Doctor Who: Once and Future: A Genius for War

Doctor Who: Once and Future #3

by Jonathan Morris

The Time War. The Doctor has been injured and brought to a Time Lord field hospital. His body glows with energy, but this is no regeneration into a future form – instead, the Doctor’s past faces begin to appear as he flits haphazardly between incarnations.

Staggering to his TARDIS, the Doctor sets out to solve the mystery of his ‘degeneration’. Who has done this to him? How? And why? From the Earth to the stars, across an array of familiar times and places, he follows clues to retrace his steps, encountering old friends and enemies along the way. Tumbling through his lives, the Doctor must stop his degeneration before he loses himself completely.

In the midst of the Time War, the Time Lords have received a communication from Falkus, the prison moon of Skaro. Its sole inmate, Davros, wishes to make them an offer. He will help them win the Time War… but only if the Doctor comes to his rescue.

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Science Fiction

Audiobook

First published July 20, 2023

About the author

Jonathan Morris is one of the most prolific and popular writers of Doctor Who books, including the highly-regarded novels 'Festival of Death' and 'Touched by an Angel' and the recent guide to monsters, 'The Monster Vault'. He has also written numerous comic strips, most of which were collected in 'The Child of Time', and audios for BBC Audio and Big Finish, including the highly-regarded comedies 'Max Warp' and 'The Auntie Matter', as well as the adaptation of Russell T Davies’ 'Damaged Goods'.

Recently he has started his own audio production company, Average Romp. Releases include a full-cast adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Chimes', an original play, 'When Michael Met Benny', and three episodes of a SF sitcom, 'Dick Dixon in the 21st Century'.

For details visit www.averageromp.com

He also originated his own series, Vienna and script-edited the Nigel Planer series 'Jeremiah Bourne in Time'. He’s also written documentaries and for TV sketch shows.

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davros sends a message to the Time Lords during the Time War. The emperor of the Daleks has labeled Davros – their creator – a traitor. And now he’s willing to betray his own creation, to help his enemies win the war. The Time Lords are more than eager to accept his offer, even though they fear it might be a trap. And Davros has one condition that only heightens their suspicions: he wants the doctor to save him.


I’m not really following the Once and Future series, which is part of the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who celebrations this year. But the concept of this story sounded similar to Remembrance of the Daleks and I’d read that this could be picked up as a standalone story, so I just couldn’t resist. And there are definitely quite a few things that are reminiscent of Remembrance of the Daleks. The obvious one being the conflicts between the Daleks and their creator Davros. And of course the seventh doctor facing off against Davros. But there are also a few things that are reminiscent of other Davros/Dalek stories.


Overall, it’s a solid seventh doctor Vs Davros story. And it’s those two characters who undeniably carry the story from start to finish. In terms of plot, it just all feels like it’s been done before and done better. Which makes it a bit predictable. This story is not particularly memorable or something to go out of your way for. But it’s nonetheless quite enjoyable if you don’t expect too much from it. And the subtle references to other stories do help make this story a little bit of a celebration of previous Daleks and Davros stories.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once and Future is proving to be an amazing way to celebrate the 60th anniversary. The whole idea of a Doctor having a regeneration crisis going and back forth between his previous incarnations during the Time War is a really interesting one.

The Doctor now in his 7th body has been forcefully taken by The Timelords via a time-scoop to embark on a mission to rescue Davros from Skaro's moon. But what is Davros up to and he can't really be trusted to help out The Timelords, can he? Despite the betrayal of his own creations, he is after all always trying to help them, but maybe just this once he's willing to help the other side.

Jonathan Morris' script is brilliant, an explosive space opera epic filled with a ton of references not only to the show but to some of Morris' previous works with the company, particularly with The Curse of Davros. It's a really neat tale that actually utilizes The Doctor's current situation in its story. It's great to see Sylvester McCoy and Terry Molloy back as their respective characters again since we haven't seen them together since Daleks Among Us, so that was really fun.

Overall: Definitely the best installment to this series of adventures so far, extremely excited to see what happens next! 9/10

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a wild, roller-coaster, thrill ride!

Update: Listening to it a second time, in preparation for the final chapter coming out next month, I can confirm this is one truly no-holding back, completely bonkers adventure.

[Marcel Driel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, fast paced and action packed story with lots of twists and turns and great acting as always.

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 Alphabet Challenge - The Letter G

This felt like a generic Davros / Dalek story, and if it wasn't part of the Once and Future series, I don't think that it would be as well regarded because it's very much a plot that has been done before minus the Doctor degenerating.

However, the 7th Doctor and Davros really carry this story, and they are both voice acted very well.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5/5 stars)

In Jonathan Morris's Doctor Who: Once and Future - A Genius For War, the Time Lords need the Doctor's (Sylvester McCoy) help. They've received a frantic distress call from Davros (Terry Molloy), creator of the Daleks. In exchange for their help in freeing him from the Daleks' prison, he's willing to provide the Time Lords the key to ending the Time War once and for all. But he'll only give them that key if the Doctor agrees to free him from captivity. What follows is a classic Doctor Who cat-and-mouse chase with Davros, the Doctor, and the Time Lords all trying to outwit one another.

A Genius For War is easily the best entry in the Once and Future series so far. As a standalone story, it's wholly realized. Dripping with Time War intrigue, betrayal after betrayal, and a healthy helping of tension, it's a well-written, action-packed thrill ride from start to finish. But even better - it's the first entry in the series that really makes use of the Doctor's ongoing degeneration crisis. Sure, most of the story feels like it could've happened to any Doctor, almost wholly removed from this ongoing 60th-anniversary tale. But then the climax kicks in, and you realize that the series' ongoing plot properly factors into this specific story. And suddenly, it's as though the stakes raise even higher - in the best way possible. It's such a shame it took until the third entry in the series to finally make use of its most interesting idea, but at least it finally happened.

A Genius For War isn't about its plot, though. Not really. It's primarily another entry in the long-running genre of Doctor/Davros conversational pieces. Those stories where Davors and the Doctor spend an hour or two pushing each others' buttons, probing just how similar they are - even as the depths to which they're willing to go vary vastly. A Genius For War is a great addition to this long list of stories, and McCoy and Molloy really give it the gravitas it needs to succeed - with tons of help from Morris' excellent script. This is a Davros all but forsaken by his creations, locked in prison while the Time War rages outside of his cell. And this is a Doctor, besieged by some kind of degeneration crisis, unsure of who he is or what he stands for. Two desperate men, coming head to head, each trying to outwit the other. What could be better?

The rest of the cast gets moments to shine, too. Particularly Beth Chalmers as Veklin and Ken Bones as the General. Any story that features the General is always a fun time, and we really get to see just how far the General's willing to go to secure victory for Gallifrey. As for Veklin, she makes for a nice foil to McCoy's Doctor. Not quite a companion, per se, but someone who holds McCoy's Doctor to the ground, wholly willing to rake him across the coals as needed. Bones and Chalmers are great additions here, and they're given quite a lot to do too - which is nice.

Overall, A Genius For War is a delightful listen from start to finish. Its script is packed with plenty of tension and action, with a really juicy cat-and-mouse chase at its center. McCoy and Molloy steal the show with their respective performances, each pushing the other to new heights. But the entire cast brings their A-game here, resulting in a listen that genuinely feels worthy of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary. I'm still not entirely convinced by this ongoing storyline, especially as we still don't feel any closer to unraveling the mystery behind the Doctor's degeneration. But this is the first story in the Once and Future series to actually use that degeneration as something other than window dressing, so it feels like we're finally starting to move in the right direction.

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we get a great performance by Sylvester McCoy.
And the others give good performances, too, especially Terry Molloy and Ken Bones.
I was really happy hearing all of them together.

The story itself....
not really a fan, we had similar stories before and they had been done better. It was pretty clear from the start what was going to happen (and I am sure the Doctor knew how everything would play out from the start).
I am also not really taken in by this "Doctor Devolving" plot device that is used. It just does not feel like an older Doctor in younger bodies.
And then there are the Daleks.
I am so sick and tired of Daleks.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in this 60th anniversary series sees the Doctor transform back to his Seventh self. Here, he's pulled back to the Time War to take part in a desperate mission involving Davros. Well, I suppose you can't do a 60th anniversary series without involving the Daleks in at least one episode, and this is it. While, like most of the preceding episodes, it has little to do with the plot arc it's ostensibly part of, it is at least relevant to this one, if only incidentally.

What we have is a fairly straightforward action story, built around one of Davros' schemes - it would obviously be better if everyone had just ignored him from the start, but then we wouldn't have a plot. By using the Time War, this story is closer to the modern series than the two that precede it, having no elements from the classic one beyond the presence of the Seventh Doctor and his main antagonist. Although, to be fair, there are plenty of references to past adventures, both on TV and on audio only, none of which should detract for those unfamiliar with them, but are enjoyable easter eggs all the same.

There are some good ideas in here, especially concerning the moon-sized prison that Davros is being held in, and we have his (relatively) human villainy rather than just Daleks ranting. In fact, the interaction between him and the Doctor is the main draw here, albeit backed up with some fast-paced space opera action.

[Thomas Sherlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re going into this expecting the Once and Future arc to progress, you’ll be disappointed. But happily, based in the previous two entries in this range, I wasn’t.

This episode is essentially Seven in a Time War story you might usually find with Eight or War. This results in a much more coherent storyline, as it’s just borrowing a format & supporting characters from elsewhere rather than finding a reason to crossover a random mishmash of characters from completely different places in the universe. McCoy and Molloy perform well, and overall it’s just a more satisfying experience than the first two Once and Future stories.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really strong entry in Once And Future. This one places the Seventh Doctor in a situation where Davros is the Daleks' prisoner and appears willing to work with the Time Lords, which is an interesting idea. It leads to a very exciting prison break sequence, and we also get to see the Seventh Doctor get up to his usual manipulative ways.

I particularly appreciated how this one incorporates the Hybrid arc from Series 9. Davros's proposition of Time Lord/Dalek hybrids is very evocative of Evolution Of The Daleks' conclusion, but it's neat that the Hybrid prophecy is brought up here.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

ダーレクから守って欲しいとダブロスからガリフレイに要請があり、しかもダブロスはドクターを指名してくる。タイムウォーに勝つためにダブロスの協力は不可欠と考えたタイムロードはドクターを強引に召喚するがドクターはダブロスは信用できないと懐疑的。しかしダブロスが何を企んでいるのか探りたいという好奇心から引き受ける。

ダブロスの目的はタイムロードとダーレクをかけあわせ最強戦士を作って宇宙を支配することと判明。ダブロスもいろいろ複雑というか相変わらずすぎるというか、創造へのバイタリティはこの上なくたくましいというか...でもまぁ自分は創造主だからダーレクは従うべきってまずその考えを捨てるところからはじめないとね。

7のかっこよさ炸裂だったので大満足。

このリジェネが治らない病ってTV側の60周年記念スペシャルにもしやつながっていったりするのかな？？？公式もカノンと認めてるし、聴いてないからってわからなくすることはないけれど聴いた人たちへの目配せ的一コマはありそうかな？どうかな？

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is my least favorite installment of Once and Future thus far, it's still a great use of the Seventh Doctor and Davros. The phrase "oncoming storm" does pop up. Don't really have much else to say about this one.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3.5. The best of the Once + Future range so far. Usually find dalek and Davros stories kind of dull but wasn't bored by this one, helped by very much enjoying the Seventh Doctor and Veklin.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I somehow started listening to this series out of order (I selected a red cover on my iPod but didn't check the title haha), but never mind. I'd have considered this an average story... if it wasn't obvious that Sylvester McCoy was having such a blast recording it.

[Joseph S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still not fully understanding how this will all tie together. I enjoyed Davros being fucked because of the Doctor's situation.

[Number Two · Rating 2 out of 5]

Utter nonsense, although doctorishly enjoyable enough for not being 1/5. I love loose connection to the TV series, Peter Capaldi era particularly.

[Declan O'Keeffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite of the bunch so far but an enjoyable story nonetheless.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Daleks and Davros rarely do anything for me except hurt my ears

[Jamie Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving the 60th anniversary series.

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor fights daleks and davros.

[Noah Soudrette · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather woeful Dalek adventure with little originality and no depth. Performances are good as to be expected, but I would easily skip this on a re-listen of the series.

[Piper Huxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fab story - fits in with the universe but has that wacky nonsensical vibe that the series has.

4.5/5

[The Post Monument · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Aidan Brack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very solid. While I am not particularly attached to Davros, I enjoyed the pairing here with Sylvester's Doctor and the idea of exploring his role in the Time War. While the story isn't filled with shocks, it is pretty engaging and leaves me hopeful for the rest of the Once and Future series.

Approachability: Listeners would benefit from listening to 'Once and Future' in order to understand the concept of this series and to get a clearer idea of what is happening to the Doctor. The middle of the adventure however largely stands on its own and utilizes characters from the TV series rather than other Big Finish ranges.

[Carter Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I’m being too generous with these things, but I’m having a great time!!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Genius For War is so much fun the first time around, although the twists and turns aren’t super original it’s enjoyable nevertheless. I am always a sucker for the 4D Chess Davros and The Doctor are always playing against each other! Sylvester McCoy never disappoints as our titular hero and it’s great seeing the likes of Ken Bones returning as his role of The General. This story was my first introduction to Veklin played by Beth Chalmers and I felt they set her up well for me! No doubt there’s things to notice for fans of her Big Finish stories but I wasn’t ever feeling left behind by their role within Whoniverse at large.

I really enjoyed the story itself, I do think it’s not as good on future listens as the pacing doesn’t hit quite the same way when you definitely know the direction the plot is heading. I was also very disappointed that the overarching plot for was sidelined even more than the last episode, making me wonder why this is even a part of the Once and Future arc to begin with! With some easy tweaks, this could have been quite easily very standalone. That being said, I still really enjoyed this from start to finish. There’s some lovely nods to New and Old Whovians alike. Definitely a great Doctor Who adventure to sink your teeth into!

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun. The degenerating Doctor (we still don't which incarnation was actually hit with the weapon) is summoned by the Time Lords because Davros has specifically requested that the Doctor rescue him from a high security Dalek prison moon. With no real choice, the Doctor (currently wearing his seventh face) accepts and is accompanied by the General and Veklin. Davros plans to offer victory to the Time Lords in the form of the Hybrid (remember the arc of Series 9 on TV?). While the series arc has been all but non-existant, here it becomes part of the conclusion with the Doctor using his affliction against Davros and the Daleks. A really fun listen, I'm of two minds with this 60th Anniversary series. On one hand, the individual stories (as grab bag as they may be) are really good. On the other hand, the series arc is barely there. So, unless we get a really good payoff, I'm going to be a bit disappointed. Still, this was definitely worth listening to if you're looking for a showdown between Sylvester McCoy and Davros.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painfully average like most Time War stories. However whats the Once and Future thread through these past 2 stories doing? Not a lot, I don't see where this is going.