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Product Description
Product Description
Why do so many spaceships crashland on Karn, a bleak, lonely and seemingly deserted planet? Are they doomed by the mysterious powers of the strange, black-robed Sisterhood, jealously guarding their secret of eternal life? Or does the mad Dr Solon, for some evil purpose of his own, need the bodies of his victims? And more especially, the body of Doctor Who...Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor in the BBC TV series, reads Terrance Dicks' complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1977. 'BBC Audiobooks has chosen well with its books and has taken the right approach with its readers...they benefit from new music and sound effects' - Doctor Who Magazine.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
This audiobook exceeded my expectations! Sure I have heard Tom Baker narrate and read Terrance Dicks before, but it's this powerful combination here that is a delightful surprise.
Tom Baker, like the character he portrays, initially takes a while to warm up but enunciates each syllable with feeling -- his sentences ending with the words "death" or "blackness" are chilling. His wry humour is reflected in the joy of the character of Maren, the high priestess of the Sisterhood of the Flame, who takes the Elixir of Youth when she is aged and so remains forever old! Baker plays his ageless younger self with carefree ease and his version of Sarah is altogether delicate, moderate and proactive. His characterisation of Solon is unique from the televised portrayal and conjures up an unpredictable, doddering experimental mad scientist instead of Madoc's slick and cool killer.
Unlike other talking books, Baker does not sound rushed or concerned that he won't fit the chapter onto the end of the CD. He takes his time to let the chapters unfold and let descriptions and pauses between scenes (and indeed within sentences) to sink in. He modulates and paces his voice in relation to the tension and suspense in the narrative so that he is performing rather than reading the play. There is a sense that he treats the work seriously and with respect as he would Shakespeare which can't be said for all Doctor Who actors. He seems to want to share an adventure of his to new listeners (and old) rather than pocket the money and run!
Terrance Dicks's writing is particularly strong with a new backstory introducing the spacefaring mutant insect. Production-wise the incidental music selected is striking and little effects like a two-second delay before a peal of thunder begins after Baker narrates the word "lightning" create a special soundscape.
Baker's opener of the "Changing Face of Doctor Who" in which he describes the cover picture showing the Fourth Doctor -- "Me" he adds -- is a pure gem!
I'm happy that Tom has agreed to participate in reading the unabridged novelisations of his TV adventures. While his faithful reading of the Giant Robot (also by Dicks) was superb, he has a lot of fun with this one and it shows through his narration. Now if only they would have a mini interview with him and his thoughts of the story at the end, like they do with the BBC Radio Collection Missing Story soundtracks.
More please!
Tom Baker, like the character he portrays, initially takes a while to warm up but enunciates each syllable with feeling -- his sentences ending with the words "death" or "blackness" are chilling. His wry humour is reflected in the joy of the character of Maren, the high priestess of the Sisterhood of the Flame, who takes the Elixir of Youth when she is aged and so remains forever old! Baker plays his ageless younger self with carefree ease and his version of Sarah is altogether delicate, moderate and proactive. His characterisation of Solon is unique from the televised portrayal and conjures up an unpredictable, doddering experimental mad scientist instead of Madoc's slick and cool killer.
Unlike other talking books, Baker does not sound rushed or concerned that he won't fit the chapter onto the end of the CD. He takes his time to let the chapters unfold and let descriptions and pauses between scenes (and indeed within sentences) to sink in. He modulates and paces his voice in relation to the tension and suspense in the narrative so that he is performing rather than reading the play. There is a sense that he treats the work seriously and with respect as he would Shakespeare which can't be said for all Doctor Who actors. He seems to want to share an adventure of his to new listeners (and old) rather than pocket the money and run!
Terrance Dicks's writing is particularly strong with a new backstory introducing the spacefaring mutant insect. Production-wise the incidental music selected is striking and little effects like a two-second delay before a peal of thunder begins after Baker narrates the word "lightning" create a special soundscape.
Baker's opener of the "Changing Face of Doctor Who" in which he describes the cover picture showing the Fourth Doctor -- "Me" he adds -- is a pure gem!
I'm happy that Tom has agreed to participate in reading the unabridged novelisations of his TV adventures. While his faithful reading of the Giant Robot (also by Dicks) was superb, he has a lot of fun with this one and it shows through his narration. Now if only they would have a mini interview with him and his thoughts of the story at the end, like they do with the BBC Radio Collection Missing Story soundtracks.
More please!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
To be frank, I would buy a CD of Tom Baker reading from the phone book, he had such a profound influence on me growing up. It would be all to easy for him to just go through the motions of reading this out, but like the fantasic chap he is, he puts his back into it and gives a great performance really trying and feeling his way through the story at his own pace, he even does the voices well. Words fail me, I love Uncle Tom! I'm certainly going to buy all his other audio books on the strength of this. Well recommended. Although technically a children's product, at 39 I suspect I am the target market for this.!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The Doctor Who legend that is Tom Baker narrates this great Target story adapted from the 1975 serial featuring Tom himself as the Fourth Doctor as well as his feisty journalist companion Sarah-Jane Smith. The TV story was a cracker and the novelisation was also superb - rewarding the faithful reader with embellishments to the original script and creating a fantastically Gothic mood and atmosphere.
Shortly after an insectoid mutant has been savagely dispatched by a sinister hulking barbarian, the TARDIS arrives on the stormy planet of Karn, and the time travellers find themselves in what seems to be a spaceship graveyard. Discovering a formidable looking castle on the horizon they head there to shelter from the storm, and are welcomed by seemingly charming scientist Solon (the excellent Phillip Madoc) but soon discover he has ulterior motives for his hospitality; he is in possession of the still living brain of executed Timelord criminal Morbius, and is planning on putting it into a new body so that the arch-fiend may live once more and continue his reign of terror.
After thoroughly enjoying this unabridged audio book, I was keen to revisit the DVD, and was surprised how much more I enjoyed Baker's reading than watching the events unfold on screen. Tom's melifluous tones are perfect, and he puts on understated yet appropriate voices for the unctuous Solon and maniacal Morbius, creating a pitch-perfect tone for the story.
As always with this series of audio books, the front cover is faithfully reproduced from Mike Little's 1978 Target original, and the whole package is classy and great value for money.
Shortly after an insectoid mutant has been savagely dispatched by a sinister hulking barbarian, the TARDIS arrives on the stormy planet of Karn, and the time travellers find themselves in what seems to be a spaceship graveyard. Discovering a formidable looking castle on the horizon they head there to shelter from the storm, and are welcomed by seemingly charming scientist Solon (the excellent Phillip Madoc) but soon discover he has ulterior motives for his hospitality; he is in possession of the still living brain of executed Timelord criminal Morbius, and is planning on putting it into a new body so that the arch-fiend may live once more and continue his reign of terror.
After thoroughly enjoying this unabridged audio book, I was keen to revisit the DVD, and was surprised how much more I enjoyed Baker's reading than watching the events unfold on screen. Tom's melifluous tones are perfect, and he puts on understated yet appropriate voices for the unctuous Solon and maniacal Morbius, creating a pitch-perfect tone for the story.
As always with this series of audio books, the front cover is faithfully reproduced from Mike Little's 1978 Target original, and the whole package is classy and great value for money.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dr WHO [And the Brain of Morbius]
If you enjoyed Tom Baker as the Dr I think you'll enjoy this,its well read by him, and quite atmospheric,the story comprising a mad scientist,a time lords brain,and the sinister... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by Stephen D. Coombs
The Doctor Is Headhunted!
Another classic Target novel gets the BBC's fabulous unabridged treatment with one of writer Terrance Dicks best efforts featuring the fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2008 by J.K.J
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