The Crash of the UK-201

"I know that this ship is going to crash."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: December 2018

Series: Early Adventures 5.04

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

You can’t change the past, every time traveller knows that. What’s done is done and cannot be unwritten. But what if it isn’t the past any more? What if it’s now the present?

The spaceship called the UK-201 was intended to fly to the Earth colony of Astra. But it never made it. Crashing on the planet Dido, a tragic chain of events was set in motion leading to the death of almost all of its crew and a massacre of the indigenous population.

The only survivor of these events was a young girl called Vicki. Rescued by the time traveller known as the Doctor, she’s been travelling in his ship for some time.

So when she suddenly wakes up in her cabin on the UK-201 again, without her friends, a few days before the accident, she’s faced with a stark choice... Can she stop the crash from happening? And if she can, should she?

Verdict

The Crash of the UK-201 was a decent story to conclude the fifth series of Early Adventures! I am a big fan of this range and I hope to see it return one day to expand on the era as we're only getting one boxset a year at the moment with each of the First and Second Doctors. This was a fascinating adventure and unlike anything that came before it in the series. This didn't feel like a story that could have worked on television back in the 1960s or one that would even have been attempted, but that was absolutely fine. The modern releases being able to take the characters from the Classic era and bring them into bigger stories that have a different feel is brilliantly done. This is a bold and brave idea and whilst a little more clarity and explanation other than some TARDIS shenanigans would have been welcomed regarding how Vicki came to be inhabiting her previous self, it was an intriguing exploration into her character. It's almost a what might have been regarding the events we saw the aftermath of in The Rescue which is really strong. I loved the mentions of Dido and Bennett, especially with the latter getting caught and admitting to his murderings. He wasn't even on the ship manifest which was fun and it was lovely to get an insight into the early stages of his plans. We even had a little mention of Sandy from Vicki towards the end when she had sent history back on course. The lack of the Doctor in the story didn't hurt things as this was all about Vicki. Sure, Steven was there to bounce around but she had created a whole new life for herself. When realising she was on board the UK-201, it would only be natural for her to prevent it crashing. I'm in the middle of watching the Final Destination franchise for the first time at the moment so I almost half expected the survivors to now be killed off in even more devastating circumstances, but alas this was kept somewhat non-gory. Definitely the right approach. Vicki using her foreknowledge was good but she was getting a little greedy. One small change and the course of history and her entire life was thrown into chaos. Insinuating that without Vicki the Doctor, Ian and Barbara wouldn't have landed on Mechanus in The Chase seems a little odd to me, but I can definitely get on board with Vicki's actions impacting Steven. It was a mighty big paradox. She had built a relationship with Jeran and now had two daughters which was lovely to hear! Steven was quite chuffed for her, but then they became the basis of Vicki's torment as things got a little out of control. Her realisation of her power to go back was good and was an intriguing concept! But then she tried changing things involving her husband and that meant all sorts of things fell out of order. She couldn't get ahead of the game and went from having children she didn't recognise to then not even meeting her own husband. It was emotional torment for Vicki which was quite sad. I thought the moment where she had to let the ship crash and say goodbye to her father as she knew he would go off to die was tough to hear. The resolution was a little underwhelming in having the Doctor and TARDIS do some jiggery pokery and have Vicki returned, with the means to send Steven on her timeline surely above the technology we knew of the era, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable listen. A big character story for Vicki which we didn't get on screen other than her debut. A good listen nonetheless. 

Rating: 7/10

River of Death

"I do not know the ending the almighty has written for me."

Writer: John Peel

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: BBC Audio 23

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

A visit to the Grand Canyon begins with disaster for the Doctor and Peri, when the TARDIS plunges into a ravine. The travellers' only hope is to descend to the valley on foot and then track the course of the Colorado river. Their perilous journey is fraught with danger, even before they encounter a band of 19th Century explorers led by Major John Wesley Powell. Joining the watery expedition, the Doctor and Peri begin to despair of ever seeing the TARDIS again. As food supplies dwindle, so do the group's options. This is a journey which some of them will never return.

Verdict

River of Death was an entertaining release in the BBC Audio Originals range! I believe this now brings me right up to date in completing every release so far in the range and that's very exciting to say! I was once again listening on Audible thanks to threatening to cancel my free trial resulting in another credit which was a fun little surprise. Two audios for free and a quick cancellation shortly after concluding this adventure meant this was a very happy listener even before completing the story. I do think it perhaps went a little long which probably contributed to losing a mark on my rating, but it was still a good listen. I was struck to find that John Peel was the writer as he's more associated with Dalek stories so to get something completely different from him was most welcomed. I'm a big fan of his work in prose so it was an enjoyable first experience of his writing on audio. The pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Peri are one of my favourites so it was lovely to revisit them here, especially with Nicola Bryant in the narrator role! It really does help having one of the main characters' actor as the narrator. It provides a sense of authenticity in my view and that only aided the listen. She carried the story well. It was intriguing as a fan of Big Finish and the development we've heard of the Sixth Doctor over the years that this episode really did feel like it could slot on somewhere during Season 22 on screen. The Doctor wasn't as grouchy or lacking in compassion as we did see on screen in times, as evidenced by him waiting over Peri after she drifted into sleep shortly after falling into the river, but he wasn't the softer version of the incarnation we hear for Big Finish. It's an interesting depiction of the character which I liked. The offer of the Doctor to his companion to go anywhere in the universe and Peri wanting to visit somewhere on Earth was met with dismay, but when she explained her will to see the Grand Canyon tourist free he actually agreed with the choice. I liked the links back to her trip with her father when she was ten years old, but I do think a little bit too much reliance was placed on Peri's knowledge gained during that visit. I thought the danger of the TARDIS arriving on a cliff edge at the Canyon was great as if the doors were facing the other way it would have been a disaster! The TARDIS actually plummeting into the river was a strong basis for the story and the plot relying on regaining it worked very well. I liked how there was no obvious threat other than the elements, with the lack of food and drink a very real issue. I enjoyed the educational element of the episode as I never knew how Colorado got its name, but finding out about the colours in the river and the Spanish naming it as the colour red was wonderful! That was fascinating and most welcomed. I thought the encounter with the explorers including John Wesley Powell was nicely done and the journey they went on was entertaining. There was a lot of action with even Peri going over board at one point! It did get exciting, but I do think unfortunately this was dwindled by how long the story went. It did seem to unnecessarily drag out towards the end as the explorers split into two camps and went their separate ways. It was decent for the TARDIS to have been picked up along the way as it was clear it wouldn't have passed a certain point in the river, but then we seemed to get a little rushed by the whole tribe and discussion of the gods. The Doctor checking on the fate of their explorers was a nice touch in the TARDIS and it's good to know that they would not perish. Overall, a more than decent audio that was probably just hurt slightly by going too long. A well worthy listen though!

Rating: 7/10

Free Comic Book Day 2024

"Someone's trying to scare me."

Writer: Dan Watters

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May 2024

Printed in: Free Comic Book Day 2024

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor faces a fearsome new threat!

Verdict

This untitled comic strip that comprises the Free Comic Book Day 2024 release from Titan Comics was a wonderful start and preview of what's to come in their Fifteenth Doctor comic series. I'm very excited for what's to come from Titan as there is a lot of potential there and they can really expand the comic strip adventures for Doctor Who beyond what Doctor Who Magazine are able to do. There's clearly more of a budget and it's just great to get a full comic rather than just six pages. For a free release, this was tremendous. I was reading on the Kindle app for the first time and it took me panel by panel which was an intriguing little experience, but one I was eternally grateful for. I thought the characterisation of both the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby was pretty spot on whilst delving into the depths of continuity and setting things up for the series proper to come. The concept of a sound in the vortex was intriguing, especially when it was one clearly targeted at the Doctor. Someone trying to scare him with the sound reverberating across past nightmares in his life was excellent and some of the artwork we saw was magnificent! The depiction of Skaro in particular where the Doctor saw the Daleks born was brilliant and really impressive. Then we saw the sound vibrate across numerous places that have caused hurt to the Doctor from the likes of Metebelis III and his regeneration in Planet of the Spiders to facing his own grave itself on Trenzalore in The Name of the Doctor. And as if that wasn't enough we bounced to his encounter with the Devil in The Satan Pit and the famed Library where he saw River die in Forest of the Dead. They were some incredible choices and the Doctor didn't take too kindly to being threatened. I thought Ruby was a little bit of a background character in this story but that's more so because of its length as a free release. I'm sure she will shine when things kick off proper. I thought the artwork was pretty strong and I liked the almost rough and shaded feel. It felt gritty and that was good. I do think the scale of the TARDIS wasn't captured properly in the comic strip and the console did seem a little off compared to what we see on screen, but these are just minor details. For a free release, they were more than sufficient! The 1739 setting once the TARDIS had caught up with the sound was strong and I liked encountering Dick Turpin as the fastest highwayman in the land. The Doctor didn't take too kindly to him having a Cyber weapon and wasted no time in chasing after him on the horse! That was entertaining stuff and a good injection of action into the comic strip. Turpin actually recognising the Doctor was unexpected and it's exciting to set up some sort of story arc here with his god. We saw a glimpse of the crazed figure in the crowd when Turpin was to be hanged and unleashed an almighty scream as he realised the god would not be saving him, and I don't think I recognised him as someone from the Doctor's past! That seemed to be confirmed with the Doctor suspecting that people trying to scare him hadn't met him yet. I thought that was a great line and really showed just how powerful the Doctor can be. It was fun for him to claim Ruby as the Princess of Notting Hill with the psychic paper and I think that might be the first time we've seen that device used for this incarnation? I may be wrong. Ruby reacted in a fun way to being considered royalty. The god waiting and housing a gallery of evil collections was intriguing and I'll be interested to see the connection with Cybermen! Overall, a quite excellent comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10

Bad Influence: The Baron Robbers

"It's not revenge, it's justice."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: May 2024

Series: Missy 4.03

Featuring: Missy

Synopsis

Bored and stranded in the 14th Century, Missy is looking for a way out. Any way at all. Luckily the spectacular ruby owned by Edward, the famed Black Prince, might be just what she needs to get her broken vortex manipulator working again. But someone else is after the ruby too – and the question is, who want its more... and how low are they prepared to go to get it?

Verdict

The Baron Robbers was a great little episode to conclude the Bad Influence fourth series of Missy! I absolutely adore this spinoff and much of that is down to the sheer brilliance of Michelle Gomez as I have mentioned in the previous blog entries for this series. She just steals every scene she's in and this was no different. Once again she had a feeling of superiority which was wonderful and I enjoyed her reaction to being in the fourteenth century. That's quite a place to have Missy stranded with her vortex manipulator once again playing up. The lack of technology means she needs to be innovative, but when she spotted a fascinating ruby in the possession of the Black Prince, she knew it was more than that. It was a means out as a spital and that was really intriguing. I enjoyed the continuity with Bad Apple Brigade quite a lot in having Solaire encounter Missy for the first time here. I was surprised that came so soon and whilst I wasn't sure if we would get it at all, I was half expecting it in a future series of which I'm sure there will be. We have to get Missy back to the Master TARDIS at some point! Missy reacting in a way which showed she knew him but not how or why was good. She was quite shocked to be fair and that's understandable considering she's just come from meeting him for the first time. I wonder if we'll ever reach a point on audio where we will get to hear Missy and Solaire actually in their relationship, but I must admit I do question the legitimacy of this from the Time Lady's perspective. I thought the format of this episode was fun as Missy was thrown into making a plan with Anne and Richard on how to steal the ruby. They were disgruntled people who felt they were just getting justice for being wronged by the Black Prince and not getting what they felt they deserved. Their youth always made Missy seem much superior and the comedy that came from her gag of slipping that she planned to jump off into another century once the ruby was in her possession was great stuff. Hearing the prospective plans of Missy and Anne & Richard in action was entertaining and it was good to get a glimpse of what might happen. Distractions, scheming and snooping. It was the Missy series at its best. One thing that brought the rating down of this episode down slightly for me was the fact that Missy just happened to have an exact replica of the ruby in her possession. Even addressing the coincidental nature of that in the story didn't do much to help things in my opinion. I know the Missy series is whacky and full of fun but it still felt too much of a stretch. You definitely wouldn't get away with it in a typical Doctor Who story so I don't see how it would work here. It was a little disappointing. Everything else was good fun and I thought Missy posing as a doctor (but absolutely not liking the word!) was fun stuff and the whole thing with the leeches when she goaded Solaire into taking what she claimed was the ruby was tremendous. It was good fun to label him a demon when he confronted her in front of the baron! I thought Missy being aided along by Sir Kay was great and the insinuation at the end of the court of King Arthur was intriguing. Might we be getting Missy in Camelot in the next series? I'll buy anything regardless though as I just adore Michelle Gomez. She's tremendous and Missy looks set to have a lot of fun with where she is heading next. And that can only bode well for what is (hopefully) to come. Overall, a great episode to conclude a thoroughly entertaining series! 

Rating: 8/10

Bad Influence: Bad Apple Brigade

"I'm filling up with sap!"

Writer: Freddie Valdosta

Format: Audio

Released: May 2024

Series: Missy 4.02

Featuring: Missy

Synopsis

Missy finds herself stranded on Brownsea Island with a troop of girls sent there to improve themselves. But these girls are troublemakers, and Missy has a few lessons to teach them. 

Only, they're not alone. Something lurking in the woods has history with Missy – but for her, that might be the future...

Verdict

Bad Apple Brigade was another fun story to continue my way through the Bad Influence fourth series of adventures for Missy! This loosely followed on from how things finished in Missy and the Time Assassin with Missy being somewhat stuck. I thought it was fun for her to tackle being without her vortex manipulator because of water damage as surely you would think that something that could literally travel in time would not be susceptible to something so rudimentary! Even iPhones these days are somewhat immune to water damage unless plunged down the toilet or dropped in the bath for a considerable time! Alas, it was entertaining for Missy to be on Brownsea Island and with the setting of the early twentieth century, she wouldn't be finding anything that could help with her repairs. Her interaction with Miss Cressler was a superb way to start the adventure. Missy seemed to push her off a cliff simply because she found the teacher annoying! That was brilliantly Missy though and the anticipation for it to happen was great. I was smiling before it even happened. Is it bad that I was looking forward to Missy doing the dirty work and sending her flying? The comment from Cressler in saying how she wouldn't wish to swim in the sea below was the nail in the cabinet for her. There was only one direction for her from there! Missy was more interested in the two younger girls that were being reprimanded for some crimes by having what she thought was a camping trip. That was amusing as Missy would understandably not be aware of an English disciplinary system at this point in time. The isolated setting of Brownsea Island was excellent and I really enjoyed exploring it. It was unique and I'm a big fan of remote places like this. It worked well and there was a lot of potential. It's also exciting to be surrounded by sea as evidence by the Cressler fall. Agnes and Grace were strong characters and the relationship they shared was strong. I liked how they tried to use folk tales and scary stories for a fear factor whilst also being quite philosophical in debating on whether trees had feelings. Was the screaming what the wind was? That's a scary thought. Do apples scream when bitten in? I like exploring things like that. It's good to talk about so getting Missy's input was wonderful as she obviously sees things a little differently. Her past with Solaire was intriguing to explore and it was amusing for Missy to have her own version of River Song. She hadn't met Solaire before her encounter with him here, whilst he had been waiting for her for nearly a millennium! I liked the adult content with Missy having cheated on Solaire, on his birthday no less! It was good to see the development of Solaire in understanding what had happened, or rather yet to happen, and Missy had him wrapped around her little finger. She was always in control. Grace and Agnes trying to help Solaire get revenge on Missy was amusing as the poor things couldn't stand a chance, but I liked their efforts. Missy actually using Solaire to fix her vortex manipulator and extract the water and therefore fixing the damage was fun stuff, if not a little silly. I do think the shift from fearful to barely frightening easily scared girls when in normal form was interesting and perhaps made a little too much of a mockery, but I was entertained so I can't complain too much! Overall, another enjoyable episode to continue what has been a fun series so far! 

Rating: 8/10

Bad Influence: Missy and the Time Assassin

"How often do you get to kill one of your idols?"

Writer: David Quantick

Format: Audio

Released: May 2024

Series: Missy 4.01

Featuring: Missy

Synopsis

Missy gets to meet a hero. But James Blakelock, Time Assassin doesn't quite live up to the legend – although he is very easy on the eye. 

Although she has places to be and species to annihilate, Missy can't help herself, so she tags along on James' next mission. After all, a little bit of assassination never hurt anyone...

Verdict

Missy and the Time Assassin was a really entertaining start to the Bad Influence fourth series of Missy's own spinoff series! Honestly, let's keep the Missy series going forever because Michelle Gomez is just tremendous. She offers so much and really just has an inane ability to draw you in as the listener. She's a scene stealer from the moment she speaks and that was very evident here. It's not often we see Missy or any of her male incarnations awestruck but she almost fainted when James Blakelock revealed his identity. That was a fun moment as it almost made Missy seem or feel inferior which is not something we ever see or hear. Blakelock was a very fun character as a Time Assassin and his reputation as not being a very good one made it all the more fascinating that Missy was a fan. The focus on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand as a pivotal event that led to World War One starting was excellent and I really do wish this was the basis of the entire episode purely because of my love of history. Alas, it wasn't to be but Blakelock getting in touch with the would-be assassin and offering ten million krone to not assassinate him was tremendous because that actually set in motion the events that would lead to it! Insinuating that he was just going to throw rocks at the car as believed was the first failed attempt to make a point but then seeing how assassination would shape things is incredible. And it's a lot of fun. I think you can get away with that in a Missy series. Missy is the perfect incarnation to be fanboying and I don't really think another could pull it off, so to have her wanting to go on a mission with Blakelock was brilliant. The chemistry between the pair was fun and I like how Missy constantly refers to eating her companions. It is a constant reminder that actually she is quite evil and that was on display at the end on the nameless World orbiting the nameless System as she attempted to just shoot Blakelock dead. She didn't even care for his last words but his forcefield protected him and she was quite disappointed not to have thought about that. It was good to see her one-upped briefly. The whole plan of Blakelock to increase his reputation by capturing Missy who was deemed one of the great murderers was audacious for someone who believed himself to be an idiot. To be fair, he'd worked out that a number of murders in history were committed by the same person with a moniker mostly close to 'Master' which was impressive, but trying to trap Missy and playing a really long game to get her in position was just a death wish. She'd eat him alive. That wasn't quite what happened but I never felt like Missy was in danger. I can't ever imagine that happening other than when the Doctor is around. She was almost mocking in the effort Blakelock went to in order to get her when he wanted her, but she was quick to do a quick transition of the vortex manipulator and a child's wristwatch. That was very amusing. I liked how a future version of Blakelock turned out to be the member of Galactic Police come to arrest him, and Missy was gone before that reveal happened. Could we perhaps get a return from the Time Assassin in the future? It is possible and it was just fun to hear how he had planned two years in prison to save himself and prevent himself from being made a mockery once again. Of course, he could have just gone back in time a little further and prevented the entire idea regarding Missy, but he didn't think about that. Missy ending up back on Earth again was fun and leads nicely into the next episode. We're rolling! Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable listen! 

Rating: 8/10

73 Yards

"She's definitely following me."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 May 2024

Series: 14.04

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Landing on the Welsh coast, the Doctor and Ruby embark on the strangest journey of their lives. In a rain-lashed pub, the locals sit in fear of ancient legends coming to life.

Verdict

73 Yards was a very intriguing episode to continue the ongoing series! It was clear from the trailer and the preview in Doctor Who Magazine that this one was going to be a little bit different, and that was certainly true! With no opening titles either, the tone was really set for something unique. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the episode to be honest. It's an absolute standout performance for Millie Gibson as Ruby which is wonderful after how Gatwa shined as the Doctor in Boom last week, but I'm not entirely on board with everything that happened. I was a big fan of the Welsh setting being a patriotic Welshman myself, and just seeing the gorgeous clifftops was a delight. This really is a scenic nation. I thought the comment about castles being drowned in blood as a sign of English oppression was strong and as a Plaid Cymru voter, I was well on board with that feeling of being oppressed. The Doctor barely features which was a bit of a surprise to me, but these Doctor-lite episodes sometimes become classics. I've seen some strong reviews for the episode describing it as an instant classic and whilst I don't entirely agree with that, I can see why some fans and critics may think so. It's a big journey of exploration for Ruby and she seems so out of place in the Welsh village pub. The lack of music there for me was unsettling and I was a big fan of the atmosphere throughout the episode. The Doctor breaking the fairy circle had some unsettling consequences as he vanished without trace and the TARDIS was also left abandoned and seemingly locked from the inside. This was a clever way though for Ruby to get home and give us a glimpse of her family life once again. After the Doctor crashed into their flat in Space Babies, I liked that Ruby could come clean about things a little. She didn't hesitate in mentioning the woman that was following her. She was a fascinating figure throughout the episode and downright scary. Never approaching, but always 73 yards away. Wherever Ruby went, she was followed at a distance. The duration of the episode for Ruby was quite incredible as we see her come to terms with no longer being the Doctor's companion. Her encounter with Kate was a welcomed treat and I liked how she highlighted how things are getting supernatural. The consequences of the Fourteenth Doctor's actions in Wild Blue Yonder really are becoming felt now. Ruby recognising the hiker who we have seen in every episode this series was intriguing andI look forward to discovering just who she is. There haven't been any hints yet other than the fact she can be almost anywhere and anywhen. I wonder if she's connected to Mrs Flood who had a fun and uneventful reminder of her presence after her incredible breaking of the fourth wall in The Church on Ruby Road and knowledge of a TARDIS. The political element of the episode for the second half was intriguing as the Doctor forewarned her of Roger ap Gwilliam being a bad representation of Wales as a Prime Minister from 2036. Ruby being in the future and joining his political campaign as a way to stall it and prevent the nuclear actions he was encouraging was excellent. She thought that was her purpose. The scenes at Cardiff City Stadium for the political campaign after his election were incredible for me as I have a Cardiff City FC season ticket so seeing it used for something other than football and in a mainstream way was wonderful! Ruby using that stadium to get the figure following her close to the Prime Minister was terrific. I really enjoyed how any encounter with the figure up close sent the person running and with some severe distain for Ruby. I can't believe we don't know what was said! And why the 73 yards? They were two questions left unanswered that brought the rating down for me. Particularly the former one. Ruby growing old and the figure finally coming close and being revealed as her as time caught up with her was emotional, but I think there needed to be a bit more interference from Ruby to stop the Doctor from breaking the circle this time around. The whole Bad Jack story was good, but does this really stop it from happening? It would appear not as obviously Ruby's relationship with her mother Carla would still be in tact, but that look in the taxi could break through timelines! It was outstanding. Overall, a shining episode for Ruby but it's a shame she won't actually remember any of it happening. Some unanswered questions leave me with a somewhat uneasy feeling, but this was still good stuff. 

Rating: 7/10

The Art of Destruction

"Don't let others suffer for my sins."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Novel

Released: September 2006

Series: NSA 11

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in 22nd century Africa in the shadow of a dormant volcano. Agri-teams are growing new foodstuffs in the baking soil to help feed the world's starving millions – but the Doctor and Rose have detected an alien signal somewhere close by.

When a nightmare force starts surging along the dark volcanic tunnels, the Doctor realises an ancient trap has been sprung. But who was it meant for? And what is the secret of the eerie statues that stand at the heart of the volcano?

Dragged into a centuries-old conflict, Rose and the Doctor are soon elevating survival to an art form – as ancient, alien hands practice arts of destruction all around them...

Verdict

The Art of Destruction was a great New Series Adventures novel! It's quite incredible really but I remember buying the first twelve novels of the NSAs all in one big boxset from a charity shop some twelve or thirteen years ago, and I've been hanging onto this one ever since! It was about time to get it read and it was certainly worth the wait. This was a solid tale from start to finish and definitely something I could see fitting into the era of Series 2. I really enjoyed how unique of a setting it was with heading to Africa in 2118. We don't often visit that continent and it was intriguing to read the take on the region a century into the future. The Doctor talking of a new golden age to come for Africa after how things ended here was nice and I liked that some of the locals were featured prominently. The selfish interests of the West were still portrayed here and I don't ever see that failing to exist to be honest, and with any chance of something to harness or take then they were there. In this case, growing food had become a problem so the efforts of Fynn and company to use the volcano and its unique capabilities to grow substance was incredible. What I wasn't expecting was an effort to use the dead as a source of that growth. That was audacious and just disgusting, but times were desperate which was highlighted well. Adiel was a strong character and her reaction to finding out that this had happened to her parents was understandably powerful. It must be so difficult to hear! I enjoyed the confidence of the Doctor and Rose when they arrived and the use of the TARDIS translation circuits to talk Arabic was good fun. The moment where Rose understood the conversation in a niche dialect between Basel and Adiel was hilarious. It really didn't help her! The relationship Rose had with Basel was intriguing and there definitely seemed like some sort of romantic potential there. The flirting was nice to see despite the predicament. Solomon was a good character as well and I really enjoyed his internal dilemma of being loyal to his village and supply food when times were tough, whilst also moving on with his own life. The threat and the history behind the Valnaxi was decent but I must admit it did seem a little obvious that they would turn out to feature beneath the volcano. I didn't expect them to take human form though in an effort to rebuild themselves! That was a fun twist and I loved how far they were willing to go to survive. They would even take on their arch enemies of the Wurms if it meant they could survive. Their connection with their home planet and the artistic nature was good and probably something that could have been explored more, but it was a fun concept. The golems were a strong threat and I enjoyed the open with Kanjuchi being turned into a statue of gold. That set the tone very nicely. Faltato was a bit of a strange character in parts and his position between the Valnaxi and Wurms was good, and his loyalties shifted. His search for the last remaining artwork of the Valnaxi was interesting but I really loved the Wurms having a desire to destroy every remnant of the Valnaxi. That was brutal and really made them a strong villain even if their name was ridiculous. King Ottak was a bit rubbish to be honest but he didn't impact the story too much in bringing it down. There were probably a few too many senior figures, but on the whole it was exciting. The action towards the end was good and the Valnaxi staying behind with Male and Female, in the form of Solomon and Rose, was intriguing. Although I would have liked the war to actually end as it did feel a little incomplete. But at least the Wurms went on believing them dead. Overall, a great little read! 

Rating: 8/10

The Doctor on Mars with Audrey and Ayn

"Science is about finding the edge of the possible."

Writer: Christopher H Bidmead

Format: Short Story

Released: May 2024

Printed in: DWM Special 66

Featuring: Fourth Doctor 

Synopsis

The Doctor wakes up disoriented in a state of grace, and comes face to face with a familiar face in the form of Stench. Whether they are friends is not so clear...

Verdict

The Doctor on Mars with Audrey and Ayn was an average but very much welcomed little short story! After the news of the latest Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition was announced to celebrate fifty years of the Fourth Doctor, I was delighted to find on the cover that there was a new piece of fiction by famed writer for this incarnation Christopher H Bidmead! He obviously penned Tom Baker's final story as the Fourth Doctor in the form of Logopolis and shaped much of the end of the era, so to get an extra bit of prose here is a delight. I think the special editions of DWM could benefit from some official stories and whilst I understand that costs might prevent a comic strip story, a few pages of prose like this would be much welcomed moving forward. Depending on the focus of the respective special edition, the possibilities are endless and it wouldn't necessarily have to be with the current Doctor and companion. Here, we celebrate fifty years of the Fourth Doctor and rightly so, and the name of this adventure fascinated me right from the off. Whilst it is a little misleading as there are actually no Audrey or Ayn present on Mars – only their ideas – the Doctor being on the red planet again is a fun idea. There are unfortunately no Ice Warriors, but that soon becomes clear by the end as we determine that the Doctor wasn't actually on Mars at all. It was all a sham which was a pretty fun revelation and reading how the Doctor was suffering within the state of grace was decent. It did probably last a little too long though, and that meant we got a bit of a quick conclusion and something of an unfinished feeling at the end. The illustrations that accompany the text are rather nice in their aesthetics and I like with Bidmead writing that they seem to showcase the Doctor towards the end of his era with that burgundy scarf and jacket. It also fits well with the intended titular setting of the red planet. However, I do think there could have been a bit more range in what was being drawn. It didn't always have to just show the Doctor on every page! It could have developed the scene even further and really show where we were. Stench was an intriguing character and whilst I would have liked a little more backstory regarding his past with the Doctor, it was decent to have someone he recognised when awaking in a queasy state. The quote from Audrey Hepburn at the start of the story stating how impossible literally just said 'I'm possible' was quite fun and I was a little surprised that the Doctor didn't take much of a fancy to that. I feel like in a different incarnation that is something he would appreciate. It was a strong message to take forward though and a fine motto to live by. Nothing could be impossible and I like that thinking, even if I perhaps don't always agree. The fact that Stench had lost his financial backing on the Mars project and actually had some distain towards the people of Earth requiring aid made it a bit of a surprise at the end that the Doctor would even consider becoming friends! He clearly had some disagreements with the man which I would expect. The potential of air conditioning the whole of Mars seemed a little far fetched but that might be why it ought to have been more of a focus. What a fun idea! Instead, we got another little scheme of a semi-madman which was fine, but I just feel there could have been a bit more. Overall, a decent read and a welcomed addition but somewhat lacking at the end.  

Rating: 6/10

Nightmare Country

"Paradise doesn't come cheap."

Writer: Stephen Gallagher 

Format: Audio

Released: November 2019

Series: Lost Stories 5.01

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

The Doctor wakes up on a planet of relics, a dead world, a hostile world... He has no memory of who he is, or how he got to be here. He'd better remember soon, because the very structure of reality is at risk and it all has something to do with that strange blue tomb with the light on top.

Verdict

Nightmare Country was a great Lost Stories adventure! I think it's terrific to get the story adapted for audio by the original actor, and I wonder how he felt revisiting a tale from over three decades ago! That's the beauty of the Lost Stories range. It's both wonderful to get these stories at last in any kind of form, but to also try and imagine how they would have worked on television. I'm not knowledgeable on why this particular story never did make it to the screen, but after listening it does perhaps feel like this may have been slightly too ambitious for the production capabilities of the Classic era. Would we really have been afford the opportunity to utilise the old wooden secondary console room in the TARDIS from the Fourth Doctor era? I doubt it, but that's the beauty of audio. There really are no restraints and it's delightful to hear that in play. The adventure doesn't mess around in getting into the thick of things with the Doctor already within the reality engine and not knowing who he is. That's quite a way to start things! I do think he regained the knowledge of his identity perhaps a little too quickly, although it was fun to play with him not liking the title of professor given what will come during the Seventh Doctor era. That was a fun anecdote that I appreciated. Tegan and Turlough were on the other side of the engine and quite worried when they realised something had gone wrong, especially when the engineer had only programmed in a sole failsafe of the Doctor going through the exit door. But he had no idea who he was anymore and didn't retain that knowledge so things got quite serious. The TARDIS being referred to as a tomb was good and I liked the surprise that occurred when it was finally realised as being the means of escape. The threat of the Vodyani as a representation of fears imagined now become real was excellent and the discovery of them actually being created by Volos the apprentice was a good twist. As the only one that didn't actually come from within the engine, it did seem like we would be heading that way but his shock at the truth was a powerful moment. Konis was a strong character too and I liked how he worked out that the Vodyani were a representation of everything Volos had experienced growing up. That was quite a dark moment. One thing I enjoyed about the format of the story for the Lost Stories range in particular was the run time of each part. It was almost absolutely bang on what would have been expected for a television script back in the 1980s. That gave it a sense of authenticity which I really enjoyed. The humour of Big Bob's existence was a nice injection of small comedy in an otherwise pretty dark story. The contrast between nightmares and reality was good and I really enjoyed the cliffhanger of the Vodyani emerging through the door before them and into the TARDIS. Nightmares literally walking around! The copy of Tegan was also a strong emotional pull in the episode as she basically volunteered to die. She was handling it well in knowing that she wouldn't get to go back through, but being united with Volos at the end was a nice moment. Even if it was only temporary. I think the abrupt way things concluded with the copies of the Doctor and Tegan pondering on their existence as they were left with the Vodyani who were unaware of the reality engine remotely being used as their portal. They wouldn't terrorise the universe. Overall, a really strong story that I would love to have seen on screen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Demons Within

"Why won't they give her back?"

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Audio

Released: May 2024

Series: BBC Audio 24

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

The year is 1860, and a lonely house stands on a craggy rock in Ayrshire, Scotland. Inside, two men brace themselves against rushing winds, wailing voices and loud, crashing noises. Goats with fire-red eyes bleat relentlessly, and a procession of weird figures appear, apparently from all ages of man. 

Among them, strangest of all, is a tall man with spiky brown hair, wearing a blue suit and waving a small silver candle...

When the Doctor and Martha call at the house, they learn about the mysterious portal that lies within, a doorway leading – where?

It's not long before they join the two men in trying to hold back the monstrous demons within.

Verdict

The Demons Within was an excellent BBC Audio original! I was intrigued by this one after reading the preview in the latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine, so it seemed an obvious choice when it came time for a new Audible free trial. I was fascinated to see that famed Cyber Leader actor David Banks was the narrator and boy oh boy he did not disappoint. He was gripping in telling this story and was absolutely well suited to the role for this type of story. As the cover art suggests, this is a pretty dark adventure and going for an Ayrshire setting is a good place to go. Scotland just feels right for a story at night and in questionable weather. The significance of 1860 as the year for the setting was good too as the coming electricity boom was very much felt. We had two intriguing characters in the form of Forbes and McCullen who had been experimenting so much that they had inadvertently opened a doorway to what they thought was a demonic dimension. They were really great together and I liked how much they were still feeling the impact of having lost the wife of Forbes. Morag had been taken by a demon through the portal so instead of taking their achievements and findings to the Royal Society for some sort of scientific recognition, they continued to experiment in the hope of getting her back. The demons on the other side were strong enemies for the story. They were known as Mesmarters (sp?) and they really did feel demonic, even if the Doctor was adamant they weren't from Hell. The arrival of the Tenth Doctor and Martha was good and I actually liked that Banks didn't try too much to impersonate either. His acting qualities honestly didn't even warrant. I just appreciated his narration which is not always common in a story that's essentially prose for 75+ minutes. But he was so engaging! There was a lot of emotion in the adventure with Forbes riled by losing his wife – and who could blame him? – but for some reason they didn't want the help the Doctor was offering and tried to hide the fact they'd lost Morag. Martha helped nicely to bring them around to accepting the Doctor's help though, and the emotions kept coming. The Doctor was more than prepared to go through to the other side of the portal and shut it down from that side which was pretty admirable. and I liked his confidence to Martha in promising her that he would return. Somehow and someway, he'd find a way back. Except he wouldn't have to in the end in an incredible sacrifice. With the demons partly way through the portal and having a foot here or a head there on either side, the decline of the Doctor's offer was pretty sensational. It really was evil. However, the Doctor suspected it was telling the truth when saying that Morag had been lost on the other side for so long that she couldn't exist back in the normal dimension. She wouldn't survive the trip given her molecular makeup now. So Forbes swiped the device from the Doctor to shut down on the other side and jumped through to be reunited. He blamed himself for losing her all this time and this was his only sense of atonement. It was admirable but really quite sad at the same time. I do hope he got to be reunited with his loved one in the end. McCullen going through on the Doctor's plea to burn the house down was a good conclusion, although I get the sense we might not have heard the end of the Mesmarters if the Doctor's unhappy feeling of unfinished business was anything to go by at the end. Overall though, a terrific audio adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Invisible Enemy

"I've never been inside anybody's head before."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: March 1979

Series: Target 36

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

A mysterious cloud drifts menacingly through space...

A sudden energy flash and the Doctor is infected with the Nucleus of a malignant Virus that threatens to destroy his mind. 

Meanwhile, on Titan, human slaves prepare the Hive from which the Virus will swarm out and infect the universe. 

In search of a cure, Leela takes the Doctor to the Foundation where they make an incredible journey into the Doctor's brain in an attempt to destroy the Nucleus. 

But can the Doctor free himself from the Nucleus in time to reach Titan and destroy the Hive? Luckily he has help – in the strangely dog-like shape of a mobile computer called K9...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Invisible Enemy was a great novelisation of a television serial I absolutely love! For whatever reason, I do think this adventure works better on screen which I realise is probably a little ironic given the somewhat questionable special effects concerning the Swarm or the inside of the Doctor's head. I was surprised before reading that this book was only going to be 110 pages so it was a breeze to read during the workday, but maybe that small length for a four-parter meant that it was perhaps lacking a little in depth and detail? I can't say I ever truly felt like that when reading, but the pace is frantic and it really does flash by. I liked the use of prose to describe the cloud of the Swarm when approaching in space and seeking out the Doctor. Combining the TARDIS with Titan was good and I loved how the Doctor was determined as the perfect host because of his intelligence. A savvy virus makes for a good enemy and even though I've seen the on screen version at least three times, it really does feel obvious that once the Doctor and Leela are cloned and inserted within the true Doctor to tackle the Swarm it wouldn't be them coming back out and getting back to maximum size. I liked the chase though and the Doctor wanting Leela's ability as a hunter to track out the Swarm was brilliant. Her qualities were on full display here. I liked the use of the return to the traditional white TARDIS console room and Leela reacting to it by stating white wasn't a colour was amusing. Nobody else would make such an observation! There was a good amount of humour between the Doctor and Leela as we usually get, and that was mostly in the parrot sequence where Leela's way of showing she didn't understand an aspect of what the Doctor was saying was to repeat the word or phrase. It was also terrific for the Doctor to try and claim credit for the idea to blow up the base and take the Swarm with it. Leela should be very proud indeed. I wasn't wholly on board with that in the book here because I liked the way the Leela clone was used to determine the antibody against the Swarm once it was consumed into the Doctor's blood sytsem. Professor Marius is a strong character and he's obviously an important figure in the history of Doctor Who as the creator of K9! The debut of the famed robot dog is great stuff and I love how quickly he takes to the Doctor and Leela being granted master and mistress status. Leela is overjoyed at the end when he gets to come with them and the robot dog makes no qualms about rushing into the TARDIS! It's really quite fun. The likes of Lowe and Meeker were strong characters and the background of the celebration after six months as a crew only to be killed by those serving the Purpose was horrifying. So close yet so far. I think something could have been elaborated on in the book to explain how a virus was speaking English and setting sights for the macro world. Could it have known the Doctor had access to a dimension stabiliser and could adapt it from the TARDIS into actual people? How else did it plan to get oversized? The struggle of it to deal with that newfound size was great and it did help to not have the clumsiness of the costume in the book. It was good for the Doctor and the Swarm to have a battle of wits but the sudden impact of the inferno at the end was quite fitting. The Doctor lost the antibodies but Leela's idea loomed large in his head to see another way out. It got close and his little dash to the TARDIS was quite amusing, but it was a fitting end really. Overall, a terrific little read! 

Rating: 8/10

Entanglement

"I'm dead, and this is heaven?"

Writers: Robert Khan & Tom Salinsky

Format: Audio

Released: November 2018

Series: Early Adventures 5.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

Cambridge, England, the mid 1930s. When the Doctor, Steven and Vicki get separated from the TARDIS they are forced to spend some time amongst the ancient spires of Sedgwick College. The college is mid-way through a leadership crisis following the unexplained disappearance of the Master of Sedgwick, Sir Isaiah Hardy. An election for his replacement is now taking place. 

But is that all that's happening in this seemingly peaceful location? The Proctors are behaving in mysterious ways and the students are prone to bursts of unexplained violence. When one of his companions also vanishes, the Doctor realises that there's more at stake here than control of an educational establishment. A dark plan is underway – one that threatens the entire future of humanity itself!

Verdict

Entanglement was a decent story to continue my way through the fifth series of the Early Adventures! The idea behind this series of a continuous run like we would have had on screen during Season 3 is exciting, although the cliffhangers aren't that explosive. They don't seem to matter a huge deal in comparison to those within the actual story, but that's no big deal. It's good to keep things in isolation. I thought the setting for this one of Cambridge University in the 1930s was honestly a little drab, but I did appreciate the historical nature. It just wasn't the most exciting of places and hearing the stuck up and posh students that attended Sedgwick College was amusing because I just can't believe there are people on this planet who are that pompous. Imagine looking down on Oxford University? Strange goings on were in place though and I did enjoy that the Doctor was fascinated by the time of the 1930s on Earth in Britain. He was excited to explore and this incarnation of the Doctor certainly feels like he would be relatively at home at a university during this time. His guise as a visiting professor from King's Lynn was intriguing, but for Steven and Vicki they did feel a little out of place which was fun to play around with. I liked how their relationship was explored and Steven was almost teased about them perhaps being more than just friends. I do enjoy these two together and it was great for him to firmly put in place that he and Vicki were like brother and sister. That's always how I've viewed them and that just suits them. They're a brilliant companion pairing and I'm grateful to get this extended run of adventures with them. The focus on the Proctors was good stuff and the importance placed on the election was semi-interesting. I liked the development later that the winner would be the one to control the androids. That perhaps came a little late. The mystery involving the cameras was really strong and it was clear that once Vicki had physical possession she was inevitably going to take a snap and get zapped. Her disappearance was fascinating and I liked how she was almost convinced that she was in heaven! Isaiah Hardy and Linus Woolf were good characters and their being alien was decent but it did feel a little odd. The exploration of humanity was interesting and I loved how they appeared to not have aged when being in the class photos throughout the decades, but I'm not sure they ever felt particularly threatening. The twist concerning Lewis and Woolf was good and I must admit I didn't expect that coming for the part three cliffhanger build so I appreciated the surprise factor. Even the Doctor was a little stumped despite his claim that he suspected all three of not being of this Earth. He was of course proven correct. The pace of this one was a little slow but that actually suited the setting and even the Doctor. For this elderly incarnation it was quite nice to not have him rushing around and requiring rest. He could use a bit more wit as seen in how he got a message to Vicki to use the camera and return herself home, despite not knowing who she was. She dealt well with that memory loss once she got over the fact she didn't know her name. Woolf and Hardy ending up stuck in their own little looking glass was quite fitting really and the Doctor's enjoyment at not being entirely sure if they weren't in their own version of a looking glass was terrific. That little chuckle really is everything! Overall, a good listen and an exciting cliffhanger with Vicki going missing from the TARDIS! 

Rating: 7/10

Boom

"I was spared from the suffering."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 18 May 2024

Series: 14.03

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Caught in the middle of a devastating war on Kastarion 3, the Doctor is trapped when he steps on a landmine. Can he save himself and Ruby, plus the entire planet... without moving?

Verdict

Boom was an excellent episode to continue the Fifteenth Doctor era! This really was eventful considering the whole premise centred around the Doctor being stuck in one position. It was enticing right from the off with a rather incredible pre-credits scene that got the Doctor into the stance he would remain for much of the episode. After establishing the setting of Kastarion 3 and some of the characters, we see John Francis Vater quite brutally killed in a humane situation apparently. He was suffering from blindness that would take four weeks to heal, and under the Villengard Corp algorithm that wasn't suitable. I thought the way the episode incorporated AI, religion and capitalism all in one was brilliant and this really is a triumphant return for Steven Moffat to the show. I've seen a lot of reaction on Twitter to the episode saying that he just gets it and it really is difficult to argue with that statement. The tension in this episode was outstanding and it was a good shift of atmosphere for Ruby. She sees her first alien world which is such a lovely moment and I thought she really stepped up. She had a little Clara defiance in her when the Doctor wanted her to throw the object that turned out to be Vater's compressed body, as she stood right by him and told him best get it right. The calmness in which the Doctor dealt with his predicament was honestly amazing and I must say this was a sublime performance from Ncuti Gatwa. It didn't really need it, but this absolutely cemented his role as the Fifteenth Doctor. This is a breakout story for the incarnation and I'm so excited where we go from here. Splice was a really nice character and it's such a sad moment when she hears her dad's voice from the hologram and Ruby and the Doctor realise they're going to have to explain that her father is dead. Her faith was incredible though and that meant she could deal with that quite efficiently knowing that they'd be reunited one day. Perhaps a surprising addition in the story was Mundy because of who she was played by! It's already been announced that Varada Sethu will join up as a companion in the next series, so to see her debut here unannounced (and uncredited in advance) was fascinating! Her character was strong and she goes through the wringer with Carson as they proclaim their love for each other, only to have it taken away as he dies. The private message on his AI generated reconstruction was a little sad as he believed she didn't love him back. He just about knew beforehand that she did. Mundy was not the kind of character I would be expecting a new companion to be like, but that unique nature makes her an exciting prospect! The Mundy Sunday joke by the Doctor suggesting she should marry Ruby was magnificent too. Despite his predicament, the Doctor was having time for comedy and that's the beauty of Gatwa. The singing when Ruby approaches him at the start is good and I love his little dance when everything works out at the end. The inclusion of Susan Twist as the face on the ambulances is intriguing because she was around for quite a while and the Doctor saw her for a prolonged period of time. Will he recognise her on the next cameo that I presume will continue? I look forward to finding out! The moment where Mundy is asking Ruby to shoot her to distract the ambulance away from the Doctor was incredible as our new companion was shot dead! And she did actually die! It was a powerful moment, but perhaps not as much as the Doctor's dad-to-dad plea to the AI Vater in appealing to save them. The Doctor needed the war to end because he realised the humans were fighting a war against themselves, all in the name of profit. Just enough people were dying so they kept on buying. The evil machination of Villengard Corp. Vater becoming a virus and saving the day was a really nice touch, especially at the countdown with Mundy and Splice accepting their fate, Ruby dead and the Doctor helpless. It was a sublime moment. Overall, another excellent episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Escape the Daleks!

"We all enjoy puzzles."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: January 2024

Series: BBC Audio 22

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

An escape room with a sting in its tail is the setting for the Doctor and Jo's latest encounter with a familiar enemy. Three young graduates and their tutor race against time to crack the codes, open the exit door, and obtain 'A New Life' – at least, that's what the publicity said. 

As the Doctor observes proceedings, he begins to suspect that something far more sinister lurks on the other side of the door. To make matters worse, the room appears set to eliminate anyone who doesn't make the grade. 

Working against time, the Doctor and Jo form an uneasy alliance with the gamers. What terror lies waiting for them all? 

Verdict

Escape the Daleks! was a decent little BBC Audio original! I must admit despite the still relatively high rating, this fell a little short of expectations. Whenever the Daleks are around I usually expect big things and with only three on screen full adventures pitting them against the Third Doctor, getting an extra meeting with them for Jo after Planet of the Daleks was a bit of a surprise. But it was one I was well on board with! I enjoyed the cover art depicting them as being the same, or at least a very similar, design to those encountered in Death to the Daleks which was yet to come for the Doctor. However, story details seemed to indicate that this adventure was something of a loose sequel to The Dalek Invasion of Earth. On paper, that's a tremendous idea for me as that First Doctor classic is right up there with one of my favourites. It's an instant classic and the scale and depth of it opens it up for sequels and prequels alike. This particular story seemed to take place a century or so after that Dalek invasion and occupation occurred, and the way it shared similarities to The Tomb of the Cybermen in testing its rescuers was decent. However, the escape room format seemed a little odd. I like that it's a modern and topical take on the format for a 2020s audience, but maybe it's just my dislike of escape rooms in general that meant I wasn't wholly on board with some of the story specifics. We only actually had one Dalek and that didn't come until the very end, but brilliantly we did get Nicholas Briggs voicing the Doctor's old enemy. Katy Manning did an expectedly excellent job with her narration and I enjoy her rough impression of Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor. It's authentic and certainly feels realistic. The story captured the relationship between the Doctor and Jo very nicely, although it didn't feel like things would soon be coming to an end for them. Whilst I'm not a fan of escape rooms, I enjoyed the use and role of the Robomen in the game and it's just terrific to get more of them. I'm a huge fan of them and it's a travesty they weren't used on television more. I thought it was fun for Manning to get to do her take on one and I loved hearing them back. It was amusing for the Doctor to not exactly want to partake in the escape room puzzles as he saw himself a bit beyond that. It was fun for him to explain to Jo how they would become prominent a little in her future. I wonder if the Jo we see in Death of the Doctor had traumatic flashbacks once they started becoming a thing? Renik was a decent character and I liked his worry of the order of events when individuals being tested were taken. I wasn't sure about how quickly the Doctor deduced that the Daleks were behind the escape room, but it was fun once they were present. It's just a shame they didn't feature for much longer and the cover is a little deceptive for there to only be a lone sentry. Overall though, a welcomed addition to the Third Doctor's battles with the Daleks and more should have been made of the Robomen and the previous invasion. A good little listen but I do feel this had the potential to be even better than it was. 

Rating: 7/10

Rebellion on Treasure Island

"Once we entered the mist our men began to disappear."

Writer: Bali Rai

Format: Novel

Released: September 2023

Series: BBC Books Special 09

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara, River

Synopsis

"Who was that?" asked Clara. "And what are pieces of eight?"

The Doctor smiles. "Robert Louis Stevenson. I did tell you."

Summoned to 1700s Plymouth, the Doctor and Clara must investigate a mysterious thievery from the Crown of King George. 

Their travels take them to a remote island – but as the secrets of the theft are unearthed, the Doctor discovers something far more sinister. The spectre of a terrible intellect is afoot. 

Thankfully, the Doctor and Clara won't be alone. A pirate called Long John Silver, a runaway called Janey Hawkins, and a professor called River Song, are all along for the ride.

Verdict

Rebellion on Treasure Island was a great little novel to continue the Doctor Who and classic fiction crossovers! I must admit I have never read Treasure Island and it's probably the classic tale I'm least familiar of the ones to feature in the Doctor Who crossovers so far, but that didn't take away my enjoyment of the story. In fact it was fun to not really know where things were headed. The only character I really had any knowledge on was Long John Silver and he was presented in quite a fun way. I liked that there was effort made to explain how the TARDIS could take the Doctor and Clara to a world where they could crossover with fiction, with the systems in need of a little repair and literally having some wires crossed. That was all fine until River took over the reigns and ventured to Victorian London to pick up the Paternoster Gang and take them back into the alternate timeline. That didn't feel right and seemed a little off-putting. I was delighted to have them around, but how they arrived just felt a little off in line with the rest of the book. The story was really well placed within Series 7 and it was good to know that it was shortly after Cold War for the Doctor and Clara. She was anxious for some excitement and adventure instead of some TARDIS repairs. I can't say I blame her! I really liked the continuity with both The Snowmen and The Bells of Saint John in having the Great Intelligence return as the enemy. Clara having experience with it at the Shard was good and Walter Simeon also returning, albeit as an animated form at the behest of the Intelligence, was great stuff. It's quite incredible really that we get a story featuring all of these ingredients prior to The Name of the Doctor. Clara encountering River before that episode is fun stuff and I love the use of the memory worm to keep the on screen continuity intact. One thing I wasn't anticipating was just how fun the interactions between Strax and River were. Honestly, they were tremendous and now I can't help but want a whole series of audios with them. A real treat. River popping up in the Paternoster Gang spinoff would be most welcomed. I liked the mystery of the mist and the atmosphere created on Skeleton Island was terrific. That was an eery name and it suited. Trelwaney was a good villainous character and I liked how just the sheer mention of his name sparked horror and disgust in the likes of Janey and Long John. His employing the Doctor on the behest of George II was fun too. I was half expecting that to be a ruse but it didn't come to fruition. The same could be said of Fisher and his muteness coming and going. I thought that would be more of a story. I enjoyed Vastra's gathering information on the mist cloud and her amazement at it being pure data was good stuff. Clara getting captured within it, becoming a coin and that coin being dropped was great as well. There was a lot of trepidation in a story that was a rapid pace. It was easy enough to read in one day for sure! The pirate theme whilst present could have been tapped into a little more but the emotional pull of Long John Silver being ill was excellent. Janey really stepped up and I liked much it was mentioned that she shouldn't have to make the decisions she did at such a young age. She wasn't having much of a childhood. River using programming and inserting a kill switch into the make up of the Great Intelligence was logical and quite simple to wrap things up, and knowing that it would return in the Series 7 finale and the placement of this book chronologically I was quite alright with that. Overall, a terrific little read! 

Rating: 8/10

The Casebook of Paternoster Row: The Gentlemen Thieves

"All your clones have turned out to be jewel thieves."

Writer: Lauren Mooney & Stuart Pringle 

Format: Audio

Released: April 2024

Series: Paternoster Gang 6.03

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax 

Synopsis 

Vastra reviews the case of a 'one-man crime wave' – break-ins and burglaries, committed by the same handsome and daring thief, even when they were committed at exactly the same time. 

Unravelling the secrets of these doppelgänger ne'er-do-wells, the Gangs touch on the fringe of a bigger conspiracy. But as Vastra recalls the past, the dangers of the present are closing in. 

Verdict

The Gentlemen Thieves was an excellent story to conclude The Casebook of Paternoster Row series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! This really did take the whole Trespassers umbrella title to a new level and brought a semblance of continuity across the series that has perhaps been missing thus far. It was easily the best episode of the boxset so far as they really did save the best until last. I thought the Victorian setting was once again utilised brilliantly and this felt very much of that era. The whole plot concept of thieving was great and it was a lot of fun that the same thief was caught in multiple places. Even the Paternoster Gang were perplexed when they had been approached by Rackham, the thief himself, to hire their services. So when they visited him in jail and he had no idea who they were, my intrigue was certainly peaked. It was a very interesting idea to have a man that was cloned numerous times and Rackham being a soldi hand at cricket was a good addition to his background. It was humorous that once it was clear there were numerous clones, the original was less than pleased with the actions of his copies. He wasn’t at all annoyed by the fact they were thieving but more so that they were getting caught! The lack of reliability in a clone right there. I thought Lord Ives was a fascinating character and a fine example of the typical Victorian gentleman of the upper class. His obsession with cricket was a bit mad and the fact he had utilised the Sontaran duplicate machine to create numerous copies of Rackham in the hopes of winning the cricket trophy was pretty barmy! It was amusing though and I could appreciate it. All for a win! I liked how Strax was utilised in the episode and whilst we did get the expected humour, he was really useful in identifying the duplicate machine. Who were the mystery people that supplied it? The brotherhood of clones was really interesting and quite a unique concept for a community. Strax was quick to get involved there and he wasn’t impressed with the terminology of the original one. Sontarans were not far wasting. Each clone had a purpose and that was admirable. It wasn’t much of a surprise for an honourable race like theirs! I thought Ives taking the cloning plan even further and wanting to shape the future of Englishmen in the shape of his own son was ludicrous. Imagine that for a nation? It was amusing for its audacity and the fact he genuinely believed his offspring was the best England had to offer. Ives killing the clone batch in one swift mode of a form of genocide was a huge moment that absolutely outraged Strax. He couldn’t believe what had happened for Ives to just kill them all in one swoop. An emotional Sontaran doesn’t sound like it would work on paper but it was handled fantastically here. Hornung as the officer was a decent character and I liked his emergence at the end to stop Ives. The talk of a special division throughout the episode was strong and I loved Hornung thinking it sounded something like touch wood. Might we be getting the Paternoster Gang crossover with Victorian Torchwood? That sounds awfully exciting, especially with how things concluded here and finding out Jenny had been taken and not her true self since before the wedding! Who are the mysterious Trespassers? I can’t wait to find out. Overall, a fitting and fantastic finale!

Rating: 9/10

The Casebook of Paternoster Row: Pater Noster

"We are not your monsters."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Audio

Released: April 2024

Series: Paternoster Gang 6.02

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Something is hiding in the sewers of London, picking off the poor and lost souls who live down there...

Madame Vastra opens a case file that takes her back to her early days and a Life Task that must be finally fulfilled. A case where she and her friends face death from an enemy capable of shredding matter into echoing screams...

Verdict

Pater Noster was a great story to continue my way through The Casebook of Paternoster Row latest series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! The Trespassers theme was also very much prominent in the story which was appreciated and it's fun for that to get Strax's mind ticking over given his obvious hatred for the Rutans. They have shape changing abilities and I would love for them to show up at some point in this series. Might they be coming at the end of the fourth boxset under the Trespassers moniker? That would be tremendous. For now though, it was brilliant to get a case for the Great Detective and it really did feel like a mystery. I enjoyed how Stray had even noticed that rats were going missing from the Thames sewers as he desperately wanted something to pulverise. He was desperate for some fighting action and was actually getting a little grumpy about things. His mission to pass on a note at the tavern was fun as he tried very badly to hide that he was familiar with the establishment and its downstairs fighting room. Even Jenny had earned a pretty penny there! That was a nice touch and Vastra's reaction of being proud that her wife had stopped the taking of bets because of her skill was marvellous. The expected Strax comedy came fantastically here with the mistaking of a conjugal visit line. The reaction from Jenny in particular there when it was suggested by the Sontaran that Vastra would be the subject of such a visit was terrific. The dynamic and chemistry between the trio was on point here and it made for really easy listening. The Victorian ere was the perfect place for a story like this and I thought the little pre-titles sequence of Vastra taking a Life Task from the Weave to find their missing member was fascinating. It all linked back nicely by the end and it was fun for the Great Detective to actually get an aspect of her work wrong. She was utterly convinced when opening the control box that it would be Marjerie revealed as the Weave member and resultant monster taking out the poor community living in the sewers, but it turned out to actually be Pater Noster himself! The title of the episode perhaps gave that away, but it was still a good moment despite the predictability of it coming. His shift from Victorian gentleman to not wanting to go back to the Weave was good and there was a strong villain there. The scale of his hiding out and transforming was almost unfathomable for him to be around whilst Vastra was in her deep sleep, but it also showed just how much he endured. The way things were actually weaved out as far as Pater Noster was concerned was exciting and the return of the Weave in the form of Weave Pilot 27 was good even if it was expected. He took command and to the horror of Marjerie after losing so many of her community hub and friends, there would be no serious punishment for the Weave. That didn't seem right and she was rightly outraged, but he would be reabsorbed into the Weave collective to see things out. It was a shame really that he didn't pay for his actions, but I did like how more sympathy was presented onto Marjerie as a result. The Paternoster Gang offered their services if they were ever required which I thought was nice. Overall, a really strong episode! 

Rating: 8/10