What do you think?
Rate this book
The Prisoner #3
The Prisoner: Volume 3
Based on the classic ITV series.
‘I’m not a number. I’m a free man!’
January 16th, 1967...
Number Six is still trapped in ‘The Village’. Do those who run this place want simply to extract classified information or do they have a darker purpose? Number Six has to believe he will escape. And this time he begins to see a possible way out. But will the price of freedom be too high?
3.1 Free For All
Time for an election in the Village. The regime seems to want Six to stand as a candidate to be Number Two. But when Two’s manifesto seems to be based on the notion of freedom, what platform will Six decide to stand upon? And can there ever be freedom in the Village?
3.2 The Girl Who Was Death
Six finds himself free again, back in London. But how did he get here? An explosion rocks the city and Six must work out who he can trust. Will it be Control, Danvers, Number 43, Kate, Number Two or Potter?
3.3 The Seltzman Connection
Potter and ZM-73 think that if they go back to the beginning of it all, they’ll be able to solve the mystery of the Village. But can Professor Jacob Seltzman really provide all the answers?
3.4 No One Will Know
From London, to Kandersfeld to the Village… Will an end to it all ever be possible?
‘I’m not a number. I’m a free man!’
January 16th, 1967...
Number Six is still trapped in ‘The Village’. Do those who run this place want simply to extract classified information or do they have a darker purpose? Number Six has to believe he will escape. And this time he begins to see a possible way out. But will the price of freedom be too high?
3.1 Free For All
Time for an election in the Village. The regime seems to want Six to stand as a candidate to be Number Two. But when Two’s manifesto seems to be based on the notion of freedom, what platform will Six decide to stand upon? And can there ever be freedom in the Village?
3.2 The Girl Who Was Death
Six finds himself free again, back in London. But how did he get here? An explosion rocks the city and Six must work out who he can trust. Will it be Control, Danvers, Number 43, Kate, Number Two or Potter?
3.3 The Seltzman Connection
Potter and ZM-73 think that if they go back to the beginning of it all, they’ll be able to solve the mystery of the Village. But can Professor Jacob Seltzman really provide all the answers?
3.4 No One Will Know
From London, to Kandersfeld to the Village… Will an end to it all ever be possible?
Audio CD
First published November 1, 2019
15 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Briggs
375 books133 followersNicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs. Some of Briggs' earliest Doctor Who-related work was as host of The Myth Makers, a series of made-for-video documentaries produced in the 1980s and 1990s by Reeltime Pictures in which Briggs interviews many of the actors and writers involved in the series. When Reeltime expanded into producing original dramas, Briggs wrote some stories and acted in others, beginning with War Time, the first unofficial Doctor Who spin-off, and Myth Runner, a parody of Blade Runner showcasing bloopers from the Myth Makers series built around a loose storyline featuring Briggs as a down on his luck private detective in the near future.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).
Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.
Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.
Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 27, 2022
What happens to secret agents that want to retire? Do they resign? Can they resign? Do they just get assassinated? Is there a retirement home for Secret Agents? Well, the cult-classic TV series upon which this is based, offered that very idea as the premise: a sort of retirement village for secret agents. There was probably no other TV series that presented such a weird amalgamation of espionage suspense and surreal mind games … not only among the characters, but the audience ended up being brought into the mind games forced upon the protagonist. This audio-drama presents an updated version of that original concept.
3.1 Free For All (Episode Nine) - This one is an adaptation of the TV episode of the same title. Another fascinating look at how those in charge of The Village will use the most absurd methods for breaking their Prisoner. Excellent (4/5).
3.2 The Girl Who Was Death (Episode Ten) - Another TV episode adaptation, but changed quite a bit in order to match it into the “chronology” of this Big Finish audio series. Wonderfully done (3/5).
3.3 The Seltzman Connection (Episode Eleven) - I’ll have to check, but I don’t think this one has anything to do with the original TV series. And this one will screw with your head. No one is who you think they are. Are they ever who you think they are? This one comes awfully close to attempting to provide some solutions to all the questions. Which would rather be like an act of sabotage and heresy. Yep. This one is a mindf#*% (4/5).
3.4 No One Will Know (Episode Twelve) - Six is not who he thought he was. Or, he’s not who he used to be. But will he be able to get any answers now that he’s not the same person? Or is this all just more shenanigans along the lines of invasion of the body swappers? It all comes to a head in this spectacle of a Big Finish showdown (sorry, sometimes I just can’t help myself). In any case, this certainly wraps up a lot of the concepts and narrative threads from both the TV series and this audio series. And I’ve got some problems with that. But it was still a very entertaining episode (3/5).
Behind the scenes bonus material: basically the usual interviews with cast and crew that these Big Finish Productions are known for, but a little bit more depth of commentary. Also included in an extensive isolated music score.
This set is all one big story, broken up into 4 convenient episodes. So, it’s quite different than other sets. And quite different from the original TV series. As I said, I’ve got some problems. Part of the appeal of the original series is the unsolvable puzzle that is presented. Is Number Six being held prisoner by his own people or by his people’s enemies? This may be the primary question, but it’s far from the only one. And this set makes a stab at answering as many of these questions as possible. Or does it? The problem with (3/5).
3.1 Free For All (Episode Nine) - This one is an adaptation of the TV episode of the same title. Another fascinating look at how those in charge of The Village will use the most absurd methods for breaking their Prisoner. Excellent (4/5).
3.2 The Girl Who Was Death (Episode Ten) - Another TV episode adaptation, but changed quite a bit in order to match it into the “chronology” of this Big Finish audio series. Wonderfully done (3/5).
3.3 The Seltzman Connection (Episode Eleven) - I’ll have to check, but I don’t think this one has anything to do with the original TV series. And this one will screw with your head. No one is who you think they are. Are they ever who you think they are? This one comes awfully close to attempting to provide some solutions to all the questions. Which would rather be like an act of sabotage and heresy. Yep. This one is a mindf#*% (4/5).
3.4 No One Will Know (Episode Twelve) - Six is not who he thought he was. Or, he’s not who he used to be. But will he be able to get any answers now that he’s not the same person? Or is this all just more shenanigans along the lines of invasion of the body swappers? It all comes to a head in this spectacle of a Big Finish showdown (sorry, sometimes I just can’t help myself). In any case, this certainly wraps up a lot of the concepts and narrative threads from both the TV series and this audio series. And I’ve got some problems with that. But it was still a very entertaining episode (3/5).
Behind the scenes bonus material: basically the usual interviews with cast and crew that these Big Finish Productions are known for, but a little bit more depth of commentary. Also included in an extensive isolated music score.
This set is all one big story, broken up into 4 convenient episodes. So, it’s quite different than other sets. And quite different from the original TV series. As I said, I’ve got some problems. Part of the appeal of the original series is the unsolvable puzzle that is presented. Is Number Six being held prisoner by his own people or by his people’s enemies? This may be the primary question, but it’s far from the only one. And this set makes a stab at answering as many of these questions as possible. Or does it? The problem with (3/5).
June 8, 2021
This audio presentation by Big Finish and Nicholas Briggs is tremendously good fun. It captures the spirit and tone of the classic series while delivering thoughtful tales with the same psychedelic tone we experienced the first time we viewed it. This volume, while divided up into separate chapters, is one continuous journey in the saga of Number 6. While beginning with a story that pays homage to an actual episode, from there the work becomes original (Well there are some dribs and drabs from the TV show that sneak in) and leads to an alternative ending, just as funky as the first one.
As before, the acting, effects, music and production values are all excellent. With the normal behind the scenes interviews after each episode, this set includes expanded discussions with the creative team and includes the music queues on their own and they are a treat. I need to be very circumspect here as it would be easy to let the cat out of the bag. I would rather you experience this with no preconceptions, so I will keep it short. If you are a fan, buy it. If not, go back to either the show or volume 1. If you like either, then dive in.
As before, the acting, effects, music and production values are all excellent. With the normal behind the scenes interviews after each episode, this set includes expanded discussions with the creative team and includes the music queues on their own and they are a treat. I need to be very circumspect here as it would be easy to let the cat out of the bag. I would rather you experience this with no preconceptions, so I will keep it short. If you are a fan, buy it. If not, go back to either the show or volume 1. If you like either, then dive in.
August 17, 2022
Well, there's four hours wasted I'll never get back. Volume 1 did a good job setting up the premise, and dropping some intriguing hints. In this, I thought it did better than the TV series in actually inviting me to start speculating on the nature of the Village. Volume 2 was confusing and consisted of a lot of running in circles. What hints it did offer it seemed to immediately cancel. I assumed it was just marking time until the final episodes of Volume 3, when all would be laid plain.
Alas, t'was not to be. Volume 3 is even more of an utter mess than Volume 2. Please don't ask me to explain this series, what it means, what actually happens in it, and how it resolves, because I can't. I am more lost at the end than I was at the beginning. But rather than being a curious, intriguing kind of lost where I enjoy following trails of breadcrumbs, it's an infuriating lost where I just want to burn down the whole forest and dance on the ashes.
The final episode is titled "No One Will Know." Which are the first four words in "No one will know what the hell it all means."
Alas, t'was not to be. Volume 3 is even more of an utter mess than Volume 2. Please don't ask me to explain this series, what it means, what actually happens in it, and how it resolves, because I can't. I am more lost at the end than I was at the beginning. But rather than being a curious, intriguing kind of lost where I enjoy following trails of breadcrumbs, it's an infuriating lost where I just want to burn down the whole forest and dance on the ashes.
The final episode is titled "No One Will Know." Which are the first four words in "No one will know what the hell it all means."
May 13, 2021
3.5* Star over all. Mark Elstob is the highlight of the boxset and gives a superb performance as Number Six.
January 15, 2020
Fantastic visit to The Village! I really enjoyed how the actors worked with the new scripts in this third edition. Really, I want a fourth volume!
Perhaps Big Finish could reimagine the Secret Agent series?
Bravo to all involved in the production.
Perhaps Big Finish could reimagine the Secret Agent series?
Bravo to all involved in the production.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews