What do you think?
Rate this book
Doctor Who: Dalek Universe #1
Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1
Time has gone awry. The Doctor is lost, without his TARDIS. But he’s not alone. The Space Security Service agents Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven haven’t always been on his side in the past, but now they are here to help him.
And he’s going to need them - because the oldest foes of all are waiting to strike. Ready to take down their greatest enemy...
1.1 Buying Time by John Dorney
The far future. Anya Kingdom of the Space Security Service is on a mission investigating an SSS ship crashing on a distant jungle planet. Unknown to her superiors, she’s searching for something very specific... but what she finds is completely unexpected. Her old friend, the Doctor. With a completely different face and no idea what he’s doing there.
The Time Lord soon finds himself drawn into a conspiracy involving voracious predators, time travel and a malevolent businessman.
History itself is breaking down. If he makes a mistake, it could mean the end of everything...
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney
The team’s investigations have taken an unexpected turn - but the signs all still point to Sheldrake. With the clock ticking down to the launch of the time tunnels, the Doctor, Anya and Mark split up... but soon discover how hard it is to fight a foe who can always keep one step ahead of you.
But stopping him is only half the battle. The Doctor says that time can be rewritten - and Anya is searching for redemption. Can she put history back on track? Or is the Doctor’s future never going to be the same again?
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith
The Doctor and his friends are trying to locate a scientist to help them on their quest... but an attack on a space-station alters their plans.
Rescued by Anya's grandfather, Merrick, and taken to Neptune, the Doctor and Mark discover her family history. A story of betrayal and loss.
Will the Kingdoms be reconciled? Or are they destined to continue the mistakes of the past?
This boxset release contains all three stories, plus additional behind the scenes interviews.
And he’s going to need them - because the oldest foes of all are waiting to strike. Ready to take down their greatest enemy...
1.1 Buying Time by John Dorney
The far future. Anya Kingdom of the Space Security Service is on a mission investigating an SSS ship crashing on a distant jungle planet. Unknown to her superiors, she’s searching for something very specific... but what she finds is completely unexpected. Her old friend, the Doctor. With a completely different face and no idea what he’s doing there.
The Time Lord soon finds himself drawn into a conspiracy involving voracious predators, time travel and a malevolent businessman.
History itself is breaking down. If he makes a mistake, it could mean the end of everything...
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney
The team’s investigations have taken an unexpected turn - but the signs all still point to Sheldrake. With the clock ticking down to the launch of the time tunnels, the Doctor, Anya and Mark split up... but soon discover how hard it is to fight a foe who can always keep one step ahead of you.
But stopping him is only half the battle. The Doctor says that time can be rewritten - and Anya is searching for redemption. Can she put history back on track? Or is the Doctor’s future never going to be the same again?
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith
The Doctor and his friends are trying to locate a scientist to help them on their quest... but an attack on a space-station alters their plans.
Rescued by Anya's grandfather, Merrick, and taken to Neptune, the Doctor and Mark discover her family history. A story of betrayal and loss.
Will the Kingdoms be reconciled? Or are they destined to continue the mistakes of the past?
This boxset release contains all three stories, plus additional behind the scenes interviews.
Audiobook
First published April 1, 2021
4 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
John Dorney
167 books26 followersJohn Dorney is a British writer and actor best known for stage roles including the National Theatre, the BBC Radio 4 sitcom My First Planet; and his scripts for the Big Finish Doctor Who range. His script 'Solitaire' was rated the most popular Doctor Who Companion Chronicle of 2010 on the Timescales website and was the runner up in Unreality Sci-fi net's poll for Story of the Year 2010-11.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 1, 2021
Buying Time by John Dorney - 5/5
The tenth doctor is stuck, transported somehow, somewhere on a crashed space ship, without his Tardis. Space Security Service agents Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven are there too. And the doctor doesn’t completely trust them, yet. They’re trapped in a jungle with the Visians, an invisible ferocious species of predators from the mostly missing television classic The Daleks' Master Plan. Easy to say, from the start we know we’re in for quite a treat. This starts out quite simple, with the team trying to escape the Visians. But, we quickly find out there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye and the team have a time travelling conspiracy to unravel.
This first story is all about establishing the setting and the characters for the rest of the series, but the plot itself is also really good, mysterious and gripping from the start. The pacing is very good, quite fast at times but it leaves enough breathing room for the characters to introduce themselves here. Also, it ends with a brilliant cliffhanger!
The Wrong Woman by John Dorney – 4/5
After the whopping cliffhanger of the first story, the team continues to investigate Sheldrake Industries in order to save history. But something seems wrong with the doctor. We have another blast from the past added to the mix, an old time travelling character with a little twist. And trust becomes the most important thing in the conclusion of a really good two parter to kick off the Dalek Universe.
This is an awesome story. It’s got a rapid pace, is full of twists and turns and is simply expertly written. The conclusion, while good, doesn’t feel as epic as the one from the previous story. But that’s understandable, given how good that cliffhanger actually was. The main characters introduced in the previous story are further built upon and are fleshed out well here.
The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith - 4/5
Without a Tardis, the doctor is stuck and he wants to look for a scientist who might have some necessary knowledge about time travel so he can escape this universe. But space pirates attack and Anya’s grandfather comes to their rescue, bringing them to another planet. There’s a terraforming process going on there, by the good old Mechonoids from the classic serial The Chase. And an abandoned project of weaponising the poison of Varga plants, a dangerous type of plant from the planet Skaro, turns out not be as abandoned as it should be.
While the pace is definitely slower and there is more focus on developing Anya as a strong character rather than the plot, the return of the Mechonoids and the character development provides enough excitement to carry this story. The threat the Daleks form in this universe is also subtly set up here without the need to have them appear in the story. Which I very much appreciate, as the Daleks are a bit overused at this point.
A very good mix of 60’s Doctor Who and the more modern tenth doctor. This is a very strong start to what already feels like an epic adventure.
The tenth doctor is stuck, transported somehow, somewhere on a crashed space ship, without his Tardis. Space Security Service agents Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven are there too. And the doctor doesn’t completely trust them, yet. They’re trapped in a jungle with the Visians, an invisible ferocious species of predators from the mostly missing television classic The Daleks' Master Plan. Easy to say, from the start we know we’re in for quite a treat. This starts out quite simple, with the team trying to escape the Visians. But, we quickly find out there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye and the team have a time travelling conspiracy to unravel.
This first story is all about establishing the setting and the characters for the rest of the series, but the plot itself is also really good, mysterious and gripping from the start. The pacing is very good, quite fast at times but it leaves enough breathing room for the characters to introduce themselves here. Also, it ends with a brilliant cliffhanger!
The Wrong Woman by John Dorney – 4/5
After the whopping cliffhanger of the first story, the team continues to investigate Sheldrake Industries in order to save history. But something seems wrong with the doctor. We have another blast from the past added to the mix, an old time travelling character with a little twist. And trust becomes the most important thing in the conclusion of a really good two parter to kick off the Dalek Universe.
This is an awesome story. It’s got a rapid pace, is full of twists and turns and is simply expertly written. The conclusion, while good, doesn’t feel as epic as the one from the previous story. But that’s understandable, given how good that cliffhanger actually was. The main characters introduced in the previous story are further built upon and are fleshed out well here.
The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith - 4/5
Without a Tardis, the doctor is stuck and he wants to look for a scientist who might have some necessary knowledge about time travel so he can escape this universe. But space pirates attack and Anya’s grandfather comes to their rescue, bringing them to another planet. There’s a terraforming process going on there, by the good old Mechonoids from the classic serial The Chase. And an abandoned project of weaponising the poison of Varga plants, a dangerous type of plant from the planet Skaro, turns out not be as abandoned as it should be.
While the pace is definitely slower and there is more focus on developing Anya as a strong character rather than the plot, the return of the Mechonoids and the character development provides enough excitement to carry this story. The threat the Daleks form in this universe is also subtly set up here without the need to have them appear in the story. Which I very much appreciate, as the Daleks are a bit overused at this point.
A very good mix of 60’s Doctor Who and the more modern tenth doctor. This is a very strong start to what already feels like an epic adventure.
July 24, 2021
Il capitolo iniziale della serie Dalek Universe, il numero zero, è Doctor Who: Dalek Universe - The Dalek Protocol, con il quarto Dottore come protagonista. Ma è con il decimo Dottore che entriamo ufficialmente nei giochi.
1.1 Buying Time by John Dorney
Ritroviamo Anya Kingdom e Mark Seven è il decimo Dottore, senza Tardis e senza la più pallida idea di come sia finito sul pianeta dove Anya sta portando a termine la sua missione.
Partenza forse un po' lenta, se avete da poco ascoltato The Dalek Protocol, ma necessaria se si vuole recuperare la storia comune dei vari personaggi e capire a che punto siamo della storia... storia che parte in quarta dal momento in cui il classico paradosso da fine dell'Universo conosciuto si rivela ai protagonisti e agli ascoltatori.
Con la rivelazione del potenziale cattivo di turno si passa direttamente al capitolo successivo.
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney
Con Mark Gatiss nel ruolo del solito scienziato senza scrupoli, deciso a sviluppare una macchina del tempo utilizzabile da tutti, passando per l'introduzione di un nuovo/vecchio antagonista del Dottore e con tutto quello che ne consegue (rivelare troppo sarebbe uno spoiler troppo grande, posso dire che ci troviamo davanti al solito cambio di genere e di nome), la storia procede rapida, tra colpi di scena e rimandi sia alla serie Classica che al NuWho.
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith
Nell'ultimo capitolo della prima parte, pur seguendo la trama principale della storia, che probabilmente ci accompagnerà per tutta la serie, veniamo a scoprire di più sul passato di Anya e sulla disfunzionale famiglia Kingdom.
Come si intuisce dalla copertina, ritroviamo anche i
Mechanoid, ormai parte della grande famiglia Big Finish e comparsi anche nel segmento Daleks! del progetto multipiattaforma Time Lord Victorious.
Anche qui molti riferimenti alla serie madre, con un finale estremamente aperto, che porta direttamente, e lasciando un filo d'ansia, al secondo trittico di storie in Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 2.
Nell'insieme una storia interessante e ricca di collegamenti, sia con la serie tv che con le altre produzioni Big Finish.
Pochi Dalek, che rimangono comunque il nemico costante da combattere, e molti spunti che verranno ripresi nei prossimi boxset.
1.1 Buying Time by John Dorney
Ritroviamo Anya Kingdom e Mark Seven è il decimo Dottore, senza Tardis e senza la più pallida idea di come sia finito sul pianeta dove Anya sta portando a termine la sua missione.
Partenza forse un po' lenta, se avete da poco ascoltato The Dalek Protocol, ma necessaria se si vuole recuperare la storia comune dei vari personaggi e capire a che punto siamo della storia... storia che parte in quarta dal momento in cui il classico paradosso da fine dell'Universo conosciuto si rivela ai protagonisti e agli ascoltatori.
Con la rivelazione del potenziale cattivo di turno si passa direttamente al capitolo successivo.
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney
Con Mark Gatiss nel ruolo del solito scienziato senza scrupoli, deciso a sviluppare una macchina del tempo utilizzabile da tutti, passando per l'introduzione di un nuovo/vecchio antagonista del Dottore e con tutto quello che ne consegue (rivelare troppo sarebbe uno spoiler troppo grande, posso dire che ci troviamo davanti al solito cambio di genere e di nome), la storia procede rapida, tra colpi di scena e rimandi sia alla serie Classica che al NuWho.
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith
Nell'ultimo capitolo della prima parte, pur seguendo la trama principale della storia, che probabilmente ci accompagnerà per tutta la serie, veniamo a scoprire di più sul passato di Anya e sulla disfunzionale famiglia Kingdom.
Come si intuisce dalla copertina, ritroviamo anche i
Mechanoid, ormai parte della grande famiglia Big Finish e comparsi anche nel segmento Daleks! del progetto multipiattaforma Time Lord Victorious.
Anche qui molti riferimenti alla serie madre, con un finale estremamente aperto, che porta direttamente, e lasciando un filo d'ansia, al secondo trittico di storie in Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 2.
Nell'insieme una storia interessante e ricca di collegamenti, sia con la serie tv che con le altre produzioni Big Finish.
Pochi Dalek, che rimangono comunque il nemico costante da combattere, e molti spunti che verranno ripresi nei prossimi boxset.
April 16, 2021
4.5/5 stars
Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1 is an exciting first installment in the Dalek Universe series. It’s a beautiful marriage of elements from both eras of Doctor Who, giving David Tennant’s Doctor the chance to have the kind of space opera adventures afforded to some of the Classic Doctors. I adore the opportunity to revisit the Space Security Service (and the Kingdom family) and I really enjoy getting a nice, lengthy look at a futuristic society in the Doctor Who universe. Rarely do we get to see this kind of epic, world-spanning space opera story on screen, so I’m just happy to get it on audio. The performances throughout this boxset are excellent—with special kudos to David Tennant, Gemma Whelan, and Jane Slavin. I’m excited for David Tennant to get a Big Finish series that actually feels like a season of the TV show and I cannot wait to see where this series goes. It’s an exciting breath of fresh air and, believe it or not, it’s got me interested in seeing what the Daleks are up to again. While there’s a surprising lack of Daleks (they appear in one scene at the end of the second episode), you can still feel their looming threat. And I’m eager to find out their plans. And that’s pretty high praise, indeed.
"Buying Time" and "The Wrong Woman" (by John Dorney)
Full stop: These first two stories combined are my favorite Big Finish stories in quite some time. It's action-packed, filled with surprises and captivating ideas, and brilliantly sets up the rest of the series. It’s not perfect—the second episode’s conclusion doesn’t work super well in an audio-only medium and the villain could’ve used more development—but it’s hard to imagine a better opening story. (4.5 out of 5 wands.)
"The House of Kingdom" (by Andrew Smith)
“The House of Kingdom” may not be the most exciting episode, but it’s a solid one that lays a lot of necessary groundwork for the future. There's some great character development for Anya, an exciting (if underexplored) plotline, and a whole lot of worldbuilding that makes the Doctor Who universe feel bigger. Plus—it ends on a pretty killer cliffhanger.
(Full review at Thoroughly Modern Reviewer.)
Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1 is an exciting first installment in the Dalek Universe series. It’s a beautiful marriage of elements from both eras of Doctor Who, giving David Tennant’s Doctor the chance to have the kind of space opera adventures afforded to some of the Classic Doctors. I adore the opportunity to revisit the Space Security Service (and the Kingdom family) and I really enjoy getting a nice, lengthy look at a futuristic society in the Doctor Who universe. Rarely do we get to see this kind of epic, world-spanning space opera story on screen, so I’m just happy to get it on audio. The performances throughout this boxset are excellent—with special kudos to David Tennant, Gemma Whelan, and Jane Slavin. I’m excited for David Tennant to get a Big Finish series that actually feels like a season of the TV show and I cannot wait to see where this series goes. It’s an exciting breath of fresh air and, believe it or not, it’s got me interested in seeing what the Daleks are up to again. While there’s a surprising lack of Daleks (they appear in one scene at the end of the second episode), you can still feel their looming threat. And I’m eager to find out their plans. And that’s pretty high praise, indeed.
"Buying Time" and "The Wrong Woman" (by John Dorney)
Full stop: These first two stories combined are my favorite Big Finish stories in quite some time. It's action-packed, filled with surprises and captivating ideas, and brilliantly sets up the rest of the series. It’s not perfect—the second episode’s conclusion doesn’t work super well in an audio-only medium and the villain could’ve used more development—but it’s hard to imagine a better opening story. (4.5 out of 5 wands.)
"The House of Kingdom" (by Andrew Smith)
“The House of Kingdom” may not be the most exciting episode, but it’s a solid one that lays a lot of necessary groundwork for the future. There's some great character development for Anya, an exciting (if underexplored) plotline, and a whole lot of worldbuilding that makes the Doctor Who universe feel bigger. Plus—it ends on a pretty killer cliffhanger.
(Full review at Thoroughly Modern Reviewer.)
January 3, 2022
1.1 Buying Time - Interesting and exciting, a little slow at the beginning, but it picks up pace as we move along. It was pretty much what I was expecting, although well done, and enormously enjoyable, there wasn’t anything that was really surprising me … until the last scene. Okay, NOW I’m surprised! And really excited to find out where this wild ride is going (4/5).
1.2 The Wrong Woman - Whoa! Brilliant! Hilarious! Loved every wacky, warped timey-whimey second of it. They totally lead me down an unexpected rabbit-hole that I completely fell for. Well done (5/5).
1.3 The House of Kingdom - Lots of info on Anya Kingdom, her family and her past, present, future (?). This is good, solid action, adventure, thrill-a-minute kind of story. Two tons of fun, which is always a nice bonus (4/5).
Not quite a 5-star story, but almost. Wonderful kickoff for this series of Tenth Doctor box sets (4/5).
1.2 The Wrong Woman - Whoa! Brilliant! Hilarious! Loved every wacky, warped timey-whimey second of it. They totally lead me down an unexpected rabbit-hole that I completely fell for. Well done (5/5).
1.3 The House of Kingdom - Lots of info on Anya Kingdom, her family and her past, present, future (?). This is good, solid action, adventure, thrill-a-minute kind of story. Two tons of fun, which is always a nice bonus (4/5).
Not quite a 5-star story, but almost. Wonderful kickoff for this series of Tenth Doctor box sets (4/5).
December 14, 2021
This was honestly the first tenth doctor adventure that I really really enjoyed. I was really engaged for all three parts. I like most of 10s run so far at big finish but the stories have been B tier at best and the only reason to listen is to hear your favorite actors reprise their characters. Until this one, it felt like a genuine proper doctor who adventure. I actually liked and cared about the supporting cast, I liked the mystery and adventure of what was going on. This is such a great story and a massive step for for 10 at big finish. It's definitely worth the price of admission.
June 29, 2024
Three really great stories, with fantastic twists, good characters and David Tennant! 4.5 stars.
September 11, 2024
Buying Time: A fantastic introduction to Dalek Universe 1. It begins with an epic speech from David Tennant, and sees the Tenth Doctor unexpectedly kidnapped from time and transported to a Space Security Service spaceship with several dead crew members.
Anya Kingdom makes for a good counterpart to the Doctor, sharing some of that tough Sara Kingdom spirit, and Mark Seven is an interesting android character, who feels similar to Supergirl's Braniac.
I love the fact that this story incorporates an obscure classic series monster in the Visians. They've only appeared in The Daleks' Master Plan, which Dalek Universe is a spiritual successor to, and only Big Finish could bring back monsters this obscure and still have them feel relevant to the plot.
The cliffhanger is a shocker too, with the Tenth Doctor somehow regenerating into a woman, when we know he becomes Matt Smith. Obviously, there's some form of twist, but it's quite an effective cliffhanger all the same.
The Wrong Woman: I'm impressed with how long the story commits to the idea that the Tenth Doctor has regenerated into a Gemma Whelan incarnation. Obviously, this isn't the case, as we got Matt Smith after David Tennant on TV, but the story makes you wonder for a while whether this is somehow a legitimate incarnation.
The reveal is teased well throughout, with the Tenth Doctor breaking through to Anya Kingdom from the future. When the twist comes that Gemma Whelan is actually the Monk, it feels extremely satisfying, because of the hints in the first two parts of Dalek Universe which suddenly make sense when her identity is confirmed. Gemma Whelan makes for an excellent Monk, and bounces off David Tennant extremely well.
The latter half of the story, with time collapsing on itself, reminded me a lot of The Wedding Of River Song. It has the same concept of elements from past time periods emerging into a future time, with prehistoric animals and cavemen roaming the streets. In my view, it handles it better than The Wedding Of River Song, as it feels much more coherent, and less of an unruly mess.
The House Of Kingdom: A sublime conclusion to the first Dalek Universe box set. It starts off in style, with the Doctor, Arya, and Mark facing space pirates, and then dives into a deep exploration of the Kingdom family tree. Merrick Kingdom is a brilliant character, and his connection to Arya as her Grandfather, as well as being the Dad to the late Sara Kingdom, adds an engaging sense of family to the story.
There's some really great character drama here, that feels reminiscent of the first RTD era. Sara's resentment of her Granddad, blaming him for her mother's death, gets a lot of focus, and the fact that she never fully forgives him even when he dies feels very human. It's the kind of thing that reminds me of some of RTD's Doctor Who scripts, which combine these very domestic ideas with the otherworldly, which is high praise for Andrew Smith.
Whilst the Daleks don't feature in this Dalek Universe story, their presence is still felt in the way the characters talk about them, and the way it incorporates iconic characters and elements relating to Dalek lore, such as their enemies the Mechanoids, and the Varga plants. It means that it still feels very much like a story about the Daleks, even without Nicholas Briggs shouting into your ear.
Anya Kingdom makes for a good counterpart to the Doctor, sharing some of that tough Sara Kingdom spirit, and Mark Seven is an interesting android character, who feels similar to Supergirl's Braniac.
I love the fact that this story incorporates an obscure classic series monster in the Visians. They've only appeared in The Daleks' Master Plan, which Dalek Universe is a spiritual successor to, and only Big Finish could bring back monsters this obscure and still have them feel relevant to the plot.
The cliffhanger is a shocker too, with the Tenth Doctor somehow regenerating into a woman, when we know he becomes Matt Smith. Obviously, there's some form of twist, but it's quite an effective cliffhanger all the same.
The Wrong Woman: I'm impressed with how long the story commits to the idea that the Tenth Doctor has regenerated into a Gemma Whelan incarnation. Obviously, this isn't the case, as we got Matt Smith after David Tennant on TV, but the story makes you wonder for a while whether this is somehow a legitimate incarnation.
The reveal is teased well throughout, with the Tenth Doctor breaking through to Anya Kingdom from the future. When the twist comes that Gemma Whelan is actually the Monk, it feels extremely satisfying, because of the hints in the first two parts of Dalek Universe which suddenly make sense when her identity is confirmed. Gemma Whelan makes for an excellent Monk, and bounces off David Tennant extremely well.
The latter half of the story, with time collapsing on itself, reminded me a lot of The Wedding Of River Song. It has the same concept of elements from past time periods emerging into a future time, with prehistoric animals and cavemen roaming the streets. In my view, it handles it better than The Wedding Of River Song, as it feels much more coherent, and less of an unruly mess.
The House Of Kingdom: A sublime conclusion to the first Dalek Universe box set. It starts off in style, with the Doctor, Arya, and Mark facing space pirates, and then dives into a deep exploration of the Kingdom family tree. Merrick Kingdom is a brilliant character, and his connection to Arya as her Grandfather, as well as being the Dad to the late Sara Kingdom, adds an engaging sense of family to the story.
There's some really great character drama here, that feels reminiscent of the first RTD era. Sara's resentment of her Granddad, blaming him for her mother's death, gets a lot of focus, and the fact that she never fully forgives him even when he dies feels very human. It's the kind of thing that reminds me of some of RTD's Doctor Who scripts, which combine these very domestic ideas with the otherworldly, which is high praise for Andrew Smith.
Whilst the Daleks don't feature in this Dalek Universe story, their presence is still felt in the way the characters talk about them, and the way it incorporates iconic characters and elements relating to Dalek lore, such as their enemies the Mechanoids, and the Varga plants. It means that it still feels very much like a story about the Daleks, even without Nicholas Briggs shouting into your ear.
July 29, 2021
Buying Time:
7/10
Verdict: Optional
This is a great start to this boxset. Really fun side characters are introduced throughout this, I especially love how the commander at the start just keeps getting repeatedly superceded until they're a third wheel. Unfortunately there is a big section in this middle of this story that is purely expositional, but from what I can tell that can't really be helped. 10 is amazing in this, Tennant feels like he came right off the set from 2009, listening to him brings me right back. Also that cliffhanger? I really don't know what to think of it, but it worked. I'm invested and interested to see where this goes.
The Wrong Woman:
7/10
Verdict: Optional
There's a few different ways they could have went with the woman introduced at the end of the last story, and I get what they were going for, but the twist last episode seemed like a bit of a wet fart when listening to this made me realise that they were always going to be what they ended up being. Well not exactly, how do I talk about the twists with this character without spoilers? Alright... this version of the woman is not my favourite, as mentioned in previous reviews, I think they're at their best when not bombastic and quirky, though they do lead to some nice dialogue from 10. Is it a spoiler to say 10 returns? He's on the covers for the next story and the next boxset. Unfortunately the plot sort of meanders at points as the story tries to pull you along at the start before the reveal, and afterwards the plot is so focused on 10 that the side characters don't get a lot of focus until the end, they do get some good interaction at the end though.
The House of Kingdom:
6/10
Verdict: Optional
This story is fine, the antagonists are pretty generic and while I like the mechanoids and their function here, they were also just fine. The settings worked but the story didn't really focus on that aspect. The main cast were solid, and I guess there was some good drama, but it wasn't for me.
7/10
Verdict: Optional
This is a great start to this boxset. Really fun side characters are introduced throughout this, I especially love how the commander at the start just keeps getting repeatedly superceded until they're a third wheel. Unfortunately there is a big section in this middle of this story that is purely expositional, but from what I can tell that can't really be helped. 10 is amazing in this, Tennant feels like he came right off the set from 2009, listening to him brings me right back. Also that cliffhanger? I really don't know what to think of it, but it worked. I'm invested and interested to see where this goes.
The Wrong Woman:
7/10
Verdict: Optional
There's a few different ways they could have went with the woman introduced at the end of the last story, and I get what they were going for, but the twist last episode seemed like a bit of a wet fart when listening to this made me realise that they were always going to be what they ended up being. Well not exactly, how do I talk about the twists with this character without spoilers? Alright... this version of the woman is not my favourite, as mentioned in previous reviews, I think they're at their best when not bombastic and quirky, though they do lead to some nice dialogue from 10. Is it a spoiler to say 10 returns? He's on the covers for the next story and the next boxset. Unfortunately the plot sort of meanders at points as the story tries to pull you along at the start before the reveal, and afterwards the plot is so focused on 10 that the side characters don't get a lot of focus until the end, they do get some good interaction at the end though.
The House of Kingdom:
6/10
Verdict: Optional
This story is fine, the antagonists are pretty generic and while I like the mechanoids and their function here, they were also just fine. The settings worked but the story didn't really focus on that aspect. The main cast were solid, and I guess there was some good drama, but it wasn't for me.
June 21, 2021
A great volume this one, comprising of 3 separate episodes that are very much continuations of each other, so can be considered one long story, that isn't finished yet :)
The various stories are all very good, with some very interesting and surprising twists at times, and I think show how well it can go to have the Doctor pretty much stuck in one timezone for a period. This is similar to the Third Doctor era, but compared to that, this one really seems to also spend time fleshing out the wider universe at the time, a time where the Daleks are an ever present threat, Dalek Wars have been quite recent, and many other creatures / creations of Terry Nation are present as well. Thus it is nice to have an ever more well realised current state for the Doctor and his companions to navigate through.
The Doctor himself is in great form here, capturing well the eccentricates of this incarnation, both with his darker moods, and his quite over the top humorous moods.
Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven, pretty quickly reintroduced in the first story, are also very good here, with time and opportunity to flesh them out as well, and their differing natures bounce well off the Doctor.
The various other one off characters are also good in here, leading to more great scenes, some quite amusing, and others quite tense, but all very good.
Overall a fantastic set, and I look forward to volume 2!
The various stories are all very good, with some very interesting and surprising twists at times, and I think show how well it can go to have the Doctor pretty much stuck in one timezone for a period. This is similar to the Third Doctor era, but compared to that, this one really seems to also spend time fleshing out the wider universe at the time, a time where the Daleks are an ever present threat, Dalek Wars have been quite recent, and many other creatures / creations of Terry Nation are present as well. Thus it is nice to have an ever more well realised current state for the Doctor and his companions to navigate through.
The Doctor himself is in great form here, capturing well the eccentricates of this incarnation, both with his darker moods, and his quite over the top humorous moods.
Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven, pretty quickly reintroduced in the first story, are also very good here, with time and opportunity to flesh them out as well, and their differing natures bounce well off the Doctor.
The various other one off characters are also good in here, leading to more great scenes, some quite amusing, and others quite tense, but all very good.
Overall a fantastic set, and I look forward to volume 2!
February 27, 2023
Interesting start to what seems like a kind of audio-only epic/series. Usually there are at most 3 stories intertwined in these audio collections but this is a larger story arc with returning companions.
And I’m enjoying the new “companions” well enough. Apparently Anya and Mark-7 are not new to this story, but I haven’t watched or heard their first appearances. Mark-7, being an android, has a lot of promise as a companion and I can already see that being exploited in fun ways. (Although I can’t understand why Joe Sims seemingly switched up his accent from “The Dalek Protocol”. I liked the darker, deeper Mark-7 voice honestly)
As a fan of new Who, there are some enemies and other factors thrown in that seem like they might be better known to fans of the old Who. Great for those long-standing fans but I also did feel a little thrown off by all the references I wasn’t getting at some point. My attempt to feel a little more grounded to what was happening in “Buying Time” led me to listen to the prequel “The Dalek Protocol” which led me to go back and watch “The Death of the Daleks”, a story in the Third Doctor’s tv series. And all of that research really only set me up for Buying Time, the other two stories had almost no relevance to the plot or locations.
Overall had some bumps here and there but I’m invested enough to be excited to see where it goes from here.
And I’m enjoying the new “companions” well enough. Apparently Anya and Mark-7 are not new to this story, but I haven’t watched or heard their first appearances. Mark-7, being an android, has a lot of promise as a companion and I can already see that being exploited in fun ways. (Although I can’t understand why Joe Sims seemingly switched up his accent from “The Dalek Protocol”. I liked the darker, deeper Mark-7 voice honestly)
As a fan of new Who, there are some enemies and other factors thrown in that seem like they might be better known to fans of the old Who. Great for those long-standing fans but I also did feel a little thrown off by all the references I wasn’t getting at some point. My attempt to feel a little more grounded to what was happening in “Buying Time” led me to listen to the prequel “The Dalek Protocol” which led me to go back and watch “The Death of the Daleks”, a story in the Third Doctor’s tv series. And all of that research really only set me up for Buying Time, the other two stories had almost no relevance to the plot or locations.
Overall had some bumps here and there but I’m invested enough to be excited to see where it goes from here.
August 15, 2021
Imagine dropping the 10th Doctor into a 60's Doctor Who serial. That's what you get with Dalek Universe. This Big Finish audio set features characters and elements from the Dalek's Master Plan and from Terry Nation's proposed Dalek series: including the Space Security Service and their android agent Mark Seven. The story also has the invisible aliens the Visians and the dangerous Varga plants. I enjoyed recognizing each of these plot points as they made their appearance at various points in this introductory series of adventures.
There are also a few surprises and some returning characters like Anya Kingdom, who is related to the supporting characters Sara Kingdom and Bret Vyon. The Doctor has met Anya before, but makes no mention of what happened to Sara and Bret, or his role in those events.
Overall this is a successful effort at world building and it feels like it takes place in the same era as the Dalek's Master Plan, and ends on a cliffhanger that left me looking forward to volume 2.
There are also a few surprises and some returning characters like Anya Kingdom, who is related to the supporting characters Sara Kingdom and Bret Vyon. The Doctor has met Anya before, but makes no mention of what happened to Sara and Bret, or his role in those events.
Overall this is a successful effort at world building and it feels like it takes place in the same era as the Dalek's Master Plan, and ends on a cliffhanger that left me looking forward to volume 2.
April 27, 2023
Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1 - Buying Time
まさか10がリジェネするとは！
Big Finish でドクターがリジェネするのって初めてのことなような...
タイムウォー前に何者かに放り込まれたドクター。
観光用のタイムトラベルが実現しているはずのない時代ということでなぜそんなおかしなことがおこったのか、アーニャ・キングダムと共に探ることにする。
アーニャとはいろいろな過去がある様子な10。アンドロイドのマークもマインドコントロールの支配下にあってドクターを殺しかけたことがあると言ってるし、過去の(1stかな？)のドクターと遭遇してるっぽいし、今回は謎フリ回なのでこれらのピースがどう繋がっていくのか楽しみにしたい。
最後はリジェネしてしまった..
8. Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1- The Wrong Woman
なるほどタイムメドラーが10に化けていたのかー！と納得。しかもうっかり時間壊してるタイムメドラー。どえらいこっちゃと時間の流れを修復しようとする10とタイムメドラー。
タイムメドラーのターディスの部品でタイムトラベル可能な宇宙船が作られたと判明。
タイムメドラーはガリフレイがなくなることを知らないわけで、ドクターせいでタイムロード全員いなくなるんですよと知ったらどんなリアクションになるのかしらとふと思ったり。
時間の流れを取り戻しタイムバブルから脱出しようとしたところにダーレクが。タイムバブルからでられなくなるところでクリフハンガー。
8. Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1 - The house of kingdom
元の世界に戻るためにタイムトラベルを実現した科学者を探しにいこうとしたところ海賊に襲われる。マークが救難信号を出したおかげでアーニャの祖父に救われる。
アーニャは祖父のことを母親を殺したと恨んでいたが異母姉妹に殺されかけたところを救われる。
科学者を探しにいこうと旅だったところでマークに異変。
きちんと把握するまでに時間がかかったが、3作とも10thドクターがとってもかっこいい大満足な一品
まさか10がリジェネするとは！
Big Finish でドクターがリジェネするのって初めてのことなような...
タイムウォー前に何者かに放り込まれたドクター。
観光用のタイムトラベルが実現しているはずのない時代ということでなぜそんなおかしなことがおこったのか、アーニャ・キングダムと共に探ることにする。
アーニャとはいろいろな過去がある様子な10。アンドロイドのマークもマインドコントロールの支配下にあってドクターを殺しかけたことがあると言ってるし、過去の(1stかな？)のドクターと遭遇してるっぽいし、今回は謎フリ回なのでこれらのピースがどう繋がっていくのか楽しみにしたい。
最後はリジェネしてしまった..
8. Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1- The Wrong Woman
なるほどタイムメドラーが10に化けていたのかー！と納得。しかもうっかり時間壊してるタイムメドラー。どえらいこっちゃと時間の流れを修復しようとする10とタイムメドラー。
タイムメドラーのターディスの部品でタイムトラベル可能な宇宙船が作られたと判明。
タイムメドラーはガリフレイがなくなることを知らないわけで、ドクターせいでタイムロード全員いなくなるんですよと知ったらどんなリアクションになるのかしらとふと思ったり。
時間の流れを取り戻しタイムバブルから脱出しようとしたところにダーレクが。タイムバブルからでられなくなるところでクリフハンガー。
8. Doctor Who: Dalek Universe 1 - The house of kingdom
元の世界に戻るためにタイムトラベルを実現した科学者を探しにいこうとしたところ海賊に襲われる。マークが救難信号を出したおかげでアーニャの祖父に救われる。
アーニャは祖父のことを母親を殺したと恨んでいたが異母姉妹に殺されかけたところを救われる。
科学者を探しにいこうと旅だったところでマークに異変。
きちんと把握するまでに時間がかかったが、3作とも10thドクターがとってもかっこいい大満足な一品
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2021
Originally Dalek Universe was something I was skeptical about but after hearing all the positive reviews and seeing that the opening two-parter is by Dorney himself I had to listen to this and I must say I am very glad I did!
Buying Time & The Wrong Woman:
So far the best Big Finish audios that David Tenant has had as the 10th Doctor so far and it's certainly one of Dorney's best as well. Not only does this set up the series brilliantly but it's a fantastic timey-wimey tale filled to the brim with twists and turns that are bound to shock you even if you already know them. All the actors on fire in this story and this is definitely David's best performance for Doctor Who in general for me so far but that's thanks to the gorgeous writing this story has with some of the best lines of dialogue he has ever been given. But overall just listen to this and avoid spoilers if you can you won't regret it! 10/10
The House of Kingdom:
This was a really great way of finishing off the first volume sure it's more of a standard story but it does have the Mechanoids in it whilst also giving us some history on the Kingdom family and we also get some fantastic drama between Anya and her grandfather. Overall a great story but very simple. 9/10
Overall: 29/30
Buying Time & The Wrong Woman:
So far the best Big Finish audios that David Tenant has had as the 10th Doctor so far and it's certainly one of Dorney's best as well. Not only does this set up the series brilliantly but it's a fantastic timey-wimey tale filled to the brim with twists and turns that are bound to shock you even if you already know them. All the actors on fire in this story and this is definitely David's best performance for Doctor Who in general for me so far but that's thanks to the gorgeous writing this story has with some of the best lines of dialogue he has ever been given. But overall just listen to this and avoid spoilers if you can you won't regret it! 10/10
The House of Kingdom:
This was a really great way of finishing off the first volume sure it's more of a standard story but it does have the Mechanoids in it whilst also giving us some history on the Kingdom family and we also get some fantastic drama between Anya and her grandfather. Overall a great story but very simple. 9/10
Overall: 29/30
June 8, 2021
This had lots of energy and it was a change of pace just by removing the TARDIS from the story (because the Doctor had been kidnapped).
So the Doctor really has to hang about for 12 hours to wait for his shuttle transfer.
Nice.
This is well written (with a surprising cliff-hanger and solution after the first story), well performed (David is brilliant!) and keeps you curious what comes next.
However, I admit, the pace is breathtaking and it lost me a couple of times.
There is just soooo much going on and all these time/ space jumps...
So it will definitely benefit from a second listen.
Anyways, saying more would probably spoiler this- so if you like the 10th Doctor, just take this as a recommendation. This is 10 at his best.
So the Doctor really has to hang about for 12 hours to wait for his shuttle transfer.
Nice.
This is well written (with a surprising cliff-hanger and solution after the first story), well performed (David is brilliant!) and keeps you curious what comes next.
However, I admit, the pace is breathtaking and it lost me a couple of times.
There is just soooo much going on and all these time/ space jumps...
So it will definitely benefit from a second listen.
Anyways, saying more would probably spoiler this- so if you like the 10th Doctor, just take this as a recommendation. This is 10 at his best.
December 11, 2024
I got this audio thanks to a friend’s glowing review and recommendation and it’s definitely worth a listen.
The Doctor is in top form here. The writers just seem to * get* him; his dialogue is perfectly in character. I haven’t listened to Fourth Doctor prequel or the rest of this series, but I am interested in checking it out when I can. The team of Ten, Anya, and Mark works well together in what could easily have just been. the obvious “ manic, enthusiastic Doctor, “ “ No nonsense agent, “ and “ emotionless android. “
There’s a twist I won’t spoil in the second story that I absolutely loved.
The Doctor is in top form here. The writers just seem to * get* him; his dialogue is perfectly in character. I haven’t listened to Fourth Doctor prequel or the rest of this series, but I am interested in checking it out when I can. The team of Ten, Anya, and Mark works well together in what could easily have just been. the obvious “ manic, enthusiastic Doctor, “ “ No nonsense agent, “ and “ emotionless android. “
There’s a twist I won’t spoil in the second story that I absolutely loved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2021
Well. After the outstanding Dalek Protocol, led by Tom Baker, I found resorting to the smug, smart alec 10th Doctor a real come down. No complaints about Tennant's acting which is superb, it was the character and writing. I will complain about Mark Gatiss though. He's a great writer, but his acting here did not help the distinctly average second part for me. So terribly over the top.
Then there are the spoilers which ruin all the Big Finish audios that I haven't listened to yet. No spoilers from me, but you have been warned!
Then there are the spoilers which ruin all the Big Finish audios that I haven't listened to yet. No spoilers from me, but you have been warned!
August 29, 2022
Dalek Universe is a big 3-Boxset, 9-Episode epic starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. Slightly misnamed, it's much more set in a Terry Nation universe (with lots of references and tie-ins to the Daleks Master Plan and the unmade Daleks TV Series among others). This first set sees the Doctor mysteriously pulled into the pre-Time War universe to Mira where he meets Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven. What follows is a two-part story involving mass time travel experiments and a sort of familiar face from the past . Then we move on to the Doctor trying to find a way back to his home time and meet Anya's uncle and the mechanoids.
This was very enjoyable (anything with the Tenth Doctor usually is) despite the Daleks only very briefly appearing at the end of the middle story. Be aware that will spoil Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures - Series 8: The Syndicate Master Plan, Volume 1 and Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures - Series 8: The Syndicate Master Plan, Volume 2 somewhat as there is a plot twist in those that is very much referenced here. I enjoyed this set and plan on diving into the next very soon.
This was very enjoyable (anything with the Tenth Doctor usually is) despite the Daleks only very briefly appearing at the end of the middle story. Be aware that will spoil Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures - Series 8: The Syndicate Master Plan, Volume 1 and Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures - Series 8: The Syndicate Master Plan, Volume 2 somewhat as there is a plot twist in those that is very much referenced here. I enjoyed this set and plan on diving into the next very soon.
April 19, 2024
Wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the Tenth Doctor meeting another Time Lord, and this time from pre-Time War. But it was good stuff overall. Ends on a cliffhanger, but that’s to be expected knowing this is a trilogy.
June 22, 2021
10th is back! This first part of Dalek Universe series was shocking, moving, fascinating and such fun to listen! Cannot wait for the next audiobooks and adventures they bring!
July 8, 2021
Subtitled "Dalek Universe" but thankfully they were barely involved at all.
July 11, 2021
The doctor meets up with the kingdom family again.
December 28, 2022
It's okay. Wasn't a fan of how the Doctor ended up in this arc, but the first third was diverting enough.
January 8, 2023
Awesome! David Tennant is great as always but also the new players are very interesting as well.
May 29, 2025
Gemma Whelan is fantastic in this.
January 21, 2026
1.1 'Buying Time' by John Dorney: 4,5*
1.2 'The Wrong Woman' by John Dorney: 4*
1.3 'The House of Kingdom' by Andrew Smith: 4*
1.2 'The Wrong Woman' by John Dorney: 4*
1.3 'The House of Kingdom' by Andrew Smith: 4*
September 2, 2021
1.1 Buying Time by John Dorney - 3.5/5 stars;
Personally, found this the weaker story and hardest to engage with, its strongest point was that cliffhanger which pulled me in for the rest of the boxset.
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney - 5/5 stars;
Personal favourite. It's fun to listen to the story unfold and layout its twists. The Newcomer is a great character and I can't wait to see her again.
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith- 4.5/5 stars;
I liked this one a lot but the biggest letdown is the fact that the Mechanoids are on the cover and they sort of play as background pieces to the character drama for Anya Kingdom and her grandfather. The cliffhanger for this made me instantly buy the next boxset.
Overall 4.333/5 stars;
Its a good boxset and worth it. 10's great. Anya and Mark are adorable. But for a story called 'Dalek Universe,' it's lacking the Daleks but still quite strong without them. I'm excited to see what's to come.
Personally, found this the weaker story and hardest to engage with, its strongest point was that cliffhanger which pulled me in for the rest of the boxset.
1.2 The Wrong Woman by John Dorney - 5/5 stars;
Personal favourite. It's fun to listen to the story unfold and layout its twists. The Newcomer is a great character and I can't wait to see her again.
1.3 The House of Kingdom by Andrew Smith- 4.5/5 stars;
I liked this one a lot but the biggest letdown is the fact that the Mechanoids are on the cover and they sort of play as background pieces to the character drama for Anya Kingdom and her grandfather. The cliffhanger for this made me instantly buy the next boxset.
Overall 4.333/5 stars;
Its a good boxset and worth it. 10's great. Anya and Mark are adorable. But for a story called 'Dalek Universe,' it's lacking the Daleks but still quite strong without them. I'm excited to see what's to come.
June 10, 2021
With the Dalek Universe Series, Part One kicks off with a bang and i'm curious as to how they're going to improve on this set (but knowing Big Finish, i'm sure they will!)
In the past, the Tenth Doctor has had individual adventures, i imagine with how busy David Tenant is pre-covid, it was difficult to find the time to produce a series of linked adventures. I'm enjoying the fact the Tenth Doctor is getting a new series, fully linked rather than individual episodes, it allows for true story telling potential.
This boxset is truly wonderful to listen too, usually i tend to only listen to an hour a day, but with this boxset is just kept having to listen to more! The cliffhangers, the gripping stories as well as some wonderful character development for Anya Kingdom, a character i'm starting to love.
Well done Big Finish - please give us more!
In the past, the Tenth Doctor has had individual adventures, i imagine with how busy David Tenant is pre-covid, it was difficult to find the time to produce a series of linked adventures. I'm enjoying the fact the Tenth Doctor is getting a new series, fully linked rather than individual episodes, it allows for true story telling potential.
This boxset is truly wonderful to listen too, usually i tend to only listen to an hour a day, but with this boxset is just kept having to listen to more! The cliffhangers, the gripping stories as well as some wonderful character development for Anya Kingdom, a character i'm starting to love.
Well done Big Finish - please give us more!
January 1, 2023
I'm not sure there is any Big Finish story I would hate. While giving me some more Tenth Doctor time this story kept me wondering as the story evolved. As always the Doctor saves the day and has to be disappointed by the flawed humanity of others.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews