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The Early Adventures #5.2
Doctor Who: An Ideal World
Light years from Earth, a vast human spaceship hangs in orbit over a cloudy alien planet. The crew have been travelling in cryosleep for many years, looking for a habitable world to settle, and have at last located one with potential.
However, they’re not the only people to have arrived in this place. The TARDIS has landed on the planet’s surface. The Doctor, Steven and Vicki explore and quickly find themselves separated.
But it isn’t merely the hostile environment and rogue terraforming drones they’ll have to deal with. Something else is living on this world. Something deadly and waiting to consume.
It’s an ideal world. But ideal for whom?
However, they’re not the only people to have arrived in this place. The TARDIS has landed on the planet’s surface. The Doctor, Steven and Vicki explore and quickly find themselves separated.
But it isn’t merely the hostile environment and rogue terraforming drones they’ll have to deal with. Something else is living on this world. Something deadly and waiting to consume.
It’s an ideal world. But ideal for whom?
Audio CD
First published October 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 8, 2020
If this was a real missing story then William Hartnell would probably have been on holiday.. :D however though the Doctor doesn't have much to do this allows us to Stephen and Vicki. This story serves both characters well and plays to their strengths... It also sews the seeds for their ultimate destinations within the show. This is the second in a very strong season for the early adventures range.
March 1, 2019
I struggle to get through this one, it's like with Parallel 59 way, very slow pace.
November 21, 2018
Following directly on from The Dalek Occupation of Winter, this one, concerning the terraforming of a new world, moves along very . . . very . . . slowly. Things happen, sure . . . but the plot -- such as it is -- doesn't really emerge until the fourth part. Seems like for most of the story the Doctor, Steven, and Vicki are in one story, while the supporting characters are in another story. Even as the threat to the settlers begins to take shape, the Doctor, Steven, and Vicki are busy doing something else.
In the end I never quite understood the nature of the baddies. Or if they really were baddies.
In the end I never quite understood the nature of the baddies. Or if they really were baddies.
July 3, 2021
To my mind, this is another good entry in the Early Adventures range, although I can see why others might find it problematic. When the TV show started, a large part of its original remit was to be educational which, in the case of the SF elements of the show meant that it was supposed to teach about science. That essentially came to an end after Planet of the Giants early in the second season - well before the third season which we're supposed to be emulating here. Yet this story comes across as being firmly in that style.
The TARDIS lands on an uninhabited planet being surveyed by a slower-than-light colony ship from Earth. (The star fits the description of Tau Ceti but may, of course, be fictional). The first hour consists largely of a struggle against the environment, with bad weather and an only marginally breathable atmosphere providing the main obstacles. In the second half, the action moves to the orbiting colony ship and the science exposition switches to more medical and technological matters, with an important plot point revolving around Steven and Vicki's familiarity with nanotech.
The result is a slow-paced story that only really acquires a villain in the final thirty minutes, once the nature of the real problem is revealed. There is a monster, but it's not terribly important and doesn't last all that long. Plus, once we've dealt with the science in the first three 'episodes' we get a lengthy discussion on ethics in the final one as different characters suggest different solutions to the situation.
I enjoyed this as a piece of comparatively hard SF by Doctor Who standards, and with distinct echoes of some of the very early stories - albeit without Ian in the science teacher role. Largely because of the nanotech, it's not the science we'd have likely got in a '60s episode, and the setting feels like modern SF (even if Steven finds the technology backward) but that's a plus when it comes to hard SF. On the other hand, the slow pacing, almost complete lack of action, and the lengthy discussions may put some listeners off.
The TARDIS lands on an uninhabited planet being surveyed by a slower-than-light colony ship from Earth. (The star fits the description of Tau Ceti but may, of course, be fictional). The first hour consists largely of a struggle against the environment, with bad weather and an only marginally breathable atmosphere providing the main obstacles. In the second half, the action moves to the orbiting colony ship and the science exposition switches to more medical and technological matters, with an important plot point revolving around Steven and Vicki's familiarity with nanotech.
The result is a slow-paced story that only really acquires a villain in the final thirty minutes, once the nature of the real problem is revealed. There is a monster, but it's not terribly important and doesn't last all that long. Plus, once we've dealt with the science in the first three 'episodes' we get a lengthy discussion on ethics in the final one as different characters suggest different solutions to the situation.
I enjoyed this as a piece of comparatively hard SF by Doctor Who standards, and with distinct echoes of some of the very early stories - albeit without Ian in the science teacher role. Largely because of the nanotech, it's not the science we'd have likely got in a '60s episode, and the setting feels like modern SF (even if Steven finds the technology backward) but that's a plus when it comes to hard SF. On the other hand, the slow pacing, almost complete lack of action, and the lengthy discussions may put some listeners off.
July 3, 2021
I've heard a lot of positive things about the fifth series of Early Adventures in general and that this one is yet again another bleak story with a strong atmosphere and I can happily agree with that statement.
Landing on the planet T19 The Tardis crew find the world fascinating and very similar to Earth but when they get separated they all find that the planet is lacking in oxygen but high above in space, politics is in motion and there are huge disagreements going on that could prove fatal, back on the planet below something is reawakening and the end may very well be near...
This was a very bleak story that opens up with The Tardis crew in a deadly situation, the atmosphere is thick and at times very creepy and haunting. It's very similar to Oxygen in some ways so if you enjoyed that story you probably will like this immensely. The characterization is on point with an ending that will leave you quiet and alone with your thoughts a long time afterwards.
Overall Ian Potter has written an incredible story in a series that continues to highlight just how good the Early Adventures as a range can be! 10/10
Landing on the planet T19 The Tardis crew find the world fascinating and very similar to Earth but when they get separated they all find that the planet is lacking in oxygen but high above in space, politics is in motion and there are huge disagreements going on that could prove fatal, back on the planet below something is reawakening and the end may very well be near...
This was a very bleak story that opens up with The Tardis crew in a deadly situation, the atmosphere is thick and at times very creepy and haunting. It's very similar to Oxygen in some ways so if you enjoyed that story you probably will like this immensely. The characterization is on point with an ending that will leave you quiet and alone with your thoughts a long time afterwards.
Overall Ian Potter has written an incredible story in a series that continues to highlight just how good the Early Adventures as a range can be! 10/10
August 7, 2025
Possibly one of the greatest First Doctor stories from the Early Adventures range
It is a rather slow burn, though thankfully slow burns are my cup of tea. The worldbuilding is done fantastically and the way the crew act is a nice change of pace from the typical ‘shoot first ask questions later’ space stories
The finale was one of the best parts of this story. The moral quandaries that were put forward support each side to an even and reasonable extent. For a modern Who story that’s rather rare indeed (I jest of course)
Overall this is a fantastic little story that I believe can stand as one of the best First Doctor stories out there. Recommended for people that love slow burns
If I could I would give 6 stars
It is a rather slow burn, though thankfully slow burns are my cup of tea. The worldbuilding is done fantastically and the way the crew act is a nice change of pace from the typical ‘shoot first ask questions later’ space stories
The finale was one of the best parts of this story. The moral quandaries that were put forward support each side to an even and reasonable extent. For a modern Who story that’s rather rare indeed (I jest of course)
Overall this is a fantastic little story that I believe can stand as one of the best First Doctor stories out there. Recommended for people that love slow burns
If I could I would give 6 stars
March 21, 2019
The Doctor, Steven and Vicki land on a planet that has future earth trying to colonize but problems keep cropping up.
July 28, 2024
A solidly entertaining adventure for the Doctor, Vicki & Steven. Nothing special, but throughly enjoyable.
November 4, 2024
I like the voice acting but the pacing could be a bit better.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews