Doctor Who: The Quantum Possibility Engine

Big Finish: Monthly Range #243

by Guy Adams, Sylvester McCoy (Narrator), Sophie Aldred (Narrator)

The Doctor and Ace are locked up. The TARDIS is gone. Things just couldn’t get worse, could they?

Of course they could. Things can always get worse — the new President of the Solar System, Josiah W Dogbolter, didn’t get where he is in life without learning that. That’s why he has a Quantum Possibility Engine. It’s a wonderful machine, creating a wonderful Solar System. And with this wonderful device, he can bring happiness and peace to all.

Possibly.

Either that or tear the universe to shreds, it’s hard to be sure which.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published October 16, 2018

Reviews

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

7th Doctor: Why have you locked me up?
Narvin: I haven't. As much as it pains me, I'm breaking you out.
*Narvin uses his sonic to break the Doctor out*
7th Doctor: *Clearly amused* Is that a sonic screwdriver?
Narvin: No, it isn't!
7th Doctor: It looks like one.
Narvin: No it doesn't!
7th Doctor: It does. It REALLY does.
Narvin: It's a sonic...lock-pick.
7th Doctor: It's a sonic screwdriver! You're just embarrassed to admit you're copying me.
Narvin: Yes....very well. It's a sonic screwdriver. I've based it on your design.
7th Doctor: I have copyright you know.
Narvin: Shut up.

-

Narvin getting exhausted by complaining frequently is also such a mood lmao.

-
Narvin: Cleaner!Come here!
7th Doctor: You know, I'm a little worried about the amount of anger you seem to feel.
Narvin: You should be!
7th Doctor: Oh, not for my sake. For yours. I mean, it can't be healthy
Narvin: Healthy? I tell you what's not healthy, and that's interfering with my calculations! Look at that whiteboard! Is that you who wrote that?
7th Doctor: Oh! That! Oh yes. Sorry. I noticed you made a couple of mistakes. Sorry, I was trying to be helpful. You see if X helps us find the-
Narvin: Helpful?! I spent hours working on those equations!
7th Doctor: Probably why you got them wrong...I'm sure you were tired.
Narvin: They weren't wrong. And what's that?! Bottom left?!
7th Doctor: Oh! That is the risotto recipe that occurred to me whilst I was correcting your maths. I don't suppose you have a piece of paper I could jot it down, so I don't forget it again?
*Narvin forcibly grabs the Doctor by the arms and throws him out of the office.*

[Steven Poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare Main Range titles that hits all the right buttons. Drama, humour, scathingly relevant political satire, an absolute whiz-banger of a story where even Narvin has some excellent lines. If you're in any way (large or small "c") conservative, I think a lot of the subtlety will go right over your head. Big Finish do this sort of story perfectly.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although technically this is the third part of a trilogy, in that the previous two instalments both ended with teasers for the one that followed, this is very different in tone to either of its predecessors. In fact, it's a comedy, something that's not often done with Seven. The comedy elements don't overwhelm the plot, however, and don't fall into the trap of seeming overly silly, which can sometimes happen when you insert a comedy episode into something that's normally serious.

The plot sees the TARDIS captured by the story's main villain, Josiah W. Dogbolter, a character created for the DW comics of the 1980s. That occurs during the teaser at the end of the previous release, and this story is concerned not so much with getting it back as with what Dogbolter plans on doing with it. The usual companions are joined by Narvin, from the Gallifrey audios, whose frustration with what is going on helps him to serve as a comic foil.

Time technology is involved in the story, as one might expect, but it's nothing particularly complex with no paradoxes or out-of-sequence events. In many respects, it's quite serious, with the humour being provided by some of the characters - an obsequious protocol droid, image-conscious alien invaders, etc. - and a number of good one-liners. Despite the larger cast, all of the characters get something to do, and there's a nice piece of implied commentary on the relevant era of the TV show when it becomes clear, early on, what Mel is really doing...

[Zélicoptère · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histoire sympathique mais pas extraordinaire, décidemment Ace doit abandonner des vies de couple potentielles par poignées et ça me rend un peu triste pour elle. J'avais pas écouté les autres audios du run Mel/Ace parce qu'ils n'ont pas de très bonnes reviews et que je n'ai pas beaucoup d'intérêt pour eux, mais j'ai été tenté de mettre mon écoute en pause le temps de tout rattraper. De base, j'ai écouté cet audio de part son importance pour The Last Day, aussi je n'avais pas envie d'avoir encore plus de devoirs à faire. Un petit plaisir de retrouver Narvin, et de le voir avant toute son évolution dans Gallifrey !!

[Spinegrilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undiscovered gem, all the actors has loads of fun recording this I lovely the toady Sydney green street toading around and the Peter Lorre robot sidekick adds to the fun. As they steal the tardis from under the doctors nose. It’s a more comedic episode but loads of fun

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every moment with this Story like how much I loved with Serpent in the Silver Mask.
This story is Witty, Weird, and Funny at some moments and it really feels like the Comic Books.

[Debra Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mel forces the Tardis to the president of the solar system to forgive a debt.

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fun romp.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The newly elected populist businessman president is a loathsome toad - nuff said.

[Viviana]

1-2 stars, maybe
Audiobook CD

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one got somewhat repetitive.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good yet completely unearned finale to the Mel returns to the TARDIS arc.