If you've run out of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer is the next logical step. Shed mixed Austen tropes into new Regency plots (technically this is pre-RIf you've run out of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer is the next logical step. Shed mixed Austen tropes into new Regency plots (technically this is pre-Regency, set in 1776 but it has a very Austen feel) that have since become the tropes that make up the genre today.
The convenient marriage is not one of Heyer's better novels, but its quite fun and this audio version is read by the wonderful Richard Armitage which gives it an extra edge - particularly his wonderful voice acting on Crosby Drelincourt - Rule's macaroni cousin and heir before his marrage.
At 35, Marcus Drelincourt, Earl of Rule decides to marry, and has settled on Elizabeth Winwood one of three sisters. Sweet Willowy Elizabeth is in love with Lieutenant Edward Heron but the parents are against the match (very Persuasion). The yougest sister Horatia, 17 visits Rule, explains that her sister's affections lie elsewhere and asks him to marry her instead - This is probably the highlight of the story - I liked Horrie's spunk here and that she's no beauty and has a terrible stutter.
Marcus and Horatia marry (and we presume Elizabeth and Edward will in the future) and the story follows Marcus and Horrie after their marrage of convenience until it becomes a true love match. Without giving too mach away there's a villainous rival Robert, Baron Lethbridge (who had previously run off with Rule's sister just like Wickam in P&P), a scheming mistress, highwaymen and two duals of honour.
The story's quite fun, but it really lacks passion. Rule is quite an emotionally reticent hero - as an avid reader of historical romances of this sort you can infer that he adores Horrie and his later motivations are based on love, but honestly I don't think the L word is ever mentioned and we only get three kisses in the whole novel, two of which are at the very end. The only boddice ripping is actually literal - when Lethbridge kidnaps and attacks Horrie and tears her gown.
The other thing this lacks is wit and satire - some of Heyer's stories bite and at least sparkle - this one not so much, it hums along merrily but feels like a pot boiler with very sterotypical characters in its villains and supporting cast.
The most original character is the heroine. I liked her spirit, but found her stutter a tad annoying after a while. I'm also not the biggest fan of May/December pairings - She's 17 to the hero's 35 (mirroring Marrianne/Brandon in Sense & Sensability and Catherine/Tilney in Northanger Abbey) - you can excuse some of her behaviour to youth and suddenly having an influx of wealth but I did find her a bit silly.
If you love Austen and Cartland and want charming, PG rated historical romance, this is for you, but for me I found it enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable, lacking passion and wit. ...more
This is the audio of the almost completely lost serial - The Celestial Toymaker - Only the final episode of 4 - The final Test still survives and thisThis is the audio of the almost completely lost serial - The Celestial Toymaker - Only the final episode of 4 - The final Test still survives and this is because the BBC archived it thinking it was a cricket match due to the title!
1st Doctor Hartnell and companions Dodo & Stephen are drawn into the mysterios dimension of the Celestial Toymaker (Michael Gough) - The Doctor is rendered invisible and forced to play a stratedy game against the Toymaker, whilst Dodo & Stephen have to play a series of games against people trapped in the dimension who have been turned into toys - If they can win their games before the Doctor finishes his they get the TARDIS and are free to go, but if they lose they will be turned into toys and stuck with the Toymaker forever....
I love the Immortal Toymaker, he's an excellent villain - there's no way to defeat him for good and his exceptionally clever making a good aversary for the Doctor. His fantastic dimension of dolls, playing cards and clowns is also wonderfully sinister.
It's quite 'stagey', static and theatrical as Early Who tended to be - and its not very sci-fi (we're not travelling in space or time, but a weird alternate dimension) - It's far more whimsical and fantasy - this might have made an intersting Sapphire & Steel episode. It is however, nicely sinister and creepy. Gough is excellent and from the strenth of this I'm amazed the Toymaker hasn't made more of an appearance in Who. I can't wait for him to turn up in the upcoming special. ...more
Talk about ending the series on a bang. The 8th Doctor Lucie Miller series is in my opinon Who audio at its finest. Lucie Miller is my favourite compaTalk about ending the series on a bang. The 8th Doctor Lucie Miller series is in my opinon Who audio at its finest. Lucie Miller is my favourite companion - and that's saying something compared to some of the wonderful actresses we have seen on screen - But Sheridan Smith is just superb, mouthy, funny, strong minded and yet vulnerable and an excellent foil for the Doctor. This final story does her justice and lets her exit with a bang. This story has it all, Daleks, the Meddling Monk, real threat and death and yeah.... Great stuff...more
The first of the two parter finale of the 8th Doctor Lucie Miller series is a real banger. The Daleks, aided by the Monk and his assistand Tamsin Drew The first of the two parter finale of the 8th Doctor Lucie Miller series is a real banger. The Daleks, aided by the Monk and his assistand Tamsin Drew have released a plague on Earth to distract people from their master plan. Lucie survives, barely but she's disfigured, blind and paralysed - The Doctor is nowhere to be found, but Susan and her son still have hope that he'll come and save the day.
This one really show's Sheridan Smith's range - It's really poignant and at the same time she retains her smart mouth. Excellent Dalek story that harps back to Classic Who with superb performances across the board. Graeme Garden makes a wonderful Monk....more
My Fair Lady/Pygmalion tale set in Ancient China. While I didn't find this one as enaging as The Dragon and the Pearl its still kept me engrossed.
FeiMy Fair Lady/Pygmalion tale set in Ancient China. While I didn't find this one as enaging as The Dragon and the Pearl its still kept me engrossed.
Fei Long is in a bit of a pickle - his sister has eloped and he's been ordered by the Emperor to send her as a Peace Bride to the Northen tribesmen (Scythians?) He finds Yan Ling, a feisty maiden in a local tea house who throws tea at him, in reparation he demands that she take his sister's place and he will turn her into a princess. The pair fall in love during her transformation.
What I loved is the evocation of Ancient China and the depiction of the lower classes in particular. Fei Long hires a female impernator actor to help her become a lady and we get an insight into the acting world and criminal undwerworld as well as teahouses. The main characters don't particularly stand out (I read A LOT of historical romances), but honestly I was so swept away by the world here and the story that I'll remember this one for that alone.
As ever I love Sarah Lam's narration and this one kept my interest throughout. The story isn't particularly original and the characters don't really stand out but I just adore the setting and the world building which is such a wonderful departure from Regency Misses falling into the Arms of Dukes and Highlanders kidnapping their enemy's women. ...more
The production and voice cast on this, as with most Big Finish audios are top notch - Blue's Antony Costa guest stars here and he's really good. SheriThe production and voice cast on this, as with most Big Finish audios are top notch - Blue's Antony Costa guest stars here and he's really good. Sheridan Smith also gets to strut her stuff playing two different androids; Chloe & Daphne as well as returning as Lucie Miller.
My low score comes from the story itself - Its always hard to do a completely fresh alien Who story. Its very easy for a listener to picture a Dalek, cyberman, Sontaran or Zygon because we have a frame of reference - Here we have Mecurials, mercinaries made of mercury. Being audio there's very little description and I had a hard job 'picturing' this in my mid, despite the excellent voice talent - everyone sounded.... well human.
This is a completely alien world - no time travel/historical point of reference either and honestly it's not very Who-y. The Doctor's been imprisoned in the heart of a sun condemed to maintaining its systems and while he could escape, he's curious as to why he's there and needs to stop the sun becoming a weapon. I applaud this for its originality and scope, however I just felt this would have been far better as a TV episode where we could appreciate the world building and aliens better with a visual context. Its not a bad story, but just doesn't feel very Who. ...more
Although she doesn't want to travel with him permenantly after Auntie Pat, the Doctor promises Lucie the Christmas she missed out on because of Death Although she doesn't want to travel with him permenantly after Auntie Pat, the Doctor promises Lucie the Christmas she missed out on because of Death in Blackpool. He sets up Christmas dinner with Susan (the first companion) and her son Alex (played by Paul McGann's son Jake). The TARDIS gets attacked by a giant Alien fish.
This is such a change of pace after the epic three parter. Its a nice self contained nostalgic piece that's really well researched. Carole Ann Ford reprises her role as companion Susan, and I liked it that it was further on in her life - she has a son now, so she wasn't quite the same character. I loved how the Doctor has kept the rooms of all his former companions in the TARDIS.
I really enjoyed this one - I thought it was clever how the alien fish was released because The Doctor re-opened Susan's old room. Who knows what other aliens and relics might be in the other rooms - Its kind of a cautionary tale about holding on to the past....more
The Resurrection of Mars pulls all the threads together from the last two stories: The Book of Kells and Deimos - As such its not a great self-containThe Resurrection of Mars pulls all the threads together from the last two stories: The Book of Kells and Deimos - As such its not a great self-contained story and really doesn't work as a stand alone - It's heavily plotty. Tasmin and Lucie Miller come face to face and the rival Time Lords (8th Doctor and the Monk) basically swap companions.
This one's excellent for character - While you know the Monk is clearly wrong, it forces the audience and indeed his companions to question The Doctor and his actions - At once point the Doctor has to choose - Save Lucie or Let the Ice Warriors win and kill millions.
I love The Monk and I thought his character was really well used in this one. It's fantastic to have Lucie back as well. I enjoyed this one, but it depends what you want from a Who audio - If you want a cracking good adventure story, you're out of luck, but if you're a fan of the 8th Doctor Adventures and invested in the characters then this one is pretty vital....more
**spoiler alert** The Dragon and the Pearl instantly stands out amongst the Mills and Boon historical romances for its unusual setting of Tang Dynasty**spoiler alert** The Dragon and the Pearl instantly stands out amongst the Mills and Boon historical romances for its unusual setting of Tang Dynasty (8th century) China - No Regency misses here, or Medieval / Viking Warriors. The setting and time period are a refreshing change. The story and characters are also engaging - Our heroine Lin Suyin was chief concubine to the Tang Emperor sent into seclusion after her protector's death. Li Tao the hero, is one of two major warlords in a three way power struggle with the Emperor Shen. He gets word that the rival warlord's going to kill Suyin and thinking that she knows political secrets kidnaps her first....
The story is exciting - its full of political intrigue, assassination, betrayal and pride - There's not a single enemy - Suyin and Tao's budding romance is threatened by the emperor, the rival warlord and Li Tao's former employer a spymaster assassin....
I loved heroine Suyin - my only one criticism is her virginity - which I did have to suspend my disbelief a little for - Its such a common trope in historical romances, and I felt since this had so much originality going for it, I didn't want this to fall into the hackneyed tropes trap.
Otherwise though I thought this one was excellent - Its well paced, exciting and nicely balanced between story and romance. Sarah Lam narrates this well; I didn't lose interest for a second, and looked forward to each instalment. I'll certainly be checking out more Jeannie Lin titles.
The 8th Doctor encounters Ice Warriors! With David Warner on the voice cast you know this is going to be good and it doesn't disappoint. After Mars becThe 8th Doctor encounters Ice Warriors! With David Warner on the voice cast you know this is going to be good and it doesn't disappoint. After Mars became too hot some Ice Warriors fled to it's moon Deimos where they hibernate awaiting a time when conditions change in their favour.
We then jump to the distant future where a tourist group come to see the remnants of the Ice Warrior civilaztion and failed (through lack of funds) terraforming project. Some Ice Warriors awake and want to use the abandoned terraforming device to re-freeze Mars, killing off all the humans.
Homage to Moonbase & Ice Warriors - tick. Nice little nod to the previous audio Phobos, tick. Phenomenal voice cast tick. The Doctor standing up for diplomacy when the others just want to blow things up - tick. I find the 8th Doctor really suits this kind of role, I don't know if it's simply McGann's voice or what, but I like his incarnation being diplomatic and reasoning.
This story isn't however a good stand alone and you really need to have the Ressurection of Mars on standby. Still I thought this one was really good....more
As Penny Jordan romances go, this isn't as bad as some of the others I've read recently. Jodie, the heroine is annoyingly a stunningly beautiful and skAs Penny Jordan romances go, this isn't as bad as some of the others I've read recently. Jodie, the heroine is annoyingly a stunningly beautiful and skinny virgin (so far so stereotypical) but she has scarring on her legs due to a car crash - While I didn't think there was nearly enough realism here - she's still stunningly beautiful and not handicapped in any real way, I did like what it brought out in the hero. Never underustimate a man who can give a good massage - that's more of a reason for our heroine to genuinely fall in love with Lorenzo than Jordan's usual (he's impossibly handsome, rich and titled, so of course the heroine must adore him, even when he's been a complete autoratic bastard). Indeed other than sort of blackmailing Jodie into marriage at the beginning, Lorenzo is a far more sympathetic hero than usual. He loves art, does a lot of charity work, turns his ancestral home into a help centre for disabled war orphans, gives good massages and is attentive to the heroine - too good to be true, certainly, but I didn't dislike him as I have with many of her other heroes.
The story is a bit dull - Jodie jilted by her fiancee because of her scars goes to Italy, gets lost, meets Lorenzo who blackmails her into marriage (he has to marry or forefit his ancestral home to a gold digging harpy who wants to trap him into marriage) - The pair marry and fall in love, with very little impediment other than slight mistrust on both sides, that each of them still love their exes. I was quite trimphant went Jodie turns up at her exes wedding with her new Ducal husband. And I liked how cutting Lorenzo was and stood up for her.
Of course this doesn't do much for Jodie's character - She's still fairly passive and spineless, having gone from one manstraight to another and having to have her man stand up for her. I'd much rather she'd have stood up for herself and become empowered off her own back rather than through the power of love, but still its not as bad as it could have been.
So this is a by-the-numbers M&B modern romance, using all the tropes (beatiful virgin, rich, titled hero, Italian setting, marriage of convenience leads to love) - I've seen every one of these used to far better effect, but this one hums along merrily enough. At 3 hours it doesn't outstay its welcome and Jan Francis isn't a bad narrator. You could do worse.
**spoiler alert** Harping back to the Hinchcliffe era this fuses Who and gothic horror. I don't know what it is but while I think mixing Who and Briti**spoiler alert** Harping back to the Hinchcliffe era this fuses Who and gothic horror. I don't know what it is but while I think mixing Who and British gothic is amongst the best there is, mixing Who with American gothic just never seems to work quite as well (I'm thinking of things like the 6th Doctor: The Lovecraft Invasion, fusing two of my favourite things Lovecraft and Who and coming up wanting) The same is true of this one - how can a Who story centred around Poe with robot ravens and a mutant shapeshifting cat be anything other than awesome? And yet its pretty forgettable. I'm not warming to companion Tamsin, but then Lucie Miller is pretty much an impossible act to follow. Sheridan Smith set the bar and the later 8th Doctor Adventures are really suffering for her loss.
This one's not bad exactly, but it suffers from a new companion finding her feet, both the doctor and audience reeling from Lucie's departure and a rather dull story. Though I do like the cat that gets into the TARDIS and mucks up the navigation. ...more
In at nutshell Doctor Who does The Apprentice. Since Lucie left we find the Doctor (McGann) interviewing for the post of companion. The candidates get In at nutshell Doctor Who does The Apprentice. Since Lucie left we find the Doctor (McGann) interviewing for the post of companion. The candidates get more than they bargain for having to deal with giant robots.
This one's not bad. I really really miss Lucie, but I thought the core concept of the Doctor actually interviewing for companions was great fun. ...more
Series 4 kicks off with the departure of Lucie Miller and it's an interesting way for a companion to go: She doesn't die, fall in love or get homesickSeries 4 kicks off with the departure of Lucie Miller and it's an interesting way for a companion to go: She doesn't die, fall in love or get homesick but rather loses trust in the Doctor - a rather bold step to take. So Lucie wants to return home to Blackpool for Christmas and they run into Aunty Pat (a zygon, but Lucie doesn't know) - This one follows on from The Horror of Glam Rock and the Zygon who fell to Earth. If you're unfamiliar with these the plot will seem pretty confused. It's all about death - Lucie ends up in a coma and Aunty Pat is dying because she's stayed in the same human form too long (all because she loves Lucie)
I found this one depressing and when Lucie finds out the Doctor knew Aunty Pat was a Zygon the who time it severs the bond between them completely - which after all the adventures they've been on and the rapport they've created is a mighty kick in the teeth....more
While this isn't the worst Mills & Boon romance out there, it's still botom of the barrel
So heroine Lily is a stunningly beautiful art historian. She While this isn't the worst Mills & Boon romance out there, it's still botom of the barrel
So heroine Lily is a stunningly beautiful art historian. She fills in for her step-brother as a photographer for a catalogue model shoot one time and in storms the hero Italian prince Marco ranting about the fact that the photographer (her brother) has misled his gullable nephew and is going to lead him astray into the sex drugs and modelling lifestyle. It's hate and disdain at first sight. The pair are then thrown together again when Marco is to act as a guide for Lily in her art historian guise for 2 weeks.
The main reason to ditch this is lack of story - Nothing interesting happens. Other than the emotional baggage overload therapy session our two protagonists go through to finally get it together, nothing external happens.
This also uses a lot of tropes I dislike. 1) Super rich, impossibly handsome Italian Prince hero - Wish fulfilment at the best of times, believable not so much.... He's also judgemental, emotinally closed off and as heros go, doesn't have much going for him other than the mary sue ooooh he's rich, handsome and oh wait... a prince. Jilly Bond's Italian accent for him makes him sound like a bad vampire and I struggled to take him seriously - Where's Michael Praed when you need him (now there's a great M&B narrator)
Lily the heroine is also pretty blah. 2) super rich, stunningly beatiful, could be a model heroine, who oh wait is actually smart as well - unrealistic and hard to take seriously. While she wasn't a virgin (hurrah this dodges one sterotype) she is 3) an (almost) rape victim. This trope comes up a lot - the heroine is a victim of rape - but that's too dark so we'll have her almost raped instead (usually to remain a virgin for the hero) - here the girl that was kidnapped with Lily was raped instead and she's traumatised over the fact that she couldn't save her, the kidnap oh and her mother's suicide and father's neglect. Way too much childhood trauma! - I also didn't feel we got enough detail into her ordeal - how did she escape? why wasn't she raped? what happened to the other girl that myseteriously disappeared when she found she was pregnant? (murdered? suicide? still alive somewhere.... if so why doesn't Lily try and find her?)
4) matchmaking old woman. Unnecessary.
We also get Lily encountering the villain again. Marco's initial reaction, thinking she wants to use him to make the (ex lover) villain jealous and his complete obliviousness to her very obvious terror did not endear him to me at all.
While this isn't as burn every copy you encounter as Penny Jordan's Response (ye gods that may still hold the crown for worst M&B ever) - this one isn't great. It doesn't empower women - Lily is very passive and her response to encountering her almost rapist is to jump into bed with the hero (who she dislikes) just to feel safe. I like my heroines more believable and with more backbone, and my heroes less wish fulfilment and more well heroic and supportive. Meh. ...more
Spin off from the Pertwee episode Planet of the Spiders this has the 8th Doctor and Lucie attempt to foil a spider invasiom.
As mentioned in the first Spin off from the Pertwee episode Planet of the Spiders this has the 8th Doctor and Lucie attempt to foil a spider invasiom.
As mentioned in the first half of this two parter, Lucie being brainwashed is fairly subdued, but otherwise thumbs up from me. Love Planet of the Spiders and this one's lots of fun....more
Lucie gets recruited by a brainwashing cult while the Doctor joins some scientists investigating a missing space probe.
As usual with Eddie Robson storLucie gets recruited by a brainwashing cult while the Doctor joins some scientists investigating a missing space probe.
As usual with Eddie Robson stories this one's pretty good. My biggest issue is it's brevity. It's the first part of a 2-parter finale and feels shorter than most of the other 8th doctor adventures and then it just ends on an almighty cliff-hanger (so be warned have Wold Wide Web on hand, as this really doesn't work as a stand alone).
The other issue I had with it is splitting up Lucie and the Doctor. It's very much a two strand story - Lucie doing her thing with the cult and the Doctor doing his thing with the scientists. I miss the interaction between the Doctor and his companion, the teasing and witty banter. Luicie is brainwashed for most of this and while total Kudos to Sheridan Smith for making it totally believable, i miss Lucie's usual exuberance and general sarky self.
Still the cult section works really well and this kept my attention entirely. Its not bad at all, I just like some of the other stories better....more
Lovely audio version of Robert Macfarlane's The Lost Spells. I thought the narrators on this were a bit more uniform than The Lost Words - ParticularlLovely audio version of Robert Macfarlane's The Lost Spells. I thought the narrators on this were a bit more uniform than The Lost Words - Particularly fond of Jackdaw and Oak.
This 7 part radio serial from 1966 is a fun sci-fi B-Movie plot worthy of Doctor Who - indeed Roger Delgado (The Master) voices the professor and MiriThis 7 part radio serial from 1966 is a fun sci-fi B-Movie plot worthy of Doctor Who - indeed Roger Delgado (The Master) voices the professor and Miriam Margolyes has several voice roles.
Professor Gomez (Delgado), An unpopular scientist, disliked for his political views, discovered cracks on the sea bed but was ignored. There's an earthquake in a sleepy town and a mudlike entity breaks through and tries to take over the town. The Professor may be the town's only hope.
This starts out really well, I love the mud monster and the way it takes over people's minds. The posessed people who shun the light are really quite creepy. I also quite like the idea that the monster hates the sun because the sun was worshipped as a god and it wants to become it's own god. The ending however I'm afraid degenerates into standard B-Movie schlock of this era - I was put in mind by things like Island of Terror, released the same year as this where a community get terrorised by silicate monsters.
Still, for those of you who love your classic sci-fi with its cut glass BBC pronunciation - you just don't get SF that sounds like that any more! and Roger Delgado! This one's well worth a listen....more
I love the hard-copy of this, but you'll see the audio drops a star for me because for me just hearing the words this loses something.
For a start, gonI love the hard-copy of this, but you'll see the audio drops a star for me because for me just hearing the words this loses something.
For a start, gone are the gorgeous watercolour illustrations. All the poems are very clever acrostics and this really doesn't come across hearing them read aloud. While the sounds and rhythms come across it doesn't give you time to appreciate the language and structure. Its also quite a mixed bag of accents and pace - narrators are Guy Garvy, Cerys Matthews, Benjamin Zephaniah and Edith Bowman - so we switch from Welsh to Jamaican to English - All the readers are talented don't get me wrong, I just find it an odd melting pot to put all together. The poems are supposed to be spell/incantation inspired and I feel that with such a mixed selection of readers that magic is somehow lost.
Still there's lots here to enjoy and I could listen to Benjamin and Cerys forever, I'm just not sure that they work harmoniously on the same project....more
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