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| What: | Wooden Heart (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | patar, Warrington |
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| Date: | Friday 2 October 2009 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
Not bad. Compared to some classics, it was bad, but for a Doctor Who book, it's definitely in the top end. And yeah, the story never stopped lol.
I love that audio paring of Davison and Sutton, and this installation is no exception. What could be more fun than the Fifth Doctor returning to Vortis in the far-flung aftermath of his previous visit - to once again navigate the complexities of Zarbi and Menoptra species? Well, I can think of a few things - but they are all quite fun.
The Doctor and Nyssa find themselves drawn to the planet, along with many other space faring vessels - all pulled in by a mysterious force. Future humans play out their fascinatingly complex role as bio engineered beings destined to seed the cosmos - against the backdrop of giant sentient termite/ants and moth people.
A solid 9.
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 | Enjoyable but a tad disjointed. |
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After reading the previous book in this series, I was very hesitant to start another multi-book, multi-author story line, however, this book wasn't bad.
The story was somewhat confusing and disjointed in places, but overall I liked the concept and thought that the writing was quite good.
The Process was an interesting concept that wouldn't have worked in some situations, but it worked fairly well in this story.
The backstory of Gallifrey was intriguing and I hope that it gets built on.
While this isn't the best book I have read, it was entertaining and kept my interest.
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| Troughton and Dicks at there best |
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This is the best 2nd Doctor book that I have read (2nd only to The War games). This is the first of the 2nd Doctors to be novalised so i think that is why Dicks takes his time on this one, I only wish that he had been alowd to write most of his others like this. The charectors are great and you really get a feel for the cold and lonelyness of the himalayers. I read this book in the middle of winter and was reading it my bedroom without the heater on, and i think that added to my enjoyment of the book.
It makes me wish that this still exsisted in print, and also angree that this was destroyed but episodes like the Dominators wasn't.
I have also listened to the soundtrack for this and have come to the concluton that if the BBC ever get around to animating all these missing stories and putting the soundtarack on them (like they did to The Invasion) this would be the perfect one to start with.
I love this book, and if you are unforminlar with the 2nd doctor (or the black and white area) this is a great place to start reading.
| What: | Combat Rock (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Simon, Brazil |
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| Date: | Friday 25 September 2009 |
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| Rating: |  1 |
I was apalled by such a terrible story. I've read hundreds of Doctor Who stories, and this one has to be the worst ever. The gratuitous violence and gore has nothing to do with the Doctor I know, positively making Ian Marter look like a saint. The Doctor shows a completely out-of-character indifference to life, just standing by as people are beheaded and mutilated around him. Come on! This is the Doctor that defeated the Daleks, the Cybermen and the Ice Warriors... And it treats the companions in the same manner: Victoria throws up (because of all the gore and mutilation) more than she screams, and Jamie taking pleasure in fighting alongside the bloadthirsty rebels?
The action revolves around either sadistic mercenary forces, murderous rebels or cannibals that are fighting each other, and the story could very well carry on completely without him or the companions.
I find it hard to believe that there are novels with worse ratings.
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| Lord of the flies meets time machine |
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The standard from Big Finish remains high this year. Throwing together some many strong elements, great acting and a few scary moments makes this great one.
Fans of Doctor Who will have already encountered each story element of this book from previous stories, both in the new series and in the old. That said, I like these things and haven't encountered them in a couple of years - so, it's all good.
A plenitude of monsters, abandoned spooky places, nutters with driftwood collections (and guard ducks), and a culmination of events that could lead to the end of life on Earth as we know it.
You can also make a drinking game out of it - taking a drink every time you read the word "cables", and make it a double each time you read "thick cables". Mike Tucker is a visual thinker, and it comes across with plenty of set dressing (the man loves him some cables).
The dialog and characterization of The Doctor and Rose were well done, and welcome lite fare. Not too many surprises in here, a story built of cliches, but still a fun time that I am happy to have enjoyed. (7.5 stars)
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| "You must buy this DVD for me..." |
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| What: | The Keys of Marinus (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 20 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There's no denying it - The Keys of Marinus is brilliant. I have stated elsewhere on this site that The Rescue is my favourite Hartnell, but after watching this after 2 years this has pipped Vicki's debut to the post.
We start off with a great idea - a glass beach, by the shores of an acid sea. The alien Voords (realised pretty well on the tight budget this story had to work with) have taken over the planet and to save it the Doctor and his companions must find the four keys of Marinus. We are taken to the city of Morphoton for some hypnotism by giant brains (my favourite episode), the screaming jungle including telepathic plants, the snows of terror where frozen ice soldiers become revived, and to a courtroom where Ian is tried for murder...
The whole thing finishes up well - but you'll have to watch the DVD for the ending!
On the extras side, we don't have the best package - one featurette with designer Raymond P Cusick talking about his work on the story. This is understandable, as being a 1960s quest story most actors will only have appeared in one episode, plus many have died, so this is why there is no 'making of' documentary.
Overall, the 2nd best release of the year (behind the War Games, of course.)
| What: | Autonomy (BBC New Series Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Camden, Geelong, Australia |
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| Date: | Saturday 19 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
In the what would seem months without my Doctor Who fix, I have been waiting for this book for a long time. And at last I got it, and I'm happy to say I was not dissapointed in the slightest. The Doctor is yet again in the right place, at the wrong time. But makes the most of it and with the help of his secret undercover companion, the two of them help to stop the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness from taken over the Earth once again.
| What: | The Death Collectors (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 18 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
As a fan of sci-fi story's set on space ships with aliens, I loved this story. It has a really creepy & atmospheric mood. Sylvester McCoy puts in one of his best performances. A really good, thought provoking story. The supporting cast are excellent especially the very sexy Katherine Parkinson from TVs "The IT Crowd."
| What: | The Black Guardian Trilogy (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 18 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A mixed bag. Mawdyn Undead is an excellent story that rarely (for Dr Who) uses time travel & the consequences, as the main plank of the story. There are some lovely locations & how nice to see the Brigadier back again.
Terminus is a dull story that never really gets going and is a poor way for Nyssa to leave the series. It also features the Garm, or a man in a dog suit, as it should be known, of of the worst realised Who monsters ever. It was interesting to hear Steve Gallagher, the writer talking about (on the commentary track) how he had wanted the Garm to look like. A poor effort.
Enlightenment is a classic story. A great cast, especially Keith Barron as the creepy striker.
The story is only slightly let down by Lynda Barron's ridiculous overacting.
There are some really good extras on all the discs. For me the optional CGI effects are a real boon that really boost the story's (even Terminus to a degree) & the all singing, all dancing movie version of Enlightenment is a real treat. Recommended.
| What: | The Black Guardian Trilogy (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Charles Curtis, Culver, United States |
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| Date: | Tuesday 15 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 3 |
These 3 stories plod along and aren't very inspired. The writing and the acting are average for stories of the Davison Era. The Black Guardian should have been left behind at the end of 'The Armageddon Factor'. He wasn't very menacing and Turlough was a less than inspired choice as a villain. They are on a par with 'Four to Doomsday', 'Kinda', and 'Snakedance'.
Never mind what people say about Colin Baker's The Twin Dilemma, I think this is the worst ever DW story. Ridiculous plot, poor directing, bad acting and special effects and awful music and looks (not the transfer but the original looks!). No wonder they cancelled it not long after that. I can't wait for better Sylvester McCoy stories like Dragonfire or Greatest Show In The Galaxy to come out on DVD to erase this from my mind!!!
A well written story from Susans point of view on how The Doctor came to like us "Humans".
| What: | Patient Zero (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 13 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
The first of this trio of 6th Doctor & Charlie story's gets off to a cracking start with Patient Zero. A taught imaginative story with lots of twists & turns. Is this the end for Charlie Pollard ? Can't wait to find out. Recommended.
| What: | The Twin Dilemma (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 13 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 6 |
This story is one of the least popular Dr Who story's ever. To me this unfair. Of course there are problems with it, the giant gastropod for a start. But approach it with an open mind and there is much to enjoy. Colin Baker's approach at playing the 6th Doctor was a brave, if flawed approach.
The extras are wort your money. There is a nice little extra in witch Colin Baker and a fashion expert look at the other Doctors costumes and there is the always excellent Stripped for action segment looking at the 6th Doctor's comic strips.
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| Sad, unlikely, favourites, subplot |
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The sudden twist for Charley although a little wild is great fun, a long standing subplot which has been running for sometime comes out well and very convincing. I'm looking forward to what happens next.
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| Excellent and well realised |
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This audio finally brings back Tom Baker - perhaps Big Finish were not offering enough cash? Anyway, this audio is slightly different to what we're used to with Big Finish - large monologues with Tom and others. The plot is interesting and a little creepy. It's well worth listening to Tom's tones once more, and well worth buying!
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| A Part 1... Crystals and Intrigue |
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| What: | The Eight Truths (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Doug, Pocono Summit, PA, USA |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Eight Truths is the first part of a two-part season ending story for this third Eighth Doctor and Lucie season. Something is disrupting the operations of government satellites, and the Doctor offers his expertise on the matter. Having left Lucie at their hotel before dashing off early for that, she runs into Karen, the Headhunter's old assistant, outside the hotel, and is persuaded by her to go and check out The Eightfold Truth, an organization that she says teaches a "life course." Lucie begins to be influenced by the strange, insidious crystals being used by the members, and is persuaded along to their "Center of Balance," which is located at a former BBC television center. All of this results in the Doctor getting knocked out of action for a rather long time, and by the time he's coherent again, a new sun has approached Earth (the "rebel sun" of the Eightfold Truth prophecy), the population is in a panic, and Lucie has become very strongly involved in the rapidly growing, cultish Eightfold Truth organization. I will not reveal some major spoilers about what happens near the end of this story, and I hope other reviewers keep it to themselves too - the end of episode 2 is one of those OMG, no WAY! kind of developments, which reveals yet another old alien, and also finally explains what happens at the end of episode 1. Very cool. And in addition to all of this, we have the involvement of the Headhunter, and a certain Gallifreyan artifact... So another important thing happening here is that the ongoing storyline left dangling at the end of Orbis is finally picked up again in earnest.
Well written and produced, The Eight Truths is set in contemporary England (well, 2012 actually), along with some of today's issues, like global warming and economic troubles. The members of The Eightfold Truth speak like many of today's "New Age" authorities, and the story seems to be poking fun at or criticizing these movements, or turning them around into something truly nasty here. With a good script, good incidental music, and nice direction, The Eight Truths is a gripping, thought provoking and snappy production.
Now we'll see if it all holds up in the final story of the season, Worldwide Web.
| What: | Frayed (Telos novellas) |
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| By: | Steve Hauley, Milton Keynes |
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| Date: | Friday 4 September 2009 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Very clever how the 2 seemingly unlinked stories come to together at the end and make perfect sense.
