Echoes of Extinction

"It crawled into their minds and fried them in an instant."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: April 2021

Series: Time Lord Victorious

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

Trapped, a haunted monster waits to consume new victims. It needs help. It needs a doctor. Unfortunately, it also needs to kill whoever it meets. Thrust into immediate danger, and on the back-foot, it will take all of the Doctor's ingenuity to triumph.

Two interlinked adventures. Two Doctors. One foe.

Verdict

Echoes of Extinction was a great and very unique adventure to conclude the Time Lord Victorious crossover event series! In all honesty, this didn't have a huge bearing on the overall story arc of that but it was a very good addition to add to the series. The idea of the Eighth and Tenth Doctors together in an audio drama is magnificent and even though they never actually meet, this definitely works despite being admittedly a little weird. This was a brand new experience for me listening to my first vinyl after managing to get ahold of the LP on Amazon in quick fashion and thankfully my girlfriend Gemma has a record player so I was able to listen to this and not have to just buy the download. It was interesting not wearing headphones and just the whole experience and process of the physical record playing was intriguing to me. I thought this adventure could have benefited from being a little longer, but each part for the respective Doctors coming in at around forty minutes meant we had a fast pace in a dark atmosphere which was a pretty neat dynamic. I started with the Eighth Doctor's tale and after listening I was glad of this given that the Tenth Doctor was vaguely remembering his presence on the ship despite a big knock to the head on Karn in a tremendous reference to The Night of the Doctor. I thought Paul McGann was excellent as the Eighth Doctor and the guest cast in his section were very strong. I liked Jasmine a lot as the villain and the one hiring killers rather than doing the killing herself. She was in charge of the beastly killer at hand here which worked well. I thought Edwards was a very fun character and I also really liked the concept of the Network as a psychic killer. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of its killing that I took for my opening quote and the sheer scale of that with millions falling victim was pretty spectacular. The Eighth Doctor having a plan of just convincing the killer to leave was amusing and I was a little taken aback by the lack of proactive action by each Doctor in this adventure. The idea of an enemy being inside the head of the population was terrific and the Network's return after literally just being disposed of was a great moment. The Doctor was escaping with Jasmine and left things be. I liked how that led into the Tenth Doctor's part in the story and hearing him alongside Arthur Darvill let my imagination run wild at the prospect of him and Rory meeting, but alas that wasn't to be as Darvill's character Cooke was far removed from our beloved companion. The resemblances between Cooke and Edwards worked well to correspond over the story. The prospect of Cooke and Joshi not getting their share of the seven billion credits was also a delightful moment. I thought it was a little harrowing to hear the Tenth Doctor's thoughts on his eighth incarnation and everything he has ahead of him with the Dark Times and the Time War. This Doctor was solemn in memory and remembering being lonely which was a little sad but an important reflection. I thought the ending was a little simplistic for the style of story but the Doctor's likening of events on Orriv to the Kotturuh was good. His reference to All Flesh is Grass and them being wiped out was a nice comment to bring something of finality to the overall series of releases. Overall, a great little story to finish and a new experience for myself, this could have been improved with a bit more time but still very good!

Rating: 8/10

Wednesdays for Beginners

"I've got a stalker."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: June 2017

Series: Lives of Captain Jack 1.02

Featuring: Captain Jack, Jackie

Synopsis

Captain Jack Harkness – time-travelling con-man, saviour of the Earth, and intergalactic adventurer. He has lived many lives...

Jack and Jackie Tyler must unite to rescue the Powell Estate from a force whose name Jackie can never say.

Verdict

Wednesdays for Beginners was a great little story to continue The Lives of Captain Jack's first series! It was a really nice adventure and a good insight into Captain Jack's time on the Powell Estate as was hinted at in Utopia. Of course, this was set during a time where Rose was off travelling with the Doctor which was good and I loved the continuity following on from the fate at the end of The Parting of the Ways with Jack hoping to find a way back to the TARDIS and the Doctor and Rose. It was pretty powerful stuff hearing how much Jack wanted to reunite with them and at this point in time I thought that was particularly intriguing given his connections to Torchwood. Pairing him with Jackie Tyler was a wonderful move and they gelled really well together. This was definitely a lot of fun and a lot of that had to do with Jack and Jackie's interaction. The latter believing the former to be her stalker was excellent and the way Jackie revelled in an American hunk checking her out, or so she thought, was terrific stuff. She was soaking it in and I wouldn't have expected anything less from her. Jack actually moving in on the Powell Estate was very interesting and I wonder if he does still have ownership of the property! His comments about finding the right Doctor were brilliant and I liked how that pointed to the possibility of him having encountered previous incarnations, or at least looked on from afar and been denied the chance to pick up his travels. It was quite an emotional tale for Jackie hearing how much she was missing Rose and feeling lonely so it was nice for her to get some company here. Hearing how much she wanted a gossip about Jack was great and having the entire population of the Powell Estate disappear around her was not ideal. There was nobody in and the fake postman routine she pulled on Jack was delightful stuff. Jackie at her best. The fog was a good element for the threat of the Harvesters and Jackie's continued comedic reaction to their name was a lot of fun, even if it went a little too long. The Powell Estate moving into its own reality bubble was very good and the concrete within crumbling because of the sheer amount of power needed to be converted to keep the reality going worked well. Everyone being out of phase was good and something I like when it happens and Jackie's memory and desire to want them to exist allowed Jack to see them after he initially couldn't which was intriguing. Jackie's efforts to put on a spread for the estate despite nobody being there was excellent and I loved how she was just getting on with things. The memory prism was a fun element and Jackie's annoyance at Jack giving it a name was terrific. She liked to keep things simple. Her continued comparisons of Jack to the Doctor were wonderful and I liked how they were able to talk about him. Jack also admited he knew Rose and Jackie wanting to know what her daughter was like in space was really touching. I liked how everything turned out to be a trap and when Jackie was close to solving things but not quite able, she called upon Rose which meant the Harvesters could soon have the Doctor. That was also tough for Jack as the TARDIS was heard but he had to urge Jackie to call off its arrival. From there, it was a little quick to have the Harvesters dealt with just by the TARDIS not showing, but hearing Jack and Jackie sat in the reality bubble waiting for it to dissipate and return to N-Spasce was lovely. Overall, a really good little audio!

Rating: 8/10

Shadow of the Sun

"There is danger in this ship's quiet."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: May 2020

Series: FDA Special

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

After an accident, the TARDIS lands on a luxury star-liner. Leaving their ship to repair itself, the Doctor, Leela and K9 find themselves facing a great terror: mingling at a cocktail party. 

Something seems awry behind the pleasantries, however. Guests are going missing, and equipment is breaking down. When the Doctor investigates further he discovers that the star-liner is literally on course for disaster. 

But no-one seems surprised by this information, still less troubled. What's going on? And can the Doctor and his friends save everyone... when nobody wants to be saved?

Verdict

Shadow of the Sun was a fantastic audio adventure to serve as a lovely little bonus within the Fourth Doctor Adventures! It seems such a long time ago now when this audio release was announced as having been recorded entirely from the actors' homes and it sounded really interesting so I'm glad to have finally picked it up and listened as it's a real delight. Of course, at the time of release home recording was something of a novelty but it has very much now become the norm which is a big shame. However, you really couldn't tell that this was performed in isolation or over Zoom as everything flowed well and I thought all of the actors bounced off each other really well. The premise of the story was something I liken to The End of the World except they were on a moving ship rather than stationary Platform One. The beginning with Professor Nicely being forced out of the airlock set a dark tone but thanks to the Autopilot we had quite an upbeat feeling. I'm a big fan of the cause of evil sounding cheery as it's rather unsettling and that works well. I loved the arrival of the Fourth Doctor, Leela and K9 and the former trying to get his companion to mingle was terrific. Leela was on point here as per usual in the companion role and I think she works so well alongside K9. Her recalling the events of The Face of Evil and explaining why she travels with the Doctor was delightful and I liked how out of place she felt at the party. The Doctor's relationship with Lady Malina was really good and I thought she was a great character as a whole. Zorn was also a very good character and I liked the twist with all indications pointing to him being the culprit behind the actions of the Autopilot, only for it to actually be Hix. Admittedly, I didn't see that coming so I quite enjoyed being taken by surprise. The threat of a collision with the Sun was pretty damning and it also had elements of 42 given the close proximity shared to our Solar System's central star. I enjoy the idea of exploring close to the Sun because obviously it's impossible in reality so any interpretations are most welcomed in my view. I really liked the concept of Heliotopia because of how ludicrous it was and that resulting in nearly all of the ship's crew not accepting sanctuary aboard the TARDIS was an incredible way to end the audio. His himself even apparently turning to their religion by the end was testament to the power of the Helios Society, but as we heard that was all in vain. It really is quite something for the Doctor to have to leave by the end of the story and leave all those refusing to be saved to their deaths at the hands of vaporisation. All those screams! It was incredible stuff. I thought the pace of the adventure was fantastic and I have to give credit as well to the background music. It was excellent throughout and really helped with the flow of the story. Impressive. The Doctor causing mild panic at the party when he was revealing the truth behind the ship's route path was very good and exactly what you'd expect of the fourth incarnation. A little more from K9 could have been good, but his realisation that the escape doors could be opened manually was an important contribution. As a whole, I thought this was a brilliant little audio and a much welcomed bonus! 

Rating: 9/10

Grounded

"The nuttiest of the nutters."

Writer: Una McCormack 

Format: Short Story

Released: November 2019

Printed in: The Target Storybook 11

Featuring: Clive Finch

Synopsis

"We're all stories in the end..."

In this exciting collection you'll find all-new stories spinning off from some of your favourite Doctor Who moments across the history of the series.

Discover what happened next, what went on before, and what occurred off-screen in an inventive selection of sequels, side-trips, foreshadowings and first-hand accounts – and look forward too, with a brand new adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor.

Each story expands in thrilling ways upon aspects of Doctor Who's enduring legend. With contributions from show luminaries past and present – including Colin Baker, Matthew Waterhouse, Vinay Patel, Joy Wilkinson and Terrance Dicks – The Target Storybook is a once-in-a-lifetime tour around the wonders of the Whoniverse.

Verdict

Grounded was a fun little adventure to continue along my reading of The Target Storybook! I feel like I'm in the home stretch now when it comes to this whacky little collection of stories and we firmly entered the modern era of Doctor Who with this particular contribution that was an intriguing use of the Ninth Doctor era. I'll be honest, I would have definitely preferred a new adventure with the Ninth Doctor and Rose purely on the basis that there just aren't enough stories out there for Christopher Eccleston's incarnation, but that doesn't mean to say that we got wasn't good! Because it really was and I think this could have been added in the collection alongside an outing for the Ninth Doctor. With the way this story ended with Mr Palmer using his own device to wipe the memory of Clive Finch of what had happened with saving the alien and reuniting it with its people, I was almost half expecting him to reveal himself as the Doctor! Of course, the illustration that accompanies the start of this adventure should have eradicated those thoughts from my head before they even got there. It's quite strange to think how much of a renowned character Clive Finch has become after what was only a pretty brief appearance in Rose. He's grown in stature thanks to the likes of the Rose novelisation and his appearance in The Dimension Canon series and I get the feeling that there is still more to come from him. His fascination with the Doctor is brilliant and I would love for him to one day meet the Doctor, whichever incarnation that may be. I'd just love to see his reaction. He dealt well here with encountering the alien and I think it is a little shame that he will have no memory of helping Mr Palmer. His son Ben was actually the focal character of the story which was interesting and I loved how well McCormack was able to capture childhood in her writing. It was really impressive and as someone who definitely got into their fair share of trouble as a child thanks to a football, I could relate a lot to what I was reading and it gave me a bit of a nostalgia kick to be honest. I really liked it. Getting pally with dad to not quite be severely grounded was fun and with myself having a baby boy on the way, I do wonder if I'll follow suit! It wouldn't at all surprise me if that happens, especially if any evidence as a cat dad is to go by! Ben clearly got on well with his dad Clive which was nice to read and even though he thought his focus on aliens and the Doctor in his shed was a bit over the top, he still admired him and saw him as a grown up which I liked. The alien presence at the heart of the story was something simple which was just as well given that Clive was our familiar character and it was simple case of reuniting a lost alien with the rest of its ship and species. Mr Palmer was a right nutter and I liked the clarity surrounding that, but he served as a much needed point of intelligence to accompany Clive. All three of them promising not to blurt out a word to mum about not adhering to the grounding was very good and as a whole, I thought this was just a nice, solid and simple little tale. Overall, a good read!

Rating: 8/10

A Small Semblance of Home

"I don't what day it is anymore."

Writer: Paul Phipps

Format: Audio

Released: September 2018

Series: 8.09

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

It's become his obsession. Through the hottest of deserts and the coldest of snows, the TARDIS crew have searched for the one remaining piece of the Doctor's most important experiment. But now Barbara's exhausted. Why hasn't the Doctor learned his lesson? What's so important that his scientific curiosity outweighs the safety of the crew once again? And will his latest arrogant trespass be the last he ever makes?

Verdict

A Small Semblance of Home was a tremendous little Short Trips adventure! I thought this was an excellent story from start to finish and it explored a lot of what makes that first TARDIS quartet so brilliant. I liked how things were clearly still early on for Ian and Barbara after stumbling aboard the TARDIS during the events of An Unearthly Child and it was still a little difficult for them to adjust to their new lives. Barbara in particular was getting exhausted by the Doctor's latest crazed plan and her struggles with dealing with the concept of time on board a time and space machine were mightily intriguing. I was a big fan of that and I loved her efforts to try and keep track of time and what day it was in order to maintain some sense of normality. Would it be possible to achieve that travelling in the TARDIS though? I really do have my doubts, especially with the first incarnation and when he gets in an obsessive mood like we heard here! I thought Carol Ann Ford did a wonderful job as the narrator of the episode and I really liked her take on William Hartnell's First Doctor. It was very impressive and definitely one of the best takes for his incarnation from a female narrator! Nothing can come close to Peter Purves though! The connections this story had to The Daleks and the Doctor trying to achieve some scientific goal or experiment and supposedly not caring for the safety, concerns or even desires of his companions was magnificent. That's exactly what I would expect of the early First Doctor so that was fun to see another example of here. The First Doctor being up to no good and keeping nobody in the loop is definitely one of my favourite elements of the incarnation. He's so mischievous and even without Hartnell in the role here, it's still great imagery to have him chuckling in my head. Susan trying to defend the actions of her grandfather only to later regret not stopping from exiting the TARDIS was good and I enjoyed how ebullient the Doctor was after landing on the planet with its acidic qualities. His experiment was a closely guarded secret which I liked and the end result was not anything I was expecting in the slightest! The use of the tribe and Nylok as its head worked very well and I enjoyed the Doctor taking advantage of their somewhat lack of intellectual qualities. The soil on the ground coming from Earth but the planet not being Ian and Barbara's home world was an intriguing occurrence and I really liked how that suited the Doctor's plans. The tribe having guarded the plant of camellia sinuses was good and finding out what this was Latin for was an extradorinary revelation. This plant having evolved over the generations with the tribe forgetting why they were guarding it was terrific and it supposedly having the powers to take you back in time was magnificent with the double meaning if it taking one back to normality and home. It was tea! Tremendous stuff. Barbara was delighted to have a cuppa and reminisce about her Sundays which was lovely and I really liked how the Doctor's experiment was all centred on appraising her and making her feel somewhat normal in the TARDIS and having something to remind her of home. The way everything tied back at the end was delightful. Overall, an excellent audio!

Rating: 9/10

The Year After I Died

"You were one of the people who fought the Daleks on the Game Station."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2017

Series: Lives of Captain Jack 1.01

Featuring: Captain Jack

Synopsis

Captain Jack Harkness – time-travelling con-man, saviour of the Earth, and intergalactic adventurer. He has lived many lives.

Set in the year 200,101, on an Earth ravaged by the Daleks, Jack struggles to save humanity from its oldest enemy.

Verdict

The Year After I Died was a decent story to kick off the first series of The Lives of Captain Jack spinoff. Of course, Captain Jack already stars as the lead character in his own spinoff of Torchwood but it's great to get some inserts of his life, or lives, between his forced departure from travelling with the Ninth Doctor and Rose to becoming a part of Torchwood. It's a really intriguing time for Jack and placing this episode just a year after the events of The Parting of the Ways was a big appeal for me. It's such an interesting time for Jack as a character and it's really clear to see how much he has developed by the time the first series of Torchwood comes around. So filling in some of the gaps for his character is an absolute joy from Big Finish. I have been wanting to get started on this series for a very long time now and I was delighted to pick up all three series in the recent sale from Big Finish. I was kind of expecting a little more from the first episode despite my good rating and I think my initial disappointment was how little of Jack we actually had in the first twenty minutes or so! Silo was a very good character and I liked her relationship with Jack, but I didn't think it worked well for the opening episode of the series to not feature a lot of the main character for the first chunk! Still, his presence was felt with Silo acknowledging that she should have adhered to Jack's warning regarding Trear Station. I liked how Jack was known to Silo from having been on the Game Station and fighting the Daleks and the period in Jack's life here being one where he wanted a quiet life and lived in a cabin was excellent because I just couldn't imagine him settling down and living quietly! The setting of 200,101 was intriguing and hearing of how ravaged the Earth was after the Dalek attacks was brilliant. I really liked the continuity and whilst I think it was very good to explore and it was good to hear things from Jack's quiet perspective, I thought a little more could have occurred regarding the wider Earth and how damaged it was. Attempting to get humans off the home world was also great and the situation was clearly dire with the likes of rations but Jack seemed to be doing well. The Hope Foundation was clearly a sham and I thought Vortia made a pretty decent villain. Her wanting of eyes in the literal sense was not expected and I liked the audacity of literally taking anything she wanted. Humanity was being taken advantage of in the biggest way after being a species and planet in ruins. I feel like one episode for Jack in this time period isn't enough to give it the exploration required, but I really loved the ending with Jack sacrificing himself to put an end to the Trear Station situation and thinking that this was why he was given a second sense. Him describing his revival on the Game Station as blacking out and not realising that he had actually been exterminated was fantastic and I loved how he survived once again here! It was his first taste of realising he might just be immortal and whilst it wasn't clear if he'd accepted that fact yet, it was so much fun to get an early example of this happening. Gorky turned out to be an interesting character, but I wasn't much of a fan of the ending he shared with Vortia. For me, this was all about Jack and whilst I would have wanted more from the time period, this was a good little episode to start the series and see Jack revive for the first time following the Game Station death. 

Rating: 7/10

The Stone Rose

"Without art, life would have no meaning!"

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Novel

Released: April 2006

Series: NSA 07

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Mickey

Synopsis

Mickey is startled to find a statue of Rose in a museum – a statue that is 2,000 years old. The Doctor realises that this means the TARDIS will shortly take them to Ancient Rome, but when it does, he and Rose soon have more on their minds than sculpture. 

While the Doctor searches for a missing boy, Rose befriends a girl who claims to know the future –  a girl whose predictions are surprisingly accurate. But then the Doctor stumbles on the hideous truth behind the statue of Rose – and Rose herself learns that you have to be very careful what you wish for...

Verdict

The Stone Rose was an excellent novel! This was my first book to feature the Tenth Doctor and Rose and with the proximity of my Series 2 rewatch through the modern era, the timing just felt right when it came to fancying an NSA to read this afternoon. I'm a big fan of Jaqueline Rayner as an author and her quirky style certainly didn't let me down here. She captured the era ever so well which was surprising in hindsight as I found that this novel was actually released prior to the broadcast of New Earth! That's quite rare but it's nice to fill in a little gap and explain why we see the Doctor and Rose depart at the start of that episode as well as setting there sights on departure at the end of The Christmas Invasion. I loved the premise of the start of the book with Mickey finding a statue of Rose in the British Museum that was two millennia old and that decided the next TARDIS adventure for the Doctor and Rose with all sights set on second century Rome. The excitement there was fantastic and I loved how unique of a setting this felt for this pairing. It worked really well and the era as a whole just felt guanine. It really did have a feel akin to The Fires of Pompeii which was superb. The image of the Doctor and Rose in traditional Roman wear was wonderful and some of the comments amongst the pairing were a lot of fun. Their relationship throughout was really terrific and the passage regarding the Doctor almost having married an elephant was delightful. I thought there was a strong batch of characters in this one with Gracilis certainly a standout. He instantly took a liking to the Doctor and Rose after they offered to lend a helping hand and aid him in his search for his missing son Optatus. That set in motion a pretty rapid chain of events as we learned that he hadn't been seen for four days and the last person to see him was Ursus, the private sculptor hired to create a statue for his sixteenth birthday. The unveiling came as the Doctor and Rose arrived and the former being immediately suspicious of the sculptor was magnificent. It was clear right from the off that Ursus hadn't been challenged like this before and later finding out that Optatus wasn't the first was not a surprise. It was a good development and I enjoyed discovering that he actually thought he was doing the bidding of the goddess Minerva. The Doctor being provided with a phial containing the solution required to revert the statues back to their life form was intriguing and the familiarity of the voice that provided it gave us a good indication of the paradoxical elements to come. When Rose inevitably became petrified, the panic induced by the Doctor was telling, especially when he went back to the British Museum with Mickey and the solution didn't work. Except, that was a good thing because this wasn't the real Rose. I thought the later development that it was actually the Doctor that had sculpted the Rose statue was such a lovely touch. It was by someone who knew her well, and who better than he? Vanessa was another fantastic character and I liked how her character was threaded out over the course of the novel. At first appearing as a slave prophet, she was actually from the twenty-fourth century which was brilliant! Her revealing knowledge of Hadrian's Wall and England and Scotland without them actually existing yet was a clever way to reveal there was more to her, and it was great that Rose thought nothing of it but it didn't get past the Doctor. Her role in bringing the GENIE to the period was great and I thought that anagram was just tremendous. The idea of wishes being granted through technological means was very good and I thought the future history of Earth explanation from the Doctor and how the GENIE's brought about its end was excellent. This particular GENIE turned out to be the first which was why it hadn't been wiped out, and Rose wanting to ensure that it was free and happy was a fantastic fate for it. Overall, this was a lovely read! 

Rating: 9/10

Last of the Gaderene

"The creatures gradually burrowing into their mouths like fungus."

Writer: Mark Gatiss

Format: Novel

Released: January 2000

Series: PDA 2008

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

The aerodrome in Culverton has new owners, and they promise an era of prosperity for the idyllic village. But former Spitfire pilot Alex Whistler is suspicious – when black-shirted troops appear on the streets, he contacts his old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart at UNIT. The Third Doctor is sent to investigate – and soon uncovers a sinister plot to colonise the Earth. The Gaderene are on their way...

Verdict

Last of the Gaderene was a very good novel! I thought this was a great addition to the era of the Third Doctor and it even seemed to go as far as concluding the run of the Roger Delgado incarnation of the Master which I thought was terrific and something I didn't expect. I liked the central premise of the book and the Brigadier and Jo having to deal with the Doctor not being around following his rewards in The Three Doctors was a fun dynamic. Of course, whilst he was away things got interesting on Earth, specifically in the village of Culverton and the Doctor's return to UNIT HQ was just in time to sort things out. The little glimpse at what the Doctor got up to without anyone keeping him in check was a lot of fun and I liked how he was on the escape from overthrowing a dictatorship! That was a good little side-show into the Doctor's life without a companion. I loved the way the Third Doctor era was captured in the novel and it was a fine choice to be reprinted as part of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations. I can't quite believe it's taken me eight years to get around to picking this book up after purchasing it as part of a Works sale. It was a great read though and the setting of the 1970s was presented ever so well and the connections to the Second World War with Whistler were fantastic. I liked how the story of his proposal was used and later came to connect events after losing his loved one and taking a lucky charm from the grounds. That charm turned out to be the ninth of nine keys crucial to the Gaderene and their efforts to squat on Earth with their home planet dying. The idea of the embryos coming through in the strange lightning was intriguing and I liked how efforts were made to explain why the elders couldn't travel through as their minds couldn't take it. Bliss was a a really good central villain and head of the Gaderene and I enjoyed the way the Doctor caught her out by testing her geographic knowledge of the Transvaal and its capital. The role of the spitfire in the story was wonderful and it had a really nice nostalgic feel. Jo's reaction when the Doctor stated that he was going to fly it was lovely! I thought the familial ties of the likes of Max and Ted Bishop with Whistler and Noah was excellent and their separate roles in the village despite being related was very good. I thought the Gaderene themselves were a decent enemy but the lack of any elders of the species hindered them slightly and the presence of the Master to oppose the Doctor was definitely needed. His introduction into the book as the inspector was magnificent. I was impressed with the pace of the book and the shorter chapters definitely helped with that in my opinion. I thought the chapter names were great as well with 'Night Takes Bishop' definitely being a highlight. I had a visible and audible reaction to the chapter ending after the Doctor was subjected to a battle with the trooper in the wind tunnel and the description of the blood descending from the engines was brutal. That was savagery at its best. The Doctor preparing to sacrifice himself with the ninth key removal after the system was in place to allow the Gaderene passage was admirable and I loved how the spitfire was used with Whistler firing and getting a somewhat lucky shot to break the chain and send the Gaderene back packing to their own world, and the Master with them who had been shot and seemingly had given up hope of staying in his current body. I thought that was a telling line and a nice way to potentially end his run. Overall, this was a really good read! 

Rating: 8/10

Situation Vacant

"I'm not impressed with any of you."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: July 2010

Series: EDA 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Tamsin

Synopsis

TRAVELLER IN TIME AND SPACE seeks male or female companion with good sense of humour for adventures in the Fourth and Fifth Dimensions.

No experience necessary.

No time wasters, no space wasters please.

Verdict

Situation Vacant was a really fun audio to continue the fourth series of the Eighth Doctor Adventures! After the hugely emotional Death in Blackpool in which Lucie Miller departed as companion, this was a surprisingly upbeat story to get us going. I was surprised to find that this adventure was released some seventh months after the first story in the series which explains a little more about why that opening story felt more like a finale! This definitely had the feeling of a series opener and I guess that is what it ended up being with the introduction of Tamsin now as the companion. I love the premise of there being auditions for the Doctor to see who he wanted as his next companion and the initial conference setting where people were going missing seemed like the perfect place for would-be companions to test their abilities! The Doctor playing along was tremendous and this was a really great performance from Paul McGann as the eighth incarnation. Were they real or actors? Was the situation staged or real? I thought that was great fun. Those showcasing their abilities in the form of Hugh, Asha, Juliet and Theo was a very interesting makeup of characters. They all had their qualities but when it comes to being the Doctor's companion, standards are certainly high! I didn't really think that Theo or Hugh had the qualities required from the off, but I definitely thought Asha and Juliet were good at the start. I thought the premise was terrific and once things got into action I enjoyed how the Doctor was instructing and handling the situation, especially when it later transpired he had no knowledge of placing the advert that they had all answered! He was testing his would-be companions really well and the mystery surrounding Pallister in particular made it clear that he was central to proceedings. Theo being wrong when it came to him believing he found the culprit was very good and I loved how the Doctor wasn't holding back in his criticism. He was essentially running a talent show and his letting Juliet go first was intriguing given how the story finished! The explanation of the disappearances being wormholes forming from the vordium was good and the new afternoon agenda cliffhanger with the emergence of the robot really shifted things. I was glad Pallister still had a role in that threat to link the two parts as I don't think I'd have liked it if they were entirely separate. The sonic screwdriver being the subject of a virus was wonderful as that hasn't happened often and that also being the cause of the giant robot that was rampaging was intriguing. I thought a little more could have been done regarding the little robots that were fixing the big one as that seemed a slightly missed opportunity, but it was full of action which was exciting. I wasn't surprised to find that Asha wasn't all she seemed as someone evil trying to take advantage of travelling with the Doctor is logical, but it was great fun for the Doctor to just instantly repair her recall device and she was in his debt so she turned back to being good in quick fashion. I wasn't such a fan of the other would-be companions all having ulterior motives, especially Hugh after he won, and his short-lived run as a vampire was fun though with the confidence displayed by the Doctor in getting rid of him by depositing him from the TARDIS on Mercury. Finding out that Juliet was just a ruse and that she was actually a somewhat unsuccessful actress called Tamsin was a nice introduction for her as companion and I thought she was really likeable. I probably preferred Asha in this story, but I'm excited for the future to come! Learning of the change of location and that there was another time traveller out there enlisting companions was intriguing and I hope that we get more regarding that as the series goes on! Overall, a really good audio.  

Rating: 8/10

Zone 10

"It was Torchwood who invited the Committee here."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: April 2016

Series: Torchwood Monthly 08

Featuring: Tosh

Synopsis

They call it 'Pulse' – a radio signal which has puzzled the world for 40 years. But now Toshiko Sato has solved it.

She's uncovered a message which leads her to Russia, and into an uneasy alliance with the KVI – the Russian equivalent of Torchwood. Toshiko needs to get into Zone 10 – a frozen wasteland which officially doesn't exist. 

An intergalacitw war was once fought in Zone 10. And it turns out there's a survivor. 

Verdict

Zone 10 was an excellent audio adventure to continue making my way through the monthly releases for Torchwood under the Big Finish banner! For whatever reason I was slightly sceptical prior to listening to this episode purely because it seems like it has been forever and a day since I blogged anything involving Tosh as a main character. Of course, I did mention her in my relatively recent rewatch of Aliens of London but that was a time before even Russell T Davies had conjured up the character we would come to love as part of Torchwood. Any worries I may have had were instantly quelled as I began listening and remembered just how great of a character Tosh is! I think it's wonderful that this series has allowed a full episode where she can shine on her own and I loved that the Torchwood team didn't actually know she had undertaken this mission. I liked how she had been attempting to decode the Pulse that had been emitting 62 miles above a point in Russia for over four decades despite the likes of Russian intelligence and NASA trying to decipher it whilst putting the blame and transmission on the other party. That was quite the show of confidence in her own abilities which I really admired. I liked how everything centred on the mysterious Zone 10 and placing an adventure in modern-day Russia seems perfectly Torchwood and not exactly something Doctor Who itself could do so that was a refreshing change and a nice dose of reality. The influence of the Committee on the audio without actually appearing was excellent and I liked how Russia seemed to be the common feature for a number of those dying around the death of Neil Redmond. I adored how Tosh's time lock was utilised following on from it saving Gwen and Ianto from extermination in Journey's End and it was the perfect device to have in the zone that was ruptured temporally. I loved the idea of Zone 10 having layers of fragmented space and the onion analogy was terrific. The message that Tosh decoded actually being for her was really intriguing and I liked how things came full circle with her and Ana creating the words at the story's conclusion. I thought Volkova was a really good character as the first woman in space – from 1965! – which was a great revelation and the idea of the Russians winning the Space Race was a lot of fun. Maxim was a fantastic character and I really liked his relationship with Tosh before selling her out in order to get to Volkova in order to silence her. Ana initially having no knowledge of the Pulse that she was at the centre of was intriguing but her knowledge of the Committee and her having a gift for Torchwood was brilliant. Learning of the KVI battle with the Committee at the site of Zone 10 was superb and Ana being the last evidence of that was really interesting. A 32-minute war in which the Committee showed their strength and used the time bomb as a small scale warning. I thought the audacity of that said a lot about the mysterious Committee, but their capturing of Ana seven months after conflict as a final message and bargaining chip was cruel. Ana having been conscious of living the same day over and over must have been torment and I liked that she didn't know it had been forty years! The emphatic nature in which Maxim was shot after Tosh orchestrated the getaway to save Ava was extraordinary and a really sudden moment. Tosh being confident in her abilities to repair the ship was wonderful and I loved the use of the dampener to help Ava escape into the stars, as that's where she'd rather go than face what was down here. A line I really liked. Overall, this was a really intriguing and exciting audio adventure, a sheer delight to have Tosh back! 

Rating: 9/10

Decoy

"We sacrifice the lives of the few to ensure the survival of the many!"

Writer: George Mann

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2019

Printed in: The Target Storybook 10

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

"We're all stories in the end..."

In this exciting collection you'll find all-new stories spinning off from some of your favourite Doctor Who moments across the history of the series.

Discover what happened next, what went on before, and what occurred off-screen in an inventive selection of sequels, side-trips, foreshadowings and first-hand accounts – and look forward too, with a brand new adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor.

Each story expands in thrilling ways upon aspects of Doctor Who's enduring legend. With contributions from show luminaries past and present – including Colin Baker, Matthew Waterhouse, Vinay Patel, Joy Wilkinson and Terrance Dicks – The Target Storybook is a once-in-a-lifetime tour around the wonders of the Whoniverse.

Verdict

Decoy was a fantastic little story to continue my reading of The Target Storybook! I seem to be edging closer to the modern era now and having a story set during the Time War was a really good decision as that kind of became the de facto gap between the Classic and revise modern era. That has of course been expanded upon greatly by now with the likes of the Big Finish War Doctor audios as well as Engines of War and the Eleventh Doctor comic strip run from Titan Comics, but getting our own depiction of events during the Time War here was excellent. I was really impressed with this adventure and considering when it was set, I enjoyed the simplicity of it. The interaction between the Doctor and Rassilon was superb and I loved the clear tension there between the pair. Despite being Lord President and a founding father of Gallifrey, it was the Doctor who was respected and provided confidence for those soldiers fighting alongside him. It was good for the Doctor to again push the narrative that he wasn't the Doctor anymore but whatever he wanted to be called in this present, his history had provided him with a large reputation and prized standing on Gallifrey which I thought was excellent. The involvement of the Nestene Consciousness was very good and I liked how Rassilon had made a deal with them to create a dummy Doctor. The idea of having a large sacrifice of Gallifreyan soldiers fighting alongside a fake Doctor was audacious and chilling from Rassilon and the Doctor's abhorrent reaction was excellent. He wasn't having any of that which was completely understandable! I really liked the characterisation of the War Doctor throughout the story with the description of his battered attire and lined face really selling the toll the Time War had on him. The scowls he made to Artarix were brilliant and I loved how it was clear that the Doctor was riddled with regret. His standing amongst the Daleks was something he seemed to be slightly okay with though and the comment about an armada of Daleks being scared of angry man with a box was sensational. I loved that. The description of parts of Gallifrey where those Time Lords were hidden away was great and I was fascinated by just how many were stuck between life and death after semi-failed regenerations. Something for more exploration for sure. The Doctor taking Rassilon's plan of an Auton delicate and using it against him was magnificent and I really liked the President's reaction when he realised what had happened. The Doctor ensuring that he saved thousands of lives and still wiping out the Dalek threat instead of a needless sacrifice was terrific and I loved how he was thinking of those who were due to die and their families. He was not having it. I was a big fan of the confidence other Time Lords had in him and the certainty had that the Doctor had escaped after he'd enacted the Dalek destruction with his own decoy was great stuff. It was an emphatic triumph that only seemed to irritate Rassilon which was a fun dynamic. Overall, I thought this was a really impressive short story and I wouldn't really expect much else from George Mann and extra outing for the War Doctor! 

Rating: 9/10

Death in Blackpool

"Step out of your body."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: December 2009

Series: EDA 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

Lucie Miller always loved Christmas back home in Blackpool. Her mam running a still-frozen turkey under the hot tap at ten. Great-Grandma Miller half-cut on cooking sherry by eleven. Her dad and her uncle arguing hammer and tongs about who was the best James Bond all through dinner. And in the afternoon, Aunty Pat, haring up to the house on the back of a moped weighted down with ridiculous presents.

Christmas 2009 didn't turn out like that.

Christmas 2009, the Doctor turned up...

Verdict

Death in Blackpool was an excellent start to the fourth series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I have been very excited to get started on this series and this was quite the start. It felt more of a finale than an opener with the emotional feel and the way a very big story arc was concluded, and that was absolutely fine because it made things feel very big for the series almost immediately! The opening scene with Bille the cab driver and Tasha showcasing her powers seemed odd initially but realising what it meant as the episode rolled on was really good. I liked how the Doctor and Lucie had arrived in familiar surroundings going back to Horror of Glam Rock and the Doctor immediately questioning the meaning of that was terrific. I'm surprised he dismissed it so soon! The quick arrival of Lucie's auntie Pat in the story was interesting and the Doctor clocking on that she had aged considerably was intriguing given the fact she was actually a Zygon of course. The links back to The Zygon Who Fell to Earth were brilliant and Haygoth explaining the predicament and even touching on his life as Pat was very good. The Santa character was a touch annoying in some parts but I did enjoy the realism that brought with him almost sounding drunk and hitching a ride to Blackpool. I thought it was very amusing when he was putting the Doctor and Lucie on the list though! Haygoth describing his condition and how it was a result of a Zygon taking the same form for too long of an extended body print. With 'Pat' feeling like her end was near, she had called upon Lucie for one last Christmas and the dates were all wrong as it was actually 2008 rather 2009 and the moment at the Miller household where Lucie nearly opened the door to her future self was terrific. Haygoth wanting Lucie to have the chance to mourn her aunt property after being denied that opportunity back in Series 2 was emotional, but could the lie stay hidden? With how much it was being mentioned, it was clear that Lucie was going to find out. I was stunned by how suddenly Lucie was hit by the car and the way it was done without us hearing the actual impact was superb. She couldn't hear which was difficult for her to endure and the stepping ou of her body with Billie was excellent. I thought the line about her hearing Pat and that meaning that her aunt was soon going to die was quite chilling. The car that ran Lucie down being at the hospital was a good twist and the revelation that the culprit was actually a Zynog was quite something! I thought the concept of it as a punishment for Zygons who took the body print of other Zygons was brilliant and learning that they were forced into a lowly body for good was really intriguing and something I really enjoyed learning about. Except now this Zynog had salvaged a body print device from Haygoth's ship remains and was on the verge of a return. His being a porter was a very clever euphemism and Lucie cottoning onto that was very good. Lucie thinking that she was hallucinating was magnificent and the Zynog reacting to that by ensuring that Lucie heard the truth about her auntie Pat was sublime. Haygoth entering the other side and sacrificing herself to ensure Lucie went back to her body was brilliant stuff and I loved the reaction of the Zynog to that and the actual audacity of auntie Pat. His plan being to take the body of Lucie and become the companion of a Time Lord was terrific and I loved that Haygoth was one step ahead and had poisoned the body of auntie Pat before the Zynog took it and ultimately was defeated. The calmness of that and the Doctor's conversing was excellent and really add to the feel of the story. The get together between Doctor and companion after Lucie had discharged herself was very emotional and simple and I was a little taken aback by what occurred. Lucie couldn't trust the Doctor anymore and rather than stay travelling in the TARDIS and resent him, she wanted to hold onto the memories she had with the Doctor and remember him positively. She understood why he'd done it, and I thought that was very mature. But it seems we have come to an end of the pairing of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller which is a bit of a shame and unexpected move at the start of a series! Regardless, a very strong start with this being a fantastic audio adventure.

Rating: 9/10

Deleted Scenes

"How did that box get on my stage?"

Writer: Angus Dunican

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Short Trips 10.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis

For all that Jamie has seen and done in his travels, nothing quite prepared him for the magic of being a film star.

During a Parisian holiday in 1908, he and the Doctor are taken in by film director Celine Tessier and soon find themselves in the world of the silver screen.

However, Jamie will discover that – in show business – where there is delight, one must also expect one's share of tragedy.

Verdict

Deleted Scenes was a great little audio! I thought this was a really solid and just nice listen and keeps up the usually high standard of the Short Trips range that I so often enjoy embarking back into. The paring of the Second Doctor and Jamie is a rare treat that we didn't get a huge amount of on screen so to get an extended adventure here soon after the events of Fury From the Deep was a real delight! Of course, it is also beneficial in not having either Victoria or Zoe alongside them when it comes to Frazer Hines narrating because he can produce a superb performance in reprising the role of Jamie and providing a stellar impression of Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor. It really is uncanny how good he is and the genuine feel Hines brings to Second Doctor tales is tremendous. I really am a big fan of his. I thought the setting of 1908 Paris was very good and I liked how this wasn't the obvious choice for a story centred on film for the obvious reason of a lack of technological capabilities. The arrival of the TARDIS onto a stage was amusing and hearing the Doctor and Jamie try and talk their way out of that was a lot of fun. They are such a goofy pairing and not having a female presence to keep them on their toes and in check allows for such a fun dynamic. They really shouldn't be let free together! It almost felt like a spoof at times which was great. Jamie's confusion over the TARDIS translation circuits was delightful as he couldn't understand why Celine complimented him on his excellent French. He couldn't speak it! Fantastic stuff and I liked how the TARDIS translation was not directly referred to, as I think is right considering the era this story takes place within. Celine as a French director turned out to be an excellent character and her working out of what the TARDIS actually was and even what the Doctor and Jamie got up to on a regular basis was very impressive! Her relationship with Jamie was the focus of much of the audio and it was really interesting for that to develop. Jamie was enamoured with her and the Doctor seeing that and also doing more for him with her because of what happened with Victoria was a powerful moment. Jamie had been fond of Victoria, but it was a bit more than just friendship and hearing him admit that and also the Doctor acknowledge that fact was brilliant. Jamie getting a kiss in the Parisian shadow was really nice and Christophe's jealousy towards him because of his feelings towards Celine was very good and probably could have been more central. Things were perhaps a little too quick when it came to Celine travelling aboard the TARDIS and the Doctor being asleep for a week as a result of the Great Mind, but the idea of allowing her on a trip to film was terrific! It was a shame for her that her film never got shown as the Doctor had confiscated the tape as he couldn't allow its contents to be seen, and the little monologue from Jemima to conclude at the theatre was a really nice touch. The fact that the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane made a cameo appearance with the former showing Jemima her great-great-grandmother's film after all was a really fitting finale! It was a lovely moment and a nice touch for sure. Overall, a really good little audio!

Rating: 8/10

Dalek

"His individuality would be shut away within his metal shell and never again be seen."

Writer: Robert Shearman

Format: Novel

Released: March 2021

Series: Target 161

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

'The entire Dalek race, wiped out in one second. I watched it happen. I made it happen!'

The Doctor and Rose arrive in an underground vault in Utah in the near future. The vault is filled with alien artefacts. Its billionaire owner, Henry van Statten, even has possession of a living alien creature, a mechanical monster in chains that he has named a Metaltron. 

Seeking to help the Metaltron, the Doctor is appalled to find it is in fact a Dalek – one that has survived the horrors of the Time War just as he has. And as the Dalek breaks loose, the Doctor is brought back to the brutality and desperation of his darkest hours spent fighting the creatures of Skaro... this time with the Earth as their battlefield. 

Verdict

Dalek was a sensational novelisation of the televised episode of the same name! As far as Target books go, there are quite a few instant classics with the likes of Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin, Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters and Doctor Who and the Keeper of Traken immediately coming to mind, but this honestly might be the best of the bunch. It was perfection. I can't give it any higher compliments because it was just pure brilliance from start to finish. Of course, the episode that it is based on is in its favour and even though it is my favourite Ninth Doctor story, moving formats is such a difficult task and the way this was done was sublime. I was surprised on more than one occasion with some of the commissions of events or dialogue, but that actually ended up only enhancing things and giving this a different feel to the episode of which it is based on. It felt like an entirely new perspective of the story's events and some of the extra depth that are synonymous with a number of Target books was just magnificent. I loved the little inserts of tales for the likes of the genius, the soldier and the collector to name a few. It really was brilliant to learn how Goddard and Simmons came to be in the employ of Henry van Statten with the extra detail on a completely different level to other novelisations in my opinion. It was outstanding. I think my favourite insert was the story for Adam and with him going on to become a short-lived companion, it was interesting to flesh out the detail of his year without speaking whilst aged seven just to see the results. Him hiding his diary under his bed and the comfort he had in that space was fantastic. I thought the revelation that the boy on the hill was actually the soldier that became the Dalek was incredible stuff and I really didn't think that was going to be the case. I had my money on it being van Statten so that was quite something. The description of the Dalek and its Grand Revelation as it fought for the Dalek cause was superb and I loved the idea of it getting a glimpse of the War Doctor before falling through time and not being able to die. The description of the mutation and how it was hacked apart to fit inside the casing was beyond gruesome. I loved the development of van Statten's character and his reputation in America was fantastic to expand upon. His richness was really enhanced and he even had the President in his back pocket which was great! The story of his father and how he received a telescope from Otto as a birthday present was marvellous stuff and that making him realise that profits didn't have to be immediate was wonderful. I thought that was a fine lesson. I liked how we got an extra TARDIS scene with the Doctor and Rose picking up the Dalek signal and I liked their arrival in the museum of alien collections, but I was not expecting the Cyberman to be omitted! It was an interesting shift for the Doctor to go banging on the door to end up in van Statten's company rather than be surrounded by guards as occurred on television. I think the third chapter and it depicting the scene in the cage where the Doctor encounters the Dalek for the third time was phenomenal prose. I really do think it's my favourite chapter in Target book history. Everything was superb. I loved the use of perspective in the novel and learning of events from the point of view of a number of different characters was really enlightening and beneficial. I thought how that pertained to the Dalek in particular was excellent. Bywater and Diana actually being in a relationship and undercover was a nice little twist and I liked how van Statten's dismissal of women allowed her to rise up the ranks unnoticed. The implication that he was gay was also a good logical step. I could go on for a long time here but there's still so much good that I haven't covered. Rose realising that the Doctor was terrified put her in an interesting predicament and I thought the Dalek beckoning her to touch it for her to spark regeneration was a good move. Overall, this was tremendous! One of the very best Target novelisations and it's difficult to see how this can get topped! 

Rating: 10/10

The Mysterious Planet

"The Doctor is an incorrigible meddler in the affairs of other peoples and planets."

Writer: Robert Holmes

Format: TV

Broadcast: 6-27 September 1986

Season: 23a

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The Doctor is on trial for his life. Plucked out of time and space by the Time Lords, he is charged with transgressing the First Law of Time. He must defend himself against the prosecution led by the sinister Valeyard...

The trial begins as the Time Lords review an adventure from the Doctor's recent past. The setting is Ravolox, where the Doctor and Peri find themselves caught in the conflict between a warrior tribe, a pair of intergalactic con-men and a god-like robot. 

But deep below the surface of the mysterious planet lie secrets that threatens the very fabric of the universe. And to protect them, drastic measures have been taken that will shock the Doctor to his very core...

Verdict

The Mysterious Planet was a very good story to kick off the epic that is The Trial of a Time Lord! I've long been a fan of the season-comprising adventure that has the Doctor on trial at the behest of the Valeyard and I've always maintained that despite the Target novelisations splitting it up and the differing writers and format of the season, it should be viewed as one serial. However, in light of judging each segment of its own accord I've decided to go ahead and blog each story within separately. It was a little weird to be honest given the way things start by having the Doctor on trial, well an inquiry to start, and then moving into its own adventure. I like the idea of a story arc overlapping the entire serial and I actually think if this was split by name like the Target books then it would be much better because other than the Key to Time for Season 16, season arcs like this are rare to come by. I thought Colin Baker put on a terrific performance as the Sixth Doctor and it was very refreshing to be watching him in a televised story because it seems so long since I've watched one of his adventures! Of course, there isn't an abundance of material available and I've purposely been putting them off for a while to ensure I have options, but I just felt like today was right. I thought a little more could have bene done regarding Peri's absence at the trial and then just being with the Doctor on Ravolox, but the way her fate is foreshadowed here is really well done. I liked the setting of Ravolox a great deal and the links it had with Earth and the Doctor's confusion of its position in space was very good, but I thought the explanation for that felt a little unfinished and that might have something to do with splitting the segments. I think the way the omnibus versions without the trial scenes that comprise part of The Collection boxset for this season would be an intriguing watch and I'd like to see how this adventure would fare without those interruptions. I love the makeup of the trial with the abrupt Valeyard introduction and the Inquisitor leading proceedings. The relevancy being questioned on more than one occasion was a little funny as the Valeyard's prosecution didn't seem to make a huge amount of sense considering what the Doctor's actions were on Ravolox. I thought Drathro as the Immortal was a lot of fun and even though the design of this robotic god seems a little flawed with the lack of features for emotions and senses, it's a design I can't help but enjoy! I've taken a big fancy lately to the Eaglemoss figurines and the special edition from this episode is something I'd really like now to purchase. I thought Katryca as the Queen was a good character and I really liked her interactions with Glitz. He was a very fun character alongside Dibber as they looked to make a profit. They were a lot of fun and worked really well in the setting as they sought their prize. The cliffhanger at the end of part three was excellent as the Doctor and Peri were in peril and seemed set to be shot, and I also liked the ending of part one before the trial with the Doctor getting stoned! The ultimate fate of Drathro as the black light system destructs is fitting but probably slightly too quick. The reaction of Glitz and Dibber is a lot of fun though. I thought the likes of Merdeen and Balazar were good characters and the books that comprised their texts were hilarious. The Doctor's reactions were fantastic. As a whole, I thought this was a very good little segment to kick off the season and it's good to think of the effect these events had on Peri, whilst they seemed to back up the Doctor's defence as the universe was saved. Overall, a great adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Emancipation

"Death or rescue? And she chose death."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: 8 March 2019

Series: Eighth of March 1.01

Featuring: River Song, Leela

Synopsis

When River Song crashes a Galactic Heritage convention, posing as the wrong Time Lord, Leela is sent by Gallifrey to investigate.

But before the canapés are cold and the champagne becomes warm, they find themselves embroiled in a royal kidnapping.

Verdict

Emancipation was a fantastically fun way to start The Eighth of March boxset! This really was a terrific adventure to get us going on this celebratory release and it's certainly one that I have been looking to purchase for two years now, and thankfully it was on sale for the last International Women's Day and I just couldn't resist. This opening story is probably the one I was most excited for because the prospect of River Song and Leela meeting was so enticing. They're both such strong characters and pitting them off against each other here was just wonderful. It was such an enjoyable listen. I love the idea of River impersonating Romana as a Gallifreyan delegate at the convention that formed the basis of much of the audio, and Leela arriving to investigate this was a magnificent start. It was delightful. I liked that the story used the Diary of River Song theme music and that's a series I'm very keen to get back into in due course, but there's just so much on my plate at the moment! I thought Princess Myrahla was a very good character and her centrality to the plot worked really well. Her blessing being close and the plan of the Hanovari to kidnap her (or so we thought) was a good introduction to these assassins. I thought the Royal Magnifat as the lead monarch made for a brilliant villain, even if she was just following her people's traditions. The relationship between River and Leela growing throughout the audio was superb and I liked how the former knew of the latter from the Doctor. Her mind reading device was excellent and its use throughout the story was mightily impressive. Once it was mentioned I didn't expect it to be so prominent but it just worked ever so well. River's plan of saving the princess and ensuring she got a reward was exactly what I'd expect of her and she almost seemed intent on taking over the kidnapping! Leela's reaction to River's ability to pilot her TARDIS was great stuff and I also loved how shocked she was by River clicking her fingers to gain entry. The shift in the story when it became clear that the Hanovari were there to rescue the princess rather than kidnap her was fantastic and learning of her planned sacrifice to the Great Creator was intriguing. I liked the history behind that with with the old king offering himself to this Great Creator in return for peace, but it wanted a bigger sacrifice in the form of his daughter so now every first born of the monarchs would be sacrificed for the peace. It was pretty brutal! River likening her own childhood experience to what Myrahla was enduring was very good and a great use of her character and I thought the revelation that there was actually more than one princess – twins! – was a good way to get around the whole losing her in the Vortex situation. Some more elaboration on that would be my only qualm with the episode. I loved how the thought scanner was used to show that Myrahla wanted saving but couldn't speak the truth and having to live that must have ben torment. I liked how the twins along with River and Leela were able to stand up to the Royal Magnifat and ended up being returned home in the TARDIS in a nice little feel-good ending. The pair returning to the convention and seeing no royal presence was very good and the Hanovari paradox after they were scattered amongst the time winds was very good indeed. They were looking for a princess they had already saved which was a line I really enjoyed. River taking matters into her own hands by ensuring that it was the Royal Magnifat that ended up getting sacrificed was a dark moment but it was good to see her enact her own form of justice without the Doctor around. River and Leela realising that events sparked a civil war so they went to the village on the day before it fell to save the princess once and for all. Overall, a fantastic audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

We Can't Stop What's Coming

"Those creatures they killed are their own ancestors."

Writer: Steve Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2019

Printed in: The Target Storybook 09

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Fitz, Trix

Synopsis

"We're all stories in the end..."

In this exciting collection you'll find all-new stories spinning off from some of your favourite Doctor Who moments across the history of the series.

Discover what happened next, what went on before, and what occurred off-screen in an inventive selection of sequels, side-trips, foreshadowings and first-hand accounts – and look forward too, with a brand new adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor.

Each story expands in thrilling ways upon aspects of Doctor Who's enduring legend. With contributions from show luminaries past and present – including Colin Baker, Matthew Waterhouse, Vinay Patel, Joy Wilkinson and Terrance Dicks – The Target Storybook is a once-in-a-lifetime tour around the wonders of the Whoniverse.

Verdict

We Can't Stop What's Coming was a very good little adventure to continue my reading of The Target Storybook! I must admit that I have somewhat been putting off reading this story from the collection for a little while because I am so far away from the run of the Eighth Doctor, Fitz and Trix in the Eighth Doctor Adventures novels and I was worried that I wasn't going to understand a lot of their relationship or what was going on as I figured that this would continue the theme of the book in that it would be some sort of sequel, prequel or extension of an existing story, with this particular case being something similar for one of their EDA novels. After reading, I'm none the wiser as to whether this was the case as I've only read as far as War of the Daleks in the EDAs, but I felt like this served as a really strong standalone adventure! As far as I am aware, this was my first experience of Trix as a companion and I really enjoyed her and whilst I wasn't a massive fan of Fitz in Fitz's Story as part of The Company of Friends, he was more enjoyable here for sure. I already have the sense that when I do eventually come to this trio in my sporadic reading of the EDAs, it will be Trix that I like more. She was an enjoyable character and the way she was playing the likes of Jakarta and her accounts team into thinking she was also a sim was terrific. She felt a bit cheeky and devious and I liked that. Of course, that could be completely misrepresentative of her character from the books and I won't know for a very long time yet. I liked at the start how both Fitz and Trix were almost mocking the Doctor for 'his thing' when it came to landing the TARDIS and having that first walk around outside to take in the new surroundings of what could literally be anywhere and when. That was nice and would pretty much apply for any incarnation of the Doctor. A time scoop being in play was fantastic and I liked how the Doctor deduced that almost immediately and there was a clear sense of distain felt towards that. Part of the planet had actually been picked up and scooped 10,000 years into the future which was intriguing and I immediately wanted to know the answer. What I got was a horrific prospect with a team of hunters out for a bonus actually unknowingly killing their Neanderthal ancestors and turning themselves into time anomalies or paradoxes ready for harvesting as a weapon! That was an audacious plan from the culprits which I very much admired. It was unique and really well done and I have to admit that from a plot perspective I only wish the story was longer and had more pages to develop. The ending being a case of the Doctor only being able to save Jakarta and her ancestor that hadn't been killed in the hunt was pretty grim because her three comrades had perished by virtue of their generations not existing and there was nothing that could be done. It was an impactful statement for sure. My only major qualm with the story was the format of having it in the first person but from both the perspective of Fitz and Jakarta. That was just unnecessary and made it really confusing at the start as I'm not sure that method was established well or just entirely beneficial. I wasn't a fan at all! Thankfully though, the plot was excellent and really intriguing which made for a great read as a whole.

Rating: 8/10

False Coronets

"They promise power but only bring slavery."

Writer: Alice Cavender

Format: Audio

Released: August 2018

Series: Eleventh Doctor Chronicles 1.04

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

On the trail of a temporal anomaly, the Doctor and Clara arrive in a London dungeon, where an unlikely prisoner awaits her execution. This is a 19th Century England where the King has been dethroned, and Republicans bearing false coronets hold sway.

While the Doctor seeks out the source of alien interference in the timelines, Clara recruits some local help – and gets invited to a party. 

History has gone awry, and Jane Austen must help rewrite it.

Verdict

False Coronets was a really fun conclusion to the Eleventh Doctor Chronicles! This has been a really good collection of stories for the Eleventh Doctor with him meeting up with a number of familiar characters, but I was glad that we had with a companion this time around and I like that we get an extra outing with the less common pairing of the Eleventh Doctor and Clara. It was a really good outing for them and I thought the writing of their partnership was excellent. Jacob Dudman did a stellar job as eve with his Matt Smith impression and I also enjoyed his calm take on Jenna Coleman's Clara. It was good all around from a narrative and performance aspect. The idea of this pairing going back in time and meeting Jane Austen was really good and I liked how that occurred whilst throwing in the problem of history being off the beaten track. Clara mistaking the execution bell from 1815 for the cloister bell in the TARDIS was great stuff and I loved how it was clear that history was not as it should be by the fact that Britain had been declared a republic. That little anomaly was terrific and I really liked how much Tom craved that for his country which displayed his patriotism. That was a good theme throughout the audio as a whole. Jane Austen being in jail was a contrast to what we might expect and the Doctor and Clara coming across her was a wonderful little moment. Clara being almost overawed by meeting the woman who was almost exactly like her portrait's likeness was brilliant and the links she had with the historical figure from her teaching of English was really nice. I thought the line about Clara reading all of her works only for Austen to state that she hadn't been published yet was marvellous. The Doctor teaming up with Tom was a fun pairing and I liked the hunt for the brain-turning-to-jelly device, even if it could have been referred to something better! Tom being a poor man and wanting to wage war on the politicians and rich who got richer and went to the theatre whilst he struggled for food was very good and a good way to capture the time period. Clara and Jane getting invited to the party was terrific and their relationship together was magnificent. It even appeared that they shared a kiss! Clara being referred to as Jane's new girlfriend was also fantastic and quite modern for the time period which was almost refreshing. The assassination attempt by James Attfield was a good injection of action and excitement with King George nearly taking out and the issue that stemmed from the Doctor's recollection of history and blurting out the would-be assassin's name was magnificent. That seemed really typical of this incarnation of the Doctor. Clumsy brilliance. Rutland taking a shine to Clara was hardly a surprise (I mean who can blame him!) and the dance and mouthy brunette comment that followed were both really good. Adastra actually turning out to be Rutland was an unexpected twist and she was actually an alien female! That was a sudden shift but her and the dodgy vortex manipulators explaining where history went wrong with the attempt to kill Jane by carriage was a greta little explanation. It tied things up very nicely. The Orientation Coronet resulting in things vanishing was nicely done and I enjoyed the snideness of the revelation that Tom was just tracking the Doctor on Adastra's behalf all along. Tom knowing that Adastra was just trying to use him was good and predictable and I liked how she exploited his desire for a republic. She was simply on a gap year which was amusing but she was shot, albeit not fatally and that allowed her inside the TARDIS as the Doctor looked to help her and send her on her way. Overall, a really fun story!

Rating: 8/10

The King of the Dead

"The story goes on around you."

Writer: Ian Atkins

Format: Audio

Released: May 2015

Series: Short Trips 5.05

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

When the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive in 1980s London, they find the current hot ticket is The King of the Dead, an interactive theatre experience they've inadvertently become part of. The Doctor settles into his usual role – trying to save the day after discovering an alien presence – but it's Nyssa who finds herself dealing with someone who is working from a different script entirely...

Verdict

The King of the Dead was a very good little Short Trips audio! There was certainly no messing around when it came to this story as there was a frantic pace and sense of action from the start which is probably needed for an audio in this kind of format and whilst things did have a feeling that they were a little rushed, something that was very evident in the first few minutes of the story, it did add to the excitement of the adventure which was of course a big benefit. In saying that, the way the abrupt opening titles even seemed to be shedded for time was a little off-putting and something I didn't recall coming across in the Short Trips range before so that was a little strange. I thought Sarah Sutton did a fine job as the narrator and also in her reprisal of Nyssa. I was also incredibly impressed with her Australian accent when it came to her impression of Tegan. It was actually uncanny and I don't think I would have batted an eyelid had Janet Fielding's name came up in the credits! It was excellently done and really gave the audio a credible feel, something that can be prone to lacking in this range. Her take on the Doctor was good and definitely aided by the writing and I liked the pacy nature of his involvement in the story. The plot behind this audio was a very good one and I liked the use of foresight in the Doctor's aim of taking Nyssa and Tegan to the London 2012 Olympics. Of course, had this story been intended for airing in the 1980s when this trio were the main cast then we couldn't have known where the Olympics would take place in that year, but by the time of release they'd happened so for the Doctor a causal drop of knowledge was excellent. They ended up in the 1980s though and quickly found themselves taking part in an interactive play which was great! The King of the Dead was certainly a catchy title and the initial confusion from Tegan regarding the fact it should be Elizabeth II on the throne was fun. The way some of the characters shifted between the roles they were playing and their real selves was mightily intriguing and a clever ploy, even if it was sometimes a little difficult to fully follow. The Joshua character claiming knowledge of the Doctor was interesting and it was clear that he had a vast amount by referring to Tegan and Nyssa as companions. I thought that was a nice little touch and use of terminology. His character as Patrick was very good and learning how his dad had died whilst fighting for UNIT during the time the Doctor was employed as the scientific advisor was a fantastic dynamic and it was brilliant to hear how he blamed the Doctor and thought he had a disregard for life like the ordinary soldier. Of course, that's very much the opposite of what the Doctor is. The mentions of the UNIT Vault and the Doctor's role in creating the security for that along with the brain print was fun and allowed for Patrick to be found guilty almost instantly. It was his dad who had stolen the alien tech to draw the enemies to the play and the attempt of feeding over 600 attendees in a form of revenge was pretty scary! Nyssa's story of forgiving the Master for what he did to Tremas, her father, during The Keeper of Traken and what that meant for her in the proceeding adventures was really heartfelt. It was a powerful story and showed just how mature and kind of person Nyssa was which was really nice. Overall, a very good little story!

Rating: 8/10