As well as returning to write for his most famous creations after a long break, Nation also brought back Skaro’s lesser-known inhabitants the Thals and drew on elements of that first encounter as legend. Generations later, the Dalek vs. Thal conflict still rages and their mission is an attempt to block the monstrous mutants gaining the tactical advantage of invisibility.
The TARDIS arrives directly from the events at the end of the previous adventure, ‘Frontier in Space’ where the Daleks were revealed to be behind efforts to provoke a Space War between the humans and their interstellar rivals, the Draconians. Wounded, the Doctor starts the tale collapsed in the ship and Jo fears the worst as the Time Lords pilot the ship by remote control.
Venturing out into the jungle of Spiridon, Jo meets the Thals but also falls foul of the hostile plant life. We discover that the Thal mission is in disarray with its original leader dead and that a power struggle is now taking place between the cautious Taron and the impulsive Vaber as to their next move.
Dalek experiments into invisibility are progressing and they have enslaved the local populace, but the Thals fail to realise that there is more at play as the planet houses a terrifying Dalek secret. One related to the unique properties of its icy core.
Amusingly, the reading begins with “The Changing Face of Doctor Who”, the familiar inside cover note from the early part of the range and Mark Gatiss delivers it brilliantly, setting the tone of his reading.
Gatiss is a clear and intelligent reader and although his is a voice we are used to hearing with comedy, this is a serious endeavour. His urgent enthusiasm for the story shines through with a spot on Pertwee and clear differentiation for all the other characters. As ever, Nicholas Briggs provides the Dalek voices with a particularly impressive Dalek Supreme who makes an appearance in the final stages of the tale.
Target books stalwart Terrance Dicks’ adaptation of Nation’s script is fast and efficient; the prose rips along at quite a pace, getting through the six-part story in what translates to a mere three hours. There are great descriptions of Spiridon’s hostile plant life, encasing the TARDIS and spitting deadly poison that infects Jo, but no real deviation from the script. Nor is there need; this is pulpy sci-fi at is best with plenty of action and excitement to be had.
Released on Thursday 6 June 2013 by AudioGO.
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