Scenes From Her Life

"Your mind is a window to me."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: March 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 2.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Investigating the appearance of the Voord on Earth, the Doctor, Liv and Helen follow a trail which takes them to the other side of the universe. There they discover a mysterious and almost deserted gothic city lost in space and time, in which the grotesque inhabitants are conducting a vile and inhumane experiment. The Doctor and his companions must hurry to save the lives of those in danger before the experiment is a success and the unimaginable consequences become all too real. 

Verdict

Scenes From Her Life was an excellent episode to continue my way through the second volume of Doom Coalition! The Eighth Doctor Adventures really do seem to be heating up and whilst they've been great for so long now, this feels like another step up is coming and I'm absolutely ready for it! I loved the continuity we had from Beachhead with the Doctor and his companions visiting the very point in space where the Voord home world had stood, but was now simply gone. What could cause destruction on a planetary scale? I liked how Helen was a little cautious about the prospect of going after what caused that because of the obvious dangers, and whilst the TARDIS was big and the Doctor assured her of its protection, it wasn't planet level big. I am really enjoying the realism that Helen is bringing as a companion. Long may it continue. I loved the idea of the TARDIS landing within a TARDIS but this one had gone somewhat wrong! It had been exposed to the Vortex for far too long and had even lost its outer shell. No wonder the path following the artron energy was blocked! And it was expanding with a collision almost occurring. The description of the Gothic style was good and I liked how that seemed to match my image of early Gallifrey. This was a TARDIS even older than the Doctor's and its inhabitants in the form of Stormblood and Sepulchra were fascinating characters. They clearly weren't sane but they wouldn't let that be how they were looked upon! They firmly believed they were fine despite not really remembering their childhood and having been within the TARDIS since they could remember. There were a lot of things in play from since they could remember, but ironically they couldn't exactly remember how long that had been. I thought that was quite fun. The inclusion of the Eleven in a brief cameo flashback was good and it really helped make Caleera out to be a fine enemy. The twist regarding her was brilliant as it seemed she was being tormented and experimented upon, only for it to be her own experiment! I thought it was good to get an explanation regarding the Voord home world and Caleera using her incredible telepathic ability to destroy it as a test was quite incredible! It showed just how much power she wielded and it's no surprise that she was wanted to take suppressants. Her power could be dangerous. It's also then no wonder that the Eleven welcomed her visiting him. Strong continuity across the board here which I'm a huge fan of hearing! I thought Swordfish was a fun character and definitely one that was brutal. Injection of fear was not something short in this character and I like the quirky name. I'm surprised there wasn't more of a reaction to that! Liv and Helen ignoring the Doctor's instructions of staying in the TARDIS was a terrific moment too, especially with Helen being the one to suggest it and ask how long they would typically leave it after receiving such instructions. The Doctor enhancing Caleera's power at the end as the means to free was good, except things went a little far and the old TARDIS was breaking up and set for destruction. That was quite emphatic and I enjoyed Liv's rushing to get to a TARDIS that wasn't actually being destroyed. I must admit the little cliffhanger finish took me off guard, but the idea of bringing half of the older TARDIS back to real space was fun and definitely does indeed sound like a bumpy ride! I'm excited to hear where things go from here. Overall, a fantastic adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Beachhead

"The TARDIS is stone cold dead."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: March 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 2.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

In an attempt to recharge his batteries after his confrontation with the Eleven, the Doctor takes Liv and Helen to the sleepy English seaside village of Stegmoor. But they find the village in turmoil and, to make matters worse, their arrival uncovers a mystery from the Doctor's past which threatens the future safety of the planet. Can the Doctor prevent the Voord from invading Earth? And more importantly, why have they come in the first place?

Verdict

Beachhead was a strong episode to kick off the second volume of Doom Coalition within the ongoing Eighth Doctor Adventures! I was delighted when I saw the cover artwork for this story as the Voord are such an exciting race to be bringing back. I am an almighty fan of The Keys of Marinus for their debut and with just one other performed appearance by Big Finish, it's great to hear them encounter another incarnation of the Doctor. I like the mystery of their home world being destroyed and them needing a new place to rebuild in the form of planet Earth, but who could be responsible for such a change of history? That's quite dramatic and it sets us up nicely for the rest of the boxset, as this was far from a holiday for the Doctor and his companions. I liked how disappointed Helen was by the prospect of going to Stegmoor because with the TARDIS they literally had all of history and space at their fingertips, but the Doctor wanted to go to a small English village? That didn't exactly sound exciting on paper. She was though rather interested in being in the year 2017 which was in her future, but not too far. Her first thoughts being to get in contact with people she knew was fun stuff and I liked her inquisitive mind. I thought the coming of a flood was brilliant and the TARDIS getting pulled along for the ride was good, but the real life cataclysm of several of the population drowning was horrifying. It was a very real world threat and those often work best. The Doctor sharing a history with Phillipa Gregson was nice and I liked how he'd met her before during his third incarnation with UNIT. I did have to do some quick research to see if this encounter exists anywhere, but alas it remains an unseen adventure. That's absolutely fine, and I liked how the events still haunted her. She'd signed the Official Secrets Act and because of it had eventually lost her husband, and even then she wouldn't tell her own daughter too much of what had happened. That was quite sad. I liked how she slowly accepted thanks to the police box and the nature of what was happening that the Eighth Doctor was still the man she had met, even though he was now younger. I thought the Doctor pondering on the days with Liza Shaw and the Brigadier was a nice touch as well. He genuinely seemed to remember them fondly which is lovely. I enjoyed the build to the Voord appearing and Liv showcased her medical abilities in deducing that they were far from human. Ishtek was a good front for the race and the theme of water feels right given their proximity to the acid water back on Marinus. I did think they were perhaps defeated a little too easily with the shots from anti terrorist police, but it was rather emphatic! The Doctor's explanation of crushing the ship with rocks was quite fun and I liked the subtle mockery of some past explanations at the end of story. Some scientific jargon from the Doctor wasn't going to be sufficient for Helen and Liv which was really fun. We've got quite the TARDIS trio on our hands here and I'm excited for what's to come next! Tellat was a decent addition as another Voord and he seemed a little more dangerous. One thing I would have liked to have been improved for the episode was the voices of the Voord. They sounded just a tad too human without the visual aid, but it wasn't a big issue. The humour of the Doctor trying to sneak away and having no issues in dematerialising the TARDIS in front of anti terror police was great. They had more important things like an alien corpse to deal with! Overall, a really strong story to kick off the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Signs and Wonders

"A god's passing has the power to shake all things to their foundation."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 191

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hector/Hex, Sally

Synopsis 

The end of the world is night. That's what everybody is seeing in their nightmares. That's why they are congregating in Liverpool for the party to end all parties, hosted by Rufus Stone, a celebrity turned doomsday prophet. He claims he's the only one who can save them when the day of judgement comes. Because he's on the side of the angels. 

The Doctor, Ace and Hector arrive to find the city in the grip of apocalypse fever. There are lights in the sky, earthquakes and power cuts. The Doctor is determined to investigate, while Ace is more concerned about finding a way of restoring Hector's lost memories. 

Meanwhile, in the river Mersey, hides, slug-like creatures are stirring...

Verdict

Signs and Wonders was a decent story to round out the latest trilogy of Monthly Adventures for the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hector. It seems to have also finally concluded Hex's time as companion which I must say has felt a little unnecessarily elongated. I was not a fan of the Hector persona and I really do think it takes away from Hex's death. What we had in Afterlife was strong and a nice way to kind of pay homage to the companion, but for some reason most companions just can't stay dead. Why must we persist with giving characters a happy ending? I hated it on screen with the likes of Clara and Bill and I just wish Hex had his final ending as we've already heard numerous releases ago. In saying that, I do think it's quite poetic and nice that he ends up with Sally Morgan who made a fine return here, but it all feels a bit random at the end with the Doctor and Ace popping forward fifteen years and just checking in to say hello. The continuation of the Elder Gods theme was good and I liked the mystery that brings as the potential in the Gods is obviously strong. There was the expected reference to Gods and Monsters with the name dropping of Fenric and Weyland, but also a fun reminder of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy and the Gods of Ragnarok. To'Koth was in that same vain which immediately gave him some kind of credence and the devotion Praska had towards him as a servant was incredible. She was overwhelmed and overawed by the very prospect of communicating with him. The Doctor less so. One thing I did notice in the story which was a bit annoying was that there was just far too much of the Doctor talking to himself out loud. I understand the medium of audio but it didn't feel natural or at all reasonable that the Doctor would be seeing these things out loud in his own company. The uneasy feeling between Ace and Hector was felt throughout and being back in Liverpool was good, until Hector was drawn in to the lure of Rufus Stone. His position as a famous person calling on the end of the world being near was good and I loved the media attention he was getting. Hex being from the 2020s is good and I liked the near future setting being basically the time I'm listening now. It's a fun quirk to think about with me being behind in my listening. The build up towards the coming of To'Koth was strong and I appreciated the pace of the story for the first half at least. It didn't give everything away all in one go as we first considered Rufus before realising he was just a pawn in a much bigger game. That was good, although I must say I thought the second half of the story did drag on a little. The use of emotion and memories on both the sides of Hector and the Doctor was strong stuff. Hector would regain his memories of Hex which was nice for Ace more than anything, but also I liked that familiarity of him being able to call Sally something as simple as Sal. She would get her chance to be with him now and she absolutely took it! As for the Doctor, the torment he was experiencing when feeling the anguish of the TARDIS was incredible and I loved how Ace didn't want him to be alone. She knew Hex was going to leave so she was straight at rekindling that relationship with the Doctor and letting him know how much she loved him. I love the prospect of now having a series of adventures with just the Seventh Doctor and Ace. In some ways, that's how it should have been for a long time. I thought the foreshadowing of the future premonitions were fun and Ace seeing multiple versions of her future which were in different media/series with the likes of Ground Zero and Intervention Earth acknowledged was a nice touch. All possible, not all fixed. It was a nice way of explaining things across different medias and indicating that all were potentially correct. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Mr Invincible

"Your identity isn't a secret."

Writer: Mark Morris

Format: Audio

Released: June 2012

Series: Torchwood BBC Audio 10

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen

Synopsis

Ross Chapman is one of life's losers. So when he survives a point-blank shooting, dons a superhero costume and becomes a crime-busting vigilante, something strange is clearly going on. 

And Ross's transformation isn't the only odd thing happening in Cardiff. Time is distorting – around the city, some people are ageing, dying and decomposing in a matter of minutes, while others are reverting to childhood. 

Sgt Andy Davidson knows he's out of his depth – so when Jack Harkness sweeps into the police station, he's glad of the help that only Torchwood can provide. But for Jack, the stakes are higher than ever. He's seen a vision of Gwen, dead, murdered by an unknown gunman. And if he can't solve the mystery of Mr Invincible, he can't save her...

Verdict

Mr Invincible was a strong audio adventure to conclude my listening of the Torchwood Tales collection! This has been a terrific little journey through the BBC Audio releases of the Doctor Who spinoff, and it has even seen us go beyond Miracle Day which was been a blast. I was quite surprised given how that fourth series ends on television with Gwen seeing Jack shoot off into space and the beyond with no indication of return, that they nearly end up reunited here. Rhys sees him and comments upon him, but with her life in danger Jack didn't want to see her. I thought that was a little harsh and felt a bit wrong with it seeming a missed opportunity, but I liked going beyond the television series. There's so much potential left untapped with Torchwood so I appreciate something being done here. I was a little surprised by the actual plot of the story and I guess in hindsight I ought not to have been. I wasn't expecting Torchwood to go down the superhero route but I really enjoyed what we got. It felt authentic and real which was fantastic and almost did feel like an origin story for a Marvel series! That's a strong compliment. We actually got some kind of rationale for how Ross becomes Mr Invincible. I think that's a pretty fun name for a superhero and the banter that came with him wanting to have a pun on mystery with 'Mr I' was good with Andy retorting that he should actually have a superhero name starting with the letter E instead. Somehow, Mr Excellent didn't have the same kind of ring to it. The link between Jack seeing Gwen die from Red Skies and Mr Invincible solving crimes before they even happened was strong stuff and I liked how it drew everyone together for the story that unfolded. The idea of Cardiff being home to a superhero is a fun idea and for me personally with it being my city of work, I could just picture him jumping around from place to place and stopping crimes! The concept of someone being invincible was also played with very well and the involvement of time around him as the explanation was great. Jodie as his daughter playing the part in making her dad a superhero was admirable but a little strange, although it was a nice idea from the child. She just wanted her father to be respected and who could fault that? He obviously didn't deserve to die so why not make him a superhero? It was how a daughter would certainly see their parent so I liked that. It was a nice touch, even if a little unexpected. I thought Tom Price did a good job as the narrator once again and it certainly helps for a familiar character to be in that role. Andy is a really likeable chap amongst Torchwood and it's good that he feels much more mature and senior at this point in Torchwood continuity. He's not wholly inferior to Jack which is a bit of a stark contrast to what we would see on screen. I thought the build up throughout was good and it was clear what we were working towards, and the pace was strong throughout. It was exciting! I thought it was a bit of a shame though that Ross actually perished at the end once he was no longer Mr Invincible as Jodie's powers were stabilised by the device from Jack. It's a bit of a kick in the teeth as well that he was killed off by a mugger. Overall, a really strong story to see out Torchwood continuity as far as BBC releases go! 

Rating: 8/10

uPVC

"We simply don't want any windows!"

Writer: Paul Farnsworth

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 15

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe, Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

uPVC was a tremendous little story to continue my way through the More Short Trips collection! I’m reaching the end now and this was right up there as far as the book is concerned. It was just a great deal of fun and even though it was only twelve pages, it was just a sheer delight. Sure, it didn’t take long at all to read but it still absolutely whizzed by which is a great sign. I am writing this blog entry on the same train journey in which I read the story and I’m barely halfway on a commute that’s less than an hour so it definitely did something right. I think the Second Doctor was absolutely perfect for the first part of the story as he was just the exact personality required to be convinced by a salesman doing his best to get some new windows installed in the TARDIS. Jamie not knowing what double glazing was made for a fun moment and I couldn’t help but appreciate the efforts Rigby was going to in trying to make a sale. He was a proper salesman, that much was for sure. The mystery behind how he got into the TARDIS was left unanswered which is probably the only flaw in the story and why I couldn’t give it full marks, but I loved the fear factor when it came to there being knocks on the door. Jamie was almost made to feel ridiculous by the Doctor and Zoe for suggesting that there could be somebody outside in the Vortex, but he had the last laugh when the bang-bang-bang knocking came again. That was good fun. The talk of phantoms and just how Jamie was hearing something outside reminded me of how things started in The Mind Robber which is an iconic story, and I feel like that with the windows being sold providing any view that serial must have been at least a partial inspiration for this story. It had that kind of vibe which is a huge compliment. I thought the bickering between Rigby and the Doctor was so enjoyable and it was clear the Time Lord wasn’t going to be buying anything so rudimentary as windows, but then Zoe’s startled reaction to learning of the view they could provide seemed to change the Doctor’s mind. Maybe Rigby would get his commission after all! I thought the second part was rather poetic and beautiful in jumping ahead to the Seventh Doctor and Ace, with the latter clearly early on in her travels as the former was trying to teach her virtue and respect. He wasn’t impressed that she went wondering and found the padlock trying to get in without questioning what might be on the other side. I understood that, but I could also appreciate her curiosity. It’s quite somber to think that the Doctor at the time of purchasing the windows being prior to The War Games, had actually been missing his home planet. His chosen view would be of Gallifrey and how he remembered it as a boy. That was lovely stuff. I really liked that and even here now in his seventh incarnation and on good terms with his home planet, he still felt a little disconnected. He just wanted to break through the glass and experience his homeworld again. That was quite touching. Overall, a brilliant little read! 

Rating: 9/10

Hot Ice

"You will have time to reflect upon the enormity of your crime."

Writer: Christopher Bulis

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 14

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

Hot Ice was was a decent little story to continue my reading of the More Short Trips collection! It’s become something of a weekly routine now to read instalments from this book on my commute into work which has become a regular thing now in this wonderful world of hybrid working, and I don’t look ahead to see the name of the story nor do I research which combination of characters will feature. So I was delighted to get a story with the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Peri. It’s a bit of a travesty that we only get The Caves of Androzani with just those two together on screen as the Doctor makes the ultimate sacrifice for his companion, so to extend on the gap between that swan song and Peri’s debut in Planet of Fire is most welcomed in my book. They make a fun pairing and that’s evident right away as the Doctor banters about the true life on Mars. No blood-sucking octopuses but there are the humanoid lizards in the form of the Ice Warriors. She’ll of course meet them in this Doctor’s company in Red Dawn which is fun to think about. Unfortunately, there would be no Ice Warriors in this story despite the title which would have worked well, but I did think the Ventrosians had potential. I liked how the Doctor recognised them right away and any species that history with the Time Lords is instantly interesting to me! I liked that they were on the nose and when they referred to Peri as a native servant I could almost see her anger on the page! It was good stuff and it was no wonder the Time Lords refused to share technology with them. What I was a little sceptical about was how easily the TARDIS was infiltrated. That didn’t set too right with me and whilst I liked the use of it and it being detected by the old thief and drawn in, it felt a bit too intrusive for the Eye of Gaar to just be sitting there and plugged into the console! That feels too easy and the TARDIS is usually thought of as being a safe place, but it was far from that here. Even Len could see within and understood the value of the jewel! The Doctor was less interested and wasn’t at all bothered by a relic from Ventros Prime. The monks weren’t having it though despite his claims of being framed. I thought the Ventrosians being susceptible to the atmosphere of Earth was a little odd but it was quite emphatic to see them being literally turned to gas and nothingness. That was a brutal description. I thought it was quite funny that when the thief believed he’d gotten away with everything, it was ordinary Len who smashed him over the head and took the Eye of Gaar for himself. He was only interested in making a profit which I could appreciate, but unfortunately it too would burn him quite literally. This time it was with cold hence the title and the gas resulting from it would kill him also. It was quite a sombre ending really and that was really felt as the Doctor and Peri reflected on the death that had occurred in the adventure. For only sixteen pages or so, there was quite a lot! I enjoyed the description of the baffling attire the Doctor had with celery on his jacket, but just imagine the reaction if it was the next incarnation! And I also liked the Doctor pondering on whether he should build a new sonic screwdriver. He really ought to! Overall, a good little read. 

Rating: 7/10

Operation Werewolf

"What made you decide to betray your own country?"

Writers: Douglas Canfield & Robert Kitts (Adapted by Jonathan Morris)

Format: Audio

Released: July 2024

Series: Lost Stories 8.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The TARDIS has brought the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe to Normandy in France, not in 1066 as intended, but in 1944, three days before the Allies are due to launch the D-Day landings. 

Joining forces with French partisans, they learn that the Germans have been conducting secret experiments at a nearby chateau. These experiments form part of a plan that German high command believe will enable them to win the Second World War. The name of that plan? Operation Werewolf.

Verdict

Operation Werewolf was a very strong adventure! Although officially the second release in the eighth series of Lost Stories, this was actually released first so I thought I'd best get around to it. It's a mammoth tale of six parts and over two-and-a-half hours long, but that didn't sway my enjoyment in the slightest and it never felt like it was overstaying its welcome which is a big bonus. I love the trio of the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe and it's intriguing that with a reference to The Seeds of Death when it came to likening the teleport device to T-Mat, this was quite close towards the end of their run. That was even more sadder to realise when it came to Jamie refusing to believe that he would ever return home to Culloden as he encountered one of his ancestors here in the form of Fergus. He was a fascinating character as the true doctor that was sent over to France by the British, and I loved how Jamie seemed audibly disappointed by the fact that he now deemed himself English. I don't think Jamie would accept that for his family, but here they are now settled south of the border. It's good to know that Fergus was familiar with the family battle cry. It's nice that some things aren't lost through the generations. I thought the way the story started was pretty humorous in having the Doctor excited about taking his companions to see history in Normandy in 1066, expect the year was entirely wrong. It couldn't be much worse really in that it was just a few days prior to D-Day. What a place to be! Talk about history. Although it was much more dangerous, I'd argue it was a more historically significant place. I was intrigued to read in the DWM preview that the original outline for this story would have included Victoria, but after listening I definitely think it was the right move to shake things up and go with Zoe. She's more suited to a war zone with her scientific expertise, so it was quite surprising when she was subjected to the Nazi indoctrination and submitted to their will. I thought the entire concept behind Operation Werewolf was quite mad but given this was the Nazis in 1944, the desperation was something I could appreciate. I also loved the use of teleportation to get from Normandy to the shores of Britain undetected and simultaneous. That would be quite the advantage! Sir Aubrey as the turncoat on the British side was good and I loved how deluded he was in wanting to instal himself as Prime Minister by the time the day was out and then lead a new Reich. The true villain of the piece though was SS Gruppenfuhrer Ulrich Schneider. She even shot Aubrey in the resolution to the excellent part five cliffhanger because she knew of the usefulness the Doctor provided. I thought she was callous and chilling which were perfect qualities for a villain of this kind. I loved the dynamic between Fergus and Jamie with the former not taking too much convincing to believe that the latter was actually his great-great uncle. Or beyond. I thought the Doctor using knowledge in the guise of trying to deceive was a good way to end the story, as a collision of particles on both sides of the teleport would see them both sent out into the fourth dimension of time. That was quire an emphatic ending. I do wish that the moments involving Churchill could have had a voice on the other side of the phone as that was noticeably lacking given that we'd had previous phone calls in the story, but it wasn't a huge issue. I thought Michael Troughton was outstanding in taking on his father's role here in a story that I could definitely have seen working on screen. It felt very authentic of its era which is brilliant. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Palace of the Red Sun

"Why can life not be more like the story books?"

Writer: Christopher Bulis

Format: Novel

Released: March 2002

Series: PDA 50

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Glavis Judd: Protector of the galaxy or interstellar tyrant? Unscrupulous reporter Dexel Dynes doesn't care. He's only after a sensational story – the more violent the better.

Meanwhile, the TARDIS has landed Peri and the Doctor on a strangely isolated little world, whose immaculate gardens basking under a timeless sun seem the very model of tranquility. Of course, it's too good to be true. 

With the threat of invasion looming, the Doctor and Peri set out to confront the lofty Lords of Esselven. The Doctor must pass safely through the vast gardens of the royal estates while evading the clutches of their fanatical gardeners. Peri has escaped from all that, only to face the dangers of the dark and mysterious wild woods, which hold their own ancient secrets. 

It is a race to save the people of Esselven from the clutches of Glavis Judd. But who amongst the garden world's strange inhabitants can they trust, when nobody is quite what they seem? As time runs out, will Peri and the Doctor discover who really rules inside the Palace of the Red Sun?

Verdict

Palace of the Red Sun was a great read to mark the fiftieth story in the Past Doctor Adventures range! I always enjoy going back to the pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Peri and it was nice to spend a few days with them here as I made my way through this rather unique book! I thought this was feeling like one of the more recent literary crossovers with how unique the setting was and it definitely felt like there was some sort of fictional element. I wasn't wholly surprised by the revelation that much of the world was a fake, but it was still good to build to it. Even though I saw it coming, it wasn't a let down which was delightful. The scale of the book was strong and I liked how it spanned over numerous days. That helps when it comes to the books because that sort of thing feel more realistic than perhaps what we often see on screen. Peri getting friendly with Ken was great, but things got a little too friendly at times for her! The moment she awoke to Kel trying to mate her was quite something! I didn't expect that, but I guess I should have given the moment nature came calling to him when they tried to plan their escape in choreographed measure. But being on top of Peri got him a little excited after not really having contact with female kind. It was understandable in a society like that, but when Peri joined up with them and became at one, Kel wanted her as his mate as was his right. That didn't go down well with Peri! It was nice that things came Nerla's way by the end and she got the next king in Kel. I didn't realise until close to the end of the book that Dexel Dynes had encountered the Doctor and Peri before, but I don't think it was all that necessary to have the prior reading to appreciate his character. I loved his desire for a story and he wasn't afraid to confront those that were the subject of his news stories. He was neutral and perhaps took that for granted a little too much. How impartial would he remain? I thought Glavis Judd made for a really strong villain and his position as Protector was excellent. The desire he had for gaining complete control over Esselven was terrific and I liked how he was basically consumed with unlocking everything. So when he'd finally found the route in hyperspace that the previous royal family he'd chased away had taken, a year earlier, he was dismayed to find the time difference of half a millennium! They were long dead and the whole world in which they'd arrived was basically a simulation repeat. The importance of the gardens always felt a little strong and overbearing, but it was good to have the Doctor converse with Green-8 who had developed sentience. It was excited by the prospect of there being more to the world, and that was also seen with Oralissa when she began questioning things. She couldn't get answers and that just showed the limitations of the programming. I thought the truth was a little obvious by how different Luci and Boots were early on in the novel, and it's staggering to think just how much things would have differed if Peri did stay put in the haha. It was a nice meeting back together at the end though after a long time apart! I thought Judd's arrival felt perhaps slightly too late as by the time he was there it was already falling down, but the message from the King was very good. He was defeated still all this time later, and when he returned in his ship he was in completely the wrong time. His Protectorate had collapsed after he disappeared and Dynes also couldn't get a job. The media had moved on from his style of news. I thought that was really fun. Overall, a really strong read! 

Rating: 8/10

Return of the Spiders

"You are the buffet. And it is time for us to feast."

Writer: Gareth Roberts

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 13

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

Return of the Spiders was a decent little story to continue my reading through the More Short Trips collection! This really was as advertised in that we did see the return of the Spiders, although it was somewhat unconventional I must say! I am delighted to get a return encounter with the Eight Legs, although I must admit there was more than one peculiarity in the story. I did enjoy how things started with the mysterious invite on the street to a buffet from Mr and Mrs Fordyce, and just knowing the format and style of Doctor Who adventures there was obviously going to be more to it than a simple getting to know each other around a table full of food. I just didn’t expect it to be revealed so quickly! The emergence of the Spiders was great and I liked that they were consuming meat in the form of a local meat deal at a pizza place. Talk about a whacky supply of food! The arrival of the TARDIS was good and I was impressed with the way the relationship between the Doctor and Romana was captured. Their chemistry, particularly with the latter in her second incarnation, is just wonderful and with K9 thrown in it made for a strong connection. I love them. The humour that came from the bet was delightful as the Doctor wasn’t all too excited to have arrived in the suburbs of High Wycombe. And just how random can that randomiser be to keep bringing them to Earth? I’ll let it slide. It’s a necessity. The means by which the Doctor wanted to investigate the delivery address for the pizzas after finding the green drool on the devoured boxes in the bins was good and he was absolutely all for improvisation. He didn’t have much of a plan other than giving himself a time limit to get the job done of defeating the Spiders by giving strict instructions to K9. Fifteen minutes otherwise the robot dog was going to blow the house to smithereens. I’m not entirely convinced his blaster had those kind of capabilities, but it did provide a bit of excitement and urgency. I do think a little more could have been done to distinguish this was the second incarnation of Romana as it wasn’t until much later in the story that her blonde hair was established. There could easily have been adventured for Romana I using the randomiser between The Armageddon Factor and Destiny of the Daleks, but that’s not a major issue. I also did think there was a little bit of needless dialogue, especially with the way the Queen announced she recognised the Doctor despite his appearance and personality having completely changed. That felt a little forced and almost took away a little bit from the confrontation. I also wasn’t a fan of the Doctor having to wrack his memories for confirmation on how the Eight Legs voice was familiar. Of course it wasn’t Daleks or Cybermen! Now, the mention of Zygons was more plausible but surely given that it was the events of Planet of the Spiders that sparked his last regeneration, the cause of that would surely be familiar? That’s not likely something you’d forget or struggle to remember in a flash. Regardless, the return was good and it was a much different setting. I appreciate the leyline inclusion as a means of the Spiders reaching Earth, but they were in a weakened state after the journey hence the pizza consumption. The humour of the Doctor sneaking into the attic and tying the legs of the Queen together was good natured and very much typical of the fourth incarnation. The use of the fire engine and using the hoses to basically rip apart the Queen at the end was very real world and quite empathic! But the eggs were a serious threat and needed to be dealt with. The Doctor acknowledging that this sort of happening was very usual for them was fun as he didn’t seem keen on paying up his bet! I expected as much. Overall, a good little read!

Rating: 7/10

The Satanic Mill

"You are aware you're being exploited?"

Writer: Edward Collier

Format: Audio

Released: October 2015

Series: Doom Coalition 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Satanic Mill – a vast Victorian factory floating in the deep of space. 

As the Doctor closes in on his quarry, long-buried anomosities come boiling to the surface on this ancient and powerful satellite, in a final confrontation that could have unimaginable consequences. 

And even that is only the beginning...

Verdict

The Satanic Mill was a great episode to conclude the first volume of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! I thought it was brilliant to get the Eleven back to bookend the boxset and he was in brutal form. I loved how there was definitely more of an obvious plan in play and whilst he was rather disappointed with the outcome in The Galileo Trap, which is rather putting it mildly, he was quite amused by the coming of the Doctor to him. It was hardly the means he had expected, but here was the arrogance of the man in not believing that he could be defeated! I thought the Eleven's reaction to seeing that the Doctor had picked up an additional companion was terrific and his plan for Helen and Liv was absolutely dastardly. He really did relish the prospect of essentially dissecting and destroying them. This was evil on another level for a Time Lord and given the regenerative failure of his condition, it wasn't wholly surprising that by the eleventh regeneration he was in this kind of state. The titular mill was an unexpected part of the overall story arc but I really liked the simplicity of a Victorian factory being used to power a solar supernova. The link backs to Omega and the founding of time travel that essentially kickstarted Time Lord society on Gallifrey was great and the intended use for the Doctor was frightening and exciting at the same time. The death of a Time Lord would be the trigger event and the Eleven obviously intended on the Doctor! I thought that was good and it was great to hear just how much he relished in that prospect. He was giddy with excitement, but there were doubts from within from previous incarnations which must be incredibly frustrating! Just imagine being disagreed with constantly by yourself. No wonder he's a madman. The Doctor's relationship with Paine became quite touching and it was sad that the latter thought there was literally nothing to life other than working. He couldn't grasp how the Doctor didn't know about the factory from which he was within and that work would become their life. Paine thinking he was born that very day was quite a shock and showed just how brainwashed he was, especially considering he had a concept of yesterday. The concept of the future was a little less obvious to him though and that's where the Doctor stepped in. The mechanical security gods were a fun element of the story and really did remind the listener that we were very much far from the Victorian age. I enjoyed the moment the Eleven and the Doctor confronted one another with the former revealing his intentions. It felt like a monumental moment and almost up there with encounters with the likes of the Master and Davros. The Eleven has made a huge impression in this boxset and I can't wait to hear more from him moving forward. I think the ending is why my rating is a little lower than I was expecting for much of the episode because it was a little too open ended and ambiguous. It seemed to set things up for more boxsets rather than answering the question with the Eleven claiming there is a far bigger picture. That seemed to contradict much of the direction of the episode, but it also excites me. Given the overall umbrella title, it does seem the Eleven could be just one element of a much bigger coalition against the Doctor. Either way, the stellar manipulation occurring and even Galileo getting involved with the sun and proclaiming the end of the world was very exciting. And things just seemed to stall which was odd and left a little bit of a weird feeling at the end. It didn't feel complete which is not what you want for a finale. Overall though, still a really strong episode to round out what has been a hugely enjoyable boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

The Galileo Trap

"They say he's lost his soul."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: October 2015

Series: Doom Coalition 1.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Helen Sinclair doesn't know what hit her. One moment she was trapped in a dead-end job in 1960s London, and now she is transported back to Renaissance Italy over three centuries before. Florence is a city in turmoil. A new plague stalks the streets. A ferocious behemoth rampages through the vineyards. And Galileo Galilei, celebrated scientist, astronomer and old friend of the Doctor, is imprisoned in his own villa for heresy. 

But why has Galileo summoned the Doctor? Who are the mysterious Fortuna and Cleaver? Why have they been sent to Earth? And what is Galileo's secret? Is it the last thing he saw before he went blind?

Verdict

The Galileo Trap was a great episode to continue my way through the first volume of Doom Coalition in the ongoing Eighth Doctor Adventures! I think this a really strong outing and follows on very nicely from The Red Lady with the stone tablet warning from Galileo to the Doctor. Of course, it was a warning to stay away but the Doctor wouldn't be able to resist such danger. He was obviously going to investigate and not give his old friend any potential of being consumed by a threat. He was going to help Galileo as we would expect and I thought it was really nice to explore their relationship. There was a deep past amongst the pair which was intriguing and the blindness of Galileo came into play very well. He didn't need to see and could just hear that this incarnation of the Doctor was much too young and not the version he had previously met, That was good and whilst I'm not usually a massive fan of unseen past amongst characters, this worked well. He was almost so famous in history that it didn't matter. I was impressed with Helen in her first full journey as a companion and her reaction to going back in time by three centuries was delightful. She'd not even been abroad so the fact she was in Florence alone was extraordinary, let alone in the past! I loved that newness and it was nice to experience her first journey. She was having the time of her life and this is just the beginning. I thought Cleaver and Fortuna made for decent villains as the Volkbrood, and they really were monstrous. I must admit I think it was best placed that the format for them here was an audio as whilst I do appreciate how they look on the cover artwork, seeing this in play is not something I would imagine would work too well. I'm not sure why but I'm not a huge fan of the overbearing monster type of enemies but they didn't get in the way too much here. Thankfully they also had human personas and they were really interesting! I liked exploring how they had knowledge of the future also with the likes of watches and cameras, something simple but so out of place in Renaissance Italy. They didn't even seem that bothered by the TARDIS trio though who they'd deemed tourists. That was except for the whole thing being a trap to get the Doctor. I thought it was a roundabout way to get him, but it made for a fun episode never the less! Cavalli in his multiple forms was a humorous character too as a cyborg (which was of course classified information) member of law enforcement. The Doctor's role in bringing about the downfall of the Volkbrood pair was good in that he didn't actually have to do a huge amount as they tried to feed upon his soul, but of course that would be too much for them and would actually see them perish. The disguise of Fortuna as Galileo's daughter was a little emotional when it was revealed that he knew all along she wasn't who she was impersonating, but it still provided him with some comfort in his blindness after her death of five years previous. That was touching but it was tremendous to hear just how intelligent he was. He was under house arrest because he believed that the Earth orbited the Sun! Perish the thought. I thought he was fantastic and it was a great use of a historical character. Overall, a really strong outing for Helen in her first foray in the TARDIS and a nice way to set up the finale with the identity of the employer, even if it was expected. A good listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Red Lady

"Her face! Her terrible face!"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: October 2015

Series: Doom Coalition 1.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

An anomaly in time brings the Doctor and Liv to London in the 1960s, where they meet a young lady named Helen Sinclair – desperately trying to make a name for herself in the face of sexism and prejudice. 

Whilst the Doctor tried to uncover the secrets of a mysterious artefact, a far deadlier mystery awaits Liv and Helen in the collection of a recently deceased antiquarian. 

Because that's where they find the Red Lady. Because if you do, you might not like what you see.

Verdict

The Red Lady was another excellent episode to continue my way through the first volume of Doom Coalition within the ongoing Eighth Doctor Adventures! This range always feels so exciting because the restraints are far less significant than the first seven incarnations as on screen we only got to see the Eighth Doctor's debut and regeneration, with other media filling in the gap. With Liv well established now as a really strong companion, I think it's great that Helen joins the crew here! She has a strong debut and I love how she starts with showing complete dismay about being overlooked for the post at the National Museum to a man who she believed was substandard to her. She was absolutely outraged which was a fine introduction to her. I thought the Doctor and Liv returning to the 1960s was fun and as the Doctor acknowledged, this is a period he has spent considerable time. He was only hoping for a quick dash so wasn't too worried about running into any past incarnations (or future if The Devil's Chord is anything to go by), and the quick investigation of the anomaly that coincided with the Eleven's departure from Gallifrey was a good basis for the story. Except he wouldn't feature and a very different threat indeed would arise. I thought the concept behind the Red Lady artwork was fascinating and different onlookers seeing it at different distances and in differing positions was tremendous. It was quite chilling and scary actually! It felt a little reminiscent of 73 Yards also with the mystery and ambiguity regarding her appearance. The significance of Dr McCallum's collection was intriguing and the safeguarding he had undergone to tackle the Red Lady is absolutely staggering! It would seem to have killed his parents and then came for his loved one and child, so he'd actually blinded himself in an attempt to prevent her power from simply being looked upon. That was horrifying and showed just how deadly the Red Lady was. The testament of his will being to have the collection locked up and hidden became understandable, but the earlier suggestion that his entire collection had never been gazed upon was initially very confusing! I loved how things came together though and made sense by the end. It was all very mysterious and I liked the Doctor deducing the truth about the blindness. The additional mystery of the tablet translation not being recognised by the TARDIS circuits was fun too and I liked how it came to be revealed by the end as a message for the Doctor from Gallileo! Helen couldn't quite believe it but even she couldn't argue too much with the Doctor suggesting that the only logical explanation was that he and Liv were time travellers. And after her involvement in losing the collection, Helen was due to face time imprisoned as well as losing her job. The Doctor was keen to prevent that and rather excitedly invited her to join his crew as the new companion! I must admit that I was a little surprised by that, but I'm absolutely all for it. She had a strong relationship with Liv and that only bodes well for the future. I thought the only slight issue was that the Red Lady was defeated a little easily in essentially being trapped in a poem and a bit of folded paper, but it was quick and significant. Overall, a fantastic episode once again! 

Rating: 9/10

The Eleven

"We need to get ahead of the game."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: October 2015

Series: Doom Coalition 1.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv

Synopsis

The Eleven. A Time Lord whose previous personalities live on in his mind: arguing, plotting, jostling for supremacy... He is also Gallifrey's most dangerous criminal. And he has escaped. 

The Doctor is recalled to his homeworld to lead the hunt. As they search the Capitol's corridors of power, the Academy halls and the cells of the highest security penitentiary, Liv realises the worst monsters may be among the Doctor's own people. 

For inside his fractured mind, the Eleven has a plan. And its deadly consequences will extend through space and time...

Verdict

The Eleven was an excellent episode to kick off the Doom Coalition series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I've been so excited to dive right into this series and given the success of Dark Eyes, I have full faith that this will be just as good. If this opener was anything to go by then we have so much to look forward to as this was a superb introduction to the titular character of the Eleven! This Time Lord has obviously now featured in numerous Big Finish stories and I've encountered him in a few, but this was a super introduction. I was a huge fan! I loved that we got a cameo of the Seventh Doctor to showcase that the Eleven has a history with the Doctor and it really sold just how difficult it was to get him trapped on Gallifrey. Of course, when we ventured forward in time to Kiani wanting to ask him a few questions as part of her thesis, there was only going to be one result. The means in which we got there though were very exciting and I loved that the Eleven's escape wasn't even visible! Except of course to Liv as a human. She wasn't exactly greeted with much love on Gallifrey given her species but the eye filter was only susceptible to Time Lords so she turned out to be pretty useful to have around after all! She was after somewhere tranquil but the planet of the Time Lords might be slightly too mundane, as she did agree by the end. I think the concept behind the Eleven of being a Time Lord with all of his past incarnations basically as one was sensational. It was on show in incredible fashion and I loved all of the different voices popping out, mostly when they were not wanted. The Eight as a completely different personality and perhaps a 'good' version of the Eleven was brilliant, but then we had such differing qualities from the One to the Ten. It was incredible stuff and the mental torment that the Eleven must have been enduring makes him a brilliant villain. He's unhinged and I think that's incredibly exciting. The fact he assumed the role of President in Romana's absence was exciting and it does make me laugh that for such a society as that of the Time Lords that their ancient laws can be taken advantage of to install a President the likes of the Eleven. We've seen it with the Doctor before in The Invasion of Time and now here with Romana gone in fine Gallifrey series continuity, a new one is installed rather quickly. I liked how he wasn't actually interested in politics though and actually wanted the capabilities of the Regeneration Codex. That was fascinating stuff and the way he brutally used it on Kiani showed just how deadly and evil this Time Lord could be. It was an incredible demonstration, just as she essentially begged to be companion when it seemed like he was going to kidnap Liv in her place. Except it all seemed to be planned out in superb style! The Eleven really did have it all in order and got the TARDIS he wanted to escape. He had the Presidential codes to bypass the transduction barrier and the way he mirrored the Doctor was excellent. I imagine he'll be feeling somewhat guilty by events! The way things ended with the Doctor owing it to the hat and umbrella incarnation of his past self was good and I love that there will now be a hunt for the Eleven. The Doctor declining the aid of Gallifrey and taking the manhunt upon himself and only needing Liv was lovely, and I can't wait to hear what havoc the Eleven now has set in his sights! A collective goal of escape amongst the incarnations within the Eleven was exciting in gaining escape, so now what? I can't wait to hear! Overall, a fantastic opener. 

Rating: 9/10

The Faceless Ones

"Don't believe everything you see."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: May 1987

Series: Target 116

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

In the summer of 1966, thousands of young people are taking their holidays with Chameleon Tours. And not one of them is coming back. 

When the TARDIS lands at Gatwick Airport the Doctor is drawn into a web of intrigue and deception. To add to his troubles, Polly mysteriously vanishes. 

Or does she? The girl at the Chameleon Tours desk looks like Polly, and even sounds like her, but she claims she comes from Zurich. 

Who is she really? Who is behind these abductions? And for what sinister purpose? Soon the Doctor and Jamie must face a desperate group of faceless aliens – the deadly Chameleons...

Verdict

The Faceless Ones was a very good novelisation of the Season 4 story of the same name! It's a somewhat underrated adventure in my opinion and considering it doesn't wholly exist in the BBC Archives, I remembered a great deal about it. Of course, it does help that I have two previous blog entries of the story given that I've watched the reconstruction alongside the existing parts and then the relatively recent animation release, but this was good to read in a complete and true form. I absolutely love the first half or so in particular with the running around Gatwick Airport. Honestly, this is such a good setting and the scale of it despite being contained makes it rather unique. There's so much potential there and it's quite hilarious to start with an aeroplane trying to land but having to make a quick abort because of the TARDIS materialising on the runway! Of course, the 1960s setting makes the ridiculousness of the police box being there not wholly unlikely as they were commonplace, just not on private property like that! The quartet quickly split up in humorous style and it's quite sad really that it sees the quick departure of Ben and Polly. To me, they're an iconic pairing where it really is a travesty that so many of their stories are missing from the BBC Archives. They're brilliant here despite not being themselves for most of it, and unfortunately it really is noticeable that they just disappear from the story. I think you can get away with that more in a novel though and it doesn't feel like such a strange occurrence when they come back at the end just to say goodbye. Of course, there's a lot that comes before we reach that point as the mysterious Chameleon Tours make their mark. The concept of young people being kidnapped literally on their flights is a pretty good one and whilst it is a whacky way for the Chameleons to obtain humans for the survival of their race, I appreciated the unique idea in storyline purposes. I thought the characterisation of the Second Doctor was really well done and it was a delight to put Jamie on an aeroplane. As a highlander, he wasn't exactly fit for travelling within a flying beastie! Brilliant stuff. His relationship with Samantha was lovely too and it's no surprise that she may have been considered for the companion role. The story for Polly is quite a sad one as she gets duplicated and the actual despair Jamie and the Doctor have when she fails to recognise them is a huge shame. I do love the comedy that came from the Doctor and the Airport Manager's relationship. The Time Lord just wouldn't give up with his dead body story! He even managed to bypass immigration and passport control which was great stuff. I thought it was quite sad for Samantha with her brother missing to find the numerous pre-written and pre-stamped letters to home. The Doctor realising that the aeroplane disappearance after staying still meant it was going up rather than down was brilliant and the description of the plane becoming the rocket was terrific. I liked how the originals were utilised in bringing about the Chameleons' destruction and they really didn't hang around once one of their brethren was wiped out in a necessary demonstration. I liked that as it was quick and the Chameleons would be let away despite Jamie's outrage, but they now had more important things to worry about. Ben and Polly were returned to their normal lives on the same day as The War Machines took place, but for the Doctor and Jamie the TARDIS was nowhere to be seen! I liked how Dicks referenced the scale of The Evil of the Daleks to come as one of their biggest adventures yet. Overall, a really good read! 

Rating: 8/10

Red Skies

"Torchwood is everything."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: Audio

Released: May 2012

Series: Torchwood BBC Audio 09

Featuring: Captain Jack

Synopsis

Jack Harkness is in need of a holiday. He wants to get away from Torchwood, away from the human race – and where better to get completely away from it all than Cotter Paluni's World, a planet surrounded by deadly scarlet lightning and cut off from the entire universe?

But there are some shocks in store for Jack: the "Devil's World" might be completely isolated and inaccessible, but its inhabitants worship Torchwood. And before he can find out why, or how this is even possible, he finds himself arrested for murder. 

It looks as if someone on the planet knows who Jack is – and they're out to get him...

Verdict

Red Skies was an excellent story to continue my way through the Torchwood Tales collection! It's a shame I'm nearing the end now and whilst I do love that this episode is once again set after the events of Miracle Day and giving Torchwood life beyond the television series, I'm sad that it's going to end. I fully appreciate that Big Finish have continued the adventures of Torchwood in an incredible way, but I think their description of Aliens Among Us and beyond as the official continuation of the television series is nothing more than a marketing ploy. It all ties back with their own monthly series which is brilliant, but these feel more original as a continuation and now I've only got one left! I liked that this was focused on Captain Jack as the only Torchwood member featuring in the story and if anybody is going to hold his own as the lead character, it was him. I must admit I hadn't heard of John Telfer before and my research shows that he had never actually been in Torchwood so he was an interesting choice to narrate this adventure but I thought he did an impressive job! His take on Captain Jack was probably a little too American but that's not exactly uncommon! His variation when it came to the likes of Kim, Torsten or the God itself was excellent. The planet of Cotter Paluni's World was an intriguing setting and I liked that it was basically cut off from the entire universe. After everything that had happened recently, it's no surprise that he wanted a break from everything planet Earth and humanity. So when he was ordering at a bar some lovely vegetable puree after learning much to his dismay that this world did not know what alcohol was, his reaction when Kim casually said 'praise be to Torchwood' was fantastic. He was obviously stumped and he just couldn't escape it! The concept of Torchwood being everything from the religion to the government to the very town they were in was brilliant and I loved how eery things felt. It just felt wrong to describe Torchwood in such a way. I liked the distinction from Jack that whilst Torchwood would eventually be taken beyond just Earth as the human race expanded and travelled the stars, this was completely the wrong time. It shouldn't happen here. The little flashbacks Jack was having were fascinating and I liked that he was seeing a whole variety of death. From Susie in Everything Changes to those of his old colleagues in Torchwood Three at the end of the 1990s. That was very nicely done. Jack remembering fondly the likes of Ianto, Owen, Tosh and Esther was delightful too and it was important to mark the deaths of these incredible characters who made such a mark on Torchwood. I thought the reveal and build to Martin as the God that was Torchwood was quite something and I appreciated the unique nature of what was happening! He was at one with the God after Jack thought he had died way back when, but the struggle was getting too much and time just ran out for him at the end of the story. It was quite emotional really as we could hear the inner turmoil and torment within Martin in this god but degraded form, and Jack clearly had pity as well. He understood the need for adventure and a sentient spaceship is some way to go about that, but it had gotten too much. The relationship between Jack and Torsten was the highlight of the episode for me with the latter coming to terms in realising he was gay. That was great stuff especially on a world where sex was purely viewed for reproduction and not pleasure. That was a really strong exploration of sexuality and Jack was obviously right for that. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Romans Cutaway

"I spiked him, but still he cut me down."

Writer: David A. McIntyre

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 12

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

Romans Cutaway was a really fun and great little Short Trips story! This was the perfect use of the format and I absolutely love the idea of filling narrative gaps that occurred in televised serials. There’s a noticeable jump at the start of The Romans from the TARDIS falling off the cliff to having the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki lounging about in a luxurious villa. These fourteen pages fill that gap very nicely! It’s purely historical which it should be given that it takes place within another pure historical on screen that was so common of the First Doctor era, so the threat of a lion felt very dangerous and very real. I liked how Ian acknowledged how different that felt to the likes of a Dalek or a Slyther and it’s something I’ve always agreed with. Real life threats definitely have a different feeling of fear. I can’t imagine I’d act in such a calm manner like Ian did to being confronted by a lion! He dealt with it very well though and I really enjoyed that it was as a result of Barbara being in its sights. His feelings for her were portrayed very clearly in this story which was lovely as they so clearly are meant to be a couple. It’s incredible that we didn’t get confirmation of that on screen but to me there’s no doubt. They were made for each other so Ian having a recurring nightmare of her being killed in a car crash was rather horrific. I’m not sure I’d deal well with having something similar! I liked exploring Ian’s past and it was quite emotional to learn that a previous love of his in the form of Suzy had died in such circumstances and this dream was a somewhat cruel way of telling Ian that he did love Barbara. As if he needed any convincing! I loved that we started in the TARDIS after the cliff fall drop and the irritable nature of the First Doctor was on full display in humorous fashion. It’s really fun to think that this is actually Vicki’s first chronological story as she’s recently arrived in The Rescue, so it’s a lovely moment where she exclaims that she’s travelled in time! That’s such a big thing for a companion and I think it’s wonderful that it happens in a niche story like this. It gives the book and somewhat the format some credence which I’m all on board for. Keep it coming! Ian trying to help get the three others out of the TARDIS after its fall was good and the gratitude the Doctor showed being in the form of asking Ian if he’d thought through the dangers of bringing a trunk partly into the console room. There would be no other way out though and the Doctor’s tone quickly waned which Ian took as acceptance and some sort of thanks. That was good and I loved that there was an understanding. Ian required some patience and that was fun to read. What wasn’t exactly fun was the means in which Ian took out the lion once he and Barbara remained to lift the TARDIS somewhat. The description of the boulder and more significantly the silence once connection was made with the natural animal was brutal. Even though I was obviously reading in silence on the train, it took me a moment too to catch my breath. That finality was described very impressively. I thought the learning of the lion’s presence in the area was good too as we learn how the Doctor and company came to be housing a villa. Lucius was on the verge of death after being attacked by the lion a day or two earlier and after some water, he lasted long enough to ask the Doctor and Vicki to look after the house as he had promised he would. It was his duty and that was admirable. It was also lovely that he could see from the Doctor’s look that he was no robber. Everyone linking back to the villa was a nice touch and sets things up for where the televised serial picked up which was great stuff! A lovely way to fill the gap. A terrific little read. 

Rating: 8/10

Dead Time

"I thought you told me this man was dead?"

Writer: Andrew Miller

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 11

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Sam

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

Dead Time was an outstanding adventure to continue my reading of the More Short Trips collection! This was just brilliant stuff and containing the contemporary TARDIS pairing of the time during the wilderness years somehow made this feel a little more exciting. I loved it right from the off and I think part of that is down to the savage introduction of the Forgotten. The way they were taunting and speaking to the Doctor was incredibly powerful as they just flat out stated they were going to kill him. I mean, that’s not a new statement and I’ve lost count of how many times the Daleks have said they’re going to exterminate the Time Lord, but this just felt different. The Doctor was somewhat helpless being trapped at the hands of the Forgotten and Sam also being in danger added an extra threat. She was definitely scared and having the Doctor be temporarily allowed to drop in on her thoughts only heightened the threat. I thought that was harsh as well and was bordering on mocking the Doctor. I liked how they knew who he was and more importantly to them, what he was. His being a Time Lord proved important as this make up of time within time was actually a fractured TARDIS. I thought that was awfully exciting and I loved that it was insinuated to be a Type-1 TARDIS. An early version for sure with it being on a voyage to help map out time and space for the maps as Gallifrey began its expansion under Rassilon. I thought that was terrific and just so fun to delve into. I’m a sucker for early exploration in Time Lord history and seeing the impact of an early TARDIS dying was magnificent. The concept of the Forgotten itself was fantastic and I loved that it was essentially Time Lords gone mad. Comatose conditions just sent the madness spiralling which was great. I loved that the Doctor had a visit from his future self in the form of the Other-Doctor of seemingly the same incarnation judging from the description, although I think it would be more fun to imagine it as one beyond that! Given that this was initially an audio release read by Paul McGann it does make sense for it to be the eighth incarnation, but I could certainly see the description matching the Twelfth Doctor for example. I liked the future version aspect regardless. It served well as an explanation of what the Forgotten were and that’s a tremendous name for a villain, especially one from early in Time Lord history! The concept of using a Time Lord to literally travel in time within one’s own past was superb and that allowed some fun continuity references. We had the expected mention of Daleks to go with the more quirky detailing of Kraals, Nimon and Krotons which was marvellous. I loved the description of the speed in which the Forgotten were venturing down the Doctor’s timeline with the intention of them going to before he even departed Gallifrey! The Forgotten wanted to be remembered on Gallifrey and wreak havoc there where they felt they belonged. It was an intriguing aim for sure. I loved the almost desperation when events got back to The Tenth Planet with the Doctor knowing he had to catch them there. The fact he trapped them within a little part of the brain that died when the Doctor regenerated was pretty clever to be honest! I appreciated that and it was a fitting way to take out something like the Forgotten. It was contained and the likening of it as a cut that had scarred over was fantastic. There wasn't any escape from that! Sam realising that this meant the events they'd just experienced wouldn't now happen was tremendous and it was fun to think that they would now forget the Forgotten. Poetic. Overall, a superb little read! 

Rating: 10/10

Honest Living

"I thought you told me this man was dead?"

Writer: Paul Leonard

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 10

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure.

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping.

Verdict

Honest Living was an excellent story to continue my reading of the More Short Trips collection! I really enjoyed this story right from the get go and whilst there was a little bit of jumping and skipping around in terms of chronology at the start, everything tied back very nicely at the end to round out what was a brilliant adventure! I liked the real life threat of Jo being kidnapped and with her kidnapper being someone like Tuala, it felt more scary and significant than if she was taken by a monster or alien. It’s always more relatable when there’s a human doing something bad and having a young woman like Jo in the predicament of being kidnapped is rather dangerous! I thought the reactions of the Doctor and the Brigadier to reach her were great and I loved the precautions they had taken in being able to locate her. They were really ahead of the game and I liked that a lot. I thought the focus on the death of Bernard Forbes was intriguing and the fact that it was altered was fascinating. I’ve mentioned it numerous blog entries before but I’m such a big fan of stories about time itself and paradoxes. This worked really well here as Krashen was on hand to earn money by the means of changing the past! That’s quite the job fair play. It did seem problematic in that the money had to be held in stasis because of the nature of paradoxes, but it was good fun! I mean, the presence of Krashen himself was unexpected and I loved that we got Day of the Daleks fallout. The Guerrillas in that story had so much potential so I love that we meet another pair here trying to escape the rule of the Daleks. I mean, who could blame them? It’s just that their presence in the twentieth century was hurting time itself and the use of time travel devices as a part of their income wasn’t going to suffice. It was a difficult conversation for the Doctor to have that by stopping Krashen it meant people would die, but he took solace in the fact that these were established events. They’d happened and that was that. Time has a funny of trying to fix itself and that was what was happening to Krashen. We’d seen Forbes in deteriorated form after being saved three weeks ago because his time was up. It really was all very Final Destination which was terrific. I appreciated that having recently completed that specific film franchise! I thought Jo dealt with being kidnapped pretty well and I think that says something about her confidence in the Doctor! She wasn’t hugely surprised to see him coming to save her. I thought the way things ended with time sorting itself out and destroying the house and taking Krashen with it was very good and almost seemed like a natural restoration of order. The Doctor didn't have to actually do a great deal which is somewhat unusual! The Doctor and Jo waking up back where they belonged was good and I enjoyed the dismay the former had regarding the lack of newspaper report covering the death of Forbes. His little trip at the end to the home of Annie was quite emotional as she just detailed how her husband had vanished. Even if he was supposed to be dead, that must be difficult to deal with and it did seem like the Doctor was there for her. Overall, a really strong read!  

Rating: 9/10

Mask of Tragedy

"The hero, the villain, and the chorus."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 190

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hector

Synopsis

Athens, 421 BC. An ancient civilisation of philosophers and poets and the birthplace of theatre. The Doctor has decided to show Ace and Hector how it all began, with help from the great comedian Aristophanes. 

But life in Athens is no laughing matter. There's the ever-present threat of invasion from the Spartan horde. The plague that turns people into the walking dead. The slavery. The tyrannical rule of the paranoid, malicious Cleon and his network of informers. And the giant flying beetle with knives for wings that stalks the city streets at night. 

What Athens needs is a hero. And who better to be a hero in Ancient Greece than a man called Hector?

Verdict

Mask of Tragedy was a decent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! Getting to the 190th release feels significant for some reason and even though I still have a mammoth eighty-five to get through, it feels like I'm getting something close towards the end. There's a finish line in sight for sure but it's mad to think it has taken me eleven years to reach this point. It's been quite the journey, but I cant help but feel like the story involving Hex/Hector is about to come to an end. Full transparency, I have no idea when Hex departs the TARDIS and it's sad to say but I do hope it's soon. I've not been enjoying the character of Hector beyond Afterlife and it just feels like the character is lingering but now in a different form. For all intents and purposes, he is still Hex. Except he's not and seems to hate him which feels awkward. For most of the adventure he did feel like a normal companion and played his role as the god Dionysus pretty well! But then by the end of the story he seems to constantly take a sharp twist and change of opinion on what had just happened. Sure, the Doctor and Ace probably shouldn't have been laughing after all of the death and tragedy they had witness, but Hector didn't seem to understand that this was just part of established history and couldn't be changed. It does feel wrong to have Hector as basically a new companion and learning the ropes once again, but he's just not engaging to be in this form. I just want him to leave because in my opinion he's just whiny. That's a shame because I did enjoy Hex! Anyway, onto the story at hand here and I thought it was delightful to venture to Ancient Greece! That's a very fun setting and getting involved in the war between Athens and the Spartans was terrific. Ace's relationship with Adonia with them being on different sides of that was great stuff and she had a strong outing as companion here. She understood the history and showed her experience which I very much liked. Astriphones was an intriguing character and his relationship with the Doctor from past meetings was very good. He and much of Athens knew all about aliens and time travel which was tremendous and I loved how completely unfazed they were by travellers and tourists from the future. They weren't too keen on them getting involved and in the way, but it was good natured stuff. I liked the play on theatre and drama, and the scene at the end to round out the story with an actual theatrical performance was really well done. I also liked the little narration inserts from Ace throughout the story to remind us of that theme. It was nicely done. Cleon made for a decent enough villain and I enjoyed how he wasn't a fan of aliens in his city and time. He also prided himself on being able to spot one pretty easily. Touching a little on the horrors of slave trade was good and I loved how Ace stood up for herself and her female gender. She didn't take kindly to being referred to as the gentler sex and I couldn't blame her. Gentle is not an adjective I would use to describe her! She revelled in standing up for herself. I thought the use of the mask in the title was decent and the power of it to rewrite the thoughts of people around them was an excellent concept. I thought it could have been utilised a little more efficiently if I'm honest. I will admit I thought the story felt like it went slightly too long during part three and felt like it was lingering around a little which was a shame. Overall though, a strong story at its heart but Hector demanding to go home at the end left something of a bad taste in my mouth. I hope he gets his wish! Overall, a good listen. 

Rating: 7/10