The Black Archive #30: The Dalek Invasion of Earth
by Jonathan Morris (Obverse Books, 2019)
A bit light on actual analysis but nevertheless an impressive piece of research, comparing different iterations of The Dalek Invasion of Earth (both televised and film versions at script, broadcast and even novelisation level) to establish who was responsible for which elements.
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
by Ian Stuart Black; dir. John Davies (BBC, 1967/2019)
While lost Doctor Who stories often work well just in audio form, significant portions of The Macra Terror unfold without dialogue – making it an astute choice for reconstruction. Patrick Troughton’s Doctor and the titular giant crabs fare particularly well in the animation.
Doctor Who: The Silurian Candidate
by Matthew J. Elliott (Big Finish, 2017)
A rehash of the usual ‘humans versus Silurians’ ethical quandary, offering little new and debased still further by the Silurians acting (and sounding) like Daleks and also a ‘strewth, bloody awful’ excuse for an Australian character. What humour there is falls flat.
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.