I could listen to Paul Darrow forever, so having him narrate B7 audio books is always a treat. This is Trevor Hoyle's novelization of episodes 1.3 andI could listen to Paul Darrow forever, so having him narrate B7 audio books is always a treat. This is Trevor Hoyle's novelization of episodes 1.3 and 1.4 (Cygnus Alpha and Time Squad) - obviously if you are a B7 fan this doesn't cover any new ground, but Darrow reads this brilliantly and its nice to re-visit the entrance of Cally....more
**spoiler alert** Set in Series B (after the death of Gan) the remainder of the B7 crew (Blake, Jenna, Avon, Vila & Cally) investigate rumours of a my**spoiler alert** Set in Series B (after the death of Gan) the remainder of the B7 crew (Blake, Jenna, Avon, Vila & Cally) investigate rumours of a mysterious Federation project called Archangel.
Again this is a really high quality story with a plot that unfolds just like an episode of the show. You really do feel like you could be watching this one.
The characters are all on point: Avon, Servalan, Blake, Vila... Heck even Jenna gets a little bit of action. My only niggle is the complete uselessness of Cally - She is utterly wasted in this one and I feel that is really bad oversight. We're dealing with a group of cyborgs who communicate telepathically - there's some suggestion of a hive mind and we certainly get chunks of them interacting mentally with 'the program' - Cally is the ideal choice to play a central role here - she could communicate with them, heck at least sense their consciousness but that idea doesn't ever get used.
Other than that though, I really liked this. I particularly love the nature of the project - the next step up from mutoids seems very plausible and the possible application of fusing them with ships... is a concept I find fascinating.
The continuity/B7 universe is solid in this as well. We get a mention of Jenna's friend Virna who crops up in the Liberator Chronicle 4.2: Epitaph, and we get a Gauda Prime Blake epilogue in which he encounters and helps Katri Tam. This one feels very Blake's 7 not only in good depiction of character, but in the representation of the Federation, technology and the nature of the project.
Lastly I also like the way this is written - we get various flashbacks 'artefacts' from different perspectives, and cut scenes which help the pace and make it feel even more like an episode script.
So far I'm highly impressed with the Big Finish B7 spin off range, it's of much higher quality and consistency than a lot of other sci-fi show tie-in fiction. It rarely feels rushed and you get the feeling that the writers are as much fans of the show as the readers. Archangel is a good example. ...more
5th Blake's Seven Liberator Chronicle collecting together the three audios: 5.1 Logic 5.2 Risk Management 5.3 Three
The final story Three - in which a jou5th Blake's Seven Liberator Chronicle collecting together the three audios: 5.1 Logic 5.2 Risk Management 5.3 Three
The final story Three - in which a journalist interviews Servalan is pretty much a B7 fan's dream come true - 5*
Logic is also really good and brings in Who's Louise Jameson as a victim of the Federation's brainwashing.
It's the middle story, Risk Management that brings this one down. Story isn't that great and while the voice cast do their best it's not a great vehicle for character either.
Still luckily the other two instalments really make up for one dud.
Being a fan of Torchwood, Who and Blake's 7 James Goss is an author who crops up on my radar alot and I have to say with mixed results - When he's on Being a fan of Torchwood, Who and Blake's 7 James Goss is an author who crops up on my radar alot and I have to say with mixed results - When he's on form, sometimes he's the best out there, other times... not so much. I am delighted that with Three he's hit the nail right on the head and this is one of my favourite B7 audios.
The premise is simple - a journalist (Joseph Kloska) interviews Servalan, asking questions about three topics: her father, her siblings and her children. He wants the truth but the old saying has never been more true than here - be very careful what you wish for....
Jacqueline is amazing in this one - seriously this is Servalan at her absolute finest - The most evil woman in the universe, utterly convinced that her actions are justified and enacted with flawless make up and a smile on her face. Kloska also does an admirable job as her foil - a naive journalist who has clearly bitten off more than he can chew.
The insight into Servalan's past is fascinating - we touch on her lover in 'Sand' of course but this fleshes that out, and I have to say that her poor Shadow addicted young brother is equally interesting. We have sympathy for her and yet... the atrocities she commits! And The ending on this one.... I don't want to leave spoilers, but oh, my! I also like the whole theme of the nature of truth that this plays with - the fact that we have to question was any of what Servalan's story actually true or is she just manipulating us from the very start?
For any Blake's 7 Servalan fans this audio is not to be missed. Production is great, voice cast is great, character development is great, plot and pace is great and integration into the B7 universe as a whole, also great. I can't really fault this one. ...more
**spoiler alert** Normally I'm a massive fan of the Liberator Chronicles but I have to say I really struggled with this one - I fell asleep listening **spoiler alert** Normally I'm a massive fan of the Liberator Chronicles but I have to say I really struggled with this one - I fell asleep listening to it three times - always zoning out at exactly the same point! In the end I had to rewind a bit and really concentrate to get to the end.
The story revolves around Blake and Jenna acting as security for the auction of some jewels in a un-aligned space station. The jewels will provide enough wealth to help a planet which has just broken free of the Federation get back on it's feet after a practically scorched Earth policy. First space pirates try and steal the jewels, then the wife of the former governor (Federation aligned) says that by rights the jewels are hers, and as Blake and Jenna try and resolve this issue the prize gem is stolen by someone else.....
First up, whilst undeniably clever, the story isn't that interesting - It's very political and lacking in action. It also have very little connection to the B7 show. Ok it depicts a small world breaking free of the oppressive Federation - but you have to question just how likely that actually would be? Would the Federation have let them win independence? Surely they'd have simply destroyed the planet or if the crystal mines were still active taken stronger measures to keep it. The significance of the jewels is also a bit unbelievable - one set can fund the economy of an entire planet? And what of the mines - if active surely more could be mined.
As well as issues with the story I didn't feel Blake and Jenna were at all the right characters to use. If we were in season 1 I'd have opted for Vila and Gan for this. But for season 2 I think Vila/Jenna or Vila/Avon would have worked far better. Other than knowing the station, Jenna doesn't really do a lot and I don't quite know what Blake was doing there - I feel acting as security was out of character for both of them and as this revolves around a matter of foiling theft who better than master thief Vila? He would also have added some much needed comic relief. There's a line saying that he's not there because Blake didn't think he could be trusted, but with Avon to keep him in line I think he'd have been a far better choice. This doesn't add anything to the understanding of either Blake or Jenna and just feels a slightly bit off somehow.
Not much in the way of sound effects either - this one is heavily reliant on voice, and with both Blake and Jenna being soft spoken and not the most interesting of characters, it doesn't retain the interest as much as some of the flashier stories.
I did quite like the way this wraps things up, as I said it's quite clever. but honestly I've found this to be the weakest Liberator Chronicle so far....more
Doctor Who's Louise Jameson joins the voice cast here as Federation 'Fixer' Pol Astat Constable - kidnapped by Avon she is taken to an abandoned compuDoctor Who's Louise Jameson joins the voice cast here as Federation 'Fixer' Pol Astat Constable - kidnapped by Avon she is taken to an abandoned computer lab just outside Earthdome, where she is forced to break through Federation brainwashing to find out what really happened to the lab and it's workers.
Louise is an excellent addition - I've had mixed feelings about some of her Leela audios but here as a completely new character she does exceptionally well managing to convey the innocent 'everywoman' to something far darker. Paul Darrow goes without question - Avon is on top, biting form. Sally Knyvette is also completely on point as Jenna.
The story is exciting and an excellent vehicle to show the insidious evil of the Federation. It is a tad repetitive at times as Pol repeats events trying to work through the logic, but over all I thought this was well paced and engaging.
If I had to criticise it - Servalan only comes in at the very end and I felt was largely superfluous. Also I'm not sure that Avon disappearing to be replaced by Jenna added anything. This would have worked perfectly well as a dual narrative - Pol/Avon - I don't feel that Jenna or Servalan really added anything to the story - even though both actresses are on top form as their respective characters - I just didn't feel they were really necessary.
Other than that though this is a nice dark tale of a frightening dystopian future with an excellent voice cast....more
Another excellent collection. Promises and KeContains 3 B7 audio books: Promises - Travis/Cally Epitaph - Jenna/Vila Kerr - Servalan/Kerr (clone of Avon)
Another excellent collection. Promises and Kerr are both brilliant. Epitaph isn't nearly as strong, but the other two stories really make up for this, and it is nice to see the return of Sally Knyvette and a Jenna centred story, even if it's not nearly as exciting as the other two. Interestingly the best stories always seem to feature the villains - Travis and Servalan are both on top form here and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how good Cally was in promises, almost turning into a villain herself.
Once you get your head around the dual narrator format, which is never quite as engaging as the full cast audios - the Liberator Chronicles are well worth checking out - majority have the original cast members reprising their roles and the stories are by Big Finish's top writers - This 4th instalment isn't quite as good as the unmissable, previous three-parter - Armageddon Storm, but its still of a very high standard and should delight B7 fans both old and new. ...more
Being a massive Avon and Servalan fan, this Liberator Chronicle had me jumping up and down in excitement, especially noting that it's narrated by bothBeing a massive Avon and Servalan fan, this Liberator Chronicle had me jumping up and down in excitement, especially noting that it's narrated by both Pearce and Darrow. And indeed for the most part its everything I could have hoped for.
Servalan creates Kerr, a clone of Avon to lure out Blake so that she can destroy him once and for all. However she chose Avon to clone of all Blake's crew for another reason as well, to try and understand the only man in the universe she can't quite read.
Oh my, is my initial response - what a blindingly good story concept. I love Kerr's development as he learns who, what and why he is and how he still tries to pursue his own agenda. Pearce and Darrow are great as ever - Avon isn't quite at his most sarcastic but I feel that's probably to make clear that Kerr is NOT Avon, merely a clone - the subtleties work well. Servalan is interesting here as well, she's given a slight vulnerable, softer side to counterpoint the evil which makes her utterly fascinating.
My only wish is that this had more sexuality to it. The fascination/revulsion sexual tension between Avon and Servalan you could always cut with a knife. To my mind if Sevalan ever did clone Avon she wouldn't hesitate to make him her lover as much from desire as curiosity, plus it would giver her an extra way to control him. Disappointingly that aspect is missing here. Otherwise though, fantastic story with B7's greatest and most complexly rich characters. Big thumbs up here....more
Jenna Stannis gets a distress call from Verna, an old smuggler friend, with Vila in tow she goes to investigate and walks straight into the arms of ThJenna Stannis gets a distress call from Verna, an old smuggler friend, with Vila in tow she goes to investigate and walks straight into the arms of Thomack, her estranged, fanatical brother who wants her help in his quest for vengeance against Major Kade the man who killed their father.
This is Sally Knyvette's first appearance in the Liberator Chronicles and while she manages to re-capture Jenna perfectly this isn't a particularly great story. Yes it's nice to get some back story for Jenna I still don't feel she's come into her potential (like say Cally in the last instalment) - I want to see her kicking ass and she's still very reactionary here - despite being removed from Blake and the rest of the crew. Whilst Vila is highly entertaining I also didn't feel much interest in this particular pairing - he doesn't add much to the story.
In terms of relating to the wider B7 universe - this explores the ideas brought up in a conversation she has with Avon - where he asks her if she could kill someone in cold blood. In the audio adventures - Major Kade crops up again in season 1.4 - Mirrors - where Travis uses him as a ploy to bait Jenna.
Overall this one's not bad - both voice actors do a credible job, I just don't feel this one's as exciting as many of the other B7 audios. Some of this is down to character - It's not featuring the more larger than life-scene stealing characters. But much of it is down to story - this doesn't add much to the major story arcs, and doesn't alter my perception of the characters other than to flesh out Jenna's past a little. The pairing of Jenna and Vila didn't really add any tension or interest me that much. And the music isn't as rousing as some of the other audios either. The whole old friend distress call ploy is also a bit unoriginal - heck its the same plot device that kicked off as the last story!
Still enjoyable, but there are far better B7 audios out there....more
Travis returns to Saurian Minor after receiving a message from his lost love Scetona Clorenis. Instead of Scetona however, he encounters Cally who hasTravis returns to Saurian Minor after receiving a message from his lost love Scetona Clorenis. Instead of Scetona however, he encounters Cally who has heard Scetona's call. The likelihood it is a trap is almost impossible to deny, but set by whom? And more importantly, why?
This is an excellent character piece for both Travis and Cally. Travis (voiced by the original and my favourite, Stephen Greif) gets a romance and loads of back story -In a way this story does for Travis what Rumours of Death did for Avon. Giving him a love interest humanises him and does a far better job than the Travis early years story 'Point of no Return' which never quite convinced me that he had a softer side. Grief is really good here - In the show he gave Travis a certain elegance and command very different to Brian Croucher's more comical thug and his more serious portrayal really suits this particular story.
I also have to give kudos to Jan Chappell - Cally is acting on her own here, having gone AWOL to pursue her own agenda. She is utterly badass, bordering on the insane and makes such a great contrast to Travis. The roles are almost reversed - Travis being calm and rational, Cally being the complete opposite. I was always disappointed with the character in the show, I think Cally had a lot of potential that was never fully tapped - Promises is a great example of what Cally can really be.
The other thing I love about this one is the muddied question of good and evil which is so integral to the show itself. B7 stands out in the SF genre, even 40 years on because the lines of good and evil aren't clear - Our 'heroes' are deeply flawed, criminals and lets face it... terrorists. It's villains are unquestionably evil and yet... who doesn't love Servalan and Travis? This story really plays up the shades of grey. Travis is a butcher, yet we have sympathy for him here and Cally.... If this were anything other than a B7 story she'd be the villain - both kill without question and I like the way this forces you to constantly reevaluate both characters.
While this story doesn't have much plot or connection with the wider B7 story arcs it is a great character piece and essential for Travis and Cally fans. I was rather impressed with it....more
**spoiler alert** This is the first of 8 Blake's 7 spin-off novels published by Big Finish to accompany their stunning audio range - The Liberator Chr**spoiler alert** This is the first of 8 Blake's 7 spin-off novels published by Big Finish to accompany their stunning audio range - The Liberator Chronicles.
And what a way to kick off - So this one's set in the show's first season set between the episodes Mission to Destiny and Duel - Gan's still alive and Blake's in command of the Liberator. Our rebels head into a mysteriously restricted area of space trying to elude Space Commander Travis and his fleet of pursuit ships. They discover an abandoned research station where 20 years ago, the scientists had been creating the null wave - (basically a souped up EMP pulse where the effects last for years) - The base was attacked by another rebel group - the device went off, trapping everyone on the station as nothing electrical will run. Since Blake shares the same ideals as rebel leader Farrow Lant surely this should be an alliance made in heaven... but when Lant tries to take over the ship all hell breaks loose.
This evoke's the spirit of Blake's 7 so well it feels just like an episode. It's really easy to imagine you are watching this unfold. All characters are true to cannon - Vila, Avon and Blake (and Travis and Servalan) are all excellent. This isn't the best vehicle for Cally, Jenna and Gan however. Jenna is particularly superfluous and I wish she'd got to do more ass kicking or even had a side adventure. However other than saying no to Lant and then patching up Cally she really has nothing to do.
This isn't the best for character exploration - other than the given Avon & Blake - whose actions sort of deepen your understanding of them. There's no real back story or anything new this novel brings to the B7 mythos other than being a bloody good story - still if you love the show then this is just like another episode - it's fast paced and reasonably well written - the authors clearly know their characters and universe and there are very few editing mistakes like you so often find in published spin off fiction.
Cracking start, lets hope the others live up to this standard....more
Most of the Liberator Chronicles are separate stories by different authors, however The Armageddon Storm is one single story in three parts - And withMost of the Liberator Chronicles are separate stories by different authors, however The Armageddon Storm is one single story in three parts - And with three episodes worth of time this one is epic!
The first instalment has Avon re-encounter Del Grant and the Liberator goes on a mission to find out about a Doomsday weapon the Federation have got their hands on. It ends on an almighty cliffhanger.
Part two follows Vila and Cally planet side as they try and gather intel on the ground and encounter native telekinetics. The end of this draws us back to the same cliffhanger of part one.
Part three and we're back with Avon and Del Grant manning a rescue mission.
From start to finish this one is an utter joy. It's a brilliant, self contained story that really highlights the show's key themes - The evil of the Federation and the lengths it will go to to eliminate opposition, human experimentation, and rebellion. It is also an excellent vehicle for character development - Avon is brilliant here and his relationship with Del Grant gives back story and the need for redemption. Cally is the best I've seen her, shamefully underused in the series, she really gets a chance to shine particularly in part two - we see development of her mental skills as she encounters others with powers as well as her caring and moral side. Vila is also on top form offering comic relief.
We have space battles, plenty of Avon being awesome, an exciting story with excellent pacing, character development and great production. I can't fault this one - It's a Blake's 7 fan's dream because while the show might not have had the budget for an epic story on this scale, we now get to see it in our minds eye - and with Paul Darrow, Jan Chappell, Michael Keating and Tom Chadbon all returning to voice their original roles it's so easy to jump straight in and pretend this is another episode of the show. Loved every second of this one.
**spoiler alert** So if my criticism for 2.2: False Promise was that it wasn't involved enough, the opposite is true here.
Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan)**spoiler alert** So if my criticism for 2.2: False Promise was that it wasn't involved enough, the opposite is true here.
Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan) Jan Chappell (Cally) and Anthony Howell (Gustav Nyrron) tri-narrate this complicated story which ties back to the series 1 audios Battleground/Drones and Liberator Chronicle 1.2 Solitary - If you are unfamiliar with these I can imagine this one being an utter nightmare to understand. I had trouble and I'm familiar with all of the above.
So as a child Servalan played a game called 'Wolf' which is never fully explained but in all honesty I don't think it needs to be - It's kind of 'cat and mouse' I'd guess, with a hunter, a wolf and two saboteurs. The four play out a deadly game to weed out the strong from the weak.
This game is then a metaphor for a larger game being played out between Servalan, Auron scientist Gustov Nyrron and the Liberator crew represented here by Cally. We have twist after twist as we try and work out just who is manipulating who.
Positives - Servalan is awesome as a character and wonderfully evil here - the scene where she tortures Nyrron and has freezing liquid injected in his eyes made me squirm. Now the character is a bit one dimensional here - she's an out and out villain with no shades of grey such as in 'Sand' but hey, Jacqueline does evil like nobody else and she really is on top, witty, bitchy form in this one.
I also should give credit to Jan Chappell, this is a good Cally episode and it's great to have a decent story to make use of what I always felt was a sadly underused character.
Negatives -A super confusing and rather poorly paced story. This has more reveals than a Scooby -Doo episode - throws in clones, simulation locations, characters lying, secret messages and scenes we don't see - plus it hops about in time so we have flashbacks and it's a patchwork filling in events from three previous audio episodes. Towards the end I was scratching my head a lot, though after thinking it out, it does sort of work, it's just a far too convoluted way to go about it.
Avid B7 fans and Servalan lovers in particular will appreciate this one, but beware and keep your wits about you....more
2nd of the 2nd set of Liberator Chronicles this stand alone story is narrated by Gareth Thomas (Blake) and Beth Chalmers.
Blake, going under the name C2nd of the 2nd set of Liberator Chronicles this stand alone story is narrated by Gareth Thomas (Blake) and Beth Chalmers.
Blake, going under the name Carlin Guzan is a patient in a hospital suffering from a blast wound to the leg. Through a series of interviews to a female doctor we piece together how he got there, how he was injured and why he's under a false name. It all starts when Blake and Avon try and convince the only honest judge on a Federation fringe planet that he is being manipulated by subliminal messages and doesn't even realise it....
Gareth Thomas is really on form here and has got back into the Blake character perfectly (unlike some of the earlier audios where I felt he had trouble getting the voice quite right). The story is pretty good and really explores the corruption and manipulation of the Federation. I also love the pacing and the backwards story telling - this really held my interest as I was forced to piece things together.
Other than a few nice Avon moments however this really doesn't feel very connected to the show. The rest of the cast aren't even referred to other than a subtle reference to a sophisticated computer not even named as ORAC. The Liberator and her crew don't get a look in and other than an umbrella 'Federation' we don't see it's face - no Servalan, Travis or any specifics other than the drugging to keep the population under control. Change the names of Blake, Avon and the Federation and this could be a completely original dystopia SF tale.
It's a strong story, great production values and well told it's just that I tend to like my B7 stories to be more involved with the show's events and timeline. Pretty much this could be set at any point where Blake and Avon were still together on-board and there's not much indication of events to come....more
**spoiler alert** This is the second of the Cally stories in the Blake's 7 Early Years prequels, and I have to say (sorry Ben Aaronovitch) that this i**spoiler alert** This is the second of the Cally stories in the Blake's 7 Early Years prequels, and I have to say (sorry Ben Aaronovitch) that this is by far the better of the two stories.
We follow two Cally twins - Skate and Merrin. Skate is a pilot who is sent on a (what she soon learns is a suicide) mission to spy on Federation activity in the Dancer Cluster. While outwardly this has nothing to do with Blake's 7 - neither Skate or Merrin are the Cally in the show I think it captures some of the show's major themes - government manipulation and betrayal, spies, hidden agendas, family secrets and how you don't even really know your nearest and dearest - it's nicely dark and in keeping with B7's spirit. ...more
Now I'm a massive Blake's 7 fan and I really like Ben Aaronovitch but I can't say I was hugely impressed with this one. I never felt that Cally was exNow I'm a massive Blake's 7 fan and I really like Ben Aaronovitch but I can't say I was hugely impressed with this one. I never felt that Cally was explored enough as a character in the show, taking a back seat to the far more interesting Avon, Servalan, Travis and heck even Blake and Vila - so I was quite curious to check out the Cally back stories if you will.
This one is a simple tale of a young Cally Clone - Ariane Cally who crash lands in a forest and is only in contact with one 'Sister' a hermit calling herself 'Aunty' - who because of her remote location is still in contact rage. Aunty teaches Ariane how to survive in the wilderness before help arrives. Now I'm presuming since the voice actress is Jan Chappell that Aunty is the Cally from the TV show, (but I could be totally wrong here. She's the 2nd Clone - so possibly Cally 1 is our Cally, and Aunty is her sister - I'm confused!)
So my biggest problem with this is connecting it to Blake's 7. It's a solid story involving telepathic 'clones' on the planet Auron but that's as far as the Blake's 7 feel goes. I had a really hard time trying to connect these Cally's with the Cally in the show and work out what this actually added to my understanding of the character. This isn't bad by any means but I really wasn't feeling it....more
**spoiler alert** This is the 3rd of the Blake's 7 prequel stories - this one focusing on Kerr Avon. The biggest downside as far as I'm concerned is th**spoiler alert** This is the 3rd of the Blake's 7 prequel stories - this one focusing on Kerr Avon. The biggest downside as far as I'm concerned is the absence of Paul Darrow. Colin Salmon does a half decent job as Avon but he just hasn't got the voice or the sarcasm.
The story is set during Avon's university years where he meets and falls for freedom fighter Anna Grant (played by the wonderful Keeley Hawes). Avon comes up with groundbreaking advances in AI technology only to have his work stolen by his professor - Ensor. Ensor justifies this by claiming his own work on Tarial cells was stolen by HIS professor Tarial. Meanwhile Anna gets into hotwater during the rigged election and Avon has to make a deal with Ensor to save her.
Although sadly short this is a very good story - I love Avon and seeing him at university is a fan's dream. There are lots of B7 references and recurring minor characters - Anna, Ensor, Tarial, Blake's election - this definitely knows its source material and honours fans.
It also makes a very nice companion piece to the first story in the Liberator Chronicles - The Turing Test - both Avon centred stories referencing Alan Turing's work.
The Absence of Paul Darrow is hugely disappointing, however production values are great and I have to say Keeley hawes is really good as Anna Grant....more
So this is the Blake's 7 back story for Travis and I have to say that it's an odd choice. There's so much in his past that could be explored - The MasSo this is the Blake's 7 back story for Travis and I have to say that it's an odd choice. There's so much in his past that could be explored - The Massacre of Zircaster being the obvious one. The massacre of Auros, How he lost his eye and his history with Blake, how he met Servalan, his relationship with mutoids.... Point of no return touches on none of these. It's a story where an accused traitor asks Travis to defend him believing him to be an honest man and Travis loses his last shred of goodness along the way.
Production values are great and the voice cast do a good job although Travis never comes across larger than life as he does in the show (whether it was Stephen Grief or Brian Croucher Travis always stole every scene he was in) Maybe some of it was in the visuals, but I just didn't feel Craig Kelly quite had the command presence.
The story is good, but I have a hard time believing Travis ever had any decency in him and while it does show that his maxim is clearly 'the ends justify the means' I just get the feeling there are better and more epic ways to get this notion across.
It is however a good portrayal of the oppressive Federation and this certainly gets Travis (and the listener) to question the regime he supports.
Over all not bad and very good dystopian sci-fi, but doesn't quite offer the same level of fan service as many of the other Blake's 7 audios manage. Also it is a good deal shorter than most. ...more
1st of 5 'The Actor Speaks' audio CDs - this one focusing on Blake's 7 star Gareth Thomas.
The Interview with Thomas is in 2 parts: Roj Blake: a childh1st of 5 'The Actor Speaks' audio CDs - this one focusing on Blake's 7 star Gareth Thomas.
The Interview with Thomas is in 2 parts: Roj Blake: a childhood remembered & Soldiers of Love and Blake's 7.
However it's with the 4 fiction pieces that I wish to concentrate. Ruined Garden & Benedictine are a couple of monastic dramas featuring Thomas and Nicholas Courtney (Doctor Who's Brigadier) - both hum along merrily enough.
Is this my life is a monologue prequel from soldiers of love. Since I'm unfamiliar with the series it probably didn't have the impact it will on some fans, but it has a nice level of humour and gives Gareth a chance to do a thick Welsh accent.
The highlight has to be the hilarious Blake's 7 parody 'Jake's Heaven' - The Children of Nylon. This had me in stitches. If this was an audio series in it's own right I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Its full of puns and very clever satire.
Overall I didn't find this volume as engaging as the other Actor Speaks audios - there's less interview and the fiction didn't appeal to me quite as much - No Tanith Lee or Kaldor City here. Saying that Jake's Heaven is excellent and for Blake's 7 fans there's still much to enjoy here. It also shows Gareth Thomas' versatility as an actor - comedy, SF, drama and with different accents/voice. ...more
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