Doctor Who - Galaxy 4 Review

Doctor Who:
Galaxy 4
By 
William Emms

“Two dawns! Tomorrow is the last day this planet will ever see.”

The TARDIS arrives on what looks like a pretty harmless looking planet when they come across a strange looking robot that seems to have pieces of its body stacked up on itself. Vicki names the robots Chumblies and they appear to be blind or in the most part not interested in The Doctor, Steven and Vicki.  The travelers then meetup with a group of female aliens called the Drahvins who seem to come and rescue them from the Chumblies.  The travelers are soon brought to the Drahvins ship and meet their leader another female named Maaga who explains to the Doctor that their ship along with the Rill ship has crashed landed on will explode in 14 planetary cycles.

The Doctor seems pretty unsure about the Drahvins especially when they told him that they turned down help from the Rills.  So The Doctor does some scientific research of his own and discovers that in fact this planet does not have 14 planetary cycles but only two and that the planet will explode tomorrow.  The Doctor and Vicki convince the Drahvins to let them talk to the Rills if they steal the Rills ship for them.  The Doctor and Vicki encounter the Rills at their ship and tell them what the Drahvins had planned for them and that the planet will explode in two cycles.  The Doctor decides to help the Rills get power to their ship from the TARDIS in exchange for help to free Steven from the Drahvin ship before the planet explodes and everyone is killed.

Details on Doctor Who - The Ravelli Conspiracy

Out this month in the Early Adventures is a story that features the TARDIS crew of The Doctor, Vicki and Steven.  This story stars Peter Purves and Maureen O'Brien as they star in a story that is a historical set in Italy 1514.  You can order this audio adventure from the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-ravelli-conspiracy-1082

When the TARDIS lands in a house in Florence, Italy in 1514, it isn't long before the guards of Guiliano de Medici arrest Steven and Vicki. To rescue them, the Doctor has to employ the help of the house's owner - one Niccolo Machiavelli. But can he be completely trusted?

Guiliano confesses to his brother Pope Leo X that he has angered the wealthy family of Ravelli and believes the newcomers may be part of an assassination plot. But when the Doctor arrives an already tricky situation starts to spiral out of control.

As the city rings with plot and counter-plot, betrayal and lies abound. The Doctor and his friends must use all their ingenuity if they're not to be swept away by history.

This conspiracy is about to get complicated...

Written By: Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Peter Purves (Steven Taylor/The Doctor/Narrator), Mark Frost (Niccolo Machiavelli), Jamie Ballard (Guiliano de Medici), Robert Hands (Pope Leo X), Olivia Poulet (Carla), Joe Bor (Guard Captain). Other parts portrayed by the cast.

Producer: David Richardson

Script Editor: John Dorney

Executive Producers: Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Details for Doctor Who - The Fifth Traveller

This month sees the continuation of the 1st Doctors turn in The Early Adventures Series where the TARDIS crew deal with a new traveler.   You can order this Big Finish adventure starring William Russell and Maureen O'Brien at the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-fifth-traveller-1081

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki and Jospa land the TARDIS on the homeworld of the Arunde. Emerging into the jungle that covers the planet and encountering the strange wildlife dwelling within, the travellers are unaware that the true rulers live high above them in the trees.

The ape-like members of the tribe are in trouble. The last Matriar's nest has been lost to the surface, and the people are hungry... Maybe these strangers may be responsible. And some believe they may be salvation.

The TARDIS crew are about to find themselves in the middle of somebody else's battle. But there's more at stake than even they can know.

Written By: Philip Lawrence
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
William Russell (Ian/The Doctor), Maureen O'Brien (Vicki/Narrator) Jemma Powell (Barbara/Fula), James Joyce (Jospa), Kate Byers (Sharna), Elliot Cowan (Gark) and Orlando James (Krube)

Producer: David Richardson
Script Editor: John Dorney
Executive Producers: Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Doctor Who - Covers and Details For Early Adventures Series 3

Starting in September the Early Adventures return with four new adventures featuring the First Doctor and his many companions. It all gets going with a story featuring the First Doctor with Ian, Barbara and Susan.  You can order these audio adventures from the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/ranges/v/doctor-who---the-early-adventures1

Doctor Who - The Age of Endurance

The TARDIS materialises on board a still and eerie spaceship. When a squad of soldiers land, they realise they've found themselves in the middle of a war zone. With one of their crew trapped by the enemy, the Doctor and his friends find themselves locked in a desperate race for survival. Vast warships manoeuvre around each other as both sides try to out-think their opponents, flying into ever more dangerous areas of space.

The stakes could not be higher. But as ever in war, the lines between good and evil are hard to define. Will anyone survive to claim the moral high ground?

Doctor Who - The Fifth Traveller

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki and Jospa land the TARDIS on the homeworld of the Arunde. Emerging into the jungle that covers the planet and encountering the strange wildlife dwelling within, the travellers are unaware that the true rulers live high above them in the trees.

The ape-like members of the tribe are in trouble. The last Matriar's nest has been lost to the surface, and the people are hungry... Maybe these strangers may be responsible. And some believe they may be salvation.

The TARDIS crew are about to find themselves in the middle of somebody else's battle. But there's more at stake than even they can know.

Doctor Who - The Ravelli Conspiracy

When the TARDIS lands in a house in Florence, Italy in 1514, it isn't long before the guards of Guiliano de Medici arrest Steven and Vicki. To rescue them, the Doctor has to employ the help of the house's owner - one Niccolo Machiavelli. But can he be completely trusted?

Guiliano confesses to his brother Pope Leo X that he has angered the wealthy family of Ravelli and believes the newcomers may be part of an assassination plot. But when the Doctor arrives an already tricky situation starts to spiral out of control.

As the city rings with plot and counter-plot, betrayal and lies abound. The Doctor and his friends must use all their ingenuity if they're not to be swept away by history.

This conspiracy is about to get complicated..

Doctor Who - The Sontarans

The TARDIS crew encounter a dangerous race of clones, planning to drag the Solar System into an endless war.

Doctor Who - The Secret History Review

Doctor Who:
The Secret History
By Eddie Robson
Starring Peter Davison, Maureen O’Brien
and Peter Purves

The Doctor finds himself in a TARDIS control room that he hasn’t used since he was in his first incarnation.   In fact the 5th Doctor is now looking at a couple of companions that he hasn’t seen for a very long time.  He is now facing a startled Vicki and Steven who have no idea where there Doctor has gone and who this younger man standing before them is.   The Doctor is also hesitant to leave the TARDIS because of the ramifications of what would happen but curiosity got the better of him and off they go outside of the TARDIS.   Outside is the Italian city of Ravenna in the year 540 and it is besieged by the highly decorated General Belisarius.

Doctor Who - Synopsis For Big Finish's 200th Main Range Release "The Secret History"

The conclusion to the mini trilogy that leads up to the 200th release for the Main Range.  Release 200 sees the 5th Doctor meeting up with Steven and Vicki in Italy in the year 540.  You can order this special release from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-secret-history-872

The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Steven and Vicki to the Italian city of Ravenna in the year 540 – besieged by the army of the celebrated Byzantine general Belisarius. Caught up in the fighting, Steven ends up on a boat bound for Constantinople, the heart of the Roman Empire.

Rescuing Steven, however, is the least of the Doctor's problems – because he shouldn't be mixed up in this particular adventure at all. Someone has sabotaged his own personal timeline, putting him in the place of his First incarnation... but who, and why? The truth is about to be revealed – but at what cost to all of the Doctors, and to the whole future history of the planet Earth?

Written By: Eddie Robson
Directed By: Barnaby Edwards

Cast
Peter Davison (The Doctor), Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Peter Purves (Steven), Lysette Anthony (Sophia), Sarah Woodward (Theodora), Tony Millan (Procopius, Yazid), Giles Watling (Belisarius), Tim Wallers (Justinian)

Doctor Who - The First Doctor Volume One Synopsis

Continuing on with The Companion Chronicles but in a newly regenerated format of box set comes The First Doctor Volume One.  In this set you get four stories on four discs with three companions spanning two era's of the First Doctor.  You can order this release from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-first-doctor-volume-01-1132

The Sleeping Blood by Martin Day

When the Doctor falls ill, Susan is forced to leave the safety of the TARDIS behind. Exploring a disused research centre in search of medical supplies, she becomes embroiled in the deadly plans of a terrorist holding an entire world to ransom – and the soldier sent to stop him.

The Unwinding World by Ian Potter

Office life is tough, the commute is a grind, nothing works quite as well as you'd like. Vicki seems to remember things being better once, before the little flat. It’s time she put some excitement back in her life. It’s just a shame the Doctor can’t help.

The Founding Fathers by Simon Guerrier

The TARDIS lands in Leicester Square in the summer of 1762. When the Doctor, Steven and Vicki find themselves locked out of the TARDIS, only one man can possibly help them. But the American, Benjamin Franklin, has problems of his own...

The Locked Room by Simon Guerrier

Steven Taylor left the Doctor and the TARDIS to become king of an alien world. But it's now many years since he gave up the throne and went to live in a cell in the mountains, out of sight of his people. He's not escaping his past – quite the opposite, in fact. As his granddaughter, Sida, is about to discover...

Written By: Martin Day, Simon Guerrier, Ian Potter
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves, Alix Dunmore, Alice Haig, Darren Strange

Producers David Richardson & Ian Atkins (The Sleeping Blood)
Script Editor Jacqueline Rayner
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Doctor Who - The First Doctor Companion Chronicles Box Set Synopsis

Big Finish has released the details for its upcoming 1st Doctor box set which is a continuation of the popular Companions Chronicles.  It features four companions from the 1st Doctor era and is out in June.  You can preorder this box set from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-first-doctor-companion-chronicles-box-set-1132

A new four-disc release featuring four tales from readers associated with the First Doctor era, and a second actor.

The Sleeping Blood by Martin Day

When the Doctor falls ill, Susan is forced to leave the safety of the TARDIS behind. Exploring a disused research centre in search of medical supplies, she becomes embroiled in the deadly plans of a terrorist holding an entire world to ransom – and the soldier sent to stop him.

The Unwinding World by Ian Potter

Office life is tough, the commute is a grind, nothing works quite as well as you'd like. Vicki seems to remember things being better once, before the little flat. It’s time she put some excitement back in her life. It’s just a shame the Doctor can’t help.

The Founding Fathers by Simon Guerrier

The TARDIS lands in Leicester Square in the summer of 1762. When the Doctor, Steven and Vicki find themselves locked out of the TARDIS, only one man can possibly help them. But the American, Benjamin Franklin, has problems of his own...

The Locked Room by Simon Guerrier

Steven Taylor left the Doctor and the TARDIS to become king of an alien world. But it's now many years since he gave up the throne and went to live in a cell in the mountains, out of sight of his people. He's not escaping his past – quite the opposite, in fact. As his granddaughter, Sida, is about to discover...

Written By: Martin Day, Simon Guerrier, Ian Potter
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves, Alix Dunmore, Alice Haig, Darren Strange

Doctor Who - Covers For The Big Finish 200th Main Range Release Trilogy

Big  Finish will be releasing their 200th audio adventure release next June with a special trilogy that celebrates the main range and features three Doctors with companions from the Early Adventures.     Below is the covers for the special trilogy that starts off next April with audio adventure 198.

Doctor Who - The Bounty of Ceres Review (Mild Spoilers)

Doctor Who:
The Bounty of Ceres
By Ian Potter

The Doctor, Steven and Vicki have landed on the asteroid Ceres which is between Mars and Jupiter. There they have encountered the crew of the Cobalt Corporation and they are anything but friendly as the end up putting Steven and Vicki in a strange type of cell and put The Doctor in suspended animation.  What makes Ceres a weird place to work is that the conditions outside are deadly but now the conditions inside have become deadly also.  It appears that the maintenance robots have turned against the crew and have started eliminated everyone one by one.  It is up to The Doctor to find a way to stop the robots and find the person responsible.

Doctor Who - The Doctor's Tale Review

Doctor Who:
The Doctor’s Tale
By Marc Platt

Doctor Who historical stories can be, well, they can be pretty boring affairs to watch or listen to.  The Reign of Terror is a good example of that as it is pretty hard to sit and watch that William Hartnell 6 part story in one go.  I’m not a big fan of the pure historical stories but I don’t hate them so when I found that The Doctor’s Tale was a historical I prepared for the worst and hoped that it would not be dull.  Well it was not dull in fact it was a pretty good story to listen to as it was really well done.

Doctor Who - Synopsis For The Bounty of Ceres

This months The Early Adventures gives us another 1st Doctor story with Steven and Vicki.  Peter Purves and Maureen O'Brien return to the roles they made famous in the 60's. You can order this from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-bounty-of-ceres-887

Ceres. A tiny, unforgiving ball of ice and rock hanging between Mars and Jupiter.  It’s no place to live, and it takes a special kind of person to work there.

The crew of the Cobalt Corporation mining base know exactly how deadly the world outside their complex is, but the danger isn’t just outside anymore. The systems they rely on to keep them safe are failing and the planet is breaking in.

When the TARDIS strands Steven, Vicki and the Doctor on the base, they have to fight a foe they can barely comprehend to survive.

Written By: Ian Potter
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Maureen O’Brien (Vicki/Narrator), Peter Purves (Steven/Narrator), Richard Hope (Moreland), Julia Hills (Qureshi), Peter Forbes (Thorn)

Doctor Who - Synopsis and Trailer For The Doctor's Tale

This months The Early Adventures is another 1st Doctor adventure this time with with Vicki joining Barbara and Ian for a story that takes place in England's past.  In fact it is the year 1400 and the time of Henry the IV just after he takes the crown from Richard the II.  The Doctor's Tale stars William Russel and Maureen O'Brien as Ian and Vicky.  You can order this release from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-doctor-s-tale-886

England, 1400. Winter. Blood in the snow. Henry IV has usurped the throne, and deposed King Richard II languishes in Pomfret Castle.

Meanwhile the Doctor and his companions preside over New Year revels at Sonning Palace.

But Sonning is a prison, treachery is in the air and murderous Archbishop Thomas Arundel will stop at nothing to crush the rebellion.

As the Doctor and Barbara take the road to Canterbury, Vicki finds a royal friend and Ian is dragged into a dark web of conspiracy at whose heart sits that teller of tales, Geoffrey Chaucer.

Written By: Marc Platt
Directed By: Ken Bentley

Cast
William Russell (Ian Chesterton/The Doctor), Maureen O’Brien (Vicki/Barbara Wright/Narrator), Gareth Armstrong (Geoffrey Chaucer), Joseph Kloska (Sir Thomas de Wensley), Alice Haig (Isabella), John Banks (Thomas Arundel)

Doctor Who - Synopsis For Starborn

March's Companion Chronicles features a 1st Doctor story with Vicki joining him as his companion.  the story is performed by Maureen O' Brien who played Vicki during the Hartnell era. You can order this from the Big Finish website.
http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/starborn-760

On a visit to early 20th Century Earth, Vicki receives a warning - if she leaves in the TARDIS, then she will die.

Unable to join her friends, Vicki is given an audience by a psychic called Violet, who contacts voices beyond this mortal plain.

And one of those voices is Vicki herself, who reveals what will happen at the ship’s next landing place - and what terrible fate awaits...

 

Written By: Jacqueline Rayner
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman 

Cast
Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Jacqueline King (Violet)