Gallifrey: Pandora

Gallifrey #2.3

by Justin Richards, Louise Jameson (Narrator), Lalla Ward (Narrator)

A rogue TARDIS that should not exist... A mutilated, comatose Time Lord who cannot be identified... A new Castellan desperate to make his mark... Evils of the past, events of the present, and echoes of the future conspire to destroy the very heart of Gallifrey's civilisation.

Only Romana can understand it - but she is haunted by her own ghosts. Only Leela can sense it - but she has unfinished business. Only Braxiatel can stop it - but he cannot begin to guess the personal cost.

With both Narvin and Darkel waiting for Romana to make a mistake, the President must take decisions that will change Gallifrey forever. And an ancient evil is ready and waiting for just that moment?

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Media Tie In

Audio CD

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Justin Richards is a British writer. He has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range. He has also written for television, contributing to Five's soap opera Family Affairs. He is also the author of a series of crime novels for children about the Invisible Detective, and novels for older children. His Doctor Who novel The Burning was placed sixth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of 2000.

Reviews

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to Pandora really gives me a clear vivid image of Braxiatel standing in the chamber along with the Pandora freshly in his mind whilst talking to his friends, Romana, Leela and Narvin and unfortunately Darkel on the other side and I can just imagine when Brax and Romana are alone in the chamber talking about his ambition on being President, I can just imagine his sad expression at the end and that hurts and now I just need a full comic strip of this scene in Pandora so much.

“Let me keep my title. It will remind me, what might have been.”
“Goodbye, Chancellor Braxiatel.”



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Gallifrey relisten-

Pandora is one of my favourites. Not only do I love the cover (and its terribly photoshopped but I still love it) but this is a major story line featuring Irving Braxiatel and Romana and Justin Richards handles it wonderfully.

I trust Justin with Irving Braxiatel any day and Pandora always remains a favourite-even after everything Braxiatel suffers.

But I also love Pandora because we get to see the tragic fate of poor Wynter and what truly happens to him (Not my hands. You won't get my hands!) and it really makes you feel raw emotions in just wanting to save him.

Without revealing too much spoilers, the pandora story line remains one of my favourites and I love how close Romana and Braxiatel are in this audio and you can really see the devotion Braxiatel has for her with his own ambitions aside.

But poor Braxiatel. Everything he has worked so hard to gain for the Chancellor position only to hold it for more than a few microspans. (Much so with when he went for Presidency. But spoilers!)

5/5 as always.

[Daniel Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gallifrey Series 2 is proving to be a very exciting, intense yet slow-burning thriller that I can't find myself stopping until I know all the answers to the questions that are being presented to us. So here we are with the third installment: Pandora!

Pandora is still a threat to the Timelords. Romana can't access the Matrix without succumbing to her will. Braxiatel is hoping to become chancellor but only with his madam's president's wishes of course. Leela and K9 are trying to discover what killed the deformed Timelord and who he once was. Meanwhile, Darkel is moving her scheme into motion and might very well unleash a terrible force in doing so.

Justin Richards has written an incredible political thriller that's also really dark and horrifying. It's a fascinating story with some very clever answers to some of our questions, whilst also opening more to be answered later. Darkel has to be one of the most diabolical villains in the expanded universe, gone is the fairness of the Inquisitor at The Doctor's trial, and instead a full-on political psychopath.

The imagery in this story is incredibly vivid with some really disturbing and stomach-turning scenes that make this installment almost a horror story with how far it goes with the horrific mutilation scene that occurs. It's a very interesting story for Braxiatel where we get a better idea of what he's after and where his loyalties lie.

Overall: An outstanding installment and from what I've heard it only gets better and better. Justin Richards in my opinion is proving to be the best writer when it comes to Big Finish's spin-offs with such a fine grasp on characterization and world-building. 10/10

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gory last piece of the puzzle is dropped into place. This could well be called "Wynter's Tale" for we learn his fate and will never forget it.

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot thickens. Romana is written quite well in these, as is Leela.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was all right. I've never been a huge fan of Braxiatel, I don't trust him, so I'm glad that he's--at least for now--out of the picture.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, continuing the strong set of the second series so far. A few things got tied up in this episode, but quite enjoying the slow burn and political machinations of Gallifrey.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining enough next step in the series.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but much more typical type of thing from Big Finish.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third episode of Gallifrey Series 2, Pandora returns us to Gallifrey and starts to give us answers. Investigations begin into the "Broken Man" from the previous episode, the hunt for Andred is wrapped up, and we get lots of political maneuvering. While it's potentially confusing if you're not paying attention, this is a very enjoyable play that builds on the two stories that have come before. As with all the Gallifrey stories, it's as much character-driven as it is plot-driven. Romana, Leela, Narvin, Darkel, Braxiatel, Wynter are all enjoyable characters whether you're rooting for them or against them. It's the characters which are so well-acted and well-written that really make this so enjoyable. Well worth the listen for the continuing adventures of Romana and Leela.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one brings together plot threads from many of the preceding audios quite satisfyingly. It gets a bit dizzying trying to keep track of everyone's motivations in the Gallifrey series - I have a feeling that when I've heard the whole series, certain things might not hang together. However, being in the midst of it is quite gripping - I can't wait to hear the next installment.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this audio reveals the who the injured man is, what Darkel is up to, the fate of Brax, and more of the threat of Pandora. The parts where the injured man becomes injured are sad and a bit terrifying. But the true star of this audio is Braxietl who sacrifices himself to save Gallifrey, Romana and the time lords. Is he really such a bad guy after all?

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intrigue into the investigation of the mysterious misfired man continues. While this is happening Political figures fight for power. A chancellor is announced but it was a mistake. Pandora still wants to be free and is using people to do so. Will it escape. Will Romana be dethroned? Find out.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/976063.htm...

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great screaming-in-pain action from the cast there, well done.

[Jadetyger Sevea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Politics as usual on Gallifrey. A rather intense episode of the series.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely timey-wimey with the mutilated Time Lord although I did guess who it was just before it started to unfold. Nasty. Well acted and very layered characterisation.