Absent

Sorry for the long absence. I've started a new job recently so starting that up has eaten a lot of my time. I will be updating again, but perhaps not as in depth for a bit as I continue to settle in.

Asylum of the Daleks review

And now the review for the first episode of the new season of Doctor Who Asylum of the Daleks!

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Guardian of the Solar System

 Welcome! We now take a look at the last part of the Sara Kingdom trilogy. The best was saved for last though~

Doctor Who: The New Adventures – Timewyrm: Apocalypse

 The third Timewyrm book awaits! However, it just might be alright to skip this book...

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Drowned World

 Now onto the second part in the Sara Kingdom trilogy! The Drowned World!

New Trailer for Doctor Who Series 7!

Oh wow! Such an excellent trailer! The trailer showcases various clips from the first 5 episodes, which includes LOTS of Daleks from the season premiere. The first episode of the series Asylum of the Daleks looks to not only be a fantastic episode, but perhaps one of the best Who episodes yet. Though, I am hoping Davros makes an appearance. An episode featuring every Dalek ever from the show's history needs to have their creator in it! Also, was that a Weeping Angel child I saw? Yes, yes it was! I'm not sure if that's suppose to be adorable or down right terrifying! As the new series draws closer I'm growing more and more impatient for my dosage of new 11th Doctor adventures!

Doctor Who: Timewyrm - Exodus

 Another exciting adventure in the Timewyrm arc awaits us in the second of the Doctor Who: New Adventures books!

Big Finish - July releases

It's that time of the month again! Big Finish have released their titles for the month!


Doctor Who: The Lost Stories - The First Sontarans 
"1872. After finding a strange signalling device on the moon, the Doctor and Peri travel to the depths of the English countryside to track down the source of its transmissions. But they're not the first aliens to arrive on the scene.

Old enemies of the Doctor are drawing their battle lines in the forest and the local humans will be lucky to escape the conflagration unscathed.

For hidden within this village is a deadly secret - a secret that could destroy the entire Sontaran race... and reveal the terrible mystery of their creation."

This is the title I'm most excited for this month and the wonderful folks at Big Finish have been generous enough to give us the first part of it for free! http://bigfinish.com/podcasts/v/july-2012-4-the-first-sontarans






Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles - The Time Museum
"“This is The Chesterton Exhibition. A series of breathtakingly faithful tableaux, painstakingly detailed to the nth degree. Dedicated to the life of that most extraordinary time traveller, Ian Chesterton!”
Ian finds himself in a shrine to his own past, and on the run with a man named Pendolin.
From Coal Hill School to Jobis Station, from Totter’s Yard to the Crusades, Ian’s history is unfolding.
And a confrontation with a deadly enemy with a voracious appetite awaits…"

Another Companion Chronicle featuring William Russell as Ian Chesterton! I know many people have been excited for this one and I must say the cover is simply amazing!






Doctor Who - Protect & Survive 
"If an attack with nuclear weapons is expected, you will hear the air attack warning. If you are not at home, but can get there within two minutes, do so. If you are in the open, take cover in the nearest building. If you cannot reach a building, lie flat on the ground and cover your head and your hands.

Arriving in the North of England in the late 1980s, Ace and Hex seek refuge at the home of Albert and Peggy Marsden... in the last few hours before the outbreak of World War Three.

Meanwhile, the Doctor is missing. Will there be anyone left for him to rescue, when the bombs begin to fall?"



It's the start of another seventh Doctor trilogy featuring his companions Ace and Hex! I'm really not sure what to make of these stories yet, but they definitely have me interested.

Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Home Truths

Sit down and stay for a while. There's a story to tell that you won't soon forget~

Comic-con 2012 - Doctor Who Panel

Matt Smith

An exciting day at San Diego Comic-con this past Sunday! The big Doctor Who panel was held at 12:30 PM in Hall H, the biggest panel room in all of Comic-con! I can't begin to describe how big it is when compared to other panel rooms. No, wait! I lied! I can tell you a bit about it! It's big enough to hold a good few thousand people, and has extra viewing screens in the mid-section so everyone can enjoy the stars of various media and discussion.

Steven Moffat

Joining the fans at Comic-con was show runner and head writer Steven Moffat, stars Matt Smith, Karen Gillian, and Arthur Darvill, and executive producer Caroline Skinner. I was a bit sad though that Alex Kingston or Jenna-Louise Coleman weren't in attendance. Making this an exceptionally emotional and unique panel were the discussion and emphasis about Karen and Arthur departing as companions in the upcoming season. A small clip was played from the end of the episode The Girl Who Waited in tribute to the two characters. An exceptionally touching bit was when Karen admitted she was exceptionally prone to bursting into tears for two weeks after the news had sunk in that she'd be leaving the show.

Karen Gillian

While there wasn't a new trailer for the upcoming season, as many including this writer thought there would be, we were treated to a short preview from the upcoming episode A Town Called Mercy. However, at the end of the panel was a longer preview for the newly confirmed episode entitled Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Yes, you heard me right. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship! Now some of you may be thinking that the title sounds not just out of this world but downright prehistoric in nature. Well, I can confirm for you that the clip showcased not only has a space ship, but indeed there were dinosaurs on it! Mark Williams will be playing Rory's father whom unintentionally joins Amy and Rory on the adventure. The episode is written by Chris Chibnall who also writes the fourth episode of the new season Cubed.

Dalek

Having been to a few panels this Comic-con Doctor Who was certainly the most high energy one I attended. Quite a few people were clapping down the last minute before the panel started. The young lady behind me and my darling companion also began sobbing and turning bright red with a smile on her face as the panel started, she was one happy tomato indeed! For me though the highlight was that the second person to ask the panel a question was dressed up as a Dalek, complete with Dalek voice and working stick and plunger arms! The Dalek even asked one of more daring questions.

"Will there be a multiple Doctor episode?"

To which Moffat replied, "I'm not going to tell you."

Of course, if you ask me that only means the future looks bright for a multi-Doctor 50th Anniversary special! No news is good news! Hopefully including the eight Doctor! It'd be a terrible loss not to include the eighth Doctor as I personally feel he deserves more time on the television screen and Paul McGann has proven himself one of the best Doctor's through the Big Finish audios.

A YouTube clip can be found here: http://youtu.be/hsOidpkp_Nc?t=7m35s

It really was a wonderful panel, my only real complaint is I feel the panel could of been another hour longer as the line to ask questions for the DW panel started two panels beforehand and still less than half of them got to ask questions. It seemed more people than normal camped out the night before for this specific panel so I'm quite sure the want for an extended panel is there.

Big Finish update!

Been away on holiday for a bit so I'm a little behind but here's the BF update.

• The cover for the Dark Eyes box set has been revealed! The eighth Doctor is in a new outfit with now shorter hair on the cover which i foudn pretty exciting! Aside form the cover looking amazing, I really think the new outfit suits the Doctor post-Lucie, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Molly turns out. Also, Daleks on the cover! Who doesn't love Daleks?

• Jafgo & Litefoot season six and seven are now up for pre-order, with release dates of October 2013 and April 2014 respectively. In my opinion there can never be enough Jago & Litefoot so the more seasons the better!

• Vortex #41 is out for the month of July and shows off a wonderful Counter Measures cover. The cover image syncing in with the other colors on the front looks real great. I hope big Finish continues on with this rather then just putting an image on front with the normal logo. Making it all flow together looks much more appealing.

• The first Big Finish Podcast of July is out, which is a nice little preview of the upcoming Beny box set Legion.

Doctor Who: Timewyrm - Genesys

Find out what I think of the first Doctor Who New Adventure novel after the cut! The continuation of the seventh Doctor and Ace's adventures starts here!

The next companion for the 8th Doctor has been annouched!

Ruth Bradly, who some of you may know from the television show Primeval, has joined Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor's new companion in the upcoming Dark Eyes box set! Ruth plays Molly O'Sullivan a World War 1 Voluntary Aid Detachment nursing assistant.

As many of you already know, Dark Eyes takes place right after To The Death. After some tragic loses, having a new companion will hopefully bring the Doctor up from the muck and give him a little hope for the future. The Dark Eyes box set comes out in November and features the stories The Great War, Fugitives, Tangled Web, and X and the Daleks!

Original source: http://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/ruth-bradley-joins-the-eighth-doctor

This month's Big Finish Doctor Who titles have shipped

This month's Big Finish Doctor Who titles have shipped! We have a bunch of eagerly awaited titles including the season finale of the new 4th Doctor Adventures! In the Lost Stories an old companion makes a return! We also have something I've been waiting for, The Butcher of Brisbane!

Doctor Who - The Butcher of Brisbane

"Adopting the alias of Weng-Chiang, the 51st century war criminal Magnus Greel will one day arrive in Victorian London by Time Cabinet – only to meet his doom, his plans undone by the Time Lord known as the Doctor.

The Doctor never believed he'd meet Greel again. But when a TARDIS trip to companion Tegan's home town goes wrong, the Doctor ends up in the younger Greel's heyday – in a world on the brink of all-out war.

With the Doctor at the mercy of Greel's alien associate Findecker and his army of mutations, Tegan is about to learn just why they called Greel 'The Butcher of Brisbane'…"




Doctor Who - The Oseidon Adventure
"The first time the fearsome Kraals attempted to take over the Earth, with the help of their android agents, things didn't go quite according to plan – thanks to the time-travelling alien Doctor and his allies at UNIT.
This time, Marshal Grinmal and his belligerent cohorts are ready for them. This time, they'll make no mistakes. This time, Chief Scientist Tyngworg has not just one plan, but a back-up plan, and a back-up back-up plan worked out...
With the Doctor a prisoner on the Kraals' radiation-blasted home planet of Oseidon, only his companion Leela can save the day – alongside a most unlikely ally."





 Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles - The Rings of Ikiria
"UNIT is accustomed to dealing with visitors from space, but nothing has prepared them for Ikiria, an alien artist bearing gifts. Could Ikiria’s designs be something more than aesthetic?

As the Brigadier turns against him, Mike Yates goes on the run. Can he save the world? Or will he just learn an important lesson in betrayal?"








 Doctor Who: The Lost Stories - Power Play

 "It's been many years since Victoria Waterfield travelled through time and space fighting monsters and dictators. Now she's back on Earth fighting for the future of the planet. But are her environmental campaigns so far removed from those former adventures in the vortex?

As trucks carrying nuclear waste start to vanish into the air, her friends are kidnapped by a dangerous alien police force and a nuclear power plant runs dangerously close to meltdown... Victoria spies a familiar blue box.

The Doctor. After all this time, the Doctor has come back.

And now... Victoria Waterfield is going to kill him.."

Doctor Who - The Axis of Insanity

Alternate timelines are no laughing matter in The Axis of Insanity! Review after the jump!

Caroline John 1940 - 2012

It is with a heavy heart I report that Caroline John has passed away. As stated by the BBC Doctor Who Twitter she passed away on June 5th. Many Doctor Who fans will know her as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw companion to the third Doctor during his opening season. She has reprised the role several times, most recently in the Big Finish Doctor Who audio Binary.


Steven Moffat in tribute on his on the official site:
‘Caroline was a brilliant actress and in her role as Liz Shaw, a tremendous co-star for Jon Pertwee in his first year as the Doctor.  She was not just a sidekick but a scientist in her own right and a match for the universe's number one know-all. The Doctor's companions should never be his assistants - they're the people who keep him on his toes, and that's what Caroline did.  From everyone at the show, our thoughts go out to Caroline’s family.’

Colin Baker via his Twitter:
'Devastated to hear that the lovely, talented, wise and gentle Caroline John is no longer with us. So sad. Thoughts with Geoffrey and family.'

Nicholas Briggs executive producer at Big Finish said on the website:
'I met Carry many years ago while filming. She was the Detective Inspector and I was her assistant. We had such a laugh working together, and when we came to record a Myth Makers interview a few weeks later, we just couldn't stop giggling. She was a lovely lady who was always so much fun to be with, and even though she could enjoy a saucy joke or two, there was also something of a delightful prudishness about her. When I think of her smile and her warmth now, it brightens my heart.'

David Richards producer of the Companion Chronicles:
Carry was the first assistant I ever saw in Doctor Who, and through meeting and working with her many times she remained a favourite over the years. She was an accomplished actor, and the most lovely, warm person you could ever hope to spend time with. Carry loved working on the Companion Chronicles and came in to record what would be her final contribution, The Last Post, on January 26.’


Farewell, Liz Shaw. You helped with my introduction into Doctor Who and I will always remember you. You were loved by this fan and many more.

Cesletial Toymaker sale!

From June 17 to the 19th three of Big Finished Doctor Who audios featuring the Celestial Toymaker are on sale!

First up we have Doctor Who - The Lost Stories: The Nightmare Fair. This a 6th Doctor story staring Colin Baker as the Doctor, with Nicola Bryant as his companion Peri! David Bailie plays the Celestial Toymaker. 


Second we have Doctor Who: The Magic Mousetrap. This is a main range story featuring the 7th Doctor played by Sylvester McCoy, and Sophie Aldred and Philip Olivier playing respectively the Doctor's companions Ace and Hex!

Last, but most certainly not least we have a personal favorite of mine Doctor Who - The Companion Chronicles: Solitaire, staring India Fisher as the Doctor's companion Charley and David Bailie again as the Celestial Toymaker!

Be sure to visit the Big Finish website here to take part in the sale!

Book: Professor Bernice Summerfield – Life During Wartime

 

I've read and reviewed my very first Bernice Summerfield book! Read the review after the jump!

Big Finish Update #2

So, it's been a pretty exciting week for all the Bernice Summerfield fans out there. Big Finish gave us some nice surprises in the way of updates for the remaining Benny audios this coming year, including the charity download audio. There are also some sales and a podcast for the week. So, without further ado, here we go!

• First off, as I mentioned above we have some nice updates on the charity Bernice Summerfield audio Many Happy Returns out in November. We have a lovely cover image now that just blew me away, as well as a cute trailer that has me giddy with anticipation. The proceeds for this audio all go to the Invest in M.E. charity.

• To continue, with Benny news the 3rd box set, titled Legion had its story info updated as well as a cover being revealed that has me reaching for my wallet. To make it even better my favorite character Irving Braxiatel seems to be of some focus in at least one of the stories, called Everybody Loves Irving. The box set is out in September.

• To cap off the Benny news, the trailer has been added to the Doctor Who special Love and War, which serves as Benny's introduction story where she first meets the Doctor and Ace. The special is out in October or you can buy it as part of a bundle at reduced price with other Doctor Who specials, to be released at the end of this year, from the Big Finish website.

• This weekend sees another Big Finish sale, this time for Jago & Litefoot. The first box set of Jago & Litefoot adventures, which I myself am happily going through right now, is on sale, as well as the  Companion Chronicle The Mahogony Murderers in which they star are both on sale. People can access the sale from Big Finish's sale page here.

• The Doctor Who spin-off series Counter Measures, which is to be released next month in July, got a special podcast released in anticipation. The podcast has some small interviews and showcases a bit of the series. I'm rather excited for this series, and am hoping my wallet can handle the purchase.

First Video Blog Entry - Classic Foes for New Who

I've made the first video blog entry for Kiss of the Dalek finally! In this I discuss with great gusto about five classic Doctor Who foes and monsters that the new Doctor Who television show could probably benefit from shoving into an episode or two. Really, who doesn't love classic monsters in their new Who? ... don't answer that! Just watch!

VBA Awards

So, apparently I've been mentioned for the VBA(Verstile Blogging Award) by eamonn. Thank you very much this is in fact a very nifty thing!

I'm suppose to nominate some blogs I read and pass their names along too.
Here are the blogs I'll nominate:
Thank you for your attention
Ether
Doc Oho Reviews
Red Rocket Rising

Now for seven things about yours truly as also required:

1. I've lived in the Las Vegas area. It's not all lights, heat and 24/7 gambling like everyone thinks, but I very much enjoyed living there.

2. I'm an avid HomeStuck lover besides being a Whovian

3. I play League of Legends regularly and am slowly making my way up the rankings.

4. I have an odd love for squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, and octopuses. They are just so darn cute!

5. I love baking, but haven't really done any lately. Possibly has to with last time me mixing up the sugar and salt. Mistakes happen, ok!

6. I've recently plunged back into a childhood love of mine, Dark Shadows!

7. I'll be going to Comic-Con San Diego this year. It's my first year and I'm very excited!

Jago & Litefoot: The Bloodless Soldier

 My first step into the Jago & Litefoot audio series starts here!

Doctor Who's Arthur Darvill joins Dark Shadows

Arthur Darvill joins the Dark Shadows audio range. He'll be staring as Tad Collins in the audio Speak No Evil. Tad is the spoiled, drunkard son of Quentin Collins and the adventure features a circus with a devious clown who breaks into the Collinwood house. Speak No Evil comes out in August and can be bought from Big Finish here: http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/speak-no-evil-810

First official publicity photo for Matt and Jenna

Filming for Jenna's episodes are well under way and the BBC has releases this lovely image of our star and his new companion.

While pictures taken by fans have already leaked onto the net, as well as possibly the companions name, this is the first official picture taken of the two that the BBC has released to the public since filming started.
More photos and news on filming will follow next week according to the official BBC website.
Larger wallpaper versions of the image can be found on the official announcement page here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Matt-Smith-and-Jenna-Louise-Coleman

The Transit fo Venus on sale!

The Companion Chronicle The Transit of Venus now on sale to celebrate the actual transit of Venus taking place. The sale is from the 5th to the 6th.

As said on the Big Finish website:

"The year is 1770, and daring explorer Captain James Cook and his crew on the Endeavour are navigating the Pacific Ocean.

Into their midst come strangers: the Doctor and Ian Chesterton, who are believed to have 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?

 

Written By: Jacqueline Rayner

Cast

William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Ian Hallard (Joseph Banks)"

The Transit of Venus can be bought here, during or after the sale: http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-transit-of-venus-631?range=57

Friday Big Finish DW news round up #1

So, I've decided that every Friday I'll be doing a round up of some of the smaller DW updates to the BF site for that week. This way it can help act like a resource guide for people who don't always want to go fishing around the main site and twitter for all the updates or sales.
 

• The December 5th Doctor and Nyssa audio for the main range is called 1001 Nights http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/1001-nights-336

• The latest and last podcast for May is up. It includes info and trailers for the June releases. http://bigfinish.com/podcasts/v/may-2012-3-june-releases

• The June issue of Vortex is up which has a lovely interview with Turlough and Nyssa's actors. It also has a heart warming interview on Victoria's actress who will be in the 6th Doctor Lost Story Power Play in June, as well as an interview with Geoffrey Beevers who reprises his role as the master in the 4th Doctor audios. http://bigfinish.com/vortex/v/40

• The trailer for the 163rd Doctor Who main range story Black and White is now up. http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/black-and-white-331

• This weekend in honor of three of Big Finishes titles being nominated for the Scribe awards all three titles are on sale. The titles include Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles - The Many Deaths of Jo GrantDark, Shadows: The Lost Girl, and Highlander - Series Two Box Set http://bigfinish.com/news/v/special-offers-for-june

• June 5th and 6th the Doctor Who: Companion Chronicles - The Transit of Venus will also be on sale for 5 pounds.

• The Eighth Doctor Box Set: The Dark Eyes started recording this week. A title I am very excited for!

We might just have a name! And it just might be Clara!

Originally when I saw this going around I wasn't going to post about it, but since the interwebs have seemed to exploded with it today I'll throw it out there.

Clara.

That seems to possibly be the name of our new upcoming Doctor Who companion, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, as people around the filming are now screaming it's confirmed via hearing it spoken and the such.

Clara is also the late Elisabeth Sladen's middle name as many Who fans, this one included, will tell you. I think if the companion's name is Clara then this is indeed a very nice tribute.

I will say though, take all of this news with a grain of salt as for all we know we're being thrown a red herring. It may be a filming trick to throw us off the trail.

More info can be found across the internet like a blazing fire or at: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-05-31/doctor-who-is-jenna-louise-coleman-on-board-as-clara

New outfit for the Doctor?

Word is abuzz on the internet today as Matt Smith who plays the Doctor may be in for a wardrobe change this coming season!
While not 100% confirmed as of yet if the look is staying, Matt looks smashing in this outfit and I for one love it!

Rumor has it the wardrobe change may have something to do with the departure of Amy and Rory later this season.

Credit for the pic go to Ryan Farrel: https://twitter.com/#!/ryanfarrr

Luther creator to write Doctor Who episode for 2013

According to Doctor Who Magazine the creator of Luther, Neil Cross, will be writing an episode for Doctor Who in 2013.

Being a recent Luther fan I for one can't wait to see what Cross will do with the Doctor and his new companion.

The episode will feature the new companion played by Jenna-Louise Coleman! Coleman's character's identity is still tightly under lock and key and Moffat will keep it that way from what we're led to believe.

Third season of fourth Doctor audio adventures annouched!

The third season of fourth Doctor audio adventures have been announced from Big Finish!
You can now pre-order them from the official website here: http://bigfinish.com/ranges/coming_soon_reverse/doctor-who---fourth-doctor-adventures

The release date is thus far January 2014, which is a whopper of a wait, but the first season isn't even done yet with the last adventure for the current season coming out in June.

The companion will be Leela again. Personally, I love her and am glad she'll be back for another round, but I still dream of some Adric audio adventures with the Fourth. http://bigfinish.com/news/v/the-fourth-doctor-and-leela-will-return

Doctor Who Magazine #448 to have special audio included free!

Doctor Who Magazine #448 will not only feature the lovely William Russell, who played Ian Chesterton along side the first Doctor, on its cover, but will also come with a free code for an exclusive Doctor Who audio drama!

The audio is in the form of a companion chronicle titled The Revenants which of course stars William as his character Ian.
The Big Finish website description for the adventure is as follows:
"The present day: the Orkney Ferry, where Ian Chesterton meets a stranger who he is able to confide in.
Decades earlier: the TARDIS lands on Orkney, and Ian and Barbara are abandoned when the Doctor and his ship vanish in front of their eyes. As the pair head for civilization, something is stirring in the treacherous bog lands.
And only the ancient Wissfornjarl can protect them..."
 http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-revenants-808

Doctor Who Magazine  #448 should be at some subscribers mail box already, but if not it should be at your local news stands any day now depending on your region.

Three Big Finish Titles nominated in the Scribe Awards!

News
Three Big Finish titles nominated in the Scribe Awards!

Earlier this week Big Finish announced that three of its audios titles have been nominated in the Best Audio category in the Scribe Awards. The award winners will be picked out this July at San Diego Comic-Con.
The nominated Big Finish titles are:

• Dark Shadows: the Lost Girl
• Highlander: All the King's Horses
• Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles - The Many Deaths of Jo Grant

Personally, I'm rooting for The Many Deaths of Jo Grant but if you ask me, any of Big Finishes titles winning would be great!
All of these titles can of course be purchased at bigfinish.com

Doctor Who - Storm Warning

Review

A fresh start for 8th Doctor lovers begins in the Storm Warning audio adventure!

Doctor Who - Farewell, Great Macedon

Review

Over 3 hours of historic audio adventure awaits with the Doctor in Farewell,Great Macedon!

Doctor Who - Kinda

Review

Tegan won't be the same after her encounter with the Mara in Kinda!

Doctor Who - Colditz

Review

The 7th Doctor and Ace are up to their necks in Nazis with the audio adventure Colditz! Guest starring David Tennant!

Doctor Who - Revelation of the Daleks

Review

The 6th Doctor and Peri encounter the Daleks and Davros in Revelation of the Daleks!

Doctor Who - The Holy Terror

Review

Frobisher the penguin has his first audio adventure with the Doctor in The Holy Terror!