Mediasphere

Blake's 7 - Books and Ebooks #8

by Jonathan Blum, Kate Orman

The Liberator crew infiltrate the Mediasphere, a space station which produces the Federation's propaganda and popular entertainment. But who is really controlling the Mediasphere - and scripting a series of deadly encounters for our heroes? This is the eighth novel from Big Finish, however their Blake's 7 range overall encompasses eleven boxed sets of Blake's 7 - The Liberator Chronicles and two six-story series of full-cast adventures. Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum were first published in Virgin Publishing's Doctor Who novels in the 1990s, a range which has since seen adaptations on both audio and TV.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2015

About the author

Jonathan Blum is the author of several Doctor Who novels and Big Finish audios. He currently lives in Australia with his wife Kate Orman.

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best Blake's 7 novels, in my opinion. A lot of it focuses on Dayna, who has only just joined the Liberator crew at the start of this novel, while Cally - who I felt was often under-used in the TV series- emerges as a much stronger character than usual in this book. Also, the plot - involving an attempt to infiltrate a massive Federation media complex - gives plenty of opportunity for satire, and for some (highly relevant) observations on the way the media shapes people's perceptions, and even their lives. An excellent read.

[Jon Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

The range finds a way to move beyond attempting to recreate a series very peculiar to its time (or turn Avon into the Terminator) and instead uses it to a more relevant, modern story and engage playfully with metafiction. Starts with a near absurd premise and works it into some very B7, very cynical ideas. The authorial approach means it won’t be for everyone - certainly not those looking for simple recreations of the late 70s/early 80s - but it’s easily the most successful literary endeavour of B7 to date.

[Duncan Steele · Rating 1 out of 5]

An exceptionally turgid read that isn't anywhere near as funny or satirical as the authors seem to think it is. A presenter called Big Ant and a feeble 20 year late Spice Girls parody are just the start of 250 dire pages of tedium.

Whilst Dayna infiltrates the Spice Girls, Vila ends up as a writer on Liberation! a comedy based on the Liberator crew.

Yes, really - that's the level of "satire" on show here.

AVOID unless you are a completest.

[Henry Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Blum and Orman. Manages to have a central idea that is both Blake's-7-y (echoes of "Shadow") yet also modern. Lovely characterisation, particularly for Vila and Dayna. Best Blake's 7 novel I've read.

[Jill Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting aspect to B7 universe.

[Steven Kellett · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as the other Blake's 7 books this for me was a poor effort
I love Blake's 7 and I still had to read this book but only worth one read

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very happy to find a new book by Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, since they haven't been writing Doctor Who books anymore.

It was a good story, I did like some of the more second person bits that explored some feelings and motivations that couldn't work as well on screen.

That said, it's good, but it's no Left-Handed Hummingbird. So, not one that I'm going to read over and over.