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| What: | Return to Telos (Fourth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Friday 3 June 2016 |
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| Rating: |   7 |
Another second part of a two-part season ender. This time, K-9, controlled by the Cybermen, has taken over the TARDIS to deliver the Doctor to the Cybermen so they may harvest his brain. The Doctor is having none of it, and does a clever maneuver that means that he winds up on Telos at the exact time that Doctor 2 is on Telos. Doctor 4 manages to avoid meeting himself, and realizing that the Cybermen have time travel technology, he heads back to Krelos to try to save it from invasion.
On the plus side for this story, Frazier Hines is really getting down imitating Doctor 2, measuring the delivery down to the little coughs and stutters typical of Troughton. The scenes added to Tomb of the Cybermen do not in any way violate the story of that episode. Michael Cochrane seems to be having a whale of a time, just really enjoying doing two roles. On the minus side, the story is down to chase and avoid for most of its length. There's some more Doctor soul searching of the "it's all my fault" variety even though it really isn't the Doctor's fault. I don't know why Briggs likes that idea so much. Nick Briggs has gone with the "it didn't really happen" ending, the "rewrite time" variety. Perhaps knowing that many listeners find such endings unsatisfactory, Briggs has milked it for all the stuff he can get from it. Multiple scenes at the end involve characters remembering something and then forgetting what they remembered.
It is all listenable and enjoyable, does not really finish the season in the most memorable way.
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 | Not as bad as everyone says it is... |
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| What: | The Twin Dilemma (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Wednesday 1 June 2016 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
There are some good ideas in it and I just love Colin's Doctor even when he's brash, it gives him real character.
My main gripe about this story are the monsters, the Gastropods, their too human with their tiny feet sticky out of their giant bellies. They should have been more slug-like like their suppose to be.
Acting is also a bit iffy from some of the extras, ecspecially the twins.
Overall a good, unrated story in my opinion and a good DVD all round.
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| Good Introduction to New Doctor |
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Getting John Hurt to reprise his role as the War Doctor was a coup for Big Finish. This, plus getting Tennant and Tate, solidified Big Finish as a legitimate alternative Doctor Who production company. Nick Briggs' introduction to the War Doctor is designed primarily for that purpose, to establish the character and the general type of story he will occupy. Therefore, there are not many risks taken in the storytelling. The three 45-minute episodes comprise what we can call a "season," with a story arc and repeated characters. Briggs has smartly read the character of the War Doctor so that he does not get a "companion" in the traditional sense. This Doctor is a loner. The basic story is that the Doctor (don't me THAT!) has apparently died in defeating the Dalek time fleet. However, the chief strategist Cardinal Ollistra, played with relish by the formidable Jacqueline Pearce, does not believe it. Part one, "The Innocent," finds the War Doctor landing on a peaceful planet that has escaped a war of its own, beset by their own implacable, genocidal enemy. The Doctor meets Rejoice, a character just a bit too sweet to be believable, helps keep the would-be conquerors at bay, and then gets sucked back into the Time War. In part two, the Doctor is added to a team to go deep under cover behind enemy lines, and lo and behold, it is back on the planet he had just landed on in part one. It is now decades later and the Daleks have formed an alliance with the other genocidal race. The Doctor meets a much older Rejoice, though only slightly less sweet. Of course, the mission is not what it seemed and there are some questionable characters on the mission. Part three is a direct sequel to part two, playing out the mission to its end and establishing the Doctor - Ollistra partnership. Part one is designed to provide the Doctor with a parallel situation to the Time War and thus allow him and the audience to reflect on the morality of war. Parts two and three provide numerous touchpoints with classic Who, especially in the Dalek plan, and provides more opportunity for discussion of the morality of war. In particular, we get a Time Lord fanatic who believes in peace at any cost versus the Doctor, who knows that one cannot negotiate with "monsters" and that war forces even good people to become monsters. Thus, the Doctor must argue with the man he would like to be and accept, however reluctantly, the man he has become. John Hurt pulls this off brilliantly, mostly by never overplaying the emotions. His controlled delivery and careful modulation carry the character's sadness and disgust far greater than shouting would ever do. Big Finish really has sound design down to an art now. The new theme arrangement is big, mock-orchestral, war-movie contraption that is a little too over-the-top for my tastes. The story itself drags down my appreciation. It is rather ho-hum and unimaginative, playing out in a highly predictable fashion. It is a good, but not great, start to a new series.
| What: | Dark Eyes (Dark Eyes audios) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Friday 27 May 2016 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Unbelievably awesome! Was really expensive but totally worth it!
Great plot twist, especially the one a the end that reveals who Kotris [main villain] really is!
Fantastic plot and supporting characters, really sympathetic to all of them.
Molly is a wonderful character, so full of fire and wits, she's so clever and funny.
The star of the box-set however of the Eight Doctor himself. Paul Mcgann is just incredible as the broken doctor, he is clearly wants to be alone but still enjoys an adventure.
Daleks are awesome too. Dalek Time Controller gave me chills when I first heard his voice, it sounded so cunning but also subtly human too, which gives him a creepy edge.
Overall a must-have box-set. If you haven't yet got this box-set in your collection, then what the hell are you waiting for, it is highly and truly recommended, it totally worth your money.
| What: | The Drosten's Curse (BBC prestige novels) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Tuesday 17 May 2016 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
The Drosten's Curse abundantly illustrates most of what can go wrong in writing a Doctor 4 novel. The story, such as it is, does not have enough to support a novel of this length. Basically, a big mind parasite that also eats people is haunting a golf course. Because the setting and conception really do not offer enough for 300+ pages of novel, half of the novel, stuck in the middle, has the Doctor trapped in mental space playing mind games with the monster, and his two temporary companions isolated in other tiny spaces so the writer can go back and forth between them reiterating just how isolated they are. However, the real problems are in style and conception. Too many writers of Doctor 4 novels in trying to capture Tom Baker's portrayal focus far too hard on what might be called his whimsy, the habit of making seemingly random or tangential lighthearted observations. A.L. Kennedy has focused so hard on this whimsy that she mostly misses the seriousness and keen insight that makes Doctor 4's particular whimsy work. Nearly every statement the Doctor makes in this novel is tangential, witty, or endearing. This Doctor cannot say or even think a straightforward sentence. What makes it worse is that Kennedy has made this whimsical manner of speaking her principal way of telling the story. It is all whimsical and light, though not particularly funny. It is all foam and no beer, all cream and no coffee, all frosting and no cake. The characters are shallow. This is made worse in two regards. One is that the reader is constantly told that the main "companion," Bryony Mailer, is exceptional, extraordinary, outstanding, decidedly above and beyond when she isn't at all. The other "companion," Putta Pattershaun 5, is one of those shy, awkward, unmen that occupy many British light comedies, except that Putta is unbelievably shy, awkward, clumsy, geeky, etc., so much so that he quickly becomes annoying and stays that way through the rest of the book. The magical ending also does not work for me, since once again it introduces whimsy to replace seriousness and so undercuts the rationale for whatever dramatic tension Kennedy has managed to stir up. I do give Kennedy points for consistency. She has chosen her path and stuck to it. I just felt that it wasn't a particularly good path.
The second of the Warner-Doctor and Brigadier stories is written as if it is the end of a full season's worth of stories. We get the sense that the Doctor and the Brigadier have had several adventures since they met in Hong Kong. The pairing works very well, with the Brigadier as the perfect practical and reality-minded foil to a very idealistic Doctor. David Warner makes an excellent Doctor, something like a mix between Doctor 3 and Doctor 5 in his confident bravado tempered by self-reflective doubt. The story itself sees Nick Briggs rewrite Dalek history, perhaps as in a way closer to what he would like the Daleks to be. Thus, we have two Dalek factions, one loyal to a memory of Davros, the other disavowing Davros. We get an entirely new rationale for the Kaled-Thal war. And, we get a third term, so to speak, in the new alien species, the Quatch. I wonder whether Briggs knew that Quatch is German slang for nonsense. Be that as it may, these aliens are not all that convincing, and the notion of a passage to another dimension sitting in the center of Skaro steps a little beyond credulity.
| What: | Starlight Robbery (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Thursday 12 May 2016 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Sylvester McCoy's time in TV Doctor Who was spent at the extremes, either extremely trite and jokey (first season) or too deeply brooding and mysterious (the other two). Starlight Robbery strikes the right balance between these two ends, with a fairly comical first two parts transitioning to a much more serious tone in the second two parts. Matt Fitton has handled this pretty well. Fitton also handles Sontaran psychology well. There are still some problems with big scale and small cast, which always makes it difficult to make the scale convincingly big enough. Another negative for me is the character of Will Arrowsmith, who is just too awkward, geeky, and so on for me to tolerate. He just irritates me. This is not a knock on the actor, just on the character. The acting throughout this story is very good, with Dan Starkey magnificent as four or five different Sontarans.
On a side note, while I was listening to the exchange between Klein and Marshall Stenn, it suddenly struck me that were Big Finish ever to decide to do a serious series with a female Doctor, Tracey Childs would be the perfect actor for the role.
| What: | The Cloisters of Terror (Fourth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Monday 9 May 2016 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Big Finish are sticking to their pattern in the 4th Doctor stories of making them feel like the TV series of 1977. This story fits that well. Actually, it is very much in the Gothic style of the Hinchcliffe years. An all-girl college at Oxford, run by the cloistered order of St. Matilda, is haunted by three sisters, ghosts of nuns who take girls under mysterious circumstances. Of course, the only ones who could stop this madness are The Doctor and Leela, with help this time by Dame Shaw, mother of Liz Shaw. It's a spooky story played with gusto by all the cast. The Doctor 4 - Leela combination is working exceptionally well, better than on TV. The story itself is kind of a ho-hum "Image of Fendahl" thing. The small cast makes it all quite predictable. Altogether, this drama is entertaining, but light.
| What: | Recorded Time (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Wednesday 4 May 2016 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Another in the anthology series of releases, Recorded Time and Other Stories has the usual characteristics of these things: varying quality of stories, a generalized theme, and a sort of wrap-up at the end. The first story, Recorded Time is the least effective. This one has the Doctor and Peri in the court of Henry VIII, who has been forcing a man to use time technology to write the future. There is a bit too much magic rather than science and Henry is just too bombastically egotistical. Better fare is served in Paradoxicide, an interesting twist on the Time Paradox story with a bunch of warrior women seeking a master weapon. A Most Excellent Match is a virtual reality story set in a virtual re-creation of Jane Austen's world. It is quite funny in places. The best of the stories is Question Marks, which has all its characters trapped in a building/ship on the brink of catastrophe. The trick is that no one can remember who they are. The generalized theme of the stories would be virtual reality, of things being imaginary rather than real, of the mind's role in shaping reality. Because no story is allowed to develop to full brilliance, the best I can say is that it is an entertaining listen on the whole.
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| Worst. Big. Finish. Adventure. Ever. |
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| What: | The Game (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 28 April 2016 |
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| Rating: | 1 |
3 discs of utter tedium.
This story is so very good and so very clever. Michael Jayston and Bonnie Langford work very well.
I particularly love the way the Valeyard goes through the Doctor's past and does the opposite of what the Doctor had done! The Valeyard is wonderfully sarcastic and rude - what a wonderful actor - and his nastiness knows no bounds.
We also hear a very different Melanie Bush - and a very enjoyable change to her character for a one-off. She gives Ace a run for her money!
It's now for sale at such a cheap price - do consider this one. Truly brilliant.
| What: | Ghost Ship (Telos novellas) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Monday 4 April 2016 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
"Ghost Ship" is an attempt at a traditional 19th-century or early 20th-century style horror story. Doctor 4 traveling alone lands on the Queen Mary in the early 1950s to find that there are ghosts lurking around the mysterious Cabin 672. In this respect, the story is not all that interesting since it adds nothing new to the genre and mostly just follows the cliches, down to the mad scientist at the heart of it all. What really brings down the story is having it narrated by The Doctor himself. Topping never gets the voice or character right. It is like having The Doctor wear a different skin, one that would be good for the narrator of a standard horror story. The mismatch between character and narrator is just too great to be overlooked.
The story is develop in this novel where the author does brilliantly. The title sounds plain old simple and still prefers the original title. Overall, a wonderful classic you should grab and read.
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| John Hurt is definitely sublime |
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Only The Monstrous has to be one of my favourite audio drama sets ever. It has it all:
1: The return of John Hurt as the War Doctor! And John is a brilliant actor, and as with every other actor to play the Doc, he instantly adds his own touch to the character which is immediately memorable and catching too. I love this Doctor's dry sarcasm and flat out rudeness that even tops the first Doctor in my opinion! His sarcastic quips made me wet myself! But he also has those moments that truly still say here is the man we all know and love. And I instantly love John as the War Doctor. He is such a brilliant actor and I'm glad he's come aboard the Doctor Who boat. And I'm glad he's been given a far better story than the TV anniversary show. For me it was only John who saved that from being totally forgettable!
2: The characters: Ollistra, played by Jacqueline Pearce is a wonderful time lord deviant creep. And Jacks Pearce is totally awesome in the role of the high up ponce of a time lady. He sparks with John Hurt are really riveting and made me smile a whole lot. Rejoice is a lovely character, for me rather in the line of Nyssa, in that she's not an overblown scheming or loud mouthed little minx. No, she's just a brilliant and instantly lovable character. I loved her character to bits. Her aiding and caring for the weary and injured Doctor makes for some moments of great pathos.
3: The production and sound design: this set sounds truly cinematic. The score is absolutely excellent, and gives the three stories such a breadth. Its like going to the cinema with your eyes closed!
Nick Briggs finest hour as a writer I think is presented here. The war themes are very strong and convincingly portrayed. The psychos are diverting and really nasty. Everything Doctor Who should be is encapsulated in this opener of the War Doctor on audio. I cant wait to get Infernal Devices! John Hurt IS the Doctor now along with every other one....
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| Slow Start Worth The Wait |
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As part of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, Big Finish returns to 1963, when it all began. One of the key facts of British culture at the time was Beatlemania. So, Doctor Who takes on Beatlemania. Sort of. The premise is that the Doctor is taking Nyssa to witness the Beatles' famous arrival to screaming fans. However, it is not The Beatles getting off the plane, but instead a Merseyside trio called The Common Men. No one has heard of "The Beatles." Uh, oh. Someone is playing with time again. Part 1 is a bit slow, being mostly setup. By the end of Part 1, I was not sure whether I was getting into it. However, the story improves as it goes along. Some interesting aspects include separating Nyssa from The Doctor early in the story, so that each gets a separate adventure. Another is the jigsaw narrative that has the pieces scattered over a 13-year period, with quite a bit of jumping around. This might seem a confusing way to tell a story, but it works. There are a few lesser bits. One is some rather dodgy New York accents. Another is that it is hard to determine just what the villain is after and why he goes to such extraordinary lengths to get it. In sum: This story is not deep, but it certainly is entertaining.
| What: | Dying in the Sun (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Wednesday 23 March 2016 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
There so many great ideas in the book!
Quiet tragic and dark in some places.
Only nickpick is Ben doesn't get to do much.
| What: | The Krillitane Storm (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Wednesday 23 March 2016 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Let me just say, the Tenth Doctor is much better here than in "Sting of the Zygons". I found him more like himself.
Great stories, a really cool villain and a brilliant one off companion, Lucy, with an interesting back story.
I like the Krillitanes in this as their not the main threat until the end.
Overall, would sit perfectly in the 2009 specials, a great read, highly recommended for someone who wants an easy to read, not over-the-top sciencey. Good Luck with it!
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| Great Doctor! Great Story! |
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| What: | Engines of War (BBC prestige novels) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 22 March 2016 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
What a brilliant book! One of my favourites in fact. It just a shame that it took me a whole year to read. I think the reason was it was difficult to get into, nut once I got into the story, it was totally worth every penny!
Some lovely references in there, the best being from "The Five Doctors" [which is a great anniversary special].
I love John Hurt's doctor and George Mann really knows how to write the War Doctor, a battle-worn and grumpy-man. He is great in every scene he's in.
Great subsitute companion, Cinder, she just awesome and has a great character story; going from hard foot soldier to compassionate and hero companion, I like how her name is never revealed.
The Daleks are incredible and frightening when they show up; their plan to wipe out the Time Lords is believable, scarily insane and genosidle. Their only used for a few chapters but totally make an inpact to the reader and the universe.
The Time Lords are also great villains, you can just see how the Time War has change them for the worst, just like the Doctor says, they are like Daleks now and that the Doctor's own people he's talking, he's even talking about himself to a certain degree.
Overall, get this book! Highly recommended, Well done George Mann! I hope you do some more books soon.
| What: | Sting of the Zygons (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 22 March 2016 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Let me just say the Zygons are brilliant in this story, having pretty much taking over the entire countryside. I read this before watching "Terror of the Zygons" but it was easy to understand their biological make-up. I think I perffered this to "Terror of the Zygons" which I found slighty dissappointing!
A great example of a alien invasion story.
Great supporting characters and Martha is as brilliant as ever.
Only two criticsim with this book is the fact that it is, and this is purely trivial, Broton on the cover [of the original print; thankfully they cleared that up on the Monster Collection Edition], and the tenth doctor felt too much like the eleventh doctor for me.
Anyway that did not sway my opinion on this fantastic book.
Highly recomended if you're a fan of "Terror of the Zygon."
| What: | Foreign Devils (Telos novellas) |
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| By: | Alexander Amos King-Grey, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 22 March 2016 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
My only critisim of this book is the Jamie is poorly used because he gets written out in chapter 1 then does reappear until the second-last chapter! By which he is in a coma for the whole chapter.
Good short story from William Hope Hodgson with Caranaki at the end of the book.
