Shell Game

Stargate-Big Finish Audios #1.3

by James Swallow

Vala Mal Doran finds herself in a particularly sticky situation when an old foe catches up with her. With only Daniel able to fight in her corner, Vala may have to do something that's really not her style - tell the truth!

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

60 pages, Audio CD

First published June 30, 2008

About the author

James Swallow is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author and scriptwriter, a BAFTA nominee, a former journalist and the award-winning writer of over sixty-five books, along with scripts for video games, comics, radio and television.

DARK HORIZON, his latest stand-alone thriller, is out now from Mountain Leopard Press, and OUTLAW, the 6th action-packed Marc Dane novel, is published by Bonnier.

Along with the Marc Dane thrillers, his writing includes, the Sundowners steampunk Westerns and fiction from the worlds of Star Trek, Tom Clancy, 24, Warhammer 40000, Doctor Who, Deus Ex, Stargate, 2000AD and many more.

For information on new releases & more, sign up to the Readers’ Club here: www.bit.ly/JamesSwallow

Visit James's website at http://www.jswallow.com/ for more, including ROUGH AIR, a free eBook novella in the Marc Dane series.

You can also follow James on Bluesky at @jmswallow.bsky.social, Twitter at @jmswallow, Mastodon at @jmswallow@mstdn.social and jmswallow.tumblr.com at Tumblr.

Reviews

[Tommy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stargate Series are the best of the best in subject of exercises in English listening improvement...you listen what you want

[Tularia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel/Vala banter at its finest! Told from Vala's POV, the story shines a lot more light into her character and gives new appreciation for who she is. That Claudia and Michael were both available to record makes this a MUST HEAR!

[Clouddancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good to hear Vala and Daniel again. The plot was very much episode-like; it gave me the good old SG-1 feel. Too bad it was so short!

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

claudia black I would die for you

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vala is the narrator for this second SG-1 audio story, which is set during the TV show's final season. That was the only one in which she was a core character and, for myself at least, that makes her less memorable than some of the other characters whose actors presumably weren't available. (Whereas, of course, Black is very memorable in Farscape, so this is by no means a dig at her). The supporting actor is Michael Shanks but this is very much Vala's story, and, following the usual format of the series, it's Black who does the voices for all the other characters who appear.

It's probably fair to describe this as a comedy, something that wasn't too common on the TV series that I recall (with the obvious exception of 'Wormhole X-Treme') and so perhaps feels a little out of place. Having said that, it's not slapstick or one-note, and there is more to the story than the humorous elements - some of which are due to the desperate situation into which she gets herself, but many to her unreliability as a narrator and her tendency to overstate her accomplishments. As a one-hour story, it's slightly longer than a TV episode would be, but it doesn't feel that way and fits its allotted time slot perfectly.

How well you like this may depend on how much you like Vala, since most of the story takes place before she met the Stargate team, and so doesn't have the feel of a typical TV episode, more of a slightly mad crime caper. Having said which, it works on that level, and if you are a fan of Vala, this gets her personality spot on, and brings it centre-stage, so there's likely plenty to enjoy.

[Ana Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story as told by Vala Mal Doran! I was grinning and laughing while listening to this on my commute to and from work. I'm sure if any of my fellow commuters bothered to notice they would have been very confused or possibly intrigued. This was classic Vala and the fact that they had Michael Shanks voicing Daniel it was even better! They did such a great job with this; both the voice actors and the writer of course!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the unreliable narration and the stories within stories of this audiobook. There was great character insights into Vala and she was so funny as the narrator. I loved her impressions of the rest of the team and especially Daniel, “there are some interesting ruins in the shallows, I’d like to take a look at them and do some archaeological things!” “I don’t sound like that!” 🤣🤣🤣 Also the ending of the story was super satisfying 🥰

[John Michael Strubhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but sweet, this is the 5th installment in Big Finish Audio's production of Stargate stories. Claudia Black and Michael resume their roles as Vala and Daniel and, of course, Vala is in trouble and Daniel is stuck with having to rescue her. If you can get it (good luck with that), it's an excellent listen.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love Vala and Daniel's banter.

[Daniel Gaul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vala does her best to acquire an Ancient device held by a local dictator in order to help Daniel Jackson

[Idamus]

Part of the rerelease box from Big Finish, got it with the other stories but I really hate Vala, so this will just be a DNF, not even going to try.

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vala tries to free herself from a death sentence on a planet she previously stole from.

[Shhhhh Ahhhhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, not a lot for me to say when dealing with short serials. Got my dopamine burst. That's all that matters. Interesting to see a slightly larger cast on this one.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stargate SG-1: Shell Game is the third audiobook based on the Stargate franchise, and the second based on Stargate SG-1. It is an hour-long "episode" of the show, set during season 10 of Stargate SG-1, shortly after The Pegasus Project, featuring Michael Shanks and Claudia Black as the voices of Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran.

While SG-1 is visiting a planet Daniel Jackson finds some ruins that he would like to study and explore thoroughly. Some bounty hunter is on the planet, and they bring Vala Mal Doran with them by Stargate to the planet Holdus for trial. The only way to get out of it? Teeling the truth. Which would be really hard since we're talking about Vala here.

Overall; even though Vala wasnt one of my favorite SG-1 characters I've really really enjoyed this audiobook. I knew Claudia Black would be a awesome narrator because she also voiced Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deceptione as Chloe Frazer -a character a dearly like. I've enjoyed the story and the banter between Daniel and Vala. Both of them were so in character, this felt like a real episode of SG-1. I highly recommend it!

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said this in another review, but I'll say it again. I love Stargate so much.

I binged the series last summer, from SG-1, to Atlantis, to Universe. It all went by so fast. I had discovered the novels quite sometime after, but couldn't get my hands on them at the time. My public library's Libby happened to have a few, however. I'm not an audiobook person by nature, but listening to this was like being hugged by an old friend. Claudia Black truly becomes Vala Mal Doran in any medium, show or audio. The same can be said for Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson. This adventure felt like a classic Stargate adventure with the two of them, showing more of Vala's past as a character, and ultimately ending off in a very good adventure.

I'm glad this was my first encounter with Stargate extended material, but it won't be the last.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book on several levels: the voice acting was great (Claudia Black’s voice impression of Colonel Carter, and of Daniel while Daniel was in the room, was hysterical), the plot was engaging, and the little references to the rest of Stargate SG-1 (using “niktah” as a curse, for instance), made it feel like it was a real story within the canon that just so happened to be in audiobook form. I loved it, and I’m definitely planning to get the other Big Finish productions featuring Michael Shanks and Claudia Black, as they made a great team in this story.

[Blake Pieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story, so typical Vala to get into trouble for something she did in her past. The script/story captured her character well that was created through the TV series - in my eyes anyway :)

This story was entertaining, fun and funny from the beginning till end. I really laughed out loud when Vala imitated Daniels voice.

"I don't sound like that." Daniel
"Oh shut up, I'm tell the story." Vala

So very like them to go at each other like that.

Briliant voice work by the actors who actually played these characters on TV..

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downloaded this on a whim because of Claudia Black and Michael Shanks narrating, and wasn't disappointed. Honestly, I'm completely incapable of judging this book objectively because from the moment Claudia's mellifluous and wonderful voice popped up in my car, I just started giggling from happiness. I fucking love Claudia Black, and I have missed Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran in my life. THE END.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vala was not one of my favorites while SG-1 was on the air (in fact I often said I'd like to see her leave the show), but this audiobook was phenomenal! Claudia Black did a fantastic job narrating the story and her rendition of Vala's skewed logic was a lot of fun to listen to. I absolutely enjoyed this.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vala and Daniel's bickering and general chemistry was one of the best things about the last SG-1 seasons IMO, so getting more of their exploits in audio form wonderfully read by Claudia Black and Michael Shanks made for a highly enjoyable and entertaining treat. My favourite among the SG-1 audiobooks so far.

[Caitie (caitiegirlreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an audiobook read by Claudia Black who plays Vala Mal Doran in Stargate. She cracks me up. Her impersonation of Samantha Carter was priceless.

I loved listening to this, made me realize how much I miss SG1.
What fun. Any true SG1 fan will love this.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite of the Big Finish Stargate range so far. Claudia Black and Michael Shanks play off each other brilliantly as Vala and Daniel, with comments from Daniel such as "I don't sound like that" when Vala is relating the story from her POV.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Stargate SG-1 this book is like candy--sweet, sugary and thoroughly devoid of any nutrition. It is a fun, light book that brings us back to the days when we couldn't get enough of Daniel and Vala and the Stargate team. I look forward to more fun confections like this one.

[Lenka · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of SG-1 stories told by Vala - funny, mischievous as usual. :)

[Reuben Herfindahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures all the humor of Claudia Black. If you are a fan of later SG-1, this is the one to start with.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! ... just so brilliantly well written and afterwards I was simply stunned by Claudia's acting skill.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vala is a hilarious unreliable narrator, perfectly performed by Claudia Black. The character plays well off Daniel.

[Book Goblin, Page Devourer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funnnnnn

[torin_kylara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent addition to this series! I only saw Vala on the cover, so I wasn't expecting Michael Shanks's voice to be in this, and it was an absolutely, ridiculously awesome surprise! One of my absolute favorite things about seasons 9 and 10 of SG-1 was the hilarious interplay between Vala and Daniel, so when they came back in full force for this audio drama, it was just too much! I had forgotten how much I missed those two! It really made me pine for the old days. And isn't that all you can ask of a TV-continuation audio drama?