OUT NOW FROM BBC PHYSICAL AUDIO: 'THE PARADISE OF DEATH'!

The old gang is back on audio.

When is a theme park not a theme park? When it's the staging point for a unique alien invasion of Earth! The mostly Earthbound Third Doctor with his relatively new companion in plucky magazine reporter Sarah Jane Smith and his trusty UNIT sidekick in Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart investigate a mysterious and savage murder discovered within the spacious and intriguing grounds of the brand-new Spaceworld theme park, full of diverse alien creatures to wow the potential crowds and two strange behind the scenes managers orchestrating unusual events during the pre-opening press launch for the much-anticipated attraction, located on the grounds of the popular Hampstead Heath. Soon enough, our heroes go beyond Earth and find themselves in all kinds of danger on the far-off realm of Parakon...

Barry Letts' radio drama turned novelisation from 1993 (which fondly brought back icons Jon Pertwee, Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney, this time to a London recording studio) - The Paradise of Death - enjoyably translates itself to an all-new BBC Physical Audio release. Despite his once producer-ship position, Letts' story doesn't quite fully re-capture the nostalgic flavour of the Pertwee era to which he once held such a firm and capable creative grip during the early seventies, and it also proves a little overlong in its plotting (breaking established TV series continuity in several places), but there's enough fine sequences to carry it through (including the idea of the TARDIS not landing in the right place when vitally needed (and the consequences that follow from it!), plus the Brigadier (in best 'Colonel Blimp' fashion) going into battle on an alien planet no less, atop a Pterodactyl!). Ongoing Who fan and vocalist supremo Jon Culshaw once again does a fine job capturing the voices of our main trio within his experienced and enthused telling of the tale.

Get The Paradise of Death here:

Doctor Who: The Paradise of Death: 3rd Doctor Novelisation (Audio Download): Barry Letts, Jon Culshaw, BBC Digital Audio: Amazon.co.uk: Books

INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE!

Newly arrived on the stark desert world of Metebelis III, Sarah's courage is tested to the limit when she confronts one of the dangerous and powerful Spiders of that world, the creature planning to use the female human for its own purposes in garnering the much-wanted Great Crystal now located on Earth.

Another impressive posed publicity image taken for Planet of the Spiders.

Great episodic listing art from the Radio Times.

THE CHAMELEON FACTOR!

Newly arrived at Gatwick Airport in 1966 with her TARDIS friends, it isn't long before Polly is separated from them and captured by the eerie Chameleon aliens, effectively used as part of their ongoing facade/secret mission to capture humans for their own purposes, during the intriguing Earth-based events of The Faceless Ones.

Great Target Book cover tribute art by Philip James Allison.

COURT INTRIGUE!

King Richard (Julian Glover) faces trouble from his sister Joanna (Jean Marsh).

In the troubled Jaffa-based court of the fiery King Richard the Lionheart (Julian Glover), his sister Joanna (Jean Marsh) is implicated in a special marriage arrangement conceived as a peace gesture by her brother with the Saracen leader Saphadin, done without her knowledge and consent, during explosive events within the middle episodes to The Crusade.

One of the all-time greats, with two surviving episodes, this superb historical story by David Whitaker has been poorly treated by the BBC this past thirty years. The audio release had poor sound quality (likely the best that could be done at the time, but which might be improved now), it failed to get a full DVD animation release (due to costs) and its part of The Collection - Season 2 Blu-ray proved underwhelmingly represented at best. Lets hope that this situation changes for the better at some point in the years to come...

The Crusade ★★★★★ | Radio Times

Get the William Russell narrated audio LP from Demon Records, out now.

Doctor Who: The Crusade 2LP Green & Yellow Translucent Vinyl [VINYL]: Amazon.co.uk: CDs & Vinyl

OUT NOW FROM BBC PHYSICAL AUDIO: 'HOUSE OF PLASTIC'

It's Spearhead from Space - The Next Generation, as the evil alien race with a special affinity for all things plastic, the terrifying Autons (accompanied by their wax work-like servants), return to Earth and fight the Seventh Doctor and Ace within modern day London, as effects genius and writer Mike Tucker returns with an an all-new audio adventure, House of Plastic, that satisfyingly captures the spirit of the special McCoy/Aldred era of 1988-89 (which he originally worked on back in the day) yet updates it too, giving the Autons' latest invasion an all-new and believable spin as they work to achieve their subtle and stealthy goals in absorbing humanity, this time via a revolutionary new plastic recycling company. It's a unique enterprise that soon attracts our heroic TARDIS pairing's attentions as they discover what the ingenious enemy, first seen in the Jon Pertwee/UNIT phase, is now up to. 

Aided by an elderly civilian from a nearby East London-based retirement home, the prime instigator to the story, this new invasion goes deeper into society than can ever be imagined. Could the Autons' plan actually succeed? Will plastic conquer over flesh?

Former Davros inhabitor and radio drama veteran Terry Molloy tells the fun and lively story with spright efficiency, of which fans of this era's quirky Earthbound stories will be happily content.

Get it here: 

Doctor Who: House of Plastic: 7th Doctor Audio Original: Amazon.co.uk: Tucker, Mike, Molloy, Terry: 9781529940633: Books

WHO'S THE BOSS?

The Seventh Doctor has fallen foul of bizarre types of authority again, and this time he's suffering the full force of the deranged, possessed Chief Caretaker languishing within the dangerous and dilapidated Paradise Towers, as top-tier guest star Richard Briers hams thing up with relish, and it's all very enjoyable!

'THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD' AT 40: KRONTEP CHAOS!

Every inch the warrior, the once captured Krontep King Yrcanos (the ever mighty Brain Blessed!), with his reluctant Queen-to-be Peri, begins his fight back against the evil machinations of Sil and the Mentors on Thoros Alpha, during the middle episodes of The Trial of a Time Lord episodes 5 -8 (aka 'Mindwarp'). An interesting camera rehearsal shot.