A Gamble with Time

"I've seen the future."

Writer: Steve Lyons
Format: Short Story
Released: February 2016
Printed in: The Legends of River Song 03

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, River Song

Synopsis

"Hello, sweetie!"

Melody Pond, Melody Malone, River Song... She has had many names. Whoever she really is, this archaeologist and time traveller has had more adventures (and got into more trouble) than most people in the universe.

And she's written a lot of it down. Well, when you're married to a Time Lord (or possibly not), you have to keep track of what you did and when. Especially as it may not actually have happened to both of you yet.

These are just a few of River Song's exploits, extracted from her journals. Sometimes, she is with the Doctor. Sometimes she's on her own. But wherever and whenever she may be, she is never far from danger and excitement.

This is just a tiny portion of her impossible life. But it will reveal more than you've ever known about the legend that is River Song.

Verdict

A Gamble with Time was an excellent continuation of The Legends of River Song! I really enjoyed this adventure from start to finish and the 44 pages just seemed to fly by. It was an easy read and perfectly suited to one sitting with its pace and excitement. The pairing of the Eleventh Doctor and River Song rarely fails and this was another wonderful example of their time together. I was quite intrigued that things were relatively early on for the Doctor as for him, this story pre-dated the events of The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon and everything that went down at Lake Silencio. We haven't had a huge amount of encounters between the Doctor and River prior to that so it was good to get an addition there. I'm a huge fan of stories that play around with time and as its title suggests, this one did exactly that. The Doctor's coming to Stormcage to enlist River for what was dubbed a simple, but turned out to be extremely complicated, mission of essentially babysitting Martin Flint after he was thrown back in time by eight to ten hours thanks to a whirling storm that opened up access to the Time Vortex itself. Things got complicated in a good way then with all the timey-wimey stuff that was happening. It was a lot of fun and I thought the format of having the entire be told from River's perspective as an entry into her diary was brilliant. It worked tremendously well and I have to credit Steve Lyons for some highly skilled characterisation if the River Song character. Magnificent stuff. River rushing to try and prevent Martin Flint from meeting his future self was a lot of fun and her only answer was to plant a snog on the slightly older version who had gone through the time storm. He didn't seem to be complaining too much in some comical moments where River hoped her knowing that he was single was a rhetorical question. The emergence of 'Mr Smith' into the story was intriguing and I had hoped that a different name could be used purely for originality. However, the Doctor's enjoyment at meeting someone else going by that alias made up for that immediately. Even though he didn't appear in much of the adventure, the characterisation of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor was also fantastic. Gharjhax turned out to be the giant, green slug behind the Mr Smith disguise and his distaste for Time Agents was very good indeed. He didn't seem the brightest bulb in the room though when it came to identifying them as neither River nor the Doctor were working for any time agencies. The race against time after the house scuffle to get the younger Martin Flint to his interview on time was terrific and I liked the dangers that came with the fact that he was late. The memories of the older Martin not concurring with what was happening was very interesting and his fate was soon sealed in quite saddening circumstances. It was known that the Doctor and Gharjhax would get into some sort of altercation at the back of Flint's interview site and with the Doctor on the brink of death, the older Flint was encouraged by River to go and save him as the only thing that was fixed was that Martin Flint saved the Doctor and ended up in the time storm. It didn't specify which version though. He would end up in a time loop which was a little sad and just a bit unfair after his efforts, but he had given his slightly younger self the edge by placing a sneaky bet and earning £20,000. Not too shabby! I thought the use of the hallucinogenic lipstick to warn the Doctor was marvellous and the summary of events to finish off the adventure and diary entry was very beneficial. That worked really well. As a whole, a really great short story!

Rating: 9/10

The Beast of Orlok

"The Beast of Orlok is a myth. A silly story. It doesn't exist."

Writer: Barnaby Edwards
Forward: Audio
Released: May 2009
Series: EDA 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

With fans like splinters, claws like knives, the Beast of Orlok gobbles lives.
With brimstone breath and eyes aglow, he'll eat your soul - to Hell you'll go!

Germany, 1827. The town of Orlok is under a curse, haunted by the memory of a spate of grisly murders that shattered the community twenty years before. At the time, townsfolk blamed the legendary Beast of Orlok, a nightmarish creature from medieval folklore.

And now, it seems, the Beast has returned. As the killings begin again, the people of Orlok are understandably suspicious of two strangers newly arrived in their midst. The Doctor and Lucie must face their darkest fears as they find themselves plunged into a decidedly grim fairytale.

Verdict

The Beast of Orlok was another very good story to continue along the third series of the Eighth Doctor Adventures very nicely! I am very much enjoying getting things back to normal after the events of the series two finale and what happened in Orbis as it's just lovely to have the relationship of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie back to normal. They really are a fantastic pairing and they work so well together. The setting of 1827 in Germany worked very well and I loved the humour that came with the Doctor establishing the setting when he and Lucie met up with Hans at the site of a destroyed carriage. Before we got to that, the opening scene with Teufel and him being confronted about mysterious deaths returning to Castle Orlok as soon as he returned after a 20 year absence was very interesting and foreshadowed all we needed to know about the man. Of course, it would turn out that he was actually General Zoff who had taken on the persona of Teufel. The Doctor, Lucie and Hans made a very good trio and I liked how they were thrown in jail as suspects for the crash site that they were in attendance at. Otto made a good jailer but he seemed to disappear from the story relatively early. Teufel claiming to have no memory of his life prior to the day of the story's setting was an interesting development, but the Doctor was having none of it and worked out everything forcing the man to reveal his true self. He had actually orchestrated the attack and the true Teufel had conducted gross and gruesome experiments on humanity that required fresh bodies and resulted in some awful remains being scattered about. Therefore, the Beast of Orlok was brought back to life as a way to cover up the truth. I thought the tale of the Beast was great and definitely fitted in well with the era and country of setting. It just seemed a little German which I realise is a tad odd to say. Teufel knowing that the Doctor was a Time Lord was a very unexpected moment and I think it made me sit up a little on my sofa during lunch break! One element of the story that I enjoyed very much was the dramatic music which is something I very rarely mention, particularly in an audio format. It fitted in wonderfully well with the atmosphere of the story which was a big positive. The Doctor being described as a meddling space policeman was pretty much a perfect description that made me smile a lot. I thought the cliffhanger with the Doctor nearly being turned into tarmac was nothing more than okay and I think it would have been beneficial to have visuals. Nothing much was made in terms of impact when it came to Frau, the mother of Hans, saving the Doctor. Her narrative of how she blinded Teufel was an interesting story, but from there things didn't seem to advance naturally. I liked that Zoff was after some biological devices and wanted them even before because to him, the Doctor's presence meant that the Time Lords wanted them too. Frau claiming knowledge of what he was after didn't seem right, but then we were told her intriguing tale of the star children that turned out to be Hans and Greta. That was rather interesting and a little more probably should have been made of that. Lucie and Hans having their own subplot and the former nearly drowning was good action, but it somehow never felt overly important which was rather strange. The emergence of the Golum was intriguing and its concept was excellent! It was an outlawed artificial life form that was the best soldier in the universe. It never gave up, its makeup was indestructible and it always obeyed with orders unable to be countermanded. Pretty unbeatable! Again though, it probably should have come a bit earlier in the story for a longer effect. The Doctor would use its nature to defeat it and send Zoff packing, but it nearly cost him his life. Thankfully, Lucie enacted the LTD (Locate the Doctor, as far as she was concerned) to take the TARDIS right to him for rescue. I thought that was a lovely ending and it was delightful to have the pair enjoying each other's company. Overall, a very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Word Lord

"You literally can't get away with murder here."

Writer: Steven Hall
Format: Audio
Released: November 2008
Series: Main Range 115d

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

In a top secret military bunker deep beneath the Antarctic ice a mysterious death threatens peace negotiations and could spell disaster for the inhabitants of Earth. Can the Doctor cross the t's and dot the i's? Or will his efforts get lost in translation?

Verdict

The Word Lord was a fantastic conclusion to the Forty Five audio anthology celebrating Doctor Who's 45th anniversary! This set has certainly finished on a high point and was definitely a great collection as a whole. I was probably a little disappointed that there weren't any familiar elements making a return unexpectedly as part of the milestone celebrations as that seems to take away from the fact that it was an anniversary release. It sadly didn't really feel special, but don't let that take away from this outstanding adventure! This was a superb story and whilst the element of the '45' seemed a bit forced in parts and was probably my only main complaint. Having a setting of 2045 is absolutely fine, but the likelihood of a system wipe occurring every 45 hours just didn't seem logical and didn't really fit any kind of pattern. I thought it would have been fun to further explore the Second Cold War setting, but time was against us here and that was probably why more wasn't made of that. I'd love for a future story to occur in this time period where the prospect of nuclear war was on the horizon. That could be a very tense tale! This one followed the first two stories in the collection slightly in seeming a bit rushed and you could particularly tell that with some of the actors and how quick they were speaking. That was a slight shame. Thankfully, the story itself was terrific and my enjoyment was all down to the concept behind the Word Lord. It was almost like the personification of elements seen in The Mind Robber and I loved the mysterious ending where it appeared that he did escape and will surely return for a full story in the future. The concept is just too good! I really loved the idea of a linguistic entity and the power that the Word Lord had in being able to take advantage of words becoming reality. His name being Nobody-No One obviously benefitted things in a unique and subtly clever way. It even enabled him access to the TARDIS which surprised Ace in a big way! Hex didn't have a massive amount to do in this particular audio, but when the story was barely half an hour that isn't so much of an issue. I was a little surprised to find that the Word Lord was after a bounty on the Doctor's head given the power he would be able to utilise by having words at his disposal, but I do think it could be a lot of fun to play around with different beings coming for the price that was on offer for the Doctor. The Word Lord wanting to see the look and lights on the stalk of the Dalek Supreme when he brought it the Dalek was very amusing. The Cybermen also had a price, but that didn't quite seem as good as the Daleks. The ending was very good and of particular interest as it was just brilliant to get the TARDIS translation circuit to be a prominent element of a story and the resolution. Hex was able to just switch it off with the Doctor's instructions and that set the Word Lord into disarray as his power was lost in translation after coming from 45 billion universes to the side and found solace in an instruction manual. However, he escaped with the power of words from an unbeknownst sayer. Overall, a fine audio adventure to finish the anthology!

Rating: 9/10

Casualties of War

"Secrets. Everyone's got them."

Writer: Mark Michalowski
Format: Audio
Released: November 2008
Series: Main Range 115c

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

Opportunity knocks in postwar London. But when a tea leaf steals from the wrong woman it becomes a race against time to discover the truth. Only some truths are best left untold.

Verdict

Casualties of War was an excellent continuation of the Forty Five audio anthology celebrating Doctor Who's 45th anniversary! I have to admit that for an anniversary celebration, this collection doesn't really feel special in ways the likes of The Three Doctors or The Day of the Doctor did for anniversary celebrations, but there is still one more story to go so who knows what may be thrown up in that one. Regardless, this was a fantastic story and definitely the best of the set so far. I really liked how we were taken back to VE Day in May 1945 with the Doctor on the tail of some alien technology that had no place being there. I loved the continuity in having the Forge be part of the adventure without actually appearing as it was just their transportation that had been ambushed enabling Joey Carlisle to run off with the alien technology. That was a good premise in of itself, but then things were complicated further by the fact that the technology was right on the street that Ace would go onto grow up on! Ace getting to once again meet her mother a little older than when she did in The Curse of Fenric was excellent and it was very good to play on her emotional strings. The emotions of Hex were also played with when he was interrogated and his eyes seemed to tell that he wanted to be Ace's boyfriend. That's a very unique dynamic when it comes to mixed gender companions and spending all of that time together in high risk situations must provide some sort of sexual tension. It's only natural that Hex might feel that way! I'm very excited to explore their relationship further and to see if they ever will become more than just friends. Sylvester McCoy was terrific as the Seventh Doctor once again which is great to say. I was very impressed with the pace of this particular audio story as it didn't at all feel rushed which could not be said for the first two adventures in the collection. So that was absolutely a big positive. May was a really good character and I very much enjoyed her relationship with Ace, especially with the latter seeming to know a bit more about the family than she ought to. Miss Merchant was a brilliant villain and I loved her confrontation with Ace on the doorstep to the house her mother would soon grow up in. That was a fantastic standoff and showed Ace at her very best which was just magnificent. I really enjoyed her defensive and defiant attitude and it showed just how much she cared about her family, even if they wouldn't know who she was yet. Ace wanting to protect her image in the area she would one day be known in was quite humorous when it came to Hex wanting to take a lunge in the pub. She hadn't even been born yet so why did she care about her reputation! That was quite a humorous moment. The use of the truth bracelet throughout was really good and I liked that it turned out to be the key feature of alien tech in the audio. There was no need to try and overload things with other devices because there just would not have been sufficient time. This worked well. As a whole, a really good and enjoyable audio that flew by, even for it being quite short in nature!

Rating: 9/10

Order of Simplicity

"The doors of perception were flung wide open."

Writer: Nick Scovell
Format: Audio
Released: November 2008
Series: Main Range 115b

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

Dr. Verryman has devoted his life to the advancement of knowledge. When his experiments on a remote planet threaten the entire human race only the Doctor can help – if he puts his mind to it.

Verdict

Order of Simplicity was a very good continuation of the Forty Five audio anthology to celebrate Doctor Who's 45th anniversary! This was definitely a bit of an improvement from the first story whilst also sharing the issue of probably being a victim of its own format. Had this been extended into a feature length adventure I think it would have made for an instant classic! Instead things seemed a bit rushed and while that was a little annoying, it made for quite a frantic pace which absolutely enhanced the excitement. I love it when the Doctor's curiosity gets the better of him and that was the case once again here with the code. I thought this was definitely one of Sylvester McCoy's best performances as the Seventh Doctor in a long time and he was definitely the highlight which isn't a common occurrence if the truth must be told. Ace and Hex had pretty decent outings in the companions roles, but they were definitely second fiddle to the Doctor this time around and sometimes that is just how it needs to be. Hex showing that he was quite scared of his surroundings was good whilst Ace continued to make boyish impressions which was very much in line with her character. I seemed to have a vibe similar to the recent airing of The Haunting of Villa Diodati when listening to this one as the setting seemed contained and that usually works well for me. Mrs Crisp was a creepy character whilst seeming to be very normal which was a strange but likeable balance in a character. Her reveal as being the Order of Simplicity was intriguing and I found that whole concept very interesting. It probably warranted more time to explore but time just didn't allow. She was here in a response to Dr. Verryman's experiments in trying to open the brain to enhance its intelligence. I loved the idea of human experimentation and tampering in a way that wasn't the Cybermen because it was a little unique which is always good. I didn't expect to find out that he was his own first subject but that definitely answered some questions about his personality. He was certainly a little mad and would soon regress to having an IQ of 45 once the code's viral effects took their toll. The idea of the code's solution making it airborne seemed like it wouldn't be defeated and with the Doctor infected and on some sort of mental breakdown, the likelihood only increased. The answers lying in the third bedroom on the third floor of the house was good and Hex finding two individuals who had reverted to an intelligence level of just IQ 45 was great and just so intriguing as they still had their memories and understood what had made them this way. I think it's slightly harsh for them to be credited as a 'Thing' in the cast list though! Mrs Crips's relationship and distain for Verryman was excellent and that really did show. She was undoubtedly committed to her cause and it was a shame that she perished in such quick but brutal fashion. The conclusion was very fast and seemed to be over in a flash which suited the rest of the audio's pace. The use of fire and linking it back to the very first big jump that humanity made was good and I also liked the humour at the end with the TARDIS having been left seaside with the tide now in. Overall, a great little audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

False Gods

"You are heritage raiders!"

Writer: Mark Morris

Format: Audio

Released: November 2008

Series: Main Range 115a

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

In the blistering heat of the Egyptian desert, Howard Carter and his team search for the lost tomb of Userhat, a servant of the god Amun. What they discover sheds new light on the history of the world as we know it. 

Verdict

False Gods was a pretty decent start to the Forty Five audio anthology to celebrate Doctor Who's 45th anniversary! This is certainly an interesting way to celebrate the milestone by having four mini stories featuring the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex. I'm surprised that they didn't go with a multiplicity of Doctors and companions, but it does allow for some good continuity and a rare chance to get four back to back adventures with this trio. I liked the concept of the audio very much, but it just seemed a bit rushed to be able to get a higher rating which was a shame. There have been far too many times where a Doctor Who story has ended up falling victim to its own format or timing. That's a real shame. I really liked the use of time distortion as that's always something fun to play with and it was just really nice to actually get a lengthy TARDIS scene with our trio of main characters. I'm really not sure when that last happened! The time and space machine landing in Egypt in 1902 provided a really good and intriguing setting, but we didn't get a huge opportunity to explore it which was a little bit of a shame. What we did have though was a good historical figure in the character of Howard Carter. He is famous for discovering Tutankhamun's tomb some twenty years after this audio was set. Hex seemed inundated to be in the presence of such an important figure which was good dynamic to have on display. I loved that Benedict Cumberbatch was in a role as he's a great actor and I look forward to what I presume will be further appearances in the three remaining stories in the set. Hex continuing to hear different voices was terrific and I liked how he knew they shouldn't be dismissed as part of the time distortion as the Doctor wanted to infer. Ace and Jane ending up going forward in time as a result of all the time dislocation that was in place around them was very interesting as they were propelled to a time where the ozone layer no longer provided protection from the sun. Now that is a scary thought! I wasn't too sure how blankets were going to save them, but before that could be taken a further a TARDIS arrived! I really didn't expect it to be Jane's and finding out that she was in fact a Time Lord who had come to Earth centuries ago as part of a field trip for a module at the Academy was excellent. I was a big fan of that, but it was all done too quickly! Her and Antak had been hit by a time spike and ended up crashing to Earth in the Ancient times, becoming revered as gods as their arrival to the planet was witnessed. Antak became Amun and she became Thoth, a name Hex had heard already in the TARDIS. Jane needing to find the TARDIS was good and it had been disguised as a Shabtai figure through the chameleon circuit. Imagine trying to find a TARDIS for all that time without knowing what form it had disguised itself as! Impossible. The tomb breaking down as Antak was calling to them was again intriguing and the only way out was for Jane to kill her TARDIS. That involved piloting it directly into a star with the Doctor then materialising his TARDIS inside of hers to save her. He would then take her back to Gallifrey to answer for what she'd been doing all of this time. It seemed a fair compromise to set everything right. But time distortion provided trouble again inside the TARDIS with Jane thrown back through time and Ace commanding Hex to materialise them elsewhere. Jane was gone, but after some good reflection from Carter her being Thoth made a great deal of sense now. The Doctor would tell her story. One that was her destiny. Overall, a decent tale with a fantastic concept but it just needed some more time! 

Rating: 7/10

State of Change

"The Romans have been learning how to build an atomic bomb!"

Writer: Christopher Bulis

Format: Novel

Released: December 1994

Series: The Missing Adventures 05

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

"In less than 25 years the Romans have invented electricity generation, airships, radio and who knows what else. Is that reasonable?"

Ancient Egypt, 41 BC. The Doctor and Peri watch as Cleopatra's pleasure barge glides up the Nile in preparation for her fateful meeting with Mark Antony. And an alien presence observes the TARDIS, waits for it to dematerialise, then pounces. 

When the time ship lands, the Doctor and Peri find themselves in Ancient Rome, in the tomb of Cleopatra. But something is very wrong. The tomb walls depict steam-driven galleys and other disturbing anachronisms. The Roman Empire is preparing for a devastating war – using weapons from the future capable of destroying the entire world.

Verdict

State of Change was a very good novel and served as a great addition to the tales of the Sixth Doctor and Peri. Any novel featuring the pair just seems to be perfect to fit between Revelation of the Daleks and The Trial of a Time Lord as there is so much room there and this filled in well whilst looking back on a few episodes in their first televised series together. The connections with Vengeance on Varos were not a huge surprise given the appearance of Peri on the book's front cover, but the idea of reverting back to a past incarnation if you like was fantastic. It worked well with Peri in how the mental impact that the transformation on Varos had on her was so powerful that it was what she reverted to without the protection of the TARDIS from the energy flux tube that sent things into turmoil. The Doctor though reverted back to his fifth incarnation in an outstanding chapter cliffhanger relatively early on. I really did think that was magnificent and really peaked my interest after a slightly slow and muddled start. The idea of Ancient Rome as a setting worked terrifically and was very well suited to a Doctor Who adventure, but then throw in that the Romans have modern technology because of a mysterious Oracle and you have the makings of a very enjoyable read. Finding out that the Oracle was actually an exact copy of the Doctor's TARDIS console was definitely a good surprise as I really didn't expect that to be the giver of future knowledge to Roman society. It definitely made sense though! The Doctor's reaction was very good. I thought the characterisation of Colin Baker's Sixth Doctor was brilliant throughout the book and they did a very good job of capturing his relationship with Peri. That was definitely a strong point of the novel for sue. Finding out how things had got copied, including the entire setting, was very intriguing and certainly a point of fascination. I thought the return of the Rani was handled pretty well and I love that she returned chronologically in a story prior to Time and the Rani. The description of how she escaped the clutches of the Master and her TARDIS was very good and I'm glad that it was addressed rather than have her apparent demise dismissed. Her taking on the persona of Cleopatra Selene was very good and I loved the moment where the Doctor named her and revealed the culprit behind all that was going on. In fact, she hadn't actually concocted everything that was going, but more so had taken advantage. The prologue featuring her, along with a number of intermittent paragraphs, whilst nameless worked well and probably should have continued more frequently given that the Rani's reveal came after page 200. That's a long time to wait for the identity of your villain! The Doctor's planned fight with Gandos was terrific and the battle itself was actually great. I loved how confident he was and being able to utilise his surroundings and let the personality of his third incarnation take over was wonderful, even if it didn't make a huge amount of sense. It was a lot of fun to play with. Peri undergoing the transformation she endured on Varos was intriguing, but this time she was in control and was able to utilise her abilities. She was getting a bit too comfortable in feathers and wings and having Peri actually fly to save the Doctor as he retro-regenerated back to his first incarnation was just incredible. Getting a brief moment with what was technically the First Doctor and Peri was delightful. The shining character in the book was without doubt Ptolemy as he was just pretty marvellous. His shock at finding out what had happened to his world was good and he seemed to accept quite easily all that happened. The politics that was on show throughout between the triumvirate of him, Cleopatra and Alexander was excellent and the latter stages of the novel focusing on getting Ptolemy the support of the people to gain power was terrific. I really did enjoy that and the pacing of him getting the support required worked very well. I was a big fan of that aspect of the book. The conclusion itself could have probably been a tad clearer, but the fate of the Rani after being ousted by the Doctor was decent whilst being both final and ambiguous. Iam was a good character and it was nice for the Doctor to be able to let it know that instead of adhering to the Rani's wishes and maintaining the copy world here, he could build them there own world where he could then go and never be alone. That was a nice thought. As a whole, this was a very enjoyable read and definitely managed to take my mind off troubling times. Overall, a great book!

Rating: 8/10

The Last Party on Earth

"Did you all just say the world is going to end?"

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2019

Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Canon 04

Featuring: Rose, Jackie

Synopsis

Rose and Jackie visit a home very close to the one they left behind. But some old friends are missing, and some are unexpectedly present... Rose meets two young men she knows should be together – it can sometimes take the end of the world to see what's right in front of you. 

Meanwhile, the Powell Estate faces Armageddon in the only way it can – by throwing a party. 

Verdict

The Last Party on Earth was a bit of an average way to conclude what was a very strong first series of The Dimension Canon to serve as the opener for a Rose Tyler spinoff series. I really was expecting big things from the finale of the series, but it sadly didn't end up paying off in the way I had hoped for. I was glad that Rose and Jackie got a story together as lead characters and it definitely has been refreshing that Rose has had a different familiar character with her in the lead role for each story in the boxset. However, this one felt far too much like a soap opera despite the circumstances that had occurred in this reality. The audio was very much centred on the Powell Estate which worked well given that it was Rose and Jackie starring and it was nice to explore how things were familiar. It felt like home, but there were little twitches that made the differences. Jackie meeting Odessa was pretty good and I liked that she was the equivalent of what would be Mickey's mum. Jackie knew her universe's version well so it must have been quite strange for her to meet a familiar woman who didn't recognise her at all. Rose had quickly deduced that there were no similarities to events that had occurred in Rose or The Christmas Invasion so she was quick to wanting to leave the universe as they wouldn't be finding the Doctor here. I liked that because that's exactly how things should have been on every visit to each different universe. I wasn't really sure why they stayed and it was quite annoying that they did because there was no end goal for the story to head towards. It was intriguing to explore a universe where Earth only had eight days left before being destroyed by an asteroid, but it just didn't seem necessary. Mook and Patrice's relationship was a bit forced into the narrative, at least that's what it seemed like to me. I did very much get intrigued by the fact that once the fate of Earth had been announced, things had died down after an initial craze. I can't really begin to imagine what I'd start doing tomorrow if it was announced that the world was ending. It was a nice thought to know that time had become priceless and that everyone was now on an equal footing with just over a week until oblivion came. Roni was a good character and I liked his interaction with Rose a lot. They had a very good relationship. Rose not being believed in the chemist when she revealed that she was actually from a parallel world was good and it was funny that it was thought her story was how she was dealign with the end of the world. The development of Odessa and Jackie's relationship was pretty good and I liked how the former questioned some of the latter's knowledge, even when it came to the way her door had to close because it stuck. Little things like that worked pretty well. I think it's a big shame that Mickey didn't appear as he would have been perfect fitting into the episode. Finding out that Patrice was a criminal didn't really offer much to the story in my eyes and I just didn't care that much about him at all. Mook pouring out his emotion at the end to his grandad seemed forced and again, just not relevant to the overall series. The way the story ended seemed a bit anticlimactic given that there was no kind of lead into Partners in Crime or Turn Left with Rose finally finding her way back to the Doctor's universe. We just had Rose and Jackie depart and proclaim that they'd keep on looking. I like that it sets things up for a potential second series, but I think it should have had a deeper tie with the televised series. Overall, not the best but not the worst. An average end to the series. 

Rating: 6/10

Ghost Machines

"There's love after death."

Writer: AK Benedict
Format: Audio
Released: September 2019
Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Canon 03

Featuring: Rose, Pete

Synopsis

Pete decides it's time he accompanied Rose on one of her dimension jumps. But he couldn't have picked a worse time. They arrive in a world where technology took an extraordinary path, and where the recently deceased Pete Tyler had a very different kind of success.

As machines start to break down, Pete meets his widow, and he and Rose must confront truths about their 'family'. But they may not escape this Earth alive.

Verdict

Ghost Machines was another very good audio adventure to continue Rose Tyler's The Dimension Canon spinoff series! This one made things take a dark turn as we went into a parallel universe where things took a harrowing turn. It started off with Pete getting killed whilst on the phone to Jackie which was quite tough to listen to as I can't imagine how she must have felt hearing her husband get hit in similar circumstances to what occurred in Father's Day. The parallels there were excellent and it was good for Rose to look back on those events when she found out what had happened to this universe's version of her father. Pete continued to be an inventor in this universe and he was on a pretty large billboard promoting his SoulTech company. The concept of that was intriguing and at first I initially thought the spelling was SolTech meaning the planet. The truth was a whole lot worse. No wonder there was considerable graffiti going around displaying 'Let them go.' The idea of an anti-progress group of people was good and I liked how things were subtly fed to us regarding the truth of who exactly needed letting go. Arriving at Castle Tyler was very good and once Jackie was introduced into the episode, I was very surprised to find that she knew all about other universes and that they were dying. She'd heard so from the Elders which was very interesting, but the idea of a Centre for Parallel Worlds where you could and watch what was happening in different realities or universes was incredible. I loved that a lot and I think it could be fun to explore that further. Jackie pretending to know about the Doctor so Rose and the alternate version of her dead husband wouldn't shoot off back to where they came from. That was a little obvious, but it did work well when Rose discovered that was the truth. Jackie talking about the ritual her and the mysterious Wallace did to summon the Doctor was intriguing and I found it quite funny that the ritual was afternoon tea. I am still not sure if I was laughing for the right reasons. When it was revealed and confirmed that the technology behind SoulTech somehow involved taking the dead and putting them to technological use I was quite stunned despite it being quite easy to predict after all of the signs throughout the story. The kettle scream was honestly very difficult to listen to and I just can't imagine what it would be like for a life in technology after death. No wonder people wanted letting go when they were forced into literally driving taxis or being kitchen appliances. It was awful to think about. Discovering that Wallace was behind the death of Pete was hardly surprising and his plan to keep Pete's consciousness to put him into his own technology was very good. He'd manipulated the system into getting people to sign up for SoulTech and despite everything, Rose couldn't stay detached from this universe's version of her mother. Pete getting the chance to join Rose in what I guess would be the companion role was magnificent and allowed him to shine with Clive left behind on Pete's World and being able to hack into Wallace's system to bring it down. It really was a stunning concept that was harrowing and in some parts actually quite difficult to listen to, but it made for great Doctor Who and was good in showcasing the differences of parallel universes. Overall, a very good audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Flood

"It's been raining since 1982."

Writer: Lisa McMullin
Format: Audio
Released: September 2019
Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Canon 02

Featuring: Rose, Clive

Synopsis

Making another leap with a new companion, Rose finds a world suffering environmental change. The rain won't stop, and the government could be hiding the scale of the impending disaster.

While Rose connects with another version of Pete and a strangely compelling young man, Clive meets someone special of his own. In this world, there was no Clive for Caroline to meet, but love can cross dimensions.

Verdict

The Flood was another excellent episode in The Dimension Canon spinoff series for Rose Tyler! We continue Rose's search for any sign of the Doctor and this time she and Clive ended up in a really intriguing universe. It sounded like it must have been quite similar up until the 1980s and then stemmed off rather drastically. The idea of a technology ban dating back to the '80s was terrific and I really can't imagine going to a world where the modern population didn't have a clue about current tech. It must have been so strange for Rose to have people practically being inundated with her phone because of how advanced and sophisticated it was. Putting the technological revolution as the reason for global warming was good and I thought everything worked together really well. Rose meeting up with Rob and fancying him a little bit seemed a logical movement given how they were getting on, but finding out that he was actually the only child of Pete Tyler was just wonderful. Rose's reaction was fantastic and then we found out that Rob had a boyfriend – Mickey! Well, I really was howling at this revelation and Billie Piper did tremendously well in this scene. It was definitely a highlight of the audio. Clive had a strong story as well considering we don't know a huge amount about him after Rose, but of course this was a parallel version and it was nice to hear how much he loved his Caroline. The pair hit it off here very well and it was nice for them to get to know each other all over again around the book club that soon turned into UFO chat. Finding out that this universe's Jackie had been killed in a protest march against the government with the claim that they knew more than they were revealing about the true extent of global warming was sad to hear, but it was clear that Jackie didn't go out without a fight. Standing up to an armed guard would be the end for her. Rose and Clive searching for mentions of the Doctor, the TARDIS or a blue box was brilliant, but I do wonder why they stayed for so long when it was clear that this universe was so different to that of her Doctor's. Rose even admitted that she didn't think the Doctor could be duplicated, but I think that was more out of sentiment than science. Discovering that Pete and Rob were continuing to attempt to go against the government was great and I loved that Donna was their contact on the inside. The idea that the global warming and continuous rain for decades was perhaps construed was intriguing and it worked well that there would be something in the rain impacting the nutrients in the ground. It was pretty much a certainty that humanity had around seventy years before crumbling, with only fifty harvests left in the ground. That would send people into panic as this universe was all but doomed as far as Earth was concerned. The mentions of something coming from beyond the stars were very good and I love how this series is setting things up for The Stolen Earth. It's working wonderfully well. This Prime Minister was hiding the truth, but thanks to Rose and Rob and their secret recordings she would soon be exposed which was great. I'd love to know the fate of this Donna who had mysteriously disappeared, but this wasn't the right universe for that. Clive wanting to bring his Caroline back with him to Pete's World was an emotional moment as Pete nor Rose would allow it, and she wouldn't let him stay with her either. It was quite emotional and rather harrowing as well to then have Rose visit Jackie's gravestone. I'm surprised she would have wanted to do that! Overall though, another magnificent audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

The Endless Night

"The walls between universes have got thinner."

Writer: Jonathan Morris
Format: Audio
Released: September 2019
Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon 01

Featuring: Rose, Pete

Synopsis

As his parallel universe darkens, Pete Tyler has found a chance of survival. Punch a hole through dimensions and someone can jump through – and maybe find a way to the Doctor's universe.

On her very first trip, Rose visits an Earth that's about to get colder. As a long night begins, Rose meets different versions of her parents. And one man who could help her search. His name is Clive...

Verdict

The Endless Night kicked off The Dimension Canon spin-off series for Rose Tyler in sublime fashion! This was a superb way to start the series and it definitely lived up to the potential. When I heard the idea and concept for a Rose Tyler series set in Pete's World, I always imagined it would be with the Meta-Crisis Doctor following on from the events in Journey's End. However, we had a really intriguing placement with it being post-Doomsday and pre-Turn Left. I thought that was fantastic and it showed how desperate Rose was to get back to her universe and be reunited with the Doctor. I liked how much Pete was helping as part of Torchwood and the structure of the episode in having certain flashbacks to how the dimension canon was formed and had testing. I was surprised to find that Pete was giving a conference of sorts regarding its creation when it was so unstable, but this was a parallel universe so things aren't quite what we perceive as normal. His relationship with Rose was interesting because they weren't actually father and daughter and judging by their conversation when Rose switched universes, they weren't acting as if they were despite Pete's relationship with Jackie. Whilst being different, there was a lot of familiarity when Rose went to another universe as she recalled the events of Rose, Aliens of London and The Christmas Invasion to try and establish if any similar events had occurred to what did in her universe. She wanted to know how far removed this universe was from her own which I thought was a wonderful concept in of itself. Rose taking it upon herself to visit this new universe's versions of Pete and Jackie was great and whilst she wasn't perfect at putting on a guise, she got some answers that she wanted. Her seeking out Clive Finch was just magnificent and I bet Russell T Davies never imagined in his wildest dreams that this character would be making what now looks set to be an extended comeback! The beauty of Big Finish. I thought it was wonderful how Rose was caught out after her separate interrogations of Pete and Jackie and their ancient relationship. The moment that Pete ended up at Jackie's thinking Rose was his 20-year-old daughter after their relationship two decades previously was just marvellous. I haven't laughed at an audio scene like that in a very long while. It seems the disguise of Rose Smith didn't quite work! It was a good effort though. Some of the heartfelt conversation between Pete and Jackie was lovely to listen to and it must have been so difficult for Rose to know she had the option to leave after the Sun had just gone out. What we heard in The Stolen Earth was coming into fruition as the walls between universes were breaking down and the stars were going out. Things were very bleak on this Earth as the end was nigh and accepted. Rose revealing to everyone that she was from a parallel universe was very good and I liked how Pete did what any desperate person would do and attempt to steal Rose's dimension canon device. Jackie showed her mothering instinct despite not actually being a mother in this universe was commendable and quite amazing really. She was willing to give her life for the daughter she never had, but Rose didn't want to go back alone. She took Clive with her much to Pete's dismay due to the potential dimensional issues, but all ended up okay as Rose took it upon herself to try some tests with the dimension canon. This one had a lot of family drama which worked well and I loved the concept as a whole. Overall, a very strong start to the series!

Rating: 10/10

Beyond the Ultimate Adventure

"Treasure always comes at a price."

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Audio
Released: December 2011
Series: Companion Chronicles 6.06

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Jason, Crystal

Synopsis

The Doctor, Crystal and Jason have survived monsters, Madame Delilah and Mrs T, but then their former enemy Karl calls them back to the Bar Galactica. The mercenary has a cryptic message concerning Ultima Thule, where fabled treasure and a threat to the universe await...

Verdict

Beyond the Ultimate Adventure was a decent and unexpected Companion Chronicle audio. I say unexpected in the fact of its very existence as I would never have anticipated a continuation of adventures after the events of The Ultimate Adventure! It's a wonderful concept though and it's quite nice now to go back and listen to a Terrance Dicks audio story. He's more renowned for his Target novelisations and there are some instances where the familiarly of that style of writing sneaks into the audio dialogue which is good. The story was quite a barmy one in that at times there was a lot going on and not all of it was coherent. Regardless of that, it was most definitely a lot of fun. There were a lot of familiar elements with one particularly being the early mention of Metebelis III from Jason which led me to wonder just how long he had been travelling with the Sixth Doctor. I wonder if we'll ever get an answer to that question. I would guess not given this story was released nine years ago and to my knowledge there hasn't been anything expanding on the trio's journeys since. Heading back to the Bar Galactica was a great development, but I have to admit I was more expecting a continuation of the trio's adventures rather than a sequel. That wasn't a problem though. One thing that did confuse me was if all three members of the TARDIS trio were there as a full cast nearly, why did this have to be presented in the Companion Chronicles format? I think it would have worked a bit better as a normal audio, but again that wasn't much of an issue. I did like that the Doctor went to Madame Delilah's funeral and wasn't really welcomed as he was blamed for her death over the Daleks. Karl's return was another unexpected development but he was keeping his enemy alive. The mercenary was up to something and I was intrigued what. Finding out about Delilah's secret at her death was a good development and the concept of a treasure hunt was excellent. It didn't quite pan out the way I wanted it to as we were flung off to another dimension in search of the Ultima Thule, or Ultima Fury (it got a bit unclear regarding that), something that was described well and likening the Nazis to the Daleks after confirming their belief in it was very good. I really enjoyed the description of the journey into the other dimension with how it was likened to soup and a sensational feeling. The familiar elements continued with the Doctor wonderfully donning the furry coat we saw his second incarnation wear in The Abominable Snowmen. I wasn't a big fan of the cliffhanger simply being the exit from the TARDIS into the new dimension, especially after the Doctor pretty much confirmed that it was okay outside. The prospect of plucking fears from people's minds was fantastic but it all got a bit messy when that happened. Jason being taken back to a time of the guillotine was great, but then we got a decent number of past enemies returning which was delightful. We had Vampires, Rutan Host and then the Raston Warrior Robot for an extended return which was very good! I found it quite humorous that the companions didn't think it was scary based on its appearance and considering it's supposed to be the most deadly killing robot, it doesn't half miss on times! The reference to The Five Doctors was really good though. The finding of the treasure was interesting as it seemed that there was something for everyone. The emergence of the Eilodon was good, but probably a little late in the story to have a sustained impact. I'm never much of a fan of beings that come from before 'recorded time' and being feared and that's what occurred this time. It wanting to come into reality was intriguing, but then the Doctor couldn't leave without it and couldn't stay with it. The Doctor calling on the Time Lords in style similar to The War Games was decent, but it ended a little quickly in that regard with him sending the Eilodon to Gallifrey to be immediately captured by the Time Lords. Overall, a decent little audio adventure!

Rating: 7/10

The Good Companion

"The future has already been decided. Earth is going to die."

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: November 2017 – March 2018
Printed in: The Tenth Doctor #3.11-3.14

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy, Cleo

Synopsis

The Doctor, Gabby  and Cindy are threatened by the most deadly cosmic entity they've ever faed – one that could eradicate the Doctor's very timeline. Year Three of the Tenth Doctor's comic adventures reaches its game-changing conclusion with devastating consequences for everyone on board the TARDIS! Can they all make it out in one piece? Or will the fate of these beloved companions be changed forever?

Verdict

The Good Companion was a very good comic strip story and a decent way to end things for the Tenth Doctor's Titan Comics run! I do think the way this one ends is unexpected, but it does show you that not everything has a happy ending which I think is an important message in Doctor Who given just how much content there is. I'll start right at the end and I think it's clear that the end was not in sight when this one was written. Surely we have to get more of the Tenth Doctor's travels post-Gabby? I mean, it would tie in with how he was feeling and acting as The End of Time approached, but what of Cindy and Cleo? They would probably now go off and live their lives together, but there are a lot of assumptions to make despite the answers seemingly being clear. I did not expect to see the image of Rose as the Moment saving Gabby and giving her back to the Doctor at a time when he was perhaps more in need of her services. The image of her and the Twelfth Doctor embracing was marvellous and surely we have to get some answers as to what happened next with them! I thought the finalising of story threads we have had throughout the Tenth Doctor's third year was very good and I liked that Cleo joined up in the companion role alongside Gabby and Cindy. Gabby was still trying to come to term with her block transfer computation abilities and all that had gone in Vortex Butterflies which worked brilliantly. It was nice for the Doctor to stick to his word in not wanting to leave his companion whilst she was getting the training she needed to try and control her abilities. However, it had been a long time and the Doctor and Cindy were incredibly bored. The latter convinced the former to go on just a small trip in the TARDIS, but things stemmed very quickly from there with a number of coincidences that involved the Doctor. He knew they weren't just unlikely chances of fate and more so targeted efforts to get his attention. The return of the Time Sentinels was good and I liked how they seemed to be having some sort of inner conflict. Considering they were all supposed to be one entity, Aspect Red had gone desperately rogue and was even killing off its own kind! I found that element of the story a little weird as the enemies were literally just colours. Aspect Blue aiding the Doctor and co was good, but again I found them just a bit of a weird species (if that is what they are) to have a civil war. The use of the cone to deal with the returning Red TARDIS was very good and I did like how much this comic strip was full of action. That was really entertaining and I definitely got the feeling that there was a lot at stake in the events of this story. I liked the moment when the Doctor simply stated that Earth would cease to exist in a matter of days and all signs pointed towards it being a fixed point in time with the sources of information. Playing around with that was a lot of fun, but I think it was resolved a little early in the story to have a lasting impact. The fate of Gabby was truly devastating as shortly after the Doctor was reunited with her and could explain that he didn't leave her and that he always needed her, she sacrificed her life to see off the Sentinels and their Red TARDIS. I can't imagine the aftermath of the Doctor's reaction. He can't have taken it well, and it even led his future self to become a hugger when he really wasn't that kind of person. Cindy and Cleo's becoming an item was an unexpected aspect of the story, but the former was able to tell Gabby that she loved her. She always had. I didn't know that! I still want more from this series though, or at least a continuation of Gabby's adventures with the Twelfth Doctor and being able to discover where she learned her abilities in Time Lord mathematics. Overall though, a very good end to the series!

Rating: 8/10

Hothouse

"He's turning people into Krynoids."

Writer: Jonathan Morris
Format: Audio
Released: April 2009
Series: EDA 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

Somewhere in the south of England stands the Hothouse. Five vast, state-of-the-art biodomes, all steel and glass. Inside, rock star turned environmental activist Alex Marlow has a plan to save the world from climate change. By any means necessary...

There's something growing inside the Hothouse. Something that could turn back humanity's tide. A voracious aline vegetable called the Krynoid. The Doctor's going to have to stop it. Stop Marlow. Stop Marlow's fanatical acolyte, Lucie Miller...

Save the world. By any means necessary.

Verdict

Hothouse was a very good story to get me back listening to the third series of the Eighth Doctor Adventures. It was no secret that the Krynoids would be making a return in this story, so I have held off for a while before rewatching their first story and I finally got around to that a few weeks ago. I found the continuity from The Vengeance of Morbius and Orbis quite interesting and I liked how the Doctor was still clearly displaying the effects of the events in those adventures. He didn't even know Lucie was supposed to come with him on his TARDIS travels at the end! That was a humorous moment, especially with the Doctor having forgot how to drive and the TARDIS so far away from their vicinity in the rainforest. The way the story started was slightly weird by having Lucie and Bright in almost reversed roles. I wasn't sure what was happening until the Doctor slipped her an access all areas pass and all became clear. I thought she was very good being undercover, but I do wish it was for slightly longer! I wasn't a massive fan of the Doctor's relationship with Bright and I much preferred her when she was turned on by Marlowe and became a test dummy for the Krynoid infection. This audio ending up being a sequel to The Seeds of Doom was magnificent and I liked how it was said that cuttings were used to facilitate the operations that were going on here. Operations that were gruesomely turning people into Krynoids. Alex Marlowe made a fantastic villain and his inability to see the truth about the Krynoids and what he was trying to achieve worked very well. He'd advanced the genetic process of the Krynoids this time around though and it meant that the evolutionary process was even quicker than normal! That would prove disastrous. I was quite surprised to find that the whole scheme of Marlowe's was designed to attract the Doctor because he'd read his file and knew that he may be the leading expert on the Krynoids. That was a revelation I certainly didn't see coming but I very much enjoyed it. When Bright was implanted with the Krynoids and began the turning process, her reaction to being able to hear the rainforest was wonderful and that was a concept I adored. I thought this story did really well in incorporating animal life into the story and how impactful and important they were to the Krynoid's ultimate mission of wiping out life of any kind on the planet. Stefan was a very good character while he lasted and it was quite harrowing to hear him practically begging for death when the Doctor revealed that he, and everyone else, was beyond saving. There would be no reversal of the process. Lucie being stuck in a cell with Bright was very good as she didn't seem all that fazed which was very good. The Krynoids all attempting to escape was intriguing and showed how desperate they were when every single one on a pretty large scale was attempting to get out of captivity. The constant battle between deciding the dominant form out of Krynoid and Mankind was excellent and I liked how Bright was able to showcase that the former didn't always have to be victorious. The use of temperature and sound to defeat the Krynoids and destroy all of them along with their pods worked well, if not perhaps a tad quick. There really does not seem any way back for the Krynoids in the future! One other positive I have to mention is the use of news reports. They can be hit and miss sometimes, but I found myself very intrigued by what was going on. Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith worked marvellously well together as the Doctor and Lucie and it was nice to see them getting close to back where they were in the first two series. I look forward to more of that moving forward. Overall, a very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Battle Scars

"You were dreaming about the war."

Writer: Selim Ulug
Format: Audio
Released: July 2019
Series: Short Trips 9.07

Featuring: Ninth Doctor

Synopsis

Nightmarish memories of the Boer War. Crippling debts. An unconscious stranger in the garden. Arthur Daniels is beset with problems. Little does he know that his proposed solution could be the biggest problem of them all: a voyage to America aboard the RMS Titanic.

Verdict

Battle Scars was an excellent audio adventure that explains a really quickly little anecdote in Rose. The fact that Big Finish can put together a whole story to show how the Doctor came to meet the Daniels family in 1912 based on one picture from the first revived episode is just extraordinary and it does have me questioning if there is anything they can't turn into a story! I'm not entirely sure on how early this fits into the chronology of the Ninth Doctor, but with the dreams of war and how he seemed to crash land and display some semblance of post-regeneration effects by being out cold for a decent period of time, I'd like to think that this was set shorty after the events of The Day of the Doctor where we saw the War Doctor regenerate. There's just one little loophole there and that might be with how quickly the Doctor would have readopted his name as he uses it immediately. Connie was an absolutely tremendous character and I adored her relationship with the Doctor. It didn't take him long to come to the conclusion that she was fantastic and it was really nice for that to be the case. One thing I have to mention negatively about the story was Nicholas Briggs and his impression of Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor. It really wasn't great and seemed to be far too generic of a northern accent, but thankfully his narration was excellent and it made the story a thoroughly enjoyable one. Meeting both Arthur and Edith was good and I liked how the pair differed on their reactions to the Doctor and how he was getting to know Connie. The 3 April 1912 setting being established was terrific and I liked how that didn't seem too significant at first. The business rivalry of sorts between Arthur and Spence worked really well and seemed to fit right into the era of the early twentieth century. The former was in a spot of both with his business and finances borrowed off the latter, but I wasn't expecting it to have been created by alien technology! The idea of Spence acquiring an alien device from Cardiff was very good and obviously something that had found its way through the Rift. Connie's humour was wonderful throughout and it was lovely to hear how she was both a polite and well-mannered young lady that was also a little mischievous. The Doctor's reaction when invited to stay and finding out that the family were set to voyage on the Titanic in a week's time was magnificent because you could instantly just feel his inner conflict. After everything that had happened recently in the Time War, the Doctor didn't want to play god again. But then Connie provided an incredible metaphor that would allow the Doctor to save just one family, perhaps foreshadowing events in The Fires of Pompeii, as what if a dozen cats were due to hunt a hundred mice. Connie would save all she could and that's where the Doctor saw the light in a marvellous moment. She really was an outstanding character. The Doctor pondering of how memories of war can harm in its aftermath was quite powerful and the links with his personal involvement in the Time War and 1912 society still having the Second Boer War firmly in their memories were great. The Doctor going with Connie to investigate the damage to her father's ship, the Newcastle, was intriguing and I liked what was found. The Doctor was in full inquisitive mood and quickly found that Spence's offices were the only buildings overlooking Arthur's ship. I also loved how fascinated Connie was with the sonic screwdriver. The Doctor going to confront Spence about the damage he had obviously inflicted was good and it was nice for Connie and him to talk Spence into giving up the loan and paying for repairs to Arthur's ship. The concept of business coming before war sentiment was quite shocking, but the Doctor invoking fear by knowing the powers of the alien gadget and operating it on low power worked well. The conclusion of the audio was terrific with the Doctor leaving in the TARDIS, but he didn't let Connie stay empty handed. He'd left behind a copy of The Time Machine, a book I am desperate to read, and an incredibly helpful inscription letter where he told her to always be fantastic. He also revealed that he'd taken the family's Titanic tickets and we heard their reaction to the newspaper report that told of the Titanic's sinking. That was a very powerful moment. The Doctor had his second chance to make things better, and now the Daniels have a second chance as well. Overall, a fantastic audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks

"The planet is so hostile they had to develop invisibility."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: October 1976

Series: Target 46

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

Jo peered through the panel and saw nothing. Yet someone had entered the cabin. She could hear horse breathing and stealthy padding footsteps. A beaker rose in the air of its own accord, then dropped to the floor... The Invisible Enemy.

After pursuing the Daleks through Space, Doctor Who lands on the planet of Spiridon, in the midst of a tropical jungle... and finds more than Daleks. Vicious plants spitting deadly poison, invisible Spiridons attacking from all sides and, in hiding, a vast army waits... for the moment to mobilise and conquer.

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks was a wonderful little novelisation! I had a pretty good feeling that it would be as the television story is one I very much enjoy and we had Terrance Dicks as author so there wasn’t an awful lot that could have gone wrong. I liked how things started with the aftermath of Frontier in Space and the Dalek being in pursuit of the Daleks following their reveal towards the end of that story. There was just one problem with going after them and that was the matter of the Doctor passing out! It really wouldn’t do to just leave Jo in the TARDIS that’s en route to tackle the Daleks. With the Doctor out of action, I thought her log was a lovely little idea and it probably would have been better if she’d kept it for longer! Our introduction to the hostility that was Spiridon was very good and I really loved that the natives were invisible. Having the Daleks playing with the concept invisibility and perhaps gaining those abilities was terrific and it seemed to add a new layer to how frightening the Daleks could be. They’d achieved the feat of becoming invisible, but they couldn’t sustain it for long before light sickness struck so it www good to know they had some limitations. The ending of chapter two with the invisible being revealing itself to be a Dalek was magnificent. I really enjoyed that and it’s a shame that more of the story didn’t deal with invisible Daleks, but I do understand that from a television perspective that viewers would have wanted to actually see the Daleks. One of my favourite moments when I cover this story is the moment that the Doctor recalls to the Thals the events of The Daleks and how he was there with Susan, Ian and Barbara. It’s a lovely reminder of how far the Doctor has come and how long he’s been battling the Daleks. The tension between the three Thals when we got a bit comfortable with them was palpable and it really showed how bad the Daleks was when loved ones weren’t even pleased to see other! I thought that was a very powerful message. I really enjoyed the moment where the Doctor thought that Jo was on board the ship that was blown to smithereens and it was devastating for the Doctor to react in the way he did. I can’t imagine how he must have felt! Jo of course was okay thanks to Wester who didn’t actually seem to feature that heavily in the novelised format which surprised me a tad. He was a good character and it was nice to have a Spiridon actively working against the Daleks. Jo’s efforts to now escape the Daleks and save the Doctor from within the city once she found out that was where he was worked well and I loved how she used the slave crates to find her way in. Her fate was ironic though as she ended up becoming a Dalek prisoner and he escaped without her help anyway. She can’t have been pleased with that! There were some intriguing concepts thrown about in this novelisation and I really liked the idea of liquified ice. It shouldn’t really be possible and doesn’t make much sense but for the purposes of the story I enjoyed it. The Daleks attempting to have a squadron next to an icecano that would be used to power its refrigeration was quite barmy but it was a frightening prospect! I found the use of the parachute balloon for the Doctor and Thals to escape through flight very amusing in prose it had to be said. I really liked the characterisation of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor and it was nice to see him quite active considering how he started the adventure. The Daleks developing a biological weapon but not equipping themselves with immunity is a bit of a stretch to believe, but I do like how that shows a semblance of their arrogance as what they perceive to be the superior beings. Their plan to create a 10,000 strong Dalek army equipped with invisibility was brilliant thought and that having come into fruition would have been an almighty enemy. The Doctor wouldn’t let that happen though thanks to some strategic bomb placing that ended up liquefying the Dalek army just after it had briefly awoken. The annoyance that was clear in the Dalek Supreme when the mission failed was magnificent and I liked how it was there chasing the Doctor and Jo to the TARDIS after its army had been put into permanent suspended animation. The deadly plant life of Spiridon would see to it though. Overall, a fantastic novelisation!

Rating: 9/10

The Piggybackers Part 1

"It's the Cuban Missile Crisis!"

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 5th March 2020

Printed in: DWM 549

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The Thirteenth Doctor aims to take her companions to New Asgard in the 51st century, but ends up in 1960s America. It's the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and everywhere is tense, sitting on tender hooks waiting for either America or Russia to make the first move. Meanwhile, children are losing their mouths learning of precautionary measures at school...

Verdict

The Piggybackers started in interesting style with a strong opening instalment. It was wonderful to be getting a brand new story following on from the very lengthy Mistress of Chaos, but more of the comic strip shortly because this looks set to be an incredible issue of Doctor Who Magazine! There really is so much going on this issue with Jo Martin taking centre stage as she interviews for the first time after being revealed as the Fugitive Doctor. I can't wait to read about the process that led to her casting as this intriguing incarnation. I'm sure it will be a fantastic little read. I am yet to actually read any articles in the magazine at the moment, but after a quick flick through Galaxy Forum, I was delighted to find that I got my email printed as I discussed Can You Hear Me? and the Celestial Toymaker. It maintained my 100% success rate of getting printed which is really wonderful to say and I'm very grateful. The new feature of Apocrypha looks absolutely tremendous as we get to discuss what I assume will be some obscure stories as we start with The Fishmen of Kandalinga. I can't wait to read about this one. The return of Public Image will be interesting to see how the latest series has fared on the television ratings which always makes for a good read. Concluding The Daleks' Master Plan's run in The Fact of Fiction will be fantastic and I've really enjoyed its discussion so far. I am also looking very forward to submitting my answers to the Season Survey and I'm sure the results will be very interesting in a future issue. Taking a look at Ten Years of the Eleventh Doctor should be magnificent and after a brief flick through, it looks set to be a wonderful little read looking back over Series 5. I'm also looking forward to the Face Lift segment as we discuss the animation of The Faceless Ones that's due out soon. Now, back to the comic strip and I enjoyed it very much. I was hugely excited by the setting as Doctor Who could definitely play with the Cuban Missile Crisis brilliantly. There are so many directions this comic strip could go, but I would not have guessed that there would be a connection with a school. Ryan's arrival there as he walked in on the presentation detailing what to do in the event of an air raid siren alert, and then seemed to lose his mouth and have no option of answering against some of the messages! Edith Harcourt will surely play a big part in what's to come in the story but what will the connection between a schoolteacher and the height of the Cold War? I do hope that the setting is done well and I liked how it brought back memories of Rosa for some of the fam. The characterisation of the Thirteenth Doctor was done excellently as she slurped her third milkshake and said she carried on despite the lactose with experience! That was a lot of fun. This one definitely had the feeling of getting things going and setting things up. When it comes to a comic strip, there's not much more you can ask for in a first part. Overall, a very good introductory instalment. 

The English Way of Death

"They will dine on human brains."

Writer: Gareth Roberts (Adapted by John Dorney)
Format: Audio
Released: January 2015
Series: Novel Adaptations 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis

London, in the summer heatwave of 1930. The Doctor is visiting with Romana and K9 in order to return some library books, but traces of time pollution may change his plans.

A seaside hut holds a strange secret. A biscuit millionaire is hiring assassins. Deadly butlers and solicitors stalk the street.

There is an odd smell in the air. And it might just mean the death of everyone on the planet.

Verdict

The English Way of Death was sadly not the greatest of audio adventures to begin my listening to Big Finish's novel adaptations. I'm not entirely sure whether my lack of reading the novel that this audio was based upon had any impact on why I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I don't quite see why it would effect anything. I just couldn't find a way to get involved in the audio. At times it was boring and very slow to start which was a shame. It was very much suited to its setting of 1930 and I actually think that might have been a contributory factor in my lack of enjoyment. I was slightly surprised that the relationship between the Fourth Doctor and Romana II wasn't really well captured in the audio which was bitterly disappointing. I absolutely adore them together usually but the writing just didn't seem to be too great for them. The reference to City of Death was very good though and I enjoyed the idea of the Doctor overriding the TARDIS randomiser merely to return some overdue books. I didn't really understand why the Doctor didn't want to have K9 without him and Romana after they left the TARDIS but it was interesting to think that he'd managed for five hundred years before the events of The Invisible Enemy. Things started somewhat intriguingly with the unshielded and primitive time corridor and I felt that things could have expanded from there. Stackhouse seemed to a good character from the offset with his twisted body and I liked the idea of the walking dead population. More should have been made of that throughout in my opinion. I did think it was good to mention the Stimulator early on given that it came back in a big way towards the story's conclusion. The threat of initiating a tremor at the Earth's crust was exciting. Mr Closed was a very good character and I loved finding out the origin of his name. That was certainly a lot of fun. The Bureau were an interesting element of the audio and the idea of strict rules of time travel. They'd already been warned about something and that wasn't the Doctor or Romana's arrival. Zodaal made for an average villain with his continued efforts to inflict his will, but he didn't actually seem to do much else. The concept of brain feeding is always good and I absolutely adored the line from the Doctor when he kindly asked "would you zombies mind letting me go?". That was the Fourth Doctor at his very best. K9's little sacrifice was good but I do wish he featured more heavily throughout. The cliffhangers with the likes of the fog and leap of faith weren't overly great but I guess it is a little difficult to incorporate the end of chapters into audio-level cliffhangers. They're not written in the same way. The plot for Zodaal to attempt to break through and travel along the time corridor in a non-physical form was good but it seemed a bit obvious that he would end up trying to use the Doctor as a host. The mention of an Equation of Rassilon was interesting and I'd like to know more about it, but there just seemed to be spells of not much going on and then a lot going on all at once. The ending with the use of ginger pop and reuniting Zodaal with the other half of his consciousness was decent, but there just needed to be more knowledge of what was going on. Overall, a somewhat decent tale but it could have been a lot better. I think I'll enjoy the book much better when I finally get around that.

Rating: 5/10

The Constant Doctor

"This is a pantomime."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Short Story

Released: June 2015

Printed in: The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who 15

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan, Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

The Fifth Doctor arrives on Lemaria, and it's not the first time he's been here. He was here ten years ago to liberate the Megrati, but he can't really remember. A pantomime detailing the events soon rejigs his memory, and there's something familiar about the actor playing the Doctor...

Verdict

The Constant Doctor was a wonderful way to conclude my reading of The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who! It has been quite an eventful little book and I’ve powered through the last two-thirds or so which in hindsight was probably the wrong thing to do, but all attentions can now turn to bigger and better things which is something I’m very excited about. Whilst they didn’t quite save the best until last, this certainly wasn’t far off it! It was an absolutely wonderful little read and I loved the idea of the Doctor and his companions arriving on a planet during the festival of Freedom Day. That was going to be a lot of fun in its own right, but then we found out that it was the First Doctor who had helped with the liberating!  That really was tremendous and a great revelation considering that this was a Fifth Doctor adventure. In such a small story, I was a bit surprised that the author decided to take up so much space with the larger text depicting the flyer, but it worked well and we soon had a pantomime on our hands. It really was so much fun to think of the Fifth Doctor looking back on someone depicting his first incarnation saving the planet. Well, I am certainly going to have to be careful when I refer to the First Doctor as the first incarnation after the recent airing of The Timeless Children because that really has changed a lot of the show’s mythos. I won’t get into that here though! It’s difficult not to when the Doctor explicitly states that there have been five of him. I was instantly led back to thinking about the most recent episode to have aired. Anyway, the reactions of the Doctor’s companions when it was said that he had a granddaughter was absolutely wonderful and he didn’t stick around to have the questions that would inevitably follow! I liked that a lot. One little element of the story that I didn’t much enjoy was the fact that initially the Doctor couldn’t remember the events where he helped to liberate Lemaria of the Megrati. I fail to accept that the Doctor forgets things like that regardless how much he gets up to on his travels! For a situation like this, how could you forget what happened? I wasn’t buying that so I was glad that memories came flooding back for him when he returned with some burgers for the quartet. Adric being questioned by Nyssa and Tegan regarding any previous mentions of family was great and I liked how all three reflected on his regeneration in Logopolis and how much of an impact that had on their relationship with him. Had the Doctor ever considered what it must be like for his closest friends to simply watch him change appearances and personalities before their very eyes. It was a perfectly reasonable question to ask, but I am also glad that Tegan wanted to consider things from his perspective and how challenging it must be for your whole physical makeup and everything that makes you who you are to just change. I really can’t imagine becoming a totally different person! The use of the St John’s Ambulance sticker on the TARDIS was staggeringly good and the way the identity of the actor playing the First Doctor was revealed was sublime. There was a hint of a Scottish accent and the TARDIS ‘prop’ was just a bit too good to be true. That was magnificent and it of course turned out that it was the Twelfth Doctor who was playing his first self (that he remembers)! I absolutely loved that and it was just lovely to see the current incarnation (at the time of publishing) looking back on his old companions with fond memories and a smile. I loved that. The pantomime actually turning into a second phase invasion with the Doctor inviting the Great Megrati to the planet so he could put a stop to their second attempt before it started was brilliant. There was so much to enjoy about this story. The Twelfth Doctor continuing to defeat the Megrati in the form of a dramatised performance worked terrifically well and I nearly burst out laughing on the train when Adric bluntly stated that he’d forgotten his granddaughter when the time to leave had arrived. That really was great. Comedy usually works well and on this occasion it definitely didn’t let me down! The use of the sonic screwdriver to destroy the Megrati ship was very good and the rest of the fleet would follow suit unless the species left Earth. Quite the ultimatum! They of course turned and ran begrudgingly and just before leaving, the Twelfth Doctor had one final glance and smile at his past self and friends long since gone. That was a poignant moment, but I do wish the two incarnations of the Doctor got to meet! That could have been quite magnificent and something I’d definitely have approved on. Overall, a tremendous little adventure. Happy Freedom Day! The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who is no more. 

Rating: 9/10