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The Early Adventures #2.4
Doctor Who: The Isos Network
The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are leaving Earth after having successfully defeated a Cyberman invasion… The Cyber-fleet is still exploding... But something is escaping through the mass of vaporising debris.
In hot pursuit, the Doctor and his friends find themselves drawn to a mysterious planet where strange beasts slither through the streets of a deserted city… And an old enemy lurks beneath the streets.
As a force of heavily-armed aliens arrives, a battle to save the entire galaxy from invasion begins.
In hot pursuit, the Doctor and his friends find themselves drawn to a mysterious planet where strange beasts slither through the streets of a deserted city… And an old enemy lurks beneath the streets.
As a force of heavily-armed aliens arrives, a battle to save the entire galaxy from invasion begins.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Briggs
375 books133 followersNicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs. Some of Briggs' earliest Doctor Who-related work was as host of The Myth Makers, a series of made-for-video documentaries produced in the 1980s and 1990s by Reeltime Pictures in which Briggs interviews many of the actors and writers involved in the series. When Reeltime expanded into producing original dramas, Briggs wrote some stories and acted in others, beginning with War Time, the first unofficial Doctor Who spin-off, and Myth Runner, a parody of Blade Runner showcasing bloopers from the Myth Makers series built around a loose storyline featuring Briggs as a down on his luck private detective in the near future.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 19, 2016
Authentically executed 2nd Doctor Cyberman adventure that echoes Patrick back in the day.
February 9, 2025
I’d never previously listened to an Early Adventures from Big Finish, and my favourite story from the classic era of Doctor Who is The Invasion, so when I saw that this, being an Early Adventures and sequel to said story, was free on BBC Sounds, I quickly listened.
I wasn’t exactly blown away, however. The story held my attention throughout, but never once gripped me. From the ground up, its stylised as a 60s Who story – things like the mainly exploratory first episode or having giant slugs roaming round like an old Annual comic – it all feels exactly from that era. Same applies to the crew on the spaceship and the setting of the abandoned city; its really quite impressive how unobtrusive this feels to the era of the shop its supposed to be set in, especially without Troughton. Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines both do good jobs and give a good level of enthusiasm. I think Hines voice and character lends itself to audio a lot more than Padbury’s, but I realised long ago that Big Finish could put my darlings like these two into any almost story and I’d gladly listen. Hines doing double-duty as both the Doctor and Jamie was eyebrow-raising initially, but I was quickly proved wrong. You can really hear how much fondness for the both the character and his old co-star that Frazer brings to the role, and I’m really looking forwards to hearing more stories with him in the title role.
This was also an experiment to me in how the format of the Early Adventures worked. Shifting from narration to radio drama within scenes themselves really wasn’t something I thought would work as fluidly as it did, and I think it lended moments like action sequences a more kinetic, energetic feeling, in comparison to how they can usually sound on Big Finish.
Whilst I didn’t dislike this, it never became something I really liked either. Simply two hours of serviceable, enjoyable-in-the-moment Who. I never got an emotional connection to any side-character, and I’m still failing to remember the names of any of them. Seriously, the big side-character that Zoe spent basically the entire plot with had a big self-sacrifice moment in the finale, but I really didn’t feel anything, or maybe it was because I feel like I could’ve predicted that character’s entire story from the moment he was introduced.
I wasn’t exactly blown away, however. The story held my attention throughout, but never once gripped me. From the ground up, its stylised as a 60s Who story – things like the mainly exploratory first episode or having giant slugs roaming round like an old Annual comic – it all feels exactly from that era. Same applies to the crew on the spaceship and the setting of the abandoned city; its really quite impressive how unobtrusive this feels to the era of the shop its supposed to be set in, especially without Troughton. Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines both do good jobs and give a good level of enthusiasm. I think Hines voice and character lends itself to audio a lot more than Padbury’s, but I realised long ago that Big Finish could put my darlings like these two into any almost story and I’d gladly listen. Hines doing double-duty as both the Doctor and Jamie was eyebrow-raising initially, but I was quickly proved wrong. You can really hear how much fondness for the both the character and his old co-star that Frazer brings to the role, and I’m really looking forwards to hearing more stories with him in the title role.
This was also an experiment to me in how the format of the Early Adventures worked. Shifting from narration to radio drama within scenes themselves really wasn’t something I thought would work as fluidly as it did, and I think it lended moments like action sequences a more kinetic, energetic feeling, in comparison to how they can usually sound on Big Finish.
Whilst I didn’t dislike this, it never became something I really liked either. Simply two hours of serviceable, enjoyable-in-the-moment Who. I never got an emotional connection to any side-character, and I’m still failing to remember the names of any of them. Seriously, the big side-character that Zoe spent basically the entire plot with had a big self-sacrifice moment in the finale, but I really didn’t feel anything, or maybe it was because I feel like I could’ve predicted that character’s entire story from the moment he was introduced.
May 3, 2021
Rating 3.5
An enjoyable season 6 style Doctor Who audio that is a sequel to 'The Invasion'. The story is nice and easy to follow, very straightforward with no complexity to it at all. A simple adventure story that has quite a lot of exploring dark tunnels, people getting separated, running away from the bad guys, friendly 'monsters' and of course the original Cybermen. This story would have fitted right in with the last 2nd Doctor season, at least for me. It was a simpler time when the writers wanted to tell an exciting, entertaining story and where if they did include real-world politics it was hidden very well.
The actors all gave good performances I thought, Jamie and Zoe (Fraser and Wendy) sounded exactly like they did back in the day - how I don't know. The guest actors, although not standing out in any major way, filled out the cast with no weak links. Obviously the elephant in the room, so to speak, if the 2nd Doctor being performed by Fraser Hines.
Previously when i have heard him i was very ambivalent about it as it sounded like an awful lot of um's, ah's and stammering - this time it flowed much better. If i understood the puff piece interviews at the end of CD-2, this time when recording Fraser Hines moved from character to character without stopping (as opposed to performing Jamie and then returning to the Doctor separately) and if that is the case it definitely improved the overall performance.
I have read and heard reviews where the basic nature of the story line has not been liked but for me that made it a winner. Not saying it is a great or memorable story but it did what a good story should do ... entertain and provide excitement for the time you are experiencing it.
Overall then a definite recommendation for anyone who likes the 2nd Doctor season 6 stories.
An enjoyable season 6 style Doctor Who audio that is a sequel to 'The Invasion'. The story is nice and easy to follow, very straightforward with no complexity to it at all. A simple adventure story that has quite a lot of exploring dark tunnels, people getting separated, running away from the bad guys, friendly 'monsters' and of course the original Cybermen. This story would have fitted right in with the last 2nd Doctor season, at least for me. It was a simpler time when the writers wanted to tell an exciting, entertaining story and where if they did include real-world politics it was hidden very well.
The actors all gave good performances I thought, Jamie and Zoe (Fraser and Wendy) sounded exactly like they did back in the day - how I don't know. The guest actors, although not standing out in any major way, filled out the cast with no weak links. Obviously the elephant in the room, so to speak, if the 2nd Doctor being performed by Fraser Hines.
Previously when i have heard him i was very ambivalent about it as it sounded like an awful lot of um's, ah's and stammering - this time it flowed much better. If i understood the puff piece interviews at the end of CD-2, this time when recording Fraser Hines moved from character to character without stopping (as opposed to performing Jamie and then returning to the Doctor separately) and if that is the case it definitely improved the overall performance.
I have read and heard reviews where the basic nature of the story line has not been liked but for me that made it a winner. Not saying it is a great or memorable story but it did what a good story should do ... entertain and provide excitement for the time you are experiencing it.
Overall then a definite recommendation for anyone who likes the 2nd Doctor season 6 stories.
June 23, 2019
The Early Adventures reach the sixth and final season of the black-and-white era of
Doctor Who
with Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury (Zoe) taking over narration duties. This is written as a sequel to TV adventure The Invasion and, while it has some good points, it's another underwhelming release in a set that's been weaker than the First Doctor stories that preceded it.
As with the immediately prior release, part of the problem here is the heavy reliance on narration. This would work fine in a standard audiobook and, indeed, would be part of the point, but it's distracting and arguably rather unnecessary in a play with six different voice actors and a full range of sound effects. The main cliffhangers and final dramatic moment also have resolutions that are obvious a mile off, so that, while what's going on with the non-Cyberman monsters is at last somewhat mysterious, the plot is otherwise predictable.
On the plus side, there is some decent atmosphere here, with the TARDIS crew somehow ending up on a devastated colony world shortly after a Cyberman invasion. In an obvious nod to Second Doctor classic The Web of Fear, most of the story takes place in an underground monorail system, and the Cybermen are undeniably the right vintage - including a Cyber Controller similar to that in Tomb of the Cybermen. The incidental music is also very 1960s, giving the story the right feel.
So some good points, certainly, and a fairly strong emulation of the sort of stories we often got in this era of the show's history. But the overuse of narration and a perhaps slightly too slavish adherence to the relevant tropes unfortunately drag it down a little.
As with the immediately prior release, part of the problem here is the heavy reliance on narration. This would work fine in a standard audiobook and, indeed, would be part of the point, but it's distracting and arguably rather unnecessary in a play with six different voice actors and a full range of sound effects. The main cliffhangers and final dramatic moment also have resolutions that are obvious a mile off, so that, while what's going on with the non-Cyberman monsters is at last somewhat mysterious, the plot is otherwise predictable.
On the plus side, there is some decent atmosphere here, with the TARDIS crew somehow ending up on a devastated colony world shortly after a Cyberman invasion. In an obvious nod to Second Doctor classic The Web of Fear, most of the story takes place in an underground monorail system, and the Cybermen are undeniably the right vintage - including a Cyber Controller similar to that in Tomb of the Cybermen. The incidental music is also very 1960s, giving the story the right feel.
So some good points, certainly, and a fairly strong emulation of the sort of stories we often got in this era of the show's history. But the overuse of narration and a perhaps slightly too slavish adherence to the relevant tropes unfortunately drag it down a little.
September 11, 2021
Another delightful romp that revisits the early years of classic Doctor Who with the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe as they face the Cybermen again in a kind of sequel or maybe even an epilogue to the Cold War era thriller: Doctor Who: The Invasion.
January 14, 2024
An exciting adventure that very nearly feels totally like a classic 60's adventure. Frazer Hines' impression of Patrick Troughton wavers from being amazing to not quite on the mark but is a delight to hear.
October 25, 2017
The Doctor, Jaimie and Zoe go back in Isos past to fight the Cybermen.
December 3, 2017
Very much of it's era, this story feels a little stretched thin with some slow pacing in the middle but well executed by the team as always.
December 1, 2020
Frazer Hines does a really good Patrick Troughton voice. The narration throughout the story felt odd, though. Not my favorite of the Cybermen stories I listened to today.
July 8, 2023
[audiobook]
April 22, 2024
A sequel to “The Invasion” that attempts (I guess) to explain the redesign that appeared in that story. I’m not sure that that makes sense, but it’s a great Cybermen story.
December 21, 2024
Standard cyberman second doctor story about cybermen who inherit emotion.
May 22, 2021
A solid Cyberman story that is very authentic to the 60's Troughton stories with some creepy music and of course the return of Frazer Hines as Jamie (Also The 2nd Doctor) and Wendy Padbury as Zoe. There is some really weird idea in this story with giant slugs and the Tardis crew riding atop of them. But I will be honest even with all the atmosphere, skulking cybermen and a threat to be fought it didn't feel out of place in this story. 8/10
May 21, 2016
This was an excellent audio drama featuring Frazer Hines as the second doctor. The story is a continuation of the invasion as the doctor Jamie and Zoe follow a fleeing cyber ship off to lick it's wounds after it's defeat by the doctor and unit from the invasion. Frazer Hines is the highlight from big finishes 2nd Doctor stories. Each episode feels like the 60s that's a complement.
January 26, 2016
It was okay. Far from my favourite of this season of Past Doctor stories however.
There was too much narration for my taste and I wasn't keen on the way the narrators kept switching over. It was also slightly plot light, although it was a realistic emulation of a story from that period.
There was too much narration for my taste and I wasn't keen on the way the narrators kept switching over. It was also slightly plot light, although it was a realistic emulation of a story from that period.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews