What do you think?
Rate this book
The Eighth Doctor Adventures
Doctor Who: Charlotte Pollard - The Further Adventuress
Four new adventures featuring the Eighth Doctor and his Edwardian companion Charlotte Pollard.
1. The Mummy Speaks! by Alan Barnes
The Carnaval de Paris, 1841. Amid the sideshow tents, the Doctor and Charley discover something truly novel: an Ancient Egyptian mummy that speaks - despite being dead for more than 4,000 years! But what the mummy has to say translates into terror for the TARDIS twosome... and proclaims doom for the world entire.
2. Eclipse by Lisa McMullin
The collective noun for a swarm of moths is an eclipse. And when the chittering, nightmarish Hellstrung descend from the forest canopy of planet Pteron, they threaten to snuff out the lives of the human settlers below. Wanting to know what’s stirred up the Hellstrung, the Doctor and Charley venture deep into the woods as darkness falls.
3. The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson
The Doctor and Charley become trapped in a temporal traffic jam, caused by time tourists come to witness the pivotal event in the history of the planet Ileiko: the Slaying of the Writhing Mass, the alien entity that enslaved the Ileikans in their infancy. The legendary hero Salan killed the Mass with a single stone, setting the Ileikans free. But what was the Mass, exactly? And what if the legend was wrong?
4. Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs
The TARDIS intercepts a strange signal, returning the Doctor and Charley to the Garazone System - where once they had a terrifying encounter with the Cybermen, and foiled a bid to change the course of a terrible android-human war. Now, people are going missing from all over Garazone Central. The Orion War is far from over, and the Doctor and Charley have landed at the heart of it, again!
1. The Mummy Speaks! by Alan Barnes
The Carnaval de Paris, 1841. Amid the sideshow tents, the Doctor and Charley discover something truly novel: an Ancient Egyptian mummy that speaks - despite being dead for more than 4,000 years! But what the mummy has to say translates into terror for the TARDIS twosome... and proclaims doom for the world entire.
2. Eclipse by Lisa McMullin
The collective noun for a swarm of moths is an eclipse. And when the chittering, nightmarish Hellstrung descend from the forest canopy of planet Pteron, they threaten to snuff out the lives of the human settlers below. Wanting to know what’s stirred up the Hellstrung, the Doctor and Charley venture deep into the woods as darkness falls.
3. The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson
The Doctor and Charley become trapped in a temporal traffic jam, caused by time tourists come to witness the pivotal event in the history of the planet Ileiko: the Slaying of the Writhing Mass, the alien entity that enslaved the Ileikans in their infancy. The legendary hero Salan killed the Mass with a single stone, setting the Ileikans free. But what was the Mass, exactly? And what if the legend was wrong?
4. Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs
The TARDIS intercepts a strange signal, returning the Doctor and Charley to the Garazone System - where once they had a terrifying encounter with the Cybermen, and foiled a bid to change the course of a terrible android-human war. Now, people are going missing from all over Garazone Central. The Orion War is far from over, and the Doctor and Charley have landed at the heart of it, again!
5 pages, Audiobook
First published January 19, 2022
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Alan Barnes
99 books15 followersAlan Barnes is a British writer and editor, particularly noted for work in the field of cult film and television. Barnes served as the editor of Judge Dredd Megazine from 2001 until December 2005, during which time the title saw a considerable increase in the number of new strip pages. Among other strips, Barnes originally commissioned The Simping Detective. He also wrote a handful of Judge Dredd stories involving alternate universes or featuring a young Dredd.
He worked for five years at Doctor Who Magazine and progressed from writing strips to becoming joint editor in 1998 and sole editor from 2000 until 2002. He subsequently contributed the ongoing Fact of Fiction series of articles to the magazine. Barnes has also written or co-written a number of Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish Productions.
He has written a number of books on cult films (including James Bond, Quentin Tarantino and Sherlock Holmes) and his book The Hammer Story, co-written with Marcus Hearn, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 1997.
He worked for five years at Doctor Who Magazine and progressed from writing strips to becoming joint editor in 1998 and sole editor from 2000 until 2002. He subsequently contributed the ongoing Fact of Fiction series of articles to the magazine. Barnes has also written or co-written a number of Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish Productions.
He has written a number of books on cult films (including James Bond, Quentin Tarantino and Sherlock Holmes) and his book The Hammer Story, co-written with Marcus Hearn, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 1997.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 7, 2025
The 50 Prompt Eighth Doctor Reading Challenge - Companions & Allies - 13) A Book With An Archeologist Or Ancient Mystery
There is just something about Eight and Charley that hits differently to Eight with any of his other companions, and it was so lovely to listen to the two of them together again (I know that she comes back in the 2024/2025 8th Doctor boxsets, but in my listen through, I've only gotten to Doom Coalition 4 so far). I have missed the light-hearted Eighth Doctor from the early monthly adventures with Charley, as he started getting darker and grittier starting with Lucie and later companions.
My favourite of the four stories was the third one, The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson. I just loved the idea of the Doctor and Charley being stuck in a temporal traffic jam, and I found the story itself quite entertaining and enjoyable.
I think my least favourite was probably the fourth story, The Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs. It's not badly written or anything, but it's a sequel to the monthly adventure Sword of Orion, which I don't remember all that well, and because I didn't remember that too well, it felt like I had too many gaps to fully click with the episode.
There is just something about Eight and Charley that hits differently to Eight with any of his other companions, and it was so lovely to listen to the two of them together again (I know that she comes back in the 2024/2025 8th Doctor boxsets, but in my listen through, I've only gotten to Doom Coalition 4 so far). I have missed the light-hearted Eighth Doctor from the early monthly adventures with Charley, as he started getting darker and grittier starting with Lucie and later companions.
My favourite of the four stories was the third one, The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson. I just loved the idea of the Doctor and Charley being stuck in a temporal traffic jam, and I found the story itself quite entertaining and enjoyable.
I think my least favourite was probably the fourth story, The Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs. It's not badly written or anything, but it's a sequel to the monthly adventure Sword of Orion, which I don't remember all that well, and because I didn't remember that too well, it felt like I had too many gaps to fully click with the episode.
January 29, 2022
I feel like it's been a while since I gave a big finish boxset a full on five stars. But this one is very much well desereved. I binged listened the whole boxset last night whilst playing animal crossing, and loved it!
I listened to the further adventures of Lucie Miller last week, and I really enjoyed that one, but I think this one takes the favourite spot at the moment.
It was great hearing 8 and Charley back again and having some familiar writers writing for them like Alan Barnes really helps. However, I really enjoyed the stories done by Lisa McMullin and Eddie Robson very, very much. I think they're my favourites.
Lisa wrote a brilliant story featuring alien moths, with a great disturbing scene at the end. And Eddie wrote a great, time traveling story and where the Doctor accidentally kidnaps a young school kid.
I look forward to hearing some more.
I listened to the further adventures of Lucie Miller last week, and I really enjoyed that one, but I think this one takes the favourite spot at the moment.
It was great hearing 8 and Charley back again and having some familiar writers writing for them like Alan Barnes really helps. However, I really enjoyed the stories done by Lisa McMullin and Eddie Robson very, very much. I think they're my favourites.
Lisa wrote a brilliant story featuring alien moths, with a great disturbing scene at the end. And Eddie wrote a great, time traveling story and where the Doctor accidentally kidnaps a young school kid.
I look forward to hearing some more.
April 21, 2023
“Where Charley’s safety is concerned I’m positively bonkers.” 🥲
Getting a new box set of Eight and Charley stories is an absolute treat. I will never tire of these two, and would pay good money to see them on the big screen. Anyways, these four audios had some wonderful highlights.
Such as Ghe, the gorilla, who I didn’t expect to laugh and love as much as I did. Also he mistakes Charley and Eight for a couple which, is so valid.
However in terms of development, the characters went backwards. This is always a concern when revisiting characters, but I expected more from BF. So as much as I will soak up anything and everything with Paul and India, this still had some major flaws.
Getting a new box set of Eight and Charley stories is an absolute treat. I will never tire of these two, and would pay good money to see them on the big screen. Anyways, these four audios had some wonderful highlights.
Such as Ghe, the gorilla, who I didn’t expect to laugh and love as much as I did. Also he mistakes Charley and Eight for a couple which, is so valid.
However in terms of development, the characters went backwards. This is always a concern when revisiting characters, but I expected more from BF. So as much as I will soak up anything and everything with Paul and India, this still had some major flaws.
April 18, 2023
I can go in full detail about everything I did not like about this boxset but one word can define the entire thing.
Meh.
This was the most meh thing I have ever listened to of all big finish. Seriously how could this be this meh?
Seriously why is this so bloody meh?
Meh.
This was the most meh thing I have ever listened to of all big finish. Seriously how could this be this meh?
Seriously why is this so bloody meh?
February 8, 2022
"CHARLOTTE POLLARD: THE FURTHER ADVENTURESS" FROM BEST TO WORST
〰〰〰〰
The Mummy Speaks:
(9) Lovely to hear one of the best Doctor/companion pairings back together as energetic as ever.
(8) India Fisher is as wonderful as back in the day and takes the lead in many scenes.
(8) Guy the Gorilla proves to be a very enjoyable one-off (or, perhaps not?) companion.
(7) A sense of early 2000s EDAs, some Talons of Weng Chiang (1977), and some Mummy on the Orient Express (2014)
(7) Great characterization and funny dialogue in a fascinating historical setting
(6) Khaset makes for an unusually likable mummy and sounds like something out of the Tom Baker era
(5) The Tardis translation jokes are overdone
(5) Not sure I am a fan of the light comical tone
(5) Loads of fun adventure, but pretty light on a plot
(5) The shorter story structure makes the narrative swifter but also less layered.
〰〰〰〰
45 positive points / 20 negative points = 6.5/10
〰〰〰〰
Eclipse:
(9) I applaud the pretty graphic climax, which is rare for a BF audio.
(8) Eight and Charley continue their wonderful relationship, surrounded by a fascinating alien world.
(8) This one has a slightly slower and more atmospheric narrative compared to the previous story, and it brings a nice change of pace to the set.
(5) Eclipse offers a much more conventional plot, with less memorable features compared to the other stories on the set.
(4) This is another adventure with a plot that doesn't do much with its characters and setting.
(4) The villain is boring.
(3) Some of the twists have been done before, and much better at that.
〰〰〰〰
25 positive points / 16 negative points = 6/10
〰〰〰〰
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass:
(8) Love the idea that you can have traffic jams in the space-time vortex; it feels like something Douglas Adams would come up with.
(8) The dialogue is filled with good humor and natural conversation, mixed with a fascinating take on the David & Goliath myth.
(7) The guest characters are made up of largely sympathetic characters that are easy to connect with.
(7) The second part tackles the plot from two equally exciting fronts, utilizing the two stars and the guest cast well.
(6) I like some of the final twists here, that once again utilize the potential of time travel.
(6) A good feel of an early BF adventure focused on a sci-fi plot with a "mundane" setting.
(5) The entire first part feels like one long build-up to the main plot, which doesn't arrive until the second half.
(3) Timey-wimey plot points aside, the twists and turns in the plot aren't all that original.
〰〰〰〰
42 positive points / 8 negative points = 6.25/10
〰〰〰〰
The Heart of Orion:
(7) Nicholas Briggs brings us near seamlessly back into the aftermath of the memorably creepy Eighth Doctor Monthly Adventure Sword of Orion (2001).
(6) We are slowly introduced to an atmospheric mystery, bouncing off of the previous Orion story.
(6) Michelle Livingstone is back as Deeva Jansen and is used fairly well for some deepening of the android-human relations introduced in Sword.
(4) This is a sequel in name and setting only. The lack of Cybermen automatically makes it less compelling, as the focus lies on the less interesting parts of the original story.
(3) I feel like some of the larger action pieces are a bit of a mess.
(3) The narrative lacks the same stakes, tension, and excitement as the original story and doesn't quite meet the expectations.
〰〰〰〰
19 positive points / 10 negative points = 4.8/10
〰〰〰〰
131 positive points / 54 negative points = 5.97/10
〰〰〰〰
〰〰〰〰
The Mummy Speaks:
(9) Lovely to hear one of the best Doctor/companion pairings back together as energetic as ever.
(8) India Fisher is as wonderful as back in the day and takes the lead in many scenes.
(8) Guy the Gorilla proves to be a very enjoyable one-off (or, perhaps not?) companion.
(7) A sense of early 2000s EDAs, some Talons of Weng Chiang (1977), and some Mummy on the Orient Express (2014)
(7) Great characterization and funny dialogue in a fascinating historical setting
(6) Khaset makes for an unusually likable mummy and sounds like something out of the Tom Baker era
(5) The Tardis translation jokes are overdone
(5) Not sure I am a fan of the light comical tone
(5) Loads of fun adventure, but pretty light on a plot
(5) The shorter story structure makes the narrative swifter but also less layered.
〰〰〰〰
45 positive points / 20 negative points = 6.5/10
〰〰〰〰
Eclipse:
(9) I applaud the pretty graphic climax, which is rare for a BF audio.
(8) Eight and Charley continue their wonderful relationship, surrounded by a fascinating alien world.
(8) This one has a slightly slower and more atmospheric narrative compared to the previous story, and it brings a nice change of pace to the set.
(5) Eclipse offers a much more conventional plot, with less memorable features compared to the other stories on the set.
(4) This is another adventure with a plot that doesn't do much with its characters and setting.
(4) The villain is boring.
(3) Some of the twists have been done before, and much better at that.
〰〰〰〰
25 positive points / 16 negative points = 6/10
〰〰〰〰
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass:
(8) Love the idea that you can have traffic jams in the space-time vortex; it feels like something Douglas Adams would come up with.
(8) The dialogue is filled with good humor and natural conversation, mixed with a fascinating take on the David & Goliath myth.
(7) The guest characters are made up of largely sympathetic characters that are easy to connect with.
(7) The second part tackles the plot from two equally exciting fronts, utilizing the two stars and the guest cast well.
(6) I like some of the final twists here, that once again utilize the potential of time travel.
(6) A good feel of an early BF adventure focused on a sci-fi plot with a "mundane" setting.
(5) The entire first part feels like one long build-up to the main plot, which doesn't arrive until the second half.
(3) Timey-wimey plot points aside, the twists and turns in the plot aren't all that original.
〰〰〰〰
42 positive points / 8 negative points = 6.25/10
〰〰〰〰
The Heart of Orion:
(7) Nicholas Briggs brings us near seamlessly back into the aftermath of the memorably creepy Eighth Doctor Monthly Adventure Sword of Orion (2001).
(6) We are slowly introduced to an atmospheric mystery, bouncing off of the previous Orion story.
(6) Michelle Livingstone is back as Deeva Jansen and is used fairly well for some deepening of the android-human relations introduced in Sword.
(4) This is a sequel in name and setting only. The lack of Cybermen automatically makes it less compelling, as the focus lies on the less interesting parts of the original story.
(3) I feel like some of the larger action pieces are a bit of a mess.
(3) The narrative lacks the same stakes, tension, and excitement as the original story and doesn't quite meet the expectations.
〰〰〰〰
19 positive points / 10 negative points = 4.8/10
〰〰〰〰
131 positive points / 54 negative points = 5.97/10
〰〰〰〰
April 22, 2022
When this boxset was announced I was really excited I absolutely loved The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller so hearing they were going to do a boxset with Charlotte Pollard I couldn't say no, it's not the most consistent era of The Eighth Doctor stuff but it is some of the most enjoyable and the overall vibe that time in the monthly range has is incredible!
The Mummy Speaks:
Alan Barnes is a very mixed writer for me, he's written some amazing stories such as The Girl Who Never Was and Death in Blackpool but I wasn't a huge fan of Gallery of Ghouls, so I was a little nervous when I found it this story had the same kind of vibe to it. But I actually really enjoyed this story, it's fun, exciting, funny and hearing 8 and Charley again was so much fun!
Not the most amazing story out there but it's a fun quick listen with moments of horror and plenty of humor! 8/10
Eclipse:
Lisa McMullin is the only writer in this set who didn't write for the original Eighth Doctor Adventures but all the same, she has a fantastic grasp on The Doctor and Charley, and whilst the story may feel a little like a new series of adventure it still captures the overall feel of that era in the monthly range. She has written a really cool environmentalist story that's quite similar to In The Forest of The Night in a sense but actually feels like a Doctor Who story as opposed to something you'd see on CBeebies.
It's a story with fantastic ideas, gigantic moths, and a very dark scene at the end that actually freaked me out a little, it always surprises me when Big Finish occasionally has darker and gruesome scenes in these audios especially since there seems to be a lot less of it compared to a few years ago but honestly I love it when they take the risk, it shows that they are still absolutely fantastic at freaking out their audience and I love it! 8.5/10
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass:
Eddie Robson has come up with a very clever idea that I'm surprised has never been made into a Doctor Who story before now. A traffic jam in the time vortex with tourists hoping to see a history-changing event.
This story was so much fun, if you like complex, paradoxical time-travel stories with plenty of humor and wit this is for you, not quite what I was expecting admittedly but it's still a wail of a time! 8.5/10
Heart of Orion:
It’s no secret that I consider Sword of Orion an underrated gem in the monthly range. But when this story was announced I was a little mixed on how to feel about it but I needn’t have worried.
Nicholas Briggs has written a wonderful, occasionally atmospheric and meaningful sequel to Sword of Orion that may not be anything amazing but it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane and it’s nice to see a returning character. 9/10
Overall: 34/40
The Mummy Speaks:
Alan Barnes is a very mixed writer for me, he's written some amazing stories such as The Girl Who Never Was and Death in Blackpool but I wasn't a huge fan of Gallery of Ghouls, so I was a little nervous when I found it this story had the same kind of vibe to it. But I actually really enjoyed this story, it's fun, exciting, funny and hearing 8 and Charley again was so much fun!
Not the most amazing story out there but it's a fun quick listen with moments of horror and plenty of humor! 8/10
Eclipse:
Lisa McMullin is the only writer in this set who didn't write for the original Eighth Doctor Adventures but all the same, she has a fantastic grasp on The Doctor and Charley, and whilst the story may feel a little like a new series of adventure it still captures the overall feel of that era in the monthly range. She has written a really cool environmentalist story that's quite similar to In The Forest of The Night in a sense but actually feels like a Doctor Who story as opposed to something you'd see on CBeebies.
It's a story with fantastic ideas, gigantic moths, and a very dark scene at the end that actually freaked me out a little, it always surprises me when Big Finish occasionally has darker and gruesome scenes in these audios especially since there seems to be a lot less of it compared to a few years ago but honestly I love it when they take the risk, it shows that they are still absolutely fantastic at freaking out their audience and I love it! 8.5/10
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass:
Eddie Robson has come up with a very clever idea that I'm surprised has never been made into a Doctor Who story before now. A traffic jam in the time vortex with tourists hoping to see a history-changing event.
This story was so much fun, if you like complex, paradoxical time-travel stories with plenty of humor and wit this is for you, not quite what I was expecting admittedly but it's still a wail of a time! 8.5/10
Heart of Orion:
It’s no secret that I consider Sword of Orion an underrated gem in the monthly range. But when this story was announced I was a little mixed on how to feel about it but I needn’t have worried.
Nicholas Briggs has written a wonderful, occasionally atmospheric and meaningful sequel to Sword of Orion that may not be anything amazing but it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane and it’s nice to see a returning character. 9/10
Overall: 34/40
February 4, 2022
Doctor Who: Charlotte Pollard - The Further Adventuress - 3.5/5 stars
I was very excited to listen to this as back in 2020, I got massively into Big Finish by listening to the first 8 and Charley stories on Spotify. I had listened through all their Monthly Adventures episodes but after listening to this boxset, I’m a little disappointed.
The Mummy Speaks! by Alan Barnes - 2/5 stars
It’s probably the story that represents the ones I didn't like in the original run, the historical setting ones so I didn’t engage with it very well.
Eclipse by Lisa McMullin - 4/5 stars
I really liked this one but I genuinely can’t remember anything from it and I listened to it a few days ago. Had to search up the synopsis but I remember that the giant Moths were a fun element to the story.
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson - 5/5 stars
The premise of this story was amazing. Idealising a piece of history and then using time machines to observe it and then changing the past is actually the cause of history. I’d love to see a version of this but with a piece of Earths history.
Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs - 3/5 stars
I’m one of the few people who really enjoyed Sword of Orion, so when I heard that this was a sequel, it made me really want this boxset, so I patiently listened through the stories and hit this one at the end and… It’s okay. I didn’t have a strong reaction to it apart from feeling that its a sequel for the sake of being a sequel, they don’t do anything exciting so I can’t really give it a bad or good rating.
I was very excited to listen to this as back in 2020, I got massively into Big Finish by listening to the first 8 and Charley stories on Spotify. I had listened through all their Monthly Adventures episodes but after listening to this boxset, I’m a little disappointed.
The Mummy Speaks! by Alan Barnes - 2/5 stars
It’s probably the story that represents the ones I didn't like in the original run, the historical setting ones so I didn’t engage with it very well.
Eclipse by Lisa McMullin - 4/5 stars
I really liked this one but I genuinely can’t remember anything from it and I listened to it a few days ago. Had to search up the synopsis but I remember that the giant Moths were a fun element to the story.
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass by Eddie Robson - 5/5 stars
The premise of this story was amazing. Idealising a piece of history and then using time machines to observe it and then changing the past is actually the cause of history. I’d love to see a version of this but with a piece of Earths history.
Heart of Orion by Nicholas Briggs - 3/5 stars
I’m one of the few people who really enjoyed Sword of Orion, so when I heard that this was a sequel, it made me really want this boxset, so I patiently listened through the stories and hit this one at the end and… It’s okay. I didn’t have a strong reaction to it apart from feeling that its a sequel for the sake of being a sequel, they don’t do anything exciting so I can’t really give it a bad or good rating.
January 23, 2022
This one is a hard one for me to rate.
I love the 8th Doctor. I love Charley.
I was looking forward to this release.
But in the end, it left me slightly unsatisfied.
The performances are top notch, you cannot fault any of them. Especially of course the leads.
It is great hearing them back, and this has been a fun ride.
I felt well entertained. I got a few good laughs out of it.
I do not know what I expected, honestly, these are good entertaining stories.
But- I was missing a certain spark.
Spark similar to conversations like "I have been to an orgy once." -"Charlotte Pollard!" - "I didn't stay."
Sadly, many of the conversations boil down to incredibly clever pop-culture references.
I LOVE meta jokes. I love fandom jokes, I like when pop-culture references itself and makes fun of itself.
But I think this was laying it on a bit too thick. Some of the conversation was JUST pop-culture references firing at each other. Yes, it was clever, but.... maybe a bit too clever and too much all at once.
And, these stories are just soooo.... standard.
Maybe I am in the fandom too long? Have I heard everything by now?
Yes, I enjoyed myself, but none of these stories are a revelation or close to becoming classics.
Yes, maybe hoping for a second "Seasons of Fear" was a bit much to hope for. But still, I expected at least slightly better than what we got....
I love the 8th Doctor. I love Charley.
I was looking forward to this release.
But in the end, it left me slightly unsatisfied.
The performances are top notch, you cannot fault any of them. Especially of course the leads.
It is great hearing them back, and this has been a fun ride.
I felt well entertained. I got a few good laughs out of it.
I do not know what I expected, honestly, these are good entertaining stories.
But- I was missing a certain spark.
Spark similar to conversations like "I have been to an orgy once." -"Charlotte Pollard!" - "I didn't stay."
Sadly, many of the conversations boil down to incredibly clever pop-culture references.
I LOVE meta jokes. I love fandom jokes, I like when pop-culture references itself and makes fun of itself.
But I think this was laying it on a bit too thick. Some of the conversation was JUST pop-culture references firing at each other. Yes, it was clever, but.... maybe a bit too clever and too much all at once.
And, these stories are just soooo.... standard.
Maybe I am in the fandom too long? Have I heard everything by now?
Yes, I enjoyed myself, but none of these stories are a revelation or close to becoming classics.
Yes, maybe hoping for a second "Seasons of Fear" was a bit much to hope for. But still, I expected at least slightly better than what we got....
January 31, 2026
This set occurs during a slight gap between the first “series” of The (Eighth) Doctor adventures with Charlotte Pollard and the second. So, I’ll call it: Eighth Doctor Series 1B.
1B.1 The Mummy Speaks! - The Doctor & Charley arrive in Paris and find an animated Egyptian mummy. The whole series of shenanigans ends up in the heights of Notre Dame, all very Hunch Back-esque. Oh and there’s a gorilla. So what’s not to love? My only complaint is that Charley feels much more knowledgeable and put together than she seemed in the other early adventures. (3/5)
1B.2 Eclipse - This was quite good. Loved the tension and atmosphere in this one. While it was a bit predictable, the way it was presented was perfect for the material and the suspense of what was going one was timed very well. (4/5)
1B.3 The Slaying of the Writhing Mass - From the title I was expecting that this one might be some kind of Lovecraft inspired tomfoolery. Nope, just more timey whimey Whovian shenanigans. Fun stuff though. (3/5)
1B.4 Heart of Orion - A slow starter, but it builds into some exciting sequences. A return to the Garazone System and also a direct sequel to Doctor Who: Sword of Orion. Very entertaining and enjoyable. (3/5)
And each episode features the usual short behind the scenes interviews with cast and crew.
1B.1 The Mummy Speaks! - The Doctor & Charley arrive in Paris and find an animated Egyptian mummy. The whole series of shenanigans ends up in the heights of Notre Dame, all very Hunch Back-esque. Oh and there’s a gorilla. So what’s not to love? My only complaint is that Charley feels much more knowledgeable and put together than she seemed in the other early adventures. (3/5)
1B.2 Eclipse - This was quite good. Loved the tension and atmosphere in this one. While it was a bit predictable, the way it was presented was perfect for the material and the suspense of what was going one was timed very well. (4/5)
1B.3 The Slaying of the Writhing Mass - From the title I was expecting that this one might be some kind of Lovecraft inspired tomfoolery. Nope, just more timey whimey Whovian shenanigans. Fun stuff though. (3/5)
1B.4 Heart of Orion - A slow starter, but it builds into some exciting sequences. A return to the Garazone System and also a direct sequel to Doctor Who: Sword of Orion. Very entertaining and enjoyable. (3/5)
And each episode features the usual short behind the scenes interviews with cast and crew.
January 15, 2025
The Mummy Speaks!
Good goofy fun. I kind of zoned out about the whole alien aspect and the climax, but this was funny. Loved Guy the gorilla.
Eclipse
A fairly by-the-book eco story but with giant moths and some cool body horror. Enjoyed it for the most part, but the actor playing their colonist friend was insanely annoying.
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass
Absolutely loved this one. A literal time machine traffic jam? Lots of time travel shenanigans? Just tremendous fun and has made the set a worthwhile purchase for me.
Heart of Orion
I enjoyed Sword of Orion, so was hoping for more from this sequel. While we see the return of a familiar character and there are some interesting moral questions posed, our characters are far too conveniently spared the hard decisions and turns of events. I was also hoping for Cybermen.
Good goofy fun. I kind of zoned out about the whole alien aspect and the climax, but this was funny. Loved Guy the gorilla.
Eclipse
A fairly by-the-book eco story but with giant moths and some cool body horror. Enjoyed it for the most part, but the actor playing their colonist friend was insanely annoying.
The Slaying of the Writhing Mass
Absolutely loved this one. A literal time machine traffic jam? Lots of time travel shenanigans? Just tremendous fun and has made the set a worthwhile purchase for me.
Heart of Orion
I enjoyed Sword of Orion, so was hoping for more from this sequel. While we see the return of a familiar character and there are some interesting moral questions posed, our characters are far too conveniently spared the hard decisions and turns of events. I was also hoping for Cybermen.
September 11, 2023
The title of the set is a nice pun. Overall, this listen was a bittersweet experience. On one hand, it allowed us to revisit a long gone era in which Charlotte Pollard traveled with the Eighth Doctor. (His short hair on the cover confuses me and makes me wonder if he got a haircut and then had it grow back.) On the other hand, we know how the whole journey with them ends, and even more unfortunate, we know where Charlotte Pollard ends up. The stories were somewhat enjoyable, but it's tough to shake away what I know. Something I caught was The Doctor mentioning he's survived crash landing several times, which brings to mind how the Eighth Doctor dies in The Night of the Doctor.
October 9, 2022
Celebrating 20 years of Paul McGann's 8th Doctor at Big Finish. I'd be hard pressed to choose between Charlotte Pollard and Lucie Miller as my favourite 8th Doctor companion, but India Fisher is on top form in four adventures that are a whole lot if fun to enjoy. There are all very different in tone but there is room for humour as well as sci fi story telling. I'd love there to be more sets like this please BF :D
July 28, 2023
the mummy speaks!: 8/10
eclipse: 7/10
the slaying of the writhing mass: 9/10
heart of orion: 6/10
regardless of the individual ratings, i would have given this 5 stars if the last part wasn’t so underwhelming. i just loved hearing eight and charley together again.
eclipse: 7/10
the slaying of the writhing mass: 9/10
heart of orion: 6/10
regardless of the individual ratings, i would have given this 5 stars if the last part wasn’t so underwhelming. i just loved hearing eight and charley together again.
January 21, 2022
I love them. I love this. Honestly it was fun and everything I wanted.
February 4, 2022
I started the 8th Doctor audios with Dark Eyes and had been slowly working my way back.
This was a lot of fun, and for me a different, lighter side to Eight than I was used to.
Really enjoyed it.
This was a lot of fun, and for me a different, lighter side to Eight than I was used to.
Really enjoyed it.
March 2, 2022
Not a griping box set. Didn’t finish.
April 22, 2022
I haven’t enjoyed a Big Finish box set as much as this one in a long while. Great have the 8th Doctor and Charley together again, more please.
November 21, 2023
Story 1: 3 stars
Story 2: 4 stars
Story 3: 4.5 stars
Story 4: 4 stars
Story 2: 4 stars
Story 3: 4.5 stars
Story 4: 4 stars
Read
May 25, 2025i simply think charley should always be in these eight audios *shrug*
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews