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 | Much better than the script |
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| What: | Time and the Rani (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Matt, London |
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| Date: | Wednesday 10 October 2007 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
Excellent and much better that the tv version. Well done Pip and Jane.
| What: | Earthshock (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | nathaniel maxfield, London |
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| Date: | Thursday 4 October 2007 |
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| Rating: |  9 |
It is one hell of a story. It has power and creepiness (ep1) and despite being amazing still has the fact that Eric Saward's only two good stories are this and the Visitation.
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| A Dark, New Era & Time Lord Secrets |
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Pandora: ...And now Romana has delivered herself to its very door.
Valyes: Of course - co-existing in the same timeframe as you - her earlier regeneration.
Pandora: Exactly. She's become anomalous thanks to me. I rather think the sentience will want to keep her in the vault, and... play... with her.
A very desperate sort of civil war is now underway on Gallifrey. Though it seemed that President Romana was at the mercy of the physically manifested Pandora at the end of Imperiatrix, she and her supporters are now waging a struggle against Pandora and her forces. (It is unclear why and how Romana has been able to remain free.) Leela has been blinded in an explosion, and has set off without Romana to find medical treatment. Things are not going well, and Romana has been forced to ground all TARDISes. To regain the upper hand, Romana heads to the Anomaly Vaults with the aim of obtaining Winter's TARDIS that has been impounded there, effectively shielded from the disruption that has immobilized all of the other TARDISes. But she does not know what will be there waiting for her, and endures an ordeal that may have changed her forever...
In spite of the slightly confusing start and unclear dialogue in a couple of places, Fractures is an gripping new chapter that progresses the Gallifrey storyline into new territory, and introduces the very strange and interesting Anomaly Vaults...
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| Good Idea, but should have been longer. |
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| What: | The Sirens of Time (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Monday 1 October 2007 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
The problem i had with this story was exactly what everybody else has said, its three stories with the last episode stitching them all together - a good idea and one Doctor who has done to good efect in the new series (eg Mr Saxon, Bad Wolf etc) but in this story it didn't work simply because there was only 24 minutes for each episode. This would have been so much beter if they had decided to make it a 6 episode story (and considering it is the first, they could have done it).
By themselfs Davidson, Baker and McCoy were very good and slipped back into there roles very well, all three were very belivable. However when they got together the story and there acting knid of fell apart. they knid of didn't know weather to be nice to each other or argue the whole time.
If i was going to recomend a story to somebody who had no idea who the doctor was I wouldn't recomend this one. This was a good idea but just didn't work well.
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| Cell Phones, Cyberpunk & Giant Termites |
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| What: | Valhalla (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Sunday 30 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
Spoilers Ahead
Valhalla starts out, seemingly, with a companionless, mellow Seventh Doctor whose life is winding down (with a fully-transitioned McGann TARDIS interior, incidentally), arriving on a world whose civilization has wound down. Valhalla is the capitol of Jupiter's moon, Callisto, and the Doctor appears to be putting himself up for sale to abandon his time travelling days and work for an employer. Riiight.
Though the Doctor has genuinely seemed to be a tired, lost soul, in the second half of the story, he suddenly reveals that he found a sales catalogue of Valhalla from 200 years in the future. It has a listing of people for sale which features all of the details of their lives, including "confidential" records of criminal offenses (or "lies" as one guy says in reaction to hearing the info listed about him). And he had apparently learned that they were being trafficked as slaves, and couldn't resist dropping by to stop it. So which is it? Lost soul at the end of his life, or just another manipulative intervention? To make matters more confusing, at the close of the story, he seems to return to the initial slant of being tired of saving the universe.
The traffickers are the giant termites, it turns out, who have recently gone from nicking the sugar bowl to carrying away entire city buildings after some assisted evolution, apparently in an effort to heal the "wound" left as human civilzation has moved across the galaxy.
The trouble is that firstly, the story is rather boring, and secondly, none of it is very well-realized on audio here, though I think it would be even more dreadful on video. This must be the worst story ever vomited out of the pen of Marc Platt. Maybe all the magic mushrooms are finally taking their toll... Of course, I'm holding Platt to a high standard here, because I know he's capable of so much better.
The sound effects, production, and mixing are done rather well here, but unfortunately, this is just somewhat brilliantly-produced crap. I'd pretty much say that all 4 out of 10 points are for the technical excellence. And the best humor here is to be found in the behind the scenes interviews in the "cd extras."
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| Good story, but not great. |
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| What: | The Genocide Machine (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Sunday 30 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
Dont get me wrong, I liked this story, but i wouldn't listen to it again. The proformances by McCoy and Aldred were as strong as they always are. The Dalek voices were great especialy the Empire Dalek, and i loved the sound of the Specials Weapons Dalek when it started fireing.
There were two charecters that amoyed me, and for the same reason. Prink and Beverly, these two just were not neaded for the story.
The one thing in this story i realy liked was the living rain. And when they drown the daleks in the shells that was the best bit. That would have looked so cool on TV.
The Daleks stories are always a Home-Run but this time i think this story is more of a base hit.
Mike Tucker always writes well for Dr who and this was no exception, He had a great idea but fell short a bit this time. I just wish he would try to do another Dr, he always does the 7th.
But my main throught threw this story was that it was good. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad eather.
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| This is the 6th Dr we should have had |
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| What: | The Marian Conspiracy (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | C G Harwood, Dunedin, NZ, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
My entire throught threw out this audio was 'Dame you Micheal Grade, this is the Colin Baker we should have had in the 80s' Bakers proformance was brillant.
He was backed up by a good story and very good directing by two people who obviousely knew what they were doing, I look forward to Mr Russle and Ms Rayner working together again. It was realy nice to see three cliff-hangers that made me want to listen to the next episode straigh away.
The Highlight for me (apart from Bakers proformance.) was the introduction of a new companion. THis to me was the best intro for a companion that i can remember, and i hope Maggie Stables does more. Its nice to see that the Doctor didn't have to carry the story for once. She was actualy better than some of the extablished companions that have done these audios. although pls next time leave the cocco at home.
I liked that the suport cast was small, it made following who everybody was a lot easyer for me, and the lady who played Queen Mary was brillant.
When you listen to this prepare to lose 2 hours, and trust me it goes very quickly. I was actualy very suprised when episode 4 started.
the only bad thing about this story (apart from the cocco) was the title?????? and I'm still not sure what the temperal Nexis was (i must have missed something, oh well its not important).
In closeing, great acting, great writing, great direction, just great everything (except the cocco). If your new to these audios defantly give this one a try first. You wont be dissapointed.
I want to give this 9.5 out of ten but i cant so i'll give it 9.
| What: | The Invasion (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Ian Marter's love of gritty realism has it's fullest expression here. One of the most memorable and best realised Troughton tales is lovingly brought to life as Marter presents a gritty tale in adult fashion. Tobias Vaughn strikes the reader as a heartless, power-driven corporate type and the Cybermen (and UNIT) are well-served but it is Packer who really impresses here. On-screen he seems a stock-standard henchman but in the book he really comes across as a thoroughly nasty piece of work. Sadistic, violent and totally without any redeeming features, Marter almost seems to pay obsessive attention to his excesses - particularly in the scene where he draws back to kick Jamie full in the face. What a rotter!
An action thriller in every sense of the word. Make sure you get a copy of this one...
Philip Hincliffe seems a lot more at home within his "own" era (his foray into the Hartnell era with "The Keys of Marinus" sadly failed to impress). The gothic horror direction he took the show during his time as producer comes across in this book and I actually enjoyed revisiting this story. Possibly the best written sequences involve the opening scenes in the TARDIS (love the boot cupboard) and the Mandragora Helix.
| What: | The Dominators (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Sorry. Not even Ian Marter can save this one. I can't seem to work up much excitement for this rather bland and pedestrian offering. The Dulcians come across as a rather apathetic bunch, undeserving of any attention or sympathy. I almost wish the Dominators had won...
I'm not sure exactly why the TV version of this fails to impress me much - I suspect it's the writer's apparent lack of interest in the project. I say this because Nigel Robinson manages to take a mediocre story and inject new life into it. Perhaps it's the extra attention paid to Zaroff's backstory that helps him succeed in portraying a sympathetic character rather than the cliched stereotype Joseph Furst played on-screen. The written version also seem a lot more claustrophobic and tense too and even the most irritating characters (the two sailors) come over as more credible on the page.
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| Lucarotti does it again... |
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| What: | The Massacre (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This is superbly crafted tale and probably the first "Doctor-lite" story that works. For once the Doctor plays second fiddle to one of his more interesting companions and the story is all the better for it.
John Lucarotti really proves to us what a great charcter Steven is as he finds himself alone in sixteenth century France - and quite a brutal period of history it is too. Lucarotti's knowledge and passion for history is, perhaps, more obvious here than in his other two historical tales and his writing proves that in this book. One can almost smell the atmosphere in this one and sympathises well with the persecuted Hugenots.
The treatment of the Abbot of Amboise (who, for all intents and purposes, seems to be the Doctor himself) seems less-successful than on the TV version but one can forgive this as it is apparent that this one is obviously meant to be told visually. Still, a great tale well-told.
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| Too much, too little, too late |
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I was never particularly enthused by this one. It has too much going on in one storyline, too many locations and little time to fully explore any of them. The only enjoyable bit for me was the rendering of the, frankly superb, fifth episode. Unfortunately this is the only bit that grips this reader and the whole thing ends on rather an anti-climactic note. Neither Nation's nor Hinchcliffe's best work.
Something of a departure for "Dr Who" this is one of Ian Marter's best novelisations. His penchant for gritty realism and violent action sequences really shines in this one. Shame it's more of a Bond story than a Dr Who...
| What: | The Mind Robber (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Peter Ling's contribution, faithfully adapted by himself, really pushes the boundaries of "Dr Who" and takes the TARDIS somewhere truly new. Dark and creepy with the main characters taken to, literally, nowhere the Land of Ficton where they eventually end up is, if anything, even darker than the limbo they'd just escaped. In a place where the greatest threat is one's imagination even the most innocent happenstance can harbour great menace. And what a clever piece of writing discipline Ling sets himself by limiting Gulliver's dialogue to only that provided by Dean Swift! A great opportunity seized passionately with both hands. It's a shame he didn't write more. Superb.
| What: | The Myth Makers (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This story seems to be undergoing something of a renaissance - and it's long overdue. Pushed aside and forgotten for years by fandom it's nice to see it garner a new appreciation. I loved it when I first read it and still do. Cotton's rather tongue-in-cheek writing style and the liberties he takes with Virgil's original tale is, admittedly, not to everyone's taste but I enjoy the new spin he puts on the tale and the way he attempts to break with the established style of "Dr Who". Vastly underrated.
| What: | The Rescue (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Sadly this was Ian Marter's last contribution to the Target range as he died not long after. I'd always enjoyed his adaptations and hoped he'd go out on a high note. I wasn't disappointed. Filling 120-odd pages with a long-forgotten two-parter from the sixties couldn't have been easy but Marter did it with pinache. I'd gladly read this one again...
| What: | The Wheel in Space (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I really must dig my copy of this title out one day - apparently it's rare and worth a fair bit.
Just for once it's nice to be surprised and this book is no exception. Adapted by Terrance Dicks I was dreading reading it when it came out and I'd heard it was one of least exciting Cyber-stories. However, I really enjoyed this one and found it well-paced and interesting - particularly concerning Dicks' treatment of Jarvis Bennett (which nearly came close to Pemberton's Robson from "Fury from the Deep").
I've since seen the surviving installments of the TV version and fail to work up the same interest - so well done on this one, Tel.
| What: | The Smugglers (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Toward the end of his Target novelising days Terrance Dicks seemed to be bashing the TV adaptations out at such a rate of knots that left him little time (or, one suspects, interest) in adding anything further to the original screenplay. In this one, however, he fails to rob the original of it's charm and it still comes across as a rather good adventure yarn that makes one wish there were more First Doctor/Ben/Polly tales - even with Dicks writing their colourful dynamic still shines...
| What: | The Faceless Ones (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quist, NZ |
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| Date: | Thursday 27 September 2007 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I knew almost nothing of this one until the book came out (the first Troughton one I owned). Very little information was available on it and it seems (still) to be one of the "forgotten". And what a shame that is too - notwithstanding it being a late Dicks novelisation it's still an enjoyable romp with many chilling notions involved proving how great Mac Hulke's original storylines were...
