I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Tag: Audio books

I do like audio books.

Edinburgh Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood (Semi Skimmed)

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Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood
Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood

Under Milk Wood is one of my favourite poems, if not my favourite of all. One of the best live performances of it that I’ve ever seen was by Guy Masterson. I saw it years ago and it was truly brilliant. So I’ve been going to see Guy Masterson every year at Edinburgh to see his shows, and they’ve all been brilliant. But I’ve always wanted to see his Under Milk Wood again.

So when I found that it was on again this year I knew I had to see it, and I did. It was a shortened version, or as he puts it the “Semi Skimmed” version. It was brilliant. Utterly brilliant. A complete joy to watch, and I loved every minute of it.

In fact, I had thought that it couldn’t really get any better than this, until the end when Guy Masterson said that he had CDs of the complete, unabridged performance for sale.

Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood CD
Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood CD

I had to have one, and so I did, but it got even better, because he signed the CD for me, and I got to chat to him, albeit briefly.

Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood signed CD
Ed Fringe 2015: Under Milk Wood signed CD

Doctor Who and the Drosten’s Curse

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Doctor Who and the Drosten's Curse
Doctor Who and the Drosten’s Curse Audio Book

I bought this with some trepidation as I wasn’t entirely sure about the write up and the reviews on Audible. Also, the last Dr Who audio book I bought (non Big Finish that is) was pretty bad, “Corpse Marker” had a lot of promise as it came out of one of my favourite stories, The Robots of Death, but it certainly didn’t live up to that high standard.

Even so, I thought I’d try this, and, so far, it isn’t bad. It is very amusing, and very reminiscent of the Douglas Adams 4th Doctor stories. Witty, amusing, quirky. However, perhaps too much so. In a way, it sound like it has been written almost to be like those Douglas Adams stories, and in a way sails to close to that particular wind. Having said that, I’m not hating it. In fact, I’m quite enjoying it, even though at times it seems like there’s been more attention to the witty writing style than the actual story.

I haven’t finished it as yet, but when I do I’ll let you know what I really think. With no spoilers of course.

Return to Telos, a great end to the series

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Doctor Who, Return to Telos
Doctor Who, Return to Telos

So that was a good episode. Not a bad story in the end. A good way to finish off the season, but not the best. Not as good as some of the others in this season. I’m probably being too picky about these stories, as they certainly are very good, well devised and beautifully produced. But when Big Finish can be so good at their job you end up expecting more and more and more.

I’m sure it’s too much to ask. Roll on the next season, with Romana as well!

New things coming from Big Finish

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There’s some great new stories coming from Big Finish in the not too distant future, and I’m really looking forward to them coming out. I think it’s interesting the directions that Big Finish have decided to take with some of their new ideas. It’s an interesting way to blend together the original (or as I think of it, best) Doctor Who, with some of the better elements (or more like the elements that I think are actually worth watching at all) of the new Doctor Who.

Big Finish are going to produce, or rather have produced two new box sets. The first is the story of River Song. I thought she was a good character in the new Doctor Who, and in some ways overshadowed the Doctor himself. It’ll be good to hear a whole box set of stories around her character.

The second box set is about Winston Churchill and is voiced by Ian McNeice. I thought that he was great as Winston in Doctor Who, so again it’ll be good to hear these stories.

There’s a bit of a wait for both of these, they’re not available until January next year.

Doctor Who: Suburban Hell

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DW4D0405_suburbanhell_1417

Yet another excellent story in this series of fourth Doctor adventures. This is so reminiscent of the original TV series, and of course, beautifully written as ever, with lots of great lines and wit. I actually think that this has been one of the best 4th Doctor series that Big Finish has produced. I’m really impressed, and also sad that there aren’t so many left until the end.

4th Doctor: Suburban Hell

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DW4D0405_suburbanhell_1417

I have to say that this story is complete genius. I loved every minute of it. It was a joy to listen to as the writing is just awesome. It really does hark back to the best of the fourth doctor. Well worth a listen in my view. In fact, this whole series has been brilliant. I don’t think that there has been a poor episode in there at all.

Survivors series two is coming next week

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I’m really looking forward to this. It’s been a long time coming. Well a year to be precise. I think I’ve listened to the first series a couple of times since it came out, but I’m hoping to get to listen to the whole of it again before series 2 emerges next week, just so I’ve got the story clear in my memory.

It maybe overkill a little, but I don’t mind that kind of thing really.