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Big Finish: Monthly Range #193
Doctor Who: Masters of Earth
The year is 2163. Ten years since the Daleks invaded the Earth. One year until the Doctor, in his first incarnation, will help bring the occupation to an end. But for now, their reign of terror goes on.
The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Peri to Scotland – enslaved, like everywhere else on the planet. But there are rumours of Dalek-free islands off its coast. Places where resistors and refuseniks are coming together, gathering arms and armour, preparing to strike back against the enemy.
When the Doctor falls in with an unlikely group of freedom fighters making that dangerous journey to Orkney, he finds himself trapped – but not only by the Daleks,
their robotised henchmen and their human collaborators.
By history.
Because history shows that for another year, resistance is useless...
The rebellion must fail – and as a Time Lord, the Doctor can do nothing to help
The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Peri to Scotland – enslaved, like everywhere else on the planet. But there are rumours of Dalek-free islands off its coast. Places where resistors and refuseniks are coming together, gathering arms and armour, preparing to strike back against the enemy.
When the Doctor falls in with an unlikely group of freedom fighters making that dangerous journey to Orkney, he finds himself trapped – but not only by the Daleks,
their robotised henchmen and their human collaborators.
By history.
Because history shows that for another year, resistance is useless...
The rebellion must fail – and as a Time Lord, the Doctor can do nothing to help
Audio CD
First published November 1, 2014
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69 people want to read
About the author
Cavan Scott
844 books435 followersis a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 1, 2015
One of the problems with an audio drama featuring the Daleks is they aren't exactly the most exciting aliens to listen to for any length of time. Or heaven forbid you have two or even three Daleks carrying on a lengthy conversation that includes plot details or developments.
It's not to say that I don't like the Daleks. They're my favorite Doctor Who adversary, but I think that in order to do them right in the audio dramas, you have to be a bit more creative than you would on TV.
Give props to Masters of Earth for at least trying to do something creative with the Daleks in the realm of Big Finish audio dramas. Arriving on Earth during the Dalek occupation, the sixth Doctor is ready to jump back into the TARDIS and leave to prevent himself or Peri contaminating his own personal time line. Seems he's arrived a couple of years before his first incarnation will help overthrow the Daleks and liberate the planet.
But before you say "Exterminate," the TARDIS sinks into a bog and the Doctor and Peri are caught up with the resistance on a cross-country trip that will include encounters with RoboMen, Varga plants and the Slyther. If you're a fan of 60's Who and in particular the Dalek stories from those early days, there are a lot of nice homages to that era.
But homages to an era do not a story make and it's in the story that Masters of Earth really feels like it let me down. Because the Doctor can't affect any change, there's not a lot for he and Peri to do, besides avoid changing history and letting the Daleks know he's on the scene. There are some interesting chases involving Daleks on gliders (an homage to the 60's comics), but overall I can't help but feel the story had more potential than was realized in what we got here.
It's not to say that I don't like the Daleks. They're my favorite Doctor Who adversary, but I think that in order to do them right in the audio dramas, you have to be a bit more creative than you would on TV.
Give props to Masters of Earth for at least trying to do something creative with the Daleks in the realm of Big Finish audio dramas. Arriving on Earth during the Dalek occupation, the sixth Doctor is ready to jump back into the TARDIS and leave to prevent himself or Peri contaminating his own personal time line. Seems he's arrived a couple of years before his first incarnation will help overthrow the Daleks and liberate the planet.
But before you say "Exterminate," the TARDIS sinks into a bog and the Doctor and Peri are caught up with the resistance on a cross-country trip that will include encounters with RoboMen, Varga plants and the Slyther. If you're a fan of 60's Who and in particular the Dalek stories from those early days, there are a lot of nice homages to that era.
But homages to an era do not a story make and it's in the story that Masters of Earth really feels like it let me down. Because the Doctor can't affect any change, there's not a lot for he and Peri to do, besides avoid changing history and letting the Daleks know he's on the scene. There are some interesting chases involving Daleks on gliders (an homage to the 60's comics), but overall I can't help but feel the story had more potential than was realized in what we got here.
August 8, 2021
I was alittle unsure at first listening to this. While I like a good story that goes back to the original stories, i do think they all are going to suffer in some way because your trying to tell a new story within an old one. Especially when it comes to the shows continuity, something that honestly doesn't bother me at all with a show like doctor who and even more so with Daleks as there are so many different versions or timelines, that I just embrace it all. But I do like the main show to try and keep that continuity going and big finish fill in the gaps. As long as the Daleks still represent what a Dalek is I'm happy.
But I do feel this story loses something because it had to have the Dr try and avoid the Daleks and not mess up time. Which of course near the end they do meet and it thankfully doesn't ruin the arc of show when the Daleks finally saw the Dr as an enemy in "The chase". However I do feel they missed a trick here with "The Dalek invasion of earth" story. To really explore how cultures and people have had to change and what they'll do to survive. We do get to see some of this with our main characters, however as much as I enjoyed them//their journey I was annoyed to not learn anything about them apart from Moira Brody. So the story is mainly a simple survival story, but it is enjoyable.
One of my favourite parts during the moving around survival story is the build of the 6th Dr and Peris relationship. We see them not quite get on but in a very different and much more mature way then we ever saw in season 22. More that Peri starts to feel she doesn't really know who the Dr is and if this is the real him, she doesn't like him. He starts running away to protect the timelines making her get involved and later infected by the varga plants. She then witnesses how much death surrounds him as we start to lose our group one by one. But the Dr doesn't seem too bothered, more just saying how that's terrible let's move on. Because he has too, he has to save the day so he never really has time to mourn people. The same idea is brought up when the 8th Dr loses a companion and he explains he's just accepted it now.
Death happens and people come and go in his life and it makes sense that sometimes the Dr wouldn't let it get to him because it's his life. I really enjoyed this arc between them, Colin Baker and Nicola bryant really sell it. Especially once she loses when she learns the Dr let the Daleks live along time ago. Because he couldn't be like them, but in a subtle/clever way this story shows how similar he is. Both are constantly surrounded by death. One it no effect on and the other is starting to move on from it.
I wasn't the big fan of the varga plants being able to talk, and although it worked pretty effetely having the main nerve talk to Peri and try and make her join them, it just wasnt for me. I've always prefeed the idea of your own mind/voice convincing you to keep going and justify the answer the kill others. But like the varga we get a great scene with the Slyther.
Despite not learning anything about our group of survivors I did enjoy them. Especially as they didn't like each other and were forced to team up. At the start of this story you get a great idea of how this world is changing and how people act. A group attack and prepare for a stoning, showing that the Daleks revenge and lack of tolerance has made an effect on them. As our group move to place to place we get an incredibly dark moment of an old man who hung himself because he thought they were Daleks. Its an horrific but excellent way to show you how this world/Dalek invasion has effected people. But I just wish it was a constant thread as it loses it alot whereas "The Dalek invasion of earth" had it throughout.
Moria Brody was an interesting character here, while I enjoyed her enthusiasm throughout the journey, it did feel like she was nothing but the story's twist. The story constantly does a twist with her that it gets quite annoying near the end to the point you don't believe her. Just pick a few or two. While I really like why she got involved with the Daleks/the elite to get revenge for her father, finding it tragic and a nice twist she became the thing she hates, I didn't like the idea of the elite roboman in this stories setting.
I dont like stories that say the Daleks was actually doing a really amazing plan/weapon during all this pretty naff stuff. I get why they do it, to make the Daleks back then still look all powerful like they are today, but it messes with there arc for me. the Daleks arc of getting better/developing there technology over time. I don't see the point in reckoning that when you have a Dalek that is an update that could be here in this and it easily explains the new tech. You could use the Dalek time controller trying to fix the day the Dr stopped the invasion. I did really like the Dr spreading Moria Brodys name as a sign of hope, however I do think a scene between the Dr and Peri would of completed the arc nicely of the Dr explaining why death doesn't effect him because he always has hope and gives it to others.
What little we got, the Daleks were enjoyable here. I utterly loved hearing them attack the house and burn the forest down to get to them as it was a great scene of action. I also really like the comical lines of "noone ever escapes the daleks!, Alert prisoners have escaped".
Rating 3/5 7/10
But I do feel this story loses something because it had to have the Dr try and avoid the Daleks and not mess up time. Which of course near the end they do meet and it thankfully doesn't ruin the arc of show when the Daleks finally saw the Dr as an enemy in "The chase". However I do feel they missed a trick here with "The Dalek invasion of earth" story. To really explore how cultures and people have had to change and what they'll do to survive. We do get to see some of this with our main characters, however as much as I enjoyed them//their journey I was annoyed to not learn anything about them apart from Moira Brody. So the story is mainly a simple survival story, but it is enjoyable.
One of my favourite parts during the moving around survival story is the build of the 6th Dr and Peris relationship. We see them not quite get on but in a very different and much more mature way then we ever saw in season 22. More that Peri starts to feel she doesn't really know who the Dr is and if this is the real him, she doesn't like him. He starts running away to protect the timelines making her get involved and later infected by the varga plants. She then witnesses how much death surrounds him as we start to lose our group one by one. But the Dr doesn't seem too bothered, more just saying how that's terrible let's move on. Because he has too, he has to save the day so he never really has time to mourn people. The same idea is brought up when the 8th Dr loses a companion and he explains he's just accepted it now.
Death happens and people come and go in his life and it makes sense that sometimes the Dr wouldn't let it get to him because it's his life. I really enjoyed this arc between them, Colin Baker and Nicola bryant really sell it. Especially once she loses when she learns the Dr let the Daleks live along time ago. Because he couldn't be like them, but in a subtle/clever way this story shows how similar he is. Both are constantly surrounded by death. One it no effect on and the other is starting to move on from it.
I wasn't the big fan of the varga plants being able to talk, and although it worked pretty effetely having the main nerve talk to Peri and try and make her join them, it just wasnt for me. I've always prefeed the idea of your own mind/voice convincing you to keep going and justify the answer the kill others. But like the varga we get a great scene with the Slyther.
Despite not learning anything about our group of survivors I did enjoy them. Especially as they didn't like each other and were forced to team up. At the start of this story you get a great idea of how this world is changing and how people act. A group attack and prepare for a stoning, showing that the Daleks revenge and lack of tolerance has made an effect on them. As our group move to place to place we get an incredibly dark moment of an old man who hung himself because he thought they were Daleks. Its an horrific but excellent way to show you how this world/Dalek invasion has effected people. But I just wish it was a constant thread as it loses it alot whereas "The Dalek invasion of earth" had it throughout.
Moria Brody was an interesting character here, while I enjoyed her enthusiasm throughout the journey, it did feel like she was nothing but the story's twist. The story constantly does a twist with her that it gets quite annoying near the end to the point you don't believe her. Just pick a few or two. While I really like why she got involved with the Daleks/the elite to get revenge for her father, finding it tragic and a nice twist she became the thing she hates, I didn't like the idea of the elite roboman in this stories setting.
I dont like stories that say the Daleks was actually doing a really amazing plan/weapon during all this pretty naff stuff. I get why they do it, to make the Daleks back then still look all powerful like they are today, but it messes with there arc for me. the Daleks arc of getting better/developing there technology over time. I don't see the point in reckoning that when you have a Dalek that is an update that could be here in this and it easily explains the new tech. You could use the Dalek time controller trying to fix the day the Dr stopped the invasion. I did really like the Dr spreading Moria Brodys name as a sign of hope, however I do think a scene between the Dr and Peri would of completed the arc nicely of the Dr explaining why death doesn't effect him because he always has hope and gives it to others.
What little we got, the Daleks were enjoyable here. I utterly loved hearing them attack the house and burn the forest down to get to them as it was a great scene of action. I also really like the comical lines of "noone ever escapes the daleks!, Alert prisoners have escaped".
Rating 3/5 7/10
November 3, 2018
The events of The Dalek Invasion of Earth have been used in a number of tie-in stories (including Big Finish audio) before. However, such stories have (at least to my knowledge) always been set in the aftermath of the TV story, based around Earth's attempt to rebuild, and, inevitably, some Daleks turning out still to be around somewhere. This is different, in that it's set a year before the TV story, well into, but not beyond, the time of the occupation.
This, inevitably, leads to a different, and rather unusual, sort of story. Because he knows his earlier self will eventually face and defeat them, the Sixth Doctor has to avoid doing so on this occasion, or even giving them any foreknowledge of who he is.
The story avoids too much duplication of the original by being set in northern Scotland, rather than London and Bedfordshire, but it also has all the trappings of that earlier tale: Robomen, the Slyther, and so on. That the Doctor and Peri spend three quarters of this story on the run from the Daleks adds to the recreation of the atmosphere, and, for the same duration, the story is a largely personal one without world-shaking stakes, painting a bleak picture of the Dalek Occupation.
In the final quarter, we have something that's more akin to a typical Dalek story, although, for bonus points, it does foreshadow an episode of the modern TV series (tangentially, of course, given BF's license at the time). This is, to my mind, rather less strong than the previous parts, which are stronger on atmosphere and individual peril. It's also true that Peri isn't as well used here as she might be, being a fairly generic companion and mostly being threatened.
I think you would have to be familiar with the Dalek stories of the '60s to really enjoy this and get all the references. As well as, of course, be okay with the idea that the Doctor doesn't - indeed can't - save the planet at the end of the tale. For me, however, these features only enhanced the atmosphere and I found it an effective prequel/sequel to DIoE.
This, inevitably, leads to a different, and rather unusual, sort of story. Because he knows his earlier self will eventually face and defeat them, the Sixth Doctor has to avoid doing so on this occasion, or even giving them any foreknowledge of who he is.
The story avoids too much duplication of the original by being set in northern Scotland, rather than London and Bedfordshire, but it also has all the trappings of that earlier tale: Robomen, the Slyther, and so on. That the Doctor and Peri spend three quarters of this story on the run from the Daleks adds to the recreation of the atmosphere, and, for the same duration, the story is a largely personal one without world-shaking stakes, painting a bleak picture of the Dalek Occupation.
In the final quarter, we have something that's more akin to a typical Dalek story, although, for bonus points, it does foreshadow an episode of the modern TV series (tangentially, of course, given BF's license at the time). This is, to my mind, rather less strong than the previous parts, which are stronger on atmosphere and individual peril. It's also true that Peri isn't as well used here as she might be, being a fairly generic companion and mostly being threatened.
I think you would have to be familiar with the Dalek stories of the '60s to really enjoy this and get all the references. As well as, of course, be okay with the idea that the Doctor doesn't - indeed can't - save the planet at the end of the tale. For me, however, these features only enhanced the atmosphere and I found it an effective prequel/sequel to DIoE.
July 26, 2022
The writing team of Wright and Scott are back with another story of plot and counter plot involving different factions, with the Doctor and the newly returned Peri caught in the middle of it all. The scene starts in Scotland one year before Doctor 1 defeats the Daleks in "The Dalek Invasion of Earth." This time it is Peri, older and more self-confident, who gets the pair in trouble when her moral outrage gets the better of her. Before you know it, there is a capture, an escape, and then a mad chase to the Orkneys. The story has very much the sense of the middle portion of "The Daleks' Masterplan," and even includes the Varga plants. The spirit of Terry Nation is all over this script. This could have been handled poorly, with just one danger following another. Wright and Scott have cleverly made these narrow escapes part of a coherent plot. Nothing is quite what it seems and motives are suitably murky. It's an engaging adventure.
January 20, 2019
Sort of like an historical adventure, only set in the future. Doctor Who doesn't do many stories like these, but the Dalek Invasion of Earth is the perfect future setting for such a tale. Wright and Scott have written a fan action adventure romp and with the added caveat of it being a 'historical' it works really well.
I haven't listened to the previous story, but this one told me enough to know about where Peri and the Doctor are at in their relationship. So its okay to just jump in and listen to Masters of Earth if you want to.
I haven't listened to the previous story, but this one told me enough to know about where Peri and the Doctor are at in their relationship. So its okay to just jump in and listen to Masters of Earth if you want to.
January 2, 2022
The Sixth Doctor and Peri in an adventure set a year before The Dalek Invasion of Earth. As one would expect, Six doesn’t wanna disrupt future events. The first half is stronger, but the second half is not too shabby. And that’s saying a lot, given how much Dalek fatigue I’ve been feeling.
October 12, 2024
Colin baker
November 10, 2025
Another great listen in my latest trawl through my Doctor Who audiobook collection. I was not expecting a great deal from this story and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
Peri has rejoined the Sixth Doctor after time away from him, following events in Mindwarp and with King Yrcanos. She comes back older and wiser, more questioning and this makes for a better relationship between them. Peri challenges the Doctor, makes him face his humanity and even as she risks losing her identity to a Varga plant, she manages to hold onto who she is and be a proactive feature of the story. This is not the whining Peri of the tv series and this more mature iteration makes a lot of sense.
The bluffs and double bluffs of this story are very good indeed. The need to keep Moira Brody alive to lead the future rebellion is a strong thread in the story. To then find out she is an elite Dalek operative, an elite Roboman effectively, is shattering.
That the Doctor has to stop her and then make her a martyr, thus preserving her memory is a stunning commentary on war and collaboration. It gives the story added layers of depth beyond a standard invasion/rebellion narrative so familiar to Doctor Who. The idea of Moira winning and creating something worse than the Daleks gives the Doctor the impetus he needs to be involved and do something. War does not allow for bystanders.
What starts as a road trip to the Orkneys to find the rebellion becomes a commentary on occupation and the choices people make. The derring-do of fighting Slythers, Robomen and Vargas becomes an examination of identity and motivation in times of war.
Another great entry in the Big Finish range. Really worth listening to if you want to get behind what makes Doctor Who and the Daleks so relevant to this day.
Peri has rejoined the Sixth Doctor after time away from him, following events in Mindwarp and with King Yrcanos. She comes back older and wiser, more questioning and this makes for a better relationship between them. Peri challenges the Doctor, makes him face his humanity and even as she risks losing her identity to a Varga plant, she manages to hold onto who she is and be a proactive feature of the story. This is not the whining Peri of the tv series and this more mature iteration makes a lot of sense.
The bluffs and double bluffs of this story are very good indeed. The need to keep Moira Brody alive to lead the future rebellion is a strong thread in the story. To then find out she is an elite Dalek operative, an elite Roboman effectively, is shattering.
That the Doctor has to stop her and then make her a martyr, thus preserving her memory is a stunning commentary on war and collaboration. It gives the story added layers of depth beyond a standard invasion/rebellion narrative so familiar to Doctor Who. The idea of Moira winning and creating something worse than the Daleks gives the Doctor the impetus he needs to be involved and do something. War does not allow for bystanders.
What starts as a road trip to the Orkneys to find the rebellion becomes a commentary on occupation and the choices people make. The derring-do of fighting Slythers, Robomen and Vargas becomes an examination of identity and motivation in times of war.
Another great entry in the Big Finish range. Really worth listening to if you want to get behind what makes Doctor Who and the Daleks so relevant to this day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2015
Bit of a let-down after The Widow's Assassin which was awesome.
This had an awesome premise - 6th Doctor lands on Dalek-controlled Earth a year before the 1st Doctor will be coming to liberate it - so he can't do the usual thing and save the day. However, the story dodges this for a fairly standard defeat-the-Daleks adventure.
This had an awesome premise - 6th Doctor lands on Dalek-controlled Earth a year before the 1st Doctor will be coming to liberate it - so he can't do the usual thing and save the day. However, the story dodges this for a fairly standard defeat-the-Daleks adventure.
August 7, 2016
The Doctor and Peri try to end the Daleks on earth without disrupting the timeline.
March 18, 2015
If you do not listen to this, you will be EXTERMINATED!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews