Rogue

"This was one hell of a first date."

Writers: Kate Herron & Briony Redman

Format: Novel

Released: August 2024

Series: Target 184

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Earth's Regency era – a time of culture, extravagance, sumptuous balls... and aliens?

While Ruby is a popular new addition to the Duchess of Pemberton's ball, the Doctor's word is about to be forever rocked by a dashing visitor from space. With many party-guests facing an identity crisis like no other, is up to the Doctor and Ruby to stop the menacing Chuldur's plot.

Verdict

Rogue was a terrific novelisation of the story of the same name from the latest series with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby! For whatever reason, this was probably the release I was least looking forward to of the three new additions to the Target library this year, and despite all three getting the same rating, I think this did the best job of staying true to what I believe a Target novel should be. In the last Doctor Who Magazine, the review for this book was probably a tad harsh in saying it was a simple retelling. I thought that was far from the case. Sure, we didn't get an additional chapter from the events of Robot like we did in Doctor Who and the Face of Evil, but I was very impressed with the additional detail that just couldn't be captured on screen. I do remember thinking on broadcast that the episode could have done with a longer duration to explore the relationship between the Doctor and Rogue, and thankfully the book does a really great job of pacing that out. It doesn't feel so sudden and whilst the pace on screen was electric, this was more measured which I think is the right approach in prose. You can definitely tell that it's helpful to have the writers who wrote the story for broadcast also penning the novelisation as they just know their characters. There is an entire backstory for Art as the one that Rogue lost which is really good. They tackle a dodgy fizzy drink company in the form of the Gurgle and actually reading about his loss makes the moments towards the end with the Doctor more relatable. We obviously know what the Doctor has gone through, but now we get a much better idea for Rogue. It's also lovely to read the inner thoughts of both the Doctor and Rogue when it comes to taking a shine to one another, and the moment they proclaim the other as the murderer is played wonderfully. The Kylie on-off singalong is naturally not going to be as impactful and as fun as it was on screen, but it still brought a smile to my face. Ruby has a solid outing here as she revels at being in the real life world of Bridgerton and I liked how it was described that this television series was her latest binge. That's just real. I think the party setting is good and Ruby's relationship with Emily in particular is a delight. Hearing the word cushy is new to her. I like the focus on finding a scandal and the whole story definitely does feel more scandalous in this version. I think the Chuldurs are perhaps where things go slightly into the realm of disservice in prose. The visuals aren't there and I think to make an impactful description it would have required less of them. Or the descriptions shouldn't have all come at once. That felt like an odd passage. I thought the ghostly letter from Art to Rogue was a nice touch as well, although the ambiguity on if it actually existed at all was a tad confusing. And unnecessarily so. One thing where I thought the book did excel at was in Ruby's playing cosplay in pretending to be a Chuldur that took her form. The Doctor was angered and distraught at the thought of losing her, and that was clear for Rogue to see. The trap was set with Ruby within and when she revealed she was still her, the emotion was so powerful. The countdown was full of action and I was flying through the pages on the Kindle! The decision from Rogue to swap places is incredible and I loved the inner rationale that he didn't want the Doctor to go through the same thing he did. He would become the one lost this time around, and his hope that the Doctor would find him was stunning. I thought the epilogue was decent and whilst I like getting an additional scene beyond the televised episode, I think it kind of takes away from the mystery. Rogue in a cave doesn't sound as cool as another dimension anywhere and when. Regardless, this was still a very strong read! 

Rating: 8/10

The Monsters from Earth

"There were ways of dealign with spiders."

Writer: Walter Howarth

Format: Short Story

Released: September 1965

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 1966

Featuring: First Doctor

Synopsis

Two children playing hide and seek use the TARDIS as a hiding place. Whilst exploring, they accidentally become stowaways, but prove more important than Dr Who will ever realise.

Verdict

The Monsters from Earth was an intriguing read to continue my way through the 1966 version of the Doctor Who Annual! I always come at the wider media format stories from this era with something of a keen interest and almost look at it as I would a historical document. I'm so interested in seeing how a Doctor Who short prose adventure was presented. This is unlike anything the modern era produces from Doctor Who and with the show not even two years old at the time it was published, it's just a very interesting read. I really enjoyed it from that perspective. In terms of story quality, it's not that strong. It does a good enough job and I'm sure for a younger viewer of the time this would have ticked a lot of boxes. One thing I find tough is the timeline. There just isn't anywhere between An Unearthly Child and The Tenth Planet for this story to fit in the chronology for the First Doctor, and judging from what we know now and comments within that era, there's not much room for it come before the stories we saw on screen either. That's just part of the fun. This is very much an adventure for Dr Who which is a somewhat different character than the First Doctor in my estimation. Different versions of the same character. In a show as wide reaching as Doctor Who, chronology and canon are never going to be fully in sync and this is just one example. It doesn't make it any less valid in my opinion though. I love reading these old stories. I think it's terrific that we get a return of the Sensorites, although the illustration makes them look a little weird and different to the versions we saw in The Sensorites on screen. It's a little crazy to think that this would actually be his first encounter of the Sensorites before that Season 1 adventure. It's a whacky time! I thought the additions of Amy and Tony were okay but they did vanish for quite a while after the enigmatic start to the story with them stumbling aboard the TARDIS in a game of hide and seek. I thought the little links to Dr Who and the Daleks with the use of the common was good although I'm not entirely sure if it was intentional. It was quirky to find a link there though. I'm a big fan of the illustrations that accompany this story as they did a really strong job at painting the words to life. The image in particular of the Doctor and the TARDIS on the giant spider web was outstanding! I also love the retro style. It just works. It feels very 1960s and I adore that. Now, the story quality itself is just pretty average and probably does linger a bit. The Doctor is probably a little too keen to murder the spider for my liking, but at this point it does appear he has yet to encounter the cavemen and be prevented from his first instinct of killing him. It's a huge change that would shape the character for decades to come. I think Amy and Tony being there to save the Doctor along with their dog Butch was a little far fetched given the apparent threat of the arachnid Zilgans, but it was quite fun to think of the Doctor as seeing them as phantoms because of the impact on him of two suns. He still trusted the possibility of them being real when it came to enacting the plan to get back to the TARDIS which was fun, but despite the Doctor praising them they didn't exactly do an awful lot. Amy was petrified of insects which was reasonable given her age and the fact they'd travelled in time and space, but it did get a tad annoying by the end. I think it's crazy looking back that the Doctor is referring to himself as being human and from Earth, but that's part of the mystery and wonder of this early period. Overall, an intriguing little read even if the story quality wasn't all that great.

Rating: 6/10

The Man From DOCTO(R)

"Appearances can be deceptive."

Writer: Andrew Collins

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 03

Featuring: Harry

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

The Man From DOCTO(R) was a great little story to get back on track with my reading of the Short Trips: Companions collection! It’s a no brainer to focus on companions as they’re a vital element of what makes Doctor Who so wonderful, and Harry is a fine choice. It’s really intriguing to catch up with him following the events of his last appearance in The Android Invasion, and I love that he was not hiding anything about his time in the TARDIS. Here we have the book starting with Harry at a pub with his chums Buffy and Chumpy and telling them all about the events of The Sontaran Experiment and the weak spot of the back of the neck! That was unexpected but I thought it was great. His pals were finding everything quite amusing as you would with tales like this, and Harry wasn’t even hiding the fact that his mode of transport involved a time ring in a fun allusion to Genesis of the Daleks. He wasn’t holding back any details, but I’m sure he didn’t think they would believe him. I know if I was sitting around with a few drinks alongside my mates that if one of them started blurting about potato aliens and time rings I’d have a chuckle! I appreciated the realistic feel of the story. The way the atmosphere was captured was brilliant and I think the evening bar setting helped with that a great deal. His encounter with Lettice was by chance but he soon got caught up in quite the fiasco! His reaction to being kissed by her in an effort to hide herself was amusing and whilst I did think some of the descriptions of women in the story was unnecessary and actually demeaning, I can appreciate this being slightly from Harry’s point of view. I’ll just about let it slide. He was taken with the leggy assistant (see?) but Lettice was the one he cared about. I liked how he wanted to know her more before starting anything physical and that made her departure later on a little easier. I thought the discovery of the conflict between the Zantorans and Garvaks was decent and the importance placed on the Egg of Abundance was really strong. It might seem a little silly to place such importance on what was an ordinary looking egg, but the puns from Harry had me massively smiling. His scrambled comment when it came to the signal reference was extraordinary and the hatching of plans also peaked my humour. It was tremendous stuff. Comedic gold whilst completely simple. It was really effective and a nice relief in what was a rather dark feeling story. Harry being captured after Lettice convinced him to take the package was fun, and he was punched quite a few times as Crumpton wanted knowledge on the Egg’s whereabouts. Radcliff as the Mole in saving Harry thanks to the tracker placed on the former companion by Lettice was good and they built a strong bond which was fantastic! They covered the world on the trail of the egg and I thought it was amusing for all roads to lead to Belgium. They went a roundabout way to get there considering things started in Zurich! I could have done with a bit more action along their world tour, but I appreciate the shorter format wouldn’t allow that. Harry having pocketed the true egg containing the genetic makeup was good and swift as they were caught actually leaving rather than arriving, and his swapping of it with a traditional chicken egg was very amusing! It didn’t react well with the system to have the Garvaks take Earth which was a delight. The genetic imprint they’d now taken was of chickens! That was quite unique but very amusing. It was also very final as Harry was successful. The story concluding with him telling the events of this adventure to his pals and how he was left in the Belgian Alps by Lettice and Radcliff without his passport was tremendous. That rounded things out very nicely. Overall, a really strong read!

Rating: 8/10

Stop the Clock

"We are the forgotten women."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: March 2017

Series: Doom Coalition 4.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The time has arrived. Events are in motion. The end of the universe is at hand and the Doctor and his friends have one hour to save eternity. Starting now.

Verdict

Stop the Clock was a great story to conclude what has been a rather epic four boxsets of Doom Coalition! The Eighth Doctor Adventures are such a strong element of what Big Finish are doing and whilst I still have some catching up to do, I'm loving the journey so far. Things have come a long way across these sixteen episodes and it reached a fine crescendo here. The universe was at stake and literally had an hour to survive, but the cracks within the Doom Coalition were there for all to hear and it was up the Doctor and friends to pry them open. I thought the Eleven once again felt like the superior of the bunch and he's growing into an excellent villain. I'm really enjoying him and the scene he had with Tessno was extraordinary. It was undoubtedly the highlight for me as he basically goaded her into her own death. He told her exactly what would happen despite him being all tied up, and gave the timeline of two minutes. He offered her the chance to kill him after the events she experienced with the Ten and with that thought in her head of extracting revenge, he had already one. It was deliciously evil. I thought Liv's previous knowledge and experience coming into play again was really strong and really helped build up the conclusion. Helen had to be left behind when entering the Capitol because she'd never been, but it was her position as a forgotten woman that would prove crucial at the end. The Doctor using a psychic cloak to take on the form of the Eleven wasn't something I was a massive fan of, but I thoroughly enjoyed McGann's impression of the evil Time Lord. It just felt a bit too easy of a device to have and repeating what we had already heard with him taking the guise of the Clocksmith. Liv really does feel like the mature companion now and that experience is great, but it was actually the vulnerability of Helen that I enjoyed more here. Her willingness to fight for the cause and actually sacrifice herself was fantastic. I thought the emotional development of the Sonomancer throughout the episode was fantastic and it was great for the Doctor to push her into revealing that she was being used by encouraging her to prove him wrong. She was connected to the Matrix after all and found that Padrac had very much been using her. He would betray her like they already had the Eleven. It was predictable, but it still worked well. I thought the Doctor appealing to the Eight was good stuff and it's quite fun that there's a good incarnation on the inside of the Eleven. The way things all tied together with the Doomsday Chronometer was nicely done and even going full circle at the end with Padrac believing he was seeing the Red Lady was terrific. That rounded things out nicely. I thought Helen and the Sonomancer working together at the end to save eternity was good and the latter granting the former power to actually stop a gunshot with her mind was quite something! Helen didn't know how to feel about that which was fun to hear. The Resonance Engine would be no more with Helen piloting the Battle TARDIS, and she would mean so much as she intended. The Doctor finding a trace of a potential artron energy reading that left sets things up for the next series which is good, where it seems Helen and the Eleven are not quite done with just yet! The fate for Padrac seems very much in line with Gallifreyan punishment as he was to be frozen and locking eyes with what he believed was Caleera. It was all very The Five Doctors which I was a big fan of hearing! I don't think we'll be hearing from him again after this ordeal. Overall, a really strong finale that didn't really spring up too many surprises, but was a fitting conclusion to a fine set of adventures! I'm loving the story arcs and I can't wait to hear what's next. A fine listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Side of the Angels

"He's already won. Gallifrey is his"

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: March 2017

Series: Doom Coalition 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Cardinal Olistra has plans for New York, plans which involve the Deputy Mayor and her sponsor, one 'Reverend Mortimer' – better known to the Doctor as the Meddling Monk. The Eleven arrives to stamp out the resistance, but that isn't the only danger the Doctor finds lurking in the shadows – for New York is a city of Weeping Angels.

Verdict

The Side of the Angels was another excellent episode to continue my way through the fourth and final series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! Whilst things do indeed seem perilous for the Doctor and his companions with the impending destruction of the future in five centuries time, there does appear to be a resolution in sight and whilst it is predictable I like the proposition of the titular coalition falling apart. They're all power hungry and I figure that will be their downfall, but this was a tremendous outing for them all to tie together. The Eleven does seem to be the biggest of the villains despite the achievements of Padrac in bringing about the future's demise, but the Sonomancer being present again was great. She wasn't around for long but she made a big impact! I was very excited by the title for this episode as having the Weeping Angels around is always a bonus, but they didn't actually have to do all that much. Their presence was more than enough and it's surprising how well they figure out in the audio format. The use of sound effects is stellar and so impressive. I thought the New York setting was fantastic and I must admit I was actually expecting a bit more of a link to The Angels Take Manhattan other than the Angels simply being present. The Monk's return was brilliant and the Eighth Doctor in particular showing distain towards the meddling Time Lord was excellent continuity considering what happened to Lucie Miller in To the Death with his involvement. Rufus Hound is as tremendous as ever as the Monk and I liked how he was going by Reverend Mortimer this time around. His allusion to starting afresh with a new regeneration was good but I don't think the Doctor would be so willing to give him a chance. I thought his reaction to what Ollistra was doing was great as well as she didn't seem all that phased by what Padrac had done. She had a plan in mind, but it wasn't exactly great. The proposition of all of humanity being fed to the Weeping Angels as Earth plunged into darkness was very exciting. Hearing Liv and Helen together as a pair in the museum was fantastic and I loved how they were threatened by the image of an Angel very much becoming an Angel. That played out well in the audio format. I thought the interference of Ollistra and her Planning Council in New York was intriguing and very un-Time Lord like, but with the Vortex frail and the future literally uncertain, it seems some rules are out of order. I thought Veklin was terrific and having her future self that was touched by an Angel emerge sixty years later was tremendous. There was so much going on here with all of the different characters so I was impressed that things never got clunky or in the way. The Eleven's continued killing of Volstrom and causing consecutive regenerations showed the maniacal sense of the villain, and the Monk's reaction to his presence said all that was required. This was an incredibly serious threat. The Eight being on the inside and actually using the time ring to get the Eleven back to Gallifrey was fun and it seems the grand finale will indeed take place on the Time Lord home planet. Ollistra being pushed was horrifying and the cliffhanger finish of her regeneration into the incarnation we are more familiar with alongside the War Doctor was a nice touch. It's tremendous to hear a regeneration on audio! The paradox defeating the Angels was really well done to bring everything together and set things back for Ollistra's timeline, and it does seem they are quite susceptible to temporal defeat! It's good though because it keeps their presence in New York for the Eleventh Doctor to encounter intact. This was an intriguing sidestep in the ongoing arc in taking us away from the main play of action, but it also served as an exciting ordeal as we head towards what is set to be an explosive finale! I can't wait to hear how things play out. A fantastic story! 

Rating: 9/10

Songs of Love

"I don't find the imminent destruction of our world terribly funny."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: March 2017

Series: Doom Coalition 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

Left to fend for herself against a bunch of power-hungry plotters hell-bent on destroying the universe, what choice does a girl have but to throw in her lot with the winning side? Using her past to her advantage, River Song returns to the ancestral seat of the Time Lords to make her last stand.

Verdict

Songs of Love was an excellent episode to continue my way through the final volume of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was a Doctor-lite story to the extreme and I nearly didn't include him in the featuring section, but I have to be honest the quality of the episode was such that he wasn't missed! I think it is brilliant that we get to hear River Song actually step foot on Gallifrey as that is something that just shouldn't be possible, but the wonders of time travel and her timeline in particular make it possible. It's tremendous stuff. I like how we follow up with the cliffhanger finish from the end of The Crucible of Souls with River claiming to be on the side of Padrac all along and actually handing him the Doctor. It's quick thinking given the predicament he and his companions were in as they were sent off into the events of Ship in a Bottle. I think it's good fun to have her on the planet of the Time Lords and her opinion of the decor was amusing. It's definitely what I'd expect! Whilst the series has clearly been building to the umbrella title, I feel like this was the first time where it was strongly hinted at and referred to. We had Padrac clearly in charge and he almost felt superior to the Eleven at times, and he was also clearly using the Sonomancer. She was as whacky as ever and in love with the Time Lord which was fascinating stuff. She was completely devoted to him. River mentioning her admiration and work with the Clocksmith was good in trying to sell herself to join the coalition, and when the Matrix showed her fate things worked very well. I loved the references to The Impossible Astronaut with River being confirmed as killing the Doctor at Lake Silencio. Having the Time Lords pre-Time War get to see that and how the future incarnation of the Doctor perished feels wrong but that's precisely why I love it. I also really like how the coming events of the Time War play a major part. All Matrix projections – every single one of them! – show that the planet of the Time Lords will fall. Completely. They aren't sure who that war would be fought against which is fun given River's presence and knowledge, but they do refer to it as a time war which I love. I thought Padrac's plan of ridding the universe and time of everything other than the Time Lords was pretty drastic, but it sold just how whacky he was. It was quite the plan! I thought Liv and Helen being suspended in space and being saved was good as we learned of Volstrom actually being a double agent. I thought that was good and Veklin being on side as well was most welcomed. Helen telling Liv about River and how she knew the true name was amusing as Liv couldn't believe the information was forbidden from her! But to be fair she was told the universe depended on it. River's role at the end as she became one with the data was incredible and her binary make up being utilised was fantastic. I thought her sacrificing herself in the vortex for the Doctor's TARDIS was brilliantly done and full of emotion as the Doctor realised he'd known her many times before but had to forget. He had plenty of firsts, but for she felt like it was close to the end. That was poignant stuff. The Eleven shooting Volstrom was quite sudden and the regeneration being triggered was good as he revelled in the regeneration energy. Padrac was less than happy at him being shot but did calm when he learned it wasn't fatal. He had all the information after all! Things are building very nicely now and I'm intrigued to hear where things move going forward as we start to reach a crescendo. There's so much going on and I wonder how River will make it out as of course we know her fate to come in Forest of the Dead. For now though, a welcomed return to Gallifrey and a fine continuation of the series. A marvellous listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Ship in a Bottle

"We might not always win."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: March 2017

Series: Doom Coalition 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen 

Synopsis

The Doctor, Liv and Helen are hurtling into a future that has been utterly destroyed, trapped inside a shuttle with no possible means of escape. But with the lives of everyone in the universe in the balance, they've got to find one. And soon. When the stakes are this high, you can't just give up. Or can you?

Verdict

Ship in a Bottle was a strong start to the fourth and final series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! I liked how this followed on from where The Crucible of Souls left off with the Doctor, Liv and Helen being plunged into the nothingness of the future. It was a daunting prospect and hearing them on the other side was terrific. It was good continuity, although it didn't really feel like a series opener. Hearing the defeatist attitude of the Doctor admittedly did get a little annoying and I was firmly on the side of Liv. She absolutely refused to give up, especially with the circumstances considering Padrac and the implications of his actions. His victory would mean the end of the future and that's difficult to wrap your head around, but I'm all for it. This being a three hander between the Doctor and his two companions was magnificent and they went through a lot. That's obviously understandable in their almost helpless situation. It was a time for reflection as the Doctor worked out some details about the Eleven, about Padrac, and about how everything he had done was just falling into the hands of his old friend. Even that Octavian was the Eight. It was all connected and nothing favoured the Doctor. I thought it was premature for him to accept that he might not win this time around, but it was that quick disregarding of even trying which didn't sit right with me. I was glad that Liv was able to make him see sense in the end and she just wasn't going to give in. She did accept that they might not always win and I loved the harking back to Dark Eyes in mentioning Molly there. She knew the score, but she wasn't having it this time around. There was too much at stake. I thought this was one of her finest episodes as companion which is a delight to say. She also stood up for Helen which was good and she just felt so mature and seasoned. It was lovely to listen to. Helen felt a little on the outside given Liv's longer tenure with the Doctor but I disagreed there. She's been crucial ever since arriving earlier in the series. She's a strong companion and her rudimentary understanding of waves and suggesting to ride one actually turned out to be the answer! After a few failed attempts and efforts in space with an uncomfortable spacesuit, the Doctor planned to have them ride a shockwave right back through the vortex. It was brave and audacious, but it just about paid off. Liv wasn't entirely thrilled with the idea, but it was their best shot and she trusted the Doctor. She was reluctant but then knew it had to be done. I thought the Eighth Doctor's comments about his previous incarnation and thinking himself as the chess master were fascinating as he was far from complimentary! He regretted the moment in having the Eleven imprisoned on Gallifrey as he was not close to being defeated. He was just in cold storage waiting for Padrac. He was very harsh on himself and I'm intrigued to hear how this will impact him moving forward. Focusing on the potential changes to time was intriguing and I liked that he used the fact the Eleven didn't recognise Liv and Helen despite them travelling with the Nine as evidence that time could still be changed. He was going to ride the shockwave back to a point before where things could be altered and the future saved. There was a whole lot going on, and we hear that Liv and Helen make it through into space, but they only have five minutes of oxygen left. That was quite the cliff-hanger with no Doctor in sight and Liv still being confident that somebody would be coming to save them. It wasn't much time for a rescue in space! But I like it and I'm interested to find out who it is that comes. Overall though, a really strong series opener! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

73 Yards

"She's scared them out of my life."

Writer: Scott Hancock

Format: Novel

Released: August 2024

Series: Target 183

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

How long is 73 yards?

Haunted by a sinister presence, Ruby must cope with losing the Doctor and the life she once knew. With her new life without her best friend becoming bleaker by the day, something terrifying is unleashed, and it's up to Ruby to stop it.

Verdict

73 Yards was a great novelisation of the televised episode of the same name! I had mixed feelings about this story when it aired on screen but the mysterious and enigmatic nature made it the novelisation I was most excited about when the three from the recent series were announced. I was fascinated to read how the story would be taken in prose as I thought it might actually be difficult to portray, but the author did a stellar job. It was a very faithful retelling whilst also delivering in traditional Target style by expanding on what we saw on screen. That's the very point of the novelisation in my opinion! I loved the additional scene with Ruby going into UNIT Tower and having a meeting with Ace! Modern viewers would also be familiar with her from her appearance in The Power of the Doctor so to get a few pages with these companions was an utter delight. I liked how Ace was surprised to hear the Doctor was a him again and I liked that she got to touch on her own history with the Doctor. It was also quite fun for the author to avoid details when it came to Ace's departure. There have been a few depictions of that! I was impressed with the scene in the pub especially as that was expanded very well in giving each of the five inhabitants a backstory. It was definitely good to get to know them better and learn about their respective pasts, but it still felt like Ruby was gone a little quickly. The mobile phone gag is still fun though and the moment they get a knock on the door and they play a group prank regarding Mad Jack was fantastic. I liked how that and the Doctor's warning of the Welsh Prime Minister came to click together for the older Ruby when saw Roger ap Gwilliam getting interviewed ahead of the election. Her ageing journey was depicted well and whilst it was perhaps quick to venture from age milestone to the next, the pace was exciting and that was good reading. There was no messing about. I thought it was fun for Ruby to have the same old story with numerous boyfriends, but of course when it came to being distant in bed that wasn't her. I thought the moment where Ruby comes home but then Carla speaks with the Woman was so powerful and whilst that look in the cab was incredible on screen, it was equally shocking in prose! The way the book starts makes no messing about and there are no wasted introductions, this is for the fans and we get stuck right in. Wales at its wondrous best and then a few pages in the Doctor vanishes. It happens suddenly which I like and it's good that we get an entire chapter with Ruby encountering the hiker who would be a herald of Sutekh. The reference to Boom was great and I liked that we also got some fun moments with Mrs Flood. Learning how Ruby came into some money from Cherry's inheritance was good to explain how she got her own flat and it was shocking that she wouldn't be able to attend the funeral. I liked that she got a private moment at the gravestone though afterwards. The description of Cardiff City Stadium had me laughing because I'm a regular visitor. I was there two days ago as I write this blog to watch my country in a brand new era, and hearing how Roger ap Gwilliam was a Cardiff fan despite growing up in Swansea was a fine detail in my book. That would take some balls. As a Cardiff fan myself and having gone to school eight miles away from Swansea in Neath, I know how much that rivalry means. I got booed on the yard for wearing a Cardiff top once! Some of the information about the CCS was inaccurate like the capacity and referring to the rows numerically, but that's just me being pedantic. Ruby feeling the power of the moment she gets the Woman to interact with Gwilliam and send him packing before he can orchestrate nuclear war was brilliant. Had it all been to reach this point? She wasn't sure but she felt like she had achieved something. I thought it was depicted well that Ruby had grown to live with the Woman and the importance being placed on the events involving the Doctor disappearing causing a suspension of the timeline was excellent. It was a good explanation for the lack of other alien activity and that meant UNIT could retire. The tower became known locally as the Unit which is just fun and Ruby was left to grow old. Her reaction when the Woman came closer at her moment of death was strong, and I liked that it was described how the forbidden words killed Ruby. Except they also saw her reborn as her alternate future self could warn Ruby and the Doctor about breaking the fairy circle. I still find it strange that there's no apparent reason why these events happen and it is a little annoying to experience the story twice and get no answers about the Woman and what she is saying, but I think I enjoyed it in prose form more than on screen. That might be because I was prepared for what was coming though. Overall, a terrific little read! 

Rating: 8/10

The God of Phantoms

"We are all play things of the gods."

Writer: Philip Hinchcliffe (adapted by Marc Platt)

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Leela to a colony world in the distant future – but they are not the only visitors to this place. The people of this planet are seeing the ghosts of their lost friends and relatives. And the ghosts are stealing people. 

Trapped in the middle of an escalating conflict, the Doctor and Leela investigate the source of the spirits and find a diabolical machine, a terrible secret... and a foe long since forgotten.

Verdict

The God of Phantoms was a decent story to serve as the fourth series of the Philip Hinchcliffe Presents series for the Fourth Doctor and Leela! I thought this was a solid outing and it definitely had the feeling of the era in which it takes place, but it did go a tad too long. When every single part is longer than half an hour and there are six of them, this is going to take some discipline and concentration when it comes to keeping interest. It was good and the cliffhangers in particular were pretty strong to keep the interest and me wanting to listen to more, but it did feel like it was a long time coming to the somewhat predictable final part and what would happen. The atmosphere though was great throughout on the colony world with it being a place that felt scared. That was something that impressed me. I loved that we had a Time Lord Emissary contacting Leela regarding events in this story as that gave it something of a bigger picture. The Time Lords actually having a history with Flindor was intriguing and I liked the idea of them doing research on the all powerful Flindor as a God was terrific and his boastfulness when it came to his claim of having created himself was excellent. I wasn't wholly struck on the voice, but I do like playing with the idea of gods and deities. The God of Phantoms just sounds good and freaky and that title is no surprise given the story that happened. Its past with the Doctor was really good and I thought it was brilliant that the Doctor had defeated it previously, but the impact was so much that the Time Lords had to wipe his memory of the encounter. The Doctor himself was shocked by the occurrence, but not outraged much to my surprise. I thought it was a fun concept for the Doctor to have to take him on again and eventually we reached that point. Leela was great as the companion as always, and her having no hesitation in letting the Doctor know about her discussion with the Emissary was marvellous. I'm so glad she did not keep the secret because why wouldn't she want the Doctor to know? The cliffhangers were good and I particularly loved the moment where it appeared the Doctor's death was confirmed. Hearing that godly voice proclaim itself as the Doctor from Gallifrey meaning he was dead put a smile on my face. How would you come back from death? Leela thinking she was dead during the story was fun stuff too. I thought Hookham was a fine character and his believing himself to be Flindor worked well. It obviously went much further than that by the end though as the god consumed. I thought the comment from Leela about both settlements worshipping the same god but fighting was great because what were they actually in a disagreement over? It was a more than reasonable question! She felt a lot more mature in the story and with the horror theme and enigmatic atmosphere, there was definitely much less humour and comedic value to her character in the companion role. I don't think that hurt things much, but it would have been welcomed to get a little more light relief. Especially given the length of the story! The inclusion of the relic as the Gallifreyan device that saw Flindor's creation was decent and made sense with the Emissary's presence. The Commune were a strong factor in the story and I do think the way things conclude is pretty good and worthy of the build. Overall, a really atmospheric story and some good stuff from the Doctor and Leela, but I think this just went a bit too long to reach a higher rating. I can't fault it too much other than though. A good listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Zombie Motel

"We're being haunted by the ghosts of 1979."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2007

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor and Martha come to investigate the Hotel Splendide in the present day, and with something ringing a bell in the Doctor's mind, a mystery spanning nearly three decades starts to reveal itself...

Verdict

Zombie Motel was not the greatest of short stories to continue my way through the 2007 Doctor Who Storybook. Unfortunately I'd describe this one as bang average and that's potentially being a tad generous. It just felt a little awkward right from the start which is a shame as I did think there were a couple of good ideas at the heart, but the presentation was just a little wrong. In this kind of adventure, I do think the illustrations are important but the ones we got here actually hampered my enjoyment of the story. I thought they looked too animated and not really having any semblance of realisms to them, and some of the choices to illustrate were strange. I think the last page showing the Doctor kissing Margery was just weird as not only did that not need to happen in the story, but it's a very powerful image to finish on with the burning of the motel in the background. Doctor Who taking on a zombie story is something that should work, but this was a little too much satire and self-deprecating which was my fear before reading when I saw the name of the story. I understand and appreciate that the Storybooks are probably not intended for fans like myself in their late-20s, but I thought the entire point was to go a bit more mature than the Doctor Who Annuals that were released alongside. This one didn't hit the boat. I liked the mystery that was at hand at the Hotel Splendide and the Doctor having a nagging feeling of something at the back of his mind was good. Seeing that come into fruition when he learned about the inferno that Margery was the sole survivor of was intriguing. I thought it was quite fun for the Doctor to leave Martha in the present day and return to 1979 himself to investigate, but she didn't seem all that scared by the prospect of being left behind. That felt a little off. I thought the characterisation of the Doctor and Martha was decent enough, although the latter felt like she was missing some enthusiasm and charisma which was a slight shame. She was engaging though and that mattered. I thought Cecil made for an interesting villain, and I did find myself laughing at the decoy of food colouring when it came to the strange assortment of colours for the banquet. For whatever reason, I just couldn't find myself wholly invested in the zombie slime. Sure, it was effective at the start with the chambermaid getting covered in it in room 413, but the follow up from there seemed poor. Why was the hotel not under investigation if there had been so many similar incidents in the month since opening? And what are the odds of Margery actually working at the same motel on the same site after being the sole survivor of the inferno? There was too much coincidence. And if the Doctor was the one too save her from something so traumatic, surely she would have recognised him instantly? Especially with the unnecessary kiss. The Doctor being contained to history in knowing what happened in 1979 was good, although he didn't seem too distracted by the countless lives that would be lost when he was present at the fire. That felt strange. I thought the ending was a little rushed as well with the Doctor setting everything in place in offering Cecil off on his home world in return for the antidote. That was weak. Overall, some good ideas at the heart but not the best of adventures in my book. 

Rating: 5/10

The Widow's Assassin

"This is nonsense."

Writer: Nev Fountain

Format: Audio

Released: October 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 192

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Once, long ago, in a land of monsters and corridors, a fair maiden was captured, and placed in a deep sleep. 

She was used to being captured, and she had a hero who rescued her on just such occasions. But this time the hero never came. 

And the fair maiden slept on. 

Eventually, a King rescued the maiden, and made her his bride, which many wise old women might tell you is just another way of capturing fair maidens. 

And still the fair maiden slept on. 

Then, the hero had another stab at rescuing the maiden from her prison, but he was too late. And, more importantly, he had forgotten the rules of fairy tales. 

He didn't slay the dragon.

Verdict

The Widow's Assassin was a decent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! I must admit that when I took a glimpse and saw that this story was featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri, I didn't think it would be events after Scavenger with the cliffhanger of Flip apparently plunging to her death. That remains unsolved and ambiguous which I'm not entirely sure I'm a fan of, but at the same time after all of the recent hints that the Doctor wants to be reunited with Peri I'm glad that he got there. Of course, ever since Peri and the Piscon Paradox her timeline following the events of The Trial of a Time Lord has become a little shrouded and multiplied, so the depiction here was quite something! I must say, I enjoyed this adventure and I'm glad that we do have Peri back in the TARDIS for more adventures with the Sixth Doctor,  but this did feel a tad convoluted and slightly too long. There was an awful lot going on! With the constant body switching, that was a little difficult to follow at times in the audio format. And I don't think Colin Baker's take on being inside Peri's body was too flattering with that accent! I thought there was probably also one too many twists but they were fascinating. Peri actually being Lord Kyiv was great stuff and I liked that the Doctor tested his suspicions by making a false reference to the Monoids. If only they had! I'd love to hear or read that encounter should it happen. I am a huge Peri fan and her departure as companion has always left something of a sour note for me, so to prolong her adventures is exciting and it also opens things up as now we don't know how this Peri departs! I'm looking forward to her getting closure and perhaps a more deserving send off. One element of the story that perhaps goes under appreciated is the relationship between Guard One and Guard Two. They're magnificent and definitely provide some good humour as well as a lot of emotion at the end with the former's death. Even there, he wanted Two's child to be named after him. Good humour there. I thought the true villain of this piece actually being Mandrake was very unexpected, but I did like the history with the Doctor. The cliffhanger felt slightly underwhelming given the lack of knowledge we had, but it being the greatest enemy the Doctor could face as it was the essence of loneliness was intriguing. The Doctor's loneliness nonetheless! That's quite something to tackle, but it was done pretty well. The Doctor seemingly being imprisoned for five years was a big shock to me and Peri definitely felt different and more matured at the start when it came to her feeling exasperated at the Doctor leaving her with Yrcanos. The Doctor though equally knew something was up with her companion as he even felt it was odd that she would agree to marriage after such a short time. Peri believing the events experienced for much of the story was actually a dream worked well, and it was always going to lead to shared humour when she realised that wasn't quite the case. Peri longing after information about Flip was good and I'm keen to explore that further moving forward. I do hope the Doctor attempts to save Flip, but for now he's rather happy to be reunited with Peri. The true article at last. I obviously have foreknowledge of what kind of adventure comes next so I appreciated the loose reference to The Dalek Invasion of Earth in the Doctor saying that he always goes back. I do hope that happens for Flip. She just felt like she was getting started. Back to the story at hand though and there were some strong elements with the likes of Wolsey and the Baron, but there was a bit of a mix of sci fi, humour and romance when it came to Dirani in particular. She was a good character, but she went missing for probably too long. Overall, it's good to get Peri back but the body shifting wasn't wholly for me and this was a tad overstaying in its welcome. Regardless, a decent listen! My quote is no accident.

Rating: 7/10

Forged in Fire: The Shadow Squad

"You've been denied normal lives."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Tamasan is unconvinced of the War Doctor's loyalties, though when their paths collide, both agree that the destruction of the Dalek Time Strategist could be the best route to victory. But on Atherea, the Daleks may have found a way to annihilate all plans to defeat them before they are even begun...

Verdict

The Shadow Squad was an excellent episode to conclude the Forged in Fire first series of The War Doctor Begins! Well, this incarnation really has begun with a bang and I've really enjoyed this boxset. It's been a fantastic start to life for the War Doctor as he begins to realise what he needs to become, whilst still showing vestiges of the Doctor we knew before. He makes it clear on more than one occasion here that he doesn't use the name any longer, but he acknowledges he's still the same man which I think is rather important. I liked the style of this episode as it felt a little different to the first two in the boxset, with the War Doctor having spent some months deciphering code of the Dalek Time Strategist. I think it's good to move on a little past the immediate aftermath of The Night of the Doctor and really give the War Doctor space to breathe now. His relationship with Tamasan is good and the pair took on quite the mission here. I thought the removal of Draven from time was terrific as the Doctor and Tamasan were time sensitive so saw that she'd vanished immediately, whereas everybody else in the establishment had not. They had to take her place in providing details to the titular shadow squad, and once the Arcadia password was accepted after a less than welcoming hello, motions were set to take on the Daleks. I thought it was fitting that the Daleks featured heavily in the boxset finale, and the Doctor interacting with the Dalek Time Strategist was fantastic for this incarnation. It knew the enemy of the Daleks in all forms, name or otherwise. I thought the focus on a weapon was good and the Time Lords understanding the importance of it was evident in the existence of the shadow squad. The entire concept behind it was clever but also heartbreaking. An entire squadron of Gallifreyans who hadn't existed outside of a mountainside. No outside interactions. No families or relationships. Their sole purpose in life was for the Gallifreyan war effort and they would be invisible and immune to the Temporal Eradicator. As weapon names going, that one is more than befitting of the Time War and it pretty much is what it says on the tin. I thought the twist that it was actually a Dalek was brilliant and I loved how even for the Doctor this was a version he had never seen before with it existing in and out of time. It wasn't wholly there but it wasn't absent either. It existed in multiple timelines and could see and erase where Dalek failures were happening or had happened before travelling along them and exterminating in the Daleks' favour. That was pretty great stuff! I liked how the Doctor's presence in almost offering himself for capture was a ploy to bring about the shadow squad and Tamasan. That was nicely done and it almost had me fooled. Trestor as its head was a fine character and I thought the moment he was exterminated was a big shock! Of course, time would change with the Temporal Eradicator being destroyed, and the Doctor seeing him now with a family was a nice way to finish. He got a better life after all which I'm a big fan of and something that seems very Doctorly. The confidence the Eradicator had when confronted by the Doctor was superb as it thought it knew the old enemy and that he wouldn't go so far as to killing. But this was a new incarnation and one focused on the war effort. His method of destruction for the Eradicator was quite incredible as not only did it set the Dalek to self destruct, but it removed the vortex stabiliser to ensure that it destructed across the timelines. I thought that was an incredibly fitting ending! It really dealt with the Eradicator and it was nice to set things back on track. Overall, a fantastic finale and I'm very excited for what comes next in this series. There's so much room to play with where the War Doctor is concerned, and we're just at the beginning. A great listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Forged in Fire: Lion Hearts

"You can take us, or you can leave us."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Seeking out Gallifrey's new warrior, Commodore Tamasan finds that the War Doctor has invited himself on a secret mission. The time-sensitive Tharils are in danger, and an old friend of the Doctor is trapped.

But Biroc knows better than to trust either side in this war.

Verdict

Lion Hearts was another strong episode to serve as the middle story in the Forged in Fire opening series of The War Doctor Begins! After something of a reintroduction in the opener of Light the Flame, I thought this episode was perhaps a little guilty of not including the War Doctor enough! I love the idea of reuniting him with Botox and the Tharils are a great race to play into the Time War. They’re time sensitive capabilities are made good use of and I liked the eroding of Valetta as Biroc’s sister. He’s a memorable character from the impact made in Warriors’ Gate so to essentially get the female equivalent was most welcomed. I was quite touched by the love she had for her brother which was good to hear, and the reaction Biroc had when he was rescued was joyous. However, I enjoyed the devotion he showed to his kindred as well because he wouldn’t leave them. Abandoning them was completely out of the question and if they all weren’t being rescued alongside him then he wasn’t coming. You had to respect that. I liked the format of the story in jumping intermittently between Lorinus recalling events to Tamasan. She was there in person and led the Commodore to believe that the Doctor truly had changed just by retelling the events we were listening to. However, some of the details were somewhat omitted. Despite the circumstances and chronology of his recent regeneration, there’s still that kind soul at the heart. All of the Tharils were saved in the TARDIS but he wouldn’t have Tamasan know about that. He’d made it look like he had performed a mercy killing which would never have happened in his previous incarnation, but it wasn’t like that at all. I am intrigued to hear the direction moving forward for the Doctor given the change and it being early on for this warrior version, but for now it does seem old habits are hard to break. I think that’s terrific and it only makes sense that it would not be immediate for the Doctor to become warlike. Just what the War Council’s plans for the Doctor though are as of yet unseen. I can’t wait for them though! Jonathon Carley was outstanding again as the War Doctor and I am stunned by just how authentic he sounds. I honestly can’t tell the difference which is about as big of a compliment as I can give. The Voltarans being in league with the Daleks was good and it helped to mention the latter without the need for them to feature. I get a feeling it might be a big moment when (hopefully) we get the first depiction of this incarnation encountering his old enemies. Their presence is still felt though and that’s what you want within the Time War setting. The emotion behind the Tharils is strong and that’s something that seems to follow them throughout their appearances. They’re a complicated race and their sheer makeup and nature contributes towards that massively. Thankfully they wouldn’t need the mercy that Tamasan believes was granted them, as the Doctor got them out just in time. I like that. Overall, a strong continuation of a fascinating series! 

Rating: 8/10

Forged in Fire: Light the Flame

"There is no Doctor here."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The Sisterhood of Karn have a guest, recovering from his traumatic regeneration. To do what is asked of him, the Doctor has rejected his name and his code.

The Time Lords have plans for him and for Karn. Is he ready to light the flame of war?

Verdict

Light the Flame was a great start to the Forged in Fire opening series of The War Doctor Begins! I think it’s so exciting and brilliant that Big Finish get to continue the adventures of the War Doctor because after the four superb boxsets featuring John Hurt in 2016-17, there is definitely untapped potential and unfinished business for this incarnation. I love the idea of starting off at the very beginning for the incarnation with it basically following on from where The Night of the Doctor concluded. It’s a post-regeneration story but there’s not much of the usual trauma at all. This is the Doctor coming to terms with the fact he must make a change to try and avert the Time War destroying the universe for good. That’s essentially the basis for the entire episode and it really works well. I think Jonathon Carley is absolutely astounding in his take as the War Doctor. It obviously helps that the version we see in The Day of the Doctor is one that is somewhat old and clearly tired of fighting. He’s on the verge of ending it all there, whereas here he is coming to terms with who he is and is much younger. But honestly, the voice is uncanny. It’s such a good representation and that helps with the episode incredibly. It’s authentic and just exciting to hear this early version of a Doctor we barely got on screen. The setting of Karn is brilliant and I like that Ohila features, also now recast and seemingly youthful. The importance of the Flame is terrific and I was surprised that Sanmar’s plan was to literally extract the source of it! That was audacious to say the least, but this was war. Rassilon taking an interest in the Doctor’s regeneration was fascinating and I like that he knows how important he could be in the war effort. Whilst he claims to have revoked the name almost instantly, I think it’s a nice Doctorly moment in him outright refusing for his old girl to become a battle TARDIS. She would not be weaponised. That was a nice touch. I thought Lithia was a strong character and her demonstration of her seeker abilities to the Doctor had him very impressed. Was she connected to the Matrix? Exploring the history between Karn and Gallifrey was good stuff and I was loving the dialogue throughout. The story aim itself was relatively simple, so when Tamasus and Rasmus arrived I enjoyed the conversation regarding the Doctor’s previous self. It was fun for the Doctor to talk of his past incarnation as a separate person and I liked how he figured he would go on forever in that body. Something tells me he actually will. Whilst Jacqueline Pearce has sadly passed away, making reference to Ollistra and ensuring that her role continued was nicely done. The use of the time lock at the end was intriguing and I quite enjoyed the concept of Karn being removed to protect itself from the ravages of war. Who could blame the inhabitants? I enjoyed the Doctor discussing the scale of the Time War and with a clear motive now in hand for this incarnation, where would he start? That’s hardly an unreasonable question. And it turns out the beginning was against his own kind. The fate of Sanmar was pretty brutal and the Doctor being involved in the downfall was a good tester for this new personality and direction. He was ready to fight now and that’s set us up very nicely for the next episode! I’m rather excited by this series as we may hear the Doctor go further than ever before. But for now, a pretty simple but strong opener!

Rating: 8/10

Space Babies

"You are alone in this place, and you are scared."

Writer: Alison Rumfitt

Format: Novel

Released: August 2024

Series: Target 182

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

In space, something can hear you scream. And that something is coming. 

On her first adventure in outer space, Ruby learns that the universe is bigger, more colourful, and crazier than she could ever have imagined. She also learns that even the Doctor can feel afraid – and that certain nightmares are all too real...

Verdict

Space Babies was a really fun novelisation of the Fifteenth Doctor's first series opener! I definitely enjoyed this version more than what we got on screen and ironically given the title of the story, I think that's because I didn't have to see the babies. They were a little freaky on screen with their moving mouths seeming just a little bit too much CGI and unrealistic, but in a novel there were no such problems. As mentioned in the Doctor Who Magazine review of this release, all the author had to do really was retell the story and she'd be onto a winner. And she absolutely was. But I was so impressed with how the book started. You could tell that the author was a fan of Doctor Who because she really grasped that this was the first trip for Ruby as a companion in the TARDIS. All the wonder of the Doctor was there as she realised the TARDIS was bigger on the inside, she could travel not only in space but through time, and she encountered dinosaurs! I thought the open with Ruby stepping on a butterfly was a little forced on screen, but it felt much more fleshed out in this novelisation which was terrific. I have a three-year-old son who is absolutely dinosaur crazy so seeing the names of brachiosaurs and pterodactyls in print is very familiar to me and something that made me smile. I can certainly see why this would appeal to the younger viewers. I thought the book did a stellar job as well throughout of highlighting Ruby's inner thoughts. She had to park a lot of detail like the Doctor being a thousand years old and his planet Gallifrey having befallen to a genocide. It was powerful stuff. I had heard how the Sugababes song of 'Push the Button' was supposed to be included on screen but was sadly cut, so to have it restored here was an absolute treat. Ncuti Gatwa would have just excelled with this on screen I'm sure but thankfully he was just as infectious in prose here. I liked how the theme of pushing the button was fleshed out throughout the book too. It was really good stuff. I don't remember it being the case on screen, but crikey the Doctor doesn't half say the phrase 'space babies' a lot! It was almost in every chapter! It was fun but even I was finding it slightly tiresome by the end. The novelty had certainly worn off. I thought the format of the book was strong and I really liked trying to inject the fear factor with the prologue and epilogue. They sounded scary which was good. The Bogeyman revelation feels much more obvious in print but I guess knowing the truth will also aid there. It was a strong threat and I liked how it felt more important that it was literally built to inject fear. The space station had put the babies in a story and this was the threat which explained why even the Doctor was scared. The space babies themselves are quite adorable and the truth about them not having a hug is heartbreaking. Jocelyn as the Nanny is also good and I do think her role in the conclusion feels more rushed on the book than the time it was given on screen. That was particularly felt with the Bogeyman being in the airlock as that felt like it was an eternity in the televised version! Eric being brave because of Ruby was a big moment and I liked how her guilt was presented. She was just being nice and here he was taking on the Bogeyman to tell it to be nice. The Doctor explaining to Ruby about the snow being a connection and a potential warning was good knowing how the series will pan out, and I like how his one condition to his new companion is that he can never go to Ruby Road on the night her mother left her. That's heartbreaking for Ruby, but she understands. Overall, I think the story itself is never going to be a higher rating than this and with the addition of some inner thoughts and extended scenes, this definitely trumps the televised version for me which is tremendous! A great little read. 

Rating: 8/10

The Crucible of Souls

"He's too boring to be evil."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

The date has been set.

The trap has been sprung. 

A life has been taken and a maniac is on the loose. 

With the TARDIS crew separated and in terrible trouble, will today be the day the bad guys win?

Spoilers...

Verdict

The Crucible of Souls was an excellent episode to conclude the third volume of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This entire series has been consistently strong and this finale was no different, although it didn't feel like much of one. It felt like a new segment of the Doom Coalition series was starting and the previous episode of The Doomsday Chronometer had that finale feeling. That's not an issue at all and it's got me very excited for what's to come in the next and final boxset. There's so much going on now and it was fun to play with the idea of Liv and Helen mistaking the Nine for the Doctor. He was an enthralling character and I'm big fan of this incarnation of the Time Lord that seems to be more commonly referred to as the Eleven. Interfering with his own personal future was great stuff and he didn't seem the least bit bothered. He was incredibly rash which is rather delightful! His enthusiasm was infection and I really do think that John Heffernan has the ability to play the Doctor. He was that good. If I didn't know the truth, I could be fooled. It was a stellar performance. Of course, he was acting rather un-Doctor like with his feelings and actions towards Liv and Helen, but that was part of the charm. The way he broke the news that Liv was dead to Helen was incredible. He had no care for how she would take it and when the lie was almost being questioned he claimed she'd been shot in the head! I thought the turn of Padrac was terrific, if not a little unusual. I liked how Liv cottoned onto the fact too. That was really clever. It was also great that because he was working with the Eleven and the nature of this Time Lord in retaining his previous selves, that of course he would recognise the Nine and know he wasn't actually the Doctor. River helping the Eighth Doctor out with his disguise as the Clocksmith was good and I liked how he pondered on the fact that River might be wearing one too. If only he knew! It's a good tool though to respect continuity and I'm glad that we as the listener don't hear the disguise. Kingston and McGann are wonderful together. I like how her foreknowledge of the Doctor was utilised because the Doctor did wonder if a future self of his went psychotic but she confirmed that wasn't the case. Could the next one along not fit that criteria? I was impressed with how well the episode dealt with the growing volume of characters and with many cosplaying as others, there was easily the chance to get confused. No such problems here I'm delighted to say. I thought the information regarding the Crucible of Souls was fascinating and the idea of a group of rogue Time Lords trying to harness the life energy of the future and turn into regeneration power to become immortal was quite something! As plans go, that's rather audacious. The Doctor and River getting a glimpse at the death on show from the temporal refugees who didn't survive the trip was horrifying and really gave credence to just how evil the scheme was. I mean, the concept of the future itself being destroyed is hard to wrap your head around but I really enjoyed it. I like being confused when time comes into play. It's just so exciting! And who knows where things will go from here with the way the episode concluded. Padrac has literally sent the Doctor, Helen and Liv into a future that doesn't exist. A complete nothingness. That really is quite the cliffhanger to set up a final boxset of what has been a superb series so far. Even though there are still four episodes to go, it really does appear that Padrac might have one as he boasted at the end. The Doctor was shocked enough by his betrayal, but it seems to be no facade. I'm excited to hear where things go next! Overall, an excellent episode to see out the boxset. I already can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 9/10

The Doomsday Chronometer

"I came here to create a work of art."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

While River Song takes Helen on an archaeological expedition like no other, the Doctor finds himself enlisted by an alien Queen to save her people.

Trapped and alone, Liv stares death in the face as she meets the enemy who's been dogging the TARDIS travellers' footsteps throughout Earth's history.

The Doomsday Chronometer has been protected for five centuries: secret cults and societies jealously guarding its mystery. But what is their real purpose? The Doctor is about to discover the truth...

Verdict

The Doomsday Chronometer was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! Wow, this was intense and enthralling. The hour absolutely flew by and the only reason I don't award this one the perfect rating is because of the reveal of there actually being a ninth piece to the titular Doomsday Chronometer. After everything that happened in the previous episode and even its name, that felt like a little bit of a kick in the teeth. Everything else though was just stellar. This really did feel like the second half of the story already started in The Eighth Piece which was terrific and it also had a feeling of a finale to it! That's a big positive. There was so much going on and this saw us have a big focus on River as well which was welcomed. Her disguise as a nun was good fun and whilst she embraced being referred to as sister, she was in the guise to ensure the Doctor saw her differently. That's a good way around protecting the continuity that starts (and ends) in Silence in the Library and the Doctor is intrigued by the woman he knows as either Malone or the Professor. She's not quite a Time Lord but can definitely help in that aspect, and it's fun for her to learn about the secret Time Lord cult trying to harness the power behind the Doomsday Chronometer. The umbrella title for the series starts to take shape which is great. Helen catching up with herself and encountering the Clocksmith in Rome 2016 was good and I liked how River was able to aid her. Liv had a relatively quiet story, but the way things ended meant she and Helen will play a huge role in the finale! I thought the inclusion of Octavian throughout the episode was fascinating and I found that I was absolutely kicking myself when he started regenerating in the TARDIS at the end. It was right there in the name! The previous incarnation of the being now known as the Eleven that was trying to be a good man was the Eight. And here he was in a disguise trying to play a part in helping the Doctor. I thought that was brilliant, but inadvertently he seems to have created quite the issue with Liv and Helen thinking that the newly regenerated Nine is actually the Doctor! That's incredibly exciting and a fantastic cliffhanger. Liv obviously knows about the concept of regeneration thanks to her meeting the Seventh Doctor in Robophobia, but here she actually sees it happen. Well, they catch the end. It's great stuff. I thought the Clocksmith throughout once again showcased his qualities as a villain and the power behind the Chronometer was huge! The idea of control by the power of thought is obviously a big weapon. The potential there is endless. Rosalia feeling the full effect of that was good stuff. I thought Cromwell showing his dark side was terrific in the story too and the follow on with the Doctor was brilliant. He wasn't messing around. The Solvers were important to the episode which was good and I like how simple they are whilst being incredibly effective. River's foreshadowing of the events of The Girl in the Fireplace when mention Versailles was fun and I also loved the link back to The Time of Angels with her knowing another Octavian. I still can't believe that wasn't enough to make me know the true identity! I liked the chases around time and history, and the paradoxical nature of finding pieces to a clock that was already completed in the now was terrific. I'm a big fan of timey wimey stuff like that and this episode had it in abundance. The discussion about mutual love between the Doctor and his companions instigated by River was a nice touch to end on, and it's nice to know how that is reciprocated both ways. If anyone knows it would be River! Overall, a really strong episode! A tremendous listen.

Rating: 9/10

The Eighth Piece

"It sings in my dreams, from the future and the past."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

15th Century Prague: in the castle dungeons, a prisoner raves about the end of the world. Outside, Liv Chenka seeks out the workshop of a strange Clockmaker to see what he is creating.

England, 1538: Lord Thomas Cromwell finds his duties interrupted by otherworldly forces – clockwork soldiers, an unusual nun, and a mysterious scholar calling himself 'the Doctor'. Perhaps the truth can be extracted in the torture chamber of London's Bloody Tower?

Rome, 2016: Helen Sinclair has an appointment with an enigmatic Professor, whose greatest work is almost complete. Only the Eighth Piece is missing...

Verdict

The Eighth Piece was a great story to continue my way through the third series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This one once again fails to see the Eighth Doctor and River Song interact which is a shame, but I do feel like it's going to come. Maybe everything that's going on with the focus on the Doomsday Clock and the passing of time that something whacky will occur to ensure they can meet but have the Doctor fail to retain the memory. I do hope it happens. Considering her position on the cover artwork, River was surprisingly absent from the episode for much of it. That wasn't a huge issue just more of a surprise on my end. I thought the format worked well in splitting up the TARDIS trio and sending them across the planet and across time. I think there might have been perhaps a little too much going on for just an hour's episode, but things quite clearly aren't finished given how we ended the story so I'm excited to hear what comes next. I thought the continuity within the episode was strong and I liked how things came full circle with the part of the clock being left at a lost luggage on the London Underground. Hearing the Clocksmith threaten to burn Apolena. That was brutal but I felt like the threat was real, as was proved when he had obtained the lost luggage ticket. He killed her anyway in quite horrifying fashion! Live was disgusted and rightly so. I thought it was a little humorous how a being like the Clocksmith who clearly had the power to cross time and make violent threats with molten couldn't just find his way in and get the extra piece of the Doomsday Clock. I loved the continuity dating back to the Eleven too at the end of the previous boxset with his TARDIS blowing up. The concept of it materialising and the Clocksmith using some of the molten metal it left behind before perishing to build the clock was tremendous! That's some great use of time and putting pieces together. I was a big fan of that and I look forward to it being explored more moving forward. Helen being the one to go to Rome in 2016 seemed a bit of an odd choice given how unfamiliar she was with the time and country, but I did like hearing her traverse her way to observe part of the Doomsday Chronometer. River being disguised as a nun is definitely something I'm all here for and it was fun that Liv caught her before she could hide herself. She knows her as Professor Malone of course which is good fun and I like how the hypothesis came from her. She had the working theory, now let's put it to the Doctor. Except he got in quite the mess with Thomas Cromwell who was presented as being quite the awful man! The relationship between those two was feisty to say the least and the pleas to have King Henry vouch for the Doctor went on deaf ears. Cromwell was having none of it which did seem right in character. The Doctor didn't exactly present himself as someone fit for an audience with the monarch! I thought the clock being split into eight pieces was intriguing and I like that it gives us a mission to build towards for the next two episodes, although where the Doctor fits is unknown given the ending that seemed cemented in time. The escaped prisoner was killed during escape which the Doctor would take the place of. That's quite concerning! It also seemed that River didn't want to stick around which is a shame, although this won't be the last of her. The Doctor being insinuated as part of the Revelation Sect was fun and I loved how he was dismayed and constantly being referred to as part of that organisation. Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Absent Friends

"You never forget losing a loved one."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Earth. The late 20th century. Across the world, the mobile phone is gaining popularity as more and more people decide to join the digital age. But for the residents of a sleepy English town sitting in the shade of a new transmission mast, that ubiquity has a troubling cost. 

When the TARDIS veers off-course, the Doctor and his companions find themselves in the middle of a mystery. Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. And sometimes the future does as well.

Verdict

Absent Friends was an excellent start to the third series of Doom Coalition! This was a real emotional rollercoaster and one I thoroughly enjoyed. There wasn't too much in terms of the overall story arc which was absolutely fine, but we did get a fun insinuation of River Song's presence still being close by given that there was an archaeologist staying at the pub but she hadn't paid up her bill. Given the cover of the boxset, we know she's going to show up at some point and it's fun to think she might be a step or two ahead of the game. The Doctor aiming for Gallifrey was fun as I'm all for sending this incarnation back to his home planet, but instead we got a little closer to Helen's home than his. Although she's from the 1960s, Helen could really see just how close she was to her home life now the TARDIS had landed in 1998. She convinced Liv to let her run off back home with the Doctor's debit card to pay for the train, and what she found there was probably a little more than she bargained for. She was clueless to the decimal monetary system which was amusing and there was no contactless for taxis at this point of time! Her encounter with George was really strong and powerful as she learned of the destruction and damage her hasty departure had caused to the family. She also got a double dose of death in finding out that her parents were both dead, as well as Harry. That must have been cruel and not what she was expecting, but I could understand the temptation. She had no initial plans to ring the doorbell and interact on her way to her family home, but once she was there how could she not? The emotional pull of the episode didn't stop there though as with a new phone mast being installed in the town, all the residents were provided with free phones as a form of compensation. The irony there was not lost on me and I found it quite humorous. The residents all receiving disturbing calls was a fun basis for a story and I loved the emotional pull of them having calls from the past. From loved ones now lost. That would be horrible enough in thinking that somebody was impersonating them and trying to taunt you, but I think it was even harder for Liv when thanks to the Doctor she realised that her father was actually calling from the past. It was really him. Not a memory. She got that final chance to let him know how much she loved him which was quite beautiful, and I also liked how she tried to convince Kate to take the call at the end of the story. She'd lost her little boy at age eight which must have been dreadful, but here was a chance to interact. Anyone would kill for that kind of engagement I'm sure. I thought Selwyn was a decent character and a typical businessman as the front for Superville Com, and his reaction to being threatened by the Doctor and Liv was good. I thought she was good value as a fake photographer considering she wasn't entirely sure what taking a snap meant. I thought the revelation of what was actually causing the phone calls was slightly underwhelming with it being a rogue clock part of a much bigger clock that was warping space time, but the emotional value of the rest of the episode meant this remains very strong for me. I sense we're not entirely done with the Doctor planning on taking the component to an alien friend in London, and I was left frustrated but smiling by the ending and the listener not getting to hear who would be on the other end of the phone when the Doctor answered. That's a bit of a shame, but it's not impossible we don't find out later in the series. I suspect we won't though! And who was he kidding in claiming he wouldn't answer? Curiosity was always going to win the battle there. Overall, an excellent episode to kick off the series! 

Rating: 9/10