Torchwood: Uncanny Valley

Big Finish Torchwood #5

by David Llewellyn

What has made billionaire Neil Redmond emerge from his long seclusion? Captain Jack knows the answer, and is prepared to go to any lengths to prove it.

A couple of years ago, Neil Redmond was in a terrible accident. His recovery has been long and slow, but now he's back and looking better than ever. Much better than ever.

Dark forces have been behind Neil's transformation. Dark forces that Jack has been hunting for a long time. But Captain Jack's never been able to resist the darkness.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Media Tie In, Science Fiction Fantasy

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

David Llewellyn is a Welsh novelist and script writer. He grew up in Pontypool and graduated from Dartington College of Arts in 2000. His first novel, Eleven, was published by Seren Press in 2006. His second, Trace Memory, a spin-off from the BBC drama series Torchwood, was published in March 2008. Everything Is Sinister was published by Seren in May 2008. He has written two novels for the Doctor Who New Series Adventures: The Taking of Chelsea 426, featuring the Tenth Doctor, and Night of the Humans, featuring the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond.

In addition to writing novels, Llewellyn wrote the Bernice Summerfield audio play Paradise Frost and the Dark Shadows audio drama The Last Stop for Big Finish Productions.

Llewellyn lives in Cardiff.

Reviews

[Lady Nerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guy just unlocked another level of “go f*** yourself” and it was creepier than I thought it’d be.

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Harkness has hate-sex with a queer robot designed to look like a well-known billionaire? Yes, this sounds like Torchwood.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably my least favourite of the Torchwoods so far. It was a two hander, but most of the two hander was a guy telling Jack a story and then having a conversation with his robot double, so listening just got a bit monotonous. There wasn't much action just a lot of description. That said Jack did have to have sex with a male robot to save the universe! So that definitely earned this points, cause what could possibly be more Torchwood than that?

The other really funny thing was hearing John Barrowman in the extras sound so very Scottish! I'm totally not used to his actual voice!

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Torchwood can pull off sex with your bot, and make it seem totally legit. Hot sexy time with Jack and said bot was a required addition too.

I <3 Jack Harkness.

[osoi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Изюминка этого выпуска – интересный подход к моральным нормам. Самый животрепещущий вопрос – в каком спектре «нормальности» находится секс со своей точной роботокопией? О, Торчвуд, ты раскрываешь такие грани познания, о которых я и не задумывалась х)

Заметила, что выпуски с Джеком в главной роли заметно проигрывают на фоне остальных. Задумка у этой серии вышла неожиданно глубокой по части психологии, но тут пришел Джек и все опошлил своей только что не выпрыгивающей из штанов харизмой. Настолько ли обязательно было именно таким образом выводить на чистую воду оппонента? Я уверена, более чем предрасположенный к мыслительным изысканиям Джек мог бы придумать менее трудозатратный способ. Может, он не смог устоять перед чем-то новым и неизведанным для него? Верится слабо. В общем, насколько бы не была горяча сцена раскрытия оппонента *я вовсе не краснею* – кажется, будто это исключительно фан-сервис для Джеколюбов, не несущий в себе практически никакой сюжетной ценности. И да, благодаря отменному аудиосопровождению выпуск стоит слушать только в наушниках *О*

Линия расследования поработительских замыслов злостных пришельцев продолжается, но урывками. Формат многосерийной аудиодрамы не позволяет развернуться вширь с какими-нибудь пространными размышлизмами или ландшафтными особенностями, только понадергать самые яркие сценки из цельного повествовательного полотна. Каждая серия – как ракушка, раскрывающая одну из граней обширного, растянутого во времени сюжета. И это роскошно. Хочу еще сотню выпусков, не меньше :-P

annikeh.net

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Replicants? Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?? Nah, definately more Blade Runner than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (get it?). Maybe a touch of The Bicentennial Man? Certainly a sliver of Freaky Friday, but like only Torchwood can twist it. There’s even an aspect of this that Jack Kirby alluded to in the first issue of Jack Kirby's OMAC: One Man Army Corps way back in the 1970s. But again, this is Torchwood. And that means Captain Jack Harkness might be a bit naughty while he’s getting the job done. And he’ll get the job done. Whatever it takes. And if it takes a wee bit of naughty to get the job done, well ... all the better.

[Someone Who Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

da fuck did i just listen to? O.o

[Saffinkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

torchwood's answer to "would you fuck your clone" is an enthusiastic "YES!".

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done. Loved it.

[Seb Hasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story very felt very authentic Torchwood, more specifically Torchwood series 1. Sentient sex doll that psychologically abuses its user, and Jack has sex with it. I mean frankly you can discard all elements of plot and character analysis when you are just left wondering what the hell is going to happen next. It’s a real rollercoaster and because of that was very enjoyable. The story is hardly perfect, but it definitely gets from point A to B with a bunch of madness in between. I’m glad this was a Jack story, as I don’t feel like any other Torchwood character could’ve handled the plot the way he did; namely having sex with something to prove a point.

There was some more hints towards what is happening with the Committee throughout, but wasn’t quite clear given what actually happens in the narrative. This storyline is being built up very slowly, with different threads coming together, but by this point it’s definitely more enjoyable to focus on the stories being told. There was a real ambience and dark atmosphere created in this one, thanks to the music and sound design; not only that, given the dialogue and the way that the robot treats the main character. It’s only thanks to Jack’s intervention that the story actually takes place with a real confrontation, and still he is weirdly the only character who narrates events partially.

The story could only go in one direction, so it is real easy to work out the way it’ll end. That doesn’t mean it’s possible to guess what happens to get there, the wild moments that are necessary to the create the conflict that is required to get to the resolution. Unlike ‘The Conspiracy’ Jack gets to really have some action hero moments, and that really did give it a Torchwood series 1 feel. The story is paced well, a slow build to an electric climax; limited only because there are just 2 and a bit characters taking part in events. Ultimately I did enjoy the story, but it was a small self-contained narrative that is very much there to have a reason to develop the Committee storyline.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're back with Captain Jack again for this instalment, that's a fairly direct sequel to the audio series opener The Conspiracy. This time, the play dispenses with the narration, save for a few brief sections at the beginning and end, making the story more immersive than its predecessor.

The story concerns Jack tracking down a reclusive billionaire, an unwitting pawn of the conspiracy who seems to have the ability to be in two places at once. You can probably guess how he's doing this from the picture on the cover, and it's revealed quite early on in the story, which primarily deals with how this came about and the repercussions on the billionaire's emotional life. This all dealt with well, and includes some distinctly Torchwood-esque scenes that confirm the adults-only nature of this series.

But, seriously, if gay robot sex is something that puts you off, Torchwood probably isn't for you anyway.

This almost entirely a two-hander, with just one other actor other than the two leads, and is a slow build where the journey is more important than the denouement. How it all fits together with the larger plot arc is rather incidental although clearly the writers still have some way to go before actually sorting it all out. In the meantime, this is an interesting and unusual story, if not the most powerful in the series so far.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay Captain Jack AND Steven Cree? I did not expect to see Steven Cree here but what a nice surprise! He’s a great actor and I was so happy to see him in this episode. It was an interesting one. Solid 3.5.

And wow did I not expect some of the things to go down that went down. Let’s just say, Jack will go to any length to prevail against dark forces… giggity.

Not gonna lie, this was one of the wierder ones, with robots, a doppelgänger and an unfortunate billionaire who just wants his life to return to normal after a catastrophic accident. The mysterious Miss Trent has an intriguing proposition for him… Jack catches the trial though and the plot thickens.

Always love the productions of big finish and they are fab at producing great entertainment. Continuing to make my way through all the Torchwoods.

(Also love the extras at the end. They’re always entertaining and heh Johns Scottish accent!)

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, strong and bleak tale this one. Bit less narration than the first in the series, but still reasonably tight with few characters involved. I was never quite sure how it was going to pan out, so certainly kept me on my toes as such. Jack a good character, if morally grey, again in this one, and the other characters were very strong in this.

[Zuzka Jakúbková · Rating 5 out of 5]

How long do you have to wait for gay man-on-robot sex as a main plot in a BBC audioplay? When it's Torchwood, only five episodes. :) Jack Harkness is invited to help an old friend who has acquired robotic doppelganger and our brave captain uses his strengths to help resolve the situation.

[Richie The Collector · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Finish put this up for download quite cheap and it follows on from The Conspiracy which I had already listened to. It's not quite as good as the first one but it is played well by the three cast members and an interesting story. The sound effects are excellent.

[Declan Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reclusive billionaire has caught Jack's attention. Is it his recovery from an accident, or his dashing good looks? With Jack... who knows!

Great audio drama short for Torchwood. Interesting story, well written and acted, whilst also asking the question: What is human?

[Nicolas Lontel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Je suis définitivement content· de la scène de sexe gai avec un robot pour sauver le monde, mais autrement, un dialogue entre un millionnaire et Captain Jack sans grande profondeur sur les limites de l'expérience par procuration avec le spectre de la menace du Committee qui surplombe toute la discussion et les actions finales. J'espère que la série se dirige ailleurs bientôt.

[Yvonne Alf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The interview section in the end was worth the purchase all by itself - John Barrowman speaking Scottish is like the best thing ever. All in all it starts rather slowly but then it really has everything and a bit more. ;) The end with Miracle Day in mind left me really creeped out.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Harkness encounters a tech guru who has fallen in love with the robot double who serves as his public face. Bit cringy to hear John Barrowman talk in the extras about exchanging intimate photographs with his co-star, given his recent woes.

[Laurel Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio was very entertaining and enjoyable, it was nice for the story to be different the normal alien bit but still connected to the overall plot. Nice to hear John Barrowman speak in his Scottish accent at the end of the drama.
Looking forward to hearing more

[Phill Cartwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Llewellyn once again delivers a masterful script performed beautifully by John Barrowman and the cast.

Whilst it didn't fully come together in the end and the artwork is a little misleading, this remains an extremely solid entry in the Big Finish Torchwood Canon.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing story about a robot doppelganger.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had a good amount of creepiness and suspense. The voice acting was great.

[Mark Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

*rolls eyes*

[Charmedbean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Captain Jack story that was good but maybe not great.

[Evin Grody · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a classic Capt. Jack story…

[Marcel Driel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid episode but I expected something more. Felt like a prequel to a bigger story (which it probably is).

[allowableman2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a pretty great time with Uncanny Valley. It feels like the sort of story that wouldn't be out of place in an Isaac Asimov anthology.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting one, and makes you wonder how it is all going to resolve itself. Capt Jack is, as always, such a wonderful character.

[John]

This one gets freaky. Separate this from Torchwood and it's a classic sci fi anthology story