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The Companion Chronicles #3.7
Doctor Who: The Transit of Venus
A new adventure for the First Doctor, as read by his companion Ian Chesterton.
The year is 1770, and daring explorer Captain James Cook and his crew on the Endeavour are navigating the Pacific Ocean.
Into their midsts come strangers: the Doctor and Ian Chesterton, who are believed to come from Venus. But the TARDIS is lost to them — along with both Susan and Barbara — and Ian makes an enemy of the ship's chief scientist Joseph Banks.
Why is Banks acting strangely? Could it be that the travellers are not the only visitors from the stars...
The year is 1770, and daring explorer Captain James Cook and his crew on the Endeavour are navigating the Pacific Ocean.
Into their midsts come strangers: the Doctor and Ian Chesterton, who are believed to come from Venus. But the TARDIS is lost to them — along with both Susan and Barbara — and Ian makes an enemy of the ship's chief scientist Joseph Banks.
Why is Banks acting strangely? Could it be that the travellers are not the only visitors from the stars...
Audio CD
First published January 15, 2009
92 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Rayner
133 books168 followersJacqueline Rayner is a best selling British author, best known for her work with the licensed fiction based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 1, 2026
An adventure in the grand tradition of the First Doctor's proper historical episodes: the Tardis arrives by accident on Captain Cook's Discovery a few weeks before the ship will arrive at Botany Bay for the first time, and both Ian and the Doctor are stranded aboard, witnessing history in action.
Except... is something wrong with the scientist Joseph Banks? Is he really trying to kill Ian? Are malevolent forces at work in this time, in this place, or is Ian losing his mind? And will they ever see the Tardis again?
William Russell binds this adventure together, and his portrayal of Ian descending into paranoia is scripted perfectly and pitched just right. The only other voice heard is that of Ian Hallard, playing Banks, adding to the tension in Ian's head. It's a lovely piece with plenty of proper educational references, and only a tangential association to the actual Transit of Venus, and to avoid spoilers, I'll only say that this is set just after The Sensorites, and that the Sensesphere still has a little relevance.
Worth your time.
Except... is something wrong with the scientist Joseph Banks? Is he really trying to kill Ian? Are malevolent forces at work in this time, in this place, or is Ian losing his mind? And will they ever see the Tardis again?
William Russell binds this adventure together, and his portrayal of Ian descending into paranoia is scripted perfectly and pitched just right. The only other voice heard is that of Ian Hallard, playing Banks, adding to the tension in Ian's head. It's a lovely piece with plenty of proper educational references, and only a tangential association to the actual Transit of Venus, and to avoid spoilers, I'll only say that this is set just after The Sensorites, and that the Sensesphere still has a little relevance.
Worth your time.
October 27, 2017
Big Finish's Companion Chronicles series features stories told from the point of view of the Doctor's companions. This series gives Big Finish the opportunity to tell stories set in previous eras of the British Television Series, Doctor Who with previous Doctors and companions. In that aspect, the Companion Chronicles are similar to the Missing Adventures and Past Doctor Adventures original novels. The Transit of Venus is performed by William Russell as Ian Chesterton, and is set in the First Doctor (William Hartnell) Era. As is the case with many of the Companion Chronicles, Russell is joined in his performance by Ian Hallard as Joseph Banks. The Transit of Venus is a pure historical story. The only science fiction elements are the TARDIS, and Ian's references to the previous story, "The Sensorites".
The story opens with the Doctor, now very angry with Ian and Barbara, dropping them off someplace on Earth. He doesn't even stay to see if they are in fact in 20th Century Earth or to check that they are alright. In turns out they are not alright, and, luckily for Barbara and Ian, Susan insists that her grandfather (the Doctor) stay and check. The Doctor and Susan see Ian and Barbara being attacked by the sailors of the 18th century sailing ship they have landed on. The Doctor and Ian end up staying on the ship and Susan, Barbara, and the TARDIS are pushed over the side. Thus, this is a First Doctor and Ian story. Never fear, though, Barbara, Susan, and the TARDIS are found and the crew reunited at the end of the story. In some aspects, this is typical of early Doctor Who - the stories often depended on the TARDIS crew being separated and reuniting later. Often such separations serve the plot by the crew separately learning important information which is later pooled for plot purposes. Other times, characters disappearing serve more practical purposes - giving the actors on the show some much-needed time off (back in the days when producing Doctor Who was closer to a three-quarters of the year repertory theatre than modern television. In the case of this audio play, having half the cast missing for all but the opening and closing scenes seems to have been done for purely practical reasons - less characters makes the story smaller and easier to tell on audio.
However, that is not purely a negative. Once it becomes apparent that this will be a Doctor and Ian story, the listener can just go with it, and it is still a very enjoyable story. Ian and the Doctor end-up on Captain Cook's Endeavour sailing ship, navigating the Pacific Ocean on their way to charting Australia and discovering the Cook Islands. The story is educational - teaching about the famous voyage as well as the geography of the region - the groups of islands, their names, the coastal features of Australia, etc. It's the type of story that if filmed, especially with some sort of budget, could be extremely enjoyable, sort of Doctor Who does Master and Commander. Because this is Doctor Who there is another plot to pass the time on the long ship voyage - Ian meets Joseph Banks, a famed botanist. Yet, whenever Ian is alone with Banks, weird things seem to happen. Ian sees Banks shoot an albatross that is following the ship, and Ian warns him of the superstition against killing an albatross. Then he hears Banks quote the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Later, as Ian approaches Banks' cabin, he hears voices, which, to Ian, sound like Banks is reading aloud a diary entry containing information about the future. A few days later, Banks and Ian are on the ship's deck, and Ian becomes fearful of Banks and even believes Banks pushed him overboard. Banks rescues Ian, and states that he became disoriented on the ship and fell. As a result of his dunking in the ocean - Ian becomes quite sick, contracting a fever, and is cabin-bound. Ian has additional strange experiences on the ship, especially when near Banks.
Finally, the Endeavoour reaches the place in Australia where Ian knows they will land. And he sees Susan and Barbara on the shore. Barbara explains briefly what happened to them, how they survived, and even tells him that since they knew they would have a long wait - she had, as a history teacher, filled Susan in on the history of Captain Cook's voyage, even telling Susan about The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and later that she had sung "Botany Bay" to her. Susan, after her experiences on the Sensesphere in turns out still had latent telepathic abilities. It was Susan who had unwittingly transferred information to Banks that Ian picked up. Information that Banks himself was unaware of, but that because of his familiarity with Susan, Ian was able to hear as a ghostly voice. This is a bit of an science fiction element - but The Transit of Venus is not a story where Joseph Banks is secretly an alien or time traveler as Ian at first suspects. Also, Ian is actually experiencing something outside his normal experience even as, by this point in the First Doctor Era, he is a seasoned time traveler himself. Playing with Ian's emotions could have come off as cruel, but instead it suits the story and the characters - and everything works out. After being reunited the TARDIS crew leaves in the TARDIS.
I enjoyed The Transit of Venus as a purely historical Doctor Who story for the most part. Ian's suspicions are played more as paranoia than something really going on - which is novel for a Doctor Who story. Yes, in the Doctor Who universe if a character thinks someone is an alien and up to no good - they usually are. So for the accused to not be an alien is actually a surprise. Plus, Ian is a practical man and a man of science. Before meeting the Doctor he would have dismissed aliens, time travel, and the like. Now, dropped in to a purely normal situation (albeit in 1770), Ian leaps to the opposite conclusion - based on his last couple of years of personal experience. That is pure Ian.
I did miss having Barbara in the story. I've always liked the Ian-Barbara dynamic, and the two had great chemistry as a couple. It is no wonder that in fan canon they are not only a couple, but a married one. And this long-standing fan theory was even made canon in an episode of, The Sarah Jane Adventures. However, even though I would have liked to see Barbara in the story - if she had been on the ship with Ian, there would have been no conflict. The two, plus the Doctor, would have simply had a nice sea cruise. Enjoyable for them, but probably a bit boring for the audience. And Ian's concerns and fears were played particularly well - playing off the audience's expectations for a Doctor Who story, without making the character look like an idiot.
Overall, this is an excellent historical Doctor Who adventure. The CD version includes a panel interview with the cast, director, and producer as well as a trailer for the next Big Finish Companion Chronicles adventure. Recommended.
The story opens with the Doctor, now very angry with Ian and Barbara, dropping them off someplace on Earth. He doesn't even stay to see if they are in fact in 20th Century Earth or to check that they are alright. In turns out they are not alright, and, luckily for Barbara and Ian, Susan insists that her grandfather (the Doctor) stay and check. The Doctor and Susan see Ian and Barbara being attacked by the sailors of the 18th century sailing ship they have landed on. The Doctor and Ian end up staying on the ship and Susan, Barbara, and the TARDIS are pushed over the side. Thus, this is a First Doctor and Ian story. Never fear, though, Barbara, Susan, and the TARDIS are found and the crew reunited at the end of the story. In some aspects, this is typical of early Doctor Who - the stories often depended on the TARDIS crew being separated and reuniting later. Often such separations serve the plot by the crew separately learning important information which is later pooled for plot purposes. Other times, characters disappearing serve more practical purposes - giving the actors on the show some much-needed time off (back in the days when producing Doctor Who was closer to a three-quarters of the year repertory theatre than modern television. In the case of this audio play, having half the cast missing for all but the opening and closing scenes seems to have been done for purely practical reasons - less characters makes the story smaller and easier to tell on audio.
However, that is not purely a negative. Once it becomes apparent that this will be a Doctor and Ian story, the listener can just go with it, and it is still a very enjoyable story. Ian and the Doctor end-up on Captain Cook's Endeavour sailing ship, navigating the Pacific Ocean on their way to charting Australia and discovering the Cook Islands. The story is educational - teaching about the famous voyage as well as the geography of the region - the groups of islands, their names, the coastal features of Australia, etc. It's the type of story that if filmed, especially with some sort of budget, could be extremely enjoyable, sort of Doctor Who does Master and Commander. Because this is Doctor Who there is another plot to pass the time on the long ship voyage - Ian meets Joseph Banks, a famed botanist. Yet, whenever Ian is alone with Banks, weird things seem to happen. Ian sees Banks shoot an albatross that is following the ship, and Ian warns him of the superstition against killing an albatross. Then he hears Banks quote the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Later, as Ian approaches Banks' cabin, he hears voices, which, to Ian, sound like Banks is reading aloud a diary entry containing information about the future. A few days later, Banks and Ian are on the ship's deck, and Ian becomes fearful of Banks and even believes Banks pushed him overboard. Banks rescues Ian, and states that he became disoriented on the ship and fell. As a result of his dunking in the ocean - Ian becomes quite sick, contracting a fever, and is cabin-bound. Ian has additional strange experiences on the ship, especially when near Banks.
Finally, the Endeavoour reaches the place in Australia where Ian knows they will land. And he sees Susan and Barbara on the shore. Barbara explains briefly what happened to them, how they survived, and even tells him that since they knew they would have a long wait - she had, as a history teacher, filled Susan in on the history of Captain Cook's voyage, even telling Susan about The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and later that she had sung "Botany Bay" to her. Susan, after her experiences on the Sensesphere in turns out still had latent telepathic abilities. It was Susan who had unwittingly transferred information to Banks that Ian picked up. Information that Banks himself was unaware of, but that because of his familiarity with Susan, Ian was able to hear as a ghostly voice. This is a bit of an science fiction element - but The Transit of Venus is not a story where Joseph Banks is secretly an alien or time traveler as Ian at first suspects. Also, Ian is actually experiencing something outside his normal experience even as, by this point in the First Doctor Era, he is a seasoned time traveler himself. Playing with Ian's emotions could have come off as cruel, but instead it suits the story and the characters - and everything works out. After being reunited the TARDIS crew leaves in the TARDIS.
I enjoyed The Transit of Venus as a purely historical Doctor Who story for the most part. Ian's suspicions are played more as paranoia than something really going on - which is novel for a Doctor Who story. Yes, in the Doctor Who universe if a character thinks someone is an alien and up to no good - they usually are. So for the accused to not be an alien is actually a surprise. Plus, Ian is a practical man and a man of science. Before meeting the Doctor he would have dismissed aliens, time travel, and the like. Now, dropped in to a purely normal situation (albeit in 1770), Ian leaps to the opposite conclusion - based on his last couple of years of personal experience. That is pure Ian.
I did miss having Barbara in the story. I've always liked the Ian-Barbara dynamic, and the two had great chemistry as a couple. It is no wonder that in fan canon they are not only a couple, but a married one. And this long-standing fan theory was even made canon in an episode of, The Sarah Jane Adventures. However, even though I would have liked to see Barbara in the story - if she had been on the ship with Ian, there would have been no conflict. The two, plus the Doctor, would have simply had a nice sea cruise. Enjoyable for them, but probably a bit boring for the audience. And Ian's concerns and fears were played particularly well - playing off the audience's expectations for a Doctor Who story, without making the character look like an idiot.
Overall, this is an excellent historical Doctor Who adventure. The CD version includes a panel interview with the cast, director, and producer as well as a trailer for the next Big Finish Companion Chronicles adventure. Recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 8, 2009William Russell's return in character as Ian Chesterton gives him the record for Who performer of longest standing (though Carole Ann Ford is due to regain that title later in the year). Transit of Venus is a two-hander with Ian Stoddard playing Joseph Banks, and William Russell playing everyone else, after the Tardis appears on board the Endeavour in 1774 and promptly disappears again along with Susan and Barbara. It is set immediately after and (despite the historical setting) ties in very closely with The Sensorites, which for my money is the worst story of the very first TV season so it's a bit mysterious that both Big Finish and (via the Ood) New Who have chosen to revisit it. [return][return]Most of Transit of Venus is really good - a decent picture of life on board the ship, with a certain sense of loyalty to the early historical series, and a great portrayal by Russell of an increasingly frantic Ian, as well as most of the other characters. Unfortunately the build-up of the first 90% of the play is seriously blunted by a really stupid ending.
July 7, 2009
An interesting historical tale with some nice character moments, read wonderfully by William Russell.
December 4, 2018
RECOMMENDED, IF FLAWED – GREAT WILLIAM RUSSELL READING
Solid 3/5 STARS
Engaging 18th Century sea voyage and story with a major concern lurking underneath the surface.
Midway through first episode I was hooked. Great reading by William Russell.
Unexpectedly, given the subject matter perhaps, this is a good first Doctor historical that offers some intrigue, strong writing in the first episode (only) and imagery, befitting first Doctor era with some appropriate character depth for Ian.
Generally good early Doctor era mystery territory, even a subtle dash or two of black comedy (methinks) and bit unique. Like a well-twined rope or wound sailor’s knot, the suspense had me to the end.
Though the end events/reveal with certain companions is flawed and highly implausible – the super-human physical events (minor questioning towards motives of writer, which is disappointing here) and unnoticed proximity of “vessels”, etc etc – plain and simple – flaws, which brings the story down a good notch at least, while the mental aspect or ending relating to the sensorites was a good concept.. (edit: and relative to continuity, which with similar elements serves as a partial base for a minor rating upgrade)
It is a real shame for the story goes from potential gem to sketch — maybe even simply passable beyond a well-deserved virginal experience in regard to actual story or event itself. If this was a 2-hour expanded feature explicating the other companions events and action, I think the problem of the resolution might have been solved or believable. Additionally with those issues resolved, and extra expanded voice cast, this would be a brilliant play.
As it stands, still good as a story sketch (I am on still on the fence whether the final act can be overlooked for now at least/on update: it fared better or excusable) but worthwhile for a listen in any case. The first half is great..damn. Rating this as a compromise between two extremes.
UPDATE/UPGRADE: The end act did not annoy as much in the initial listening and relative to this was my appreciate and desire to hear the William Russell reading again (thus some replay factor). Russell is just so pleasing and thus the audioplay is worth periodic replays — and along with re-watching some of the contiguous classic television stories (The Sensorites/[insert: Transit of Venus]/Reign of Terror) potentially.
Regardless of any issues or even the plot, which is not necessarily that replay-worthy beyond an interesting sketch overall perhaps, there is some good atmosphere, reading and hint at magic or poetry with Russell at wheel. So from 6/10 to 7/10 and highly recommended for 1st Doctor and Ian fans. It is a William Russell gem. Something to be thankful for in any case.
This was 3/5.
Director: Nigel Fairs
Writer: Jacqueline Rayner
Solid 3/5 STARS
Engaging 18th Century sea voyage and story with a major concern lurking underneath the surface.
Midway through first episode I was hooked. Great reading by William Russell.
Unexpectedly, given the subject matter perhaps, this is a good first Doctor historical that offers some intrigue, strong writing in the first episode (only) and imagery, befitting first Doctor era with some appropriate character depth for Ian.
Generally good early Doctor era mystery territory, even a subtle dash or two of black comedy (methinks) and bit unique. Like a well-twined rope or wound sailor’s knot, the suspense had me to the end.
Though the end events/reveal with certain companions is flawed and highly implausible – the super-human physical events (minor questioning towards motives of writer, which is disappointing here) and unnoticed proximity of “vessels”, etc etc – plain and simple – flaws, which brings the story down a good notch at least, while the mental aspect or ending relating to the sensorites was a good concept.. (edit: and relative to continuity, which with similar elements serves as a partial base for a minor rating upgrade)
It is a real shame for the story goes from potential gem to sketch — maybe even simply passable beyond a well-deserved virginal experience in regard to actual story or event itself. If this was a 2-hour expanded feature explicating the other companions events and action, I think the problem of the resolution might have been solved or believable. Additionally with those issues resolved, and extra expanded voice cast, this would be a brilliant play.
As it stands, still good as a story sketch (I am on still on the fence whether the final act can be overlooked for now at least/on update: it fared better or excusable) but worthwhile for a listen in any case. The first half is great..damn. Rating this as a compromise between two extremes.
UPDATE/UPGRADE: The end act did not annoy as much in the initial listening and relative to this was my appreciate and desire to hear the William Russell reading again (thus some replay factor). Russell is just so pleasing and thus the audioplay is worth periodic replays — and along with re-watching some of the contiguous classic television stories (The Sensorites/[insert: Transit of Venus]/Reign of Terror) potentially.
Regardless of any issues or even the plot, which is not necessarily that replay-worthy beyond an interesting sketch overall perhaps, there is some good atmosphere, reading and hint at magic or poetry with Russell at wheel. So from 6/10 to 7/10 and highly recommended for 1st Doctor and Ian fans. It is a William Russell gem. Something to be thankful for in any case.
This was 3/5.
Director: Nigel Fairs
Writer: Jacqueline Rayner
March 10, 2023
I've been really enjoying the Companion Chronicles with Ian Chesterton such as The Time Museum and The Library of Alexandria so I thought it was about time I gave more a go and start with The Transit of Venus, an audio I wasn't initially too excited by conceptually but really glad I gave a go!
The Doctor tired of Barbara and Ian especially after their endeavor on The Sense Sphere decides to drop them off cruelly back on Earth without care. But when Barbara and Ian are attacked by sailors, everything soon turns for the worse. The Doctor and Ian are trapped on a ship set to discover Australia with famous historical figures such as Captain Cook and Joseph Banks. But it seems Joseph may not be human after all, for he knows way too much about the future and Ian is determined to expose him.
Jacqueline Rayner has written an incredibly well-written and tight story. It's more of a pure historical admittedly but you could argue that it is also kind of a pseudo-historical in some respects, you'll have to give the audio a listen to understand what I mean by this. It's a really atmospheric audio where Ian's mind turns for the worst, as he remains adamant Joseph Banks is a villain from the future, it's an intense psychological thriller with some really creepy moments.
Overall: It's a brilliant script with a fantastic cast. Don't overlook this one, it truly is an underrated gem! 9/10
The Doctor tired of Barbara and Ian especially after their endeavor on The Sense Sphere decides to drop them off cruelly back on Earth without care. But when Barbara and Ian are attacked by sailors, everything soon turns for the worse. The Doctor and Ian are trapped on a ship set to discover Australia with famous historical figures such as Captain Cook and Joseph Banks. But it seems Joseph may not be human after all, for he knows way too much about the future and Ian is determined to expose him.
Jacqueline Rayner has written an incredibly well-written and tight story. It's more of a pure historical admittedly but you could argue that it is also kind of a pseudo-historical in some respects, you'll have to give the audio a listen to understand what I mean by this. It's a really atmospheric audio where Ian's mind turns for the worst, as he remains adamant Joseph Banks is a villain from the future, it's an intense psychological thriller with some really creepy moments.
Overall: It's a brilliant script with a fantastic cast. Don't overlook this one, it truly is an underrated gem! 9/10
November 4, 2021
Most of the early Doctor Who stories had a few things in common; they're ensemble pieces, you might meet a historical figure or two, and at least one of the regular characters might be absent for some [art of the adventure. Transit of Venus has most of these elements mixed in.
There's one other important plot element to note; the Doctor is a supporting character and is absent for most of this story, but so are Susan and Barbara.
This is very much a story about Ian Chesterton, and how he deals with the loss of Susan and Barbara. He doesn't deal with it well, he's hearing strange sounds and seems to think his shipmate Joseph Banks is an alien, or a time traveler. Banks seems to have knowledge of future events, and seems to be influenced by some outside force.
The main thrust of this story is the interaction between Ian Chesterton and Joseph Banks as they journey with Captain James Cook on a voyage of exploration. Ian seems to be going mad with grief and starts to lash out at Joseph Banks. Ian almost losses control, until a surprise reunion with his lost friends explains all the odd things Ian has experienced lately.
There's one other important plot element to note; the Doctor is a supporting character and is absent for most of this story, but so are Susan and Barbara.
This is very much a story about Ian Chesterton, and how he deals with the loss of Susan and Barbara. He doesn't deal with it well, he's hearing strange sounds and seems to think his shipmate Joseph Banks is an alien, or a time traveler. Banks seems to have knowledge of future events, and seems to be influenced by some outside force.
The main thrust of this story is the interaction between Ian Chesterton and Joseph Banks as they journey with Captain James Cook on a voyage of exploration. Ian seems to be going mad with grief and starts to lash out at Joseph Banks. Ian almost losses control, until a surprise reunion with his lost friends explains all the odd things Ian has experienced lately.
November 5, 2024
It's a fun-mystery, the Sci-fi equivalent of a train-station paper-back. Although, a knowledge of the sensorites isn't necessary to solving the mystery, I wonder if without it the mysteries resolution feels cheekier. The framing of the mystery is good - though it's been done before and better with Shearman's Chrysler / Bentley bit. It feels very much like a 60s story in it's setting and also little details: The women spending two weeks cleaning, The references to the war. The only thing I'm unsure of is the first Doctor's characterisation - I remember him being closer with Ian in the show than he is here. But, not-being an expert, Rayner convinces me to feel a strong 60s vibe for the whole audio play.
But it doesn't convince me of anything beyond that cozy vibe and a satisfying, non-revolutionary, and awkwardly reflexive mystery.
The romantic subtext of Ian and Barbara's minds being melded is lovely, and something absent from this Era as well to be fair, exactly the sort of expansion Big Finish should add.
The Doctor Who Audio-play equivalent of a railway station paper back.
But it doesn't convince me of anything beyond that cozy vibe and a satisfying, non-revolutionary, and awkwardly reflexive mystery.
The romantic subtext of Ian and Barbara's minds being melded is lovely, and something absent from this Era as well to be fair, exactly the sort of expansion Big Finish should add.
The Doctor Who Audio-play equivalent of a railway station paper back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2022
This story would have fit well into Doctor Who 1964. It is a historical, taking place during Cook's voyage through the South Pacific. William Russell does very well telling the tale, and his impression of Hartnell's Doctor is spot on. The story won't knock your socks off, but it will give you that little nostalgic tingle.
July 28, 2024
The TARDIS crew land on the seaship 'Endeavour' with Captain Cook, en route to Australia. And it's Ian Chesterton versus fellow traveller Banks. Is Banks what he seems, or is Banks a time traveller up to no good that only Ian can see?
A good story well told. Engaging from the start. 9/10
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent
A good story well told. Engaging from the start. 9/10
Scoring: 0 bad; 1-3 poor; 4-6 average; 7-9 good; 10 excellent
December 29, 2017
A quite surprising "pure historical" and one of those adventures that unfolds over the course of six months or so, features Ian still wonderfully played by William Russell. It's a story that challenges and excites... and wasn't at all what I thought. For more, visit www.travelingthevortex.com
September 11, 2022
This one is quite cute. As a big fan of Doctor Who’s first series and a big IanxBarbara shipper, this one really works for me. It also helps to expand on the one interesting thing about “The Sensorites” that the actual show never really did anything with. Yup! Big fan of this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
I really liked this. Read by Ian himself. A nice quasi sequel to the begiinning of the timelords getting "mind" powers that are rarely used.
April 8, 2024
This story fits perfectly in the canon of the 1st Doctor, providing information on history and literature within a science fiction plot. I liked the mystery and setting.
July 20, 2014
Я опасалась браться за БигФиниш, потому как они в основном специализируются на олдскуле, а я все еще ползу вдоль временной линии Первого Доктора да пытаюсь не забыть имена его спутников. Я отказываюсь перескакивать через Докторов, мне надо чтобы все было в хронологическом порядке, не дай бог пропущу первую встречу таймлорда с далеками, киберлюдями и тд. Поэтому БигФиниш ждал того часа, когда я наконец просмотрю пару сезонов и смогу ориентироваться в происходящем. Рассказывает эту историю William Russell (Иэн).
Эра Первого Доктора знаменуется немыслимым количеством путешествий вглубь истории, и Transit of Venus не является исключением, пускай Венера в названии не вселяет лишних надежд. События аудио-адвенчуры происходят сразу после сериального блока The Sensorites, где Сьюзан приобрела телепатические способности. После приключения Доктор истерит и хочет высадить с ТАРДИС неугодных Иэна и Барбару, но промахивается со временем и местоположением — в итоге ТАРДИС приземляется в 1770 году на корабле капитана Кука, направлявшегося к берегам Австралии.
Все характерные для Первого Доктора атрибуты присутствуют. ТАРДИС — это всего лишь коробка с контроллером, которую можно легко спихнуть в воду. Герои могут быть разлучены и пропадать где-то месяцами, не пытаясь найти друг друга, только изредка сокрушаясь о потере. Доктор — старикашка-ворчун, который вместо того, чтобы собрать из подручных средств какую-нибудь несусветность, дабы найти пропавших коллег по путешествию, не делает ничего, и в итоге коллеги спасаются сами. Все-таки я привыкла к бойким и изобретательным ньюскульным Докторам, и подобная пассивность даже относительно своей внучки меня удручает. Вся интрига строится на фундаменте The Sensorites и не включает внезапных пришельцев в кустах. А жаль. Но в целом — достойная адвенчура, 100% в духе эры Первого.
annikeh.net
Эра Первого Доктора знаменуется немыслимым количеством путешествий вглубь истории, и Transit of Venus не является исключением, пускай Венера в названии не вселяет лишних надежд. События аудио-адвенчуры происходят сразу после сериального блока The Sensorites, где Сьюзан приобрела телепатические способности. После приключения Доктор истерит и хочет высадить с ТАРДИС неугодных Иэна и Барбару, но промахивается со временем и местоположением — в итоге ТАРДИС приземляется в 1770 году на корабле капитана Кука, направлявшегося к берегам Австралии.
Все характерные для Первого Доктора атрибуты присутствуют. ТАРДИС — это всего лишь коробка с контроллером, которую можно легко спихнуть в воду. Герои могут быть разлучены и пропадать где-то месяцами, не пытаясь найти друг друга, только изредка сокрушаясь о потере. Доктор — старикашка-ворчун, который вместо того, чтобы собрать из подручных средств какую-нибудь несусветность, дабы найти пропавших коллег по путешествию, не делает ничего, и в итоге коллеги спасаются сами. Все-таки я привыкла к бойким и изобретательным ньюскульным Докторам, и подобная пассивность даже относительно своей внучки меня удручает. Вся интрига строится на фундаменте The Sensorites и не включает внезапных пришельцев в кустах. А жаль. Но в целом — достойная адвенчура, 100% в духе эры Первого.
annikeh.net
November 19, 2017
A First Doctor story told from the perspective of Ian.
Although Big Finish have done straight historicals before, this is the first one in the Companion Chronicles series, and therefore, the first to feature the Doctor with whom the style is most associated. This makes a real effort to feel like a First Doctor story, despite the absence of Susan and Barbara for the great bulk of it. For instance, the story takes place over the course of several months, with a sense of the Doctor and Ian actually living in the past, in a way that later Doctors almost never do.
The historical setting in question is Captain Cook's first voyage, although the voiced guest character here is actually his chief scientist, Joseph Banks. Banks' behaviour forms the core of the plot, and it is fairly obvious what's really going on from quite an early stage.
That Ian fails to work it out himself does not detract from the story (as it does in, say, Mother Russia) as it does feel quite natural, given the circumstances. On the other hand, the Doctor being so dismissive of his theories is rather more of a weakness, if not entirely out of character for the era. (Okay, so Ian's theories are, in fact, wrong... but then, so are the Doctor's).
It's also perhaps worth noting that there is no framing narrative here - we have no idea who Ian is supposed to be recounting the story to. But you hardly notice, and I think that this something that became more common as the series progressed.
All in all, this is a good historical, if not without a few flaws and, as usual, somewhat limited by the format of the Companion Chronicles. It also earns its four stars by successfully evoking the atmosphere of the very early years of the show, when Verity Lambert was still showrunner/producer.
Although Big Finish have done straight historicals before, this is the first one in the Companion Chronicles series, and therefore, the first to feature the Doctor with whom the style is most associated. This makes a real effort to feel like a First Doctor story, despite the absence of Susan and Barbara for the great bulk of it. For instance, the story takes place over the course of several months, with a sense of the Doctor and Ian actually living in the past, in a way that later Doctors almost never do.
The historical setting in question is Captain Cook's first voyage, although the voiced guest character here is actually his chief scientist, Joseph Banks. Banks' behaviour forms the core of the plot, and it is fairly obvious what's really going on from quite an early stage.
That Ian fails to work it out himself does not detract from the story (as it does in, say, Mother Russia) as it does feel quite natural, given the circumstances. On the other hand, the Doctor being so dismissive of his theories is rather more of a weakness, if not entirely out of character for the era. (Okay, so Ian's theories are, in fact, wrong... but then, so are the Doctor's).
It's also perhaps worth noting that there is no framing narrative here - we have no idea who Ian is supposed to be recounting the story to. But you hardly notice, and I think that this something that became more common as the series progressed.
All in all, this is a good historical, if not without a few flaws and, as usual, somewhat limited by the format of the Companion Chronicles. It also earns its four stars by successfully evoking the atmosphere of the very early years of the show, when Verity Lambert was still showrunner/producer.
June 2, 2016
This tale is told in Ian perspective and is one of those tales that have nothing to show... They want to see the Transit of Venus (go google it) and so they went back in time to the Endouver (a ship) where the Captain was James Cook and the Botanist Joseph Banks. Doctor and Ian became stranded on the ship and Barbara and Susan are on the Tardis trying to get to them. Bear in mind that this episode follows the TV series "The Sensorites" (this is important).
Well as the weeks follow Ian starts hearing things when he is near Joseph Banks, things Banks should not know because they were out of his time like rhymes fom the Ancient Mariner or Australia being a penal colony and so on. As Ian confrontates him, he is seen as crazy even by the doctor.
When finally Barbara and Susan meet them they were worry and as weeks pass and the only thing that made them go on was the history lessons Barbara told Susan. Some of those things were in a way pass to Ian but Ian thought they were being told from the man he thought it was a time traveler. It was all a misunderstanding. In a way it was Ian that told that Joseph Banks that Australia was a good place to be a Penal Colony.
If you have not seen the Sensorites is not mandatory but it will help because in that tale the Doctor is very upset with Barbara and Ian and want to throw them out and as this tale follows right after that TV episode they had to make it fit and still make the Doctor desire to throw them out in the other TV episode that came afterwards The Reign of Terror.
Well as the weeks follow Ian starts hearing things when he is near Joseph Banks, things Banks should not know because they were out of his time like rhymes fom the Ancient Mariner or Australia being a penal colony and so on. As Ian confrontates him, he is seen as crazy even by the doctor.
When finally Barbara and Susan meet them they were worry and as weeks pass and the only thing that made them go on was the history lessons Barbara told Susan. Some of those things were in a way pass to Ian but Ian thought they were being told from the man he thought it was a time traveler. It was all a misunderstanding. In a way it was Ian that told that Joseph Banks that Australia was a good place to be a Penal Colony.
If you have not seen the Sensorites is not mandatory but it will help because in that tale the Doctor is very upset with Barbara and Ian and want to throw them out and as this tale follows right after that TV episode they had to make it fit and still make the Doctor desire to throw them out in the other TV episode that came afterwards The Reign of Terror.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2012
This audio adventure features the First Doctor and Ian Chesterton, as read by William Russell, with the TARDIS landing on the deck of the Endeavour in 1770, as commanded by Captain Cook. Through an early mishap, the TARDIS (with Susan and Barbara inside) is separated from the Doctor and Ian, who then have most of the rest of the adventure all to themselves. The sense of import in Cook's discovery of Australia is easily conveyed, and the mystery about What Is Going On is compelling. Even better, the solution turns out to be not entirely earthbound, and yet it's also not Random Space Artifact Zed; this really is almost as "pure historical" as you could get, and very nearly to the same extent as the early television ones. In those days of the show, Ian was generally understood to be the action man, as opposed to the frail and elderly Doctor, which foregrounds the character nicely for an adventure like this one read by Russell (and who does a pretty decent Hartnell as well). This is only the second audio adventure I've listened to, and I found it thoroughly captivating! Check it out.
October 5, 2014
I never quite understood what the Doctor's problem with Ian was...was it Ian being younger and better looking than him?
This story is solid but delivered brilliantly by William Russell. I enjoy purely historical Who so this was right up my street...with a wee twist!
I should note the Doctor's asshole-y behaviour in this...definitely in character though - one of the instances of the Doctor being less helpful than he could be. If that was Clara instead of Ian, Doc would be in for a proper slap!
This story is solid but delivered brilliantly by William Russell. I enjoy purely historical Who so this was right up my street...with a wee twist!
I should note the Doctor's asshole-y behaviour in this...definitely in character though - one of the instances of the Doctor being less helpful than he could be. If that was Clara instead of Ian, Doc would be in for a proper slap!
February 26, 2015
William Russell as Ian Chesterton. Utterly beguiling as a narrator Russell is clearly on game with this salty tale of Captain Cook's voyage to Australia, and manages to flesh out what is a rather simple plot device into a two act play that never once falls to be believable. Even the rather tortured twists at the end to tie up the narration strands don't detract from a masterful performance piece
January 21, 2016
This was an okay adventure. Not very exciting. It was one of the historical stories the first doctor used to do.
July 10, 2015
Another of The Companion Chronicles, this time told by William Russell as Ian Chesterton and featuring One, Susan and Barbara. A decent story with a far-fetched ending.
May 18, 2023
Somewhat serviceable. It was nice listening to the interview segment in which William Russell looked back on playing Ian back in the day.
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