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The Fourth Doctor Adventures #1.4
Doctor Who: Energy of the Daleks
The Doctor and Leela find themselves in the middle of London at the time of a new energy crisis. The GlobeSphere Corporation seems to have all the answers – but several thousand protestors beg to differ.
What is the connection between the National Gallery and a base on the Moon? Has radical thinker Damien Stephens simply sold out, or does he have a more sinister agenda?
The Doctor has detected a mysterious energy reading. Could it be that the most evil creatures in the universe have returned to claim ultimate victory once and for all?
What is the connection between the National Gallery and a base on the Moon? Has radical thinker Damien Stephens simply sold out, or does he have a more sinister agenda?
The Doctor has detected a mysterious energy reading. Could it be that the most evil creatures in the universe have returned to claim ultimate victory once and for all?
Audio CD
First published April 30, 2012
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Nicholas Briggs
376 books133 followersNicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs. Some of Briggs' earliest Doctor Who-related work was as host of The Myth Makers, a series of made-for-video documentaries produced in the 1980s and 1990s by Reeltime Pictures in which Briggs interviews many of the actors and writers involved in the series. When Reeltime expanded into producing original dramas, Briggs wrote some stories and acted in others, beginning with War Time, the first unofficial Doctor Who spin-off, and Myth Runner, a parody of Blade Runner showcasing bloopers from the Myth Makers series built around a loose storyline featuring Briggs as a down on his luck private detective in the near future.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 16, 2022
"That was the Daleks. They’re ruthless, they’re unstoppable and they’re on their way…"
March 6, 2025
Tom Baker & Louise Jameson head the cast of this Doctor Who audio adventure. Apart from a few nice one liners from Tom Baker there's little on offer here. Even the Doctor's old enenmies the Daleks can't bring this one to life.
April 30, 2012
Leela was one of the Doctor Who companions to never square off the the Doctor's most dreaded enemies, the Daleks. Well, at least until now.
Big Finish tries to make up for this "error" for the fourth Doctor era with the first story recorded (the extras talk in great deal about it) for the new fourth Doctor line.
And it's pretty much a hit or miss affair. Once again, the story is helped by only being two episodes long so it can't wear out its welcome--well, at least not as much as a four-part story might. This time around the Daleks have hatched a plan to use solar energy to destroy Earth and the human race. And, of course, the Doctor and Leela show up just in time to put a stop to it.
It has it's moments but after the last two installments, it's a bit of a step back.
Big Finish tries to make up for this "error" for the fourth Doctor era with the first story recorded (the extras talk in great deal about it) for the new fourth Doctor line.
And it's pretty much a hit or miss affair. Once again, the story is helped by only being two episodes long so it can't wear out its welcome--well, at least not as much as a four-part story might. This time around the Daleks have hatched a plan to use solar energy to destroy Earth and the human race. And, of course, the Doctor and Leela show up just in time to put a stop to it.
It has it's moments but after the last two installments, it's a bit of a step back.
May 16, 2021
For this one I liked the premise, I loved the collection of characters and well who doesn't love a dalek episode in Doctor who? But even with all that, there was just something that just felt off to me, this was a good story definitely, but for me can't go anywhere further than good. But this works well as a filler until the next big episode, so onwards and upwards!
October 7, 2022
So the doctor and leela are in the middle of London with an energy crisis and the daleks are back. Simply brilliant but short story
August 27, 2012
Energy of the Daleks was the first story Tom Baker recorded with Big Finish, but was released fourth in this sequence and also after the two Lost Stories. It has some good moments - notably the return of the Robomen - but some silly bits as well - at one point several characters teleport into someone's *bed*. Baker, Jameson, and particularly Nicholas Briggs as voice of the Daleks, author and director are clearly having tremendous fun, but I think it was wise to shift this one down the release order.
April 9, 2019
Are you kidding me the fourth doctor and Daleks? What could be bad? Nothing. The fourth doctor really got little work against the daleks during his 7 years on TV. So it is nice to see a traditional dalek story with Tom Baker.
February 11, 2018
Horrible, un des (le?) pires drames audio de Big Finish que j'ai eu l'occasion d'écouter et j'adore ce que cet éditeur fait habituellement.
Pourquoi?
- Absolument TOUTES les péripéties et obstacles étaient prévisibles:
- Rien d'original, le Docteur remarque un anachronisme, pense arriver à une date précise, mais se trompe; Daleks, une grande conspiration, la fin de l'humanité, etc.
- Leela comme demoiselle en détresse, d'aucune utilité aucune sinon de souligner ce qu'il se passe, son seul mérite était de réussir à empêcher sa conversation en roboman le temps que le Doctor arrive pour la sauver. Sans compter l'horrible blague machiste fait au dépend de Leela qui doit porter des talons hauts. Aucun personnage, à l'exception du Docteur, ne fait vraiment quoi que ce soit. Au niveau méta-narratif, on semble même le souligner, mais ce serait donner trop de crédit à un audio qui échoue à tous les niveaux et si c'est pour souligner sa propre médiocritude, on aurait pu juste laisser tomber cet audio.
- Les hautes fréquences, bien qu'intéressantes d'un point de vue narratif, sont excessivement horripilantes et beaucoup trop utilisées. Au niveau sonore aussi: le mixage des voix et des manifestants étaient assez faiblement effectué, on avait du mal à entendre les conversations entre le Docteur, Leela et le porte-parole.
Bref, un gros non.
Pourquoi?
- Absolument TOUTES les péripéties et obstacles étaient prévisibles:
- Rien d'original, le Docteur remarque un anachronisme, pense arriver à une date précise, mais se trompe; Daleks, une grande conspiration, la fin de l'humanité, etc.
- Leela comme demoiselle en détresse, d'aucune utilité aucune sinon de souligner ce qu'il se passe, son seul mérite était de réussir à empêcher sa conversation en roboman le temps que le Doctor arrive pour la sauver. Sans compter l'horrible blague machiste fait au dépend de Leela qui doit porter des talons hauts. Aucun personnage, à l'exception du Docteur, ne fait vraiment quoi que ce soit. Au niveau méta-narratif, on semble même le souligner, mais ce serait donner trop de crédit à un audio qui échoue à tous les niveaux et si c'est pour souligner sa propre médiocritude, on aurait pu juste laisser tomber cet audio.
- Les hautes fréquences, bien qu'intéressantes d'un point de vue narratif, sont excessivement horripilantes et beaucoup trop utilisées. Au niveau sonore aussi: le mixage des voix et des manifestants étaient assez faiblement effectué, on avait du mal à entendre les conversations entre le Docteur, Leela et le porte-parole.
Bref, un gros non.
May 22, 2017
It was surely inevitable that, once Big Finish had managed to entice Tom Baker into working for them, that his first season would have to include a Dalek story in it somewhere. So here we are.
There isn't an awful lot to this story, which manages to feel shorter than its 60-minute length. The Doctor and Leela arrive in 2020s London just as the Daleks are about to launch a plan to destroy the Earth, largely for the sake of it. For the fans, the story does have Robomen in it, and they form quite a key part of the story. There's also some political commentary on energy shortages and pensioners freezing in their homes over winter, but it's pretty basic stuff.
The details of the Daleks' plan, once it becomes apparent, is completely bonkers - although, in all fairness, no more so than many of the things they've tried to do in the TV series. But the fact that they're Daleks is largely incidental; it's easy to see this working just as well as a Cyberman story, for instance. It really is just Doctor Who by numbers, and it's probably meant to be, but as I said in my review for the first story in this series, nostalgia will only take you so far.
There isn't an awful lot to this story, which manages to feel shorter than its 60-minute length. The Doctor and Leela arrive in 2020s London just as the Daleks are about to launch a plan to destroy the Earth, largely for the sake of it. For the fans, the story does have Robomen in it, and they form quite a key part of the story. There's also some political commentary on energy shortages and pensioners freezing in their homes over winter, but it's pretty basic stuff.
The details of the Daleks' plan, once it becomes apparent, is completely bonkers - although, in all fairness, no more so than many of the things they've tried to do in the TV series. But the fact that they're Daleks is largely incidental; it's easy to see this working just as well as a Cyberman story, for instance. It really is just Doctor Who by numbers, and it's probably meant to be, but as I said in my review for the first story in this series, nostalgia will only take you so far.
August 14, 2025
Has radical thinker Damien Stephens simply sold out, or does he have a more sinister agenda? The Doctor has detected a mysterious energy reading. Could it be that the most evil creatures in the universe have returned to claim ultimate victory once and for all?
In a high-paced, action-packed Dalek story, the Doctor and Leela encounter the pepper-pots in the year 2025, amidst a British crisis. The company GlobeSphere claims to have access to an unlimited solar energy source and has set a forcefield around the Great Britain to protect the citizens of the island. Yet according to one of the protesters-- GlobeSphere has betrayed them.
Overall, this was a fairly normal Dalek story, which was the point. The pacing was good, the slight references to modern issues with energy, and the zeitgeist of what 2025 might be (holographic images replacing regular screens) were fun. And of course, the power of friendship saves the day-- or rather Leela's suggesting it saves the day!
In a high-paced, action-packed Dalek story, the Doctor and Leela encounter the pepper-pots in the year 2025, amidst a British crisis. The company GlobeSphere claims to have access to an unlimited solar energy source and has set a forcefield around the Great Britain to protect the citizens of the island. Yet according to one of the protesters-- GlobeSphere has betrayed them.
Overall, this was a fairly normal Dalek story, which was the point. The pacing was good, the slight references to modern issues with energy, and the zeitgeist of what 2025 might be (holographic images replacing regular screens) were fun. And of course, the power of friendship saves the day-- or rather Leela's suggesting it saves the day!
February 14, 2025
I will admit I haven’t watched much Classic Who but out of the Classic Doctors, Tom Baker is the one I’ve seen the most of, and even then it isn’t much. So I may not have enjoyed this as much as someone who has watched all of the Fourth Doctor run so I can mainly judge it as a Dalek Story, and it’s fine. Nothing special, nothing terrible. Just fine.
This was an enjoyable story nonetheless, and even though I’d not seen any story including Leela as a companion she was an good character and this worked as a nice introduction to her for me, as it gives enough details that it tells listeners enough about her to make her fleshed out enough even if they may not know her. Similar to what they did with Nyssa in Spare Parts in my opinion.
Yet, for me some of the sound mixing seemed a bit harsh as I listened to it, I get the Daleks are meant to be screechy and shouty and fire off their weapons a lot but that sound effect they used was a bit much. Yes, made the atmosphere scarier, but also tended to overwhelm the scene a bit.
This was an enjoyable story nonetheless, and even though I’d not seen any story including Leela as a companion she was an good character and this worked as a nice introduction to her for me, as it gives enough details that it tells listeners enough about her to make her fleshed out enough even if they may not know her. Similar to what they did with Nyssa in Spare Parts in my opinion.
Yet, for me some of the sound mixing seemed a bit harsh as I listened to it, I get the Daleks are meant to be screechy and shouty and fire off their weapons a lot but that sound effect they used was a bit much. Yes, made the atmosphere scarier, but also tended to overwhelm the scene a bit.
July 28, 2018
Interesting story, and it was nice (and a bit annoying) to hear the daleks again.
The energy and pace was on point in this story. Everything happened very quickly! Don't know if that's necessary a good or a bad thing but I felt it like it was jumping from scene to scene without any breather. Yet, there didn't happen that much in the story, did it? I listened to this yesterday and I can only remember three main happenings in the story. . So I guess the story isn't bad, but I wouldn't re-listen to it in a while.
The energy and pace was on point in this story. Everything happened very quickly! Don't know if that's necessary a good or a bad thing but I felt it like it was jumping from scene to scene without any breather. Yet, there didn't happen that much in the story, did it? I listened to this yesterday and I can only remember three main happenings in the story. . So I guess the story isn't bad, but I wouldn't re-listen to it in a while.
February 8, 2019
The saving grace for this one is Louise Jameson's amazing performance. Every scene involving her and the Daleks is fantastic.
Energy of The Daleks was apparently the first 4th Doctor Adventure to be recorded, but it came out fourth. I think it shows that it's the first. I have loved Tom Baker in the previous three stories, but his performance here doesn't quite work as well. Couple that with a very slow first episode and you have a clunker.
Energy of The Daleks was apparently the first 4th Doctor Adventure to be recorded, but it came out fourth. I think it shows that it's the first. I have loved Tom Baker in the previous three stories, but his performance here doesn't quite work as well. Couple that with a very slow first episode and you have a clunker.
September 18, 2021
Are the Daleks overused? Perhaps, but since they made only two appearances during Tom Baker's original television run; it's appropriate for them to appear opposite Tom Baker as a part of one of Tom Baker's first Big Finish stories. It's also fun to have the Daleks meet Leela and have Leela's strong willed nature be an obstacle to Dalek mind control techniques.
The story itself isn't that great, but having the Fourth Doctor and Leela face the Daleks is at least fun to listen to.
The story itself isn't that great, but having the Fourth Doctor and Leela face the Daleks is at least fun to listen to.
September 4, 2022
Nicholas Briggs really enjoys writing for the Daleks - but his Dalek stories never seem to be the most interesting. They're usually just fairly run-of-the-mill runarounds, with one or two new elements sprinkled in, and this one really is no different. This is a very good introductory story for Big Finish, in my opinion, and I can see why it was one of the one's they released on vinyl for new listeners, just a shame it wasn't one of a slightly higher calibre.
February 19, 2022
I couldn't totally follow the ecology protest plot, but such a thrill to have Tom Baker back as the Doctor, it didn't matter to me too much. He brings his full A game here too. Wonderful stuff, and Louise Jameson as well. I like the bits where Leela's insights into human nature and instinct are able to save the day.
June 4, 2020
This is the first story Tom Baker recorded with Big Finish, and it kinda shows. He doesn’t feel as refined as he is on Destination Nerva. The Daleks are nice to hear, but there wasn’t much innovative about the plot.
December 1, 2017
Meh, Great and evil daleks, they tortured Lela and I shivered, but still a lack luster adventure
February 11, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Having Leela dealing with the Daleks was a joy
February 12, 2018
Liked this, but it wasn't as good as some of the other Fourth Doctor audios I've heard. Worth listening to still. Leela is always great and ready to stab a fool, ha.
March 3, 2018
So Leela overcomes the Dalek mind machine and The Doctor turns their own weapons on themselves to stop the Daleks destroying the earth . Will they never learn ? I'm guessing not.
March 10, 2018
I enjoyed listening to this Fourth Doctor adventure. While it is short, the story was entertaining.
January 23, 2019
Baker is particularly charming here, though the story is a bit too slight to take all that seriously. It's pleasantly short and to the point.
June 16, 2019
A solidly mediocre cookie-cutter story. It's not even enjoyably corny. Its only redeeming quality is that it's coherent.
June 16, 2020
Not the best, but an extra star simply for Tom Baker. I could listen to him read the phone book and I'd enjoy it.
October 20, 2020
Got to love Leela and her weapons.
February 18, 2022
This is a short little episode to delight Tom Baker fans.
November 21, 2022
A fun little listen. Energy crisis, people not being able to afford to heat their homes…seems strangely familiar. Plus the daleks of course.
May 14, 2023
I listened to this in 2023 two years before it was set. The speech made by about is an unusually accurate prediction for Doctor Who. Although such things like have (as of 2023) not happened yet, there is such stories from BBC News that show that the whoniverse of 2025 and our own of 2023 are not so dissimilar.
It's not a boring listen but it's also not ground breaking for Doctor Who. To its credit as one of Tom Baker's first outings in Big Finish he makes one brilliant performance.
It's not a boring listen but it's also not ground breaking for Doctor Who. To its credit as one of Tom Baker's first outings in Big Finish he makes one brilliant performance.
August 31, 2024
A very silly, very short audiobook, certainly fun to listen to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews