Doctor Who: Demon Quest: Starfall v. 4 [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Like its predecessor, Hornets' Nest, the Demon Quest sequence (Relice of Time, 3/5; Demon of Paris, 3/5; Shard of Ice, 5/5; Starfall, 3/5; Sepulchre, 3/5) is a rummy old thing: beautifully packaged, with stunning cover artwork; gorgeous, immersive sound design; and a trump card in the return of Sir Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor (a feat even the estimable Big Finish hasn't yet wangled). Even the price - some used models were hovering around the three-guinea mark at the time of writing - is right.

So what's not to like? Well, it's like this... the plot, narrative, story-arc, call it what you will, is slender to the point of non-existence, and it makes the six-hour journey (12 if you pop Hornet's Nest on the mp3-player) somewhat unsatisfactory upon arrival at your ultimate destination.
Now, that's not to say it isn't fun getting there, because it is: Baker is in larky mode, the fourth Doctor no longer the implacable, alien odd-bod of old but an avuncular (lustier?) force of nature, a character mapped somewhat on to the actor's current public persona (they have, finally, become each other), and there is fine support from Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey (a figure seemingly plucked from Baker's relentless imagination by author Paul Magrs) and Richard Franklin as Mike Yates (no, we don't know what Yates is doing here, either, but Franklin provides sterling support all the same).

Pleasingly, it's almost impossible to place within standard Who lore, and seems to exist in a little fun bubble of its own, where, perhaps, the fourth Doctor didn't fall to his doom from the Pharos Project radio telescope, but instead discovered the `attractions' of women (let's put it like that; cf, City of Death) and a spot of sherry, and bought a nice little cottage in Sussex where it's nearly-always Christmas. That world is wonderfully realised, and is a pleasure to visit, Magrs recasting Who as a freewheeling, time-travelling romp somewhere between the comic-strip adventures of the Seventies and Eighties and the Douglas Adams era, though without the insistent nudge-nudge `humour' of the latter. The author here has a reputation for good-natured shakings up of the show's established order (see "Verdigris", and anything featuring Iris Wildthyme), but he never quite goes over the top.

No, there's no problem with the set-up here, and the tone is perfect and consistent; it's just that too little happens... or rather, plenty happens, in many colourful times and places, but it doesn't amount to much. The quest structure supplies a sort of imperative, but crises seem to get resolved perhaps a bit too conveniently, even for a goose-chase of this sort. This might be missing the point, of course: it's in the journey, not the conclusion, that the real adventure lies (the Doctor would surely agree), and the medium is the message, or something. After all, we do get to revel for hours in Magrs' ripe language, and no one enjoys it more than the lead; Baker even makes the end credits sound fun. Audio imbibers won't lack for sheer sensation, distraction and delight on the commute; that has something of the show's original ambition about it, and on its own terms is refreshing.

It's perhaps for these reasons that episode three, Shard of Ice - a story about the telling of stories - is the most satisfactory entry, thrilling to the narrator's last utterance. And these tales do stand alone (sort of), so if you're plumping for one, plump there; you won't, of course: the packaging, if nothing else, makes all five irresistibly collectible, even in these straitened times.
Yarns, then, knitted up into a long, multi-coloured and eccentric trail... remind you of anyone? Grab your scarf and hat then, and come along; just don't say you weren't told ....
Doctor Who - New Beginnings (The Keeper of Traken [1981] / Logopolis [1981] / Castrovalva [1982]) [DVD] [1963]

After the somewhat average "A Shard of Ice", I remained confident that things would pick up again in Paul Magrs' Demon Quest. And that's what we've got with part 4 of this wonderful Doctor Who audio series, which moves to the Big Apple in 1976 as the Fourth Doctor and his companions (Mrs Wibbsey and Mike Yates) search for the last TARDIS component and uncover the truth about the final artefact; a comic book cover featuring themselves!

"Starfall" feels like such a breath of fresh air. Throughout Demon Quest, the Doctor's search has taken him to Ancient Britain (43 AD), 1894 Paris and 1847 Germany, investigating the Doctor's likenesses on mosaic tiling, a Toulouse-Lautrec painting and inside a fairy tale book respectively. 1976 Central Park, New York is a perfect environment for the Doctor's travels, and investigating a mysterious comic book ties in naturally to the arc's rhythm/theme.

Immediately, I will confess that I am SUCH a comic-book nerd. I grew up on Marvel and DC Comics, so it's no surprise that I was drawn by the premise and Ben Wilsher's spectacular cover illustration for Starfall. The episode's premise of mild-mannered secretary Alice Trefusis coming into contact with a cosmic-powered meteor, transforming her into the awe-inspiring Miss Starfall...is a clichéd comic origin story, but that's why I love it.

There are blatant elements of Spider-Man and Superman inspiration in this chapter, but Magrs clearly relishes in it all, resulting in an entertaining romp of a story. Mentions of "the Incredible Comics company" and "True Believers!" are bound to bring a smile to fans of DC, Marvel and Stan Lee. As will Alice's capabilities/prowess as Miss Starfall, and the fantastic narration/involvement of boyfriend Buddy Hudson (wonderfully portrayed by Trevor White). It's a most colourful setting indeed, and complete with the atmosphere of seventies America, some great piano music and sound effects, Starfall is just bags of fun to listen to.

Of course, none of this overpowers the Doctor's (still) ongoing investigation of the Demon's game, or the malevolence of the mysterious antagonist. The Doctor's mysterious ailment, the ever-so-strong supporting role of Mrs Wibbsey, and the sheer, disdainful aura of washed-up Hollywood star Mimsy Loyne; facets of yet another engaging chapter.

Any criticisms? Well, I admit there ARE a few holes in the storytelling, and some of the American accents may grate on other listeners, but it's all down to preference, really. I personally loved all the American voices, piano music and the whole culture represented here. The only real problem I have with this chapter (and the one before) is Mike Yates. Unlike Mrs Wibbsey, Yates' role in Demon Quest is minimal (boardering on pointless), making his inclusion in the series seem to have been done for nostalgia's sake, which is disappointing.

But there are many other reasons why I love Starfall. Tom Baker (The Doctor) and Susan Jameson (Mrs Wibbsey) remain on form, Richard Franklin (Mike Yates), Laurel Lefkow (Alice) and Trevor White are all excellent in their roles, and unlike A Shard of Ice, Starfall DOESN'T feel like filler. There's a MAJOR TURNING POINT in the climax of the story, and startling new revelations come to light about the Demon itself, its machinations and motives. It's a perfect set-up to Sepulchre (the final chapter), and the tense music and sound effects, plus Magrs' engaging writing, re-establish the dark mood from The Demon of Paris.

Honourable mentions must go to Lorelei King also for her versatile performance as Mimsey Loyne. On the outside, the character seems your typical, vain, self-centred and egocentric has-been; a role that King plays to perfection, but as Loyne's character develops and more is revealed about her, so to does Lorelei change with her voice-acting. Reeling you in with delicious arrogance, mystique...and menace.

While The Demon in Paris still remains the best part of Demon Quest so far, Doctor Who: Starfall surpasses both The Relics of Time and A Shard of Ice. Granted, I maybe a tad biased given my love for the subject matter, but I can't help it. Starfall is just so much fun and colourful, and what I needed to restore my interest for Demon Quest. Paul Magrs' saga sounds set to go out with a bang! And I cannot wait!

To be concluded!

This is the fourth cd in the Demon Quest five-part series. In this story, the Doctor, Mike and Mrs Wibbsey are following their pile of clues, which leads them to New York City in 1976, when the landing of a meteor catches them up in all sorts of trouble, with a pretzel seller, his girlfriend, and a faded talkies movie star. But is everything really as simple as it seems? Who are the people who gather for strange moonlit vigils at the top of the Dakota Building?

I found this story a little annoying in parts - the jazzy piano playing whenever Buddy was narrating was incredibly irritating, as was the slightly over the top "Noo Yoik" accent. And the scenario seems stretched - being exposed to a meteor and finding yourself with super powers would freak most people out - but not Alice! Oh no ... well, anyway ...

A bit of a fizzer, I thought - really even a totally unnecessary story in the Demons Quest arc - felt like a filler, and felt like there were holes in the plot big enough to drive trucks through.

The redeeming features were Tom Baker in his usual top form, Richard Franklin as Mike Yates, and Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey. They remained true to form, and really kept the main storyline going throughout. On to part 5 which hopefully will bring the story to a great conclusion.