The Diary of River Song: My Dinner With Andrew

The Diary of River Song #3.3

by John Dorney

Welcome, Mesdames et Messieurs, to The Bumptious Gastropod.

The most exclusive, most discreet dining experience outside the universe. For the restaurant exists beyond spacetime itself, and the usual rules of causality do not apply. Anything could happen.

It is here that the Doctor has a date. With River Song. And with death.

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published January 23, 2018

About the author

John Dorney is a British writer and actor best known for stage roles including the National Theatre, the BBC Radio 4 sitcom My First Planet; and his scripts for the Big Finish Doctor Who range. His script 'Solitaire' was rated the most popular Doctor Who Companion Chronicle of 2010 on the Timescales website and was the runner up in Unreality Sci-fi net's poll for Story of the Year 2010-11.

As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.

He trained at LAMDA.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super-twisty, with a very complicated timeline, this one is a great entry in the River Song story. This time out, and I think for the first time on the Big Finish River Song episodes, we have a box set that is one big story! Must say the authors really pull out all the stops. So far it's been one of my favorite Big Finish productions to date. I suggest starting this one when you have time to listen to the discs in quick succession, say over a day or two. I'm digging into disc 4 this afternoon.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverting timey-wimey story spoilt only by the cod-French maître d’ (British actor Jonathan Coote). Given modern-day cognizance of ethnic and cultural representation, is this casting choice any less offensive than John Bennett’s playing Li H’Sen Chang in The Talons of Weng-Chiang?

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was ... interesting. If you’re ever confused by the “wibbly wobbly timey wimey” stuff in Doctor Who, don’t bother with this one. It’s whack. (Actually reminds me of a fanfic story I wrote for a friend about Doctor Beverly Crusher from Star Trek the Next Generation. But that’s all besides the point.) Fun. Crazy. Confusing. Silly. And all rather pointless.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little confusing because of the non-linear story-telling technique (which is appropriate given how we are usually presented with River Song) but good. I like the dynamic between the Fifth Doctor and River.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was very timey wimey.

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very timey wimey.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Properly timey wimey, to the point when I think I'd like to listen to this one again just to appreciate it better. Five and River work really well together.