Doctor Who: Excelis Rising

Doctor Who: Excelis Saga #2

by David A. McIntee

A thousand years after his first visit to the planet Artaris, the Sixth Doctor returns. As the city of Excelis spreads her Empire throughout the globe, death follows a mysterious Relic through the halls of the Imperial Museum.

As the Doctor helps the Curator and the local authorities with this mystery, he finds himself crossing paths with a familiar face from Excelis' history - but no-one lives for a thousand years, do they?

Chronological Placement
This story takes place between the television adventures, The Trial of a Time Lord and Time and the Rani.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel

Audio CD

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

David A. McIntee was a British author who specialised in writing spin-offs and nonfiction commentaries for Doctor Who and other British and American science-fiction franchises.

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the scene setting first chapter this is an interesting shorter second chapter. Colin Baker is very good in this. Without either of his TV companions he's allowed to be far more interesting and enjoyable to follow. The music is a little off-putting at times but ok in the whole. It's an interesting story and goes places in a direction I don't think you'd anticipate. Fun stuff

[Seb Hasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the disappointing first part of this trilogy I didn’t expect anything special from Excelis Rising, and it’s a good thing I kept my expectations low. This one is 100% an improvement and was as a far easier listen that the last one, but sadly it also fell into the category of thoroughly unremarkable. The narrative, themes, characters, dialogue, action, are all the same things I’ve heard dozens of times; a strange spooky murder mystery with a conceit you already know the answer to. The only real differences in this story besides location and which generic Dr Who plot of the week it is, is the fantastic lack of Iris Wildthyme and that it’s a different Doctor in this one. I love the 5th and 6th Doctor in different ways so it was not really a competition but I have to admit that the 6th Doctor was given a lot better writing here, with him being far more proactive in events and that he has far more interesting and enjoyable dialogue. What was a real positive of the story and pretty much earned the story a star in terms of rating is that finally Iris Wildthyme is gone, so no more crass and unfunny humour, no more insufferable quips and jokes, and most of all no ‘look how grown up this is’ moments. It’s almost as if a horny alcoholic with quirky objects isn’t tolerable so her absence gives everything in the narrative to be more serious and interesting.

Colin Baker gives a far more energetic performance, which is no shock given all the Doctor has to do, as opposed to just endless scenes of walking and exposition the 5th Doctor got last time. Again Anthony Stewart-Head steals the show, such a nuanced performance which somehow managed to communicate Grayvorn’s personality increasing lack of sanity; his more psychotic side breaking through with all these quiet asides and just from how he talks to each character, his performance containing a distinct malice in each line delivery. The supporting cast give solid, believable performances, but they didn’t really matter so their lack of distinction didn’t matter, they were never going to compare to Stewart-Head. Despite Excelis being in the title of the story it doesn’t really have any relevance in the plot other than being mentioned constantly, and given the story can’t really do much with a mountain, it’s again just the relic that pushes everything forward. That does work to a degree and given the relic does provide a lot of the horror in the story with its power, it does actually give some threat to a story that is supposed to be scary because mystery murders.. but isn’t. The only problem with that is despite it having the power to murder people and turn them insane, it is just a handbag, which just really douses any potential amazing imagery and the attempt at comedy does cheapen the horror.

I wanted to like this story more but there wasn’t much to get any interest from, with the exception of the exorcism scenes which were the lovely kind of weird. The story doesn’t really set up any kind of trilogy and given it is the penultimate story you would expect it to give Excelis itself some meaning or point, but nope. The only thing to look forward to with it is the thought of Sylvester Mccoy encountering Grayvorn, as he is the best dramatic actor of the Doctors in the trilogy. The music was very lovely which I do have to mention given it isn’t just stock melodies, clearly a lot of love and time was put in and it pays off. Scenes with mild menace or comedy are enhanced by it, and the subtle use of instruments and notes did give perfect timing to most things, and really made me wish we got even more cliffhanger moments just to hear it peak. In the end I came away relieved the story was a massive improvement over the last one, but that’s only really because its a average story so hardly worth high praise, just that it has the right creative decisions rather than anything unique and brilliant in regard to writing.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixth Doctor, while traveling alone, finds himself once again on the planet Artaris, in the city of Excelis, just in time to get caught up in an attempted museum robbery. A robbery of none other than … The Beloved. I did enjoy this one quite a bit more than the previous chapter (which got more than a bit bit silly), this one is a nice little mystery and certainly doesn’t descend into the Iris Wildthyme realm of the absurd.

Second of a loosely connected 4-part story that began with the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who: Excelis Dawns, it then continues with the Seventh Doctor and Doctor Who: Excelis Decays, and comes to a conclusion with Dr. Bernice Summerfield in Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Plague Herds of Excelis.

[Shaun Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set 1000 years after his first visit... Well, there's a problem right there. Just like going back to Narnia so long after the first visit, why do we even care? No one is alive we remember, the world is vastly different, the problems aren't the same... so now it's a whole new set up. Why not just go to a whole new planet? Oh sure, Anthony Stuart Head's warlord is still around in some way shape or form, trying to take over still, but aside from some brilliant performances from him and Colin Baker, there isn't much else here worth carrying on about. For more, check out www.travelingthevortex.com

[Danny Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a thousand years since The Doctor was last in the city of Excelis. The city has grown and it's empire expanded. But he arrives in the midst of a robbery which soon becomes a murder mystery with ghosts. But The Doctor has worries of his own Reeve Manupassant has a secret one that only The Doctor knows...

A really good story with plenty of atmosphere and a nice mystery. The performances in this story were superb and Edward Salt directed a fabulous script by David A. Mctinee. A nice spooky story with fantastic characterization. 8/10

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the prior entry, the highlight is the interplay between the Doctor and Head's character. This time, Head plays a sultry and quieter role as the Reeve, and the story alludes to the Renaissance-style quest for learning and the potential power networks surrounding access to knowledge. It's akin to 'Seasons of Fire' or the TV Ashildr episodes in how it deals with the throughline plot, and the actual plot (the Doctor is accused of theft), has been done before - but it's an enjoyable release.

[Mole Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

More sedentary than the previous story but still quite good, quite like the steampunk/Age of Reason aesthetics of the setting this time and the mystery is quite solid. A shame that this is one of three audio dramas that McIntee wrote before his death.

[Anneli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot thickens!
Great to pop by Big Finish to check out where in canon these Excelis tales fit.
Love Colin Baker!
Anthony S Head a bit more seductive as Reeve Maupassant.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun seeing them try to figure out if it’s the same Doctor and how Head’s character is still around 1000 years later.

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much the middle bit of the Excelis story, but still a good installment. I definitely want to keep going with it, and the Sixth Doctor is always a fun listen.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the okay first installment, the second part of the Excelis trilogy is much more enjoyable. 1,000 years after the Fifth Doctor's visit, the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) arrives in a museum that happens to house the Relic. Just as he arrives, two theives attempt to steal the Relic leading to a murder mystery and a showdown between the Doctor and the warlord Grayvorn (Anthony Stewart Head) who now is the Reeve (think chief-of-police on a governmental level) Maupassant.

While I was a bit disappointed with Head's performance as Grayvorn in the previous story, here he was much more enjoyable. I'll be honest, I've never watched any Buffy. So my only experiance with Head is in the Doctor Who TV Story "School Reunion". His performance here is similar and very enjoyable. Colin is in top form, as usual, and the guest cast works well. Honestly, I'd say that this waws my favorite of the four. The story is interesting and the performances are great. Anthony Head and Colin Baker playing off each other make this totally worth picking up. If it weren't Doctor Who, I probably wouldn't as seances and zombies and stuff like that, ideas that seem to permeate this series, really aren't my thing. But, as it's Doctor Who, I gave it a try and found this installment at least, very enjoyable.

[J.E. Remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One part murder mystery, one part ghost story. The second part of the Excelis Saga still has Colin Baker to give a provide a few laughs, but this is largely where the Trilogy starts turning toward a darker theme. The 6th Doctor has been accused of murder, and Inquisitor Danby wants some answers. The Doctor hardly has time to worry about Danby, though, since Reeve Maupassant (as played by Anthony Stewart Head) seems determined to create proof of his guilt.

This is one of the many Big Finish audio dramas that steps up to demonstrate just how great a Doctor Colin Baker can be. Those who remember him only from the television series often dislike the 6th Doctor, but Baker's audio work has sold me on his ability to shine in the role.

[Nicholas Whyte]

Excelis Rising is not bad either. The plot of the Doctor being caught at the scene of a murder and being asked to solve it after being initially suspected is a bit standard, but Colin Baker and Anthony Stewart Head really sparkle (apparently Head's scenes were recorded separately, but I didn't really spot this) and the setting of a museum in a steampunkish city is nicely evoked. Shame about the handbag and the s

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Doctor lands in a museum just after a failed heist has occurred. The ex-warlord from the 1st story turns up as a kind of policeman. The relic is still very much in demand.

This is a very short 1 disc story that feels quite inconsequential. The 6th Doctor does steal the show a bit and has some good one liners. An ok listen.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this 'series', especially the interaction between the different doctors and Anthony Stewart Head's character. Interesting to see the changes in Excelis with each 'visit'.

[Gwynn]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12396877

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grevas comes back as a different person a good centuries after the last adventure. Still after the relic but not clear why. Can the Doctor find the relic in time before it is stolen again.