Corridors of Power

"Why would you want to generate plasma inside a spaceship?"

Writer: Matthew Griffiths

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 01

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

Corridors of Power was a decent story to kick off my reading of the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! I’m very excited to be starting a new edition of this Big Finish prose series because I don’t think it’s any secret that I didn’t get on too well with the Zodiac edition so I’m fascinated by the concept at the heart of this one. It’s not an obvious one that’s for sure but this captured the essence really well. It felt very contained and I understand that captured the intended feel of the book very well. I like the way the story tapped into the stereotypical nature of Doctor Who when it came to running through corridors. That’s good fun but I did like the mysterious feel this story had right from the off. I loved that Steven was being pretty boisterous when the TARDIS landed on what the Doctor was claiming wasn’t an ordinary floor. That set the intrigue right from the off. The image of the Doctor and Vicki looking down on Steven from the ledge was great too and I can imagine the First Doctor here not being too happy about having to clamber down! The insistence from Steven on being on a spaceship was good and I like how he has some experience and credentials there being a pilot. If somebody was going to know then it was certainly this companion! The emergence of the handymen was interesting and it was clear that things weren’t quite in sync. That could have perhaps been presented as being a little more uncomfortable as I didn’t quite grasp why they weren’t fully interacting with the Doctor and his companions. It makes sense that they couldn’t understand them and despite the established TARDIS translation circuits being in play, I think you can get away with that a little in the First Doctor era. The Doctor taking on the challenge of the situation on the ship was good and Steven also showcased some strong Doctorly qualities. He was wanting to get to the bottom of the situation and I think part of that was because he and the Doctor disagreed slightly on where they had arrived and what that meant. The Doctor investigating the scorch marks was good and I liked the eureka moment when he realised they were a failed translation. It’s intriguing that Steven dubbed the hunched peoples on the ship as handymen before we even knew the expected horror at the end. I liked that the Doctor knew that what was being created in the form of the plasma cannon was brutal and would wipe out the arriving space fleet. That was pretty daunting but it was slightly underwhelming to find that the arriving party were actually the clients of the handymen and not the intended target. Once that was revealed, it was obvious to me that the clients were going to be humanity. The Doctor worked it out beforehand which was good and initially Steven was angered at the prospect of leaving the handymen to their fate. But then four humans emerged for their weapon. That was good despite the predictability as the companions had to realise that their own species were coming to collect a weapon of utter destruction. The human race never changes and that was difficult for Steven to accept. A little more of Vicki in the story would have been nice but it was fun for her to have gone down the chute initially! I was praying for the Doctor to follow but that wasn’t going to happen in this incarnation. Overall, a really decent story that captured the feel well and just had a little bit of predictability. A good read. 

Rating: 7/10

The Fires Down Below

"I came to discover why you are killing millions of our people."

Writer: John Peel

Format: Comic Strip

Released: April 1982

Printed in: DWM 64

Featuring: Dominators, Quarks, UNIT

Synopsis

Iceland, 1984. UNIT are sent in when tectonic plates are clashing more than should be naturally feasible. A descent into the core of the Earth reveals a sinister presence trying to destroy the planet for fuel.

Verdict

The Fires Down Below was a good little comic strip adventure to continue my way through the Black Sun Rising graphic novel collecting the backup tales of comics from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine! I'm intrigued to find that this story seems to be released three issues later than Devil of the Deep which I read yesterday and as I'm coming towards the end of the graphic novel I wonder if that was a signal of the end in sight for the backup tales. I would love for them to make a return but with the main comic strip now reduced to just six pages, I can't see that happening somehow! I had no idea what to expect from this story but it's another really solid adventure from John Peel. He really is cherry dipping a number of past foes and monsters and when it comes to the comic strips I know the Quarks played a big part in the early stories before there even was a DWM! I would love a collection one day of the TV Comic adventures and beyond for the first three Doctors, but seeing the Quarks here was a delight! And then they were alongside the Dominators too! Now, The Dominators is far from being an all-time classic but it's one that I have a lot of nostalgia for and definitely rate higher than a large chunk of fandom. I think the five-part format is a little strange but seeing the likeness of the Dominator from the screen drawn in the form of Dominator Haag here was fantastic. Now, the Dominator didn't do an awful lot and I think the story would have actually benefitted from having just one of the Dominators or the Quarks, but I understand why both were included when it comes to purely the televised series continuity. They are kind of a package item but there's no doubting that the Quarks are the main attraction! The design is iconic and it's almost a shame that when the UNIT personnel find them within the core and using their device to initiate the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that they just go straight to the Dominators for instructions. It would have been better if they just were being a menace! I liked that we had another UNIT story and I think it's great that they're encountering the Dominators and Quarks. I'm sure there's a story with them in the Lethbridge-Stewart novel series too which I hope to one day get to so hearing that Major Whitaker was operating under the instructions of the Brigadier was a nice touch. I thought the 1984 setting for a story released in 1982 was good fun too and some potentially dark foreshadowing! I don't know my history of volcanic eruptions but imagine if there was an earthquake that caused one in Iceland two years after this comic was released. I thought the panels in the story were good and with only four pages I think a few more could have actually been squeezed in! UNIT didn't mess around in dealing with the Dominators and the feedback loop ensuring a massive explosion felt dangerous given they were in the middle of the planet! Surely that wouldn't help the problem of the tectonic plates clashing? Overall, a fun little story with a good return and I liked the ambiguity surrounding the potential of a Dominator fleet coming. Maybe there's a sequel to come? A good read.

Rating: 7/10

Suckers

"I shouldn't be here."

Writer: Alexander Stewart

Format: Audio

Released: August 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 64

Featuring: Tosh

Synopsis

Shireen's not exactly enjoying being sectioned, but she's been in worse places. That psychiatric right unit in Brecon was a right dump. This one's alight, though. There's table tennis, art therapy and they even get to do a bit of gardening. 

There's only one problem. Shireen's roommate. Toshiko – she's a total space cadet, convinced the unit is overrun by aliens. Yeah, right.

Verdict

Suckers was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range! This was a really interesting story that invoked a lot of emotion. I thought it was also a spectacular performance from Naoko Mori in reprising her role as Tosh. She was honestly tremendous which was a joy to hear as for the majority of the episode she was in a mentally altered state. That was portrayed just brilliantly here. I must admit I got ahead of myself with regards to the front cover as I had convinced myself that the suckers depicted on there were either the Zygons or the Nestene Consciousness. It didn’t take anything away from the episode but neither did show up. And the being that was possessing the suckers didn’t actually prove to be all that present which was completely fine. Tosh being in solitary confinement was almost immediately uncomfortable because of her condition. The way she sounded was just heartbreaking as she was clearly not herself and over-medicated. I find the whole concept of confinement in this regard quite worrying and I can’t see any good coming of it. The setting of this story as pre-Series 1 and Everything Changes was fantastic and not something I knew was coming. That was a real treat as I love going places beyond or before what we saw on television. Tosh was retconned into featuring in Aliens of London which is glorious and now here she is following on from what we saw in Fragments where Jack rescued her as a newbie. I loved hearing her try and call into Torchwood and asking for Suzie because we all know what happened to her! That was great to focus on and just her saying that name meant I knew exactly when this was set in Tosh’s timeline. It was difficult to hear her almost confide in Shireen that she believed she’d actually made Torchwood up! Sure it sounded fanciful and this showed what kind of effect solitary confinement can have. That was powerful stuff. I liked how Shireen was a new transfer in from Brecon and she initially didn’t like the idea of having a roommate. Solitary confinement might actually be welcomed for some! The whole thing about her having a personality disorder felt off as she seemed completely normal and was a really nice person. It was amusing to hear her battle internally with herself about what she was hearing because given where she was at the psychiatric unit and what Tosh was saying, it sounded completely reasonable for her to be an inmate! I wouldn’t be going along with what she was saying that’s for sure. So of course she ended up getting suckered to death by the alien creature that was feeding upon the people at the psych unit. That was a devastating moment as she pleaded for help and Tosh was almost dumbfounded by the situation. Felicia then emerging and trying to convince her that Shireen was just a hallucination was uncomfortable. She was a very strong villain and I was almost surprised she emerged as late as she did in the story. She was just evil and the way Tosh turned things on her by putting anti-psychiatries in the coffee was fantastic. It was so simple yet so effective and the creature then coming for her was a fitting way to end what was an excellent listen. Thought provoking, full of emotion and just an incredibly strong episode. 

Rating: 9/10

Skywatch-7

"My duty comes before your scientific curiosity."

Writer: Maxwell Stockbridge (Alan Mackenzie)

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November-December 1981

Printed in: DWM 58, DWM Winter Special 1981

Featuring: UNIT

Synopsis

There's trouble afoot on a UNIT base in the Arctic as a shapeshifting monster wreaks havoc.

Verdict

Skywatch-7 was a good little story to continue my reading through the Black Sun Rising graphic novel collection of backup comic strip tales from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine! This looks to be an interesting little story and not because of its content. I find it fascinating that a two-parter is printed across two different issues with one numbered and one special because that just wouldn't happen today. We're lucky to get any kind of fiction in the special editions of DWM these days and whilst prose stories are welcomed, they're nothing like this! I was also intrigued as to why this story was credited as being written by Maxwell Stockbridge. He's obviously a very famous character in the pages of the DWM comic strip so with that credit I was fully expecting the character to be the main protagonist of the story, but that was far from the case! This was a full blown UNIT story which is far from being a bad thing, but I just couldn't understand the need for the credit. It doesn't really add anything to the story because we know Maxwell Stockbridge is a fictional character and it also doesn't even mean much at all with him not being featured. Is this a fictional comic strip written in-universe by Maxwell? I think a little more clarity on that would have been welcomed but at the same time I'm not really sure how you can do that within the story. It's a bit of a difficult one to be honest as it just makes me a little confused which as a reader is not what you want. What you do want as a reader though is a really strong cliffhanger when it comes to multi-part comic strip adventures and that's exactly what we got here! The full page panel revealing the Zygon was a delightful treat and I had no idea they were coming. It makes sense for UNIT to do battle with them once again following on from Terror of the Zygons and I love the unique nature of an Arctic base. Might the 1985 setting and the Arctic suggest that the UNIT were investigating events that would later become The Tenth Planet? Is there anyway they would know what was to come in the next year? It's certainly a fun thought to ponder on. I thought the depiction of UNIT here was good and it definitely makes sense for them to become the main characters in this kind of backup story. We've had numerous monsters and villains take centre stage so why not the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce? They don't just exist when the Doctor is around as we know so a visual representation of one of their encounters is a tremendous idea. I think we should be getting more! It would have been good if we had a familiar character leading the pack in the form of the Brigadier or even Benton or Yates, but alas just having that UNIT name was still all good in my book. I thought the way the Zygon provided a threat mostly just by its mere presence was impressive and it was a powerful moment when the real Campbell was shot by mistake thinking it was the Zygon duplicate. That was enough to send some UNIT members literally over the edge when it came to destroying the Zygon and getting an actual asterisk to Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster referencing the Zygons being afraid of flame was incredible! I love a reference to a Target novelisation. The fate of the Zygon being sent into the ice from height was pretty emphatic and I thought the illustration of its arm returning to the natural Zygon form was good stuff. Overall, a strong little read to continue my way through the collection! 

Rating: 7/10

Black Sun Rising

"Perhaps if we make peace now..."

Writer: Alan Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 1981

Printed in: DWM 57

Featuring: Rema-Du

Synopsis

Decades removed from the beginnings of the 4-D War, Rema-Du must lead the Time Lords once more against the threat from the Order of the Black Sun. The Sontarnas are here also, and the resolution seems an unlikely one...

Verdict

Black Sun Rising was a great story to conclude the trilogy that started in Star Death as a fascinating insight into the early days of Gallifrey. Doing a little research since reading this comic strip has proved really interesting as it seems that these events are conically now known as the first Time War. It's clear that the one that ended as depicted in The Day of the Doctor was the Last Great Time War so how many have there been? This is the first and that's such a joy to be able to see visually. I adore exploring this early version of Gallifrey because it's just so alien but that makes it so incredibly intriguing. It feels like a glimpse into history that I never thought would be possible which is so exciting. It almost feels like we're intruding a bit which I love and has strong vibes of Morbius from the Dark Gallifrey range in being so early on. I hope we get more. I'd love an entire series! It's a good story to be chosen as the titular one for the graphic novel that I continue to read through collating these brilliant backup tales from those early editions of Doctor Who Magazine. It's a real treat and I didn't have much expectation before purchasing, but I am delighted with what I'm reading! I think Rema-Du is a good character and her father being much more aged than we saw him last in 4-D War showed the extent of this temporal war on Lord Griffen and also perhaps a different perspective on the Time Lords themselves. Are they fully able to regenerate yet as we know they would be able to? Severe ageing like this would perhaps suggest not and again that just adds to the intrigue of this point in history. I wasn't expecting the Sontarans to be involved at this point in history and that makes their actions in The Invasion of Time all the more fascinating! It's also staggering to think that they were so advanced by this point in Gallifreyan history! I'm a big fan of that as I think the Sontarans despite their obvious qualities and showcasing are still underrated. They offer so much so to see them involved in the first Time War makes sense. The glory and honour of battle! Their efforts to pit the Time Lords and the Order of the Black Sun against each other was terrific and I thought the artwork as well for them was tremendous. I think the idea of bringing the Time Lords and the Order of the Black Sun together was an almost unexpected resolution to the conflict but I did like the idea of them uniting in order to prevent the war starting in the first place. I was just surprised the Order of the Black Sun were as willing as they were to cooperate with that plan! Millenium was a really strong human and I've found the whole Parahuman element of this trilogy great to explore. Her ability to have time acceleration powers is quite spectacular and was utilised well here! Her death at the hands of the Zeitgeist was a powerful moment and he served his role well on the delegation. The Desault setting was good as well in being purposeful as the base for negotiations and it's quite ironic how things end with Wardog and the psy-snare showing out of nowhere to unite the two powers against the Sontarans. The clone race really do have an important place in history! Overall, a fascinating insight into the early years of Gallifreyan history! A very strong little read.

Rating: 8/10

Star Flight

"That isn't on the cargo manifest."

Writer: Paul Hayes

Format: Audio

Released: March 2026

Series: BBC Audio 31

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on board Cavis Sunliners Flight 307, a regularly scheduled passenger flight using a revolutionary type of interstellar travel. 

The Doctor, his granddaughter Susan and her schoolteachers Ian and Barbara meet Chief Officer Sopel, beleaguered commander of the vessel. 

Following an act of sabotage the ship is boarded by a large, levitating alien creature who demands the return of 'an artefact'. Influencing the ship's AI pilot, Pym, the Kleede threatens to shut off all life support.

With Pym and the Kleede engaged in a deadlock battle for control, and more aliens on their way, the Doctor must help the crew outwit their attackers. But time is running out...

Verdict

Star Flight was a decent adventure! I'm a big fan of the BBC Audio originals range and I do think a little more could be done in terms of continuity. Why can't they make a series? I think that would appeal a little more like the loose situation that's been going on with the Eighth Doctor in this range, but then at the same time it is quite fun to see which Doctors are getting the releases throughout the year. I'm never going to be disappointed to find that the very first TARDIS team are going to feature because they really are one of my favourites. Of course, it's a sad state of reality that only Carole Ann Ford survives from the original cast and unfortunately she wasn't the narrator here. I always prefer the authenticity that the actor who played one of the lead roles brings to things in this range, but there was nothing wrong with Christopher Naylor's performance. He was good and I thought his Ian impression in particular was very reminiscent of the presentation in Big Finish's First Doctor Adventures and Unbound range which was good! I do think this story was perhaps better suited for a smaller TARDIS team actually given the contained setting of the sullener flight, but I thought the ship setting was still very good. I loved the use of when this story is released because this kind of adventure wouldn't have been possible back in the mid-1960s. Imagine showing the society of that year the advances that have been made with artificial intelligence! It's good to highlight the confusion of Ian and Barbara when hearing that phrase but they're quick to ponder on how this could still be mere child's play to both the Doctor and Susan. I am continuously getting scared by AI because the role of the human just becomes less and less and working as an analyst in finance I am increasingly worried that I'll soon not be required. The use of it on the ship here was in a more traditional sense and Pym was a decent little pilot. I thought the threat that came from the Kleede was good if not a little generic and vague. It did the job that's for sure and I liked the mystery surrounding the artefact. It felt intriguing and a little too out of depth when it came to the comprehension of the human companions. That's a fun little element. I liked how Barbara challenged the Doctor when he tried to use the rationale of not interfering in history when he wanted to leave, but this was no The Aztecs situation. The TARDIS arriving had thrown the weight off on the ship mid star flight and that allowed the Kleede access. I thought that was a good little twist although it was so obvious at the start what had caused the extra mass on the ship! That was a fun way to start. I thought the talk of gas and the situations in which the Kleede would essentially disintegrate was good to establish the means of defeat, even if I felt like I was slightly just waiting for it to come about then. The element of separating the Kleede from the artefact to basically ensure it being defeated was pretty good. I thought the use of travel here and the explanation of lines from A to B and so on was great and very unique in a world of hyper and light speed travel. I think I would have liked a little more from each of the four travellers, but the Doctor getting a cheeky little victory by knowledge was wonderful. I just love thinking of the First Doctor with a smile on his face. Overall, a very good listen! 

Rating: 7/10

The Greatest Gamble

"No one cheats me and lives."

Writer: John Peel

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 1981

Printed in: DWM 56

Featuring: Toymaker

Synopsis

In the Old West, a gambler gets a little too hasty and involved in his games. He's a notorious winner and the Celestial Toymaker likes a challenge...

Verdict

The Greatest Gamble was a good little comic strip adventure to continue my reading of the Black Sun Rising graphic novel! This collection of backup stories from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine continues to be something I am really enjoying and this one was right up my alley in featuring the return of a strong villain! It's brilliant to try and think how the contemporary audience of the issue of DWM in which this story featured would have reacted because with the complete lack of repeats and ability to rewatch old stories, how would they have reacted to the return of the Toymaker? It's such a good illustration of the character and I love getting anything we can with returning characters like this one. He only made one appearance on screen but he clearly made a big impact to warrant a return here which was wonderful. Of course, he's gone to make an incredible return in The Giggle but that was over forty years after this comic strip. It's almost a shame that this story was only four pages because the only reason the rating isn't higher is because more didn't happen. I like the idea of the Toymaker lingering around in the Old West and finding new means of obtaining 'toys', and it really is the ultimate price when losing in his domain. The depiction of the Toyroom here was great and it's good to just explore more of it. It's obviously a huge shame that three episodes of The Celestial Toymaker are missing but the animation did a stellar job in reimagining it. I would obviously love to see the whole original serial but I'll take stuff like this to expand on it. The story really was a simple one as the Toymaker was taking advantage of Gaylor Lefevre's desire for winning but I do have to question his character. What does one really gain from winning by cheating? I mean I could probably understand it if money was on the table as you're financially benefitting then, but that wasn't the case here? What do you actually win? I couldn't understand that but he was duly punished by the Toymaker. Trying to cheat in the Toyroom was not a good move forward and Gaylord found that out in a big way! The Toymaker retorting to him about making a rule up about cheating based on his actions was tremendous as he had Lefevre's cards swapped for jokers. They looked familiar as a jester which was amusing and a nice touch. I was really impressed with the artwork for this story and it's a shame that the comic strips hadn't been colourised by this point because the Toyroom is the perfect place for that kind of vibrancy. Considering the entire story was only four pages long which is incredibly short, I'm not sure the little epilogue was required at the end of page four to show the Toymaker also luring other gamblers and players into his realm to become his toys. Getting that glimpse of Lefevre in statuesque form was pretty good though and really did illustrate the price of trying to cheat the Toymaker. Rules were everything and he just wanted to play. Whether this is before or after the events in which the First Doctor defeated him is unknown, but I'm going to say it's before. It would make sense and it was just fun to explore the character a little and play an everyday game. Overall, a good little adventure where I just wanted more! 

Rating: 7/10

Restricted Items Archive Entries 031-049

"You can go on a visit to your own past, if you remember what it looks like."

Writer: Maddie Wilson

Format: Audio

Released: July 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 63

Featuring: Ianto

Synopsis

The Restricted Items Archive is where all the items too dangerous for Torchwood are stored. Ianto Jones carefully catalogues each and every one. And he always works down there alone.

Only, something's not quite right. There's a secret in the Restricted Items Archive that won't be ignored any longer.

Verdict

Restricted Items Archive Entires 031-049 was a good little story to continue my way through the monthly Torchwood range! I was intrigued by this one knowing that only Gareth David-Lloyd starred as the sole actor and whilst this didn't have anything like the vibes of Heaven Sent on screen where Peter Capaldi pulled a blinder, it's still an impressive feat to keep the listener engaged and entertained for the duration of the hour that comprises this episode. Ianto is a really strong character and with this definitely being set somewhere in the middle of Series 1, he's a mature character. He's built his relationships and fought a lot in the job. It's also just very Ianto to be the one solely in control of cataloguing and documenting the items that made up this archive. It really does say a lot when Torchwood have to deem something as a restricted item because even for them it's too much. Surely the resurrection gauntlet would have been placed within if anybody at the team had sense? That should be the very definition of a restricted item! It didn't feel a million miles away from the device that told people how long they had until they died which the team thought was actually a thermometer! Talk about getting it wrong. It set the timeline though as Owen was told he had a year left to live in a powerful and quite subtle foreshadowing of the events to come in Reset. That's pretty harrowing but even without featuring his cheeky personality was on show as Ianto knew he'd been in the archive and caused some small chaos. Usually to do with the pens! Stationery is very important in office jobs, especially twenty years ago. I would have perhaps liked a little more time exploring each item in the archive so a better approach might have been a few items less to explore? Hell, we could have an entire little Short Trips series exploring these items and how they came to be acquired. Ianto making a voice note was a fun thought and I like that the audio we were listening to was very much in the real world. This would be listened back by Ianto (for what purpose I'm not sure) and that's the same thing we were listening to as well which was great. It felt authentic and I like that a lot. I thought the world's most useless time machine was a good item to explore and it was quite humorous when Ianto was returned back a few seconds to start saying the same sentence over and over. They probably played the gag one time too many, but the point was made. I wasn't expecting that to prove so crucial in the resolution though which was impressive. I thought the idea behind a device stealing the thoughts of someone who said them but them not being audible was interesting too and something I'd like to explore more in another adventure. I don't think I'll get the chance though! Ianto knowing that there weren't actually mice in the archive was good and he'd been playing the Drifter all along. I thought that was a tad predictable and the words of Ianto being played back to him was eery, but I was a little put off by the fact this had all happened before. It took away a little from what I had listened to already because Ianto was fully in control and knew what he was doing. It was clever for sure, but I just felt ever so slightly cheated that no quick thinking resolution was requited. Everything was in order. Predicting the rift flares is good and directing it into the archive to eliminate all life matter before using the time machine to get out rounded things out well. A good listen for sure! 

Rating: 7/10

Tales from the Vortex: Dark is the Devil that Walks

"The stranger is coming."

Writer: Mags L Halliday

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Short Trips 13.06

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis 

In 1814 Devon, palaeontologist Isabella Kerslake rescues the Doctor from a cliff collapse. But while hs is incapacitated, who is there to protect Isabella and her sisters from the mysterious figure that stalks their estate?

Verdict

Dark is the Devil that Walks was a good little story to conclude my listening of the Tales from the Vortex thirteenth series of Short Trips! This has been a solid collection of stories from a range of eras, Doctors and companions and whilst I would prefer a return to the monthly release schedule that we had prior to Covid, I think it's great that this range continues into another series that has actually recently been released. I'm sure I will reach that soon but this served as a good finale to this particular boxset. I was keen to listen to this knowing it was a Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough tale and with Janet Fielding as the narrator it had all the ingredients to be strong right from the off. She performed the story really well and I like that with her telling the story, it became Tegan focused and that's the right move in my opinion. The very happenstance of the Docot being incapacitated by a cliff collapse was pretty scary but it was a good way to remove him from the centre of things for much of the adventure. Turlough seemed to just disappear as well which was a slight shame but it was necessary when Tegan was undoubtedly the star of the show here. I thought the setting was strong and going to Georgian England is perhaps an era that has been underserved amongst the Whoniverse. There's a lot of potential there and Devon in particular can be a fascinating county when it comes to discovery. That's where Isabella Kerslake came in who was a really strong character. I liked how even here in the early nineteenth century she was defying the norms of society where women were concerned. She was tracking comets and finding fossils that defied belief. It also busted the creation myth that religion are so convinced by and I am always in favour of throwing a cat amongst the pigeons in that regard! I thought her sister was good too as a combination and it always adds that little more trepidation when familial connections and relationships get involved. Finding out that a particular fossil Isabella had found didn't and couldn't match any known animal was intriguing and that's where the extraterrestrial element came into play. I must admit, I sighed a little when the Ensova were revealed because they just sounded so generic. I was not a fan of their voice at all but the concept behind them was at least strong. I enjoy thinking about how something could live in interstellar clouds and their lifespans were certainly impressive! Generations amongst lasted for millions of years and whilst that is a little much to comprehend, it made sense in terms of their kind being lost to a cosmic storm. It was impressive that with the comets aligned they managed to even reach Earth, but the fact that Isabella had tracked the comet was really impressive considering the time and her position in society. She was defying social norms and where women are concerned in particular I love hearing and seeing that. The story rounded out in a completely fine way with the Doctor recovering to basically become a negotiator and the Ensova were off with their kind. Overall, a decent little tale to conclude a fun collection of Short Trips! 

Rating: 7/10

Jubilee

"A Dalek is never not in pain."

Writer: Robert Shearman

Format: Novel

Released: October 2025

Series: Big Finish Novelisation 01

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

"The Doctor and the Daleks. Have you never thought they are really both the exact same thing?"

It is time to celebrate! Let all the citizens of the glorious English Empire come together and give thanks to that mysterious soldier in time and space known only as the Doctor. For 100 years ago he destroyed a Dalek invasion force without mercy and became the saviour of us all. 

We have just one real Dalek left. Kept alive in the Tower of London, all these years our prisoner. And tomorrow we are going to blow it up, just for you! So put up your Dalek bunting and raise a glass of Dalek Juice. Who knows, there may be a special guest in attendance – the Doctor himself! Oh, you lucky people!

Time to get this party started...

Verdict

Jubilee was an excellent novelisation of the Big Finish audio drama of the same name! It's no secret that this is one of the most revered stories from the wonderful world of Big Finish and considering it was the basis for the extraordinary Dalek, that's hardly a surprise! It really is a sensational story so it was lovely to spot the little moments here that inspired what we saw on screen. It's been eleven years since I listened to the audio version of this story and I would be lying if I said I remembered a lot about it. That made things better though for a reading experience because this largely felt like a new adventure. It was also pretty poignant in revisiting Evelyn again as companion and I was delighted with the dedication and acknowledgement regarding Maggie Stables. She's such a different companion and far from the stereotype which is marvellous. Literally calling her wrinkled and fat here feels incredibly harsh but I loved how Evelyn owned her age and appearance. She wasn't bothered. Having a Masters and Bachelors degree in History gave me a lot to ponder in this adventure as the Doctor and Evelyn seemed to have some very strong feelings about the subject of History and I was definitely on the side of the companion. I love different interpretations and I go into the world of the Whoniverse with the same sort of thinking. It's impossible for everything to be in the same timeline or continuity, so I consider things a different interpretation of what might have been or where things might fit. I think it's fun and so Evelyn seeing a world a century on from her and the Doctor defeating the Daleks was intriguing because time had gone horribly wrong. The world of 2003 under the English Empire was pretty spectacular and almost satirical. It was incredibly fascinating and how someone like Nigel Rochester got to be the President is beyond me! He was a humorous character but he hardly seemed like someone who could be in charge. Farrow as the politician seemed a tad more suited to that but he didn't last a great amount of time. The concept of a singular Dalek is brilliant because it highlights just how ruthless and heartless they can be. And yet the one here was vulnerable and built an unexpected relationship with Evelyn Smythe. I think in prose we did miss a little there of the Dalek tones saying the full name of the companion, but it was still really good to explore their relationship. Evelyn had met the Daleks before in The Apocalypse Element which made her connection with them all the more fascinating. She really believed that one might not be so evil as the rest of the race. The Doctor was having none of it. I thought this story worked really for the Sixth Doctor and we got to dive deep into the darker side of this incarnation. To him they were an abomination and he wasn't having any of it. He didn't care and that's understandable given his history with them. The Doctor being the spark to make the Dalek talk for the first time in a century was great and just getting the inner thoughts of the Dalek as it experienced intolerable pain was a big benefit of the format. It was brutal and we almost did feel sorry for the Dalek. Evelyn would also help with that sentimentality. I thought the whole celebration of the jubilee was fun and the last Dalek left would now be blown up for entertainment. That horrified Evelyn! The Doctor was challenged in a big way in this story with his internal dilemma regarding saving people but his hatred of the Daleks and what they stood for. I thought the image of him splitting open as two timelines became one in a convergence was incredible and worked well to basically undo everything that had happened. The century that never was and that angered Evelyn all the same. She had experienced a lot of emotion and was it for nothing? The Doctor convincing the lone Dalek that managed to ascend itself to Dalek Supreme to give the order that for the Daleks to survive they needed to die was impressive. It was some roundabout logic but the Doctor was passionate about challenging the Daleks on what they would do once the universe was conquered. Had they even given it a thought? There was a lot on exploring the innards of the Daleks and what they stood for which was terrific. The Dalek Juice moment was grotesque in the best way possible and I couldn't believe the Doctor then finished the glass even after knowing what it was! The soldier description for Evelyn and the Dalek likening itself to her was fantastic. And the spiders inside the Dalek casing! That was some incredible internal detail. Overall, a really strong novelisation and a delight to revisit what must be considered a classic! 

Rating: 9/10

4-D War

"Perhaps they are punishing us for crimes we are yet to commit."

Writer: Alan Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March 1981

Printed in: DWM 51

Featuring: Time Lords

Synopsis

Twenty years on from the loss of Omega and the attack from Fenris the Hellbringer to stop the creation of the Time Lords, Gallifrey's elite attempt to extract him for answers on who hired him, and why?

Verdict

4-D War was an excellent story to continue my reading of the Black Sun Rising graphic novel collection of backup comic strips from then pages of Doctor Who Magazine! I have skipped one ahead because I have actually read and blogged Crisis on Kaldor before, and I was stunned to find that it was actually twelve years ago! Time really is flying and it's incredible to me how long I have had this blog now. But we are at nearly four thousand posts now which I'm incredibly proud of but there is still oh so much more to go. The content keeps on coming with a back catalogue that never seems to decrease which is great because I love to be kept busy. I read my blog entry for Crisis and it was quite amusing to me because as a teenager then with the blog less than a year old I was clearly ignorant of the backup format for the pages of DWM. I've learned a lot since then which I'm grateful for. I remember actually printing out the comic strip because it was so short and whilst I can't remember my source, I think I'd have been best served waiting for this graphic novel! Anyway, onto the story at hand and it was just excellent. I'm loving the idea of a trilogy within these backup pages and this being a sequel to Star Death where the origins of the Time Lords was depicted is marvellous. It's taken the Time Lords twenty years to be at a point where they can free Fenris the Hellbringer from the fate that they bestowed upon him themselves in the Zone of No Return, and it's pretty amusing that even with ten years of trying by Rema-Du that it took them a decade to realise that they might want information. Of course, Rassilon's hastiness might be a reason there. The title of the story is tremendous and really is another way of saying Time War, and just seeing those words in print in 1981 was simply brilliant. I think it's tremendous to touch on a Time War for the Time Lords in their early days and that was exactly what was happening here. I can see why the graphic novel takes the title it does from those stories collected here because that seems like it's going to be an explosive finale to this war with the Order of the Black Sun being the ones responsible for sending Fenris in the first place to try and stop the Time Lords before they were even a thing. I think it's such a good concept and I love that we actually get some visuals of very early Gallifrey and Time Lord society. That's a real treat. I thought the emergence of Wardog was amusing and I think a trick was missed slightly in not utilising a Tharil with Warriors' Gate not long having broadcast because the similarities were striking. Maybe Wardog will become one in the finale? Even with a missing arm? I have no foreknowledge but I have a hunch he might actually become Fenris from the future, but his fate would be pretty gruesome if so. The artwork for his splintering within the Zone of No Return was outstanding and really was quite the extraction! I thought the arrival and swift attack of the Order of the Black Sun was impressive even if Gallifrey's defences aren't quite here what we know them to be. Lord Griffen was strong again here as a high ranking Time Lord and I liked that he understood the concept of a Time War. He knew that the Order were attacking from the future and he was very much accepting that they might be being punished for crimes they had yet to commit. This did feel like it was setting things up for the trilogy's finale which is terrific and I'm so excited to reach that point now. Overall, a delightful comic strip adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Voyage to the Edge of the Universe

"To see if the universe has an end!"

Writer: Paul Neary

Format: Comic Strip

Released: January 1981

Printed in: DWM 49

Featuring: Azal

Synopsis

On a discovery to see if the universe has an edge, the Daemons led by Azal get more than they bargained for as they reach zero coordinates...

Verdict

Voyage to the Edge of the Universe was an excellent story to continue my way through the Black Sun Rising graphic novel collection of backup comic strips from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine! I have been really enjoying this run of comic adventures because it gives a chance to highlight those that aren't the Doctor. I am intrigued by the current direction as following on from The Touchdown on Deneb-7 the stories seem to all be printed in the same edition of DWM. I'm unsure if that relates to it replacing the main comic strip or if the first run was just so popular that they got more of a page count! I'm sure the demand was there. I don't think it's any secret that The Daemons is something of a cult classic amongst fandom and I do wonder if enough time had passed when this was released in 1981 for it to be considered in a similar vain. I mean, surely the fact they have done an entire comic strip with just Daemons present means the story made some sort of impression! And how could it not? I must say I do think it is a bit of an overrated serial despite its qualities but I am well on board with exploring the Daemons! I thought their desire to test if there was an edge of the universe was outstanding and obviously where the tile comes in, but I just thought it was tremendous as a goal. That is some feat to try and achieve and I admire them for their bravery and determination in continuing the venture for so long. It really was an incredible voyage an after over three years of light speed, they got somewhere close. I thought the parallels to the likes of The Mind Robber and Full Circle were fascinating with the realm when arriving at zero coordinates definitely feeling reminiscent of the former. It was all white and the image and description of Azal walking on nothingness was quite something. It was certainly familiar but I couldn't trust that the Daemons would be entering the Land of Fiction even though that is a mashup I would be well up for! The use of the coordinates being zero definitely did have strong E-Space vibes and maybe that's the universe that Azai came from? The fate that befell Azal when entering the mist at the mysterious age of the universe was troublesome as he saw himself, but it was no reflection. Depicting here how Azal as the last Daemon got his immortality was incredibly audacious and I think it worked a treat. He became at one with his parallel self or so it seemed but that left him pondering on a devastating dilemma. He knew he was needed to guide his people, but now amalgamated which would he choose? That is quite the choice! Whichever universe he left behind the people would struggle without his guidance, and in continuously stalling he was leaving people to get on with things themselves. I thought that was good and Azal not being the first with others spending millennia questioning which way to go when the same thing happened to them was only why this didn't get a perfect rating from me. I wanted the focus to be kept solely on Azal which I thought that took away from him a little. It was really great though to get an answer as to what was at the edge and would Azal ever make that choice? And if he did, which way would he go? That's fun to ponder on and I think the ambiguity at the end was right. It's not often I like things left open-ended, but this was certainly the exception to the rule. Overall, tremendous comic strip adventure!   

Rating: 9/10

Comrades-in-Arms: Memnos

"He wants his crimes remembered."

Writer: Phil Mulryne

Format: Audio

Released: May 2023

Series: The War Doctor Begins 5.03

Featuring: War Doctor, Case

Synopsis

Memnos: a secret Time Lord project, recording everything lost to the Time War. A place where the War Doctor can admit his part in the conflict and seek solace – and perhaps where he can find salvation for Case. 

But the Dalek Time Strategist will not let slip her potential. She could be the Daleks' greatest weapon. The battle for Case's soul will be won or lost in Memnos.

Verdict

Memnos was a strong conclusion to the Comrades-in-Arms fifth series of The War Doctor Begins! This has been a really good series that has scored a consistent rating across the boxset, but this was probably my favourite of the set if we were to get into decimal points! I thought the concept behind the titular Memnos was really good as it was basically like a rescue mission for everything that was being lost in the Time War. And crikey there was a lot! The scale and depth of the conflict means planets, people and everything in between could rock up on Memnos and that allowed Case some incredibly deep exploration. She was trying to discover who she was and that actually felt like a dangerous thing. What would she even achieve if she did find out the truth about who she was before becoming a Dalek cyborg? I felt like the only response there was going to be disappointment and devastation. We witnessed that a little bit with how she was angered at the people's inability to fight back against the Daleks. The devastation of them was quite emotional in parts because they never stood a chance. I loved the role of the Dalek Time Strategist here and it's good to have a freaky member of the Dalek race that almost serves as an equal opposite the Doctor. I think that is good because the Daleks are often seen as a collective but the Strategist is something different altogether. I do think his relationship with time is fascinating but it can get a tad boring if that's not too harsh of a word when timelines change. Everything is always going to be in flux and I'm not convinced it would allow him to see within the vault. The Doctor showcasing his loyalty to Case despite her protestations was also a little frustrating and I must admit I'm not the biggest fan of her character, but I do like the soft side she brings out of this warrior incarnation because of how he feels responsible for her condition and essentially what she is. The Doctor feeding some of his own memories into Memnos was good and whilst I do think that might have been intended to be therapeutic, it actually just serves as another reminder of all that is lost. Salvin was a really strong character as the Time Lord responsible for Memnos as a concept and Jarast alongside her was great in his belief in what she had created. He certainly felt devoted to the cause which was nice and made his extermination all the more powerful. The Daleks even commenting how it might have been a pointless death as he'd have told them what they wanted to know anyway about the vault was chilling. The Daleks were at a level of pure evil here. That's what the Time War should bring out of them and I'm a big fan of that. I thought the harvester being within the vault was intriguing and Case knew that her kind were going to be used and he wanted her to help with the interface. She felt hurt which I could understand and I think more of that comes from the Doctor's secrecy. He sounded guilty for a lot of the episode which was a good dynamic. I thought the ending with Case and Salvin combining was strong and certainly explosive! The emergency temporal shift to bring the Strategist along with Case to Skaro was unexpected, but it sets things up nicely for the next series where I'm sure Case will really be put to the test of what she really is! Overall, a great listen to conclude a very strong boxset. I'm loving this range.

Rating: 8/10

Comrades-in-Arms: Berserker

"As long as it's killing, it won't stop moving."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: May 2023

Series: The War Doctor Begins 5.02

Featuring: War Doctor, Case

Synopsis 

Sunspire was devastated by the Daleks centuries ago. The last of its people are returning to seek out their heritage in an underground bunker, and save their species from extinction. Case and the War Doctor join the mission, posing as a Dalek-Killer and her squire. 

But the bunker has an occupant: a single Berserker Dalek, driven insane by four hundred years of solitude...

Verdict

Berserker was another great episode to continue my way through the Comrades-in-Arms fifth series of The War Doctor Begins! This did feel like a bit of a battle and I think that was needed at this point in the War Doctor's run. I liked how it was established by the man himself that even this early on his body was wearing a little thin and that said a lot about the extent and toll of the Time War. So much is happening and the Doctor is adjusting to becoming a warrior and it's having its effect that's for sure! I think it's good to highlight that and involving a Berserker Dalek is certainly going to be problematic. Especially when it's one that has been laying isolated for four centuries! I think the concept behind the Berserkers is good and it was made to feel quite horrifying here. It just feels messy and that's a very good thing. It shows how desperate the Daleks are in allowing the Berserkers to even exist because they are anything but pure. Hearing here how the one had literally scooped up the bodies of the attack force against it and utilised them as fuel was grotesque. especially with the Doctor walking through the liquefied and sludgy remains. That was quite the image. I thought Case was good here and posing as a Dalek-Killer gave me strong vibes of Abslom Daak. She doesn't look all that dissimilar to him and she has similar inclinations that makes me think he must have at least partially been the inspiration for her character. I thought exploring her makeup as being an augmented Dalek cyborg was strong but again there was that strong element of horror with the efforts to have her involved in the Berserker reassembly. She would become one with the manic Dalek and that was a frightening concept and not a good idea of an ending for her character! Some death, but the Berserker wasn't recognising her as death. That was a little strange and considering the title of the episode, I do think we could have seen the Berserker a bit more. I do appreciate that part of the fun though was the anticipation of where it was and the idea of a Dalek being mysterious is pretty scary. Yorkin was a strong character and I enjoyed his relationship with Case. His perishing was a powerful moment that showcased just how nothing and nobody is safe within the Time War. The whole setting of Sunspire was really good and I liked how Case was immediately protective of the people. She didn't want the Doctor thinking on a large scale and to be fair by the end he was prepared to sacrifice himself into pure energy with no hope of regeneration just to give the species a chance of survival. Pera was a very stubborn person which I liked and her position amongst her people was admirable. The Doctor teasing Case ever so subtly about her potentially having a love interest when describing what she didn't like about her and it being reminiscent of herself was a nice touch too and a small reminder that this is still the same man despite him no longer going by the Doctor name. I thought the ending was strong with Case now becoming at one with the Berserker but she got the upper hand and both sides of the conflict would be very interested in what she has become. Whose side will she be on as a weapon? Time Lord or Dalek? I guess only time will tell. Overall, a really good listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Comrades-in-Arms: A Mother's Love

"I'm done being a weapon."

Writer: Noga Flaishon

Format: Audio

Released: May 2023

Series: The War Doctor Begins 5.01

Featuring: War Doctor, Case

Synopsis

Responding to a distress call, the War Doctor arrives on Haven: a state-of-the-art Time Lord field hospital, operated by the highly advanced 'Medbay Operation Mainframe' - or M.O.M.

But the station has been compromised. M.O.M.'s secrets run deep, time is running out, and the War Doctor must renew some old alliances if everyone is to get out alive.

Verdict

A Mother's Love was a strong start to the Comrades-in-Arms fifth series of The War Doctor Begins! I'm really loving following the early adventures of the War Doctor and once again kudos must go to Jonathon Carley for an incredible impression of this incarnation. He really is incredible in the role and it's such a joy that even after twelve stunning performances from John Hurt in the role, life continues for this character in a big way. It really does still feel like we're getting started and that was clear when it was suggested by Runa that the Time War might be over soon. They must be winning at the very least? This is obviously just an audio format but I could almost feel that look of trepidation from the Doctor. Things were far from over. I'm usually wanting Daleks to feature in a Time War era story because it feels like it is a constant battle between them, but this was a really good example of showcasing how the conflict can be used as the backdrop for something else. A Time Lord medical facility fits perfectly there as they really would need somewhere to heal when constantly going to war against the Daleks! Veklin being the one that was requiring treatment was good because she's a very well known figure amongst the Time Lords in this Time War and she knew where she needed to go. Haven was a fine setting and I love the concept, but she was willing to go there fully in the knowledge of what it might do to Case. Her return was welcomed as she made a strong connection with the War Doctor in the first couple of series of this range and I like how her very being as an augmented Dalek weapon cyborg is something the Doctor blames himself for. That gives him an extra sense of responsibility for her fate which I liked and he wasn't going to leave her behind here despite what Veklin wanted. She was looking at the bigger picture and couldn't put her before winning the Time War, but the Doctor was having none of it. He would ensure she got out alive. I liked how she was able to interact with M.O.M. who was an intriguing mainframe for the medical bay. I think the use of artificial intelligence in the Time War is good and definitely something that would be utilised in the hope of gaining any kind of advantage. The concept here being that the problem for any would-be patient at the facility would be identified on arrival almost immediately was good and highlighted a good use of the tool. The Time Lords had rightly identified that something wasn't quite right with M.O.M. though and were sending a destruction TARDIS to wipe out the entire place! I was quite shocked to find that M.O.M. had actually put Runa's father into stasis whilst telling her he had gone to Gallifrey was a bit sad. I felt very sorry for her there and the Doctor just had it confirmed what he already thought regarding the AI. Runa trying to defend M.O.M. was understandable given their tenure together and to be fair she did know her better than anybody. But the Doctor and Case were able to convince her that she needed to reset the operative after this kind of malfunction. The primary objective of protecting Runa was taken way too far and literally, something that isn't much of a surprise when it comes to AI! That feels like the standard route these things go. I thought the Doctor wanting to take Case with him and her hoping he would offer the chance was a nice way to end things moving on with the series, and her Dalek connections are going to be interesting to explore! Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Take Our Breath Away

"I longed to be back in the forest."

Writer: Katy Manning

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2025

Printed in: The Adventures After 04

Featuring: Jo

Synopsis

Discover what happened after...

A remarkable collection of new Doctor Who short stories that give a glimpse into the moments just after the Doctor saves the world, and the credits roll.

The Doctor has had many adventures, visited many planets and made a whole host of friends (and some enemies). 

But if you thought it was all over after the TARDIS doors closed, and the time ship dematerialised, onto the next adventure, you'd be very much mistaken.

From Earth's past, present and future, to the furthest reaches of the universe, here are eight tales that give us a glimpse into the worlds the Doctor left behind. Sometimes triumph, sometimes tragedy (and always chaos) these are stories you'll never forget.

Verdict

Take Our Breath Away was a lovely little story to continue my way through The Adventures After collection of sequels! I think it’s lovely that we get a Katy Manning authored story and whilst this is listed as a sequel to The Green Death, it almost more felt like a follow up to Jo’s life after the Doctor. That’s obviously the story in which she departed as a companion and I would argue it rivalled The Dalek Invasion of Earth at the time for the most emotional the Doctor has reacted to a companion leaving. But Jo had found love and he understood. It’s so lovely that this was done in the first person and whilst I’m not usually a big fan of that approach, how could I not be here when I know it’s literally Manning writing the perspective of Jo! Who would know the character better than the woman who played there? I really do think that helps with my enjoyment because it instantly just feels more credible. I love how much she loves Cliff and it’s so exciting to think that they would be having twins now. We know from Death of the Doctor that Jo birthed her fair share of children, but here she is on the start of that road. The power and confidence just being pregnant gave her was lovely and those maternal instincts really are a superpower! I speak from experience with my partner of nearly nine years now having gone through it twice. And as a very proud father of two incredible children now, I completely related to the shock bestowed by Jo when the Master threatened her with her children. The sheer audacity! That was one of the darkest moments I can remember for my favourite villain. It was chilling to even think of using Jo’s unborn children against her, but there he was doing it anyway. I enjoyed his arrival coming in the form of the Doctor’s TARDIS and its police box exterior because it gave such a moment of hope to Jo before crushingly taking it away. That was just cruel and I adored it. Jo accompanying Cliff and the other scientists in the Amazon rainforest near Brazil was great and I liked how she was even happy to just be passing the test tubes. I thought it was lovely that one of Jo’s dogs was called Benton and also their transportation being dubbed as Aggedor was just lovely. This really was a little celebration of Jo’s time as a companion to the Doctor. Manning obviously gets the character and hearing her inner thoughts throughout was really nice. I like that she’s an environmentalist but she also longed for her time with the Doctor also. I was intrigued that those days seemed to be a few years behind her now and she definitely seemed more mature which I enjoyed. She was really trying to make an effort and here she was with the serendipity of the Metebelis III crystal to save the forest in an incredible rejuvenation! I thought that was good even if it was a bit predictable that it was going to be the case. The Master wanting that crystal and needing it to be gifted by Jo for its full effect was intriguing, and hearing the thoughts as she tried to fight the hypnosis effect of the Master was excellent. I was a little less in favour of how the crystal rejuvenating the forest defeated the Master as he just seemed to like the idea of humans saving their planet from deforestation. It’s great though that he was present with Jo even if it felt incredibly wrong for him to refer to her as Mrs Jones instead of Miss Grant! I can’t be having that in the absolute best way. Overall, a great little read. I was expecting maggots though! 

Rating: 8/10

Pisces: The Stabber

"I think the fish are talking to me."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 12

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

The Stabber was a good little story to conclude my reading of the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! I don’t think it’s any secret that I haven’t enjoyed this collection for the most part compared with other editions and I think things will only get better with the other books in this range that I currently own. I don’t think the Zodiac theme was presented very well throughout, but I did think the Pisces sign was utilised brilliantly here with the strong fishy theme. I thought it was actually one of the better representations of the star sign but I would be lying if I expected a story with this title to be about giving fish vaccines! That’s not the kind of stabbing I was expecting and it certainly caught me off guard. That wasn’t in a bad way at all as I found Tom to be a really interesting character. I’m no dabbler in drugs of anything beyond paracetamol so I think I’d have had a much different reaction to accidentally injecting myself with the fish vaccine, but here Tom liked how he was feeling! I thought it was sad that he needed a drug to smile at his wife as he left for work, but it soon became clear that he was struggling with his job. I can relate to that at the moment as pressure is a very real thing, but he really didn’t seem to like it at all. My jobs comes in swathes of momentum and I’m lucky enough to mostly work from home, but the idea of a mundane job like vaccinating thousands of fish a day does sound boring. I could imagine that is difficult to get out of bed for! Him taking three extra shots of the vaccine because it made him feel good was never going to end well, I could see that coming a mile off. What I didn’t see though was the effect being a hallucinogenic one that allowed Tom to communicate with the fish! The poor salmon were explaining how they were being hurt by the vaccine and the unnatural growth. It was hard to not feel sorry for them as all they wanted was to be released and freed. Of course, that was never going to happen because with them being farm bred they were not protected from any diseases. They needed to become immune and that’s where Tom fitted in. I thought the distress call bringing the Sixth Doctor and Peri around was intriguing because to reach them that is quite a distress call! Peri ridiculing the idea of Tom communicating with the fish was amusing because the Doctor knew that was exactly what the case was going to be. That’s so typically sixth incarnation and it was great characterisation. I thought the Doctor confronting Dr Harden about his formula was good and it made sense that the inventor hadn’t had full time to test it fully, specifically regarding the side effects. The Doctor was somewhat sympathetic to him because he was answering to someone else and was under financial pressures. The simplicity of the resolution was slightly underwhelming in my opinion as the Doctor had just jigged up an antidote to the formula to save the fish handlers from hallucinating and the fish from talking to people. I was a little surprised that Tom didn’t seem that happy at the idea of being cured and actually succumbed to the fish again in trying to inject Peri with the drug, but she cleverly turned it on him to make him drink her own cup that actually had the antidote inside rather than more of the drug. The inner thoughts of the fish as things went wrong and Tom lost communicating with them which meant no release and reprieve was coming. That was certainly emotional for them but now Tom was set to continue with his job as normal. Maybe Mary will be able to move back down South now Linda is better? That’s a nice thought. Overall, a good little read to conclude a whacky and questionable collection of stories!

Rating: 7/10

Dead Plates

"I'm stone cold dead."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 62

Featuring: Bilis

Synopsis

Bilis Manger has been murdered. And he's determined to find out who did it. Four people at dinner are the suspects, and they've each got murky secrets and at least one skeleton in the closet.

What is really on the menu at one of Soho's finest restaurants? And will any of the suspects make it out alive?

Verdict

Dead Plates was a fascinating and intriguing listen to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range! I really enjoy the character of Bilis Manger and he is just so incredibly enigmatic. That makes for a really good listen because I just find myself enthralled by him which is a hugely positive quality. I am just so engaged in every word he says and that is a huge compliment to Murray Melvin as the actor also. Sure, the writing has to be there as it was here but the performance is absolutely pivotal to really bringing this character to life. This was a typically Bilis story in that he was literally begging to die and wanted a fourth of his corpses to help get some time villains off his trail. I thought that was quite spectacular and the method in which he was going about things here was just strange. That makes it all the better for me to be honest. I liked the Soho setting and being a few decades in the past was good because it just helps highlight the time span of Bilis as a character. What we saw on screen in Captain Jack Harkness/End of Days really is just a small example of him fleeting through time. He's also no stranger to dying which is really good fun, although I do wish we got a little bit more of a concrete answer as to how he was continuously surviving. I never felt that the other guests around the dinner table understood how he was surviving. I mean nearly all of them had killed him once by one means or another! Starting with some arsenic in the establishment was somewhat lowkey which was good, but the way he just then saunters in and is completely in control is perfectly Bilis. He's just brilliant. The way he quickly deduces that he has been poisoned by Beryl Finch was terrific and it said a lot about the company at the dinner table that they all just basically admitted to their murdering. Bilis admiring Beryl for the way she killed her husband and got away with it was really strong, and she just freely admitted to it as it was good for business! Felicity was another good character and I liked how she had help from Beryl in realising her theatre dream. Bilis was one step ahead there though too as he knew that her trap to cause the lead actress to fall down the stairs left some considerable tracks if you looked close enough. Oliver Barleycorn (great name by the way!) was also a strong character and I really liked tackling with him being involved in politics as the Shadow Home Secretary. That's a pretty significant position (unless you're Zia Yusuf) and I loved his insistence on saying fuck. It was said in such a posh voice that made it seem more powerful which was great. Touching upon journalism and exposing a homosexual affair was an interesting element of the plot and felt very 1970s with it staggeringly not being long at all since that was legalised. But there was still money to be made in exposing it! That was a little sad but unfortunately that's history and life. I thought Bilis goading his fellow dinner guests into stabbing him was brutal and I was actually put off by the effects for their gore which is brilliant! Going far like that makes it feel very Torchwood and I'm a fan of that. I thought the way things rounded out with Bilis setting his plan perfectly into motion was marvellous and it seemed to just be an endless cycle. The means by which he came by the knowledge could have been elaborated upon but I do like that there's some mystery and ambiguity because it suits Bilis. Overall, a really good listen to continue the range! I liked that it was a little different. It keeps things fresh. 

Rating: 8/10

The Touchdown on Deneb-7

"Co-operation is the best policy."

Writer: Paul Neary

Format: Comic Strip

Released: December 1980

Printed in: DWM 48

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, K9

Synopsis

The Fourth Doctor and K9 arrive on a small barnacled moon long after the planet Deneb-7 has ceased to exist. Trouble is to be found when K9 defies his master's orders of not exiting the TARDIS...

Verdict

The Touchdown on Deneb-7 was a bit of a rubbish comic strip adventure to continue my way through the Black Sun Rising graphic novel of Doctor Who Magazine backup tales! I was initially very excited to see the Fourth Doctor actually featuring in a panel and taking part in the story rather than acting as the narrator bookending comic strip tales, but it actually turned out to be a bit of a red herring and an instant disappointment. I have no problem at all with there being a K9 focused story because he literally has his own spinoff pilot and an alternate series that I will one day get to blogging. We saw it done well in K9's Finest Hour in The Return of the Daleks graphic novel so that's not the issue at all, but when you have the Doctor there right at the start and then take him away it feels a bit of a cheat and a missed opportunity. I think the reasoning behind him not exploring and exiting the TARDIS was also a load of poppycock because when has the Doctor ever not been curious? A planet that he was intending on landing on and then finding out that it hadn't existed for four-hundred million years sounds incredibly enticing. So he just goes to sleep?! I couldn't believe what I was reading and seeing. That's just absolutely ludicrous, and especially for the fourth incarnation! He would be blasting his way out of the TARDIS and filling his boots to find out what had happened. But instead he decides now is the time to rest? Nope, not having that. I do like that curiosity got the better of K9 and whilst it isn't a new development for companions to defy the Doctor and his highly recommended advice in the form of orders, it feels a little bit different that it's the robot dog. His being mistook for the pendant bearer was fun and I do like the idea of K9 interacting with other robots, but they were really annoying. The actual artwork wasn't bad and is obviously well drawn as a published comic strip tale, but I think the actual design of the Robs that featured just looked annoying. I don't know if that was the intention, but I was immediately not a fan of their look. Maybe that's just my design preference? Who knows. One thing I really hated about them was that they were speaking in a terrible accent that was something like cockney but it was written that way too. I hate when things are presented phonetically as I'm not sure that's how it should be written? Just because it sounds that way, I don't think it would be scripted as such. It was just really off-putting and in what was already quite a whacky little story, it didn't help with understanding what exactly was happening. The Robs awakening and being active again after millions of years of isolation and dormancy was good because they were waiting to colonise a planet that was missing. I thought that was a good premise but it wasn't in the forefront enough. It was all just very simple then which I do understand for a five-page comic story, but it's just a bit naff as a reader to know that it's still going to be millions of years before a new planet forms for the robots to colonise. Back below they go and that's that, with the Doctor then exiting after he's rested? Well, at least he did go out and explore but it would have been better for him to be around fully. Overall, not my most favourite of comic strip adventures unfortunately. 

Rating: 4/10