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Blake's 7: Classic Audio Adventures #2.4
Ghost Ship
A new full cast adventure for the crew of the Liberator. With one of their own missing, Avon's band of rebels begins a search that will lead them to encounter cult members, ghosts and voices from the past. Vila is scared. Of course he is. Vila is always scared. He should feel safe. He is on board the Liberator, the most powerful ship ever constructed. He is home - but he is certainly not alone. Ghostly figures stalk the corridors of the Liberator. Spectres who know Vila's name. Revenants. Demons. And Vila has nowhere to run. All new audio drama performed by five original Blake's 7 cast members, with specially composed music and cinematic sound design. The tenth full cast Blake's 7 release from Big Finish in a series proving hugely popular with fans of the original series. Starring the main cast from the third series of the BBC TV series. Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal), Jan Chappell (Cally), Steven Pacey (Del Tarrant), Tom Chadbon (Del Grant), Alistiar Lock (Zen/Orac), Nick Asbury (Revenant One), Susan Franklyn (Revenant Two).
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
Audio CD
First published February 28, 2015
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 13, 2025
Space, Spectres, and Salvage: Blake's 7: Ghost Ship Recaptures the Magic
Audio dramas based on beloved television series face a unique challenge: they must evoke nostalgia while justifying their existence beyond mere fan service. Iain McLaughlin's Ghost Ship , part of Big Finish Productions' Blake's 7 Classic Audio Adventures series, succeeds admirably on both counts, delivering a taut science fiction thriller that feels authentically connected to the original series while exploiting the audio medium's particular strengths.
For those unfamiliar, Blake's 7 was a BBC science fiction series that ran from 1978 to 1981, following a group of rebels fighting against the totalitarian Terran Federation aboard their stolen alien spacecraft, the Liberator. The show was darker and more cynical than its contemporaries, with morally compromised characters, frequent failures, and a willingness to kill off protagonists. McLaughlin understands this tone intimately, crafting a story that captures the series' blend of action, moral ambiguity, and character-driven drama.
Ghost Ship finds the Liberator crew responding to a distress signal from a derelict vessel drifting at the edge of known space. What begins as a seemingly straightforward salvage operation quickly becomes something far more sinister as the crew discovers the ship isn't quite as abandoned as it appears. Strange phenomena plague the boarding party, crew members begin experiencing vivid hallucinations related to their deepest fears and regrets, and the line between reality and psychological manipulation blurs dangerously.
McLaughlin's script demonstrates excellent understanding of each character's voice and psychology. Avon, the brilliant, cynical computer expert who serves as the group's reluctant leader in Blake's absence, gets particularly strong material. His acidic wit and cold pragmatism are perfectly captured, but the script also probes beneath that armor, exploring the isolation and trust issues that define him. His interactions with Vila, the cowardly thief whose apparent weakness masks genuine insight, crackle with the antagonistic affection that made their dynamic so compelling in the series.
The supporting cast receives equal attention. Cally, the telepathic alien freedom fighter, becomes central to unraveling the mystery, and McLaughlin gives her genuine agency rather than simply using her abilities as a plot device. Dayna and Tarrant's contrasting approaches to danger—her calculated violence versus his impulsive heroics—create productive tension during the crisis. Even Orac, the super-intelligent but irritable computer, gets memorable moments that balance comic relief with genuine utility.
The audio format proves ideal for this particular story. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the ghost ship, the disembodied voices and unexplained sounds, and the characters' growing paranoia work beautifully in a medium that requires listeners to construct the visuals themselves. Sound design and music, reminiscent of the original series' electronic score, establish mood effectively without overwhelming the dialogue. The production team clearly understands that in audio drama, what you don't explicitly show can be more powerful than elaborate description.
McLaughlin's plot unfolds with admirable efficiency across the roughly 70-minute runtime. The mystery has enough complexity to satisfy without becoming convoluted. The reveal of what's actually happening aboard the ghost ship ties together psychological horror, hard science fiction concepts, and the series' ongoing themes about power, control, and the price of resistance. The resolution feels earned rather than convenient, arising organically from the characters' choices and sacrifices.
Thematically, Ghost Ship explores territory that feels authentically Blake's 7. Questions about the reliability of perception, the nature of fear, and what individuals will sacrifice for survival resonate throughout. The story examines how trauma shapes these characters, acknowledging their past experiences without being enslaved to continuity. New listeners could follow the narrative, while longtime fans will appreciate the deeper layers that reference the crew's history.
The pacing occasionally flags during the middle section, where multiple crew members describe similar hallucinatory experiences. Some variation in how these manifestations affect different characters could have maintained momentum more effectively. Additionally, the resolution, while emotionally satisfying, ties up threads a bit too neatly for a series known for its moral complexity and ambiguous outcomes.
The voice cast deserves enormous credit. The actors recreate their television performances without feeling like mere impersonations, finding the essence of these characters decades later. The chemistry between cast members remains palpable, lending authenticity to relationships that made the original series special.
Verdict: Four stars for an audio drama that successfully revives Blake's 7's spirit while telling a compelling story in its own right. McLaughlin's script balances action, character development, and thematic depth, while the audio format enhances rather than limits the storytelling. Minor pacing issues and an overly tidy resolution prevent it from reaching five-star perfection, but Ghost Ship stands as excellent science fiction audio drama that respects its source material while justifying its existence. For Blake's 7 fans, it's essential listening. For science fiction enthusiasts unfamiliar with the series, it's an accessible and engaging introduction to a darker, more cynical vision of space adventure.
Audio dramas based on beloved television series face a unique challenge: they must evoke nostalgia while justifying their existence beyond mere fan service. Iain McLaughlin's Ghost Ship , part of Big Finish Productions' Blake's 7 Classic Audio Adventures series, succeeds admirably on both counts, delivering a taut science fiction thriller that feels authentically connected to the original series while exploiting the audio medium's particular strengths.
For those unfamiliar, Blake's 7 was a BBC science fiction series that ran from 1978 to 1981, following a group of rebels fighting against the totalitarian Terran Federation aboard their stolen alien spacecraft, the Liberator. The show was darker and more cynical than its contemporaries, with morally compromised characters, frequent failures, and a willingness to kill off protagonists. McLaughlin understands this tone intimately, crafting a story that captures the series' blend of action, moral ambiguity, and character-driven drama.
Ghost Ship finds the Liberator crew responding to a distress signal from a derelict vessel drifting at the edge of known space. What begins as a seemingly straightforward salvage operation quickly becomes something far more sinister as the crew discovers the ship isn't quite as abandoned as it appears. Strange phenomena plague the boarding party, crew members begin experiencing vivid hallucinations related to their deepest fears and regrets, and the line between reality and psychological manipulation blurs dangerously.
McLaughlin's script demonstrates excellent understanding of each character's voice and psychology. Avon, the brilliant, cynical computer expert who serves as the group's reluctant leader in Blake's absence, gets particularly strong material. His acidic wit and cold pragmatism are perfectly captured, but the script also probes beneath that armor, exploring the isolation and trust issues that define him. His interactions with Vila, the cowardly thief whose apparent weakness masks genuine insight, crackle with the antagonistic affection that made their dynamic so compelling in the series.
The supporting cast receives equal attention. Cally, the telepathic alien freedom fighter, becomes central to unraveling the mystery, and McLaughlin gives her genuine agency rather than simply using her abilities as a plot device. Dayna and Tarrant's contrasting approaches to danger—her calculated violence versus his impulsive heroics—create productive tension during the crisis. Even Orac, the super-intelligent but irritable computer, gets memorable moments that balance comic relief with genuine utility.
The audio format proves ideal for this particular story. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the ghost ship, the disembodied voices and unexplained sounds, and the characters' growing paranoia work beautifully in a medium that requires listeners to construct the visuals themselves. Sound design and music, reminiscent of the original series' electronic score, establish mood effectively without overwhelming the dialogue. The production team clearly understands that in audio drama, what you don't explicitly show can be more powerful than elaborate description.
McLaughlin's plot unfolds with admirable efficiency across the roughly 70-minute runtime. The mystery has enough complexity to satisfy without becoming convoluted. The reveal of what's actually happening aboard the ghost ship ties together psychological horror, hard science fiction concepts, and the series' ongoing themes about power, control, and the price of resistance. The resolution feels earned rather than convenient, arising organically from the characters' choices and sacrifices.
Thematically, Ghost Ship explores territory that feels authentically Blake's 7. Questions about the reliability of perception, the nature of fear, and what individuals will sacrifice for survival resonate throughout. The story examines how trauma shapes these characters, acknowledging their past experiences without being enslaved to continuity. New listeners could follow the narrative, while longtime fans will appreciate the deeper layers that reference the crew's history.
The pacing occasionally flags during the middle section, where multiple crew members describe similar hallucinatory experiences. Some variation in how these manifestations affect different characters could have maintained momentum more effectively. Additionally, the resolution, while emotionally satisfying, ties up threads a bit too neatly for a series known for its moral complexity and ambiguous outcomes.
The voice cast deserves enormous credit. The actors recreate their television performances without feeling like mere impersonations, finding the essence of these characters decades later. The chemistry between cast members remains palpable, lending authenticity to relationships that made the original series special.
Verdict: Four stars for an audio drama that successfully revives Blake's 7's spirit while telling a compelling story in its own right. McLaughlin's script balances action, character development, and thematic depth, while the audio format enhances rather than limits the storytelling. Minor pacing issues and an overly tidy resolution prevent it from reaching five-star perfection, but Ghost Ship stands as excellent science fiction audio drama that respects its source material while justifying its existence. For Blake's 7 fans, it's essential listening. For science fiction enthusiasts unfamiliar with the series, it's an accessible and engaging introduction to a darker, more cynical vision of space adventure.
May 11, 2016
Un capítulo en el que Vila es el protagonista siempre es bien recibido. En este caso, la tripulación del Liberator se teletransporta a un planeta dónde Avon quiere sacar información del paradero de Dayna, pero la acción principal tiene lugar en la nave, ya que Vila es acechado por unos "fantasmas" que aparecen en las leyendas del planeta y que desconectan a Orac y Zen y dominan la mente de Avon para hacerle la puñeta. No es memorable, pero es muy divertido.
October 4, 2025
An original cast recording of a single episode length story in which the rest of the crew go in search of Dayna and Vila is left alone on board the liberator while ghostly figures stalk the corridors and get inside his head. Revenants? Demons? His alcohol-fuelled imagination? None of the above, but there is an answer. Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal) have very recognisably familiar voices, the others slightly less so. Published in 2015.
April 15, 2024
This one gets a bit batshit and nasty but is good fun anyway.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews