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The Fourth Doctor Adventures #2.3
Doctor Who: War Against the Laan
'Just a taste of Armageddon, Romana. It's what happens when acquisitive minds are left unencumbered by conscience.'
The Doctor, Romana and newly elected President Sheridan Moorkurk take on the all-consuming powers of business tycoon Cuthbert and his vast Conglomerate. But the situation goes beyond a struggle for political power. Cuthbert is intent on revenge on creatures he feels have attacked his interests. But when his revenge looks like leading to inter-species war, the Doctor knows the stakes couldn't be higher.
The Laan are on the move. Is it too late to prevent the destruction of all life on Earth?
The Doctor, Romana and newly elected President Sheridan Moorkurk take on the all-consuming powers of business tycoon Cuthbert and his vast Conglomerate. But the situation goes beyond a struggle for political power. Cuthbert is intent on revenge on creatures he feels have attacked his interests. But when his revenge looks like leading to inter-species war, the Doctor knows the stakes couldn't be higher.
The Laan are on the move. Is it too late to prevent the destruction of all life on Earth?
Audio CD
First published March 1, 2013
63 people want to read
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 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 1, 2023
This release includes the conclusion of the story begun in Doctor Who: The Sands of Life. Without having the set up from that release, this probably wouldn’t be very enjoyable. Together the two releases make up a 5-part story that is very reminiscent of the latter serials released for the classic Doctor Who series starring Tom Baker. Much of it seems to be almost literally the audio track without the filmed video portions, so it all seems very authentic. But then this is what I’ve come to expect from Big Finish Productions full-cast audio-dramas.
This its very entertaining and the authenticity of the narrative is wonderful, but I’m not a huge fan of this particular Doctor so a lot of the little moments of charm and wit were just business as usual to me.
This its very entertaining and the authenticity of the narrative is wonderful, but I’m not a huge fan of this particular Doctor so a lot of the little moments of charm and wit were just business as usual to me.
October 22, 2017
The second half of a two-part story, begun in The Sands of Life, I have reviewed both parts here.
This story manages to evoke the late '70s era of the TV show, while still using a larger canvas than it ever could. In part, this is due to incidental music that does a good job of channelling Dudley Simpson, who was responsible for the same job on the TV show at the time. But Briggs also does a good job of writing Four - helped by Baker's performance, of course, but a lot is in the lines he's given.
The longer length than usual (for the 4th Doctor series, anyway) allows the play to stretch out more than it normally does, with some extended scenes at the beginning, one of which is clearly setting up a longer term story arc, and has nothing much to do with the main plot. Eventually, however, the TARDIS arrives in the Sahara a couple of centuries or so in our future just as a vast pod of space-manatees decide to make their home there.
The aliens are an immediate threat to Earth, but, in a spin on the usual "alien invasion" plot, they aren't hostile, and the danger they pose is entirely accidental. The second half of the story, in particular, focuses on trying to find a way to save the Earth without killing off a large number of innocents in the process. (Unlike the Silurians, it's clear that these particular aliens really can't co-exist on the same planet as humans, and they initially have no good reason to leave).
Big Finish stalwart David Warner does a great job as the sneering corporate villain, although the play is perhaps more notable for featuring Hayley Atwell, fresh from the set of Captain America, as the President of Earth in whose hands the momentous decision ultimately rests. Among the regulars, Mary Tamm is playing a Romana who is more experienced and less prickly than she was on TV (the story being set later), although John Leeson gets relatively little to do as K9, and isn't in the second half at all.
It's not perfect; the beginning in particular may be over-long, and the two parts really do need to be listened to together to get the full effect - something that's not at all clear from the cover blurb. Plus, the aliens are a bit too stubborn, something required so as not to short-circuit the plot, but a little frustrating at times. And, if you're expecting an actual war in the second half, you're going to be disappointed. But it's an enjoyable story, well-acted and strong on plot, with a decent moral dilemma at its heart.
The Sands of Life on its own is probably worth no more than 3 stars, being largely set-up, but taken as a whole with War Against the Laan, this is a clear 4 stars from me.
This story manages to evoke the late '70s era of the TV show, while still using a larger canvas than it ever could. In part, this is due to incidental music that does a good job of channelling Dudley Simpson, who was responsible for the same job on the TV show at the time. But Briggs also does a good job of writing Four - helped by Baker's performance, of course, but a lot is in the lines he's given.
The longer length than usual (for the 4th Doctor series, anyway) allows the play to stretch out more than it normally does, with some extended scenes at the beginning, one of which is clearly setting up a longer term story arc, and has nothing much to do with the main plot. Eventually, however, the TARDIS arrives in the Sahara a couple of centuries or so in our future just as a vast pod of space-manatees decide to make their home there.
The aliens are an immediate threat to Earth, but, in a spin on the usual "alien invasion" plot, they aren't hostile, and the danger they pose is entirely accidental. The second half of the story, in particular, focuses on trying to find a way to save the Earth without killing off a large number of innocents in the process. (Unlike the Silurians, it's clear that these particular aliens really can't co-exist on the same planet as humans, and they initially have no good reason to leave).
Big Finish stalwart David Warner does a great job as the sneering corporate villain, although the play is perhaps more notable for featuring Hayley Atwell, fresh from the set of Captain America, as the President of Earth in whose hands the momentous decision ultimately rests. Among the regulars, Mary Tamm is playing a Romana who is more experienced and less prickly than she was on TV (the story being set later), although John Leeson gets relatively little to do as K9, and isn't in the second half at all.
It's not perfect; the beginning in particular may be over-long, and the two parts really do need to be listened to together to get the full effect - something that's not at all clear from the cover blurb. Plus, the aliens are a bit too stubborn, something required so as not to short-circuit the plot, but a little frustrating at times. And, if you're expecting an actual war in the second half, you're going to be disappointed. But it's an enjoyable story, well-acted and strong on plot, with a decent moral dilemma at its heart.
The Sands of Life on its own is probably worth no more than 3 stars, being largely set-up, but taken as a whole with War Against the Laan, this is a clear 4 stars from me.
May 17, 2017
This completed the story from the last CD. Don't know why this wasn't just a double CD with The Sands of Life... Without that one, this one wouldn't have made any sense, but there is nothing on the CD case to indicate it's a continuation. Pretty neat story, though.
September 9, 2017
This is the second of s two-parter. It was good and if I had been less distracted I might have thought great, but I suppose it felt a little too long and I think it was a little difficult to empathise with the Laan.
December 22, 2022
The second half of this story is a lot more fun. The characters are clearly having more fun here and the power dynamics are played with more than the last story. The Laan are less of a mindless force and become more important/sympathetic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
Verwarrend verhaal.
July 25, 2025
A pleasant enough listen.
December 21, 2014
The second part of a 2 part story. Cuthbert's ego-driven plan to make enemies of and then defeat the time-shifting Laan risks the eradication of two races. The Doctor and Romana are trying to diffuse the situation but nobody wants to listen.
A well produced and wonderfully acted audio drama featuring an exceptional cast. Tom Baker and David Warner give masterful performances and intensify but the drama and the humorous elements of the script. Although at times frustrating this is still a wonderful production which will surely be followed by more stories featuring this cast list.
A well produced and wonderfully acted audio drama featuring an exceptional cast. Tom Baker and David Warner give masterful performances and intensify but the drama and the humorous elements of the script. Although at times frustrating this is still a wonderful production which will surely be followed by more stories featuring this cast list.
April 9, 2016
The conclusion of the story, started in "The sands of life". The concept of this peaceful race, who are nevertheless on course to wipe us out, is very intruiging, and leads to a fascinating moral dilemma.
So the villain of the story must be a ruthless human being, and David Warner is just a perfect fit for the role. Thankfully Hollywoodstar Hayley Atwell plays a bigger role in the second part, as the newly elected President of Earth.
So the villain of the story must be a ruthless human being, and David Warner is just a perfect fit for the role. Thankfully Hollywoodstar Hayley Atwell plays a bigger role in the second part, as the newly elected President of Earth.
March 12, 2013
I enjoyed this part much more than the Sands of Life. I think it was because there was less action, more character development and more discussion. It felt very much like a 4th Doctor delimma. I liked the woman president and her role much more. The story felt tighter. I liked that there were lots of scenes with Romana and Sheridan. I think this is my favourite of the this series so far.
February 8, 2015
For all that it promises war in the title it's a touch talkier than the first half of the story. Tom Baker's ill served, limited to annoying whimsy about hardboiled eggs and perhaps not being given enough scenes with David Warner. Warner himself is again the best thing about this story
August 30, 2014
Another intergalatic romp with Tom Baker and Mary Tamm. Moving in parts but ultimately nothing special.
March 1, 2022
The Doctor, Romana and Earth's president try to stop a man from a corporation from starting a war with a alien race that just wants to give birth on Earth.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews