Asylum

"Was the Doctor so confident of his purity that he had no need to consider his sins?"

Writer: Peter Darvill-Evans
Format: Novel
Released: May 2001
Series: PDA 42

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

'My view' the Doctor said 'is that you can run – in fact it's often by far the best option – but you can't hide. I'll see myself out.'

Nyssa felt a pang of disappointment. He had gone. She would probably never see him again.

The town of Oxford in AD 1278 seems a haven of tranquility. Under the summer sun, merchants, students and clerics go about their daily, unhurried tasks. Alfric, the proctor of the Franciscan friary, has only two minor problems: one of the friars has gone missing, and there's a travelling showman, calling himself the Doctor, with a pretty young noblewoman by his side, attracting crowds in the narrow streets.

When the missing friar is found dead, the Doctor is convinced he has been murdered. There is a ruthless killer at large, and Alfric reluctantly teams up with the Doctor to track him down.

Their investigation leads towards the most celebrated of the Franciscan brotherhood: Roger Bacon, famed throughout Christendom as a scholar – and, in the far future, the subject of a revolutionary thesis by technographer Nyssa of Traken.

Verdict

Asylum was an excellent novel! I didn't really know what to expect from this one as I had never heard of it before my young cousin provided me with a copy to borrow after picking it up in a charity shop. I was delighted to read it and reuniting the Fourth Doctor and Nyssa was a tremendous idea. I think they made a terrific pairing and whilst we only saw them on screen together in The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis, getting a bonus here was magnificent. There was a bit of a continuity mishap when Nyssa realised that the Doctor had arrived at a point before he had first met her, with her memories of seeing the Doctor regenerate on Logopolis obviously not correct. He fell to his death on Earth of course. I thought that was a bad error, but it was a rare mishap in what was a fantastic read. I really enjoyed the idea of Nyssa doing a thesis as a technographer on Roger Bacon as his era being the thirteenth century didn't seem to quite compute with that subject. When things started changing before her very eyes and the records she had stored on Home were altering, the arrival of the Doctor was great. I liked the approach of not beating around the bush when it came to Nyssa having foreknowledge of the Doctor and he took it in his stride that he was meeting a future companion of his after she had stopped travelling. These events were at least six years after those of Terminus and Nyssa's leaving the TARDIS behind and she was definitely an altered character. She had troubling feeling pretty much anything which was quite difficult to read at times and I was very surprised to find that she didn't really care that she was going to die when it came to brother Thomas attempting to silence her permanently. I thought much of the first half of the book focusing on Godwin's death was good and I loved how the Doctor's presence brought a different way of thinking to the Franciscans. He provided out of the box thinking which was really fun. The characterisation of Tom Baker's fourth incarnation was really impressive. I was surprised though by how little he and Nyssa actually interacted, but I guess there needed to be little interaction to keep their first meeting true. One thing that really intrigued me in this novel was how extensively used the TARDIS translation circuits were. The idea of thought going into speech to decide what language was spoken was fascinating and we saw Nyssa use that to ensure she spoke courtly French whilst the Doctor was able to speak Latin so conversationally. Given the release was 2001, that was tremendous. I thought the Oxford setting in the thirteenth century was brilliant and really well utilised when it came to the Franciscans. I could have done with less of the talk concerning the conquest of Wales though, given that I am a stern supporter of Welsh independence. Richard was a likeable character and I liked how he basically fell in love with Nyssa from first sight. For people of this time, she was perfect in her features and she became the biggest attraction of the Doctor's essentially circus act which was very good in its own right. The murder of Hubert in the Jewish quarter was a good development and I was surprised that the details went as far as circumcision. The fire that came on the islet to the observatory was also great and I liked how the Doctor and Alfrick got along, with their escape from the fire being a prime example. The former's spelling out of how it was Thomas that had done the killings was a fantastic moment and it all seemed so obvious once said aloud. I had my suspicions right from the start to be honest and the links with the mysterious alien species that took over different body hosts was terrific. I liked the concept of them hoping to find the Elixir of Life to escape the oncoming plague, but their efforts were in vain. The epilogue finish was nice too and I liked how the Doctor took Nyssa home after a stark conversation about her choosing life. Overall, a brilliant read!

Rating: 9/10

The Empty House

"They've turned Rory into a ghost."

Writer: Simon Guerrier
Format: Audio
Released: October 2012
Series: NSA 19

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

Thrown off course by a howling storm, the TARDS lands in a bleak, desolate stretch of countryside. The Doctor deduces that it has arrived in Hampshire in the 1920s and, sniffing the air, he smells a distinct colour of sulphur – indicating that a spaceship has crashed in the area. While Rory goes to fetch an umbrella, Amy and the Doctor brave the rain to find the stricken craft. It is huge, shiny, silvery-blue – and completely empty. A set of footprints leads to a cosy-looking, old-fashioned cottage: but the house, too, is deserted. However, the Doctor and Amy can distinctly hear people talking – and one of the voices sounds like Rory's. How could he be in the cottage when he was last seen heading back to the TARDIS? Where are the residents of then empty house? And what has happened to the inhabitants of the spaceship?

Verdict

The Empty House was a really good audio story to continue making my through the Eleventh Doctor Tales collection on BorrowBox! This was a great story and had a fantastic atmosphere throughout and I don't usually listen to audios in the dark, but by chance the was perfect! Our introduction to Bill and Mary was well done and I really liked the stormy weather that added to the feel of the adventure. Knocking was such a simple action but it added so much to the feel of the audio. Mary being prepared for visitors in the middle of night was interesting and once Bill answered to something alien, it seemed that he was killed! Quite the pre-titles. The idea of something hitting the TARDIS was good and I enjoyed how the Doctor was angry at that happening. The audacity! His deduction that they had been forced to land off track in the 1920s was great and I thought his explanation for working out that they were in Hampshire was outstanding. It was the highlight for me. Their finding of tracks in the countryside was good and Rory's going back to retrieve some warmer clothing for Amy wasn't the best way to split the team up, but its result was fantastic. The Doctor and Amy found the ship and it was deserted and the eery atmosphere that came was excellent. The concept of tentacles was further freakiness. The Groog made an intriguing enemy and I liked how they were a complicated species with a tendency for some of them to devour. The house setting was magnificent and I liked how the sonic screwdriver wasn't having any effect. The sound of voices was good and I loved the idea of Rory being heard. There was something about Amy looking at the letters and photos within the house that added to the eery feel and I liked how it confirmed that the Doctor's deduction of being in Hampshire 1927 was correct. The feeling of something being in the house with them was brilliant and I liked how the Doctor knew there was something clever. Amy had goosebumps and the continued sounds but unrecognised words was really nicely done. The way rhythm was felt without working out what was being said was good. Amy's determination to keep looking for Rory was great and the shift from outside to inside was terrific. They eventually did see Rory within the house but when looking through, he saw straight through them which was a good development. There were two figures in the room with him and the description of the Groog being like toadstools with no faces, grey and mucus tentacles really did set the scene! They were also armed which was problematic. Rory, Bill and Mary being prisoners was good and I loved the idea of them being out of phase with time. The plan to use sound and light delays to catch up was interesting and the Doctor and Amy making as much noise as possible was decent. The threat of the bubble straining worked well and I thought the comment from the Doctor about being locked in a cold bathroom without a rubber duck was typical for the Eleventh Doctor. The added threat of the possibility that the bubble might slip into another dimension rather than simply popping and freeing its inhabitants was good. I really enjoyed the revelation that it was actually the Doctor and Amy who were in the bubble as that was an unexpected twist that worked really well. The explanation being that the TARDIS must have hit the Groog ship as it was coming out of warp was good and it was the TARDIS that put Rory back into phase when he went back for Amy. It was all a bit quick but definitely logical. The concept of the Doctor and Amy being used by the bubble as fuel was very good and the escape to get back to the TARDIS was full of action which I enjoyed. It was nice of the Doctor to shield Amy and them being saved by being out of phase and the gun going straight through them was very good. It was a sudden way to end, but one that was pretty good! Overall, a very good audio!

Rating: 8/10

False Negative

"There are slightly different versions of us."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2017

Series: UNIT: Encounters 5.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

When a strange travel capsule is activated in UNIT's laboratory, Osgood and Josh find themselves in a whole new world of trouble. Soon, nobody at UNIT HQ is quite who they seem, and the team discovers that the greatest danger they could ever face comes from within...

Verdict

False Negative was a really good audio to conclude what has been a mightily impressive fifth series of the modern UNIT spinoff series in the form Encounters! This one started off in a more than unexpected way with Osgood and Josh waking up in bed together with a whole bunch of shower innuendo. As if that wasn't weird enough, it then seemed that Osgood had Sam captive and went as far as killing him! Of course, this wasn't the universe we were used to and that was further evidenced by Kate instructing Shindi to simply kill escaped prisoners. The intruder alarm at UNIT going off was good and I liked how it was centred on Osgood's office. The capsule that was found had two occupants and from there it was clear to draw the conclusion that Osgood and Josh had arrived in a parallel universe. The constant bickering that was occurring between Kate and Shindi was so much fun and I loved the idea of the latter wanting to overthrow the former in a coup! There was a hint of seriousness in that joke which was just marvellous. The Osgood we are familiar with encountering Josh from the alternate reality was fantastic with him greeting her with quite the kiss! Her reaction to that was very good as she couldn't give up where she was from. The fact that Josh was in on the killing of Sam showed that in this universe, the Osgood and Josh were far from their counterparts in our universe. The contrast then shifting with our Josh being encountered and kissed by the other Osgood was fantastic and the humour that came with his usual comments of calling her hot when she was winning was a great deal of fun. The moment that the familiar Osgood and Josh met back up was fantastic and I liked how the former was explaining their location and the parallel universe arrival. The relaxed nature of the alternate Kate was really quite a shift and it was testament to Jemma Redgrave's performance that showed such a shift in dynamic. Her lack of care was startling. The capsule that brought Osgood and Josh to the alternate universe lacking power and there being no way back was a good problem to present and I really enjoyed how the other Osgood was working out what the capsule actually was. Josh dropping in the line about parallel universes to this Osgood revealed his hand and that ended up with him and the other Osgood taking a trip back to our universe once she had found a way to fix it. The humour of their meeting with Kate and how Josh was calling Osgood his lovely lady was just more fun. The concept of the other Josh and Osgood being planted within UNIT to destroy it within was excellent and something I'd have liked a bit more of. The fascist dictator of Earth was also something with more potential to explore. The other Osgood fleeing within UNIT HQ was good with the use of the deadly gun and I loved how Kate realised that this Osgood was from an evil parallel universe. Josh searching for the gun when planting the real Osgood with a snog was hilarious, but I would have liked more clarity on how she returned from the parallel reality. The line from Kate about an eye patch in referencing Inferno was also sublime stuff. Osgood pleading to her alternate self about the capsule damaging the framework of reality was good and the confrontation was well done. The line about this version being Osbad was a terrible joke, but it was one so bad that it was good. I liked how our Osgood was helping her alternate self find her way back and they worked together to boost the capsule's power and accelerate the process to get Osbad back home before the capsule exploded. It was a nice way to end things and I liked how Kate mentioned the Auctioneers' toys and that Sam had finally given word. It brought things to a very good end whilst setting up the next series. Overall, a great audio adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

The Sontaran Project

"We exploit extraterrestrial technology."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: November 2017

Series: UNIT: Encounters 5.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

On a routine reconnaissance mission, Colonel Shindi finds more than he bargains for in the Forest of Ardennes. Back in England, an old colleague makes Osgood an offer she cannot refuse. The chance to take part in an exciting new scientific advance. Before long, UNIT is on collision course with a force of alien clones, and Kate must forge an unlikely alliance. 

Verdict

The Sontaran Project was a fantastic audio to continue UNIT's fifth series in the form of Encounters! I am thoroughly enjoying this boxset and this was another superb story to add to the collection. I'm a huge fan of the Sontarans so I was really excited to hear them take on UNIT, but the way things started was quite different as we heard a Sontaran die and it wasn't the first in its unique surroundings of a testing centre. There was some sort of experiment going on and Professor Torrance was part of it, and he had a big connection to UNIT given that Osgood was his former protege. Kate and Shindi investigating some sort of signal was good and I loved the idea of Kate only being present in hologram form. That certainly saved travel! Placing Osgood at a science conference was good and definitely somewhere I'd expect to find her. The setting of the Ardennes forest as part of the Belgian project was great and I liked how something was tracked entering the atmosphere that intended on being shielded, but entered too fast that it registered a heat signal. Torrance also being at the conference was a good move and I liked how he cancelled Osgood's taxi to give her a lift himself. His comment about being interested in cloning was delightful subtlety. Shindi recognising the Sontaran scout ship after its uncovering in the forest was good and I loved the battle that ensued once Marshall Skar arrived on the scene in the search of the ship's pilot, Merx. The Torrance Foundation research facility was intriguing and I liked how the experiments on Sontarans were far bigger than anticipated. The government wanted things a secret, but Torrance wanted UNIT to know with his meeting at the conference being far from one of chance. He needed her help and when he showed her a Sontaran, he was happy that she recognised it. Shindi being captured onto Skar's ship was excellent and I loved the way they spoke officer to officer with some sort of soldierly respect between them. Torrance and Colley explaining how their experiments were engaged in attempting to understand Sontaran cloning was fantastic and just a great concept and I was stunned to find that the Sontaran Osgood had been introduced to was actually cloned by them, rather than in its natural reproduction. However, there were flaws in the process as once the humanly cloned Sontarans were out of the amino fluid, they died shortly thereafter. The question of who would pay for Sontarans was also fun to play with. Skar tracking Merx through his bio-tracker was very good and I was intrigued to find that he'd been shimmied around Europe before ending up in Kent where his tracker went dead three days ago, indicating death. The attempt of using truth serum on Osgood was fantastic and I loved how she reacted to the efforts with her immunity. Her thanking Malcolm was marvellous and I'd love for him to show up in this spinoff one day! It was great continuity regardless and I liked how she then got a message to UNIT. The sound of the Overseer in Vienna being robotic was intriguing and I do hope we get more of the Auctioneers in the final episode, though I'm not convinced we will. They sound perfect for UNIT to battle though! Kate arriving at the grounds of the Foundation and confronting Skar was brilliant and I liked the idea of the two forces sharing an interest. UNIT working with Sontaran forces was terrific. Osgood's conversing with Merx was also fantastic with their allied interests and I liked how he had removed the tracker to bring the Sontarans to find him. Merx being on a reconnaissance mission to Earth was good and whilst Kate wasn't too trusting of the Sontaran after mentioning the events of The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky, she seemed to believe that they did in fact have no interest in Earth at that moment. The Overseer holding dark auctions with select clients was good and any further information we can get about them will be most welcomed. The government inspection rouse to get into the Foundation was fun, but not as much as Skar bursting his way in! Typical Sontaran humour that I loved. The efforts of using the clones as an army in the hope they'd last long enough was heartless and the comment to the Sontaran after he was wounded about him being surplus to requirements showed just what Torrance thought of Sontaran life. Colley surrendering was good and Torrance being killed by a Sontaran clone in brutal fashion was justice and fitting. Skar finding Merx and wanting him to stand to his senior officer despite being wounded was sublime, but he did tell him well done after that which was nice. The way the final moments set things up with UNIT set to investigate the Auctioneers was nicely done, and I look forward to seeing where Sam's disappearance fits in. Things are linking up quite nicely. Overall, an excellent story!

Rating: 9/10

Invocation

"Flee from the fingers of the little grey man."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: November 2017

Series: UNIT: Encounter 5.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

It's Hallowe'en and Josh finds himself at a party where phantoms are becoming all too real. Osgood is working late and hears a voice from the skies making strange incantations. The next day, Kate has gone missing in the Scottish Borders, and the team head north to investigate. Ghosts from the past are haunting UNIT, and now they threaten the whole world...

Verdict

Invocation was another excellent audio adventure to continue the Encounters fifth series of the new UNIT adventures! I thought it might be tough for the series to follow up from the fantastic The Dalek Transaction, but this one did a stellar job! The concept of the Voxtail 3 broadcast was really intriguing and the idea of it still sending a signal after originating over fifty years ago was terrific. That got me interested from the start. The Halloween setting didn't really play a big part, but there was definitely an eery feel to the audio which was unique for the UNIT spinoff. Kate being in a room and the description of the twisted fingers and the grey man was superb. I liked how the signal changed to Latin and the invocation used to summon the spirit fitted the feel of the audio brilliantly. Josh being at a party with Phoebe for Halloween worked well and I enjoyed how everyone at the party saw a mysterious ghostly figure, but Josh was immune to its effects. Osgood deducing how Phoebe's flat used to be a TV centre was fantastic  and provided a good link between that and the events of the broadcast. Osgood and Josh heading for the Borders to find Kate after she had gone off grid was great and I liked the idea of her investigating an old UNIT property that should have been abandoned but was still on the UNIT books and being funded. Eeldon House made for a superb setting and I liked how Kate realised she had been there before with her dad. The rhyme she heard as a child being repeated with the recurring mentions of the grey man was magnificent. Donnelly as the caretaker was a fantastic character and I also liked Ben as her son and being the child that Kate ran around this very house with as a child. The long gallery room was a really good part of the house and I thoroughly enjoyed the strange atmosphere that came within it. I liked the history of how Lord Eeldon died in strange circumstances and his dying words made mention of the grey man. It was clear that Ben and Donnelly were in on something more with the house and the arrival of UNIT forces made that even clearer. The tongue and cheek comment about Donnelly vanishing was terrific and I liked how Osgood was trying to locate the Voxtail signal, but was soon joined by Ben who revealed he was a computer expert. Osgood feeling nausea within the long gallery was good and I liked the continuity going back from the Extinction first series with Josh's physiology involving Auton makeup with his skull being made of different material and incurring a different frequency that didn't impact on him mentally. I thought that was very good and I liked how Josh then changed the room to break the resonance of the frequency. The computer printout of the invocation was good and I liked how the broadcast was spreading with a number of reports in London that Shindi was reporting on. The concept of infrasound was brilliant and I loved how there was a natural makeup to the room that when mixed with the weather essentially created ghosts! The idea of someone finding and targeting the broadcast to weaponise sound was fantastic. I was a huge fan. Kate confronting Donnelly about the project she had shutdown in this house before sneaking back in as the caretaker was magnificent. Once the threat came of the physical files that she had edited out of the files to ensure funding still came was really nicely done. It tied everything up nicely. Donnelly being the one that sent the signal up 40 years ago but now she wasn't involved and there was something more. The idea of the satellite speaking Latin was good and I liked how Donnelly revelled in realising her experiment was correct all those years ago. The way the invocation was finally finished with Kate's Latin knowledge was wonderful and the links with the demonology was marvellous. I thought it was a great deal of fun. The demon was never dismissed, but thankfully it was all powered down with Donnelly paying the ultimate price. Overall, an excellent audio!

Rating: 9/10

The Dalek Transaction

"Humans will never defeat the Daleks."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: November 2017

Series: UNIT: Encounters 5.01

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

When a rogue guerrilla faction offer an alien artefact for auction, Kate Stewart and her team go undercover to the jungles of Central America. But they find that the prize on offer is far deadlier than its owners realise. Captive, desperate and alone. That's when a Dalek is at its most dangerous.

Verdict

The Dalek Transaction was a brilliant start to the Encounters fifth series of UNIT adventures from Big Finish! There is definitely a great deal that can be done with a spinoff like this within the modern era and I thought this was a fine example of using all capabilities. It started intriguingly with Kate on the phone to a foreign woman talking about a transaction with all sights set on an undercover rendezvous to the Americas to obtain something rather valuable, and dangerous. The noise of the Dalek being fed was quite something and I liked how that was used to sell that what UNIT were getting was being well looked after. The woman soon being revealed as Captain Gonsalves was good and I thought she was an excellent character. The guerrilla faction that she headed was unique and contemporary which I was a huge fan of and I liked in general taking things to Central America. You don't get many Doctor Who universe stories in a jungle! The hint of Martha being a part of UNIT North America was a nice touch and I do wonder if Freema Agyeman would ever show up as part of this series. Sam was noticeable by his absence after picking up a trail that would end up being the Dalek and whilst he'd deduced that it involved underground traders, he'd been off the beaten track for five days. This led Kate, Osgood, Josh and Shindi to go on an undercover mission with pretty decent aliases. That was a really fun premise. The concept of the Dalek being locked up, but being in pieces, was terrific and the anger it demonstrated was superb. Kate going as far as bribing local officials to leave them alone on their stay in the Americas was unexpected fun and I liked how the guerrillas turned out to be more resourced than they'd made out to be. The way the UNIT quartet were blindfolded and then gassed on their travels to the guerrilla local was great. Once there, Osgood was able to scan the Dalek and found that its chromosomes were changing. This Dalek was a new breed of superior being which I thought was fantastic to play around with. Its claim that the Daleks had already invaded was interesting with them apparently finding a new way to Earth and they now lay dormant with a task force hidden in the jungle. UNIT investigating that with some guerrilla locals was very good and I loved that it turned out all to be a rouse. The transaction between UNIT and Gonsalves only pertaining to the Dalek mutant and not the casing and technological weaponry was magnificent. Sam's trail coming back into things with the weapons set for auction was really good and I really enjoyed the moment where Osgood and Josh were caught past the security barriers within. The Dalek mutant vanishing in the jungle and having burned the lock of its cage was quite spectacular and everyone realising that they'd been duped was quite delightful. The Dalek mutant itself was still incredibly intelligent and set traps in the jungle. I was a big fan. I do wonder if Chris Chibnall gave this a listen prior to Resolution as there are more than a few resemblances. Osgood realising that the mutant had been getting out of its casing whilst in captivity all along was terrific and it wanted access to weapons, but why hadn't it made its move before? The jungle attack was excellent and I liked the use of a tank with an energy weapon. It was quite the brawl against the Dalek! Gonsalves was rightfully distraught that UNIT personnel survived, whilst her people all died. The Dalek mutant being literally destroyed was good, but from there Gonsalves kept the fate of the UNIT quartet in the hands of her auctioneers. She'd plan to disappear, but of course the Dalek had only shed some skin and was still on the loose. I didn't expect that to be honest! It had retrieved its casing which was great and whilst it didn't have its gun, it did have the sucker and could exterminate by any means necessary which I thought was magnificent. It had accessed the weapon stores and released a toxin that proved an efficient method of extermination. Gonsalves being angry resulted in her death as she attacked the Dalek in vain, and the sound of her being suckered to death was quite something! Very well done. Carter and Shindi finding the Dalek gun and using it against it was a good moment, but I was surprised that Osgood wanted to save the Dalek mutant in the hopes of learning from it. Of course, the Dalek still wasn't quite destroyed and to prevent any salvage and human survival, it self destructed. Except, UNIT personnel managed to get out just in time with the North American branch then retrieving them from the site. Overall, a fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Last of the Colophon

"My days of solitude are over."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: May 2014

Series: FDA 3.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The planet Colophos is a dead world. Nothing but dust and rubble – and the ruins of a once-great civilisation. But is it really as dead as it appears?

When the Doctor and Leela land, joined by the crew of the Oligarch survey ship, it's not long before they receive a communication from one of the ruins. A communication from Astaroth Morax, the last of the Colophon. Attended by a sadistic robot nurse, Morax is in a wheelchair and bound in bandages to conceal his terrible injuries. But is he really as powerless as he seems? What became of the rest of his race – and why didn't he die with them?

Entering his lair, the Doctor uncovers a terrifying secret...

Verdict

Last of the Colophon was a really good Fourth Doctor Adventures audio! The pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Leela very rarely lets me down and I thoroughly enjoyed them together here and the humour that came with the former's efforts to come for a holiday was terrific. He just wanted a little rest, but Leela knew the likelihood of that occurring was minimal. Morax was an interesting character that made for a very good villain and hearing the life support systems at the audio's beginnings was great. I loved how Leela could feel that there was evil close by and it was soon deduced that the rubble they were standing in was once a building. Something catastrophic had occurred on the planet where they had arrived. Nurse Torvik made for a brilliant character and I also liked how the citadel was shielded to prevent access. It was an intriguing dynamic to discover slowly throughout that Morax wasn't actually as helpless as it had first appeared and he was actually quite desperate to meet the new arrivals that had been identified in the form of the Doctor, Leela, Hardwick and Sutton. The last two of those being from the Third Imperial Consortium was great and I loved the Doctor's reaction when meeting them initially and how he triumphantly stated never hearing of their organisation. Tom Baker was certainly on top form. The feel of static before entering the citadel was good and I thought the line from Leela describing the feel as like then world holding its breath was outstanding. Definitely a highlight in my eyes. Morax wanting the route into his location to be clear was fantastic and it was good that the Doctor was aware of the fact that they were being let in. Getting more backstory about Morax and how he was the last of the Colophon was more than welcomed and hearing of his supposed burned skin that would be infected upon contact with the atmosphere was a fascinating concept. The Doctor genuinely felt sorry for him. However, the full truth was soon revealed as it turned out Morax was a scientist and the detailed history of the pathological infection that impacted on his own people was quite something. He'd come up with an experimental treatment and the Colophon people as their last act had ensured that Morax paid for his failure to save his people with eternal life in the captivity of the Nurse. She was programmed to keep him alive and had devised the traps to keep others out to ensure his status stayed as so. Morax being described as an evil genius was fun and the madness that came with the bacterial release and his wanting to be bowed down in front of in return for the cure was excellent. I was a little disappointed to find that he had been feigning his capabilities throughout and removed the bandages to reveal a nothingness, similar to the unmasking of Omega in The Three Doctors. I enjoy the concept of invisibility so that element was definitely fun and can work quite easily in audio. Morax killing Hardwick was unexpected but showed the evil madness of the villain. The back and forth regarding Morax's blindness was another weird element where I was hoping to settle in one direction. The action that came with the explosion of the citadel with Morax supposedly dying was good, but with it being a faux ending I think it would have been better to have just ended that way rather than go in the direction of the recording. The final scenes taking place on the Oligarch was different, but there wasn't quite enough time to establish the setting fully. The Doctor just landing the TARDIS on it was great though! Light passing through Morax because he'd weakened his own molecular makeup was intriguing and I liked how the invisibility was actually driving Morax mad. A life of nothingness must be terrible. I was very surprised with how calmly the Doctor reacted to Morax's murdering of Kellaway, but by that point the Doctor knew that the effects of radiation had come into fruition and the Doctor was telling the truth in not bluffing. Overall, a great audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Havoc of Empires

"War is business."

Writer: Andy Lane
Format: Audio
Released: September 2015
Series: Third Doctor Adventures 1.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Mike Yates

Synopsis

The Doctor and Jo take Mike Yates on his first trip in the TARDIS, but instead of the historical cricket match they were aiming for they end up on a futuristic space station in the middle of a diplomatic crisis that might escalate into galactic war.

The alien leader of the Chalnoth Hegemony is marrying the human Director of the Teklarn Incorporation, but there are forces that will stop at nothing to disrupt the ceremony. The Doctor is accused of murder while explosions occur across the station, and only Jo Grant, pretending to be a security consultant, can save the day.

But then, there's the Eels to consider...

Verdict

The Havoc of Empires was another pretty decent story in the first volume of the Third Doctor Adventures, but despite its qualities I was kind of hoping for a little better from this boxset as a whole with it bring back full cast adventures for the Third Doctor. I have to say that I was really impressed with Tim Treloar's take on the Third Doctor here and it was without doubt the best of the few performances I have heard from him so far. It really did feel like Jon Pertwee in parts which is the highest compliment I can probably give. It was good to establish that things were set shortly after The Three Doctors and it was nice for Jo and Mike Yates to have been planning on going on a date together. Their destination for that date with the use of the TARDIS differed in big ways though with Jo hoping to catch the Beatles and Yates hoping to pop back in time to a Victorian cricket match! That was quite amusing and I thought their relationship was just really nice throughout. Of course, the Doctor didn't quite deliver on either destination and instead went two millennia into the future and arrived on Harmony Station. The highlight of the audio for me was definitely Yates reacting to space for the first time. That was quite delightful. The opposing sides of the Chalnoth and Teklarn was a somewhat interesting premise for much of the story, with the focus on the wedding taking place between parties of each side, but I didn't think that there was enough detail garnered to warrant me to care too much. I thought the station's AI was a fun character though and I liked all of the interactions the lead trio had with it. It threatening with seconds until destruction was decent and Filton hoping to arrest them before Yates knocking him out with a cricket ball was good and humorous. Their being stuck with decontamination was also good, if not a little slow. The cliffhangers in this one could have been better in my eyes as I didn't think the first part's really explained what it actually was with the explosion of Janos's ship. The second part improved with the Doctor being accused as the saboteur after Jo scanned him and it revealed traces of explosives, but the one for part three was really average with the eels escaping. I wasn't really sure what purpose they offered to this adventure and in my opinion I don't really think they were necessary. They were just a bit silly which was a shame. The cliffhanger definitely should have been the moment where Yates was face to face with the bomb and then the AI announcing the explosion. That was outstanding stuff. When the Doctor was accused of carrying out the explosions, I liked the battle between the two sides to see which legsl system he would be tried with. The concept of him being put on trial and slow execution simultaneously was certainly unique! Jo had a really solid story and I loved her role as the fake security counsel in charge. She embraced that and Katy Manning was terrific as always. The two sides of the empiric wars having respective differences with Draconians and Alpha Centurians, and Sontarans and Rutans was fun and showed what kind of stature they were on, but it then seemed a little anti-climactic when the Dolphons seemed to be the culprits. Of course, that wasn't the case with Filton and Janos revealed as the perpetrators hoping to stop the wedding strategically without causing death and injury with the bombs. I was surprised that the Doctor was prepared to use the gun against the eels after they got loose, but it was nice for him to orchestrate the wedding at the end that seemed likely to not take place. Overall, a pretty good story that sneaks its rating largely thanks to the performances of the lead actors.

Rating: 7/10

The Nu-Humans

"I always say science fiction can be educational."

Writer: Cavan Scott & Mark Wright
Format: Audio
Released: July 2012
Series: NSA 18

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

The Doctor, Amy and Rory are awe-struck by their first sight of "Hope Eternal", a super-earth bugger than Earth itself with heavy gravity, volcanoes and a crust loaded with mineral deposits. But their wonder is cut short when they discover a body dumped on the ground – a huge figure with extraordinarily long arms covered in thick, purple scales. Yet the corpse is not alien: he's human, albeit unlike any human Amy and Rory have ever seen. The Nu-Humans have adapted their genes to fit their new environment, and formed a thriving colony. But now they are facing a terrible threat. Can the Doctor find out who is killing Nu-Humans and why – before he, Amy and Rory are themselves tried for murder?

Verdict

The Nu-Humans was a really good original audio adventure for the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory! I'm enjoying making my way through the Eleventh Doctor Tales on BorrowBox and I liked the idea of the super Earth planet Hope Eternal very much. The concept of heavy gravity has always fascinated me and it would be something I would love to experience. I adored the Doctor reaction joyously to Rory's awestruck reaction to the planet and it just seemed like the exact reason why he has companions. He lived for moments like that which was lovely to hear. The Doctor explaining this point in human history to his companions was interesting and beneficial to the listener as we learned the planet was home to a mining colony. The finding of a dead body and the trio later being accused of its murder was typical Doctor Who, but the overlooking threat of the sky raptors was really good. Their ability to fly despite the gravity said a lot about them! Their being rescued by a gorilla-like Trevor Reardon was good and his offence at being referred to as alien was fantastic. The Doctor trying to calm him down and explain the situation to Rory who'd blurted out the offensive comment was terrific. He was of course a human and this led the Doctor to explain about the terraforming process of humanity and how they'd mutated to meet their surroundings. Claudia Mason as Governor made for a very good villainous character and I was fascinated that she appeared more human than her counterparts. Her being unimpressed with he TARDIS trio she dubbed pure human activists was great and I liked how Amy challenged her back passionately when called a terrorist. Their arrest based on the found body was expected, but I didn't expect them to be accused of feeding the sky raptors! The Doctor pouncing on the info that disappearances had been occurring for a month on the planet was wonderful, but his clanger at using the old dog expression to upset Trevor who thought he was likened to an animal was a stark reminder of the planet's society. Rory being faced with an operation table was brilliant and it almost seemed to be resembling the origins of the Cybermen. It wasn't quite that, with Amy and Rory being pure and impossible given the age they came from and that meant Claudia wanted to open him up for a closer look. The sonic being used by the Doctor against the crazed Harry for the gravity was very good and I liked how Amy managed to save Rory. Her blurting out what had happened to Harry intriguingly filled Claudia with anger and her experiments soon revealed themselves which was fun. The smugness of the Doctor there was excellent. Trevor turning his back against his governing aunt was nicely done as he knew his people could do better than what Claudia had done. The Doctor basking in her true nature being revealed was marvellous and I quite enjoyed the pantropy history lesson we got along with the Mason family history. It was established that pantropy wasn't precisely an exact science and proved difficult and had a lot of consequences. I'd have liked a bit more explanation on how it differed from terraforming, but it was still interesting. The acquisition of the genetic scanner was helpful and firmly established that Trevor was on the Doctor's side as it was found that Harry had a strand of rotating DNA that was aggressive and alien. The story of the first Nu-Human was really intriguing as it was a monster and deformed with organ failure following, and that was the case for the batch that followed. Claudia's grandfather had patched this up alien DNA and Claudia was following the family legacy and killing those that went crazed to cover up the truth. Trevor's outrage that followed was superb as he couldn't believe her actions were all because the planet only was granted colonisation rights when the process was done right. His use of the flare with Mason escaping was good and I thought the ending was fitting with her being taken by the sky raptor quite suddenly. Trevor wanting an Earth examiner to come and help find a cure was also good, although I was a little surprised by the end with the Doctor not revealing he knew all along that Claudia's plan was correct, it was just the means that were terrible. Well, I didn't get that insinuation at any point of the audio so I'm not sure I overly liked that. Amy and Rory offering themselves to help with a safe DNA extraction was a nice note to end on though. Overall, a really good and solid audio!

Rating: 8/10

Churchill Victorious

"Everyone in Britain is jubilant, with one singular exception."

Writers: Robert Khan & Tom Salinsky

Format: Audio

Released: February 2018

Series: The Churchill Years 2.04

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Churchill

Synopsis

VE Day, 1945. The war is over. The PM has seen the crowds and made his speech. Now he wishes to soak up the atmosphere, moving incognito among his fellow countrymen. But an alien interloper lurks in a backstreet tavern, and 'William Churchyard' must lead a few plucky Londoners into one more fight. The Doctor is in trouble, and at the time of his greatest victory, Churchill also faces his greatest danger...

Verdict

Churchill Victorious was a great way to end what has been a very good and incredibly consistent second series of The Churchill Years! I can't quite remember a boxset where every adventure has had the same rating off the top of my head (it must have happened at some point!), but that's testament to the style of story that was solid and definitely felt suited to a character like Winston Churchill. I was a big fan of having an audio take place on VE Day and hearing the news report of the celebrations following Germany's surrender was excellent for the historian in me. It was clear from the style of the opening credits that the Tenth Doctor would be showing up alongside Churchill here which was good and I enjoyed the wording behind Churchill's greatest victory being followed by his greatest danger. That would come into fruition nicely. It was really interesting to hear how Churchill wasn't exactly in a celebratory mood on VE Day and was still concerned and focused on defeating the Japanese. He just seemed to be failing to bask in the glory of victory and instead ended up cooking, which resulted in a fire. It just wasn't his day despite the glamour of victory. The concept of Churchill going out into the public to soak up the VE Day atmosphere was lovely and I thought his alter ego of William Churchyard was terrific, partly because it wasn't exactly a cunning identity! His devotion to his disguise as a bank manager was humorous for sure. I loved how he wanted to lend a helping hand where he went, but was also trying to solve an issue of a series of local electricity shortages. He dove straight into investigation and the issues revolving around the Three Crowns pub made for a good setting. His being accompanied by Sidney and Diane was really good and they were two fantastic characters. I enjoyed their relationship a lot. The reveal of Visguard was done very well and I liked how he was an imposing, impatient and alien figure. That was a pretty good description for a bounty hunter from the ninth galaxy! It was obvious from the moment he mention having a valuable prisoner in a neutron cage that this was the Doctor and I loved how from all of his experience with the Doctor that Churchill had no issues believing Visguard to be an alien. For Sidney and Diane, they deduced him to be a Nazi which was fun. I really enjoyed how even on a small localised scale like this, Churchill was rallying his new companions to stand up and fight against the alien and recalled his own personal history admirably. The revelation that Visguard's dimension drive needing repairs was what caused the electrical shortages was good and logical and I really enjoyed the humour that came with the humans' mentions of a Cockney tribe and threatening the wrath of its leader, the King. Sidney trying to escape and getting a glancing blow from Visguard over the wall was sudden and exciting, but the use of a British bunting to fall him and retrieve his gun wasn't too brilliant in my eyes. Churchill getting control of the cage and being the one to free the Doctor was delightful though and the description of him being in his favourite of all suits was wonderful. It was fantastic how the Doctor quickly took control of the situation despite Diane being taken as a hostage. The Cockney babble continuing was good comedy and I really liked the moment where Visguard finally saw through Churchill's disguise and recognised him as the Great Defender of the land. Diane also explaining how she knew he was the Prime Minister all along was fun and the reality of her appeals about the hardships endured during wartime was brilliant. She didn't want any further conflict and her passionate speech about throwing Churchill out during the next election was incredibly powerful. The way things ended for Visguard was quite sudden with the use of Diane's speech to throw off guard and the Doctor simply taking him away, something of a common theme throughout this series. The story ending with Churchill finally getting to soak up the celebrations was a nice touch as well. Overall, a very good audio to finish!

Rating: 8/10

I Was Churchill's Double

"Where is the real Churchill?"

Writer: Alan Barnes
Format: Audio
Released: February 2018
Series: The Churchill Years 2.03

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Churchill

Synopsis

Alexandra Palace, 1942. Strange television signals show a paranoid Churchill urging on the resistance in German-occupied Britain. A man in a battered leather jacket makes a guest appearance. The broadcasts come from another world, one where the country is now part of the Kaiser's Empire. Of course, the Doctor is involved, and while Churchill claims to understand the notion of 'alternative histories', he never expected to be part of one.

Verdict

I Was Churchill's Double was a great little audio adventure to continue the second volume of The Churchill Years! Although the ratings have remained consistent for this boxset, I think this was slightly the better of the three audios so far. I liked how things started at the BBC at Alexandria in 1942 and Churchill telling of his distain towards television. That was really fun to think about it given the setting and how young TV was at the time. Baird made for a good character alongside television and it wasn't until the Doctor said at the end that I realised he was the inventor of television! That's a really fun addition to the story. The idea of a double for Churchill was terrific and I liked the idea of a broadcast telling Britain how the country had been infiltrated by Germans. The arrival of the Ninth Doctor was unexpected given that he'd just featured in Human Conflict, but any additions to his era are welcomed from me! It was a bit rich coming from Churchill to call him "the one with the ears". Louisa talking through the mirror was interesting and the Germans getting closer was good to play with given the Second World War setting. Von Moltke's arrival into the audio was very good and his voice was great for a villain. Louisa running a spy network was an unexpected revelation, but the story focusing on the mirror that saw into another really was fantastic. Churchill seeing and even hearing his alternate self through the mirror was good and I liked the contrast of things once he went through to the other side. His reaction to the fact that this Britain was ruled by Kaiser Willhelm III was excellent and that was unexpected given the 1942 setting. The tune of God Save The Queen being reworded to fit the Kaiser was outstanding. The description of Churchill's escape in a ship was intriguing and I liked how the Doctor had even managed to end up in the parallel universe. Finding out that Louisa was on the side of Von Moltke was very good and his conversation with the Kaiser was super interesting. With Churchill going through, it was excellent to have the alternate Churchill replace him on his side of the mirror and his reaction to being referred to as Prime Minister was wonderful. The idea of someone with Churchill's personality being held in prisons of the Kaiser was superb and something that could have been expanded upon more. Seeing his land occupied by Germans must have been startling. Louisa knowing where the TARDIS was and how it was the only way to swap the Churchills back was intriguing and I liked how she withheld its location because the Doctor would leave the issues of this parallel universe behind. The blueprints that the alternate Churchill had was a good plot device and Louisa's mission being to get them was logical and it was clear that he would never surrender them. Churchill trying to explain to Baird about an optical feedback in our reality was terrific as he had hidden the plans literally in his head! Those plans being to devise an atomic bomb worked well and his plan being to exchange them with the Americans for guerrilla war affront against the Germans was great. The reference to Storm Warning and the Doctor's reaction to the R101 was lovely continuity. The switch towards the end discovering that the reality was not a parallel world and was more so a distorted reflection of Louisa' reality. But then it turned out things were actually within the mirror! The idea that it was the source of Sleeping Beauty was marvellous and I liked the Doctor mentioning how the Grim brothers were German collectors of folklore. That was very fascinating. The Old Maid being revealed as the true enemy was probably a little late in the day and her replacing the mirrors was logical but the whole explanation about the mirror being in her family since Medieval times, whilst good, was just too late on to have full impact. I loved the concept of a utopia window and how within was an idealised world. The links to the Time War being like a tsunami and resulting in it washing up here was fantastic though. The window now was diminishing after the interference of evolving technology which tied back to the television stuff nicely, and it was good for the Maid to toy with the idea of giving Hitler the plans for an atomic bomb in 1942. How that would change things! But then we got another little twist that none of the characters were actually real at all and were just bits of plasma. That was intriguing, probably a twist too far. The sudden way things ended with the Doctor using the positive signal and everything exploded to get Churchill and the TARDIS back through to the right side of the window was pretty good, but the final blow came with the glass breaking emphatically and cutting up the Maid fatally. The Doctor confiscating the blueprints at the end was also quite a humorous way to finish things. Overall, a great audio!

Rating: 8/10

Human Conflict

"Some weapons should never be used."

Writer: Iain McLaughlin

Format: Audio

Released: February 2018

Series: The Churchill Years 2.02

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Churchill

Synopsis

1941. The Prime Minister has much on his mind as London reels from the Blitz. When a daring mission to discover Nazi secrets bears unexpected results, Churchill heads north to retrieve technology that could win the war. But an old ally is set against his intent. Weary from his own people's conflict, the Doctor knows that some weapons should never enter the field of human conflict. 

Verdict

Human Conflict was another very good story to continue my way through the second series of The Churchill Years! This one jumped quite a bit forward in the historical figure's timeline from Young Winston and took us right into the middle of the Second World War which was excellent. I was intrigued from the off that we didn't get any pre-titles and from the opening theme, it was clear that a different incarnation of the Doctor would be appearing. Setting the audio during 1941 and talking on the Blitz was good and I found Churchill's comment about feeling guilty that he was relieved that bomb attacks went elsewhere in the country rather than London was intriguing and certainly something I would be guilty of myself in that situation. The War was obviously at its height and the Prime Minister's desire for new weapons was logical. Fleming given the PM an update about events in Denmark and how a whole mountain went missing was quite something! I thought the arrival of the Doctor into the story was done very well and I enjoyed the battered description from Churchill for the Ninth Doctor after encountering him in The Oncoming Storm. He didn't want Churchill to go after the weapon and would deal with it himself. It was a stark warning, but Churchill sent Fleming and his party after it anyway which was quite amusing. Churchill was certainly stubborn when it came to war! Professor Bragnar as the weapon's creator was magnificent and her initial conversation with Colonel Fischer, the German, was very good. I liked how the TARDIS landed at the weapon site and the Doctor made a theme of jumping around in different places throughout. Fleming and co escaping with Bragnar was great and I really enjoyed the action packed escape past the checkpoint and them being pursued before finally reaching their target. Their arrival in Dundee and meeting up with Churchill was terrific and I liked how he had to return to the constituency where he was MP for 14 years and didn't leave on good terms. The Doctor joining up with everyone there was great and I liked how Churchill defended his actions and fired back with the need for ending war. The Doctor's guilt at using his own weapon was a good comment as well as things were clearly not too far removed from the Time War. Brganar's escape was amusing and I liked how she left a communication device for Churchill. The Doctor knew she was alien and I thought her desire for 25% of Britain's jewellery supply was fantastic. That was quite the bargaining! Churchill's failure to give in and show resolve was typical of what we know about the historical character so that was magnificent to hear. Fleming's relationship with him was very good and I also thoroughly enjoyed the morality clash between the PM and the Doctor. The events heading for Morar as a small rock or island was good and Bragnar being an arms trader was very logical. She didn't involve herself directly in conflict, but she was certainly going to profit! Fischer and the Germans interrupting the dealings was an unexpected development and I loved how the Doctor showed up again to oversee things. He wasn't exactly happy either. The Germans thinking the TARDIS as an illusion was also fantastic. The Doctor seemed to come with more knowledge about Bragnar and how she had set worlds against each other and now she was intending on arming both sides here and eventually selling out the planet to the Julan. All were to die. From that, a common enemy was established and at the height of the Second World War, Brits and Germans worked together after the Doctor's plea to combine forces. Bragnar revealing her true form was a little weird as it didn't last, but I liked how she knew of Gallifrey and the worth of the TARDIS. It was quite ironic for Fischer to draw the line on slaughter during war given his involvement as a Nazi Colonel. The plan to bombard the island and get rid of the barrier field on Bragnar's ship was great. I liked the respect that was on show between Fischer and Churchill after they worked together. Bragnar freeing herself from the shipwreck and threatening Churchill for the TARDIS was very good but the simplicity of the conclusion was decent for the Doctor to use the sonic screwdriver to detonate the energy charge in her pistol. From there he simply took her away in the TARDIS as the bombers arrived to destroy the island. Churchill's anecdote at the end about feeling defeated despite the events because he hadn't gained a war advantage was nicely done and his remorse running out as he ordered a Nazi attack on Fischer's ship regardless of his respect and saving his life was telling. This was war. Overall, a great audio adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Young Winston

"You see war as black and white."

Writer: Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: February 2018

Series: The Churchill Years 2.01

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Madam Vastra, Churchill 

Synopsis

London, 1899. After spending time in warzones abroad, Winston Churchill considers a Parliamentary career. But a memento from his visit to Cuba, four years earlier, returns to haunt him. Across the city, the Great Detective has a mysterious caller, all the way from Havana. As ruthless mercenaries wield alien powers, young Winston and Madame Vastra learn they have a mutual friend – an eccentric young man, sporting a bowtie...

Verdict

Young Winston was a very good start to the second series of The Churchill Years! It started off intriguingly with an elderly Churchill that we would see in Victory of the Daleks recalling events in 1895 on his 21st birthday on duty in Cuba where he was with Reggie and nearly died thanks to a shot glancing past his head. That seemed to be more action and conflict than they'd bargained for! It was a little weird to have an elderly and more familiar Churchill narrating and then having the younger Churchill voiced by a different actor. The way Cuba came to London four years later in 1899 was very good and the way Vastra joined proceedings and took over the narration temporarily was delightful. She's a fantastic character so it's wonderful to get more of her. I was a little surprised to hear the Eleventh Doctor era intro theme, but upon inspecting closer attention to the synopsises of each adventure, I see the Doctor appears throughout which I wasn't anticipating! Carmen was a terrific character and I enjoyed how she had come to Vastra who was revered as the Great Detective because of the danger that befell Winston and the memento he'd brought home. It was dangerous and possessed a uniquely valuable prize which certainly interested me. I really enjoyed the story of the Pearl of Cuba and how it was found alone and not from within any oyster shell. The initial meeting between Churchill and Vastra was really good and finding out that the former had received the death mark of the Cuban Mafia through the post was a great development. Churchill describing how his memento was a cigar cutter with a large pearl as part of its design was good as we finally got to know full detail of what was wanted from the future Prime Minister. The humour that came with Churchill wanting a taxi that could get him to the House of Commons was terrific, especially when it resulted in him ending up in the hands of the Cuban mercenary Luis Ortega. Later finding that Churchill had been robbed was good and it was obvious that the cigar cutter was going to be the missing artefact. Vastra's description of seeing something animate and unusual in the pearl was fascinating and I loved how when she was making enquiries, she discovered that the Doctor was also on the trail! That was handled really well. Vastra tracking down and meeting up with the Doctor was marvellous and I loved how his arrival came with a serious toying up of the Viennese whirl being a replacement for the jammy dodger. That's great writing for the Eleventh Doctor. The way he and Vastra met and reflected on events was really good and I liked how the Doctor knew all about the pearl and how it'd brought down the civilisation from where it had come. It was good that Carmen could see that the Doctor was wise and I was intrigued by the wording in that she had guarded the pearl. The trio setting off to Ortega and rescuing Winston was fantastic and I liked how the pearl had the potential of corruption. Despite Churchill recognising Carmen unexpectedly, it was clear that had befell the fate of her as she was so much older than she ought to be from Winston's perspective. Getting to learn the history and the faked destruction of the pearl was brilliant and I liked the potential of black magic. That fit the Victorian era well. Ortega's plan to use the power of the pearl to install himself as dictator of Cuba was magnificent and definitely a logical plot. His ability to use a psychic attack was also intriguing and I loved how Vastra retaliated with her own mental abilities. The battle of will between Ortega and the Doctor through the pearl and the sonic was excellent and I loved the shock of the sonic actually dulling out. Carmen revealing herself to actually be Isobel and being the woman who had been in Ortega's family throughout generations rather than just her own descendants was a good development and it was decent to have Vastra encourage her to take the power from Ortega as she realised that she was at one with the pearl and its power. Simply, that's what happened and it tied things up efficiently with the Doctor then taking the crystal away for safekeeping. Overall, a very good audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Massacre

"Catholic must not fight Catholic."

Writer: John Lucarotti 

Format: Novel

Released: November 1987

Series: Target 122

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in Paris on 19 August 1572. Driven by scientific curiosity, the Doctor leaves Steven to meet and exchange views with the apothecary, Charles Preslin.

Before he disappears, he warns Steven to stay out of 'mischief, religion and politics'. But in sixteenth-century Paris it is impossible to remain a mere observer, and Steven soon finds himself involved with a group of Huguenots. 

The Protestant minority of France is being threatened by the Catholic hierarchy, and danger stalks the Paris streets. As Steven tries to find his way back to the TARDIS he discovers that one of the main persecutors of the Huguenots appears to be – the Doctor.

Verdict

The Massacre was a very good novelisation of the televised serial of a slightly longer name. This was a pure historical in every sense of the word and that aspect was certainly an element I thoroughly enjoyed. The unfamiliar setting of sixteenth-century Paris worked very well and worked as a fantastic basis for what was an entertaining and education story. This was the First Doctor era at its finest in my eyes as I actually learned a great deal about the period which just enhanced my reading. The way the novelisation was bookended by the Doctor answering to the Time Lords for his interference was intriguing because it was certainly mysterious, but it didn't really offer a great deal for the story as a whole. It definitely gave it more of a Doctor Who feel though which was positive. I thought the characterisation of the First Doctor was terrific throughout this book and I enjoyed having him up to his mischievous old ways in wanting to go off on his own exploring for his own curiosities. I'm not sure he couldn't just tell Steven about his fascination with Preslin and how he would be one of the first to coin the theory of germination. It was certainly a lot of fun though for him to just rush off and leave Steven alone in Paris during this era, especially once they'd deduced what date it was at the auberge in quite a lengthy passage. The way the setting was used was very good and whilst I enjoyed the general premise of the story, there probably were a few too many characters with a political role that needed a bit more understanding. There was the list of characters and their roles before the prologue, but I don't think that quite sufficed for the level of detail that went in here. I appreciated that though because it really did take us back to this period of history. The Doctor baring resemblance to the Abbot of Amboise was really fun and I can just picture him enjoying that and just revelling in the potential that provided him in Paris. Anne was a lovely character and I thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with Steven and the innuendo that came with it, despite her being fifteen! Once that was revealed I was quite surprised by her age as she had shown a great deal of maturity. The religious role in the story was excellent and again a fantastic use of the setting. The distain between Catholics and Huguenots was really interesting to play out and the impending killing of the latter by the former was brilliant. Simon Duvaal was a very good character and I loved the moment where he triumphantly claimed to the true Abbot his knowledge of his secret agent being Steven based on the Doctor's appearance with him in the auberge. That was a lot of fun. The Doctor playing around with him and utilising his resemblance was also marvellous. Lerans and Muss were also good characters and I liked how they helped the Doctor, and vice versa, towards the book's conclusion. The way the Doctor let the true Abbot be killed was a little surprising, especially with the speed in which he justified it happening! That was a little out of character, even for the first incarnation. His meddling in history to try and prevent the assassination was very interesting because traditionally he is so against meddling and interfering in established events. He'd even said so earlier in the novel! The way all of his interference here was put towards him in the epilogue was very nicely and humorously done. I was a little surprised the arrival of Dodo was omitted from the novel, especially with how much Steven clearly had a friendly relationship with Anne and wanted to help her family. I also loved his comment to the Doctor at the end about laughing at his stance on meddling. The Doctor still staunchly defended his actions and how it was the seal of the Abbot, despite him placing it there! Overall though, a really good novelisation of a great adventure. Hopefully one day it could be found or animated!

Rating: 8/10

Sympathy for the Devil

"Sometimes they call me Who."

Writer: Jonathan Clements
Format: Audio
Released: June 2003
Series: Doctor Who Unbound 02

Featuring: The Doctor, Brigadier

Synopsis

What if... the Doctor had not been UNIT's scientific advisor?

1997... and a lone exile arrives on Earth, years later than planned.

On the eve of the Handover, an advanced Chinese stealth bomber crashes in the hills above Hong Kong. The discredited UNIT has just 24 hours to steal the technology, rescue the passenger and flee to international waters.

Down by the harbour, there's big trouble in Little England – a bar owned by an old soldier, who simply wants to forget the past. But an ancient evil is stirring in a place of peace.

The Doctor finds a world on the brink of terror. A world that has lived without him for years. A world that is frighteningly like our own...

Verdict

Sympathy for the Devil was an excellent audio adventure as I look to continue my way through the Doctor Who Unbound series! I thought this was a brilliant story right from the off despite the uncomfortable start that came with the repeated racism from Adam and Ling given the Hong Kong setting. Placing this audio in 1997 on the eve of the Handover was fantastic and I was interested by the events I found myself doing a little bit of research on events as that kind of contemporary history was something that unfortunately I didn't get to study throughout my years at university. The drunken collision with a police box was quite funny, although I didn't see any humour in Adam admittedly being racist against the "Japs and the Welsh". I took a little offence to be honest being a proud Welshman. Regardless, after a shaky start things massively improved and with the premise being the Doctor never having been UNIT's scientific advisor, I was massively interested that this seemed to come post-The War Games. The 1997 setting for that was great as everything we witnessed during the era of the Third and Fourth Doctors in the '70s and '80s had happened, without the Doctor's influence. Nicholas Courtney starring was wonderful and I enjoyed how the Doctor had echoes of memories that should have been with the retired Brig. The reference to The Web of Fear to remind him of who the Doctor was along with the mention of cosmetic surgery to explain the change of appearance was great fun. Where I wasn't so fussed on Geoffrey Bayldon's take on the Doctor in Auld Mortality, I thought David Warner was outstanding here and his voice sounded sublime and perfectly suited to the Doctor, even if it might just be a one off. The Brigadier explaining how UNIT was a disastrous organisation without direction or belief was incredibly interesting given the absence of the Doctor. The mention of plastic robots was delightful. The invisible jet crash onto the hill was interesting as it set the hill alight. The pilot speaking Mandarin and not being alone was good and I liked the idea of Communist involvement early despite them legally having rights to Hong Kong once midnight struck. David Tennant starring as Colonel Brimmicombe-Wood was fantastic and I liked how he was speaking his natural deep Scottish. He was a superb character and his troubled relationship with the Brigadier was a terrific element of the adventure. The Abbott was a very good character and UNIT using the temple as a HQ regardless of respect for religion was great. The monks believing in non-interference and the Doctor likening that to the Time Lords given he'd just been exiled was terrific. The mention of Master Kong hinting at the Master's arrival was good and I liked the way the Ke Le disguise was used to link with The Mind of Evil and the parasites from that being what was contained in the soul jar. The continual chanting surrounding the box was intriguing and the way the Master arrived into the adventure with his identity clear from the laugh being a highlight. Ling describing how he'd regenerated after the crash was magnificent and that told the Doctor all he needed to know. The ship's invisibility being a crude chameleon circuit was also excellent. The mention of the Brigadier being fired after the fake flower fiasco report from The Daily Mail relating to Terror of the Autons was sublime, along with the mention of the hole in London stemming from alternate events of Invasion of the Dinosaurs. That was all superb stuff. I enjoyed the chanting only protecting those not pacifists like the monks as that was unexpected. The meeting between the Doctor and the Master was really well done and I liked finding out that the Master had been stuck on Earth the whole time and practically waiting for the Doctor's arrival. The comment about the Doctor being "such a tourist" was just incredible! The image of the monks taking the bus and moving with the jar and chanting was quite something and I liked how UNIT had to head for Inner Mongolia before they were on Chinese soil. The way the Master was tricked into thinking Little England was actually the TARDIS was marvellous and I loved his line about a new TARDIS at last being likened to the new body acquired in The Keeper of Traken. The use of the bomb to kill the parasites and the Master not wanting to be left behind when the lure was up was excellent stuff. I thought the ending when all was sealed with the prospect of a nice friendship beginning with the Doctor and the Brigadier was a wonderful way to end. Overall, a fantastic audio!

Rating: 9/10

Baby Sleepy Face

"We're on a graveyard of dolls."

Writer: Craig Donaghy 

Format: Short Story

Released: September 2017

Printed in: Tales of Terror 12

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

When an abandoned plastic doll production factory mysteriously becomes operational again, twin children Ross and Amber set off to investigate. There, they find that the dolls are more than mere plastic, and a stranger in the shadows needs to save their lives.

Verdict

Baby Sleepy Face was a decent little adventure to conclude my reading of the Tales of Terror short story collection! This has been a solid book comprised of a wide range of stories and for the most part, it has been high quality. We have seen a number of returns for old enemies which is always fun and this one finished off with another in the form of the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness. From the moment that the word 'doll' was mentioned, I suspected Auton involvement and I wasn't disappointed. One thing that did disappoint me slightly was that the Doctor was travelling alone, but there is definitely a lot more room for manoeuvre when it comes to the solo travels of the Twelfth Doctor given how often Clara went home and also with Bill stopping off at university between her travels. Still, I think the companion filling characters of Ross and Amber were slightly annoying and with them being clearly quite young, it leant the adventure to have something of a more immature feel which was a shame. It certainly wasn't on the level of Organism 96 in that regard, but I still didn't think it was necessary. The competitive nature between the twins was not a surprise, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't annoying me as the adventure went on. They kept finishing each other's thoughts and sentences which was slightly frustrating. I did then like how the Doctor prompted them to work together and when that was the case, they actually ended up doing quite a lot of good. For the most part, I thought the illustration that accompanied this particular short story was good as it set the scene really well. However, the likeness of Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor was not to the best standard. Now, I'm no artist by any stretch of the imagination, but it just stood out as being a little off. Perhaps that's why some of the companions aren't always featured? The likeness of Jamie and Zoe in Something at the Door was pretty dire so that could have something to do with it. Anyway, the return of the Autons in a plastic factory was the perfect setting and coupling that with the fact it was previously abandoned was excellent. Some of the lines in this were really well done with the comment about screwdrivers when it came to the Doctor's use of sonic sunglasses and also the Doctor replying angrily that he was Doctor Angry Face were certainly story highlights. That was really nicely done and the characterisation of the Twelfth Doctor was pretty solid throughout. I must admit though that I sighed when the eyebrows were used in a descriptive way as that just always happens and frankly I think it's a little lazy and beyond unoriginal. The idea of a giant Auton amalgamation made up of a number of smaller dolls was intriguing and the image of the Doctor climbing up it was quite something! It was good that Amber and Ross finally worked together to retrieve the sunglasses that the Doctor required to stop the signal to the Nestene, as well as identifying the signal receiver on the Foreman who himself was a very good character and definitely one I'd like to have seen more of. It was interesting for the Nestene Consciousness to have some sort of form, albeit indirectly, as a single humanoid entity. I think that could definitely work well in a future story. Overall though, this was a solid little outing and the touch at the end with Amber throwing away her old doll for extra safety measure was a nice way to finish. 

Rating: 7/10

The Mist of Sorrow

"You're completely surrounded by Weeping Angels."

Writer: Craig Donaghy

Format: Short Story

Released: September 2017

Printed in: Tales of Terror 11

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor

Synopsis

When the Martin family are on their travels home from a miserable and rain-sodden camping trip, they don't expect their diversion to lead them into a mist full of angelic statues. Statues that seem to be moving as the mist thickens. Only a strange voice through the radio can help them escape...

Verdict

The Mist of Sorrow was a fantastic story to continue my way through the Tales of Terror collection of adventures! This outing serves as the penultimate short story in the book and it was certainly one of the best so far. I really enjoyed this one from the start and it was a perfect way of writing for the Doctor being on his lonesome. Of course, the Eleventh Doctor has considerable history with the Weeping Angels and judging from the way Mrs Martin heard the pain in his voice when it came to these enemies, we can safely assume this adventure was set post-The Angels Take Manhattan. That was an incredibly emotional episode so the Doctor definitely had old scores to settle when it came to the Weeping Angels. His immediate comment of thinking that they deserved their quantum locked status was quite telling and very moving. Even for his greatest enemies, it's not common for the Doctor to talk ill of them in such an emphatic way. I thought the Martin family served as a fantastic basis for the story to develop and the dynamic of the five of them was really quite fun. The typical mother and father having a little bickering along with the three kids in the back seat with the older sister was written very well. It was good and having their relationships develop and just show how much they all loved each other by the story's conclusion was delightful. That was definitely a highlight because it did just highlight how important family can be. They had just come off a camping trip that didn't go too terribly well and they weren't exactly on the best of terms with each other, but the threat of the Weeping Angels and the realisation that they may be split apart or even killed brought them together in a really wonderful way. The way the Weeping Angels were introduced to the adventure was done tremendously well and their use of the Mist of Sorrow was brilliant. I was a big fan of that and I like the idea of Weeping Angels trying to engineer ways to overcome their quantum lock. It must be beyond frustrating for them to only move when they aren't observed! One little thing that did let the story down slightly was the illustration. The scene was nice enough, but the actual depiction of the Weeping Angels was pretty poor as they looked far more like elderly woman rather than angelic statues. And that was despite the wings! That has been a semi-common theme in the book as a whole though to be fair. The Doctor's arrival into the story through the radio was great and I loved how Evan initially saw the TARDIS flying through the sky before finding out that it was hovering above their car the whole time. I loved how quickly and without questioning that the Martin children put their trust in the strange voice in the radio as he talked them through to safety. The way the Angels were actually defeated was exactly like in Blink with them all in a circle facing each other, albeit on a bigger scale. It works well. The pace was very good as they all had to exit the car once the Angels went on top of it and there was certainly a lot of tension which was very good! The Doctor then introducing himself to the family so they could all see him and that flying blue box was a nice touch as I was almost half expecting him to stay in contact solely through the radio. It was a nice way to end things and the idea of him wanting the family to become the opposite of scattered through time as might have been the case, and have the camping trip become a tradition was a very good touch. Overall, an excellent story!

Rating: 9/10