detailed the more scheming nature of this incarnation and to my surprise the story was actually more focused on the Doctor. Anji was there for something of a background character and a point of reference in finding the piece of paper with this story’s title on it. The significance was actually fascinating as we had a huge amount of self reflection from the Doctor. This occurred for both his companions and even his previous incarnations! That was good to play with and his inner thoughts on his multicoloured immediate predecessor were rather amusing. Pondering on experiencing different tastes and smells through each of his bodies was good and it was quite amusing to use peppermint tea as an example of what changed throughout his different bodies. Later in life he rather enjoyed it! I thought it was good to touch upon the Seventh Doctor being late in his incarnation and having a feeling that renewal was imminent. Not quite yet, but that’s good when it comes to placement for the New Adventures novels when Anji will become the companion. I have no idea how many books into the NAs that is, but rest assured one day I will reach it. I thought the Doctor claiming time as his only companion was a powerful statement and it must be difficult by this point to go through the constant emotional turmoil of your friends moving on, or unfortunately for some passing away. I was expecting at first when he referred to just one who might actually get the real him to be the TARDIS, but somewhat surprisingly this had a feeling of the Doctor yearning after Romana! I wasn’t expecting that but given she was also a Time Lord it wasn’t a huge surprise I guess! The thought of her in the attire resembling a schoolgirl was perhaps a little shocking to read but each to their own. The suggestion of the Doctor not being truly who this Time Lord is was something I found very intriguing and I think the Seventh Doctor is certainly the right incarnation to explore that. Was he only truly himself when with Romana as another Time Lord? Is it only with his own species that the Doctor feels he can truly be himself? Or was that just an impact of this incarnation going longer than his six others. That makes sense given the proximity and run of the New Adventures and even The Movie with the regeneration. It’s a long time between those and Time and the Rani for example! The cameo at the end with the Eighth Doctor finding the bit of paper that the Doctor dropped in Paris in his fourth incarnation was a nice touch to end and so boldly proclaiming him to have one heart was quite something! I sense I’m missing some continuity from the Eighth Doctor Adventures books which I will also cover one day, but I could still appreciate what was happening! Especially after the imagery of the Seventh Doctor creeping after his fourth self, Romana and even Duggan! So much was happening in just ten pages which made this a delight to read despite not being familiar with the companion. Overall, a fantastic read!

Rating: 9/10

No Place Like Home: The Houseguest

"One by one your neighbours have all moved out."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: The Paternoster Gang 7.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Vastra, Jenny and Strax return to London to find Paternoster Row changed. Houses lie empty, a crimewave grips the neighbourhood. A new criminal mastermind rules the underworld. What's more, Number 13 has an unexpected houseguest. And he claims to be the Doctor...

Verdict

The Houseguest was a terrific story to conclude the No Place Like Home seventh boxset of adventures for The Paternoster Gang! This was the main event of this instalment of the ongoing Trespassers arc by far and it certainly didn't disappoint. After the events of Jellyfish! took the trio of Vastra, Jenny and Strax away from London, having them return to 13 Paternoster Row and be unable to get inside was quite fun stuff. Strax immediately harked back to Doppelgängers in believing that's what Jenny was because of her key not working which was wonderful, but alas Vastra was also unsuccessful. Of course, the artwork and the build up of the series gives away who was inside, but it didn't make the Second Doctor's arrival in the story any less fun. It's such a barmy mix to have this incarnation of the Doctor alongside the Paternoster Gang because they really couldn't be from more different eras. It was quite the combination though and I think the money was certainly in the Second Doctor and Vastra. She was hugely suspicious of if he was who he said he was which was a fun dynamic and I also really appreciated how the Doctor didn't recognise Vastra as a Silurian. As far as I am aware, Doctor Who and the Silurians is his first chronological encounter with the ancient reptiles so this is fantastic. He does though recognise Strax as a Sontaran as you would expect from The Sontarans and beyond and his questioning on how long it took to tame him was brilliant. Strax also getting angered at the Doctor taking over his butler responsibilities was marvellous. I thought the Doctor having investigated the happenings at Paternoster Row was intriguing and the fact everybody was moving out suggested something very nefarious was at work. So of course the moving in of Dr Brownlow suggested he was responsible. Could he really just be buying at a good time with prices on the low? The Doctor was bullish in his questioning of him which didn't go down well with Vastra, although I really appreciated harking back to The Snowmen and having Jenny ask him the one word test to prove his identity. Well, he went on quite the diatribe and Strax's retort of thinking that was more than one word was magnificent. I thought getting some more information on the mysterious trespassing figure we have heard in the series so far was excellent and I loved the revelation that this was Brottac, a lone surviving Zygon! I can't believe that given the umbrella title for the series and the voice that I never suspected the orange shape shifters! It's quite the way to set us up for the final boxset this time around and the Zygon proclaiming that he was taking 13 Paternoster Row was superb! I enjoyed the red herring of the urchins in pointing towards something more being at play, and Strax enjoying their description of rats was glorious. Vermin! He was delighted. Brownlow being the mastermind behind uniting all of London's criminal gangs into one was good and I liked the twist of him having used Reginald Adams. He wasn't a fan of that at all! I thought the continuity with the ongoing Second Doctor Adventures was fantastic and the Doctor being on the run from the Time Lords again was good fun. Raven had caught up with him though and he wouldn't be able to stick around until the end which he wasn't too happy about in leaving a case unsolved! I thought that was good though and keeps things exciting with the Zygon reveal and the next boxset to come. Overall, a fantastic finale! 

Rating: 9/10

No Place Like Home: Jellyfish!

"Do not engage with the sea."

Writers: Neve McIntosh & Dan Starkey

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: The Paternoster Gang 7.02

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Gang head to the coast for Madame Vastra to convalesce. But their holiday proves far from restful. This Cornish village is home to suspicious locals, strange storms and wreckers. Most dangerous of all, something lurks in the seas – something with a mysterious hold over Vastra...

Verdict

Jellyfish! was a great episode to continue my way through the No Place Like Home seventh boxset of Paternoster Gang adventures! I think it's wonderful to see that both Neve McIntosh and Dan Starkey penned the story as who better would know the characters than the very actors who portray them! They brought both spectacularly to life on screen and now their adventures are being brilliantly extended and expanded on audio. This was a solid follow up to the incredible opener of Dopplegangers and whilst there wasn't quite as much humour, that was never going to happen in a story like this one. Vastra was in a very bad way following her poisoning but she was being drawn to somewhere very intriguing. I really liked the offhand scientific facility that helped Vastra, although my only qualm was that a little more elaboration on just why she was restored to normality would have been beneficial. I loved that it was sixty-five million years old and Maggie's reaction to hearing that number when Vastra said it was as old as she was made for a really fun moment. I just didn't understand why a supposedly mythical and incurable poison was eradicated from an air bubble in an ancient Silurian site. I guess the experimentation was something to play a part in? It was fine, but more details would have helped make this even better. I thought the setting of Cornwall was pretty perfect and whilst I've only visited the region once on a dray trip for football, there's definitely a different vibe there. I knew someone at university from there and she was almost as patriotic of being Cornish as I am of being Welsh. It is a very intriguing place and that was presented nicely in the story. Maggie being shipwrecked from the Mermaid provided an emotional tale with how much she felt she owed to Mr and Mrs Bligh for 'saving' her. With the truth that came about them, I felt extremely sorry for her. David quite clearly loved her and wanted her to stop repaying her non-monetary debts now but she still had a few months to go in her mind. She would actually prove pivotal in defeating the Blighs which was impactful but quite a shock that she went to such means! The Bligh pairing using a psionic crystal to lure ships in and then have them wrecked but appear to save some people whilst taking the loot for themselves was horrifying. The audacity! It was excellent for a Whoniverse story though and shows just what could happen when something powerful falls into the wrong hands. Mrs Bligh in particular was a right old ruffian and that was perfect for this kind of villain. Once she was challenged by the likes of Strax and Vastra, she had no chance though. I thought the humour that came from Strax and the lobster craving from Vastra was magnificent and his pride in knowing what the word lob meant was marvellous. Of course, his assumption that the jellyfish were Rutan Host was also fantastic and it's just delightful hearing his Sontaran tendencies shine through despite doing good. Jenny didn't feel like she had a huge amount to do here other than help look after Vastra and be a helping hand, and sometimes that's absolutely fine. I'm very interested to hear how things conclude from here knowing who is on the artwork cover as the Gang head back to London now with Maggie having pushed Bligh to her death and now seemingly installed to carry on the running of the gulley. Overall, a terrific story! 

Rating: 8/10

No Place Like Home: Doppelgängers

"There is no cure for a substance that is not known to exist."

Writer: Ken Bentley

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: Paternoster Gang 7.01

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

After being imprisoned by a shapeshifting foe, Jenny has escaped through the London sewers and returned to Paternoster Row. Meanwhile, her captor (now disguised as Doppel-Jenny) infiltrates Paternoster Row with murderous intent! 

Verdict

Doppelgängers was an outstanding start to the No Place Like Home seventh boxset of adventures from the Paternoster Gang! This was a sensational start to the series and the third instalment of Trespassers looks set to be tremendous. With a story as is titled within the ongoing series umbrella title, this hits the nail on the head and follows up nicely from where The Gentlemen Thieves left off with the reveal that Jenny wasn't herself for quite some time. The humour in this episode was just off the charts and the doppelgänger element was just a sheer delight. Jenny worked best as the subject of impersonation for much of the episode and the confusion that caused throughout was incredible. Strax is hilarious at the best of times, but here was honestly another level altogether. The craziness of them reacting to Jenny returning from her slumber was magnificent and I thought the running gag of her smelling like shit was glorious. I mean, she had an excellent excuse in the fact that she had escaped through the sewers but it was getting commented everywhere and anytime somebody new interacted with her, much to her annoyance. The safe word of satsuma was intriguing and the comic value it provided with the doppleganger Jenny being there when they came up with it was great. I think something even funnier was Strax's ridiculously named apparatus that could revert any shapeshifter back to their normal form. It was quite the adaptation from detecting the Rutan Host! He was just on top form. And now I get to one of my all time favourite moments from anywhere and when in the Whoniverse. Vastra and the doppleganger Jenny getting it on was an unexpected moment in the story especially to hear in such detail and enjoyment, but Strax walking in and almost exclaiming glee at the fact the pair were 'wrestling' was sensational. And then he asked to join in! Well, I was completely buckled. A sensational Strax moment that is one to live long in my memory. The significance of the safe word was unexpected at the end though as Eastbourne was revealed to be that word for Vastra and Jenny's own 'wrestling' activities. Strax was confused as to why they had their own private safe word, but this was quite explicit in revealing what the pair get up to! In the Victorian era no less! I thought it was brilliant though and a very realistic way to find out which Jenny was the true version. Vastra being injected with the deadly poison for Silurian not of this Earth was a strong moment of terror and the effects it is having on her are still not realised. The concept of there not being a cure because it was supposed to be mythical seems hard to combat but I look forward to hearing how that plays out moving forward. I'm sure Fonipodio will have something in his shop of curiosities to help. Or might that be where the Second Doctor comes into play later in the boxset? I'm very intrigued to hear where he fits in. The gag of the doppleganger trying to get the poison into Vastra was overplayed wonderfully well and her annoyance at constantly being thwarted by Strax and Jenny was marvellous, especially when nobody was sure which Jenny was which! The Trespasser got there in the end though, and hearing how they took on the form of both Strax and Vastra too was impressive. The cliffhanger finish with them going to Reg Adams and hoping to resurrect his criminal empire was interesting and I can't wait to hear where things move forward from here. This was just tremendous listening from start to finish! Overall, a sublime opener! 

strax join in wrestling

Rating: 10/10

Echoes Through Eternity: In Search of Lost Time

"You never know the difference you might make."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Short Trips: Gallifrey 1.03

Featuring: Ace

Synopsis

Old Time Agents never die – they just lose their memories. Back on Earth after her involvement in the Time War, Ace is having trouble fitting in – and coincidence seems to be following her...

Verdict

In Search of Lost Time was another great little story to continue my way through the Gallifreyan collection of Short Trips! This was a stark change in tone from the first two adventures within the release and that's massively down to being set on Earth. That makes sense when it comes to Ace and I love the proximity of the story being within the events of the Time War. This was at a time where Ace had lost her memories thanks to Braxiatel which was strong continuity and I enjoyed hearing her distain for his actions, especially considering he'd featured in The Questing Beast as the previous episode in the release. The concept behind the story was fun and it was good for Ace to be experiencing a number of coincidences. I liked her addressing the reader in the form of narration and I think it absolutely works best for the narration to be in character. When you only have one actor or actress performing a story that features the companion they played, it becomes difficult to hear any other voices. So for Ace to be the narrator worked brilliantly and I thought she was a lot of fun to be honest! One coincidence in London wasn't exactly a huge shock. I think it's more than feasible for someone to run into another from their old school. It was some good natured humour that came from Ace being addressed as Dorothy McShane as well. That's not a name she is awfully fond of but she couldn't get too annoyed by it considering this was a former school associate. That's what she would be referred to on the school register and such. I appreciated Ace's comments about small talk because I am absolutely in agreement with her thoughts. The actual idea of engaging with strangers on the likes of public transport such as the tube in London is not at all appealing to me, but to be fair I am not a fan of London itself in the slightest. When it came to the final coincidence I was stunned by what I was hearing to be honest. I am often found reading when on public transport whether that's going to work or on a voyage to an airport or holiday, so to hear how Ace had her book physically tugged at by someone trying to engage in conversation was honestly abhorrent. I wouldn't take that in the slightest! I thought the posh interaction was also pretty fun in having Ace be remembered as a legend in Perivale for blowing up the art room, although the nature of the man didn't seem like that would be something he was impressed by! I thought Sophie Aldred did a really strong job in presenting the characters Ace interacted with and she did a good job in jumping around them in terms of age. From young to middle class to the elderly, she really did a stellar job in nailing it all. I was so impressed with her. I don't think Ace is the most predictable of characters to have in a release like this, but the connection to the Time War was really good. The idiocy of the Time Lords sometimes is baffling as in a way to extract information from Ace, they went about using coded words of her history hence the coincidences with people knowing her but she not them. She was suspicious of that as you'd expect, but then her neighbour as the person she was telling the story to happened to be from Gallifrey all along! That was a fun twist but Ace knew all along. She knew and the memory inhibitor moment of all of her memories coming back was nicely done. It was a powerful moment as she retrieved her own knowledge and had the coordinates that Gallifrey required in the Time War. I wonder if she'll now have any further involvement in the Gallifrey series moving forward? It's nice to know it's possible. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Heart of Stone

"Whatever that thing touches turns to moon rock."

Writer: Trevor Baxendale

Format: Audio

Released: February 2011

Series: 2in1 1b

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

A single touch could turn you to stone... forever!

The Doctor, Amy and Rory are surprised to discover moonrocks scattered around a farm. But things get even stranger when they discover where the moon rock is coming from – a Rock Man is turning everything he touches to stone! Can the Doctor, Amy and Rory find out what the creature wants before it's too late?

Verdict

Heart of Stone was an excellent story to conclude my reading of the first 2in1 novel during the Eleventh Doctor era! After a really solid start in the form of Death Riders, turning the book over meant for an even better read which was just terrific. I really liked the sense of mystery that came from this story and I think being set on a farm and predominantly at night really helped create an enigmatic atmosphere. It was just enthralling and the pace was frantic. This couldn't really be more different than the first release in how it had thirty-two chapters! The pages absolutely flew by which is a compliment to my enjoyment of the story, but it did feel like we were building things up and getting ready for more cliffhangers with very quick succession. The characterisation for Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor in particular was excellent and I loved the dynamic captured with Amy and Rory as well. The banter was there and I loved how even Rory introduced he and his wife as Mr and Mrs Pond. He's finally getting it! I thought the Rock Man, or Athrocite as he later came to be known, was an intriguing element of the story and I really liked the concept of everything he touched becoming moon rock. That's quite the ability and at first it seemed accidental which was interesting, but by the end of the book he was on a rampage to try and speed up the instability he had and make the process faster. The threat it provided was terrific though and that was seen with Ralph Conway being turned to stone. The emotional torment that his daughter Jessica went through was extreme, especially when her partner Chris left up and ran away. The Doctor could tell right from his discussion about moon rock and the impossibility of everything that he knew more than he was letting on, but he was actually luring the Rock Man away from his fiancee. I thought his scientific background was good and it was fun to see him come up against the Doctor when it came to professional knowledge. He was certainly qualified! His experimentation with fragments of rock from the moon was certainly interesting stuff and the ultraviolet exposure had woken up an alien bacteria that was nearly four billion years old. That really was quite something! I liked the explanation and the UV light having woke up the bacteria really worked well. It was a lengthy passage of time to stay dormant but now the alien bacteria had awoken. The connection to the meteorite was good and whilst I won't pretend to have any kind of credence when it comes to scientific knowledge, it all seemed very logical! It also provided a really simple resolution by the end. I thought the Rock Man growing in confidence and almost swagger was good and the chapter cliffhanger of the Doctor being turned to rock was sensational! I thought it was brilliant to touch upon how dangerous this was and the potential for him to literally break into pieces was sublime. Would that be feasible for a regeneration? Of course, that is redundant in this incarnation but at the time of release we weren't aware of the War Doctor's existence so it's something fun to think about. I thought Ralph gaining some sort of movement was good and the way he turned Hoggett to stone for purely being annoying was magnificent. He was tiresome by the end which was absolutely the point of his character. I liked the resolution in how simple it was with the Doctor and Rory taking the meteorite back to the moon broke the connection and everything moon rock reverted back to normal. I was impressed the TARDIS key still worked when that was moon rock! It was also fun for the sonic to be rendered useless with that happening too. Rory had a strong relationship with Jess which was nice and I liked how she knew Amy was lucky whilst getting her own relationship back on track. Chris was more welcomed now by Ralph and he'd agreed to move to the farm rather than get involved with the tricky questions back in his science lab with what had happened. I was worried at the start that this would feel like a cheap imitation of the Weeping Angels, but thankfully this was a rather brilliant read with no such occurrence. Overall, just excellent! 

Rating: 9/10

Rearguard

"You will die for Sontar."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: Short Trips 11.01

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor

Synopsis

Trooper Stron has been given a great honour by Sontar. He's been chosen as the rearguard on Ubreus, protecting that world against anyone who would try to pry it from Sontaran control. The problem is, no one's coming to claim Ubreus, and that means there's no one for Stron to fight...

Verdict

Rearguard was an excellent start to the eleventh series of Short Trips! This is a range that has really grown on me and getting six releases in one is terrific. I do kind of wish we had the monthly releases as we did prior to Covid, but some is better than none and it's time for me to get catching up. Starting with a Sontaran story is no bad thing in my eyes as they are one of my all time favourite monsters, and Stron was a fantastic trooper to lead the story. I loved that this story had more than one actor and we actually got Jacob Dudman in as the Eleventh Doctor alongside the terrific Dan Starkey. I mean, if we are having a Sontaran story then Starkey is the perfect actor to lead it because he instantly can bring so many different voices to the numerous Sontarans! His take on Stron here was fantastic and hearing the log of his self-appointed defence of Ubreus was terrific. It did go on a bit though as far as the character was concerned and it was clear that he was getting a tad bored. He daren't admit that though because he believed he was acting of the love of Sontar in defending the planet. Except, there was no one to defend it against. He'd convinced himself that there were hoards of Rutan Host hiding in the wings which was great and the arrival of the Doctor sparked his interest. That was hardly surprising given he'd been there for over one hundred days! His interaction with the Doctor at the start was intriguing stuff but when he realised that the blue box meant the Doctor's TARDIS and that the man was the Doctor himself well his report log took on a whole new lease of life. The Doctor was deemed a coward for not returning and that was a delight to hear. Stron was quite proud of himself for seemingly sending the Doctor packing, so his arrival some years later was met with surprise. The Doctor explaining to him the situation was actually something that sparked a bit of sympathy towards the Sontaran from myself. He'd been left behind! He was thought dead and so he had come up with his own tactical and logical explanation for why. He provided himself with a purpose which was actually really impressive, but the Doctor brought his world crashing down with the truth. It was a bit of a shame to be honest! There definitely felt like some similarities between Stron and Strax so it was no surprise for the Doctor to reference his friend and how he fights with honour in the way he helps those in need. That does sound very un-Sontaran like and Stron didn't take the Doctor up on his offer of coming with him. Even when he was returned to Sontar and exiled. He'd failed to take the Doctor. He hadn't died for the glory of Sontar by virtue of being alive. It was a rather harsh sentence I felt! Especially being deemed a waste of clone matter. That sounded pretty darn severe even for the Sontarans! I thought this was a strong outing for Jacob Dudman as the Eleventh Doctor and it's just wonderful for us to get a pure Sontaran story for this incarnation. With the humour that Strax provided, it's not something we ever really got so I'm delighted that this audio puts that right. Stron accepting his fate willingly was a bit of sour pill at the end, but it says something that I was so emotionally pulled in for just one Sontaran. An impressive story. And I absolutely loved that there was no narration! This didn't feel like a typical Short Trip and that really helps with the ease of listening. It just flows. Overall, a terrific start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Nightmares: Less Majesty

"Who wouldn't want to be Queen?"

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Torchwood One 4.03

Featuring: Yvonne, Ianto

Synopsis

Yvonne Hartman wakes up in a reasonably nice hotel room next to a dead member of the royal family. Awkward.

Verdict

Less Majesty was another strong episode to conclude the Nightmares fourth series of Torchwood One! This has been a really consistent boxset and I quite like that the series took on the approach of just going with single episodes and no overlapping story arc. That isn't needed each and every time and the nightmarish theme worked well. It was interpreted in different ways by each of the writers which was great as nothing felt repetitive. These were no repeat nightmares! The way this episode started was pretty amusing in having Yvonne wake up in bed next a member of the Royal Family. Except it was a dead member of the Royal Family now. One who was due to give a speech that was supposedly going to revolutionise and save the world. Alignment was on the cards but now that he was dead, that obviously wasn't going to be possible. Given her positioning within Torchwood One, I think it's quite fun for Ianto to be her first port of call when she realised the gravity of her situation, and his reaction upon arrival didn't exactly do much to quench her fears. The hotel room setting was excellent and it's quite crazy to think that this is where the entire episode takes place. There's not a lot of room to venture there but it never felt restricted or claustrophobic which was impressive. I thought they would almost certainly have to venture out for the episode to last an hour but alas I was completely wrong! They were more worried about people getting in which was a delight to hear. Before we got to the humorous ways of hiding the dead body and the unscheduled guests from the likes of room service and housekeeping, Tommy's arrival was not what I expected at all. I wasn't surprised to find that Ianto had told him about the situation, but his shock and comment at seeing the dead royal in the bed was incredible. He had him on a tea towel! I was nearly howling there. Now, my feelings towards the Royal Family are not positive but some of my family would definitely have merchandise for the kitchen like this, but they're not at all like Tommy! I just couldn't picture him in his kitchen with a princely tea towel. I thought they did a good job at not making too much of a gag out of not naming the royal in question, although Yvonne's insinuation of him not being one of the Queen's favourites doesn't leave a huge amount to the imagination. Tommy suspecting it was actually Yvonne who had done the killing of the prince in a bid to become Queen was a whacky theory but one I loved! Ianto coming under the influence in the hotel room and almost convincing himself by Tommy's story was amusing as well. There was a great deal of subtle comedy in the episode which I liked. The chemistry between the trio was superb and the innuendo regarding the dagger when Ianto and Tommy had to squash together hiding in close proximity was fantastic. It wasn't too much and was just the right amount of banter. The reveal of the Unity and their efforts to lure all of Torchwood to the hotel room and then bomb them to oblivion was quite something, but I think it just came a tad too late. It made a big impact, but all of a sudden they were basically defeated and fell victim to their own drug and laughed at the fact they were being blown up. The way the precision of the knife in the Prince was deduced as being manufactured was nicely done and quite impressive really. It all tied together pretty nicely in the end for what was a really strong finale! Whacky in places, but a really entertaining listen for sure. Give me more Torchwood One! 

Rating: 8/10

Nightmares: Lola

"Working for Torchwood isn't easy."

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Torchwood One 4.02

Featuring: Yvonne, Ianto

Synopsis

Ianto Jones thinks something's wrong with Torchwood. So does Yvonne Hartman. The problem is they think it's each other.

Verdict

Lola was another great episode to continue my way through the Nightmares fourth series of Torchwood One! This was a really fun story and I loved the concept in how it was just so very Torchwood. The innocuous nature of how the episode started with Yvonne being suspicious of a cup of coffee being left out showed how paranoid she was as a person as well as being a bit of a control freak when it came to cleanliness. It just wasn't fathomable that the cleaners would leave out a coffee cup so it was up to Ianto to investigate. Amazingly, there was substance quite literally in the request as Kayleigh found traces of retcon within it. I thought that was brilliant because using something like that against Torchwood is tremendous. I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner in having the basis of a story like this centred around retcon because it just makes sense. I really appreciated the realism that came from Tommy revealing how numerous Torchwood employees were semi-regular users of the stuff. In a job like Torchwood it was more than understandable why some might want to forget their day's work. I thought Yvonne being suspicious of Ianto was quite amusing and it still does take a little getting used to hearing Ianto in the position and role he is in at this point in Torchwood One. His lack of experience is often something I forget about but he pulls things off very well here. Tommy is a fascinating character too and the way he was on hand to basically pass the baton around of who the retcon suspect was worked well. I thought the revelation that numerous Torchwood One employees had been retconned was good and I loved the truth that came about when they found the note about things going to shite. That was an apt description and Yvonne's reaction to discovering that it was actually her that had ordered the mass retconning was terrific. She instantly changed tact and was incredibly trusting of her past self. There was something to be admired there. Judging from the story synopsis, I was expecting a little more focus on a conflict between Yvonne and Ianto but I don't think I really got it to be honest. Not after the first ten minutes or so. That was no bad thing as I still really enjoyed the episode. It kept me hooked with some strong pacing and the build towards the titular character of Lola was very intriguing. The way things built from that name having significance to Tommy as his lost dog's name was very interesting but things grew from there, just as Lola did. She was an amalgamation of memories and the whole presentation of swapped memories was excellent. I love the idea and just wish a little more was made of it! Kayleigh having the memory of Ianto's grandparents and being confused because she had lost hers before she could remember them was a little eery but I liked the enigmatic feel it provided. The way Ianto was on hand to help defeat Lola and use memories against her was pretty decent, but it felt a little quick and easy, especially right after Kayleigh presented herself as one of those that made up Lola. The little comedy lines at the end between Yvonne and Ianto with the coffee and a dash of retcon was a nice touch and you could sense an air of seriousness in Yvonne. She wasn't wholly pleased with the matter despite it being her idea and the logic behind mass retcon to stop Lola was sound. It just didn't quite pay off. Overall, a really strong story to continue what is shaping up to be a stellar series! 

Rating: 8/10

Nightmares: My Guest Tonight

"I'm usually the one asking the questions."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Torchwood One 4.01

Featuring: Yvonne

Synopsis

Many people have poured out their souls on Nigel Best's sofa. His guest tonight is Yvonne Hartman.

Verdict

My Guest Tonight was an excellent start to the Nightmares fourth series of Torchwood One! This is a very exciting umbrella title for the series as it looks set to delve a little darker than what we have had in the first three instalments and with Yvonne Hartman as the main character in particular, the prospects are very bright indeed. She is such a strong character and her ability to command attention is just enthralling. I'm a big fan of hers and it is actually quite incredible to think about the impact she made purely off one guest appearance in Army of Ghosts. She did her duty for Queen and country, but now we're hearing what she got up to as part of Torchwood One before meeting the Doctor. Her position in the story here was fascinating and whilst she is a really strong character, it was actually Nigel Best who stole the show. He was so intriguing and this was an outstanding acting performance from Jon Culshaw. I'm so used to him being tremendous as the Brigadier or perhaps even one of the earlier Masters, but this was a one off character and he absolutely nailed it. The entire concept of him being a talk show host was brilliant and it was such a unique presentation in the Whoniverse. I thought the expletive language was utilised very well and just made the whole thing feel very real world. That's a huge positive in my book and the ambiguity surrounding what was actually happening to Nigel after his incident with the pods as a child helped with that. It was vague, but not too vague that it felt like things went unanswered. Nigel's reaction to interviewing Yvonne and realising something was very wrong was fun because he was clearly being manipulated. She had ensured that the interview skipped to the end before Nigel could ask about Torchwood, and he was then remembering in drips. Yvonne being interviewed in a dreadfully obvious disguise was fun stuff as Nigel knew he was being played but was rather helpless to do anything about it. The way his emotional torment was presented was certainly the stuff of nightmares as Nigel was basically begging for a breakdown. I felt sorry for him by the end, especially when Yvonne essentially got bored of what she was trying to achieve with Nigel too stubborn to admit what was required. He couldn't believe that he'd gone too far and was basically beyond saving. He knew Torchwood was at play and I do wonder if there will be any kind of story arc moving forward for this series. With the theme of nightmares I'm absolutely fine if there isn't, but just how did he know about Torchwood? The prospect of Yvonne being interviewed about it on screen for a talk show was quite the image. Nigel's conversation with his driver was fun too and the little gag about the fiver for his thoughts was amusing. With inflation and what have you, they certainly cost more than a penny! As a whole, this was a terrific little audio adventure that was just fascinating throughout. I was hooked with the concept of the talk show and Yvonne taking on different forms for the guest and then really tapping into Nigel's childhood and debate of whether it was enough was really nicely done. Overall, a fantastic start to the series!

Rating: 9/10

Echoes Through Eternity: The Questing Beast

"The Vortex viewed as ancient magic."

Writers: Fio Tretheway & Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Short Trips: Gallifrey 1.02

Featuring: Braxiatel

Synopsis 

Battling the Lord Burner, Braxiatel is separated from his friends as they fall through a multitude of alternative Gallifreys. He arrives in a realm where science is magic and there is a Dragon to be slain...

Verdict

The Questing Beast was another great little episode to continue my way through the Echoes Through Eternity Gallifreyan edition of Short Trips! This idea of a release is gaining more and more approval with myself as I reach the halfway point now and it's just so fun to dip into different eras and characters from the incredible range that is Gallifrey. There's so much potential and I sincerely hope this isn't the only release. Having Braxiatel as the main character here was fascinating as he is certainly something of an enigma. He is often shrouded in mystery so it was good to catch up with him at a point where he was falling through numerous versions of Gallifrey in the hope of reaching the Axis and returning to the true version he knew best. I thought the series where we did visit a number of different Gallifreys was really strong and the concept at the heart of this alternation was fantastic! It felt very Gothic and that's perfect for a character like Braxiatel. Instead of Time Lord science having developed on Gallifrey, this was a world of magic. I thought that was tremendous and is certainly something I would love to explore in longer form. This world is certainly ripe for a revisit! The line that I took for my quote is something I absolutely adored and it's not actually all that far fetched. So many peoples and society throughout the vast array we have met in the Whoniverse would simply have stared in awe and wonder at something like the Time Vortex. It's not a big surprise that a Gallifrey in an alternate universe would see it as magic and something to gaze upon. I really enjoyed that and it was delightful to hear Braxiatel getting a little frustrated at the lack of science. It was also good for him to get mixed up with his other self and be put on a trial! His defence of being from another universe and not the true Braxiatel was never going to serve him well. It was great to listen to though! The threat in the story coming in the form of a dragon was terrific, but I must say I was not expecting the reveal that Braxiatel himself – well another version – was the mystical beast! That was a fascinating conversation to say the least as Braxiatel gazed upon himself in a rather different form. I thought the inclusion of Narvin was good and his reaction to Brax calling Leela a savage was shocking! We didn't know that in this universe the pair were actually a couple which was fun to think about, but the former companion of the Doctor had been slain by the dragon. The beastly version of Brax was hardly remorseful about that which was a shame to hear. I liked how on this version of Gallifrey that Romana was viewed upon as the Queen rather than a Lord President. That fitted in very nicely with the magical landscape and it was a title befitting the name. Queen Romana. It just has a certain ring to it that absolutely works. Hearing Braxiatel do battle against his own dragon self was quite the way to go about things and it was a direction I wasn't expecting. I really enjoyed it though and I like how with this just being an instalment in a wider story arc and Brax finding his way through numerous Gallifreys that he was now back on his merry way. He touched upon how Romana, Narvin and Leela always seemed to find each other, but now he would quite like to find them. Overall, a terrific little listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Ultimate Evil

"This is all so frightening."

Writer: Wally K Daly

Format: Audio

Released: November 2019

Series: Lost Stories 6.02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

With the TARDIS working perfectly, the Doctor and Peri decide to take a holiday. But where? A long-forgotten piece of equipment in the TARDIS storage locker sends them to the peaceful and idyllic continent of Tranquela – home of the Doctor's old friend Ravlos.

But the land where they emerge is far from peaceful. A hate ray is regularly sweeping Tranquela, turning its inhabitants into savage beasts, and there is only one place it can originate – the planet's other continent, home of Tranquela's old enemies, the Amelierans.

Or is that the only place? Because somewhere far above the planet events are watched by the slimy super-salesman, Mordant, who has his own unscrupulous plans.

Verdict

The Ultimate Evil was an average Lost Story adventure in my opinion! I must say, I don't think we were missing too much though with this story not being made which is a shame to say. I'm very glad to have covered it and it was a worthy listen, and I'm sure one day that I will also read the novelisation which I was surprised to find existed as part of the Missing Episodes mini range, I do think I would be likely to enjoy the novelisation more because I imagine it would be truer to the television story went unproduced as it would be based more off the script rather than shifting things for the audio format. I thought the directing and sound design for this story was a little weak and as much as I hate to say it I couldn't help but feel that Colin Baker wasn't wholly invested in his Sixth Doctor performance. I'm usually such a fan of his audio work but it just felt lacking here and I think that was partly the fault of the script. The premise at its heart is actually really good and I love the idea of waves of hatred and peace being possible. There's a lot of potential there and the groundwork in which peace had been achieved between the Tranquelans and Amelierans was excellent. The punishments that came from one party of the species spying on the other and stepping foot in other territory was crucial to maintaining a peaceful relationship. Except that was on the brink of a disaster now. The whole familial makeup of the rule was interesting stuff and I enjoyed how the Second Family were out for a war to take over. Peri's relationship with Locas was built pretty well and I liked how she was able to trust him despite his admission at killing his loved one. It was something that he was distraught about and why wouldn't he be? Imagine pushing the person you loved off a cliff and knowing about it, having that memory, but not being able to control yourself from doing it. I certainly sympathised with him as the wave of hate ran over him. I thought the holiday ball that the Doctor used was a bit of a useless gadget and the continuity with The Nightmare Fair was good stuff in positioning the story in the lost run that would have been the original Season 23. Some holiday that was! But this was hardly any better. I thought Mordant was a decent enough villain and I liked that he was scheming from the shadows for much of the story, but that actually hurt things by the end in my opinion as I didn't feel like he really had his comeuppance. He was just forced into sending a peace wave across the planet to quell the tensions of both races. That was somewhat disappointing because at numerous times the Doctor was helpless which is not something we are used to hearing. He was completely ravaged by the wave of hatred and couldn't remember being so. That's very unlike him! The significant of Escoval and Abatan was presented fine in the dialogue and explanation of the story, but less so in practice. I thought the Doctor's history with Ravlos again absolutely fine but not exactly something to get excited about or all that interested in because he wasn't a familiar character. I thought it was really good to have the story splint into two parts like Season 22 was with the Sixth Doctor as that's something I prefer for sure, although it did at times feel like there were cliffhangers within each part as written. Overall, a decent world and political setup to explore but there was just something missing in the way the story was presented. 

Rating: 6/10

Death Riders

"This thing could crash at any moment."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Novel

Released: February 2011

Series: 2in1 1a

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

It's not all fun at the Galactic Fair...

The Galactic Fair has arrived on the missing asteroid of Stanalan and anticipation is building around the construction of the fair's most popular attraction – the Death Ride! But there is something sinister going on behind all the fun of the fair; people are mysteriously dying in the Off-Limits tunnels. Join the Doctor, Amy and Rory as they investigate...

Verdict

Death Riders was a great novel to kick off my long overdue reading of the 2in1 novels from the era of the Eleventh Doctor! For whatever reason, I have passed up on reading these novels because I don't think I took them seriously. But when I had this book in hand from my local library, I was delighted with the quirkiness of two stories in the same book and the way it literally flips over into the other adventure! It's really rather fun. I just feel sorry for the author whose story was placed the wrong way around on the bookshelf! The trio of the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory are presented ever so well in the adventure and I was so impressed with how well their personalities and relationships were put into prose. It was effortlessly part of the era which was terrific and really helped with the read. I thought there was some strong humour and the characterisation of the Eleventh Doctor in particular was sublime. Matt Smith's likeness was absolutely nailed by Justin Richards and that instantly helps with my reading. The concept itself was intriguing and after a humorous arrival on an asteroid, the Galactic Fair was not what I was expecting from the bleak landscape initially described. After a quick TARDIS turnaround, the adventurous look around the Fair quickly focused on one ride in particular. One that wasn't even complete yet. The concept behind the Death Ride I must say was a little far fetched, but with it being in the thirty-third century and part of a wide-travelling fair on an asteroid, I could let it slide a little. I thought Perpetual Pete was a fun character and although the comments about him smelling didn't seem all that necessary, his persistence when it came to the Off-Limits zones hinted at something more. I didn't get that sense right away though so I liked how things were paced out. I thought the build to the Death Ride itself being finished was good although I just couldn't accept that the moment it was completed that it would be deemed safe to ride! It was fun though to have a rollercoaster as the central premise for a story and it was incredibly whacky for Rory to be climbing from one carriage to the next as it was going through the mining caves. I thought the Doctor immediately cottoning on to the fact that Pete had knowledge he wasn't sharing was good and the way he challenged him was excellent. Pete didn't do a great job in hiding it once challenged and he knew the game was up against Doctor Clever. That was such a name this Doctor would take on. I thought the history behind the Drexxons was decent and the literal connection a smaller one shared with Garvo became quite the talking point in the story. Amy was aghast that the Drexxon appeared to be chained up to its master and as a slave, but I must say I called it straight away. I knew it would be the other way around and that the Drexxons were the villains! The whole story behind the Perpetuity Chamber was good and I liked how Pete had been on hand for centuries to stop it being reached. But the time had come now after using the Galactic Fair as a front to search far and wide. And here we were. The action that came in the conclusion was a little difficult to imagine with the balancing of the carriages, but I did enjoy how everything was pushed back into the Perpetuity Chamber to really seal things off. Quite literally! The Doctor calling back to The Curse of Peladon with the Venusian lullaby was a nice touch considering we had trisilicate featured in the mines as well. Overall, a really strong story to kick off the series! Intrigue, fun, action and some superb characterisation. A terrific read! 

Rating: 8/10

Echoes Through Eternity: Damned If You Do

"Alteration is not an option."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Short Trips: Gallifrey 1.01

Featuring: Narvin

Synopsis

CIA Coordinator Narvin is unwillingly called upon to find some lost students – aliens admitted to the hallowed Academy. But when Narvin and Cadet Kransa enter the Catacombs, nothing will be the same...

Verdict

Damned If You Do was a really strong start to the Echoes Through Eternity edition of Short Trips! I love the idea of the Short Trips doing spinoffs and a collection of short stories from across the history of the Gallfirey spinoff range is such a tremendous idea! There is so much potential there as it's a series vast with exploration and just superb storytelling. We went back towards the start here and it was so fun to hear Narvin talk of Romana with something akin to distain. That's a very different approach to the Narvin of the current era of Gallifrey during the Time War. His feelings towards Leela and Romana have grown exponentially and he cares for them a great deal, but here he was at a point where he wasn't exactly becoming to outsiders, not really a fan of anyone on Gallifrey who wasn't from a noble house, and was trying to save his entire planet and people from its own Lord President! It's quite the place we find Narvin in at this point in time and it was just a delight to step back into that era. The story itself was a pretty simple one whilst being incredibly intriguing. I really liked how for Narvin this was almost something of an exploratory episode as we looked ahead to his character and the significance that he will bring to the future. His interactions with the Time Shade were fascinating and I liked how he knew of them as myths from the Dark Times. There is definitely something more to come with the way Narvin adventures of similar names are bookending this Short Trips release. I liked the way Narvin saw a flash forward of everything to come and the significance of the burning planet in particular was nicely done. His importance in setting alight the Time War was touched upon nicely and I like how once his time with the Shade was over, he could only think of Krasta when remembering blurs of that burning planet. She as a cadet was an interesting little character and I suspect she will become more significant in the finale. Before we got there though it was good to hear her inquisitive nature. Narvin showing distain towards Romana was amusing and I liked how he was not all too pleased by the Free Time movement. His reaction to hearing how some of the aliens had actually looked upon the Untempered Schism. That was quite a surprise for him and he wasn't impressed with that. It wasn't just for anyone to look upon it! He was somewhat boastful when it came to his nature as being time sensitive and being exposed to the Schism in the past, but with the aliens not being natives the potential trouble was there. He also wasn't a fan in general of just being sent on the lookout for a number of missing students. He didn't think they should be on Gallifrey in the first place so for them to go missing didn't sound all that bad as far as he was concerned! That wasn't something Kastra agreed with and Narvin having to stop himself on a couple of occasions was fun to hear. He wasn't quite put in his place but he knew that he was speaking out of turn in terms of being politically correct. The way things ended with the memory distortion was good and Narvin seeking to stop the President, whilst also touching upon Kastra's memory. A fine start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Hearts of Stone

"No one ever cares what I want."

Writer: Steve Lyons 

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 08

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, 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

Hearts of Stone was an intriguing little adventure to continue my way through the Companions edition of Short Trips! It was nice to get a story featuring the full TARDIS team including the Doctor whilst keeping the focus firmly on one companion in the form of Adric here. That worked well and it’s quite fun to think that there’s another Adric-focused story in this collection considering his status as a companion amongst fandom. I don’t think he has the most favourable reputation but he is undoubtedly an interesting character. That was evident here even if he was his typically annoying self! I like that he is free to speak his mind and doesn’t have any qualms in challenging the Doctor. He seems to think there is favouritism from the Time Lord towards Tegan and Nyssa rather than himself which is probably a little difficult to argue with! He wanted to see explore a collapsing star and whilst knowing that it wasn’t going to become a black hole for at least three weeks, he was denied because it wouldn’t interest Nyssa and Tegan. And yet here they were lounging about relaxing and playing board games. Adric’s comments towards Nyssa about their games of chess were incredibly harsh and it was sad to hear what he thought of Tegan as a mere human. Sure, they have a pretty testy relationship but he was rather derogatory towards her behind her back which was a shame. I thought having a story on an unnamed planet was good and there was a lot of potential there. It’s the complete unknown and Adric was being sucked in to the charades of statues. Could you make the case that these might be some version of the Weeping Angels given that the planet existed outside of time? It’s a fun thing to ponder on in hindsight and I could see it working. The imagery was strong and I liked how there were descriptions of the people who were trapped within not actually arriving yet whilst those leaving were entrapped for eternity. It was an exciting prospect and it was good to explore the potential! The voice talking to Adric from within was terrific and I thought it was baffling that he wanted to become one of the statues. What benefit would he have there? What science could he explore? Would he really be happy? I’m not sure he could really blame the Doctor for taking that choice away from him and whilst Nyssa understood wanting to decide for himself, she knew he would change his mind once given time to think about it. She knew him, and that was a nice touch. Finishing with her beating him at chess was good too as Adric’s mind was elsewhere. I just thought his desires were a little misplaced and I couldn’t help but think of him as a bit of a brat. His attitude was quite appalling and that is why he’s not the most likeable of companions. I was impressed in how that was presented on the page though as it was strong characterisation for him. This was authentically Adric, even going so far as to say he preferred the Fourth Doctor to the Fifth. The Doctor really did have his hands full with this trio of companions! Overall though, a strong story to continue my way through the collection. 

Rating: 7/10

New Recruit: Rivers of Light

"Why do you have a planet in a box?"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: The Diary of River Song 9.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier, River

Synopsis

In a Yorkshire mining town, strange temporal distortions and rivers of light crossing forests are enough to get the Brigadier's attention, and UNIT is mobilised.

But the Doctor is back, and he wants to know who's been messing around in his laboratory. River's reasons for being on Earth are about to be revealed...

Verdict

Rivers of Light was a really fun story to conclude what has been a thoroughly enjoyable New Recruit ninth series of The Diary of River Song! It's been a sheer delight to hear River as part of the UNIT team of Season 7 and whilst I think a little more of the Brigadier would have been welcomed in the middle two episodes in the series, getting him back here was fantastic. Jon Culshaw is scarily good in his impression and the good impersonations come with Tim Treloar getting to shine in this finale. It makes sense that the final episode will be where River encounters the Third Doctor for the first time chronologically, but his return is not actually something she was anticipating or even wanting! The prospect of the Third Doctor being off on a wild Silurian goose chase was very amusing and I love how absurdly random that is. Unfortunately, we won't be getting a Third Doctor sequel to The Sensorites at this point but perhaps one day it will happen. It's definitely something I'd love to hear! Learning of the truth regarding River's presence was really interesting and it's quite intriguing that she actually wanted the Doctor out of the way. Her reaction when she heard him returning whilst she was fiddling about inside his TARDIS was terrific. I thought her comment about him being harder to deal with and more angry in his younger days was marvellous and it's quite fun to think that the elderly incarnations of the First and Third Doctors are actually some of the youngest despite their frostiness. River claiming to be from the Celestial Intervention Agency was actually a pretty darn good cover story given the Doctor's position in exile as it explained her presence as checking in on him and also helped give credence to her technical knowledge involving the TARDIS. The Doctor's reaction to her actually reinstalling the console was brilliant. He was outraged at what she was doing! I thought Liz was naturally a little quieter in this adventure which was a slight shame but that's always going to happen when the Doctor is around and River fills in that companion role. Her involvement with the rivers of light from the title was not something I was really expecting, nor finding out who she had been employed by! I thought the concept of a planet in a box and a collapsing sun was quite mad and I'm not entirely sure of the science behind it all, but I did understand the threat that was evident if that box collapsed in and the sun was left to consume the Earth. The use of the rivers to control things was decent, but it was all about the Master being the one behind it. He'd employed River for the mission and the image of her alongside the Delgado incarnation of the Master was superb. Another incarnation of the Doctor's arch nemesis for her to add to the list after Series 5 of this very range. I think it's excellent to think that the Master was present and plotting even prior to Terror of the Autons, but River was on hand to double cross him and see him sent to Gallifrey to answer for his many crimes. I really appreciated that there was something of an attempt to explain the UNIT dating controversy as well in this story as it was actually quite pivotal to the plot with the instability. It was really fun to address that in a meaningful way rather than the 'seventies or eighties' throwaway lines we've had in more recent times. Overall, this was a really strong listen and the plot was almost secondary to the interactions between the Third Doctor and River. The use of a memory wiping wine was a unique way to keep intact the timeline of Silence in the Library and beyond, and I liked how it didn't become a big thing. A fantastic little series concludes very well. 

Rating: 8/10

New Recruit: Never Alone

"What are you doing in my dream?"

Writer: Helen Godwyn

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: The Diary of River Song 9.03

Featuring: River, Liz

Synopsis

River believes Intertraxia is ahead of its time, but it's already shipping innovations in entertainment and computing around the world.

When a dead man is found with alien technology implants, UNIT investigates. Liz and River are about to discover that those connected to the network are never alone...

Verdict

Never Alone was another good episode to continue my way through the New Recruit ninth series of The Diary of River Song! I thought this was another solid outing for River and Liz who have become a terrific little pairing and it's nice to hear them getting on, although I must admit I think the placement of this series is a little off as this definitely should have been swapped with Terror of the Suburbs in my opinion. I mentioned that in my blog entry yesterday and I couldn't help but think it as I was listening here. It would have flowed better, but I did try to think of the episode in isolation and it was still a very enjoyable listen as my rating reflects! I thought the Intertraxia technology company was a good front for taking the minds of promising students, and hearing in the early 1970s how there were prototypes set for global scale that were basically early versions of a portable music player and phone was quite amazing! River knew they were far beyond their time and it is just great having her around with all of her foreknowledge. I thought Pippa was an annoyingly fun character as my goodness didn't she just talk and talk! She was oblivious to some small mockery by River which was harmless and I am honestly astounded after listening to find that she was not voiced by Mina Amwar! I am honestly stunned. The first image that popped into my head when I heard her talking was of Gita in The Sarah Jane Adventures! The likeness was honestly uncanny. Her relationship with Marco was intriguing stuff and I thought it was quite fun for her to proclaim that he was her boyfriend, he just didn't know it yet. River's reaction to that said everything really! I thought the demeanour of Marco was a little strange as he was part of the Higher Power and the focus on technology there was almost reminding me of the Cybermen! I also suspected the Wire was present at some point too which wouldn't be a huge stretch given the setting's proximity to The Idiot's Lantern. Alas, the Higher Power was just that and I was almost disappointed that Professor Allen was working with it. It was just so predictable as it basically followed the same pattern of the previous episode which was a bit of a shame. I thought the death of Ian was a good threat to include in the episode with six others missing from the university, but Marco being another and just working for Intertraxia felt odd. I liked that it was explained Ian resisted the technological fusion we heard Pippa become subjected to, and the after effects of that were quite fun. The invasion of dreams and thinking and conversing via inner thoughts was interesting stuff and River's slow reaction and realising why she had invaded Marco's dream was excellent. It was almost like they were all tripping! So of course it was left to somebody sensible like Liz to set things right from the outside and the brief moment where it was feared River was too far in was a nice bit of trepidation at the end of the episode. She would be too much for the Higher Power to handle in the end. I must admit I wasn't all that fussed by the voicing for the Higher Power as it just felt a bit generic and that overbearing and loud booming type is something I've heard before and almost never enjoyed. It's just not threatening for me. I thought River's comment at the end about not wanting to live her afterlife in a computer was a little sad given her fate in Forest of the Dead, but that's the beauty of these audios and jumping around the timelines. Overall, a good story! Now onto the finale which I cannot wait for.

Rating: 7/10