Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils (Classic Novels) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Once in a while AUDIOGO releases a DOCTOR WHO unabridged novelisation reading, based upon the original TARGET range of paperbacks, that is dull, poorly paced and abhorrently boring immediately tossed into an old TESCO plastic carrier bag for its one-way day-trip to the local charity shop. Unsurprisingly, I think my OXFAM donated copy of DOCTOR WHO - GHOST LIGHT will either be heavily reduced or gathering dust on their shelf unwanted and ignored. Now, that was a release depressing to listen to.

However, once in while a genuine masterpiece is released and this is it; DOCTOR WHO AND THE SEA-DEVILS.

In 2012, if you want/have to/need to select one novelisation release then Geoffrey Beevers' charismatic performance in reading Malcolm Hulke's 1974 published novel is an unequivocal choice.

Nearly four and half-hours delivering thrilling action, a subdued characterisation of the Third Doctor, a chillingly personification of hatred embodied in the Master, and an aural canvas of technical & atmospheric sound effects that is more akin to a cinematic production rather than a humble spoken word release.

With an opening sequence - wonderfully written by Hulke nearly 40 years ago that has stood the test of time - that is as heart-stoppingly energetic as Spielberg's sequence of a mass troop deployment on Utah Beach in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. In Chapter One ("Abandon Ship") Crafted by Simon Power (MEON SOUND), we are treated to a multi-layered audio feast that assaults the ears with storm-forced winds, inconsolable waves, creaking steel-work of an aging vessel (SS Pevensey Castle), mechanical winches, and the chilling impossibility of crackling flames from the sea that was anything but empty. Thankfully, this sequence does not have any screaming mariners as they are dragged from their discarded lifeboat and down under the relentless white water as, if it had, then this audio release would be subject to a PG rating.

For DOCTOR WHO AND THE SEA-DEVILS barking seagulls, out-board motors, choppy waters and were a part of MEON SOUND's extensive "audio shopping list" in order to enhance Beevers' confident and artistically adept reading, but I do wonder what sound effect that could have been employed for Jo Grant's observation of a sewer "floater" if it had slapped against the side of boat's hull. An uncooked Saveloy sausage flapped against his front door on a wet Monday morning?

Listen out (disc two, chapter seven) for the superb multi-layered fast-paced sound effects of scuffling feet as the Doctor and Sea Fort engineer, Alan Clark as it would not be out of place in STRICTLY COME DANCING as a "quick step"; superb `Foley'.

Once again, Geoffrey Beevers delivers another `listen-in-one-sitting' reading that, ironically, hypnotises, drawing you closer and deeper into the story. His vocal clarity is matched with his engaging warmth; Beevers' ensures that each character is industriously rendered whether it is an overly-authoritarian Prison Guard (Mr. Crawley), or the pompous but misguided Col. George Trenchard, or the toast devouring Parliamentary Under Secretary (Mr. Walker) but is it is, naturally so, his manifestation as the Master that is unparalleled.

Seditious and slimy in equal measure, Beevers' characterisation of Roger Delgado's Time Lord is curtly crisp, tautly traditional and undemandingly malevolent.

There is only one minor error that the production team should have identified during the recording; the pronunciation of `Azal' (see DOCTOR WHO - THE DAEMONS). Beevers reads this is `Ar-zal' as opposed to `Az-al'. Minor quibble and it has been difficult to find anything that undermines the quality of the release.

With his novelisation, unlike the televised version, there is a realisation that DOCTOR WHO AND THE SEA-DEVILS is less of a `monster story' and more of a `bureaucratic story' with Hulke highlighting the inadequacies and determinations of Government policy in the early 1970s with the Sea-Devils representing the disrespected `common-man'. Perhaps, Col. Trenchard is `monster' of the story, relegating the Master to a mere henchman?

It is testament to the quality of DOCTOR WHO AND THE SEA-DEVILS that I have enjoyed the four-disc set three times already; it's that good.

Good? It's more than that. Exemplary? Yes, that's more like it.

You will find it difficult to find a better example of DOCTOR WHO on audio.

A good book, a good read, goes much further than the televised serial - I originally had this book in my Target series some years ago, and I was delighted to find it easily on Amazon.

PF

Geoffrey Beevers narrates this audio version of the novelisation of the Third Doctor story, originally broadcast in 1972. The story was novelised by the writer, Malcolm Hulke, who also added a few extra bits into the novelisation that were not seen in the original tv story. So we get a very well-rounded story here. Beevers is known to `classic' Doctor Who viewers as one of the incarnations of the Master in the 1970s, and suitably dastardly he was then. His voice in these audio stories (of which he has narrated several that I can think of) rolls beautifully through the language. (Beevers was also married to Caroline John, who played the Third Doctor's assistant Liz Shaw, and who sadly died in June 2012).

This story introduces us to the Sea Devils, aquatic cousins of the Silurians, creatures the Third Doctor has met previously. The Sea Devils are, right from the start, involved in the mysterious sinking of ships off the British Coast. But the Doctor and Jo soon find that one of his most deadly foes is also involved in the plot. Can the Doctor set everything right? Well, we're pretty sure he can, but we have great fun listening to him as he does so!

Although the Sea Devils are the reason for all the skullduggery and intrigue, they don't really have a huge role to play in this story; rather it is a story of the Master and the Doctor, those classic Third Doctor confrontations which Jon Pertwee and Roger Delgado did so well. The other thing that I felt really added to the whole Third Doctor atmosphere was the Navy involvement, with Captain Hart, and of course the rather sad figure of Mr Trenchard. The Third Doctor's era was also, as I recall, one where we often got to see rather caricatured Governmental bureaucratic officials, and there is a really prime example in this story, the Right Honourable Robert Walker - I don't think I would have shown the same restraint that the Doctor and Jo showed to this horrid little man.

Having Geoffrey Beevers narrate this story was great - his voice is just right for these Third Doctor stories, and of course having later played the Master himself, his voicing of the character is perfect.

This is a great Third Doctor story; it has all the elements - the Doctor and Jo, Navy involvement (making a change from UNIT who were involved in many of the Third Doctor stories), Mr Trenchard, the Master, Robert Walker, and of course the Sea Devils; not to mention the poor chap whose boat the Doctor steals. There's action, politics, intrigue, monsters, and Time Lords - who could ask for more!? Totally recommended.