The Guardian of the Solar System (Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Once again Jean Marsh is ably supported by Niall MacGregor whom are on top form as we make a third visit to the house on the island where Robert talks with ethereal occupant Sara. There is a sense of closure here both with Robert prepared to forfeit his life for his daughter and the jaw dropping unexpected conclusion which will leave you wondering what happens beyond this trilogy. As indicated by the cover illustration and story title Mavic Chen is integral to Sara's story and with suitable incidental music the due reverence to which she holds this theatrical mandarin attired character is marvellously conveyed particularly on their first meeting. Although well conveyed and realised through sound design the interior of the great secret clock into which the Doctor, Steven and Sara arrive had me momentarily finding it similar in tone to the Eighth Doctor, Charlie and Krizz audio title TIME WORKS. Anyway finding themselves here back in time Sara briefly confronts Bret Vorn the loved and admired brother whom in the TV series story she believes was wrong to kill him. A worthy piece of narrative in this audio title to reinforce to the listener this character's connection with her sibling. Out of almost 78 mins total length you can peel away the one min next release trailer and 6 min chat where writer Simon Guerrier amusingly relates that this title was loosely based in part to John Noakes washing Big Ben! By my reckoning this leaves you with the main story occupying 70 mins which whilst lacking a certain sense of dramatic pace certainly maintains the unique two person interplay that typifies these Sara Kingdom titles. A part of a trilogy it is a welcome addition but as a stand alone title casual buyers might consider skipping this title unless of course you are a big fan of Jean Marsh whom is definitely an excellent narrator with measured emotive vocal deliver of the scripted text.

Latest Doctor who companion chronicle. These are a range of talking books which sees actors who played a companion to the Doctor in the tv show returning to the role to read an all new story featuring them. They voice their character and all the others save one who is voiced by a guest actor.

They are two part stories complete on one cd.

This one sees Jean Marsh return to the role of Sara Kingdom, whom she played opposite William Hartnell's doctor back in the 1960's. This story follows on from the earlier companion chronicles Home Truths (Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles) and The Drowned World (Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles) and it also ties into the continuity from the tv story "Doctor Who", the Daleks' Mater Plan: Dalek's Master Plan.

Those not familiar with those three releases should ideally start with home truths to get the most out of this, although episode one does begin with some exposition designed to fill you in on the story so far. On how Sara somehow lives on in an old house in Ely in a far future England, and on her relationship with a man called Robert who is also now in the house.

The episodes here run for thirty seven and thirty two minutes approx each, and like the earlier two audios they have Sara telling a story of her time with the Doctor whilst the saga of her relationship with Robert also continues. The story of her past sees her and the Doctor and Steven land inside a giant clock, which is being worked by old men who are prisoners there. As they explore the clock Sara's past comes into play as she discovers the horrible secret of the place and how it ties in with mavic chen [villain of the dalek's masterplan] and how sometimes you can never quite escape your destiny...

These sections are highly original. They have great sound design. They really get the most from the concept of time travel. And they enhance the original tv story in some clever ways.

But they just tend to lack a little bit of pace at times, especially in part two.

But ultimately this isn't about the past adventures of Sara. It's about her future in Ely. The cliffhanger to part one promises some surprising developments in that, but she runs into problems in part two. Because ultimately this is about how Sara, then and now, could never quite escape her destiny. The rather tantalising ending, much like the end to the leela trilogy of these Dr Who the Time Vampire CD (Dr Who Big Finish Companion) (Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles) manages to be both an end to the trilogy and a possible beginning for future adventures.

More of a character drama than a strong story then, but Jean Marsh's reading is so good it is an enthralling listen for the most part. And hopefully there will be more.

There's a trailer for the next release in this range at the start of the disc and roughly six minutes of interviews with cast and crew at the end. These are a bit shorter than usual but they do manage to use the time well and get some good comments in so they are worth a listen.

"The Guardian of the Solar System" may be Big Finish's most keenly-anticipated "Companion Chronicle" to date. Given the enormous popularity of "Home Truths" and "The Drowned World," the promise of a third and final chapter in Simon Guerrier's Sara Kingdom trilogy would have been enough to have most listeners chomping at the bit in any event, but with a title as bold and as suggestive as "The Guardian of the Solar System," and a stunning cover illustration that features the Guardian himself in all his vainglorious finery, I suspect that most subscribers will have been counting the days until its release.

Somewhat inevitably, this two-parter is the pick of Guerrier's trilogy, not just in terms of the magnificent pictures that it paints, but in terms of the heartbreaking drama that sits right at its taranium core. The fundamental premise is sublime: crossing their own timestream, the Doctor, Steven and Sara find themselves a year before their Dalek nightmare began, inside a giant extra-dimensional clock apparently powered by the slave labour of old prisoners and staffed by the Space Security Service. A clock that Mavic Chen, iniquitous Guardian of the Solar System, uses to somehow power Earth's hyperspace lanes...

In itself, this slave-driven clock presents a magnificently chilling image, though it's hard to imagine what route the narrative would have taken in the absence of Chen and the rest of "The Daleks' Master Plan" trappings, which I understand were included only at the behest of series producer David Richardson. Listening to the production, the clock provides an eerie backdrop to a tale that seems to be primarily about Chen; Sara; her brother, Bret Vyon; and the heartbreak of their unshakeable destinies. This story's finest moments aren't those that convey the horror of Guerrier's creepy clock, but those that broach issues as intricate as predestination and choice, sacrifice and surrender. We hear Sara break down and weep before her brother, a year before her younger self will erroneously execute him as traitor. We hear her spirit audibly collapse in on itself as she realises that, for all the little good that she and her friends have done here, they've only become a part of events; their actions proving to be the very catalyst for Chen's deal with the Daleks and the ensuing cataclysm.

Furthermore, "The Guardian of the Solar System" drives the ongoing Sara / Robert framing story towards a suitably teasing climax. In the preceding brace of stories, the two-hand drama between Jean Marsh's Sara and Niall MacGregor's Robert often threatened to eclipse the stories that Sara told, but here it's much more understated, Guerrier probing the ties that bind the two characters without ever treading on the toes of his main plot. The final scene between the two of them is beautifully irresolute, Big Finish leaving the TARDIS doors wide open for Sara, should Marsh ever elect to return. My only gripe here would be that the dénouement is incredibly similar to that of "The Time Vampire," released just a few months earlier. It's so similar, in fact, that I can't help but wonder if the two aren't linked somehow, and this isn't a case of accident but design.

On a final note, Simon Holub deserves great credit here for the cover artwork that I've referred to above. It encapsulates all the scope and grandeur of this ambitious tale, and comes - as is now the norm for Big Finish's releases - with an even more evocative reversible cover featuring the apposite "Doctor Who" logo and font. I know that ostensibly it's only a small thing, but it really does help to set the mood. If only it had been in greyscale, then it would have been perfect. When listening to Alex Mallinson recently on "Point of Entry"'s CD Extras, he wondered what fan reaction would be to these reversible covers. Well, if they're going to continue to be of this standard, then it's sure to be overwhelmingly positive.

Overall then, "The Guardian of the Solar System" sees Simon Guerrier's trilogy conclude and the "Companion Chronicles"' fifth season begin with great aplomb, and even greater heart. This alluring release offers a delectable fusion of staggering concepts, fan service most foul, and agonisingly heart-rending drama - a combination that most listeners will find impossible to defend against.

Originally published on "The History of the Doctor," 19th July 2010. Reproduced with kind permission.