What do you think?
Rate this book
Blake's 7: Classic Audio Adventures #1.2
Battleground
Blake and the crew of the Liberator have a new mission - and their target is on Straxis, a planet also known as Battleground 9. Because Straxis is a training ground for thousands of Federation troops, and the Liberator has journeyed directly into their sights. Has Blake finally picked a battle he cannot possibly win?
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
Audio CD
First published February 1, 2014
12 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Smith
58 books8 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Andrew Smith wrote the Doctor Who television story Full Circle and its novelisation. At the time of initial broadcast, he was the youngest writer to contribute to the TV series.
Smith submitted his work to more than one Doctor Who script editor. They replied with "positive criticism". Finally he sent The Planet that Slept, which became Full Circle.
Shortly afterwards, he became a police officer, spending a long time in that career.
Smith was approached by Big Finish and displayed interest in writing for them. Because he had started the trilogy with Full Circle, they asked him to write a Companion Chronicles story set in E-Space. The Invasion of E-Space was released in October 2010.
Andrew Smith wrote the Doctor Who television story Full Circle and its novelisation. At the time of initial broadcast, he was the youngest writer to contribute to the TV series.
Smith submitted his work to more than one Doctor Who script editor. They replied with "positive criticism". Finally he sent The Planet that Slept, which became Full Circle.
Shortly afterwards, he became a police officer, spending a long time in that career.
Smith was approached by Big Finish and displayed interest in writing for them. Because he had started the trilogy with Full Circle, they asked him to write a Companion Chronicles story set in E-Space. The Invasion of E-Space was released in October 2010.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 11, 2016
La "temporada 2.5" de B7 continúa con una historia de espionaje que lleva a la tripulación del Liberator a un planeta en donde la Federación usa a convictos para entrenar a sus tropas en combate a muerte. Esta vez el protagonismo recae en Blake y Avon, por lo que el diálogo mordaz y las recriminaciones están a la orden del día. Un muy buen episodio en donde vemos como va avanzando el arco argumental que envuelve toda esta temporada, el descubrimiento de un proyecto de la Federación para replicar al superordenador Orac. Excelente trabajo de actores y del equipo de efectos sonoros.
April 10, 2024
This is a real classic. Liberator drops off Blake and Avon then has to depart because it gets attacked. Whole mission is essentially a data gathering quest with a side story that proves more interesting than the main story. Great fun.
October 8, 2019
Another excellent B7 audio.
Blake and Avon land on the planet Straxis in search of a Federation Operative Michelov whom they need information from. The planet is a training ground for Federation soldiers who use prisoners as live targets.
This is a pretty exciting story and very true to the feel of B7 - holding a re-training camp using live targets feels like something the Federation would do. It's lively, fast paced and I like how Michelov is like an overseer rating the officer's progress and pissing him off. Voice cast is excellent and Gareth Thomas is finally getting back into the Blake persona (far easier to identify than in the previous Blake audio). You never need to have the characters referred to in this one - you just instantly know who is speaking from voice alone.
There isn't much for the rest of the B7 cast past the opening - unlike the previous story Fractures, this one really is the Blake/Avon show - but I can live with that. Also have 1.3: Drones on hand because this is only half the story and ends on an almighty cliffhanger.
As ever with Big Finish some great interviews in the bonus features as well.
Recommended.
Blake and Avon land on the planet Straxis in search of a Federation Operative Michelov whom they need information from. The planet is a training ground for Federation soldiers who use prisoners as live targets.
This is a pretty exciting story and very true to the feel of B7 - holding a re-training camp using live targets feels like something the Federation would do. It's lively, fast paced and I like how Michelov is like an overseer rating the officer's progress and pissing him off. Voice cast is excellent and Gareth Thomas is finally getting back into the Blake persona (far easier to identify than in the previous Blake audio). You never need to have the characters referred to in this one - you just instantly know who is speaking from voice alone.
There isn't much for the rest of the B7 cast past the opening - unlike the previous story Fractures, this one really is the Blake/Avon show - but I can live with that. Also have 1.3: Drones on hand because this is only half the story and ends on an almighty cliffhanger.
As ever with Big Finish some great interviews in the bonus features as well.
Recommended.
September 20, 2025
When Heroes Become Villains: "Battleground" Proves Blake's 7 Still Has Teeth
The revolution gets personal in this gripping follow-up that proves Big Finish's Blake's 7 revival has staying power.
"Battleground" takes everything that worked in "Fractures" and amplifies it, delivering a more focused narrative that digs deep into what makes this universe tick. Where the previous adventure explored fractured realities, this one fractures something far more precious: trust within the crew itself.
Writer Mark Wright crafts a story that feels authentically Blake's 7—morally murky, politically charged, and unafraid to make its heroes uncomfortable. The setup is deceptively simple: the Liberator crew finds themselves caught between two warring factions on a contested planet. But nothing in Blake's universe is ever that straightforward, and "Battleground" revels in the gray areas that made the original series so compelling.
What elevates this above standard space opera is how personal the stakes become. Each crew member faces choices that force them to confront their own definitions of justice, loyalty, and acceptable sacrifice. Paul Darrow's Avon remains the standout—his performance crackles with the intellectual arrogance and hidden vulnerability that made the character iconic. The supporting cast continues to gel beautifully, with particular praise for how the newer voices complement rather than compete with the returning legends.
The production values maintain Big Finish's high standards. The soundscape creates a believable war zone without overwhelming the intimate character moments. The pacing is tighter than "Fractures," with each scene serving multiple purposes and no wasted moments.
If there's a criticism, it's that some of the political allegory feels slightly heavy-handed compared to the original series' more subtle approach. The parallels to contemporary conflicts are clear, perhaps too clear at times. Additionally, one character's arc resolves in a way that feels more hopeful than the relentlessly pragmatic Blake's 7 universe typically allows.
But these are minor quibbles with what is ultimately a successful expansion of the mythology. "Battleground" understands that Blake's 7 was never really about space battles or Federation politics—it was about damaged people making impossible choices in an unjust universe. This story honors that legacy while proving the franchise can still surprise us.
The rebellion continues, and it's in capable hands.
Recommended for fans of the original series, political science fiction, and anyone who appreciates morally complex storytelling that doesn't provide easy answers.
The revolution gets personal in this gripping follow-up that proves Big Finish's Blake's 7 revival has staying power.
"Battleground" takes everything that worked in "Fractures" and amplifies it, delivering a more focused narrative that digs deep into what makes this universe tick. Where the previous adventure explored fractured realities, this one fractures something far more precious: trust within the crew itself.
Writer Mark Wright crafts a story that feels authentically Blake's 7—morally murky, politically charged, and unafraid to make its heroes uncomfortable. The setup is deceptively simple: the Liberator crew finds themselves caught between two warring factions on a contested planet. But nothing in Blake's universe is ever that straightforward, and "Battleground" revels in the gray areas that made the original series so compelling.
What elevates this above standard space opera is how personal the stakes become. Each crew member faces choices that force them to confront their own definitions of justice, loyalty, and acceptable sacrifice. Paul Darrow's Avon remains the standout—his performance crackles with the intellectual arrogance and hidden vulnerability that made the character iconic. The supporting cast continues to gel beautifully, with particular praise for how the newer voices complement rather than compete with the returning legends.
The production values maintain Big Finish's high standards. The soundscape creates a believable war zone without overwhelming the intimate character moments. The pacing is tighter than "Fractures," with each scene serving multiple purposes and no wasted moments.
If there's a criticism, it's that some of the political allegory feels slightly heavy-handed compared to the original series' more subtle approach. The parallels to contemporary conflicts are clear, perhaps too clear at times. Additionally, one character's arc resolves in a way that feels more hopeful than the relentlessly pragmatic Blake's 7 universe typically allows.
But these are minor quibbles with what is ultimately a successful expansion of the mythology. "Battleground" understands that Blake's 7 was never really about space battles or Federation politics—it was about damaged people making impossible choices in an unjust universe. This story honors that legacy while proving the franchise can still surprise us.
The rebellion continues, and it's in capable hands.
Recommended for fans of the original series, political science fiction, and anyone who appreciates morally complex storytelling that doesn't provide easy answers.
November 29, 2018
Very good audiobook story was good and what a cliffhanger will definitely listen to the next audiobook drones
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews