Doctor Who: The Sontaran Ordeal

Classic Doctors, New Monsters #1.04

by Andrew Smith

An instant of the Time War brings centuries of conflict to the planet Drakkis, and the Eighth Doctor is there to witness the terrible results.

A Sontaran fleet, desperate to join the epic conflict, follows in its wake to take advantage of the fallout. But when Commander Jask is beamed down to the ravaged surface, there is more to his arrival than first appears.

Soon, an unlikely champion joins forces with the Time Lord to fight for the future of her world, and together they must face the Sontaran Ordeal…

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook

Audiobook

Published July 28, 2016

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Andrew Smith wrote the Doctor Who television story Full Circle and its novelisation. At the time of initial broadcast, he was the youngest writer to contribute to the TV series.

Smith submitted his work to more than one Doctor Who script editor. They replied with "positive criticism". Finally he sent The Planet that Slept, which became Full Circle.
Shortly afterwards, he became a police officer, spending a long time in that career.

Smith was approached by Big Finish and displayed interest in writing for them. Because he had started the trilogy with Full Circle, they asked him to write a Companion Chronicles story set in E-Space. The Invasion of E-Space was released in October 2010.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the 8th Doctor and this story takes place during the Time-War and before the coming of the War-Doctor.
Once upon a time there was a beautifull planet and when there was a Time-War battle in their skies and so a war raged in a second and at the same time a millennium long. The planet was never the same. And the Doctor was too late to stop it.
The Sontarans are not new monsters, were around with the classic Doctors. But they are still very effective potato-heads who want their piece of the greatest war. So planets who have been touched tickle their attention.
So enter the Doctor, a local girl wanting peace and a disgraced Sontaran have to stop a Sontaran invasion and start a peace on the planet between the wartorn factions.

The 8th Doctor is least touched by BBC lore and is mostly created by Big Finish, I find him truly fascinating. Too bad the BBC never filled their schedels with this Doctor as a present to the general public. I am sure that the audience would be thrilled

I love the 8th Doctor and again he has not failed me in this story.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what could be more fun than mashing-up actors from the classic era Doctor Who with monsters and enemies from the new era series? Not much, that’s for sure.

In this story The Time War envelopes The (Eighth) Doctor (Paul McGann) with involvement from the Sontarans. What’s interesting here is that this set purports “classic Doctors” in conflict with “new monsters.” So theoretically the mashup should involve classic era and new era. But as the Sontarans are themselves from the original series, this particular adventure twists the concept a bit. The real element from the new era series isn’t the monsters, it’s the Time War itself. This twist really makes the gimmick work.

Yet again, Big Finish delivers another nice offering in their wonderful line of Doctor Who audio adventures.

[Emilija · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - Summer Olympics Mini Challenge - Cycling - 3) Related To The Word "Endurance"

This book was so good. It's a fun little story with the Eighth Doctor during the Time War, teaming up with a human and a Sontaran. It was a quick and enjoyable story, and very well voice acted.

[Red Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely *astounding* juxtaposition of a classic enemy into the Time War itself, but far, far more important is Josette Simon’s *outstanding* performance as an unfailingly brave, terrified woman who holds the Doctor’s cowardice about the War up to him like a mirror and does not let him turn away.

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun side step in the time war featuring the 8th Doctor and the Sontarans. The cast is small and it is kind of obvious but otherwise this is an extremely enjoyable listen.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid plot and Excellent voice acting. Cool slice of The Time War. 4/5

[Stefan Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The right ingredients are well-combined for this Doctor Who audio adventure. Great performances, sound effects, and writing make it far from an ordeal.