About the audiobook…
October, 1930. His Majesty’s Airship, the R101, sets off on her maiden voyage to the farthest-flung reaches of the British Empire, carrying the brightest lights of the Imperial fleet. Carrying the hopes and dreams of a breathless nation.
Not to mention a ruthless spy with a top-secret mission, a mysterious passenger who appears nowhere on the crew list, a would-be adventuress destined for the Singapore Hilton… and a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.
There’s a storm coming. There’s something unspeakable, something with wings, crawling across the stern. Thousands of feet high in the blackening sky, the crew of the R101 brace themselves. When the storm breaks, their lives won’t be all that’s at stake…
The future of the galaxy will be hanging by a thread.
Chronological Placement: This story takes place after the 1996 TV Movie.
Starring Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor in his first Big Finish production, here is where he meets Edwardian adventuress, future companion and stowaway on airship R101’s maiden flight, Charlotte Pollard (played by India Fisher)
It’s a brilliant story that chucks the doctor in, quite literally, through a gap in time, pulling a Vortisaur in with him, to this airship which has been modified in ways that history has not recorded. There are supposed to be 53 passengers but the 54th (Charley) shouldn’t be there. Because, the Doctor knows that this voyage does not have a safe landing in it’s future. What does this have to do with German spies, travellers out of time, a very dodgy South African passenger who is in charge of the mysterious occupant of cabin 45…
Featuring many of the time lord’s trademarks-quips about a man’s nose being as red as Lenin’s pyjamas are met with ‘they were mauve when I met him…’, revelations about the Russian Tsarina being excellent at tiddly winks, have the casual listener recognising that Paul McGann is the Doctor. His enthusiasm and grip of the role-non violent, using guns is against everything he stands for-is immediate and genuine. Many people still consider him a one hit wonder, star of the ill fated TV Movie and a brief cameo in the 50th anniversary special
However, if you add up all the stories that Big Finish have recorded solely with him, as well as collabs with other iterations of the Doctor, then actually, I believe he is the longest serving actor in the role.
The beauty of the audio books are that special effects are a combination of the narration being explanatory, yet not expositional, and the listener’s imagination. There are some brilliant and hair raising moments, and a twist in the tale which leads you to think that Charley and the Doctor might not plainly sail through their companionship…
The interactions and chemistry between the two leads is fantastic, they banter and bicker like old friends, instead of people who have only just met. Pulled to Charley by her empathy as well as her thirst for adventure, this sets up one of the most poignant relationships in modern Who.
I have listened to a lot of the 8th Doctor Adventures, and, on one occasion met Paul McGann (honestly, such a beautiful and friendly man, my daughter and I nearly cried, he was so lovely!)but never heard the Charley/8 origin story.
I listened to it on Spotify, and it is also available on the Big Finish website, running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes over 4 parts! Highly recommended!
About the publishers…
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult science fiction properties. These include Doctor Who, the characters Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog from 2000 A.D, Blake’s 7, Dark Shadows, Dracula, Terrahawks, Sherlock Holmes, Stargate, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Timeslip and Torchwood
And that is just where they start! There are so many worlds to visit, so little time…
Links-Dr Who Wiki and Audio Book Link
Twitter @bigfinish
Author
bridgeman.lenny@gmail.com