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The Paternoster Gang #4
The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 4
Victorian London harbours many secrets: alien visitors, strange phenomena and unearthly powers.
But a trio of investigators stands ready to delve into such mysteries: the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax.
If an impossible puzzle needs solving, or a grave injustice needs righting, help can be found on Paternoster Row.
But even heroes can never escape their past...
4.1 Merry Christmas, Mr Jago by Paul Morris
As Vastra searches for relics of prehistory, Jenny worries about security, and Strax wants to find a suitable gift for his friend.
Henry Gordon Jago has been invited to spend Christmas at Paternoster Row – but when presents are unwrapped, the surprises inside could prove deadly!
4.2 The Ghost Writers by Roy Gill
While Jenny and Strax investigate sightings of fauns beneath streetlights and mermaids in bath-houses, Madame Vastra is invited into a different mystery.
The literary members of the Antediluvian Club have strict criteria for entry, and Miss Edith Renner needs Vastra to access their secrets.
4.3 Rulers of Earth by Matt Fitton
Ancient forces have risen, Vastra and her friends are lost to each other, and a terrible prophecy is taking shape.
A pretender to the throne allies with a force from prehistory, while an unlikely ally searches for the Paternosters.
The Gang must face their destiny, as the fate of Earth is decided...
But a trio of investigators stands ready to delve into such mysteries: the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax.
If an impossible puzzle needs solving, or a grave injustice needs righting, help can be found on Paternoster Row.
But even heroes can never escape their past...
4.1 Merry Christmas, Mr Jago by Paul Morris
As Vastra searches for relics of prehistory, Jenny worries about security, and Strax wants to find a suitable gift for his friend.
Henry Gordon Jago has been invited to spend Christmas at Paternoster Row – but when presents are unwrapped, the surprises inside could prove deadly!
4.2 The Ghost Writers by Roy Gill
While Jenny and Strax investigate sightings of fauns beneath streetlights and mermaids in bath-houses, Madame Vastra is invited into a different mystery.
The literary members of the Antediluvian Club have strict criteria for entry, and Miss Edith Renner needs Vastra to access their secrets.
4.3 Rulers of Earth by Matt Fitton
Ancient forces have risen, Vastra and her friends are lost to each other, and a terrible prophecy is taking shape.
A pretender to the throne allies with a force from prehistory, while an unlikely ally searches for the Paternosters.
The Gang must face their destiny, as the fate of Earth is decided...
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First published October 22, 2020
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Paul Morris
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 20, 2021
4.1 Merry Christmas, Mr Jago by Paul Morris
Natale a Paternoster Row.
Mentre Vastra è in cerca di artefatti preistorici, Strax cerca invece un regalo per un amico e, nonostante l'impegno del sontaran, Jenny è preoccupata per la sicurezza della loro casa.
Henry Gordon Jago, guest star dell'episodio, si ritrova a dover combattere per la propria vita, cercando di sfuggire al regalo che Strax ha trovato per lui... e ai tentativi di Strax di eliminare la minaccia.
4.2 The Ghost Writers by Roy Gill
Vastra viene coinvolta da un club misterioso, l'Antediluvian Club.
Nel frattempo strane apparizioni di creature misteriose mettono in moto Strax e Jenny. Ovviamente i due fatti sono collegati e ben presto il terzetto si troverà nei guai.
Ritroviamo dei collegamenti ai fatti raccontati in The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3 e il cliffhanger finale porta direttamente all'ultima parte del boxset.
4.3 Rulers of Earth by Matt Fitton
Per fronteggiare l'antico nemico scatenato al termine della storia precedente, Paternoster Gang e Bloomsbury Bunch si ritrovano alleati per riuscire a sconfiggere l'avversario.
Finale di stagione ben strutturato, con riferimenti al passato della serie e alla serie madre con qualche dettaglio in più sulle tradizioni siluriane, ma non abbastanza.
Il finale potrebbe essere conclusivo, sempre che non decidano di andare oltre i classici quattro boxset.
Natale a Paternoster Row.
Mentre Vastra è in cerca di artefatti preistorici, Strax cerca invece un regalo per un amico e, nonostante l'impegno del sontaran, Jenny è preoccupata per la sicurezza della loro casa.
Henry Gordon Jago, guest star dell'episodio, si ritrova a dover combattere per la propria vita, cercando di sfuggire al regalo che Strax ha trovato per lui... e ai tentativi di Strax di eliminare la minaccia.
4.2 The Ghost Writers by Roy Gill
Vastra viene coinvolta da un club misterioso, l'Antediluvian Club.
Nel frattempo strane apparizioni di creature misteriose mettono in moto Strax e Jenny. Ovviamente i due fatti sono collegati e ben presto il terzetto si troverà nei guai.
Ritroviamo dei collegamenti ai fatti raccontati in The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3 e il cliffhanger finale porta direttamente all'ultima parte del boxset.
4.3 Rulers of Earth by Matt Fitton
Per fronteggiare l'antico nemico scatenato al termine della storia precedente, Paternoster Gang e Bloomsbury Bunch si ritrovano alleati per riuscire a sconfiggere l'avversario.
Finale di stagione ben strutturato, con riferimenti al passato della serie e alla serie madre con qualche dettaglio in più sulle tradizioni siluriane, ma non abbastanza.
Il finale potrebbe essere conclusivo, sempre che non decidano di andare oltre i classici quattro boxset.
October 26, 2020
Volume 4 of the delightful adventures of the Paternoster Gang.
Again, we get 3 stories as well as a behind the scenes at the end.
The first is a Christmas episode, featuring Impressario Henry Gordon Jago.
Well, it was fine.
I was not blown away but it was enjoyable and it is always nice to meet up with Mr. Jago.
Still, compared to previous Paternoster stories, the Jago and Litefoot series and even the likes of Jago & Litefoot & Strax, this was pretty subdued.
The last two stories form a two-parter and has our heroes facing off against an evil from the dawn of time...
it was a serviceable finale, but I just cannot shake the feeling that they could have done sooooo much more with the idea.
A intangiable threat from the dawn of time that had already threatened the Silurians?
There just so so much you could do with that idea!
Here, in the end, it just boils down into the usual run-around. Also, does it feel like BF is running out of distinctive modulated voices/ sound effects for the aliens? This could have been any of them, nothing does really set them apart.
So in the end, for me, it was lacking in atmosphere and goose-bump feeling.
The performances however were great, as usual. Plus, every member of the gang does get something to do and their moment to shine, and Strax is the usual semi-serious comic relief.
So, in conclusion, a fun and entertaining set, but by far not as good as volume 2 and 3.
I really hope we get more of these.
Again, we get 3 stories as well as a behind the scenes at the end.
The first is a Christmas episode, featuring Impressario Henry Gordon Jago.
Well, it was fine.
I was not blown away but it was enjoyable and it is always nice to meet up with Mr. Jago.
Still, compared to previous Paternoster stories, the Jago and Litefoot series and even the likes of Jago & Litefoot & Strax, this was pretty subdued.
The last two stories form a two-parter and has our heroes facing off against an evil from the dawn of time...
it was a serviceable finale, but I just cannot shake the feeling that they could have done sooooo much more with the idea.
A intangiable threat from the dawn of time that had already threatened the Silurians?
There just so so much you could do with that idea!
Here, in the end, it just boils down into the usual run-around. Also, does it feel like BF is running out of distinctive modulated voices/ sound effects for the aliens? This could have been any of them, nothing does really set them apart.
So in the end, for me, it was lacking in atmosphere and goose-bump feeling.
The performances however were great, as usual. Plus, every member of the gang does get something to do and their moment to shine, and Strax is the usual semi-serious comic relief.
So, in conclusion, a fun and entertaining set, but by far not as good as volume 2 and 3.
I really hope we get more of these.
February 19, 2025
4.1 Merry Christmas, Mr. Jago - Off to a wonderful start. Nothing like festive holiday hilarity and shenanigans to liven the cold, frigid days and nights of the winter solstice (4/5).
4.2 The Ghost Writers - This was a very interesting story with some rather unexpected twists. I really enjoyed this one (4/5).
4.3 Rulers of Earth - This was a good wrap-up, but I wasn’t quite as enamored with it as others in series. I was hoping for a bit more, but it wasn’t really disappointing or anything, just not all I’d hoped it might be. This is always the problem with expectations, even a good story may not live up. I’m sure I’ll likely amend this when I listen to it a second time (3/4).
For my overall rating on this series, I’ve giving it a little boost as I really did enjoy this series of 3 stories enormously. This set also includes an extra bonus disc of the usual wonderful interviews with cast and crew. And all I have to say in closing is that I’m really hoping that Big Finish makes another Paternoster Gang series.
4.2 The Ghost Writers - This was a very interesting story with some rather unexpected twists. I really enjoyed this one (4/5).
4.3 Rulers of Earth - This was a good wrap-up, but I wasn’t quite as enamored with it as others in series. I was hoping for a bit more, but it wasn’t really disappointing or anything, just not all I’d hoped it might be. This is always the problem with expectations, even a good story may not live up. I’m sure I’ll likely amend this when I listen to it a second time (3/4).
For my overall rating on this series, I’ve giving it a little boost as I really did enjoy this series of 3 stories enormously. This set also includes an extra bonus disc of the usual wonderful interviews with cast and crew. And all I have to say in closing is that I’m really hoping that Big Finish makes another Paternoster Gang series.
February 26, 2023
The final release in this series has a somewhat different format than the others, consisting of only two stories, both of which have a Silurian theme. Perhaps surprisingly, it's the weakest of the four volumes, as well as being less standalone, but it's still a good listen.
Merry Christmas, Mr Jago –As the title indicates, this story sees the gang meeting up with Henry Gordon Jago, last seen encountering Strax in his own audio series. He’s mostly teamed up with Strax and, indeed, the Gang spend much of the story separated, allowing them to interact with other characters more so than each other. The Silurian-based element of the story is almost incidental, with the threat being one that’s native to Vastra’s time but that probably would have worked as well had it been an alien. Instead, we get something that’s firmly on the comedy side of things, largely thanks to Strax’s overenthusiastic security measures. Otherwise, yes, like much in this series, it’s little more than a run-around… but it’s a decent one and it’s good to hear Jago again. 4 stars.
The Ghost Writers/Rulers of Earth – The final story is a double-length one that ties together multiple elements from some of the disparate tales of the previous volumes. It’s more serious than most others in the series, dealing with a threat to the existence of life on Earth and an incidental one to the British throne (which, admittedly, is less significant in the grand scheme of things). The latter seems tagged on, perhaps as part of the Victorian flavour and doesn’t really add much, although the build-up to the main plot, with mythic creatures threatening London works rather better. It’s a big dramatic conclusion, with some pay-off to various elements elsewhere in the series but perhaps lacking in some of the whimsy we’ve had to get us this far. 3.5 stars.
Merry Christmas, Mr Jago –As the title indicates, this story sees the gang meeting up with Henry Gordon Jago, last seen encountering Strax in his own audio series. He’s mostly teamed up with Strax and, indeed, the Gang spend much of the story separated, allowing them to interact with other characters more so than each other. The Silurian-based element of the story is almost incidental, with the threat being one that’s native to Vastra’s time but that probably would have worked as well had it been an alien. Instead, we get something that’s firmly on the comedy side of things, largely thanks to Strax’s overenthusiastic security measures. Otherwise, yes, like much in this series, it’s little more than a run-around… but it’s a decent one and it’s good to hear Jago again. 4 stars.
The Ghost Writers/Rulers of Earth – The final story is a double-length one that ties together multiple elements from some of the disparate tales of the previous volumes. It’s more serious than most others in the series, dealing with a threat to the existence of life on Earth and an incidental one to the British throne (which, admittedly, is less significant in the grand scheme of things). The latter seems tagged on, perhaps as part of the Victorian flavour and doesn’t really add much, although the build-up to the main plot, with mythic creatures threatening London works rather better. It’s a big dramatic conclusion, with some pay-off to various elements elsewhere in the series but perhaps lacking in some of the whimsy we’ve had to get us this far. 3.5 stars.
Read
March 13, 2022Not entirely sure how to rate this one.
It wasn't good or bad...but it was just...kind of there?
The stories were fun to listen to as a distraction, but I think these were recorded during the pandemic and the audio quality on this boxset is not the greatest, preventing me from actually enjoying it fully.
It was nice hearing Jago reunite with Strax, but...it didn't feel like Jago in this story? I'm very good friends with Paul Morris so I don't want to say anything negative.
Still worth a listen to for Strax and Madame Vastra moments, and nice to hear Tom and Stonn again :)
It wasn't good or bad...but it was just...kind of there?
The stories were fun to listen to as a distraction, but I think these were recorded during the pandemic and the audio quality on this boxset is not the greatest, preventing me from actually enjoying it fully.
It was nice hearing Jago reunite with Strax, but...it didn't feel like Jago in this story? I'm very good friends with Paul Morris so I don't want to say anything negative.
Still worth a listen to for Strax and Madame Vastra moments, and nice to hear Tom and Stonn again :)
January 30, 2023
I was able to devour the 4 titles in this series pretty quickly, I loved it that much. I know audio series aren't for everyone but I absolutely adore Big Finish. Makes my little doctor who nerd heart happy!
If there is any BF spin-off series I can recommend, it would be this one simply because it is different than the rest of them. Loved Diary of River Song (she's a queen!) but this one made me laugh time and time again. I could go for another box set of this, 5/5 stars for sure
If there is any BF spin-off series I can recommend, it would be this one simply because it is different than the rest of them. Loved Diary of River Song (she's a queen!) but this one made me laugh time and time again. I could go for another box set of this, 5/5 stars for sure
November 1, 2020
I enjoyed it.
...could have used more Jago!
...could have used more Jago!
December 9, 2020
Vastra deals with her past in horendous forms.
December 28, 2024
Strax is funny and I enjoyed the swordfighting. Also nice to have a Christmas story featuring Jago.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews