Doctor Who: The Gods of Winter: A 12th Doctor Audio Original

Doctor Who: The Winter Series #1

by James Goss, Clare Higgins (Reader)

Clare Higgins reads this exciting original adventure featuring the 12th Doctor and Clara, as played by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in the BBC TV series.

On a remote human colony planet, under the cover of a protective dome, young Diana Winter summons the TARDIS. Brought to her side by the power of a mysterious calling card, the Doctor and Clara are given one of their unlikeliest assignments yet. Yet it is one that will have far-reaching consequences…

Many years later, on the homeworld of the alien Golhearn, the time travellers once again meet Diana - but this time the stakes are much higher. The Golhearn’s savage madness is threatening to destroy their own civilisation, and Diana has a personal reason to call for the Doctor once again. Is he willing to assist, or must Clara go it alone? Can anyone discover the cause of the monstrous insanity that threatens them all?

Clare Higgins, who played Ohila in the Doctor Who mini-episode Night of the Doctor, reads this thrilling original adventure by James Goss, part of the Tales of Winter quartet of stories.

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

51 pages, Audio CD

First published August 20, 2015

About the author

James Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleased to see a new original audio drama with the current Doctor. It's been years and years since we've had one of those! Honestly, this wasn't one of my favorites. 3 star for the story itself, bummed up one just for the delight of the fine production and that we have 3 more in the series to look forward to in the next few months!

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023 52 Book Challenge - Summer Road Trip Mini Challenge - Buddies - 2) A Book Featuring A Pet

I quite enjoyed this short audio story. I actually really enjoyed the first half with the search for the cat, and the second half made sense, even if I wasn't a massive fan of it.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐

[Kribu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never actually listened to audiobooks before. Or plays. Or radio plays. Or .. well, basically anything where I need to sit and listen, not since I was but a wee child and all we had was the radio, and even then I far preferred the printed word to the spoken one.

So, yeah. New experience! I was quite wary as I don't do listening well - I cannot multitask at all if I'm to listen to something, because the moment my thoughts wonder elsewhere, I've absolutely no idea at all what I'm hearing (I've had entire albums play while I'm doing something else without me having the faintest idea of having ever heard them). Add to that listening to something in a language that is neither my native tongue nor my first language - I don't have trouble understanding English as such, but I prefer subtitles (English will do) for TV/films whenever possible as it's just so much easier to read than it is to listen - and ... yeah, there are many reasons why I've stayed away from them so far.

Anyway. All the above has nothing to do with this audiobook, except that I love the Twelfth Doctor so much, and I love Twelve & Clara so much, and it's been a long year without my babies, and it's quite clear that it will be a long time (if ever) that we'll ever get new Twelve & Clara content again, so .. here's a stack of four interconnected audio-exclusive stories which I'd bought but set aside for a very long time (because, well, audio). So .. I decided to be brave.

And I actually quite enjoyed this! I did have to focus very, very carefully - eyes closed, headphones instead of speakers - because even looking up made sure I missed something, so in this sense this fairly short story, just one CD's worth, was a good thing to start with.

Story-wise, it was ... okay. Not breathtaking. Some fun moments (especially in the first third of the story). I felt the characterisation of the Doctor was perhaps a little one-note and a bit too stubborn/petulant in ways that didn't strike me quite right for a post-Last Christmas Doctor, but eh, it worked for the story, I suppose.

[Gunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars: 1 star deduction for lack of voice actors and 1 star deduction for pacing.

I was glad to find this winter quartet as I've greatly missed Clara since her departure. I Listened to the this one on a walk last night which was a pleasant experience. I wish it was voiced by the actors (Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi especially... another specific actor for Diana as well- the rest could remain generic) as the story felt somewhat flat with monotonous narration (sound effects were a welcome addition). Otherwise it was an interesting story revolving around a particular mystery to which the events are in many respects accidental* to the (presumable) over arching story of quartet- now there is no problem to this in and of itself; but, the events felt rushed... an extra half-hour could have given it an extra star for pacing.

Naturally, there was a decent amount of humor- I'm sure I looked rather foolish suddenly laughing aloud.


* here I'm using "accidental" in the Aristotelian sense in opposition to essential rather than as a mistake.

[Hasselhh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full disclosure this story features two of my least favorite people in the Who-franchise (Clara and 12th), and if I hadn’t been driving I would not have listened to Doctor Who: Twelfth Doctor Tales: Twelfth Doctor Audio Originals but changed to something else – anything else.

Argh this story annoys me so much! The start of the story was so promising, so I thought to myself – man I’m glad I got this long drive to listen to all these stories that I’ve been avoiding, because this is more than halfway decent. However(!) then it changes up on you – like three times, each time getting worse. And all I want is to go back to that promising beginning of the Doctor being called by a mysterious card from his own future to the aid of this little girl in a strange dome. The first 10-15 minutes of this story was so good that I enjoyed it even though I absolutely hate the premise of a pouting Doctor that that is just way too important to help a little girl find her cat!!!! #notmyDoctor (!!!) Oh how I hate when the TARDIS crew alienate me.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the chance to listen to the german audiobook for free (Amazon Music unlimited).
Not the best Story in the history of Doctor Who. As I normally watch the Show in english I cringed everytime he talks about his "Schallschraubenzieher" (sonic screwdriver). All in all it was "okay".

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable short audio story. It is the first story in a wider arc of four stories. The 12th Doctor is one of my faves and so I was delighted to get to spend more time with him. The story was interesting plus I love it when Doctor Who plots get all timey-wimey.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good actually.

[Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but short. Only 1st part of 4 part story that they sold separately...

Love the 'twist', with Who franchise you never know where the story will take you. Loved it.

[Rhys Causon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very middle of the road in terms of a Doctor Who expanded canon story.

[Jas · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was kind of shockingly bad seeing as it was devised and written specifically for audio. ie things like, "There was a shrill scream" followed by the sound effect 'arghh!' Shrill is clearly something in the "aaihhh!" range. Or there would be descriptions of someone coughing and no vocalisation. Pretty weak. (this covers the whole Tales of Winter series not specifically #1)

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story. There are a few really tense moments and there's a lot of action, as well as new monsters and a new world. It's short and well-paced, and Clare Higgins does a great job with the reading. It's actually more like two stories which are closely connected, since there is a time jump in the middle.

Since this story is set after series 8, I thought that the Doctor was a bit out of character, especially at the beginning. He was a little bit too cruel - more Kill the Moon than Last Christmas. Clara was great though, and Diana Winter was a fun character, especially in the latter half of the story when we get to find out more about her.

[Leilani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of these audio shorts always suffers from being too brief, but this felt extra lacking. The Doctor was written as though his only characterization were the petulance he displayed in the Robin Hood episode, and the plot contrivance of Clara's scene in the shuttle was just annoying.

[Richard Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it when Doctor Who adventures get a little bit time-bendy. Always seemed suspicious when the Doctor re-encounters people in the right order. Liked James Goss's 12th Doctor, he really captured him well.

[Teralyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not, bad. A little sparse. I'm curious to see where they are going to take this 'Winter Family' saga.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fellow Whovians. This was an amazing story.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and I enjoyed the story but was surprised at the lenght

[Nicholas Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story which nicely captures the essential character of the Doctor and Clara. Short but enjoyable.

[Shadowsword · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr schönes hörbuch. Super serie. Eine der besten von dr. Who.

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short doctor who story with some of my favourite characters.