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This special tin features the William Hartnell finale The Tenth Planet along with the Colin Baker tale Attack of the Cybermen. Both videos have special features.
Tenth is the first Cyberman and regeneration story. Unfortunately, episode four is missing. However, there is a special reconstruction for it, like the one on The Ice Warriors tape, using telesnaps and off-air recordings. Existing clips e.g. the regeneration are used as well.
In Attack, the Cybermen are trying to knock Halley’s comet off its course and send it crashing into the Earth. This story features the return of Commander Lytton (Resurrection of the Daleks) and references to Tenth. At the start of the tape, there is a clip from Saturday Swapshop featuring Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Jacqueline Pearce (Servalon in Blake’s 7).
It’s hard to say which is the best story but I’ll let you decide. This tin is a must have for Doctor Who fans.
| What: | The Dæmons (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Bob, London |
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| Date: | Saturday 16 February 2002 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
I can't understand why this story doesn't get into everyone's top ten list.It's a cracking good tale from begining to end with all the regulars on top form.
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 | Not given the credit it deserves |
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| What: | The Web Planet (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Bob, London |
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| Date: | Saturday 16 February 2002 |
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| Rating: |  7 |
Although this stroy gets rubbished quite a lot I think it is rather good.Perhaps it's because I can
remember how eerie it seemed as a child.I think the sets and lighting create a much more effective 'alien' landscape than any quarry and the Menoptera are a lovely creation:sad and noble at the same time,with lovely voices and choreography.They really come a cross as an alien species.The story has it's weaknesses but it's a
lot better than people give it credit for and it's genuinely imaginative and original.
| What: | The Dæmons (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Friday 15 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is my favourite Doctor Who story. It features the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Jo Grant, the Master, the Brigadier, Sergeant Benton and Captain Mike Yates. It is my favourite Doctor Who story because it was the first complete story I saw when it was repeated in 1992. Also, it is the third 5-part story (the other being the Troughton serials The Dominators and The Mind Robber) and hasn’t got a dull moment. The best line is when the Brigadier says “Jenkins, chap with wings. Five rounds rapid!”
The plot involves Professor Horner attempting to break into Devil’s Hump in the village of Devil’s End. The Doctor and Jo go to stop him but fail. The professor is killed when he opens the barrow. Meanwhile, the Master is posing as Reverend Magister and is trying to awake a Dæmon named Azal, who’ll appear after 3 ceremonies. The Doctor soon learns of this. Can he stop the Master?
This story has great performances, especially Damaris Hayman as Miss Hawthorne. Also, look out for a cameo by Dalek operator John Scott Martin as a villager in Episode Three at the Master’s meeting and in Episode Five look out for Matthew Corbett (who later became Sooty presenter after buying the rights off his late father and Sooty creator Harry Corbett) as one of the Master’s devil worshippers. This serial was recoloured in 1992 although Episode Four is PAL colour. The Dæmons is a must-have for Doctor Who fans.
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| What's wrong with people? These 2 are OK |
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This tin features Colony in Space and The Time Monster starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and Roger Delgado as the Master. Over the years, people have said these two stories are the two worst Pertwee stories but I like them.
Colony is the first Third Doctor adventure in space. The Time Lords discover the Master has stolen the file on the Doomsday Weapon, the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. They send the Doctor and Jo Grant to investigate. Arriving on the planet Exarius in the year 2472, they must a group of colonists from Earth, who are having trouble growing crops and are in dispute with the IMC men, also from Earth. Things take a turn when an Adjudicator from Earth arrives… This serial features appearances by Coronation Street’s Helen ‘Gail Platt’ Worth and EastEnder’s Tony ‘Roy Evans’ Caunter.
Time Monster finds the Master posing as a professor and is trying to control Kronos the Chronovore, who is the guardian of the Kronos Crystal. The Master has part of the crystal. The rest is in Atlantis. The villainous Time Lord travels there to get it. However, the Doctor and Jo are in hot pursuit… This story features appearances by Hammer Horror actress Ingrid Pitt and Dave Prowse (the Green Cross Code Man and Darth Vader in the Star Wars films).
In my opinion, Colony is the better of the two. The best thing about this tin is that both stories are 6 parts long and both are on one tape each. There are a few disappointments: the screen goes black and white twice for two seconds for the title sequences of episodes 1 and 2 of Colony, episode 3 of Time Monster is poor American quality, the sound goes quiet for a minute of episode 6 of the same story and the Roger Delgado head on the front of the tin isn’t embossed like the Cyberman head on the previous year’s Cybermen tin. However, don’t let these put you down. A must for collectors.
| What: | The Paradise of Death (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
In 1993, 70’s producer Barry Letts wrote a 5 part radio serial entitled The Paradise of Death starring Jon Pertwee. It was broadcast over August and September 1993 on BBC Radio 5. In April 1994, the book was published. The radio serial was okay but the book is better. In it, we get scenes not shown on the radio like Onya’s origins. This book is a pleasant and enjoyable read and a good end to the Target series.
This book is numbered 156 in the Target Library (though the number and target logo don’t appear on the spine of the book) and this is the last in the series of the Target books. It’s okay numbered but it would’ve been better as a Missing Adventure (I’ve put Paradise among them in my collection). If only Letts waited a couple more months then it could’ve been a MA. However, it can be considered as an early MA.
| What: | Burning Heart (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
I have a few words to say about this: unexciting, boring, rubbish and weird. Although slightly better than The English Way of Death (read my review), it is still awful.
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| The English Way of Boredom |
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| What: | The English Way of Death (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Tom Lingwood, Broseley, Shropshire |
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| Date: | Monday 11 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
I hate this novel. In 1998, it was voted the best Missing Adventure in the 35th Anniversary poll by the Doctor Who Magazine. Last year, I found this book in a second hand bookshop for £2.50, so I brought it. I was hoping to have a good read but all I got was a load of drivel. It was boring and I couldn’t get into it. This is supposed to be the best MA? More like the worst! Avoid this at all costs. Get The Plotters instead.
| What: | I, Who 2 (I, Who books) |
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| By: | Sean-Paul Smith, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Date: | Thursday 7 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
Lars Pearson and co have delivered a second installment in their 'complete-Whonivese' encyclopedia. Like the first volume it is full of errors, spelling mistakes and terrible layout. Although I enjoyed the first volume (with all its flaws) I was hoping for something better. Hopefully a second revision is in the works...
Ordinarily, I enjoy Lawrence Miles' writing. Unfortunately, with this installment I was sadly disappointed. I can appreciate the artistic style, but I find "textbooks" to be difficult reading at the best of times. Sadly, the story was also lacking. The implications that "someone/something" must fill the void left by the destruction of Gallifrey is very intriguing but I never felt the book was really addressing the issue, only introducing more questions. I agree with Mr. Ford of London that it is good to see the books heading into truly uncharted territory; however, enough is enough. I want the DOCTOR to be more than human! I am tired of the constant "deconstruction" that seems to be the fashion of late. I long to see more of the "Time Lord" known as the Doctor along with the man the Doctor has become. But he never really made an appearance in "Adventuress..." My rating, a sad, sad 1.
| What: | Prime Time (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Anthony V., Queens, NY, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 1 February 2002 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This book reads just like an episode of DOCTOR WHO; it were actually broadcast on TV, there would be almost nothing taken away from it, it was that vivid and exciting to read. I'm only sorry to say that I finished it in one day, whereas the books usually take a week! MORE MORE MORE!
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| Good runaround, tries to be too clever.. |
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Dave Stone's latest offering to the world of DW fiction is a good one. His writing style takes time getting used to, but once you've read a couple of his books you won't experience much difficulty.
THE GOOD:
-The Doctor's companions actually spend time with him
-The Plot isn't another alien(s) invades "put location here" novel.
-Jamon de la Rocas was a very good character and his first person sequences were really interesting.
-The scene where Anji confronts the Doctor about his behaviour.
-The cover.
THE BAD:
-Stone sometimes proves to be his own worst enemy by trying to be too clever. Most of the jokes in the book weren't funny. Although the Pokemon joke was funny.
-The ending is rushed almost as if Dave had to avoid exceeding a word limit.
-The opening scenes on Goronos were a little...odd.
Overall and enjoyable book. If you like weird and wacky novels, or just good runarounds this book is for you. 8/10
I recently finished reading City of the Dead and all I can say is awesome! This book kept me captivated the whole time. The descriptions of the city made me believe that I were really in New Orleans and I believe that there was not one dull moment in the whole book. And just when you thought the story was over, another plot twist was added to keep us wanting more.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this book a complete 10 was the fact that the dark force chasing the Doctor didn't seem quite as it was explained to be. The explanations seemed to point to it being related to the Doctor's memory loss and his recent search for the truth. Although the actual reason was explained and plausible, I would've liked to have seen the author relate it to what I thought it really was.
Overall this book is definitely worth the read.
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| A truly excellent 7th Doctor & Ace book |
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| What: | Relative Dementias (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Brax, Coventry, England |
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| Date: | Wednesday 16 January 2002 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
For the first time since Nightshade, we have an excellent adventure starring the televisual seventh Doctor and Ace. It's a fantastic story in the season 26 mold, wrapped up in a stylish cover and begs for a re-read at some point. I hope to see Michalowski return.
A densely plotted story full of shocking images and revelations that manages to stay the right side of greatness because of Lawrence Miles compelling style.
I have absolutely adored what BBC books have done with the range...twisted it away from the show and it's continuity baggage and made it something fresh and exciting again. The introduction of Sabbath, the wonderful Doctor/Master conversation and the shocking removal of the Doctor's heart are more steps in that direction!
Any flaws? Probably, but I was so wrapped up in this book that I didn't notice any. The characters are beautifully drawn, especially Scarlette and Lisa Beth but it's the Doctor who reigns supreme here.
A wonderful addition to an already strong range.
