After colliding with another time-ship in the vortex, the TARDIS materialises on Thrantas where it is arrested and forced to face trial. While Chris and Roz investigate the crime scene, the Doctor must defend his most loyal companion against a society where guilt has no meaning.
2. Vanguard by Steve Jordan
The planet Vanguard was once ravaged by a war between its peoples: the Dauntless and the Intrepid. Now, robotic titans stalk the desolation, searching for survivors. Their mission: to end the war for one side or the other. But which side will the Doctor take?
3. The Jabari Countdown by Alan Flanagan
Arriving on a mysterious island, stranded with a group of mathematicians, the Doctor and his companions find themselves on the fringes of the Second World War. Trapped with only each other and an unknown threat, the group must work together to solve a puzzle greater than just one world’s war.
4. The Dread of Night by Tim Foley
When a grieving household offers the TARDIS travellers shelter from the weather, the Doctor, Chris and Roz find themselves exposed to even less hospitable conditions. A sinister presence stalks the house, plaguing its inhabitants… and only the truth can free them.
During 2009, Macmillan Books announced that Lane would be writing a series of books focusing on the early life of Sherlock Holmes. The series was developed in conjunction with the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lane had already shown an extensive knowledge of the Holmes character and continuity in his Virgin Books novel All-Consuming Fire in which he created The Library of St. John the Beheaded as a meeting place for the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.
The first book in the 'Young Sherlock Holmes' series – Death Cloud – was published in the United Kingdom in June 2010 (February 2011 in the United States), with the second – Red Leech – published in the United Kingdom in November of that year (with a United States publication date under the title Rebel Fire of February 2012). The third book – Black Ice – was published in June 2011 in the UK while the fourth book – Fire Storm – was published originally in hardback in October 2011 with a paperback publication in March 2012. The fifth book, Snake Bite was published in hardback in October 2012 and the sixth book, Knife Edge was published in September 2013. Death Cloud was short-listed for both the 2010 North East Book Award. (coming second by three votes) and the 2011 Southampton's Favourite Book Award. Black Ice won the 2012 Centurion Book Award.
Early in 2012, Macmillan Children's Books announced that they would be publishing a new series by Lane, beginning in 2013. The Lost World books will follow disabled 15-year-old Calum Challenger, who is co-ordinating a search from his London bedroom to find creatures considered so rare that many do not believe they exist. Calum's intention is to use the creatures' DNA to help protect the species, but also to search for a cure for his own paralysis. His team comprises a computer hacker, a free runner, an ex-marine and a pathological liar.
Okay so I was and still am a huge fan of the New Adventures. So yeah this boxset was an easy sell for me. Even better was that one of the stories is written by NA alum Andy Lane, the creator of Roz and Chris.
Lane's story, The Trial of a Time Machine is a fantastic beginning with great sci/fi concepts and a cracker of a story that fits in perfectly with the tone of the NA's.
Vanguard, by Steve Jordan also has that vibe, but in telling a completely different story. The Doctor and Cwej get put through the wringer.
The Jabari Countdown, by Alan Flanagan is a clever mystery story with some great characters and a pretty cool idea for a race of baddies.
The Dread of Night by Tim Foley, is a ghost story, but it works. very atmospheric in places.
I haven't said much about the individual stories, because I don't wanna spoil anything. Let me just say that all 4 are completely different and yet perfectly capture that feel of the New Adventures, whilst doing something fresh.
This was my first time hearing Yasmin Bannerman and Travis Oliver playing Roz and Chris and they were outstanding! They have the chemistry that the novel characters have, not just with each other, but with The Doctor too. If you're a fan of the old NA's this is a must buy. If you just like good Doctor Who, also a must buy. Fantastic stuff and I hope there is a vol 2.... and 3.... and 4!
After the ending of the NA adaptations I was a little sad, I#d enjoyed the adaptations of the 7th Doctor Virgin NA books in the range, then they announced this collection, original audios set within the NA range but all new and they turned out to be odd, exciting and fun. the NA's were and still are a good collection of stories imho and I read many of them at the time of publication or a few years after when I was hunting down the outstanding gaps in my collection. Adding these stories to the range keeps them alive in a fresh new way and I hope it's not too long before we get another volume to follow up this one, which while not perfect hits a lot more high notes than the ones it misses.
All the stories are decent, really feels like the Virgin New Adventures, Big Finish's Virgin New Adventures, the Stories are well paced and didn't slow down or dragged on.
1. 'The Trial of a Time Machine' by Andy Lane: 3* 2. 'Vanguard' by Steve Jordan: 4* 3. 'The Jabari Countdown' by Alan Flanagan: 5* 4. 'The Dread of Night' by Tim Foley: 5*