By David Ferguson
It is summer time and people may be thinking about a nice trip somewhere. A cheap price would be good, too. With that in mind, I decided to pick five Doctor Who Short Trips from Big Finish for the latest edition of this feature. Some of them are winners of the annual Paul Spragg Memorial Opportunity, a competition for new writers to get a script made into an audio. It’s been running since 2017, so there are a few others to try.
The resulting stories are free, too. The others are under a fiver. I picked ones that people who are only familiar with the classic TV series can enjoy. There are a lot of nice nods to continuity. I went with a different classic Doctor for each one so hopefully there is at least one you like.
So pack a bag, we’re off on a trip or five. Maybe there’ll be a nice ice planet so I can escape this heat…
Forever Fallen (2016)
Written by Joshua Wanisko
Read by Nicholas Briggs
• Available here from Big Finish
Plot: Until now, an offered chance from the Doctor has never stopped the villain’s schemes.
Until now, the android armies, the powerful space stations, the mind-control rays, have gone unchecked to disastrous effect.
Until now… …But then what happens?
The first winner of the Paul Spragg competition. Featuring The Seventh Doctor and Ace. No real clues as to where it is in continuity, but there are some nice nods to things from the TV series. Focuses on the patience and planning of The Seventh Doctor. His relationship with Ace is captured well. Clever idea that makes sense with this Doctor.
A Heart On Both Sides (2017)
Written by Rob Nisbet
Read by Sarah Sutton
• Available here from Big Finish
Plot: After her medical work on Terminus, Nyssa is now the controller of a hospital ship, the Traken. As the universe burns in the crossfire of the Time War, she and her assistant travel to a planet close to Gallifrey where they are needed more than ever.
A long time ago, Nyssa knew a Time Lord and understood his people. But it seems they can change…
Seems to be early in the Time War and after Nyssa left her Doctor (Terminus (1983)). Nice to have an established companion as narrator, and it feels like a Companion Chronicle. I like it, as it makes sense for the characters. Makes good use of the audio format (the plot would not have worked on TV but that is not a complaint).
Landbound (2017)
Written by Selim Ulug
Read by Nicholas Briggs
• Available here from Big Finish
Plot: He was the captain of a ship once. Since being stripped of his authority, he is lost. Landbound. Then he meets a kindred spirit, a man who has also lost something.
In a small seaside town, both Ronald Henderson and the Doctor want to move forward, but one of them must first come to terms with his past…
Another Paul Spragg winner. This one seems to take place just after Doctor Who and the Silurians (1970). I’m not a Third Doctor guy, but this one was interesting and it delves deeper into the Doctor’s state of mind, something the TV show didn’t always have the time to do. The writer clearly knows The Third Doctor Era too.
The Authentic Experience (2018)
Written by Dan Starkey
Read by Nicola Bryant
• Available here from Big Finish
Plot: Tired of the old 9 to 5? The daily grind getting you down? Step this way to discover a universe of possibilities! If you’re fed up with looking at screens all day, we can offer the authentic experience: whether you want to be as rich as Croesus and swim in gold, or feel the dirt and sweat of honest toil we’re ready for your business. Forget the ‘Same Old’, embrace the ‘New Old’!
(Terms and conditions apply).
This one could fit almost anywhere in The Sixth Doctor and Peri era. They are friendly with each other so not very early. I’m an Old Sixie guy and this one is like something straight from the TV show. Feels like another Companion Chronicle with Nicola Bryant reading it and it just adds to the authenticity.
(Yes, the writer is the Dan Starkey that plays Strax on TV).
The Last Day At Work (2018)
Written by Harry Draper
Read by Nicholas Briggs
• Available here from Big Finish
Plot: Constable Bernard Whittam is in for a special evening. Finally retiring from a lifetime in the police force, he’s celebrating with friends, family and the woman he loves. It’s all perfect. Apart from the noise in his head, the wheezing, groaning noise that has haunted his entire life. That and the unusual gatecrashers.
It’s going to be a night to remember…
The 2018 Paul Spragg winner. The Doctor and Jamie are by themselves so it is after Victoria leaves the TARDIS (Fury From The Deep (1968)) but before Zoe joins (The Wheel In Space (1968)). This is a very clever idea and it is possibly my favourite Paul Spragg winner. Again, the writer knows this era, and it all feels very genuine. Saying more would spoil something enjoyable.
David Ferguson
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David is a writer of stuff on comics and pop culture for GCN.ie. He is also a contributor and editor (Hugo nominated) for Journey Planet
Categories: Audio, Digital Media, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Science Fiction
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I’m on strike from buying from Big Finish at the moment.
They have changed the website and messed it up. Customers seem to be being used as testers. I’ve never seen such a mess of a transition. My opinion may seem harsh but take two things into account.
1. They messed up a website change very recently already, no lessons learned.
2. The new site hardly looks that different and has less functionality. There’s no good news for users and they don’t seem to care.
You could blame the website department for this but if top management are allowing this, then top management needs changing there too. Maybe they should focus a little less on chucking out infinite content that people will never have time to listen to and concentrate a bit more on consumer satisfaction.