I am Ashley Elsdon

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Category: Books and Audiobooks

I really love audiobooks. A good story is the best thing.

Doctor Who: The Sands of Life

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks

Another great fourth doctor story with Mary Tamm, and with the excellent inclusion of David Warner. This is the second story in Big Finish’s second season for Tom Baker, and this story is really the kick off for the main story arc in the series. It’s a great story arc too, and David Warner is at the centre of it. It’s far more like a serious Doctor Who story as opposed to the Auntie Matter, which was quite frivolous and yet wonderful to listen to.

The Sands of Life is quite a traditional story in many ways. The doctor meets a life form he’s not met before which is threatening all life on earth but only due to a mistake caused by Cuthbert (played by David Warner). I won’t say anymore about the story in case you do listen to it. I’d recommend it, it’s an excellent story and it continues with “War with the Laan”, but more of that another day.

Doctor Who: Demon Quest

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks

So I’ve moved on to the next set of 4th Doctor stories from the Hornet’s Nest, the Demon Quest story. Again it’s a five part story, each part being around an hour long and it has the same core characters as hornet’s nest as it is in effect a continuation from the end of the hornet’s nest.

But five hours is a good long time to develop a whole story. Of course each episode is a self contained story in its own right, but the whole thing hangs together very nicely too. It’s a nice arc and that’s what I really like about these three stories or arcs from Paul Magrs. It’s a shame in a way that there won’t be any more of these, or at least it’s my expectation that there won’t be more of them as Tom Baker has moved on to working with Big Finish now. Not that that isn’t a great thing in itself as the work he’s done there is excellent. But like any fan I always want more!

What else would you expect?

Doctor Who: The Auntie Matter

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After watching the Day of the Doctor I decided to go back to listening to some old(new) doctor who. I thought I’d listen to the second season of the fourth doctor from big finish. The first episode, the auntie matter, is just awesome. Great fun and a very good way to start off the season again.

And back to the Hornet’s Nest

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks, Listening

I’ve had this audiobook for about 4 or even 5 years now and I still love it. I can remember the first time I listened to it and just how much I enjoyed it. The thing is, I still do. It’s a great Doctor Who story, part of a nice arc too. The whole story arc runs to about five hours, which is just right as far as I’m concerned.

It’s such a good vehicle for Tom Baker’s doctor. It allows him just the right amount of space to be himself and move the story along too.

I decided to listen to all three story arcs from the pen of Paul Magrs. This is the first, the Hornet’s nest, then there’s Demon Quest, then Serpent Crest. I wish that there were more of these, but now that Tom Baker has started to do stories for Big Finish I’m not sure that there will be space for any more of these. Still, never mind. Whenever I listen to them I enjoy them and find something new in the story.

Doctor Who: The Light at the End

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks, Listening

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So it arrived. The Big Finish 50th anniversary adventure, and I’ve been listening to it today. In fact I’ve listened to about half of it so far. Often I don’t enjoy multi-doctor stories. I find that they can be a little confused. However, so far, this story is quite good. I’m enjoying it and the interactions between the doctors, especially the 4th and 8th especially.

So I’m looking forward to part two and also the ample CD extras.

New old reading

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks

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I’ve read this before, but I decided to read it again as it’s such an interesting set of essays on music. I might even pen a few notes on the content as I go through it.

Doctor Who: The Dalek Contract

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks, Listening

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Great to have David Warner back in this story. It’s a 2 part story so the next part won’t arrive until next month, but in some ways I don’t want it to as it’s going to mean the end of this season and therefore the last Mary Tamm story. It’s such a shame.

Anyway, this is a great story on it’s own, a real classic Doctor Who style story. I love them and Tom Baker and Mary Tamm are amazing as always.