Hornets Nest 1: The Stuff of Nightmares (no spoilers)

[All-Seeing I]

Tom's back, and no one's started a thread about it?! Well, I suppose I'll have to, then.

It was great to hear Tom Baker back in the role - The Voice (that has to be emphasized, it's the law) sounds pretty much the same as it did; if age adds a certain note of weariness to his words, well, it fits in nicely with the plot, and tastefully done by author Paul Magrs if it was his conscious intention to explain the difference.

The plot is unsurprisingly bonkers - I think it had to be, it would be the only way of interesting Tom to come back to the role; he rejected audio offers in the past because the scripts weren't different enough. I can understand why he rejected Big Finish's offers - their output is spotty at best, with only occasional moments of brilliance (which seem to reside in their mini-series).

In saying that, I was somewhat disappointed this wasn't more of an "audio drama" - it was really more in the vein of Big Finish's Companion Chronicles, pretty much a talking book with alternating narrators. However, it was great to hear Richard Franklin back as Mike Yates - although sorry that Nick Courtney had to pull out of this project due to ill health, I found it refreshing not to have the Brig around again, and Franklin gave quite a twinkly performance as "new" old military duffer.

So anyone else listened to it yet?

 

[Captain Pike]

Ohh so it's been broadcast then? Got a link where I can listen to it outside the UK?

 

[Hennessy Badger]

Ohh so it's been broadcast then? Got a link where I can listen to it outside the UK?

The US iTunes store has it available for download at $9.99. I didn't buy it, but I'm thinking about getting the CDs after they all come out. It'll depend on the cost.

 

[Phillip Culley]

Ohh so it's been broadcast then? Got a link where I can listen to it outside the UK?

It wasn't broadcast - it's only available to purchase on CD.

 

[Captain Pike]

Right.. Ok then. I might see it at Minotaur next time I feel like burning some hard earned cash. Though, seeing as this is BBC audio rather than BF, I might even find it at an ABC-shop.

 

[Timofnine]

I didn't even realise this was on! I'll check it out on itunes when the complete series is available.

Are they not 'proper' audio stories though? Just the actors reading/narrating parts relivant to their characters?

 

[Worf2DS9]

^ I was a little disappointed to read that as well. I had thought that this would be one of the full-on audios that BBC have started to produce now. For me, this has gone from a "must-get" to a "maybe I'll check it out at some point". Perhaps if it turns up on iTunes Canada...

 

[All-Seeing I]

I didn't even realise this was on! I'll check it out on itunes when the complete series is available.

Are they not 'proper' audio stories though? Just the actors reading/narrating parts relivant to their characters?

There are sound effects and a couple of other characters besides the Doctor and Mike, but mainly it's the latter two sitting in armchairs at the fireside recounting events to each other. I did enjoy the audio, but I had been expecting something more akin to the Big Finish style, a full-on drama with a full cast.

 

[23skidoo]

Having just heard and enjoyed Mary Tamm's Companion Chronicles release The Stealers from Saiph, I have nothing against an audio-book-style performance. The David Tennant, Catherine Tate, and Michelle Ryan releases by BBC Audio have been fantastic as well. And having heard Tom reading Who stories in the past, I love the idea of hearing more.

Does anyone know if all 5 stories will be issued together in a box down the line? As usual they aren't being made available at retail here in Canada and Amazon.ca doesn't list them yet either (not last time I checked), so I'll probably end up ordering from Amazon UK as I usually do for these audios, but it might work out cheaper for me if there's a box set rather than ordering each one separately.

Alex

 

[Stevil2001]

I was all for this when it was supposed to co-star Nick Courtney... but I cannot fricking stand Richard Franklin's voice in any form, so I'm going to sit this out.

 

[Captain Pike]

Just picked up Hornets Nest v2 after a trip to Minotaur. They say volumes 1 & 3 will be in store later this week.

Haven't listened to it yet, but I am probably looking forward to this more than WoM at the moment.

Yes I should have jumped on at v1, but it hasn't worked out that way. I'll get 1&3 (and 4 & 5) later on.

Great to see Baker back as the doctor!

 

[Allyn Gibson]

As usual they aren't being made available at retail here in Canada and Amazon.ca doesn't list them yet either (not last time I checked), so I'll probably end up ordering from Amazon UK as I usually do for these audios, but it might work out cheaper for me if there's a box set rather than ordering each one separately.

Diamond is offering the first two in December's Previews catalog at $24.99 each, so they'll be available in comic shops around February.

 

[Captain Pike]

Listened to most of The Dead Shoes this morning on the drive to work and I must say, I think it's fantastic! Baker is, as always, captivating in his 'reading' and seems to have slipped into his old role with ease.