Golden Age

Torchwood Radio Dramas #3

by James Goss, John Barrowman (Narrator), Eve Myles (Narrator)

On the trail of a dangerous energy field, Torchwood are led to Delhi. There they witness the simultaneous disappearance of hundreds of people, and Jack discovers that the field centers on an old colonial mansion - Torchwood India. Jack is shocked to find that Torchwood India is still going strong - he shut it down himself over 80 years ago. He's even more surprised to find that its members, including his old flame the Duchess, haven't aged a day. What is the secret of their eternal youth, and how is it linked to the deadly energy field? The team must find out - and they haven't a moment to lose, for all the time the field is expanding...Written specially for BBC Radio by James Goss, "Golden Age" stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

Genres: Science Fiction, Doctor Who, Audiobook, Fiction, Fantasy, Media Tie In, British Literature

Audio CD

First published August 6, 2009

About the author

James Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

Reviews

[ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack meets the Duchess after a long separation. There's sound of gun shot

Jack: Duchess, did you miss me?

Duchess: Only just.

What's not to love!?

[Scott Haworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio does a good job of capturing the feel of the show. The premise is intriguing, the situation is engaging, the execution was spot on. And the whole thing takes place outside of Cardiff, which was refreshing. Overall, a fine addition to the canon of Torchwood.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always wondered about other Torchwood institutes so it was great to hear about what happened to Torchwood India in this audio drama starring Captain Jack, Gwen and Ianto as they travel to India to investigate a strange energy spike. Another fantastically performed and written story. Love this radio audio drama series!

[Marcel Driel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some great ideas in this, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired of.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure. It reminded me a bit of Miracle Day.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun and exciting adventure with the Torchwood crew. This one's set in India, so it's filled with even more delightful accents.

[Yvonne Alf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! Even with the short running time of the story, everything was developed very well. I liked the characters and team-wise everyone got their moments. Even out of Cardiff it felt very much like a Torchwood episode. And Jack meeting people from his past is always material for great stories. First of the radio dramas I listened to that got me scared. Loved it!

[Lyndsay-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Torchwood, be it a tv episode or radoio play, delivers a good story. In this one we learn about another branch, Torchwood India. We also get to meet one of Jacks past lovers.

Ianto was amazing as ever, and even Gwen wasn't overly annoying in this one. Overall another great listen

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 2 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

In terms of script this radio drama harks back to the first series of Torchwood, where the team’s standard modus operandi was to rush in with no weaponry and no clue, just hoping for the best. Everything rests on an overplayed villain.

[Sarah Tollok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like an episode! Everything made me feel so nostalgic for the series itself (which, in my book, ended at Series 3). The adventure, the banter, the interesting guest characters, and, of course, the excellent voice acting, were all on point.

[Louise]

On the one hand, I did like three worldbuilding through the existence of a branch in India. On the other hand, it felt underfocused, with the attention centred on its imperialist lead, and Gwen and Ianto were underused.

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me how much fun this series was and how much I miss Captain Jack, Ianto and Gwen.

[James Trevor Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

good too listen,

[Kira Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable audio drama from the BBC. The story was fun and the characters interesting.

[Absenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

永远停留在1924年2月29日的Torchwood India，沉溺于昔日荣光帝国幻梦这样的角色剧情就比Dying Room里突然跳出来杀纳粹来的现实。

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Goss is one of the most innovative and talented Doctor Who / Torchwood writers out there, so whenever he delivers a more standard tale I feel a bit disappointed. "Golden Age" is such a tale, but it's a very good story nonetheless.

The novel takes the Torchwood team- post Tosh and Owen- into Delhi, where a number of people have disappeared under peculiar circumstances. On site Jack is confronted with his past in the India branch of Torchwood during the colonial era and has to face some of his demons in order to save local society.

The setting is quite perfect here, so much so that I wished the book had been a bit longer just for the reader to get a deeper sense of India. Jack is also the perfect character to torment; it's always fascinating to see his charming, humane facade grumble and reveal the guilt of a dangerous old man who has lost too much.

While "Golden Age" is a simple, straightforward tale on the surface, the standard plot hides eerily effective character exploration and is written with beautiful prose with true Goss standards. Definitely worth a read.

[Lizabeth Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Torchwood radio drama set after the death of Tosh and Owen. Torchwood is following the trail of a highly dangerous energy field, one that is causing thousands of people to disappear in Delhi, India. Once the team arrives at the source location, Captain Jack Harkness discovers Torchwood India and his former lover, the Duchess, still the same over eighty years after his last visit.

A pleasant enough tale that would've been better served in a longer format. The primary focus is on Jack with the barest minimum of Gwen and Ianto. I did find it funny that the Duchess looked at Ianto rather than Gwen as Jack's current lover. Danger for Ianto and Gwen, but the lack of real time made it barely worth a blip of worry.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack, Gwen and Ianto are searching for a mysterious energy field it leads them to Torchwood India in Dehli - there's only one problem - Jack shut the place down in 1924 but it's still standing, and none of the people, including Jack's ex girlfriend, have aged a day in 80 years...

A full cast dramatisation, this isn't bad with excellent production, however I didn't particularly like the story. Taking it out of Cardiff and setting it in India makes it feel less Torchwoody somehow and Gwen and Ianto seem superfluous. This is however a very strong story for Captain Jack and I do like the fact that actions in his past set off the chain of events that led to the problem facing him in the present.

Kept me engaged throughout, but far from my favourite Torchwood audio.

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick fun radio play audio book.

So Torchwood is kinda like a Dr. Who type thing. I mostly listened to it because of the John Barrowman (YES, he plays Malcolm Merlin on Arrow).
So this episode is about a time loop in India. They have to stop it because it is eating people up as a power source - just so some old torchwood members can live eternally in a Groundhog like time loop. Totally fun.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3 and 1/2 stars. Still the one I liked the best even after a second listen. I liked that Queen Victoria created branches of Torchwood throughout the Empire. Torchwood India opens up like many, many possibilities. I even liked The Duchess in all her delirium. It's something that couldn't have been filmed but makes a good action pack radio play.

[Paweł Dembowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but quite predictable. Good acting from both main and supporting cast.

[Leslie Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Eri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the parts where Ianto goes 'Yep'. Gareth makes Ianto sound so young xD
As crazy exes story goes - this was quite good!

[Jane Higginson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the duchess rather annoying but otherwise a good story lol

[Melenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that there was another Torchwood in India! The Duchess was such a great character. I'd love for her to make another appearance somehow.

[Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a bit meh. They can't always be awesome, can they?

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting radio play, bringing more of Jack's history to the fore whilst taking us back to colonial India. A great romo which I'd love to see visualised on film.