Cyberman: Fear

Cyberman #1.2

by Nicholas Briggs

There is a conspiracy at the heart of Earth's government. The Orion War situation is worsening by the day.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, War, Futuristic, British Literature

1 pages, Audio Play

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Nicholas 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.

Reviews

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We're their creations. A reflection of what they think they are. Why else would they fear us?"

Part two does all the heavy explaining and implications from the first episode are now made unequivocally explicit. It also gives a good background to how the current situation came about. Why are humans at war with the androids? How do the Cybermen fit into the picture?

There are a few minor confrontations but the story progresses mainly through scenes of the various parties learning about what the others are up to and then planning their next move. It's still an interesting story, perhaps progressing a little slowly and certainly strange for not having the Doctor around.

Connections to 'Sword of Orion' were slotted in really well. The android spy and the human defense plan in particular. An excellent connection to the wider Whoniverse is also made but I can't describe how so without spoiling, so we'll talk about that in a later review.

I guess probably my favourite thing about the story so far is that we're not necessarily the good guys in this one.

This audio drama has loads of noise in it and it was kind of nostalgic jumping to adjust the volume whenever the bad guy intensity got out of control, just like watching the classic episodes. The 'Dalek Empire' series by Big Finish must be absolute mayhem.... Exterminate! Exterminate!

Anyway, resistance is useless. So I'm off to the next episode.

[Cybervoice]: "There is nothing to fear"

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this chapter a bit more than the previous one. The politics of the multiple factions involved (humans, androids, Cybermen) is interesting. Although, I’m again reminded of the portion of the Dalek Empire when there were the humans vs. the Daleks vs. the Daleks from an alternate reality/dimension.

[Natira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teil 2 von 2
für mich eine Steigerung zu Teil 1, erneut sehr gute Audio-Begleitung

[Seb Hasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was an improvement on the first in content mainly because of one simple factor; the cybermen do some stuff. Quality wise, the story is on par with the first instalment. It becomes clearer in this story where they’re going with several elements: the tone of the series, the different paths each of the main characters is going down, and some much needed context to all the events of what is implied to have already taken place prior to the first story. I felt much more at ease listening to this one as I was able to follow it and distinguish each character from the other, but beyond some lovely gore there wasn’t much I could say makes this story special. This is definitely one of those cases where the overall series is great, but separating each part out leaves little to accredit any merit to. One thing I found strange was the fact that they are using the Cyberman design on the covers and voices from ‘The Invasion’. It’s never explained why, but I can only assume it’s because they’re a fan favourite or possibly a sign of Nick Briggs vanity ‘playing in the sandbox’ decision making.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot give individual rating, so a complete review is going to be equal to the four parts of this audiobook.

This is a new type of audiobook for me. First of all, the correct term is AudioDrama (very similar to Black Library - or they are similar to these ones).

In the beginning you are inducted into the story in the thick of a battle between humans and androids. Back home, where no conflict is present, there are rallies against the war (imagine the rallies in USA for the Vietnam War). Karen, a military officer, ascends to the presidency with the help of Paul Hunt, a mysterious man that was chief of a investigation called "Scorpius".

After the death of former president by the Cyberman, Paul Hunt tells Karen that only with their help humanity shall triumph. Liam, friend of Karen, now commander in chief of the armed forces is weary of Karen change and don't trust Paul Hunt, now risen to advisor for the president of the world.

First, framed for things he did not, he (Liam) became persecuted and was forced to exile with the help of an android.

It was very interesting to see them work together. Android (Samantha) and Human (Liam) against a common foe - the cybermam. You must understand that from the start there is a palpable aura of mistrust between those two races.

This book has no Doctor Who, as you've imagine and deals with a dimension where cyberman were asleep throughout the galaxy but some were unearthed by archaelogists and now are trying to rule the galaxy once more. With the help (servititude?) of some humans they are trying to get to Telos, where they will activate every cyberman asleep. Millions upon Millions. At the same time, the story travels between earth where Karen advised by Paul is trying to built more cyberman enlisting first refugees and prisoners and then "normal" humans.


Spoilers Ahead:

The final confrontation is quite good with Telos being desactivated, after Karen, now a cyberman, is killed. The open ending give the propose to have a second series. Sam and Liam are stranded in a ship without hyperdrive.

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second episode. The Cybermen are taking over the world. They are converting us to be like them. The white house is beginning not to be trusted. What will happen next. I'll find out tomorrow.

[Jepha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting development in the story, the real conflicts begin to show.
Shame it all takes a turn for the worse in the next part.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting progression in the story.