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 | An Insect's Point of View |
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Amazingly, the Big Finish writers are coming up with some really fresh concepts again. Survival of the Fittest takes a really interesting look at what communication might be like for insects, and specifically, at how the TARDIS handles the most incompatible communication between species.
But probably of as much or more interest, actually, is the single-episode Klein's Story, which fills in her, well, back story. It's a brief but fascinating tale of time travel and an alternate history, featuring a very special guest, whose identity I won't divulge here. It explains where she's coming from quite well, for those who haven't heard Colditz for a long time (her first story), and for those who've never heard it at all.
The one trivial issue I might have with Survival of the Fittest is that Klein's characterization seems somewhat inconsistent, due to the nature of her concern for the insect species they encounter. Either that, or Klein really is more complex and multi-dimensional than one would suppose at first glance.
this is probably the best typical doctor who book ever written, almost as good as players!!
| What: | The Boy That Time Forgot (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Friday 14 May 2010 |
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| Rating: |   5 |
I have yet to figure out why Paul Magrs is considered such "noteworthy" writer. This story is not fully rubbish, but it is not all that brilliant either. The Doctor attempts to create block transfer computation by seance so that he can find his TARDIS, which Brewster has stolen. Instead, he contacts the mind of Adric, not dead, and he, Nyssa, and two Victorian cliches get transported to prehistoric Earth. There, Adric has set up a kingdom in which he rules a colony of giant, intelligent scorpions. Say what? Adric not dead? No, he is now a 500 year old dottering fool with a Nyssa fixation. How did he become king of the scorpions? He connected his mind to the alien computer the Cybermen had installed on board the freighter? Say what? He's not played by Matthew Waterhouse, but by Andrew Sachs? Say what? What the ... is going on here? Apart from the weird casting of Adric, the problem in this story is that Magrs is trying to do Bidmead and simply cannot pull off the imitation. Bidmead is well-read in the extremes of modern physics, and so bases his ideas on this background to explore the theoretical limits. Magrs, on the other hand, either is not so well read on these matters or cannot convert the ideas well. Judging by his "Hornets' Nest" series and this script, I would say that his imagination is primarily Victorian. That would be fine, and the Victorian "lost world" and H. Rider Haggard parts of the script work reasonably well. It is the quasi-scientific gobbledygook explanations for it all that just do not hold together.
Jonathan Morris is playing with time again. The story is a variation on the "Flip-Flop" idea that future "versions" in history can interact with the past. In this story, some unnamed gas beasties have chosen a Dickensian orphan named Thomas Brewster to haunt by projecting to him images of his dead mother and then getting him to construct a time machine. The ghost of Brewster's mother is genuinely creepy. The story is divided so that each part gets told within a different genre: Part 1, Dickens; Part 2, Sherlock Holmes; Part 3, Haunted House; Part 4, Christopher Bidmead style Doctor Who. Strangely enough, it works on the whole, giving the story variety. We get to see events from three different perspectives (Brewster's, The Doctor's, and Nyssa's). There are a few problems bringing down my rating. One is the awful, and I mean truly awful, soundtrack music. This boring techno-lite late 70's Cluster/Moebius deal does not in any way fit the content or atmosphere of the story. Another problem is the senseless death of McIntosh. He goes from "You betrayed me, Doctor" to "I will sacrifice myself for you, Doctor" faster than it takes Rush Limbaugh to down a bottle of Oxycontin. Finally, that Brewster can just walk into the TARDIS and get it going on his own contradicts all the lore suggesting that the TARDIS is very hard to work. However, overall this is an interesting story, well paced and well acted.
| What: | Parallel 59 (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | a person, hayfield |
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| Date: | Tuesday 11 May 2010 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This is a fairly average book. The plot is fine as are the characterisations, however, I felt that it jumped about too much and it was a bit confusing. Worth reading but don't expect anything fantastic.
This is one of the better EDAs, it begins with the reader not really knowing why the doctor is there but it soon becomes clear and rapidly turns into an excellent addition to the series! However, I did not give it ten because it is not really particularly original but it is well-written and enjoyable!
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| Mental Doctor into Sane Doctor |
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| What: | New Beginnings: (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | JG, Gallifrey, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 5 May 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Tom Baker's 'Mental Doctor' into Peter Davison's 'Sane Doctor' .
The Keeper of Traken 9/10 - This is a classic story to re-introduce The Master.
Logopolis 10/10 - My favorite Master (played by Antony Ainley) is more evil in this than any other story to include The Master. The regeneration itself - it is good to see the 4th Doctor's enemies & companions.
Castrovalva 9/10 - Best regeneration recovery story.
| What: | Lost in Time (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | JG, Gallifrey, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 5 May 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is the best Box-set of Dr Who ever! Almost all of orpaned episodes in 1 whole Box-set on 3 DVDs. All we need now is the animated episodes.
This Book takes a rest from the recent turmoil in the main character's lives but in doing so allows for a low key murder investigation coupled with the development of a recurring character. It is all handled so expertly by Aaronovitch that you do not for one moment feel that you are immersed in this new culture that I am sure we will see more off.
| What: | Wetworld (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Donna Torchwood, St Louis, MO |
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| Date: | Friday 30 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Read this on a train on the way to Chicago. In parts it reads like some of the best writing of master horror writer Stephen King. Both the Doctor and Martha have solid help with the characters in this adventure Candy, Ty and the villain Mr. Pallister. Allons-y!
an awful programme. not only it is not all interviews, the other parts are just picture montages of old dr who memorablia, "fast facts" (some of which are incorrect), and the interviews are either small co-stars or poor footage for DT and john barrowman. not recommended for any fan. (buy creature from the pit instead!)
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| Have I Got Doctor Who For You |
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| What: | Peladon Tales (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 27 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I suppose you could probably say this is the closest Doctor Who got to a political satire, although to be honest these are merely 'themes' that run throughout. 'Curse' reflects the UK's decision to join the EU (then the EEC), and more blatantly in 'Monster' we have references to the miners' strike.
'The Curse of Peladon' is by far superior to its 1974 sequel. We are introduced to a menagerie of aliens, including the Ice Warriors, Arcturus (creepy voice) and the brilliant Alpha Centauri. The villain here is not who you'd expect, though!
Other well-played characters are David "Son of Patrick" Troughton as the King and Hepesh, the dodgy High Priest. Aggedor doesn't look too bad, either!
'Monster' is a bit more rubbish. As a 6-parter it has to spread out its slightly sparse material out even longer, and I think the miners strike references could have been toned down a bit more. Plaudits have to go to Elisabeth Sladen in only her first season - she does well here.
Extras include 'The Peladon Saga', looking at not just the making-of but also social references (in the vein of 'What Lies Beneath'), and 'The Warriors of Mars', an Ice Warriors documentary (better than 'Sssowing the Ssseedsss' on the Seeds of Death DVD).
The return of jamie has been handled with great strength and at last some mystery in the story arc. City of Spires creates a vivid picture of an alternative highlands, with a strong cast and a great ending, what's next?
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| This is very good on all levels... |
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| What: | The Lost Stories: Paradise 5 (The Lost Stories audio dramas) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 24 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Lost Stories series has been one of so much diversity and Paradise 5 is one of the very best of them so far.
Although I cant see all that much similarity between this and Terror of the Vervoids which replaced this story as the third segment of the Trial of the Time Lord epic. And this story if its possible, to me is even better than that excellent fragment of Trial!
Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant are as assured and brilliant in there roles as ever.
And there are plenty of good ideas rolling around in this little space adventure. The cherubs are a tragic part of the story, but well utilised and thought out.
And the elohim could have been a great new monster for the Doctor to fight. This story has all the atmosphere of a horror tale, woven aboard a futuristic so called paradise space station. And as in every paradise there is a rather vile serpent.
Good speech from the Doctor in the final scene. Makes the sixth Doctor a little more likeable than some of his rather overtly violent outings in previous tv outtings. An interdimensional creature seeking armies to fight. Good idea. You just cant get away from wars can you?
And the acting support is excellent. Memorable and good characters. All the ingredients of great Doctor Who are there once again. This tale really is a one of the best stories Ive heard in a long time...
And so we follow on the heels of the excellent Leviathan. One question on my mind when I ordered this story: would it live up to Leviathan's standards? In short the answer is a resounding yes! Had these stories have been produced and shown in the time when they were first realised, I could have seen the audience figures going up and up and up.
I cant believe stories as good as The Hollows Of Time never made it to the TV. Goodness knows why the BBC couldnt have started over with all these excellent lost stories.
Chris Bidmead has crafted a tale with good pacing and good spins and turns. And the Tractators are back. And they are not quite as bad as they first appeared to be in that great tv story Frontios. I notice they have used some of the score from that story again. The Tractator's theme it should be called.
And is Professor Stream the Master? What is really good is that you can easily think so, but you dont find out. I find this an intruiging thing to do. Leave it to the veiwer or listener in this case to decide. And if it was the Master, or whoever, blowing into pieces isnt a very nice end at all for anyone. That might have been just a bit too over the top for a PG 1986 adventure but it certainly is a great ending.
And again it boasts good characters that are likeable. And the relaxed start is a breather from more far paced tales that sometimes are too quick for their own good.
This is another delightful example of what might have been. This really should have been made at the time it was written. But im glad its been done now!!!!
| What: | The Lost Stories: Leviathan (The Lost Stories audio dramas) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 24 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
It has to be said that overall, so far, this lost stories series has been excellent. the stories in their way have many strength and maybe yes a few weaknesses but with this story this is happily not the case.
I could have seen Leviathan as being a story very hard to realise on the screen in the mid eighties. There are si many good ideas floating around in here that it wouldnt have been cheap.
This is a good multi layered story, with many good twists and turns. The ending of Part one is surprising to me, and despite the clues I didnt have a clue it would turn out to be a huge spaceship.
And then there is the gruesome body tanks. Now that is a more ghoulish and scary theme to this excellent tale that doesnt pause for breath from the moment it starts. And there is also plenty of excellent dialogue from all involved that make this lost story very good indeed.
It has all the elements that Doctor Who needs. Ken Bentley has directed this audio brillantly.
Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant: its good to hear them together again, and they work so well with each other. Im glad that the overall banter has calmed between them that was the usual vein in the Colin Baker Doctor Who tv period.
This is a Robert Holmes type story: excellently realised and very well plotted, with plenty of good and different elements floating around!!!
| What: | Dalek War (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Mark Finney, Richmond, VA, USA |
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| Date: | Wednesday 14 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
All the key ingredients for the best of Doctor Who; Pertwee, Delgado, Jo Grant, Daleks, and outer space!
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| Scooby Doo in all but name... |
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| What: | Black Orchid (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 12 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
OK, maybe the title of this review is a little over the top, but some elements of that "detective" cartoon and this "whodunnit mystery" do correlate. A silly runaround in corridors of a manor house, a doubting Thomas-esque policeman, and a mystery with just one suspect...
'Black Orchid' is unlucky in some ways. Sandwiched between adventurous historical 'The Visitation' and Doctor Who's #19 story, the thrilling 'Earthshock', this is like the mouldy lettuce in an otherwise delicious layered sandwich. The plot is thin and wishy-washy, and I'm not a massive fan of the characters, who with only 2 episodes have no time to develop. OK location work, but it's no saving grace for this story.
Extras-wise, this is as insubstantial as the story. A 'Now and Then' which lists locations not used for Cranleigh Hall - YAWN! 'Stripped for Action' is alright, but the Fifth Doctor's comic strips hardly stand out either in quality or impact. There's little else of note on this disc, which is sadly pretty poor.
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| Good, if you like this sort of thing... |
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| What: | Island of Death (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Josh, Sitka, Alaska |
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| Date: | Friday 9 April 2010 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
For those of you who don't know it this book is a follow up to the two BBC radio dramas that Jon Pertwee did in the early nineties, just before his death. This in mind I was very eager to read this book, as I enjoyed those radio dramas, ('Paradise of Death' and 'The Ghosts of N-Space').
Island of Death is a Doctor Who adventure that you will enjoy if you liked the radio dramas. While this is not the best Doctor Who story I have ever read, it was certainly a very fun read. I also learned that a Time Lord's respitory bypass system makes them naturally boyant (no idea if I spelled that right) in water.
The only problem I had with this story is that, like many other BBC Doctor Who stories, the climax comes far to quickly at the end. (I often wonder if the BBC enforces strict guidelines on how long a book can be!)
Other than that it is well worth the read.
I really enjoyed this story. it gave a great insight to what could have happened if Great Britain had lost WW2. Terrance Dicks does a great job with this story i couldnt put it down.
