Doctor Who: The Runaway Train

BBC Doctor Who: New Series Audio Exclusives #9

by Doctor Who

Arriving on Earth in the midst of the American Civil War, the Doctor and Amy must get a posse together to help them retrieve an alien artefact that has fallen into the clutches of the Confederate Army. The terraforming device belongs to the Cei, a race of invaders who plan to use it to turn the planet into a new home world. But neither the Army nor the aliens are keen to let the Doctor and his gang interfere with their plans, and give chase across the Wild West. The only hope of escape for the Doctor and friends is to catch the 3.25 to Arizona and race along the newly-built transcontinental railroad... Written specially for audio by Oli Smith, and read by Matt Smith, The Runaway Train features the Doctor as played by Matt Smith in the acclaimed hit series from BBC Television.

1 CD. 1 hr 4 mins.

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

Audio CD

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Farm land? Do I look like a land owner? I live in a blue box for goodness sake! A very tiny, cupboard like, almost coffinesque in its modesty blue box!”

The Doctor and Amy travel to American West during the Civil War, where they were trying to recover an alien artefact. I quite enjoyed Matt's narration, you can tell the different characters and he does a good American accent. The only part that wasn't very good was Amy's- when I first heard I thought ok that's suppose to be Amy, I thought Matt would have been able to do a Scottish accent. He also does speak a bit quick in places, like he himself is about to catch a train. Other than that it was a fun audio.

"And that sunset is just screaming out for someone to ride into it."

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is based on the television series and it has the Eleventh Doctor and Amy as his companion. This time they travel to America to the wild, wild, west where they discover an alien race is once again trying to overthrow humans as the rulers of Earth.

This was a nice, quick listen from this universe. Matt Smith who played the Eleventh Doctor narrates this story and he is probably the reason I gave this three stars. He was excellent as he does a really great job with the characters and conveying action scenes. This adventure was basically an adventure where we drop the characters in a particular time era and we check off those tropes of that time era. Not that there is anything wrong with that but if you are looking for something new you will not find it here. In fact, I wish that the alien race was fleshed out a little more as this was a bit of a letdown.

This is definitely better as an audiobook than a regular book. I believe I enjoyed it in this format way more than I would have if I read the written word. I believe this can be attributed to the narrator and I could immerse myself in the adventure. It isn't amazing but it did do its job. It entertained me while I listened to it.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been interested in this time period when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy. This Doctor Who short wasn't bad but the aliens of it were probably the weakest point of it. I did get a kick out of Matt Smith's narration. He's not bad at the whole cowboy thing, but he didn't quite do justice to Amy's voice and tone.

[Kimberley doruyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm not into westerns but the doctor makes everythibg better;)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet Doctor Who story. Matt Smith's rendition makes it much better than it really is, I think. He's a good reader. Love it when he fakes an American accent!

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Smith has a way of making you feel like you are apart of the story. Although not my favourite audiobook it is definitely worth a listen for 11 fans! x

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah, the wild west. At the time The Runaway Train was published, Doctor Who had only attempted an on-screen western-style story once, way back in 1966. Considering how ridiculously bad "The Gunfighters" was, I was interested to see how this tale would turn out.

But then I remembered something; at the end of the day, every AudioGO exclusive is the same. The Doctor and his companion stumble into the setting, assemble a motley crew and defeat the aliens; this story was no different, it just happened to have the American Civil War as a backdrop. I wouldn't go so far as to say it was waste of time, but it was short and forgettable with a painfully predictable plot that, to be quite frank, bored me. At times I thought I could see what the author was trying to do, but he just didn't quite make it; for example (mild spoilers), I think Oli Smith deliberately portrayed the aliens in stereotypical flying saucers in the desert because he wanted to imply that it was that incident that created the flying saucer cliche in the first place. However, these ideas just weren't articulated well at all. The only saving grace was Matt Smith's reading; his American accents were grating at first, but after you got used to them you couldn't help but smile every time he rattled off one of the Doctor's lines.

In summary, if you have an affinity for westerns or are desperate to hear Matt Smith's voice in a fresh story, give this one a go. Otherwise, think twice about wasting your time and money on something that's mediocre at best - consider a New Series Adventures Novel or Big Finish audio story instead.

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank god this was read Matt Smith, otherwise it would have been a total disaster.
I don't know if the doctor who series of books has ever been actually good- but this was just bad.
It fell flat. Amy's character was not authentic and all the supporting characters were just absolute fluff.
If Matt Smith's dreamy voice wasn't distracting me, I would have hated it.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 2 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

This pointless paradox in the Wild West plays cavalier with time (oh lord), the dunghill moment being when the runaway train, while outrunning a spaceship, is caught up to by horses that already have galloped for thirty minutes in the opposite direction.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick enjoyable read

Audio Book via Audible

[Kiara Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the writing and narration but not the sound effects.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Runaway Train is a Doctor Who Adventure featuring the 11th Doctor as read by Matt Smith. The story is supplemented with musical cues, including the Doctor Who theme, and interspersed with sound effects that draw the listener into the story. We have the wheezing, groaning, and whistling Tardis. We have the whirring sonic screwdriver. We have the oof of the Doctor taking one in the breadbasket. Wait, what? Ok, I got ahead of myself here.

This short story features the Doctor and Amy Pond traveling back to the American West during the waning days of the Civil War. There they are in search of an alien device that is certainly not going to do anything good, but first they must recruit assistance from a diverse group and overcome interference from a group of union soldiers who want the device for themselves. There is plenty of action with gun fights, horse chases, and as I mentioned, the odd bit of fisticuffs. Oh, and explosions. Can't forget the explosions.

Matt Smith does a good job of bringing Oli Smith's words to life and has enough range to keep the different characters readily recognizable. This is a fast-paced story that hangs together well and even features a nice little time travel twist. Clocking in at just over an hour this is a nice way to get a quick Doctor Who fix.

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I am a big Doctor Who fan. I have watched many of the classic Doctor Who episodes and every season of the new Doctor Who series. Matt Smith (the 11th doctor) was a great personality and brought a quirky aspect to the role. This book is read by Matt Smith and has the flavor of his persona. Amy Pond (one of my favorite Doctor companions) has a major role in this audiobook as well. All these elements lined up for a powerful story, but I was disappointed.

The descriptions were not easy to grasp and the action was so quick and rapid that the pictures in my mind skipped a few frames leaving me a bit confused. The audiobook had background music and some sound effects – most of which was more distracting for me than helpful. The presentation was quite short and the story seemed hurried – not my favorite Doctor Who novel.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just a small little adventure, with Eleventh and Amy try to secure an alien technology found on Earth at American Civil War era. Doctor Who run-of-the-mill. The supporting characters are surprisingly well written though, and the plot's pacing is not too bad.

It is not really much as it is more of narration than a fully concocted audio adventure. Matt Smith's slips easily back as Eleventh, and his Southern American accent is an okay one, I'd say it's even better than his non-existent Scottish as Amy.

The story is memorable as it is, after all, the first glance of what if Matt Smith returned to his role in audio drama. Ah, someday, people, someday..

[Charlotte Pitt-Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story from a collection of short stories from the eleventh doctor's collection of stories. The western setting was a fun one and I really enjoyed all the interactions between the doctor and the one-off characters.
This one did feel a little slow-paced but sometimes I think that's for the best on the other hand I wasn't bored listening to it.
Matt Smiths' narration was amazing and continues to remind me why I like him as the doctor and his American accents were charming to listen to as well.

All in all a fun and entertaining story from the eleventh doctors era.

[Leila Anani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Doctor, Matt Smith and Amy Pond time travel back to the Wild West to recover a tera-forming machine that has been unearthed. The enlist a band of outlaws and a steam-train to help them move it. The story is a little lacking, but it's read well by Matt Smith. His attempts at American accents are fun. I tend to prefer my Who a loot darker than this, but it's a nice, light listen and at 75 mins doesn't really outstay its welcome.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read a Doctor Who set in America. It can go well or really poorly. Having this one set during the American Civil War was an interesting choice although I am not sure a good one. Matt Smith narrated and did a good job for the most part except for Amy he couldn't seem to get her accent correct. The actual plot was a western adventure story with a sci-fi twist and was interesting enough for a novella-length story.

[Helen (they or he) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.

It's the wild, wild west, baby!

I have to say, I don't like this story. Matt Smith's voice was the only thing good about this audio book. I would've stopped listening in the first ten seconds if Matt Smith wasn't reading it.And Amy's character is almost non-existent. The writer really needs to step up their game.

[Jonathan Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Smith narrated this adventure of the eleventh doctor taking part in post civil war .Amy and the doctor together again .Matt actually does a great job with multiple voices. Highly recommended for fans of Doctor Who

[Koen Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Westerns typically aren’t my favorites and this story was no different. It was good but it wasn’t one of my favorites. Got to love Matt’s narrating though. ( I also love the opening, where he is greeted by people he doesn’t yet know)

[Angelina Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this audiobook, it's very short and wanted more but still loved it. I enjoyed it more that it was read by Matt Smith instead of someone else since it keeps you engaged and the feel of a doctor who episode.

[Beverly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sound effects, Matt Smith's narration, and just the overall feeling of this audiobook were incredible. It helped me perform chores around the house and not focus on the chores but on another world.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made-for-audio 11th Doctor adventure read (or should that be performed?) by Matt Smith himself, that also involves Amy Pond and which sees the Doctor and Amy in the Wild West in an attempt to retrieve an alien terraforming device.

Listen and forget, basically.

[flo · Rating 3 out of 5]

i put this on in the hopes it would lift my spirits, and it did. matt smith's take on a texan accent certainly helped, quite funny. the plot isn't particularly exciting, but it's a good palate cleanser or small snack in between other reads.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. It’s only an hour and four minutes so everything feels rushed but I did like it. Matt Smith is a pleasure to listen to as the narrator and the plot had so much potential but I think the short length hindered it a lot. Still was a fun listen though.

[Amanda Stanzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this listen. It was a fun book.

[Macarena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish Matt Smith narrated every single book ever written. The man has a gift.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempted to give this another star purely for Matt Smith's cowboy voice

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little frolic with 11 and Amy in the wild west. I would have liked a little more info on the aliens etc. but I usually feel the same way about the TV show. ;)