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BBC Doctor Who: New Series Audio Exclusives #18
Doctor Who: The Nu-Humans
The Doctor, Amy and Rory are awe-struck by their first sight of Hope Eternal, a super-earth bigger than Earth itself with heavy gravity, volcanoes and a crust loaded with mineral deposits. But their wonder is cut short when they discover a body dumped on the ground - a huge figure with extraordinarily long arms covered in thick, purple scales. Yet the corpse is not alien: he's human, albeit unlike any human Amy and Rory have ever seen. The Nu-Humans have adapted their genes to fit their new environment, and formed a thriving colony. But now they are facing a terrible threat. Can the Doctor find out who is killing Nu-Humans and why - before he, Amy and Rory are themselves tried for murder? Written specially for audio by Cavan Scott and Mark Wright, The Nu-Humans features the Doctor, Amy and Rory as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the acclaimed hit series from BBC Television. It is read by Raquel Cassidy, who played Miranda Cleaves in the 2011 TV episodes The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People.
1 CD. 1 hr 20 mins.
1 CD. 1 hr 20 mins.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 5, 2012
About the author
Cavan Scott
862 books442 followersis a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 22, 2020
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is a short story that is based on the television series and is only available as an audiobook. In this one, the Doctor, Amy, and Rory arrive on a planet where the gravity is so heavy that regular humans have trouble walking on it. The settlers have transformed themselves to live on this planet but things are going awry.
This was an enjoyable listen from the get go. When reading an audiobook based on a set universe the narrator has the tough task of nailing the voices and this narrator accomplished that with no problem. The author has the same issue also and no problems at that end either. I had no problem visualizing each character. As for the story I liked it as we don't get the usual terraforming story. We get the twist with the change being on humans. This story touches upon racism while also exploring experimental science. Everything was well balanced throughout.
I have read a bunch of these short story audiobooks based with these characters and this is one of the better ones. Everything worked from the character portrayal, the story, and the narration. I enjoyed my time back with these characters in this short story.
This is a short story that is based on the television series and is only available as an audiobook. In this one, the Doctor, Amy, and Rory arrive on a planet where the gravity is so heavy that regular humans have trouble walking on it. The settlers have transformed themselves to live on this planet but things are going awry.
This was an enjoyable listen from the get go. When reading an audiobook based on a set universe the narrator has the tough task of nailing the voices and this narrator accomplished that with no problem. The author has the same issue also and no problems at that end either. I had no problem visualizing each character. As for the story I liked it as we don't get the usual terraforming story. We get the twist with the change being on humans. This story touches upon racism while also exploring experimental science. Everything was well balanced throughout.
I have read a bunch of these short story audiobooks based with these characters and this is one of the better ones. Everything worked from the character portrayal, the story, and the narration. I enjoyed my time back with these characters in this short story.
May 3, 2021
Audio book via Audible
Good read
Good read
July 15, 2019
On the whole, I enjoy the original Doctor Who audio adventures. This one was fair. A pretty good story that had some interesting moments.
June 3, 2021
The narrator does a great job of capturing the tone of the Doctor, Amy, and Rory.
August 21, 2014
A spin-off novel (or in this case an audio book) should go one of two ways - it should either completely reflect the era in which the story is meant to be set, or make such a virtue of its being in a different medium that it sends things in a completely different direction. Once the choice is made, the author should, respectively, capture the ethos of the chosen era or bring the radical new approach to such vivid life that the one thing traditionalists can't find to criticise is its firmness of purpose.
The Nu-Humans belongs firmly in the first category, and is none the poorer for that. Getting Raquel Cassidy to narrate this story helps immensely in terms of grounding this 11th Doctor-Amy-Rory tale - she's a bona fide guest star from a 2011 story with very similar themes, and nails the vocal inflections of the regular cast with aplomb.
For this reason, I suspect this is an audiobook that wouldn't have worked as well as a novel. So, in terms of aligning form and content, this gets a definite 'tick' from me. The story itself is a little slight, but, again, this reflects the era it's meant to be set in so I'm certainly not going to knock it down because of that.
Well worth a look.
The Nu-Humans belongs firmly in the first category, and is none the poorer for that. Getting Raquel Cassidy to narrate this story helps immensely in terms of grounding this 11th Doctor-Amy-Rory tale - she's a bona fide guest star from a 2011 story with very similar themes, and nails the vocal inflections of the regular cast with aplomb.
For this reason, I suspect this is an audiobook that wouldn't have worked as well as a novel. So, in terms of aligning form and content, this gets a definite 'tick' from me. The story itself is a little slight, but, again, this reflects the era it's meant to be set in so I'm certainly not going to knock it down because of that.
Well worth a look.
April 13, 2013
There were some nice features to this short tale - the stronger gravity which makes it difficult for the Doctor and his companions to move around, the 'alien' called Trevor... but it was peril strung out too far. Rory seems to spend forever on the operating table with Mason about to wield the knife (someone should tell Cavan Scott and Mason about cheek swabs or phlebotomy) - it's like something from a Bond movie, except that Rory Williams is no James Bond.
June 8, 2017
The author got the characters' personalities down beautifully. It was lovely to revisit the 11th Doctor and Amy and Rory (probably my favorite DW squad), and the reader did fantastic at portraying the voices, making it feel as if it was an actual episode of Doctor Who. :3
I also liked the message behind it, the value of human life, and how precious and important it is, and to be prioritized above material wealth. I find it rather fascinating that a lot of Doctor Who episodes on TV share the same message.
However, the plot for this adventure seemed a bit… bland? There was plenty of tension (like oh my gosh, Rory O.O), but it lacked a mystery that I expected, a bit of work to figure things out. It all seemed to come to light far too easily for the characters, and while it was intense, the build-up and the effort in searching for the truth was missing. Characters were in danger, they find each other and soon the truth is out. It was still a great listen, and I enjoyed the tension and frantic race for surviving that usually comes with traveling with the Doctor, but I would have liked more mystery, and that there was more of an effort to find answers.
I also liked the message behind it, the value of human life, and how precious and important it is, and to be prioritized above material wealth. I find it rather fascinating that a lot of Doctor Who episodes on TV share the same message.
However, the plot for this adventure seemed a bit… bland? There was plenty of tension (like oh my gosh, Rory O.O), but it lacked a mystery that I expected, a bit of work to figure things out. It all seemed to come to light far too easily for the characters, and while it was intense, the build-up and the effort in searching for the truth was missing. Characters were in danger, they find each other and soon the truth is out. It was still a great listen, and I enjoyed the tension and frantic race for surviving that usually comes with traveling with the Doctor, but I would have liked more mystery, and that there was more of an effort to find answers.
May 10, 2020
3.5 stars
Based on Doctor Who, the long-running BBC series, this action novel is like an episode of the adventures of the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) and his two companions, Amy and Rory. Upon their arrival on Hope Eternal (a planet with an intensely heavy pull of gravity), the Doctor, Amy, and Rory discover a murder victim abandoned on the ground – cue the music and off you go.
The super-short sci-fi book was written especially for audio and is read by Raquel Cassidy. Her lovely British accent adds to the flavor of the characters. There are background music and occasional sound effects, which are distracting for the most part. Raquel Cassidy does not need assistance in her storytelling.
It really helps if you know the characters and the chemistry between them as you read this novel. If you don’t know of the Doctor, I would suggest you pick up a series starring Matt Smith prior to the read.
Based on Doctor Who, the long-running BBC series, this action novel is like an episode of the adventures of the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) and his two companions, Amy and Rory. Upon their arrival on Hope Eternal (a planet with an intensely heavy pull of gravity), the Doctor, Amy, and Rory discover a murder victim abandoned on the ground – cue the music and off you go.
The super-short sci-fi book was written especially for audio and is read by Raquel Cassidy. Her lovely British accent adds to the flavor of the characters. There are background music and occasional sound effects, which are distracting for the most part. Raquel Cassidy does not need assistance in her storytelling.
It really helps if you know the characters and the chemistry between them as you read this novel. If you don’t know of the Doctor, I would suggest you pick up a series starring Matt Smith prior to the read.
February 23, 2026
Not the most fascinating read, very predictable in most places, but still fun to listen to. "Doctor Who: The Nu-Humans" doesn't stick out to me in comparison to other Doctor Who stories, but there's nothing wrong with a simple and easy read, sometimes that's all you need. I did appreciate the level of comedy and how all the funny lines felt like something the Ponds and the Doctor would actually say, so that is by far the best feature of this audio drama.
September 26, 2017
42 WORD REVIEW:
Another book that captures the whimsical bow-tie flitting of the Eleventh Doctor but none of the underlying substance. Raquel Cassidy is perhaps an odd choice given the prominence of a heavy-voiced male nu-human. [Why the affectation? They’re not ‘nu’, dammit; they’re ‘new’.]
Another book that captures the whimsical bow-tie flitting of the Eleventh Doctor but none of the underlying substance. Raquel Cassidy is perhaps an odd choice given the prominence of a heavy-voiced male nu-human. [Why the affectation? They’re not ‘nu’, dammit; they’re ‘new’.]
October 22, 2017
Good story. Didn't care much for the narration though.
June 17, 2018
Standard sci-fi flare. Still, it has the Doctor in it and his spot of fun is always welcome. Especially visiting a new planet with companions.
November 4, 2024
An enjoyable short story. I liked how the Tardis team's assumptions kept getting them into trouble.
January 12, 2025
loved how well written the chemistry between the ponds and the doctor was in this book, and interesting plot and story too
March 13, 2017
I'm a bit annoyed that this story is not available in book form, because in my honest opinion the story would be better without that narrator. The story is nice in itself and strangely important on the road to understanding sci-fi futures, but the “voice” of Rory is horrible and hard to distinguish from Trevor.
February 3, 2016
Эта часовая история неоднократно просилась в плеер, но меня постоянно останавливало название и обложка. Пнув себя за предубеждения и ростки расизма относительно ню-людей, которые, судя по картинке, больше похожи на обезьян, я воткнула книжку и даже получила удовольствие.
Планета с неправильной гравитацией – ооо, это приятное разнообразие. Лишняя помеха для героев, а для Рори так вообще сплошное мучение. Pond, go help your husband up!
Колонизации люблю в разных проявлениях, генные мутации – меньше, но они тут идут по такой логичной схеме, что деваться некуда. Главный злодей тут и не злодей вовсе, а скорее неудачник.
Одна из типичных историй во вселенной Доктора: он вместе со спутниками обнаруживает трупец, их палят местные, обвиняют во всех смертных грехах, героям приходится защищать свою невиновность, что-то идет не так, в итоге Доктор делает несколько умозаключений + пассов отверткой и всех спасает. Что особенного в этой истории – это какие-то до неприличия офигенские диалоги и герои-няши. Наверное, это мой способ переживать новую регенерацию: я начинаю любить всех, кого до сих пор не сильно жаловала, и в каждом проявлении эры отжившего свое Доктора нахожу утешение. А тройка хипстеров в этой книжке до умопомрачения канонна, Доктор поддевает Рори, Эми закатывает на Рори глаза и оказывает любителю бабочек посильную помощь. Из этой истории можно было бы сделать серию какого-нить 5-6 сезона, она вписалась бы отлично.
annikeh.net
Планета с неправильной гравитацией – ооо, это приятное разнообразие. Лишняя помеха для героев, а для Рори так вообще сплошное мучение. Pond, go help your husband up!
Колонизации люблю в разных проявлениях, генные мутации – меньше, но они тут идут по такой логичной схеме, что деваться некуда. Главный злодей тут и не злодей вовсе, а скорее неудачник.
Одна из типичных историй во вселенной Доктора: он вместе со спутниками обнаруживает трупец, их палят местные, обвиняют во всех смертных грехах, героям приходится защищать свою невиновность, что-то идет не так, в итоге Доктор делает несколько умозаключений + пассов отверткой и всех спасает. Что особенного в этой истории – это какие-то до неприличия офигенские диалоги и герои-няши. Наверное, это мой способ переживать новую регенерацию: я начинаю любить всех, кого до сих пор не сильно жаловала, и в каждом проявлении эры отжившего свое Доктора нахожу утешение. А тройка хипстеров в этой книжке до умопомрачения канонна, Доктор поддевает Рори, Эми закатывает на Рори глаза и оказывает любителю бабочек посильную помощь. Из этой истории можно было бы сделать серию какого-нить 5-6 сезона, она вписалась бы отлично.
annikeh.net
May 7, 2016
This was a really good one with a nice reader and good story which actually made me nervous for the characters (something hard to do in a story you know can't really mess with the characters much since the show has set parameters of when the characters lived/died/moved on).
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory land on a planet with stronger than normal gravity and Nu-Humans; long-limbed nearly ape-like looking humans covered in scales who have genetically modified themselves to better fit the environment. When our trio arrives and get blamed for a murder (so typical!) a scientist takes a particular interest in the pure human genomes Rory and Amy possess...as they might help solve a rather devastating problem with the gene modifications in the current nu-humans; a problem that catches the Doctor, Amy and Rory up in a heap of danger.
This was really compelling! It is well written, nicely paced and read, and would have been a really interesting episode of the show. I do regret that they didn't do anything of note with the planet's heavy gravity other than point out their lab/base had gravity generators to minimize it indoors (which doesn't make much sense if the nu-humans were modified to better fit the environment but this doesn't detract from the story TOO much).
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory land on a planet with stronger than normal gravity and Nu-Humans; long-limbed nearly ape-like looking humans covered in scales who have genetically modified themselves to better fit the environment. When our trio arrives and get blamed for a murder (so typical!) a scientist takes a particular interest in the pure human genomes Rory and Amy possess...as they might help solve a rather devastating problem with the gene modifications in the current nu-humans; a problem that catches the Doctor, Amy and Rory up in a heap of danger.
This was really compelling! It is well written, nicely paced and read, and would have been a really interesting episode of the show. I do regret that they didn't do anything of note with the planet's heavy gravity other than point out their lab/base had gravity generators to minimize it indoors (which doesn't make much sense if the nu-humans were modified to better fit the environment but this doesn't detract from the story TOO much).
November 13, 2012
I’ve come to very much enjoy these brief audio adventures with doctor who, and it’s a perfect way of spending the time between the show’s seasonal hiatus.
The Nu-humans is a pretty standard fare trip with the doctor, but, then again, aren’t most of them? It’s nothing ground-breaking or earth shatteringly new. However, I will admit that I liked the idea of pantrophy, adapting the human body to the environment for colonization rather than the environment to the human body. In addition, I really appreciate how Amy jumps on all of the usual Doctor Who tropes of what is usually going on at these facilities when they arrive and gets them all wrong.
Yet, as someone who has been following this series, I can’t help but notice how similar in tone and premise this story was to the previous story, The Eye of the Jungle. They’re not exactly the same, but it’s the same basic idea: genetic engineering =bad idea.
Overall, it’s a quick read and worth a gander.
The Nu-humans is a pretty standard fare trip with the doctor, but, then again, aren’t most of them? It’s nothing ground-breaking or earth shatteringly new. However, I will admit that I liked the idea of pantrophy, adapting the human body to the environment for colonization rather than the environment to the human body. In addition, I really appreciate how Amy jumps on all of the usual Doctor Who tropes of what is usually going on at these facilities when they arrive and gets them all wrong.
Yet, as someone who has been following this series, I can’t help but notice how similar in tone and premise this story was to the previous story, The Eye of the Jungle. They’re not exactly the same, but it’s the same basic idea: genetic engineering =bad idea.
Overall, it’s a quick read and worth a gander.
January 27, 2013
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2014708.html[return][return]set on a planet with very high gravity (why do sf writers so rarely do that?) and with the eponymous Nu-Humans having a very similar history to the Cybermen, only less boring. It's a bit gory for younger fans but firmly recommended for older listeners, including those who are not really into Who. Read very well by Raquel Cassidy, who seems to have a real knock for this.
October 3, 2013
I didn't really get into this one and I think it had a lot more to do with the narration than any trouble with the plot. Rory and Amy weren't at their best in this one, seemingly suffering constantly of foot-in-mouth syndrome and the Doctor didn't come across as particularly flash. It was worth reading (or I guess listening to) but I doubt I'll ever give it another go.
August 4, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12094910
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12094910
November 16, 2015
Was going to give it four stars but Rory didn't quite seem like Rory in this one.
July 21, 2020
really cool story!!
August 29, 2012
Mildly disappointing, but at least this isn't an episode in the television series.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews