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Doctor Who: Short Trips Audio #10.X
Doctor Who: Free Speech
On Skaz, speaking costs money.
Aymius Todd is trapped in a police interrogation. They want to know about his links to the Garrulous Liberation, and his encounter with a man called the Doctor. But, Aymius is running out of words, and if he can’t afford to finish his story, then he’ll never be able to speak again.
Winner of the The Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip Opportunity 2020
Aymius Todd is trapped in a police interrogation. They want to know about his links to the Garrulous Liberation, and his encounter with a man called the Doctor. But, Aymius is running out of words, and if he can’t afford to finish his story, then he’ll never be able to speak again.
Winner of the The Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip Opportunity 2020
Audiobook
First published December 29, 2020
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 9, 2021
*Chef's Kiss
Awww this is brilliant! A brilliant premise! Brilliant execusion! Brilliant Jacob Dubman!
And it's free! Get it on Big Finish!
I love these stories. The Doctor isn't so much a character as he is a force here. The characters only encounter him in their struggles. He's Gandalf here. He's magic.
As is this story. Magic all around.
Awww this is brilliant! A brilliant premise! Brilliant execusion! Brilliant Jacob Dubman!
And it's free! Get it on Big Finish!
I love these stories. The Doctor isn't so much a character as he is a force here. The characters only encounter him in their struggles. He's Gandalf here. He's magic.
As is this story. Magic all around.
March 25, 2023
These Short Trips can be anywhere from silly or absurd to downright brilliant. This one is pretty close to brilliant. I particularly enjoy the ones that take the concept of a narrated story and find a interesting or fascinating hook that uses the audio aspect in some inventive or particularly clever way. This one does just that, creating a culture were one has to pay to speak. A truly terrifying prospect that offers a whole new meaning to the phrase Free Speech that gives us a different perspective, a whole new appreciation, of the concept and the right.
(Received as a free promotional download.)
(Received as a free promotional download.)
November 30, 2022
"That's the brilliant thing about words. Thye have the power to change the course of history."
January 1, 2021
This was a great original idea.
I do not think a society could actually work that way, if you look at it realistically (for some of the same reasons Fahrenheit 451 might be unrealistic), but this is Doctor Who...
And it has an important message and it was very well written, paced and performed.
I loved how the speech was extremely short and clipped and I think a lot of thought and effort went into making this flow well and keeping it understandable.
I think it was a great piece.
Plus Dudman does a great job performing this.
I do not think a society could actually work that way, if you look at it realistically (for some of the same reasons Fahrenheit 451 might be unrealistic), but this is Doctor Who...
And it has an important message and it was very well written, paced and performed.
I loved how the speech was extremely short and clipped and I think a lot of thought and effort went into making this flow well and keeping it understandable.
I think it was a great piece.
Plus Dudman does a great job performing this.
March 21, 2021
Short trip distribuito gratuitamente dalla Big Finish, interpretato da Jacob Dudman e con il decimo Dottore come protagonista.
La storia mi ha ricordato il film In Time, con le parole al posto dei minuti come valuta.
Nella storia scopriamo come le parole che si possono pronunciare siano limitate e una sorta di chip, che tutti hanno impiantato, impedisce di parlare se si finisce il credito.
Ovviamente i ricchi e potenti hanno un credito infinito, mentre le classi sociali più basse sono costrette a risparmiare sulle parole, per non terminarle.
Il protagonista si trova coinvolto in una ribellione e, con l'aiuto del Dottore, riuscirà a ripristinare un ordine sociale più equo.
Buona l'interpretazione di Dudman, ma storia un po' fiacca e prevedibile, una volta capito dove vuole andare a parare è semplice capire come andrà a finire.
Un ascolto gradevole, ma non eccezionale.
La storia mi ha ricordato il film In Time, con le parole al posto dei minuti come valuta.
Nella storia scopriamo come le parole che si possono pronunciare siano limitate e una sorta di chip, che tutti hanno impiantato, impedisce di parlare se si finisce il credito.
Ovviamente i ricchi e potenti hanno un credito infinito, mentre le classi sociali più basse sono costrette a risparmiare sulle parole, per non terminarle.
Il protagonista si trova coinvolto in una ribellione e, con l'aiuto del Dottore, riuscirà a ripristinare un ordine sociale più equo.
Buona l'interpretazione di Dudman, ma storia un po' fiacca e prevedibile, una volta capito dove vuole andare a parare è semplice capire come andrà a finire.
Un ascolto gradevole, ma non eccezionale.
December 21, 2025
The 50 Prompt Eighth Doctor Reading Challenge - Science Fiction & Big Ideas - 32) A Dystopian Society With A Twist Of Hope
I honestly thought that this audio was really good. I'm not a fan of the 10th Doctor, but Jacob Dudman did a very good job, and at points I honestly thought it was David Tennant. I also really liked the plot. Well worth the listen.
I honestly thought that this audio was really good. I'm not a fan of the 10th Doctor, but Jacob Dudman did a very good job, and at points I honestly thought it was David Tennant. I also really liked the plot. Well worth the listen.
April 6, 2025
Every now and then, you read a short trip that just gives you all the feels. This was definitely one of them. Jacob Dudman is the best. He really nails impersonating 10, 11, and 12. This was a lovely 10th Doctor story. I enjoyed it immensely. 5 stars. 💙
December 29, 2020
I got this audiobook free from big finish: http://bgfn.sh/freespeech
Really interesting concept of a world where you have to pay to speak.
Really interesting concept of a world where you have to pay to speak.
June 10, 2022
VERY good.
December 30, 2023
3.5 stars
January 25, 2021
5/10 a really cool premise wasted on a spineless main character without much of a backbone until the very end. if he was an active hero, the story would have been more engaging. Or focus on the doctors perspective, it would have been more interesting to explore this setting from the perspective of an outsider. It’s well produced enough, but let down by weak characters, plot, and an ending that doesn’t feel earned
May 4, 2021
I loved the concept! A place where you pay to speak? Amazing. The story was great and the narration was marvelous, everything was similar enough to Earth but eerie enough to tell you they were in another planet.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to start the Big Finish Audios since they're, like, hundreds of them, and so many story lines and Doctors, but I'm glad I did. What can I say? I'm a nerd.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to start the Big Finish Audios since they're, like, hundreds of them, and so many story lines and Doctors, but I'm glad I did. What can I say? I'm a nerd.
July 14, 2021
I feel like more could have been done with the premise. Also don’t understand how if they have smart phones (mentioned towards the end) they can’t type on their phones to communicate? Even if they don’t actually send the message?
Interesting and clever in some ways, but I feel like it could have been better.
Interesting and clever in some ways, but I feel like it could have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2022
6/10
Verdict: Optional
Quite a fun story built around a concept that's kind of nifty and the breakdown of a relationship. Have to say though, I don't think either got explored to their full potential here. This was performed brilliantly and the writing is top notch, had a blast with this, but had potential to be more, if given a bit of a longer run time.
Verdict: Optional
Quite a fun story built around a concept that's kind of nifty and the breakdown of a relationship. Have to say though, I don't think either got explored to their full potential here. This was performed brilliantly and the writing is top notch, had a blast with this, but had potential to be more, if given a bit of a longer run time.
January 2, 2021
Le scénario de base (le nombre de mots qui peut être prononcé est limité par l'argent dans le compte en banque) est très similaire au roman Vox de Dalcher (le nombre de mot est limité à 100 pour les femmes), mais plutôt qu'une disparité de genre, ici, on adresse une disparité de classe où les riches peuvent se permettre de parler, chanter, etc. contrairement au reste de la population. Cela permet évidemment à la classe dominante de pouvoir exploiter le labeur sans risque de critique, de syndicalisation, etc. (l'écriture n'est pas possible pour les personnes n'ayant pas les moyens non plus). Les deux ont des organisations jugées illégales qui sont rejoins par les protagonistes (bon, c'est un peu évident ça) qui défendent la liberté de parler, bref, l'originalité n'est peut-être pas au rendez-vous ou le scénario n'a pas tant renouveler le genre de récit (déjà que j'étais assez critique du roman Vox qui n'était, au final, qu'une réécriture de The Handmaid's Tale) avec un accent mis sur la linguistique.
J'aurais pensé que le médium de l'audio aurait pu convoquer des contraintes intéressantes de dialogue, mais à part quelques parties ça et là où notre protagoniste doit répondre à un interrogatoire (le reste est narré comme souvenir dans la tête du protagoniste) et qu'il est presqu'à court d'argent, il n'y a pas eu de travail de limitation de la parole ou d'une grande recherche d'innovation linguistique dans le médium ce qui m'a un peu déçu. J'aurais pensé qu'il y aurait pu avoir un compte à rebours ou une narration complète qui ne pouvait pas dépasser un certain nombre de mot (ce qui aurait créé une plus grande tension), mes attentes étaient donc peut-être trop élevées à ce niveau.
Dans l'ensemble, c'est une bonne histoire, bien racontée et bien interprétée. J'avoue que si ça avait été plus original ou qu'il y aurait eu un peu plus de contraintes travaillées, j'aurais trouvé le tout vraiment excellent.
J'aurais pensé que le médium de l'audio aurait pu convoquer des contraintes intéressantes de dialogue, mais à part quelques parties ça et là où notre protagoniste doit répondre à un interrogatoire (le reste est narré comme souvenir dans la tête du protagoniste) et qu'il est presqu'à court d'argent, il n'y a pas eu de travail de limitation de la parole ou d'une grande recherche d'innovation linguistique dans le médium ce qui m'a un peu déçu. J'aurais pensé qu'il y aurait pu avoir un compte à rebours ou une narration complète qui ne pouvait pas dépasser un certain nombre de mot (ce qui aurait créé une plus grande tension), mes attentes étaient donc peut-être trop élevées à ce niveau.
Dans l'ensemble, c'est une bonne histoire, bien racontée et bien interprétée. J'avoue que si ça avait été plus original ou qu'il y aurait eu un peu plus de contraintes travaillées, j'aurais trouvé le tout vraiment excellent.
December 7, 2023
OK this short audio tale blew me away. The concept is something that'll linger with me a while (a society where your vocal cords are monitored and you have to pay each time you speak), especially as a metaphor for the social inequalities regarding those in power, with money, and with a monopoly on information. The terrifying uncanniness of not being able to waste any words or else wipe out your bank account gave this story a unique layer of tension. And then the Tenth Doctor was brilliantly narrated by my now-fave Tennant voice-impersonator Jacob Dudman (who can apparently also pull off a mean 11th and 12th Doctor according to my first step into Doctor Who: Regeneration Impossible; the guy's a chameleon).
One of the Big Finish producers mentioned that Ten was the best Doctor for this kind of story, and I'm high-time wondering if it's because its social-justice-focus is grounded by a very human need, to connect and talk to one another. Anyway, this is how I find out Big Finish runs contests to make stories like this. I am frothing at the mouth and biting at the bit. BF here I come!!
One of the Big Finish producers mentioned that Ten was the best Doctor for this kind of story, and I'm high-time wondering if it's because its social-justice-focus is grounded by a very human need, to connect and talk to one another. Anyway, this is how I find out Big Finish runs contests to make stories like this. I am frothing at the mouth and biting at the bit. BF here I come!!
August 5, 2025
The Paul Spragg Memorial is the one time of year that brings together a majority of the Big Finish community as they write and come up with new and exciting stories to share before submitting them. Free Speech is a story I’ve been interested in a while now so fingers crossed it pays off.
Aymius Todd has been accused of the worst crime of all, conspiring with an illegal group to bring back free speech to all. Time is money and he’s running out of both.
Eugenie has written an incredible story about love, speech and betrayal. This is a story that’s mostly told via an interrogation drama. It’s a narrative that criticises the issues of classism, capitalism, political corruption, etc. It’s a very unsettling story that doesn’t pull back any of its punches.
Overall: This was brilliant, a genius and disturbing idea executed to perfection. 10/10
Aymius Todd has been accused of the worst crime of all, conspiring with an illegal group to bring back free speech to all. Time is money and he’s running out of both.
Eugenie has written an incredible story about love, speech and betrayal. This is a story that’s mostly told via an interrogation drama. It’s a narrative that criticises the issues of classism, capitalism, political corruption, etc. It’s a very unsettling story that doesn’t pull back any of its punches.
Overall: This was brilliant, a genius and disturbing idea executed to perfection. 10/10
July 21, 2024
I was looking for a quick audio and a short trip with the 10th doctor seemed the perfect thing!
I’ve always enjoyed Jacob Dudman’s narration of the doctors and this one was a great one too. I still can’t get over his repertoire of doctors, having heard his 4th Doc, 10th and 11th - they’re all brilliant! What a fantastic voice actor. Captures the tone perfectly and it was an enjoyable plot with an engaging story.
The concept of this one was great, with free speech a thing of the past. It costs to speak each word so with talking at a premium, only the rich can speak freely. The story is from the perspective of Aymius Todd, he explains his encounter with the doctor and how he’s come to start speaking so many words…
Really enjoyed and it was just what I was looking for!
I’ve always enjoyed Jacob Dudman’s narration of the doctors and this one was a great one too. I still can’t get over his repertoire of doctors, having heard his 4th Doc, 10th and 11th - they’re all brilliant! What a fantastic voice actor. Captures the tone perfectly and it was an enjoyable plot with an engaging story.
The concept of this one was great, with free speech a thing of the past. It costs to speak each word so with talking at a premium, only the rich can speak freely. The story is from the perspective of Aymius Todd, he explains his encounter with the doctor and how he’s come to start speaking so many words…
Really enjoyed and it was just what I was looking for!
October 26, 2023
"That's the brilliant thing about words - they have the power to change the curse of history"
Irónicamente, estoy sin palabras. Es una vez más, una historia super corta, pero con un gran mensaje. Disfrute muchísimo el narrador en esta aventura, me sorprendió lo bien que sabe imitar la voz de David Tennant - lo que logró meterme aún más en la historia. Simplemente, es una historia hermosa, me llevé un rato muy entretenido, y quizá en algún futuro la vuelva a escuchar.
Irónicamente, estoy sin palabras. Es una vez más, una historia super corta, pero con un gran mensaje. Disfrute muchísimo el narrador en esta aventura, me sorprendió lo bien que sabe imitar la voz de David Tennant - lo que logró meterme aún más en la historia. Simplemente, es una historia hermosa, me llevé un rato muy entretenido, y quizá en algún futuro la vuelva a escuchar.
April 2, 2024
I found the premise here to be a bit hard to take seriously this kind of society just wouldn't work. I found the voice acting good. The actor playing the 10th doctor just sounds like Tennant with a cold which is a pretty good impression. I found the characters to be very hard to connect to. It just seems like you could do so much more with them. It has minimal but well designed sound design. I also just didn't like the framing much. Just not my thing at the end of the day.
May 28, 2021
The best short doctor who story I've listened to! And the first one I've added to my read list, why simply the idea and story, both are really well thought out and honestly i was interested from beginning to end, the many others i read just sadly lost me at parts, but not this story! This was spot on!
September 8, 2022
“That’s the brilliant thing about words. They have the power to change the course of history.”
These short trips are fantastic and Jacob Dudman is an amazing narrator.
Free Speech is a nice little jaunt into a dystopian world and the story just has amazing characterization in the short time period. You grow to love the new characters so quickly and the Doctor is just, The Doctor.
These short trips are fantastic and Jacob Dudman is an amazing narrator.
Free Speech is a nice little jaunt into a dystopian world and the story just has amazing characterization in the short time period. You grow to love the new characters so quickly and the Doctor is just, The Doctor.
February 9, 2021
Really enjoyed listening to this story. It was performed brilliantly an really made me think about how much we speak without realising how much we say. It made me think about how many conversations we have and consider as normal yet they add little value to our lives.
March 13, 2021
A trifle simplistic in its resolution. This story would have benefited from some explanation as to how the scenario came about, and a deeper exploration of its effects. Nonetheless, it’s a nice idea and a very good portrayal of the Tenth Doctor.
June 9, 2023
Very original story with a good pace and a nice open ending. It would have been good material for an episode of the TV show.
Plus, Jacob Dudman did an amazing job in portraying the 10th Doctor.
Highly recommended (and free on Big Finish!)
Plus, Jacob Dudman did an amazing job in portraying the 10th Doctor.
Highly recommended (and free on Big Finish!)
January 3, 2021
that was really rather excellent :)
January 28, 2021
The doctor helps a planet to begin to have freedom of speech.
January 30, 2021
This one of my favorite Spragg contest shorts yet. Well worth a listen.
February 7, 2021
Original and very impressive
February 10, 2021
Excellent Short Trip - the Doctor isn't in this one much but when he is, he's the full on magician and game changer. Really interesting setting where speech and conversation is monetized.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews