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Big Finish: Monthly Range #203
Doctor Who: Terror of the Sontarans
Once it was a mining facility. Then later its corridors rang with screams generated by grotesque military experiments. However when the Doctor and Mel arrive on a hostile alien world after detecting a distress signal, the base they find themselves in is almost deserted.
But not for long. Soon the Doctor's old enemies, the Sontarans, have landed, and are searching for the remnants of their previous research team. Before long they uncover evidence of strange occurrences on the planet. Of madness and death.
They are warriors bred for war, strong of spirit and unafraid of death. To fear the enemy is an act of betrayal. Nothing holds terror for the Sontarans.
Until now...
But not for long. Soon the Doctor's old enemies, the Sontarans, have landed, and are searching for the remnants of their previous research team. Before long they uncover evidence of strange occurrences on the planet. Of madness and death.
They are warriors bred for war, strong of spirit and unafraid of death. To fear the enemy is an act of betrayal. Nothing holds terror for the Sontarans.
Until now...
Audio CD
First published September 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
John Dorney
166 books26 followersJohn Dorney is a British writer and actor best known for stage roles including the National Theatre, the BBC Radio 4 sitcom My First Planet; and his scripts for the Big Finish Doctor Who range. His script 'Solitaire' was rated the most popular Doctor Who Companion Chronicle of 2010 on the Timescales website and was the runner up in Unreality Sci-fi net's poll for Story of the Year 2010-11.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 13, 2025
The seventh doctor and Mel arrive on a planet in an abandoned mining facility that later also saw some military experiments take place there. They decided to go there after receiving a distress signal. The Sontarans have sent it. But Sontarans are bred for war, so what could have scared them?
I love a good base under siege story, so I had high hopes for this. The setting is atmospheric and feels big enough to fit the cast, yet it’s also isolated and claustrophobic enough to elevate the suspense and intensity. The mystery of what could have scared the Sontarans is also an interesting concept and we’re kept in the dark long enough to keep us guessing.
Unfortunately, the execution is lacking. The story takes such a long time to get going. The comedy attempts not only undermine the seriousness of the story, but they also make the Sontarans feel less threatening and interesting. And the other aliens feel like they worked better in theory.
It’s not bad, but it is disappointing. It’s a mixed bag that’s still a solid enough base under siege story for a one time listen. It’s just disappointing because there was so much potential for more. My actual rating would be two and a half stars, but I’m rounding it down for the reasons I just mentioned.
I love a good base under siege story, so I had high hopes for this. The setting is atmospheric and feels big enough to fit the cast, yet it’s also isolated and claustrophobic enough to elevate the suspense and intensity. The mystery of what could have scared the Sontarans is also an interesting concept and we’re kept in the dark long enough to keep us guessing.
Unfortunately, the execution is lacking. The story takes such a long time to get going. The comedy attempts not only undermine the seriousness of the story, but they also make the Sontarans feel less threatening and interesting. And the other aliens feel like they worked better in theory.
It’s not bad, but it is disappointing. It’s a mixed bag that’s still a solid enough base under siege story for a one time listen. It’s just disappointing because there was so much potential for more. My actual rating would be two and a half stars, but I’m rounding it down for the reasons I just mentioned.
October 3, 2018
42 WORD REVIEW:
The Seventh Doctor is in full-on affability mode, drained of all intensity; the Sontarans are demented à la Strax; and one of the minor characters is channelling his inner Lord Flashheart. A specious comedy where only Bonnie Langford takes her role seriously.
The Seventh Doctor is in full-on affability mode, drained of all intensity; the Sontarans are demented à la Strax; and one of the minor characters is channelling his inner Lord Flashheart. A specious comedy where only Bonnie Langford takes her role seriously.
June 2, 2020
3*
I am so glad Big finish are giving Mel the character development she deserves.
I am so glad Big finish are giving Mel the character development she deserves.
March 23, 2019
This is a base under siege story with the unusual twist that the defenders are a squad of Sontaran soldiers. (The presence of Sontarans in the story isn't revealed until the 30-minute mark, but given the title, and I think it's fair to say it isn't a spoiler). It is very different from the previous audio story to use a vaguely similar premise, Heroes of Sontar in that, despite the odd humorous line here and there, this isn't played for laughs - the intention is something darker and more psychological.
This is achieved by keeping the real foe mysterious and having slowly affect the minds and sanities of those on the base. This gives us the chance to see Sontarans in a way that we normally don't, as much victims as anyone else, and slowly cracking under the strain. There are human prisoners in the story as well, to remind us of Sontaran brutality, not to mention a murderous crustacean that just seems to be there to jump out randomly at the other characters. But the personalities of the Sontarans are at least reasonably well done, and the one of them that, for whatever reason, is unaffected by the monster comes across as almost sympathetic - if only by contrast with his fellows.
Although she does get a chance to work on a computer program at one point, Mel is not particularly developed here, being mostly generic, if less irritating than she often was on TV. She is also unaffected by the foe, which was possibly missing a trick - not so much for the sense of peril, which she's in plenty of anyway, but because of the potential insight into her mind. We're also before the scheming, slightly darker, version of Seven from the final two seasons, which makes him less interesting, too.
In the end, the Sontarans are too single-minded, the prisoners too bland, and the occasional attempts at humour too ill-judged for this to be any more than merely average. It's an interesting idea, but one that doesn't quite reach its true potential.
This is achieved by keeping the real foe mysterious and having slowly affect the minds and sanities of those on the base. This gives us the chance to see Sontarans in a way that we normally don't, as much victims as anyone else, and slowly cracking under the strain. There are human prisoners in the story as well, to remind us of Sontaran brutality, not to mention a murderous crustacean that just seems to be there to jump out randomly at the other characters. But the personalities of the Sontarans are at least reasonably well done, and the one of them that, for whatever reason, is unaffected by the monster comes across as almost sympathetic - if only by contrast with his fellows.
Although she does get a chance to work on a computer program at one point, Mel is not particularly developed here, being mostly generic, if less irritating than she often was on TV. She is also unaffected by the foe, which was possibly missing a trick - not so much for the sense of peril, which she's in plenty of anyway, but because of the potential insight into her mind. We're also before the scheming, slightly darker, version of Seven from the final two seasons, which makes him less interesting, too.
In the end, the Sontarans are too single-minded, the prisoners too bland, and the occasional attempts at humour too ill-judged for this to be any more than merely average. It's an interesting idea, but one that doesn't quite reach its true potential.
February 25, 2017
Fairly standard 7th Doctor and Mel story. Nice to hear Dan Starkey and Bonnie Langford but not much else stuck with me
November 29, 2023
Somewhat serviceable.
February 27, 2024
Very average tale. Some good Sontaron over acting which always helps things along. Major science boo boo though. Silicon based life forms look just like normal life, they're not like rocks lol
February 23, 2025
Sylvester McCoy. Excellent
January 8, 2017
The Doctor and Mel battle Sontarans.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews