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| What: | Combat Rock (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Friday 18 May 2012 |
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| Rating: |   2 |
Mick Lewis has tried to write a Vietnam War novel, Heart of Darkness story, Zombie invasion horror/slasher movie tale set in the Doctor Who universe. I emphasize tried. What comes out is a mish-mash so pointlentlessly violent and gory it defies description. Doctor 2, Jamie, and Victoria land on a jungle world that is so like 1960s Vietnam it seems utterly pointless to have made it an alien world. This society is in the midst of a civil war on a planet that still has tourism. Our heroes get hoodwinked into going to an island of "former" cannibals for some low-grade site seeing, predictably get attacked, split up, and variously assualted. Thus, the reader follows the three characters as they try to find each other and escape. There is a fourth plot involving a crew of nasty, ugly mercenaries who spend most of their time killing for the hell of it and nursing their psychoses. Into this, we get ruthless native freedom fighters, the aforementioned cannibals, several absurdly large and dangerous beasties, all in a journey-to-the-center plot. I say plot, but there really is not much of one. The story goes from one scene of brutality to the next, without respite, and without developing anything. There are so many villains that the big baddy, the Krallik, just feels like one of the crew rather than any sort of ultimate evil. The Doctor spends virtually the entire novel doing nothing but muttering "My giddy aunt." Victoria gets threatened with rape several times. Mick Lewis tries throwing in some "style" by using Tim O'Brien stream of consciousness passages with the mercenaries. I suppose there is material here for those with slasher movies tastes. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth that I am still trying to rinse away.
| What: | The Time Travellers (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Saturday 12 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I found this whole novel a great read. The initial mytery was excellent and even though the plot does demand some concentration by the reader, I don't believe it is any more complex than a Steven Moffatt twisty turny timey wimey tale from the latest TV series.
I loved the fact that the characters changed as a result of their adventure, and there was much clever foreshadowing of events to come. I guess if you are not familiar with some of the early history of the show (and the seventh doctor's tenure as well) some of the elements in the story may be confusing, although as these plot points are not laboured on and are only really hinted at, the author has tried to give nods to well versed fans without alienating casual readers.
The climax was satisfying as well as heart wrenching, as even up to the last chapter there were surprises in store. A very touching end to an altogether excellent book.
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 | Frayed patience at times... |
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| What: | Frayed (Telos novellas) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 8 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
As an experimental piece of Doctor Who writing this just about works. I found it hard to connect with the alien environment of the colony. Although filled with clever ideas I wasn't enamoured with the dream sequence chapters. Susan was also drastically underused.
The horrific imagery was one of the highlights and I also enjoyed the characterisation of the Doctor. Some of the colonists were also quite memorable, quite a feat within the shorter word count. The climax came together quite well but the aliens were too ethereal for much of the novel.
I'm not sure this style of writing could be sustained for a full length novel, so overall the shorter length was well utilised. There are some deep themes here that are worthy of exploration. I'm just not sure I really 'got' the gist of it all.
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| A solid set of characterisations |
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| What: | The Empire of Glass (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Tuesday 8 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
A fairly good-natured story which mostly preserves the essence of the era. Steven fares well here and the scenes of the alien delegation almost echo the "Daleks Masterplan" scenes but on a larger scale. Though not a terribly memorable plot, this novel has many great little character moments.
| What: | City At World's End (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 7 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
A rather exciting novel. I liked how Bulis left us with all these little mysteries along the way. He was very controlled with what information was released and when. Barbara was rather under used and I didn't like the Taklarians. They didn't really add anything to the story for me. I enjoyed following the Doctor and Ian through the mystery. The inbuilt countdown of the doomed planet led a sense of urgency to the novel. Better than expected.
| What: | The Witch Hunters (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 7 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Steve Lyons is a genius. Another excellent read and hard to put down. The TARDIS leaving half way through the story was a real cliffhanger like moment. The hardships of the TARDIS crew are keenly felt and all the characters have strong motivation and are integral to the story. Highly recommended.
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| Agatha Christie is space! |
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| What: | The Murder Game (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 7 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
A murder mystery, A space station, the Doctor in drag, and the danger of floating around cinders in Spain. What more could I ask for. Fantastic twists and turns with much hijunks and hilarity ensues.
Sorry this one was a bit too far out for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and the plot didn't grab me either. I applaud the work made to flesh out Dodo but on the whole I found it hard to finish.
| What: | The Plotters (Missing Adventures novels) |
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| By: | Chris Arnold, Bundaberg, Australia |
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| Date: | Monday 7 May 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
One of the best Hartnell books I've read. Laugh out loud funny at times and just a joy to read. Hard to put down. Highly recommended!
A little slow in places, but not as dreadful as the reputation that preceeds it. The book fleshes out Ben and especially Polly, and I liked their reactions to 1990's technology and society. The ideas are all there in the story but just out of grasp of the reader. I didn't come away from it with feelings releif that it was over, but neither did i go 'Wow, that was awesome'.
| What: | Wirrn Isle (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 27 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Big finish always seem to pcik just the right people for new companions for the errant time traveller to have by his side. Lisa Greenwood is a ruddy revelation! I love her spry infectious enthusiasm which is plain from the word go in this, the first story I have heard with her aboard the TARDIS. She immediately grabs the attention, and she has a well rounded character who bounces off Colin Baker like I dont know what. All I can say is she is brilliant and I love her wreckless streak, but also her concern and care for all those around her. It makes her another success of a new companion for the series. I cant wait to hear more stories with her in. She has an infectious vitally thats great for any doctor who story. And this is only her beginning.
This stories other characters too are so likeable, and the interplay between them clearly makes the presence of a true dsyfunctional family known to the fore, and add to that the presence of a great doctor who baddy, the Wirrn, and you have all the elements to make this story a great one. And it is a great one. Colin Baker is on top form, as one would expect, leading the cast brilliantly. The Wirrn too are more interesting than in the Ark In Space, and the child inside a wirrn by transmat is a gruesome idea that adds a touch of horror to the mix. The oace of this story too is spot on again, and builds up tension to a satisfying end.....
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| I felt sorry for the Cybermen... |
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| What: | The Silver Turk (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 27 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Mary Shelley is a wierd but definitely worthwhile kind of companion for the eigth doctor here. Julie Cox is flawless in bringing her to life in her first full four oart story. And what better way to bring her in than to bring back those metal fleshy chaps from Mondas into the mix.
The cybermen have been atrociously used in the new series, but never in a big finish play. Marc's previous script, Spare Parts, was a brilliant and resonating story about the metal giants from Mondas, it dripped with intenseness and some horrible body science and let us know that the Doctor had, although be it unwilling, a hand in their very creation. Which always was a neat little twist that was unexpected and revealing. And now he brings us this new horror tinged brilliant sci fi fest.
The Silver Turk builds up tension, and the eye taking scenes are rather morbid and original and cringe inducing. Things like this would never have been allowed on the old classic series I feel I know. But it makes for some great nasty moments. And also the interplay between the characters in this one is highly engaging.
But I feel the best part of this story is in how I felt sorry for the metal giants in this one, both of the two cybermen present being so damaged and wracked with pain and used by the callous humans, which again is no surprise at all. Being that humans usually are the worst monsters in the whole of the universe. And the wooden cybermen, or whatever you wanna call them are well realised and nasty.
This story has a good pace and builds up nicely to a very satisfying climnax. And Julie immediately makes her presence felt. And this bodes well for her character in the future which Im sure will be exciting and dangerous, if this story is anything to go by...
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| A big buildup to quite a letdown.... |
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| What: | House of Blue Fire (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 26 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Upon the hearing of the first episode of this story, I was expecting this to be a great hammer horror esque style tale full old brilliant nasty terrors running around. The first episode was leading to something I thought would be one of the best seventh doctor audios to date. The focus on the characters and their fears was developing very well indeed, and I know Im weird but I love stories that leave the Doctor out for a while, so we get to know the other characters first, before the meddling time lord chap comes along in delightfully theatrically style. The first episode was a bit of a psychological fest.
Part two brought the doctor and his revelations along to the mix. And some of the scenes in this episode were brilliantly realised, scripted and portrayed by all the actors involved. Full of nasty occurances building up to a crescendo that should have been a lot better.
Parts three and four...well, I couldnt help but feel well let down by the rather all too simple military wrapping up of the tale. This is not exactly all that original and not all that entertaining either. We've done mind games to death in doctor who now, the mara tales did mind games so much better as well. This story just collapsed into a flaked out souffle towards the end. The acting was good all the way through, the if this was a cake then it rose and then someone opened the oven door prematurely. A real second half let down, otherwise this story could have been a classic. But as such, its only the first half that holds the attention in any lasting way. Its like two halves of different stories wedged together.
At least this doesnt happen with big finish as much as the new tv series though, that has to be said.
| What: | Doctor Who and the Daleks (Target novelisations) |
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| By: | Quinnzel Kills, Sacramento, United States |
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| Date: | Sunday 22 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
Well...
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| TOM BAKER'S DEBUT IN THE PURE HISTORICAL |
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| What: | The Wrath of the Iceni (Fourth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 15 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
As a debut for Tom in the vein of a purely historical story, this tale by John Dorney packs a massive punch. This is history at its most revealing and honest, and Tom first of all impresses with his brilliant rendition of the doctor whose quite reasonably set against fighting or revealing anything to Boudica, due to the fact of established history.
But one must praise Louise Jameson for a very very intense performance as Leela here, she somewhat is the focus of this story, though the doctor is never sidelined. Its rather like a Massacre of St Bartholomews Eve for Tom Baker. The sound scenes on this story are some of the best, and make the story extremely realistic in sound and the setting is displayed very well indeed.
The tension of the scenes between Louise and Tom here are very palpable indeed, its obvious Louise loves this script.
This is a very intense tale, and the best of the Tom Baker BFP audios so far, it boasts a few cracking good stars, delivering sharp and brilliant performances indeed. The first total historical for Tom Baker is absolutely brilliant, and very enlightening and frightening and a good character drama to the very core. Can we have more of these stories very soon please BFP, youd make this boy very happy indeed.
| What: | The Renaissance Man (Fourth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 15 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Destination Nerva was definitely a great welcome back for Tom Baker and this follow up story is even better. Justin Richards at last comes back to write a bfp script, weve been missing his talents as a sturdy and dependable writer of audio who. And this is perhaps his finest story yet, as its a little different from anything thats been done by him before.
And its great hearing an actor the calibre of Ian McNeice bouncing so well as the enemy of the doctor in this one, two such titans of acting get a decent face off despite the short two part story length. And this story as with Nerva, bursts into life and keeps the interest all the way through. There are many decent twists and turns and its good to have an engaging and slightly different tale once in a while.
Louise Jameson of course is still going so well with Tom. Shes one of my favourite companions and all her many strengths come forward in this story as with the first of the series. One was mentally glad to hear Tom was coming to BFP to record all new adventures. And these first two stories couldnt have got the ball rolling any better in my opinion. A Great story.
| What: | Destination: Nerva (Fourth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 15 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The return of Tom Baker in a BFP production! The first of so far what has been an excellent mini series that is a real bit of a nostalgia fest for a whovian such as me. Its been a long time, but at last we have the fourth doctor back in all his weird alien gusto. And add to that the return of Louise Jameson as Leela and you surely have such a brilliant return of two legends.
The first tale is rather a sci fi fest, featuring Nerva way before the wirrn and the cybermen. Wow, what a history the nerva beacon has, to have been invaded by so many things. And its great to hear those same sliding doors and alert signals, the same as back in The Ark In Space and Revenge of the Cybermen. But this has just the right amount of nasty elements in it to fit the era of the Hinchcliffe/Holmes era of classic Who.
All the acting is of a very high degree indeed, making the two parter burst to life right from the first minute. And this bodes well for the rest of the series. Louise slips back into Leela like she hasnt been away, and Tom is older but still absolutely excellent as the Doctor. Its great to have them both back, and great they start with such a great and atmospheric sci fi fest to get the series starting.
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| A stunningly good use of the format |
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| What: | Home Truths (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 12 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
One way these Comapnions
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| Another dazzlingly evocative tale |
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| What: | The Rocket Men (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Huw Davies, Taunton, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 12 April 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Companion Chronicle (CC) range has been a mainly very strong addition to Big Finish's Doctor Who line, and by far the stronger audios have been those from the eras for which the Doctor actors have died - that being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Doctors. Of these it's my opinion the 1st Dr. audios are the best, as they conjure up images of an era where the stories were extremely inventive and anything seemed possible.
'The Rocket Men' is a great example of an inventive story. Firstly the audio medium suits its plot wonderfully, as one wonders whether even today's budgets would stretch to some of the special effects required (floating cities, space manta rays, the titular jet-pack-wearing Rocket Men). Secondly it is a simple brilliant plot idea, simple at a glance but when it gets down to it this a story full of layers. John Dorney (who has also made acting appearances in the BF Dr Who range) has crafted a story which entertains and amazes.
The character of Ian, played by William Russell, is the narrator and drives the story forward. For this CC there is no framing story, so Ian tells it simply as a past memory, which cans the need for ancillary story which is often dull. Russell is a fan favourite for audios and it's hard to see why - he has such enthusiasm and delivers his lines with his warm, rich voice. He is a such a good actor it is unreal, God knows how he isn't more famous than he currently is.
The "second voice" for this CC is the Rocket Men's leader, Ashman (played by Gus Brown), who is portrayed expertly and angrily - the perfect villain. There is also a luscious soundscape, as with most CCs. All in all this is another extremely strong entry into the CC series.
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| Rather overlooked, I feel |
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| What: | The Face of Evil (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 27 March 2012 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
After the departure of the great Lis Sladen from the classic series, and the epicly fantastic story the Deadly Assassin, comes the first story with one of my favourite companions ever. Louise Jameson was the perfect choice to play Leela, she had the right gusto, and the right acting performance for a savage. And her character was just far more interesting than a lot of the previous companions, and had a bit more history behind her background for a change.
And Louise is just brilliant in her debut. Despite the fact that at first she didnt hit it off with Tom baker, none of the annonymity comes across on screen at all, in fact the two of them seem to get along like a house on fire. And that to me is the sign of good actors and actresses.
This story i feel seems to be a bit forgotten amidst the so called titans around it, but this has many original and brilliant concepts floating around it. Including the decent idea of portraying the Doctor having visited a place before but we the viewers never seeing the adventure in person.
Xoanon is portrayed brilliant as one of the best psychotic computers of the series, and for once we also get a chunk of after story when Xoanon has been calmed down at long last. And Leela's entry into the TARDIS is funny and amusing. In fact I would have said that this story is one of my favourite fourth doctor stories, in that it is slightly more oddball and relies more on characters than monsters.
This was the BBC at their heights with Who in my opinion. Making great stories with limited budget. Money isnt the root of a good series, as Who always used to proove...
