Doctor Who: The Drowned World
by Simon Guerrier (Big Finish, 2009)
A bit short and not exactly self-contained but told in an original, engaging fashion. Robert (Niall MacGregor) is a well-measured framing character and Jean Marsh provides a most welcome voice from the past, reprising and expanding on her role as Sara Kingdom.
Doctor Who: Shadow of the Past
by Simon Guerrier (Big Finish, 2010)
Another clever script by Simon Guerrier, staying faithful to the spirit of early UNIT-era stories. Present-day Liz Shaw (Caroline John) tells of an earlier adventure and then picks up its threads. Unfortunately some ‘big moment’ plot contrivances detract from the emotional resonance.
Doctor Who: Warriors’ Gate
by Stephen Gallagher, writing as John Lydecker
restored from the original extended manuscript (1981); audiobook read by Jon Culshaw (with John Leeson as K9) (BBC Audio, 2019)
Even in heavily expurgated form, the version of Warriors’ Gate published in 1982 outshone all but a few of the original Target novelisations. The 2019 audiobook restores Gallagher’s original manuscript, revealing a dreamlike SF classic with exceptional depth of story and characterisation.
The Black Archive #29: The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon
by John Toon (Obverse Books, 2019)
A slim volume given the double episode. Toon touches on conspiracy theories (as a tonal setting) and the nomenclature of historical stories, while concentrating mainly on the moral ambiguity of the Doctor’s actions. Some easily digestible philosophical points are tabled for discussion.
Doctor Who: The King’s Dragon
by Una McCormack (BBC, 2010); audiobook read by Nicholas Briggs (AudioGO, 2011)
Somewhat drawn-out, like an old four-parter told over six episodes. Nonetheless, McCormack tells a steady tale amidst the obligatory befriendings, betrayals and plot-twisting volte-faces. The support cast has some depth and the Doctor, Rory and Amy are spot-on. Nick Briggs reads well.
Doctor Who: The Creeping Death
by Roy Gill (Big Finish, 2019)
A fast-moving audio adventure very much in keeping (both in length and tone) with a television episode. Nothing extraordinary but it’s nice to have the Tenth Doctor and Donna together again. David Tennant and Catherine Tate slip effortlessly back into their roles.
Doctor Who: The Emperor of Eternity
by Nigel Robinson (Big Finish, 2010)
Deborah Watling does her best to sell this paper-thin historical adventure but the character interactions are nonsensical, the writing is amateurish—more an expanded story outline than a fully realised drama—and the plot unravels like a Choose Your Own Adventure book.
The Black Archive #31: Warriors’ Gate
by Frank Collins (Obverse Books, 2019)
Warriors’ Gate, one of the standouts of Doctor Who’s original run, arose from an unlikely concatenation of circumstances. Collins delves deep into the specifics of its shared authorship (interesting) and also the more nebulous resonances of literary and cinematic influence (less so).
Doctor Who: Lurkers at Sunlight’s Edge
by Marty Ross (Big Finish, 2010)
Although H. P. Lovecraft wouldn’t have been out of place in Doctor Who’s much-vaunted gothic horror run, Lurkers brings precious little originality to the homage. Ace has some nice moments but the guest characters are tired-and-true stereotypes and the plot unbearably cliched.
Doctor Who: The Feast of Axos
by Mike Maddox (Big Finish, 2011)
This remarkably non-gratuitous sequel tempers the Sixth Doctor’s usual bombast with UNIT-era realism and gives Colin Baker something to work with for once. The script verges on proper SF and the characters have reasonable motivations. Even the aliens are allowed some dignity!