What do you think?
Rate this book
The Third Doctor Adventures #4
Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures, Volume 4
4.1 The Rise of the New Humans by Guy Adams
When a man dies after falling from the top floor of a multi-storey car park, the Doctor and Jo wonder why it should be of interest to UNIT. Then they see the protuberances on the man’s back… As he fell, he tried to grow wings.
Looking into the man’s past leads the Doctor and Jo to a remote private hospital where the staff aren’t as helpful as they could be, and the Chief Administrator is unavailable to meet with them.
Breaking into some restricted wards, the Doctor notes the presence of alien and futuristic technology. The whole thing bears the unmistakable hallmarks of one of his own people’s interference, one of his old foes. Except not perhaps the one he might have imagined.
The Monk is back. And this time his meddling may have gone too far.
4.2 The Tyrants of Logic by Marc Platt
The Doctor and Jo land on Port Anvil – a bleak, abandoned mining colony on the remote planet Burnt Salt. A huge armoured crate has recently arrived in the almost derelict Spacehub. No-one knows who it’s for. No-one knows what it contains.
Strange creatures lurk around the outskirts, and a rag-tag population of misfits inhabit what is left of the town: a saloon bar owner, a literal one-man band and a hunter of very unusual prey. If they want to survive the night, they’re going to have to work together.
Because the Cybermen want the contents of the crate. And they will stop at nothing to get hold of it.
When a man dies after falling from the top floor of a multi-storey car park, the Doctor and Jo wonder why it should be of interest to UNIT. Then they see the protuberances on the man’s back… As he fell, he tried to grow wings.
Looking into the man’s past leads the Doctor and Jo to a remote private hospital where the staff aren’t as helpful as they could be, and the Chief Administrator is unavailable to meet with them.
Breaking into some restricted wards, the Doctor notes the presence of alien and futuristic technology. The whole thing bears the unmistakable hallmarks of one of his own people’s interference, one of his old foes. Except not perhaps the one he might have imagined.
The Monk is back. And this time his meddling may have gone too far.
4.2 The Tyrants of Logic by Marc Platt
The Doctor and Jo land on Port Anvil – a bleak, abandoned mining colony on the remote planet Burnt Salt. A huge armoured crate has recently arrived in the almost derelict Spacehub. No-one knows who it’s for. No-one knows what it contains.
Strange creatures lurk around the outskirts, and a rag-tag population of misfits inhabit what is left of the town: a saloon bar owner, a literal one-man band and a hunter of very unusual prey. If they want to survive the night, they’re going to have to work together.
Because the Cybermen want the contents of the crate. And they will stop at nothing to get hold of it.
Audio CD
First published March 21, 2018
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2023
Two new serialized stories for the Third Doctor and companion Jo Grant. With more than a couple of surprises in store.
The Rise of the New Humans ~ Someone is saving lives with technologies that are way beyond what humanity should have. The Doctor is not pleased, so he and Jo get pulled into an investigation that leads them to a hospital that could almost be Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Except it’s not. And the head of surgery is an unexpected associate of the Doctor’s. Just when you expect the Master to show up - Nope, it’s another meddling maniac from Gallifrey: The Monk (although I’m beginning to think it would more accurate to call him The Meddler and not The Monk). The 4-part story occurs some time during Jo’s last season with the Doctor. As it occurs after the events of Doctor Who: The Three Doctors and before Doctor Who and the Green Death. It certainly harkens back to that era, Tim Treloar does a fine Third Doctor and Katy Manning, while clearly not the same as her youthful self, stills has the spunk and vinegar of Jo Grant. Good performances all around, the story gets a bit wobbly turned the end (but then what Pertwee era story didn’t?). Also includes an isolate music suite as a bonus feature (3/5).
The Tyrants of Logic ~ A fun off-world for the Doctor and Jo leads them into a head-on collision with one the Doctor’s oldest and most terrifying adversaries: the Cybermen. A remote outpost world becomes center stage in what could explode into an all-out cyberwar. More wonderful chemistry between Treloar and Manning, and there’s even some musical song and dance. Also includes an isolated music suite as a bonus feature (3/5).
Rounding off the set is over an hour of bonus interviews and behind-the-scenes clips with cast and crew. A wonderful couple of entertaining adventures deserving of consideration for all Third Doctor fans. While it’s a bit light on the UNIT team from the Pertwee era, it does feature Jo Grant very prominently (3/5).
The Rise of the New Humans ~ Someone is saving lives with technologies that are way beyond what humanity should have. The Doctor is not pleased, so he and Jo get pulled into an investigation that leads them to a hospital that could almost be Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Except it’s not. And the head of surgery is an unexpected associate of the Doctor’s. Just when you expect the Master to show up - Nope, it’s another meddling maniac from Gallifrey: The Monk (although I’m beginning to think it would more accurate to call him The Meddler and not The Monk). The 4-part story occurs some time during Jo’s last season with the Doctor. As it occurs after the events of Doctor Who: The Three Doctors and before Doctor Who and the Green Death. It certainly harkens back to that era, Tim Treloar does a fine Third Doctor and Katy Manning, while clearly not the same as her youthful self, stills has the spunk and vinegar of Jo Grant. Good performances all around, the story gets a bit wobbly turned the end (but then what Pertwee era story didn’t?). Also includes an isolate music suite as a bonus feature (3/5).
The Tyrants of Logic ~ A fun off-world for the Doctor and Jo leads them into a head-on collision with one the Doctor’s oldest and most terrifying adversaries: the Cybermen. A remote outpost world becomes center stage in what could explode into an all-out cyberwar. More wonderful chemistry between Treloar and Manning, and there’s even some musical song and dance. Also includes an isolated music suite as a bonus feature (3/5).
Rounding off the set is over an hour of bonus interviews and behind-the-scenes clips with cast and crew. A wonderful couple of entertaining adventures deserving of consideration for all Third Doctor fans. While it’s a bit light on the UNIT team from the Pertwee era, it does feature Jo Grant very prominently (3/5).
January 16, 2021
Two 2-hour stories with, as usual, one in the UNIT era, and one set in space.
• The Rise of the New Humans – The Doctor and Jo investigate a private hospital where the former patients have been turning up dead… and strangely mutated. As is clear from the cover art, this throws an unusual twist on the UNIT stories of the era by having the villain behind it all be not the Master, but the Meddling Monk. The difference in persona between the two renegade Time Lords is played up, resulting in some good exchanges between him and the Doctor. It’s also a decent story, moving from straight investigation towards an action-filled finale as things start to get out of control.
The weakness, however, isn’t in the Monk but in the Doctor. Treloar has got the hang of the voice by this point (arguably sounding more convincing than Katy Manning does as 20-year-old Jo), but the writing lets him down. Three is at his most arrogant here, and when the Monk accuses him of pomposity it’s hard not to end up agreeing. He ignores Jo trying to tell him something significant, insisting that she must just be imagining it, and blusters his way through the story with little indication of any compassion for its victims. It’s perhaps not wholly out of character for the TV series of the day but throwing so many of Three’s worst qualities into one 2-hour story feels like overdoing it, especially in the modern day. At least Jo is well-written, even if she does fall into her common TV role of hostage at one point. 3 stars.
• The Tyrants of Logic – The villains of this story are also obvious from the cover picture; here, the Doctor is facing Invasion-era cybermen chasing down a mysterious crate that contains something important for their survival. The Third Doctor is, of course, the only Doctor other than Eight not to face the Cybermen on TV and only once before in an audio (and that was a Companion Chronicle). But, largely because of the key role it gives to Jo, it doesn’t feel at all out of place here, with references to both Second and Fourth Doctor encounters also being included to place it within continuity.
The story is set on a snowy colony world that has been abandoned to the point that it appears to have a population of just three, all of whom have been shaped in some way by the recent cyber-wars. It’s an effective character piece, especially in the way that it emphasises why the Doctor needs companions and puts Jo’s devotion centre-stage. There are some good ideas in it, too, with the cybermen employing nanotech (though not actually referred to as such, perhaps in a nod to the ‘70s ambience) and a subplot about the local wildlife. A strong Cyberman story with a better grasp of its lead characters than its predecessor in this volume. 4.5 stars.
• The Rise of the New Humans – The Doctor and Jo investigate a private hospital where the former patients have been turning up dead… and strangely mutated. As is clear from the cover art, this throws an unusual twist on the UNIT stories of the era by having the villain behind it all be not the Master, but the Meddling Monk. The difference in persona between the two renegade Time Lords is played up, resulting in some good exchanges between him and the Doctor. It’s also a decent story, moving from straight investigation towards an action-filled finale as things start to get out of control.
The weakness, however, isn’t in the Monk but in the Doctor. Treloar has got the hang of the voice by this point (arguably sounding more convincing than Katy Manning does as 20-year-old Jo), but the writing lets him down. Three is at his most arrogant here, and when the Monk accuses him of pomposity it’s hard not to end up agreeing. He ignores Jo trying to tell him something significant, insisting that she must just be imagining it, and blusters his way through the story with little indication of any compassion for its victims. It’s perhaps not wholly out of character for the TV series of the day but throwing so many of Three’s worst qualities into one 2-hour story feels like overdoing it, especially in the modern day. At least Jo is well-written, even if she does fall into her common TV role of hostage at one point. 3 stars.
• The Tyrants of Logic – The villains of this story are also obvious from the cover picture; here, the Doctor is facing Invasion-era cybermen chasing down a mysterious crate that contains something important for their survival. The Third Doctor is, of course, the only Doctor other than Eight not to face the Cybermen on TV and only once before in an audio (and that was a Companion Chronicle). But, largely because of the key role it gives to Jo, it doesn’t feel at all out of place here, with references to both Second and Fourth Doctor encounters also being included to place it within continuity.
The story is set on a snowy colony world that has been abandoned to the point that it appears to have a population of just three, all of whom have been shaped in some way by the recent cyber-wars. It’s an effective character piece, especially in the way that it emphasises why the Doctor needs companions and puts Jo’s devotion centre-stage. There are some good ideas in it, too, with the cybermen employing nanotech (though not actually referred to as such, perhaps in a nod to the ‘70s ambience) and a subplot about the local wildlife. A strong Cyberman story with a better grasp of its lead characters than its predecessor in this volume. 4.5 stars.
September 30, 2022
Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Four - 3.5/5 stars
Tim Treloar and Katy Manning as the Third Doctor and Jo Grant are really fun in these stories and are obviously the big feature of this set apart from the returning villains. The stories overall are pretty basic, there is stuff that any Doctor Who fan will like but a lot of this does feel like a lot of “omg its the third dr and jo” nostalgia, which is nice but this is the fourth set, the focus should be more on exciting and new stories instead of massive nostalgia bait. It was fun but I just need more plot.
4.1 The Rise of the New Humans by Guy Adams - 3/5 stars
This story was really fun. The Monk, the setting, the New Humans, Jo and 3 really bring this story together. Unfortunately, the biggest issue I have with this story is the structure. It feels very messy. The cliffhangers don’t have that sting that most stories usually do, so its almost accurate to some of 3’s original stories.
The eugenics argument is also a complete mess here and very awkwardly done in the voice of a dead person.
4.2 The Tyrants of Logic by Marc Platt - 4/5 stars
I liked this one a lot but it never fully had my attention. It just felt like a really interesting idea box with stuff that if pushed more would make for a Cyberman Horror experience that I hope could be reused one day. The Cybermen themselves came off as a bit incompetent in this but they usually do so it's not really this story's fault. Also liked how they set up one of the big twists with the opening pre-credits scene.
Tim Treloar and Katy Manning as the Third Doctor and Jo Grant are really fun in these stories and are obviously the big feature of this set apart from the returning villains. The stories overall are pretty basic, there is stuff that any Doctor Who fan will like but a lot of this does feel like a lot of “omg its the third dr and jo” nostalgia, which is nice but this is the fourth set, the focus should be more on exciting and new stories instead of massive nostalgia bait. It was fun but I just need more plot.
4.1 The Rise of the New Humans by Guy Adams - 3/5 stars
This story was really fun. The Monk, the setting, the New Humans, Jo and 3 really bring this story together. Unfortunately, the biggest issue I have with this story is the structure. It feels very messy. The cliffhangers don’t have that sting that most stories usually do, so its almost accurate to some of 3’s original stories.
The eugenics argument is also a complete mess here and very awkwardly done in the voice of a dead person.
4.2 The Tyrants of Logic by Marc Platt - 4/5 stars
I liked this one a lot but it never fully had my attention. It just felt like a really interesting idea box with stuff that if pushed more would make for a Cyberman Horror experience that I hope could be reused one day. The Cybermen themselves came off as a bit incompetent in this but they usually do so it's not really this story's fault. Also liked how they set up one of the big twists with the opening pre-credits scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this one.
The first story is more of an average typical Who story, but it includes the Monk as a villain and he is just an absolute joy to listen to. He is such a delicious mischievous character and very well acted.
But the second story is absolutely amazing. The writing is great, the world building and the sound design and atmosphere are just fantastic.
Definitly worth it.
The first story is more of an average typical Who story, but it includes the Monk as a villain and he is just an absolute joy to listen to. He is such a delicious mischievous character and very well acted.
But the second story is absolutely amazing. The writing is great, the world building and the sound design and atmosphere are just fantastic.
Definitly worth it.
December 3, 2023
It’s quite fun how The Monk loves to ham it up. And there’s also the moral question regarding curing someone who would’ve otherwise led to the disease itself being cured. The acting was pretty good on the second story as well, and it actually features the Third Doctor going up against Cybermen. It also feels very authentic that The Doctor would feel like he’s missing being out amongst the stars.
April 5, 2018
Rise of the New Humans is at least a 4
Second half of Tyranny of Logic raises this to a 5 - from sound FX to the character moments, this is gold
Second half of Tyranny of Logic raises this to a 5 - from sound FX to the character moments, this is gold
October 7, 2024
4.1 'The Rise of the New Humans' by Guy Adams: 4*
4.2 'The Tyrants of Logic' by Marc Platt: 4*
4.2 'The Tyrants of Logic' by Marc Platt: 4*
April 11, 2018
2 terrific third doctor adventures that recapitulate the best of the Pertwee era.
October 5, 2023
So, I haven't delved much into the Third Doctor Adventures from Big Finish. What I have heard though, I've liked. Tim Treloar does an excellent job capturing the voice of the late Jon Pertwee and has Katy manning's stamp of approval. This set contains two stories featuring the Third Doctor and Jo Grant. The first story, The Rise of the New Humans by Guy Adams, sees the Doctor and Jo investigate a mental hospital where they discover the Monk (Rufus Hound) is using future tech to heal people by allowing to adapt/evolve to any situation that would normally kill them. And, as usual, the Monk ends up way over his head. It's a good story, and as usual Rufus Hound's Monk is a joy to listen to. The second story is The Tyrants of Logic and, while still a good story, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first story. It gives the Third Doctor a full-length Cyberman story after Doctor Who: The Blue Tooth, as he didn't have any Cybermen stories on TV. It's a good story, just not as fun as the previous story with the Monk. That said, this was a great boxset and a great introduction to the Third Doctor on audio from Big Finish.
August 30, 2022
The Doctor and Jo fight the Monk in the first adventure and Cybermen in the second.
October 16, 2025
I felt like I was listening to the soundtrack of a classic 70's era lost Pertwee story. Nostalgic and new, fun fun fun.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews