Doctor Who: Forty Five

Big Finish: Monthly Range #115

by Mark Morris, Nick Scovell, Mark Michalowski

1. FALSE GODS
by Mark Morris
In the blistering heat of the Egyptian desert Howard Carter and his team search for the lost tomb of Userhat, a servant of the god Amun. What they discover sheds new light on the history of the world as we know it.

2. ORDER OF SIMPLICITY
by Nick Scovell
Dr. Verryman has devoted his life to the advancement of knowledge. When his experiments on a remote planet threaten the entire human race only the Doctor can help - if he puts his mind to it.

3. CASUALTIES OF WAR
by Mark Michalowski
Opportunity knocks in postwar London. But when a tea leaf steals from the wrong woman it becomes a race against time to discover the truth. Only some truths are best left untold.

4. THE WORD LORD
by Steven Hall
In a top secret military bunker deep beneath the Antarctic ice a mysterious death threatens peace negotiations and could spell disaster for the inhabitants of Earth. Can the Doctor cross the t's and dot the i's? Or will his efforts get lost in translation?

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

Audio CD

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mark Morris became a full-time writer in 1988 on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, and a year later saw the release of his first novel, Toady. He has since published a further sixteen novels, among which are Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Fiddleback, The Deluge and four books in the popular Doctor Who range.

His short stories, novellas, articles and reviews have appeared in a wide variety of anthologies and magazines, and he is editor of the highly-acclaimed Cinema Macabre, a book of fifty horror movie essays by genre luminaries, for which he won the 2007 British Fantasy Award.

His most recently published or forthcoming work includes a novella entitled It Sustains for Earthling Publications, a Torchwood novel entitled Bay of the Dead, several Doctor Who audios for Big Finish Productions, a follow-up volume to Cinema Macabre entitled Cinema Futura and a new short story collection, Long Shadows, Nightmare Light.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite a middling selection of stories really, for something that’s meant to celebrate an anniversary.

notable though for featuring a pre fame benedict cumberbatch! his interview in the behind the scenes section is very sweet

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This audio wasn't that great which considering it had Benedict Cumberbatch in it was quite disappointing. Unlike the four short Eveyln and Sixie stories these four were just a bit bland. They Egypt story was quite good and the one in WWII visiting Ace's family was ok. But it didn't really cover anything that wasn't covered in the tv episode. The story about the intelligence regression was pretty regretful as was last story about the Word Lord.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a way of celebrating the 45th anniversary of Doctor Who, this went a route similar to that of 100 by telling four stories related to the titular number. It definitely pales in comparison to 100. It might be unfair to compare, but the stories here just don't stand out as much or are not as memorable to me. I feel like there could have been a better way to celebrate 45 years of Doctor Who.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This includes four independent stories that include the number 45, celebrating the 45th anniversary of Doctor Who. The stories are interesting and well-performed. I felt like Ace was not well-used in a couple, but that is probably being picky.

[Miguel Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

no fueron mis historias favoritas, pero la relación entre el doctor, hex y ace le dieron el toque especial para terminar el audiodrama de manera positiva.
para este estilo de historias cortas, 100 si es mucho mejor

[Shaun Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stories that got better as we went on. For our full thoughts, visit https://travelingthevortex.com/?p=8748

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several linked short stories, that feature 45, in honor of Dr Who’s 45th anniversary.

[Tabitha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Individual stories may have rated higher, but overall I was disappointed in the group of them.

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very Pontypool vibes here.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 2 out of 5]

An anthology of four 30-minute stories released on the 45th anniversary of the TV show's launch. In much the same fashion as the earlier anthology 100, the stories are all linked by the number 45, although here it's rather more ham-fisted.

FALSE GODS: The Doctor visits an Egyptian archaeological dig and gets embroiled in a plot involving time travel. At one point our heroes are randomly attacked by a "creodont" (I assume it was intended to be a Hyaenodon, until somebody pointed out that they're 42, not 45, million years old). It feels cobbled together, but not too bad. (3/5)

ORDER OF SIMPLICITY: A mad scientist is trying to advance human knowledge, but is in danger of accidentally destroying all sentient life in the universe as a side-effect (don't you hate it when that happens?) It's a bit of a run-around with flat characters, and honestly, quite dull. (2/5)

CASUALTIES OF WAR: An alien artefact has been stolen in post-War London, leading the Doctor on a chase to find it. Unfortunately, the subplot about Ace's background fails dismally when the voice of the 3-year old child is so utterly unconvincing that I thought it was supposed to be an alien at first. (2/5)

THE WORD LORD: I can only assume that this was supposed to be a bit like The Mind Robber, being a somewhat surreal tale of an entity with power over words. It's also meant to link the first three, with the number 45 actually having some relevance for once, but it ends up being completely unbelievable. Considering how rubbish the villain is, the ending is worryingly left open. They've ignored such dangling plotlines before, and for once, I'm hoping they'll do so again... (2/5)

Overall, 2.25, which rounds to just 2 stars. A missable and disappointing attempt at an anniversary release.

[Jadetyger Sevea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

FALSE GODS:
My second favorite of the four stories. I'm a sucker for anything to do with Ancient Egypt.

ORDER OF SIMPLICITY
This one wasn't as well done. The mad scientist trope has been done to death. The twist at the end was nice, though.

CASUALTIES OF WAR

Nothing remarkable about this story. A nice moment occurs when Ace mets her mother as a young child.

THE WORD LORD

If I'm a sucker for Ancient Egypt, I'm even more of a sucker for anything that plays with language. The Word Lord does just that, in a lovely, twisty sort of plot that links all four stories together.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting mix of different types of stories all connected by 'forty-five' somewhere in there, which comes together in the last one. I'm listening to these out of the order so it was good to listen to the first meeting between the Doctor and the Word Lord, especially knowing where that goes.

Added bonus of Benedict Cumberpatch in the first story, playing Howard Carter.

[Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven, Ace and Hex run through four separate stories with the theme of 45 running through them. This was Big Finish's salute to the 45th anniversary of Doctor Who. In one of them, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Howard Carter in a time before his discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb.

[Debra Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor, Ace and Hex are in 4 adventures.

[Kate Sherrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and clever Seven, Ace and Hex stories, but I've already forgotten what they were about, so... not super memorable? Meh.

[Kerry]

MAIN RANGE: #115

I'm going back and adding these retrospectively. Hopefully new additions (after 3/7/18) will have more details.