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Doctor Who: The Audio Novels
Doctor Who: The Chaos Cascade
The Twelfth Doctor embarks on a desperate search for the three scattered parts of the Triskelia – the only means to contain a dangerous multi-dimensional breach in reality: the Chaos Cascade. But two warring races, the aggressive Myzen and the peace-loving Tollatee are also searching for this powerful device, as is a mysterious tech-enhanced part-human mercenary.
Meanwhile the Doctor’s former housemate Tania Bell travels to Yorkshire to investigate reports of alien activity and is delighted to run into a previously unknown incarnation of the Time Lord: one that is female, dresses in purple and carries a parasol!
Can the Doctor, Missy and Tania find a way to work together as a team? Or, once unleashed, will the Chaos Cascade wreak havoc across all space and time?
Meanwhile the Doctor’s former housemate Tania Bell travels to Yorkshire to investigate reports of alien activity and is delighted to run into a previously unknown incarnation of the Time Lord: one that is female, dresses in purple and carries a parasol!
Can the Doctor, Missy and Tania find a way to work together as a team? Or, once unleashed, will the Chaos Cascade wreak havoc across all space and time?
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2024
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About the author
Colin Brake
50 books33 followersColin Brake is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programs such as Bugs and EastEnders. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series Doctor Who. He currently lives and works in Leicester.
Brake began working on EastEnders in 1985 as a writer and script editor, being partly responsible for the introduction of the soap's first Asian characters Saeed and Naima Jeffery. From there, he went on to work as "script executive" on the popular Saturday night action adventure program Bugs, before moving to Channel 5 in 1997 to be "script associate" on their evening soap Family Affairs.
In the early 2000s, Brake wrote episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and the revival of Crossroads.
Away from television, Brake had his first Doctor Who related writing published as part of Virgin Publishing's Decalog short story collection in 1996. He then had his first novel Escape Velocity published by BBC Books in February 2001 as part of their Eighth Doctor Adventures range based on the television series Doctor Who. At the time, Brake was quoted as saying how appropriate it was that he was now writing for Doctor Who, as he was briefly considered as Eric Saward's replacement as script editor on the show - a job that eventually went to Andrew Cartmel instead.
Brake followed Escape Velocity with the Past Doctor Adventure The Colony of Lies in July 2003, and then with the audio adventure Three's a Crowd from Big Finish Productions in 2005. His Tenth Doctor Adventure The Price of Paradise was released in September 2006. He has also written an audio for their Bernice Summerfield range, and a short story for their Short Trips range.
Brake began working on EastEnders in 1985 as a writer and script editor, being partly responsible for the introduction of the soap's first Asian characters Saeed and Naima Jeffery. From there, he went on to work as "script executive" on the popular Saturday night action adventure program Bugs, before moving to Channel 5 in 1997 to be "script associate" on their evening soap Family Affairs.
In the early 2000s, Brake wrote episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and the revival of Crossroads.
Away from television, Brake had his first Doctor Who related writing published as part of Virgin Publishing's Decalog short story collection in 1996. He then had his first novel Escape Velocity published by BBC Books in February 2001 as part of their Eighth Doctor Adventures range based on the television series Doctor Who. At the time, Brake was quoted as saying how appropriate it was that he was now writing for Doctor Who, as he was briefly considered as Eric Saward's replacement as script editor on the show - a job that eventually went to Andrew Cartmel instead.
Brake followed Escape Velocity with the Past Doctor Adventure The Colony of Lies in July 2003, and then with the audio adventure Three's a Crowd from Big Finish Productions in 2005. His Tenth Doctor Adventure The Price of Paradise was released in September 2006. He has also written an audio for their Bernice Summerfield range, and a short story for their Short Trips range.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 7, 2024
Another strong contender from the "Audio Novels" range.
The approach to use 3 narrators works strongly for this story. I've always enjoyed Dan Starkey as a narrator and his 12th Doctor impression is always fun to listen too. Beth Chalmers is surprisingly scary as Missy, hope there is more of her Missy in the future. Finally a welcome surprise from Rebecca Root, narrating the first person sections of the beloved Tania Bell.
Having the story take place within the period of 12 and Missy being "good", allows for further insight into Missy and the conflict she feels between her usual murderous ways and the new path she is trying to take.
The story itself, very similar to The Key to Time I found, however the 5 star review is not much for the story, but for the interpretation and writing of the characters, aswell as the great narration which has made this so enjoyable.
The approach to use 3 narrators works strongly for this story. I've always enjoyed Dan Starkey as a narrator and his 12th Doctor impression is always fun to listen too. Beth Chalmers is surprisingly scary as Missy, hope there is more of her Missy in the future. Finally a welcome surprise from Rebecca Root, narrating the first person sections of the beloved Tania Bell.
Having the story take place within the period of 12 and Missy being "good", allows for further insight into Missy and the conflict she feels between her usual murderous ways and the new path she is trying to take.
The story itself, very similar to The Key to Time I found, however the 5 star review is not much for the story, but for the interpretation and writing of the characters, aswell as the great narration which has made this so enjoyable.
January 19, 2024
🙏🏼63% = Okay!
The Chaos Cascade begins slowly, with an exposition-heavy first part. It’s the middle parts that pick up speed as the race for the Triskelion parts begins. Part 5 then slows things down and veers off a bit again before picking up the pace for the last part in a pretty explosive finale.
This story wonderfully describes the unique relationship between Twelve and Missy, as it is set when he imprisoned her. It is also mostly centred on the two of them, with Tania barely appearing initially and then slowly becoming more prominent as the story progresses.
The first part is a slow set-up, which then unfolds into something of a Key to Time-esque collection mission, during which the Doctor and Missy split up. The most fun part is seeing Missy pretend to be the Doctor and join forces with Tania.
The pairings change a lot throughout this, which also shifts the character interactions. Another fun sequence is Twelve pairing up with Tania, who believes him to be the Doctor's (or, really, Missy's) companion.
The novel jumps between the three narrators surprisingly often (every time we switch the POV character). Beth Chalmers' Missy voice is impeccable. Dan Starkey's Missy is pretty uneven, while his Doctor is closer to Strax than Peter Capaldi (though he nails the Scottish accent). Rebecca Root has the softest voice and perfectly captures her character Tania, while not quite getting there when voicing Missy and the Doctor.
This is a great novel for Missy, whose sassy nature seeps out of the page, while Twelve is a bit more shaky. Their back-and-forth banter is a joy to listen to. Missy also steals the show when she tries to fool Tania or prove to us and the Doctor that she is good now, whereas Twelve is much less engaging until joining up with Tania and Missy later on in the story. Tania is the voice of reason placed between them, though she has no real part to play until the last part.
There are two main supporting characters, both unpredictable and with personal motives that see them switch sides faster than one can blink. The assassin character gives me Bret Vyon vibes, even if he's a bit crankier and less likeable.
The Chaos Cascade is perhaps a tad too long and not fully as engaging as I had hoped, even if some of the turns in the plot, the three narrators, and the added sound effects create a nice atmosphere.
The Chaos Cascade begins slowly, with an exposition-heavy first part. It’s the middle parts that pick up speed as the race for the Triskelion parts begins. Part 5 then slows things down and veers off a bit again before picking up the pace for the last part in a pretty explosive finale.
This story wonderfully describes the unique relationship between Twelve and Missy, as it is set when he imprisoned her. It is also mostly centred on the two of them, with Tania barely appearing initially and then slowly becoming more prominent as the story progresses.
The first part is a slow set-up, which then unfolds into something of a Key to Time-esque collection mission, during which the Doctor and Missy split up. The most fun part is seeing Missy pretend to be the Doctor and join forces with Tania.
The pairings change a lot throughout this, which also shifts the character interactions. Another fun sequence is Twelve pairing up with Tania, who believes him to be the Doctor's (or, really, Missy's) companion.
The novel jumps between the three narrators surprisingly often (every time we switch the POV character). Beth Chalmers' Missy voice is impeccable. Dan Starkey's Missy is pretty uneven, while his Doctor is closer to Strax than Peter Capaldi (though he nails the Scottish accent). Rebecca Root has the softest voice and perfectly captures her character Tania, while not quite getting there when voicing Missy and the Doctor.
This is a great novel for Missy, whose sassy nature seeps out of the page, while Twelve is a bit more shaky. Their back-and-forth banter is a joy to listen to. Missy also steals the show when she tries to fool Tania or prove to us and the Doctor that she is good now, whereas Twelve is much less engaging until joining up with Tania and Missy later on in the story. Tania is the voice of reason placed between them, though she has no real part to play until the last part.
There are two main supporting characters, both unpredictable and with personal motives that see them switch sides faster than one can blink. The assassin character gives me Bret Vyon vibes, even if he's a bit crankier and less likeable.
The Chaos Cascade is perhaps a tad too long and not fully as engaging as I had hoped, even if some of the turns in the plot, the three narrators, and the added sound effects create a nice atmosphere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
I really love how Tania Bell has had quite the life throughout these 2020s Big Finish Doctor Who stories, having met the Eighth Doctor in Stranded, the Ninth Doctor in Hidden Depths, and now the Twelfth Doctor here in The Chaos Cascade. This takes place while The Doctor is watching over Missy, and it really feels like the characters here. Quite the accomplishment when Capaldi and Gomez are not involved in this audio novel. The sharing duties between narrators actually worked quite well here.
January 19, 2025
very fun very cute!!! got me through at least two migraines 🫡
adored the doctor and missy in this, and ive never listened to anything with tania in but she was great!! was pleasantly surprised by how good the voice work was from all three as well. plot was Fine pretty standard dweu plot really, but i really liked that it spanned multiple interesting times and places
adored the doctor and missy in this, and ive never listened to anything with tania in but she was great!! was pleasantly surprised by how good the voice work was from all three as well. plot was Fine pretty standard dweu plot really, but i really liked that it spanned multiple interesting times and places
January 11, 2024
This story had a few different readers when the pov changed. It took me a few chapters to get use to it. But the story was great. It reminded me of classical who story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews