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| What: | The Eighth Doctor Collection (Miscellaneous audio dramas) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 November 2008 |
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| Rating: |   9 |
If you, like me, were not there at the beginning of the 8th Doctor & Charley Audio Adventures, this is an excellent way to begin with the first 4 story's + a bonus documentary. Recommended.
| What: | The Face of the Enemy (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
A Doctor who book without the Doctor is an interesting idea that doesn't quite work. As good as it is having the Brigadier & The Master having the story to themselves (& an excellent idea having Barbra & Ian) I found myself really missing the Doctor & Jo. The sorry is a slow burner that at times feels more like an episode of the Sweeney, but builds up to a good climax before ending suddenly & unsatisfactorily
Daleks, the typcial approach is the grand grand adventure life as we know if about to fold and an unarmed man and a girl laughing in the face of the most deadly creature. Brotherhood really demonstrates the success of a new direction for Big Finish, strong story arcs, building their own big finish universe, sub plots, worlds, history. Giving a pallet from which it can draw to paint strong, believable story lines with excellent people living in it. Not afraid to have complex stories to hold the listener. Brotherhood is one of the best.
| What: | Wetworld (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Sunday 9 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
The Doctor and Martha arrive by accident (unexplained) on the colony planet Sunday. The land is mostly marshy swamp. The colony is failing because a meteorite landed in the nearby ocean, causing a massive tidal wave. Of course, the meteorite contained more than just rock, and now the Doctor and Martha must put a stop to the alien menace threatening the colonists.
There are shades of Frontios in this story: a distressed colony under siege, an incompetent leader, factions among the colonists. The threat in this case fits what is going on more commonly in the rest of science fiction these days, focusing on brains, intelligence, and in essence biological computers (though nothing is ever called that in the novel). The novel moves along nicely and avoids being the gore fest that many in BBC paperback range were. The setting would make this impracticable to produce for TV, yet the plot follows a typical Doctor Who pattern. Thus, a reader may easily create the "episode" of this novel in his or her imagination. The dialogue involving the Doctor and Martha are especially in tune with the TV series.
Michalowski is not a particularly subtle writer, though, and there are many missed opportunities for using some stylistic editing. His sentences carry the information well enough on the word level, but do not change with the mood of the action. The opening scene exemplifies this principle well, where the scene is of sudden, punctuated violence, yet the sentences are essayistically stolid. Similarly, the story delivers the Doctor Who experience, hence the rather high ratings, but does not go beyond that. Michalowski does not use the novel medium to its advantage to get deep inside characters and to pause over concepts. The third person narrator provides us with the camera view of the action and when he occasionally conveys a character's thoughts, the thoughts are the obvious ones.
So, this is an enjoyable, lightweight Doctor Who romp, but never more than that.
| What: | Invaders from Mars (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 6 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Those alien voices just grate. And the whole story isnt really that engaging. glory bee is the best character in it. thank goodness its as short as it is. this is dire from mark gatiss, after his many brilliant doctor who novels and the idiots lantern.
| What: | Time Reef (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 6 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
What i really like about thisstory is its really all about the TARDIS. Thomas Brewster has been a naughty boy and sold parts of it to a bunch of space pirates. What a great idea! Dr who is such a flexible storyboard, for any amount of different tales that can be told. and they are often great and different like this story. Well, another Marc Platt story is always welcome. Intelligently written and directed, and it all comes together. And the one episode special a perfect world is great. A real new tales of the unexpected type of story. With Thomas staying in modern london at the end of it all. That is quite annoying, John Pickard has been memorable even in the two and bit stories he's been in. The fifth doctor always attracts the weird companions doesnt he?
The ruhk is a good and different type of monster for once. I love the thought of Lady Vuyoki sitting in a jar all day long. This really is another story fit for tv, that should have been done in the old series. The big finish scene is still very strong indeed. And Marc Platt hasnt dried up by a long chalk.
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 | Commander Linx rules (well...)! |
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| What: | The Time Warrior (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 1 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I strongly disagree with the statement 'All Doctor Who stories with 'time' in their name are rubbish'. Timelash is a good example of this statement possibly being true, but the opposite can be said for this...
A brilliant historical setting that feels authentic (in a way, it is) that is the perfect home for this story of a lone Sontaran trying to return to his 'glorious' war. Commander Linx looks brilliant too - better even that today's versions, and a world away from the orange balloons of The Two Doctors
The extras are good too - 'Beginning the End' is a brilliant, informative documentary filmed at the castle used for filming of this story, and the CGI effects greatly add to the story.
Story - 10/10
Extras - 10/10
Overall - 10/10
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| "Best ever Doctor Who story"? |
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| What: | Genesis of the Daleks (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 1 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I was told, as I bought this (by a massive red sticker plastered onto the packaging) that this was voted "No. 1 Doctor Who story". I had high hopes when I got home and as I watched it over the next few days I agreed with this statement, until about Part 4. This is when the story begins to drag, and it only picks up towards the end of Part 6.
This is made up, though, by the extras, which are stunning. The best is 'The Dalek Tapes', a documentary about the history of the Daleks, which includes Blue Peter footage about two stolen Daleks - well worth a watch!
'Genesis of a Classic', the documentary for the story is also good, as is the commentary (or should that be 'Tommentary'?) featuring Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Peter Miles and David Maloney, which is full of interesting anecdotes, particularly (and surprisingly) from David Maloney.
Story - 8.5/10
Extras - 10/10
| What: | Kingdom of Silver (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 1 November 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I must say i was more than a little dissapointed with the way the bbc brought back the cybermen in the new series of doctor who. im not saying they arent impressive, they are brilliant new designs, but the two stries to feature them are so so lame and boring it almost beggars belief. Even when appaently Age of steel took elements of the brilliant Spare Parts and yet failed to deliver the same impact as this play. Just a load of gas if you ask me. Lets hope the Christmas special sees them finally really return this year. A vain hope i imagine, but im willing to hope im impressed.
The big finish team always hit the top with cyber adventures though, and they have done it yet again with the brilliant tale known as KINGDOM OF SILVER. The acting and the storyline is what should have been put on the screen instead of the drivvel weve had so far from bbc wales. Sylveser Mccoy and everyone involved in this story seems to really enjoy this story. And Terry Molloy is great as playing a good man for a change. The cybermen are very very well portrayed and acually very well emotionless too. but this story has all the grit and impact of pare Parts whilst not being just a bland copy of other cyber tales.
The fact that its on a tomb planet again is so ok and it isnt a bad thing anyway. This is a climatic and very well produced play. This is what real cybermen stories should be about. set against a backdrop of fear of becoming metal men. The whole cast in this story is very strong indeed too. And why is it there are so many good characters who never ever beome companions.
The bonus story Keepsake is another marvel of a story. exploring the fate of the two androids in thefirst story. these really are like tales of the unexpected, just far better of course. a tale of so called superior technological people and being no better than humans of course. So this is one of the finest audio plays for a long while. Bring on the cybermen!
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| New side kick just like the old ones |
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Time Reef starts well and has a couple of good twists, with an originally setting building a picture of a dark place, cold, loss and a stranded doctor, perhaps its the end at last. However the new companion whilst good, there is something very familiar, almost adric/turlow dare i say but let's see where it leads. In the end a good story.
| What: | Excelis Rising (Excelis audios) |
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| By: | Matt Saunders, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 27 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
It really is the best of the Excelis four - and I've always been a fan of McIntee. Head is at his best in this audio play, and has some very funny nervous lines. Plus, Colin Baker once again proves himself as an excellent Doctor - he's just brilliant! I also love the line at the beginning, when they're wondering what the horrible patch work thing was -
This book is brilliant very gripping and apart from the obvious story about the man in the mirror the story about the girl Janna and her twin sister was very sad and very surprising at the end on how it turns out.Get this it is one of the best ones!!!!!
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| Sweet Dreams are not made of this |
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| What: | Dreams of Empire (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Like the other reviewers have said, not a bad story but not anything great either. I found it strange when the Doctor takes sides. Most unlike the Doctor. Jamie & Victoria hardly feature.
This book is good,but if for a more mature audience and think that it would not be recommend for example this story contains talking vending machines and the doctor defeats the monster with a burp oh and by the way the monster that's most talked about only gets a two page appearance!But also it's difficult what the age range is for example Amanda when she dies she comes back a life to do battle with tiermann but its described like a horror movie! Anyway give this book a go if you want something to kill your boredness if not read the many hands or Martha in the mirror zey are brillianta!
| What: | Revenge of the Judoon (Quick Reads books) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 20 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
This has a good story, but less could be said about the Judoon, who seemed to have been included for the sake of it. I'm looking forward to the upcoming Quick Reads book: "The Sontaran Games". Should be good!
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| Good build-up, poor climax |
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| What: | Dead London (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 20 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
This audio fails only because of its poor climax, as it starts well; with a confusing and gripping plot featuring different Londons in different times, all connected by a river.
Unfortunately the villain is weak and is defeated in less that 2 minutes, which gives this my score of 6.
Disappointing.
| What: | Doctor Who and the Dæmons (Target novelisation readings) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 20 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This is a great reading of a brilliant novelisation of a great TV story. Barry Letts reads this chilling story, featuring the Master and Beelzebub himself!
| What: | Ghosts of India (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Camden, Australia |
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| Date: | Thursday 16 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Just Amazing! Mark Morris is a genius. The way he explored Donna's charcter to her potential was brilliant. The plot line was brilliant and it even had a lot of history in it making it even more amazing. The half-made men were a brilliant twist as well as the diease spreading all over Calcutta, India. It's a must read, you won't regret it.
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| TEN STARS...AND ILL EXPLAIN WHY |
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| What: | Medicinal Purposes (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 15 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
1: Colin Baker gives a brilliant performance in this great historical yarn. And he even has the local girl coming onto him in a big way which is a seriously funny moment.
2: Maggie Stables again provides a great voice to Evelyn, the best audio companion of them all in my book. And her voice seems at home with the likes of Leslie Phillips, some great scenes between the two in this play.
3: The setting and the atmosphere are high and are not as dull and stilted as some might think. especially for a person who likes long and hard hitting stories, for which this story ticks both boxes.
4: And as ive said before, the inclusion of such a great actor as Leslie makes this one a real standout in the big finish audio productions. Dr Robert Knox is another in a great line of time meddlers, and this time he has a real personality and is able to deliver it brilliantly.
5: and the writing is actually very well presented. Robert Ross is a good pair of hands to write a tale like this. all little snippits of history and also his great characterisations of burke and hare come to the fore in this great adventure...
so there!!!!!!!!!!!
| What: | The One Doctor (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 15 October 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The people ive heard say comedy in doctor who is stupid need their heads examined. i am a big fan of some of the funniest moments in tv, which also happen to be on doctor who. and here is a great and witty comedy from Gareth and Clayton that is just so funny. Plenty of gags abound, what with Colin Baker and Chris Biggins ranting at one another and what with all the Jelloids and Jenny calling the doctor sexy...man, this wit is fantastic. a pure comedy with loads of laughs that for long time has faded from our tv screens. I must say this story is the most laugh out loud doctor who ive got. plenty to recommened it then!!!
Colin Baker as per usual seems to relish being the doctor, here giving a knockout performance that he should have been able to deelope further on screen. I hear rumours of a six doctor story soon, they had better be right, or i wont be happy. it will be great to see colin on screen again after so long.
Bonnie Langford again reminds us what a great companion Mel is. Her scenes with Chris make this story the walloping success it is. those two robots are flipping side cracking stuff too man.
And the addition of Matt Lucas is inspired, as the far funnier side of all that is Little Britain. This all adds up to make the one doctor a brilliant comedy with plenty going on seriously too...
