The Feast of Axos

"It relates to them, and then it absorbs them."

Writer: Mike Maddox

Format: Audio

Released: February 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 144

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

"Axos calling Earth. Fuel system exhausted. Request immediate assistance."

Many years ago, the vast space parasite Axos attempted to suck the planet Earth of its energy. Now it's all but forgotten – a dried-up husk, marooned in orbit, still stuck in the time loop it was placed in by Earth's defender, the Doctor.

Forgotten, that is, except by space tourism billionaire Campbell Irons – who's hatched a plan to solve the world's energy crisis by reviving Axos, and transmitting its power back to Earth. But the crew of the spaceship Windermere aren't alone aboard the parasite. The Doctor has returned, to correct an error of decades past...

And Axos is waiting.

Verdict

The Feast of Axos was another excellent Monthly Adventure! This is shaping up to be quite the trilogy for the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn alongside Thomas Brewster and following on right where The Crimes of Thomas Brewster left off with the gun threat was excellent. Of course, the magazine was empty which was good to know and I liked how the Doctor suggested leaving Brewster to be imprisoned by DI Menzies. That never materialised though, and a new sort of ship in the form of the Windermere was on hand for space tourism. Ms Slade as an expert on Axos and its history was a superb character and hearing her give a message from the future whilst also hearing the initial landing message from The Claws of Axos was terrific! It established the time loop well and actually entering it was a bit of a surprise. The suggestion that the Third Doctor botched the time loop because of the exile and the block the Time Lords placed on the TARDIS was such a good explanation. I really appreciated that. The suiting up of the TARDIS trio and going into Axos was good stuff and I liked that even the slightest movement gave the organism energy. The threat of being pulled out into the vacuum was strong and the first cliffhanger with Axos awaking and being in the Doctor's mind was brilliant. The body replication of the Doctor was great and I was surprised by how long this version of the Doctor lasted! Axos desiring the secret of time and space travel for their feast worked well, as did the blending of Evelyn confronting Jo in Axos much to her surprise. It brought things together nicely. Brewster being confronted by the the Eye of Axos was intriguing and the offering of him stalling whilst they were weak and being given Axonite was good stuff. Brewster seemed to fluctuate on whose side he was actually on which added good confusion and constant doubt. The accepting of Campbell's offer and the feast beginning cliffhanger was strong with the threat of Africa being fed upon whilst he would blow up his own ship and crew thinking them expendable for Axon energy. The emergence of the Jules Verne ship from the Eurozone was amusing and I liked how Craig called it in and got absorbed for his efforts. They did seem to claim legal control of the vessel which was great. The Doctor considering sacrificing Brewster for the world was obviously a ploy, but Thomas overheard it and didn't react well. Evelyn warming to Brewster was nice and she wanted the Doctor to ensure he'd take him home once all was said and done. Evelyn's joy at space walking was a really nice moment and knowing her fate to come in A Death in the Family, it provides a different perspective on her adventures now. Axos cleverly shifting the sender into a receiver to get energy was very good. I thought the final cliffhanger was incredible with Evelyn inadvertently unhooking herself and drifting away. The use of Newton's third law and not being able to move without drifting further was sublime stuff. It was so emotional. She heard echoes though which was nice and the Jules Verne saved her after it seemed like it had disappeared! The use of the Doctor copy to get out of the time loop was fantastic and the threat of infecting the time stream was strong. Brewster trying to get Earth from Axos in return for his service was quite something, as was Devesham having been drained for energy! Nobody else on Earth was at threat thanks to the time displacement barrier proximity, and of course Brewster was on hand to actually aid the Doctor into tricking Axos back into a time loop which tied things up nicely and kept the continuity intact. The description of Earth at the end from the Doctor was delightful as the intended destination for Brewster now. Overall, a brilliant audio!

Rating: 9/10