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| What: | The Twilight Kingdom (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Saturday 2 September 2006 |
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| Rating: |   4 |
Just about all I can say in favor of The Twilight Kingdom is that it moves the current story arc along a little bit. It's not a particularly *bad* story, there's just nothing about it that is very interesting, other than its meager contribution to the story arc. Nearly the entire story is set in uninteresting caves with a bunch of uninteresting people who we come to find aren't really even quite themselves. There are no standout performances, and even Paul McGann seems to be struggling to pull anything out of the script. The problem is that success in this audio format relies on having either a very good story or settings that allow for the creation of sonically rich environments, or some combination of both. The Twilight Kingdom has neither of these, being set in rather featureless caves and having a story line that's basically about the capture of the Doctor and friends by a military group that can't seem to decide whether to trust them, release them or execute them, while some unknown menace pulls the strings in the shadows. Yawn.
| What: | Series 2 Volume 5: (BBC new series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Hatman, He's back... |
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| Date: | Wednesday 30 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Most of the Daleks on this DVD go 'Extarminate!' instead of 'Exterminate!'
Anyway,
Fear her: rubbish
Army of ghosts: good
Doomesday: Magnificent(ly good)
Eh eh eh!
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 | Disjointed but refreshing... |
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I found it rather difficult to get a good sense of a plot as this story proceeded. The repeated "revisions" of the characters made for second- and third-guessing about what was actually going on, and made me really wonder how it would all be resolved. At the end, we learn that it all really isn't resolved, and that we've been completely duped during the entirety of this story, which in a way is rather irritating. Still, the style and structure of the writing and story are innovative and refreshing; something like this was quite welcome after the horrible story that preceeded it (The Creed of the Kromon). Also, extra points are given for the dialogue, which I personally found to contain a rich commentary on and criticism of the fundamentalist mindset (particularly the mindset present in Christian fundamentalism - indeed, these references do seem to pop up in Big Finish stories from time to time). It may also be true that the script features a reincarnation theme throughout, and as such it's an interesting commentary on that as well. I think there's a depth to the writing that some will pick up on but others may miss. Paul McGann gets the majority of the inspired lines, and he does well with them.
Overall, The Natural History of Fear got my attention because it did something different, and is not just another mediocre, forgettable story.
| What: | Doctor Who (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | lee cartmell, auckland |
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| Date: | Tuesday 29 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Not a bad effort considering the time it had been away
A wonderful collection that all fans and the writers alike should be proud of. There are a few weak links in the chain, but the others make up for them. Great stuff!
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| Dr. Who Meets The Cthulhu |
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This one is an attempt at H.P. Lovecraft given the Doctor Who touch. Thus, we get ancient powers of the universe breaking through in horrifying shape and taking over people's minds. At that level, it is O.K. I just hate astronomically improbable coincidences, such as that Erimem's father had something to do with all this and that Erimem is somehow just what these powers need to break through. Why? It is a cheap way to add "interest." Additionally, Erimem is just plain stupid in this story. It should take her just 5 minutes to work out that she is not dead, that she is being manipulated, and that nothing Lord Davey shows her is real. For instance, how can Peri legitimately criticise Erimem for not preventing a disaster on the TARDIS when Erimem is supposedly long dead? Even worse, though, is why Erimem did not immediately spot the contradiction. Instead, the entirety of part two is a complete nonsensical waste, full of false emotionalism. It truly drags down the rest of the adventure.
Having already had Dr. Who vs. The Wicked Witch of the West, i.e. "Nekromanteia," now we get Dr. Who vs. The Joker. What next? Dr. Who vs. Santa Claus? Despite that, this story was better the second time I listened to it. One virtue is that the companions are not stupid in this one. Another is the excellent pacing, which keeps the action at just the right pitch. There are some problems with it, though. One is that Jarra To's ability to change shape never gets explained. Neither is her or her Jester form's extraordinary physical power ever explained. I keep wondering what the exact threat is, or why everyone is so scared in his/her presence. So, some good, some bad.
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| Dr. Who vs. The Wicked Witch Of The West |
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The basic idea of a man who gains immortality of a kind by placing himself in his own little perfect moment of history to relive it for eternity is fascinating. The supposition that this would use colossal energy is sound. After that, though, everything else goes wrong. In a misguided attempt to make Doctor Who "adult," we get a needless rape of one of the crew members, and a terrific amount of cannibalistic gore, not the least of which is the cliffhanger beheading of the Doctor. The worst part, though, is Gilli Cohen's performance, sort of Margaret Hamilton on speed. Does anyone really cackle in this way? I kept expecting her to say, "I'll get you, and that little cat, too!" And did I perhaps hear "Oh, what a world?" as she died? Or is it just that I could not help but be reminded of that old wicked witch every time she opened her mouth?
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| Camp, Rediculous, Yet Fun |
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| What: | Synthespians™ (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Nick, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 21 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
This is my Third Doctor Who novel, and I must say its probably the weakest. ITs very camp, rediculous, and the story seems to be going no where alot of the time. But its also alot of fun, with the extremely bitchy dialouge and fun chases through the city, and its good to see the Autons in a new, yet rediculous new form.
5/10
I was Fourteen when The Happiness Patrol aired I'd been watching who for ten years and In the last three years I was only one of three viewers at school both (interested in Tory politics). I felt who's unpopularity was due with not competing with Star Wars ,How I longed for stories to compile history on Cybermen and Sontarons and not the campness of Necros's Dj or the Fantasy Factory and then came This Story, It made me realise Who was surreal and shouldn't Be James Bond, Let the hip kids have there Alien we had a pink tardis, My friends at school were appalled at an Attack on Thatcherism I thought it was great, I was too young to understand irony and I felt embaressed by the idea of the Kandy man Although I loved the Idea ofm being hunted for being miserable (like being sort by A bully for a weakness) Ten years later and I now realise All the references to Homophobia and undermining Minorities in Unions and am proud My T.V. show and its team had the guts to attack a suttle form of fascism. (as a matter of interest, If your tv has a angle adjuster put it diagonal and tune it to near black and white its what Chris Clough,director wanted)
Yes, it made about as much sense as the above. But some good bits. The Doctor's not in it till about page 150.
| What: | Singularity (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles |
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| Date: | Wednesday 16 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
I see that there is a real split among reviewers about this one. My surmise is that the trouble is in the story, which is neither here nor there. On the one hand, the Somnus Foundation could be a dead ringer for Scientology. On the other, there is the "tragedy" of the human race being left behind for good. The real sticking point for me is that old bad idea that "emotions" are what make us "human." In other words, don't think, just feel, and you will be "human." Give this half a second of thought and you will see how preposterous the whole proposition is. And to have Turlough, of all people, defending what makes one human? Therein lies the trouble. What should be grand satire is played in dead earnest. It would have been much better to have taken a full assault on Scientology, to let the satire take hold. Taken seriously, little in the story works well.
Sometimes it seems that "fun" trumps story too often in the fan world. Yes, it is fun to have Peri kidnapped and kick her kidnappers where it hurts. It is amusing to have wholly incompetent Musketeers. It is delightful in a way to have Erimem out-think the Doctor in worming their way into court. However, mostly, this Alexandre Dumas retread, with plot and counterplot and never mind the reality. The she looks just like... plot is so old it is a wonder that it has not crumbled to dust. Tramping around history may be fun, but in the TV days it was done because of budget problems. With no visuals to create, the radio dramas can truly expand out into the cosmos, and leave mankind's cradle behind. So why not?
This one is much more highly rated than I would give it. The reasons for my lower assessment are mainly the huge number of cliches in the story. All the chariot and battle sequences do not come off at all well, sounding wholly unrealistic. The villain Yannis is so one-dimensional that the edge of a playing card would seem like the Great Wall of China compared to him. Mass intelligence mind control has already been done in the Yeti stories. Everyone except the Doctor seems too easily taken in by wholly transparent plots, such as the forged letters and lost heirs. There are strengths to the story. There are some funny bits when the Doctor has to explain the embarassing parts of Egyptian culture. Peri again gets a much stronger role than in the TV series. Erimem's doubts are convincingly portrayed.
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| Decent Story Wonky Science |
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| What: | Red Dawn (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles |
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| Date: | Wednesday 16 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
The Doctor Who byproducts have tended to be heavily revisionist, and this is no different. Granted, Brian Hayles expanded the range of possibility for the Ice Warriors during the Pertwee years, but that was to make them more three-dimensional. Justin Richards has returned them to one-dimensionality, albeit a different dimension. So, instead of ruthless militarism, we get long and shallow conversations about honor. The other major problem with this story is the dreadful science. Even if one could graft alien and human DNA into a workable being, DNA does not transfer learned traits. This theory of inherited acquired knowledge is the old long-disproved Lamarckian theory of evolution. The knowledge of how to ride a bicycle does not genetically transfer from parent to child, and neither can one be born with the ability to operate Martian technology simply because one has some Martian DNA. Those two problems aside, the story does have some redeeming features. Peri is made to be braver and more intelligent than in the TV series, to the better of story. The Ice Warriors too, though a little single-minded, are in no way stupid. The rocket science is more accurate than the biological science. There is some good dialogue and a few snappy lines.
So good the script would have taken me a whole day to write. Colourful, nostalgic - yes. Fun - maybe. Good Doctor Who - Not really. It's nice to see Hartnell, Pertwee and Troughton together though. Rest in Peace all three of them.
By the way, Hatman, listen carefully. Go to www.tv.com, sign up using your email address, then search for Fireexit112 in the forums section - that's me.
| What: | The Nowhere Place (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | steve., devon |
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| Date: | Tuesday 15 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
fans may be pleased to hear this is not the usual sad sack story of poor evelyn,dicky ticker,sob weep hankies out, but a return to the old days.
Good plot,fast paced,could do with a tad more humour.
[but thankfuly no singing, or penguins...lols]
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| Explaining Away The Movie |
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Having already read ‘The Book of the Still’, ‘The Crooked World’ and ‘Casualties of War’, I decided it was about time that I went back and started at the beginning. I have to say that, while I didn’t really enjoy this book, I do have a lot of respect for it.
The reason I have a lot of respect for it is because the point of this book is pretty much to try and patch some kind of sense together out of the whole Doctor Who universe after the –ahem- movie. With that in mind, the plotlines that Dicks had open to him were pretty limited, and considering that, he did a good job. By the end of the book, all the ‘What the f*#$?!?’ factor that the movie left you with is pretty much sorted out, which is a good thing, and the stage is set for the later novels, which is even better.
Like a lot of other reviewers, however, I also had problems with the very forced scene with Sam at the end which seems to come pretty much out of the blue, and also the lack of balance between the various past incarnations. The focus on the Sixth Doctor for most of the book’s actual plot was unfortunate, given that being a newcomer to Doctor Who, I’m not well acquainted with all the ins and outs of the previous Doctors, and Colin Baker’s maybe least of all. So that one left me a little confused because where, say, the section with the Third Doctor was very well done and explained well, the section with the Sixth felt far too rushed for me. A more experienced fan may have been able to make a little more of it, but being a child of the generation that can only just remember the Seventh Doctor, and who is now looking back over the others all the characters and places and plotlines left me a little . . not really confused, because the plot of the book is so simple, but certainly without much of a founding in what was going on. That said, the very brief section with the Seventh Doctor was very good, I just wish there had been more of it.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I also had a problem with the sci-finess of this book. For me, one of the appeals of Doctor Who is the fact that it’s science fiction without really being the clean, high sci-fi that it could be, it’s different and refreshing, and this book was just a little too science fiction for me what with all the organisations, politics and blasters wedged into it, it just never really sat right with me.
That said, as I’ve already mentioned this book did a good job of both filling in the holes and setting the scene, so I can’t rue it too much.
| What: | The Three Doctors (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Barry Cronin, Manchester, UK |
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| Date: | Sunday 13 August 2006 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
I love the televised Three Doctors, because it has my two favourite Doctors (Pertwee & Troughton) on great form. Hence, I love the novelised Three Doctors. As with all the Targets, it won't tax your brain - what it will do is gently stroke every nostalgic bone in your body. They say fans these days are spoiled - I think we were, back in the early 70s, when we saw the 3rd Doctor's adventures for the first time, and then had the pleasure of the Target books. Trust me, those WERE the days.
No one picks up a Target novelisation expecting great literature - but I'm, still surprised by Claws of Axos getting such a low average score. Having just finished it, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a perfect snapshot of the 3rd Doctor/Jo/Master/UNIT era. Disappointed Terrance Dicks didn't explain how or where the Master got his face from, when he tricked himself past the UNIT guard to get to the TARDIS, but otherwise every box was ticked, it licks along at a great pace, and I can think of worse ways to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
