Nekromanteia (Doctor Who) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

This is the forty first release from Big Finish in their range of full cast audio adventures starring classic Doctor Whos. It stars Peter Davison as Five, Nicola Bryant as Peri and Caroline Morris as Erimem. There are four episodes, roughly 25-30 minutes each, complete with original theme music between each, and cliff hanger endings. Two episodes per disc on 2 discs, and a short booklet with some pictures of the cast and production notes.

I have to say that of all the Big Finish adventures I have heard to date, this really is the weakest. I can't really summarise the plot as, to be honest, I just didn't get it. Five, Peri and Erimem are drawn to some planet where a transmitter in the shape of a skeleton is releasing energy that can destroy the Universe and the Company encountered by Tom Baker in the Sun Makers want it? Something like that. And there are some cannibal witches involved somehow. And an archaeologist. It's all very confused. And the tone is completely wrong. One of the companions faces the explicit and disturbing threat of sexual violence, not at all fitting in with what is, essentially, a children's show. The constant references to witches eating corpses was pretty disturbing too.

Overlaying the confusing story is one of the worst sound procuctions from BF. Too much of the time I just can't hear what the actors are saying over loud and annoying sound effects. The only actor I can hear clearly turns in one of the worst ever Who villain performances as a very OTT witch.

I couldn't hear much, and much of what I could hear I didn't understand. And most of what I could understand I didn't like. 1 star. And it really pains me to have to dish out such a low score. Thankfully there are much better Five/Peri/Erimem adventures out there.

"In the depths of space a little known district harbours a terrible secret. Long known as a place of death, it claims thousands more lives as a greast corporate space-fleet goes to war. As the fleet screams out in fear and pain, an irresistible voice calls out to three travellers and a macabre mind sets a deadly trap...

"The Doctor, Peri and Erimem face the terrors of Talderun and the wrath of a corporate empire as they struggle to understand the hideous secret of the domain of the dead - a district known in legend as Nekromanteia."

"Nekromanteia", by Austen Atkinson, is one of those unpopular stories that fans are supposed to dislike. There aren't generally reasons given for this, but in listening to the play one can see where the critics are coming from.

"Nekromanteia" is a dark play that, thematically, is very much in keeping with the late Season 21 era of "Resurrection of the Daleks" and "The Caves of Androzani". There is violence, mutilation and death; terrible things happen to the companions; and the Doctor is constantly on the brink of losing control of the situation. Parts of "Nekromanteia" are genuinely scary, helped by the intimidating sound design and music.

However, the plot of "Nekromanteia" is muddled and the supporting characters are unsympathetic, with one or two shoddy performances mixed in. Gilly Cohen as the high priestess Jal Dor Kal has earned particular criticism for her screaming, cackling performance that sounds like a children's cartoon villain, and Glyn Owen's performance is forced as the "gruff" Commander Harlon. Alongside these dubious supporting performances, the three regulars are characterised well and their performances are brilliant, adding to "Nekromanteia"'s inconsistency and contrasts.

Given the horrors witnessed by Peri and Erimem suffer over the course of the play, one would have thought that both would leave the Doctor at the first opportunity afterwards, or at least be permanently traumatised. However, by the tone of the closing scene one strongly suspects that things will return to normal after the events of "Nekromanteia", leaving Atkinson's play rather insular in its own self-contained world of horror.

In the depths of space a little known district harbours a terrible secret. Long known as a place of death, it claims thousands more lives as a great corporate space-fleet goes to war. As the fleet screams out in fear and pain, an irresistible voice calls out to three travellers and a macabre mind sets a deadly trap.
The Doctor, Peri and Erimem face the terrors of Talderun and the wrath of a corporate empire as they struggle to understand the hideous secret of the domain of the dead; a district known in legend as Nekromanteia.
A decent story this featuring The Fifth Doctor, Peri and Egyptian princess Erimem. Recommended.