Doctor Who: Hornets' Nest, The Stuff of Nightmares

The Fourth Doctor at Nest Cottage #1

by Paul Magrs, Tom Baker (Reader), Richard Franklin (Reader)

The Doctor and Mike are again on the brink of an enormous adventure. As the Doctor relates his recent escapades, it becomes clear to Mike that they -- and the Earth at large -- are facing an enemy of unimaginable power and horrific intent. The nightmare is only just beginning. Tom Baker reprises his role as the beloved fourth Doctor in this multi-voice production. Also featuring Susan Jameson as Mrs. Wibbsey and Daniel Hill as Percy Noggins. This is #1 in a series of five stories.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Media Tie In, Time Travel

Audio CD

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You're crackers.”

“Marvelous isn't it? I find it's the only way to be.”

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Doctor Who on audio have been hoping for years that Tom Baker would return to play the part on audio, since he's the only surviving "classic series" Doctor not to have reprised the role in a full-cast audio drama. So, when Hornets' Nest, a series of 5 linked audio dramas featuring Tom Baker, was announced, the anticipation quickly mounted. This story would have had to be an absolute classic to live up to fan expectations, and it doesn't quite manage that.

The reactions of many fans, myself included, were complicated by the fact that this isn't the style of Doctor Who audio drama that we're used to. This is produced not by Big Finish Productions, who've held a license to make Doctor Who audio plays for years, but by the BBC themselves. The BBC, probably wisely, chose to not try to beat Big Finish at the game they've been the undisputed masters of for a decade. This CD is a more stripped-down production than a typical Big Finish play. Large sections of the plot are narrated by Tom Baker (within a framing device of the Doctor recounting a recent adventure to Mike Yates), with only selected scenes being fully dramatized with other actors and sound effects. Some sections of narration also get spruced up with music and sound effects. (The obvious point of comparison is Big Finish's Companion Chronicles range - this has a bit more actual dramatization than a Companion Chronicles release, but the sound design is sparser in the narrated sections.) I found myself wishing that the balance had tipped towards a slightly greater degree of dramatization. (Writer Paul Magrs has indicated that future releases in the series will trend towards more full dramatization and less narration.)

The story has the kind of spooky weirdness that Paul Magrs excels at, though I found the pacing a bit leisurely. It's hard to judge the plot in any case, because this isn't really a complete story in its own right. It's more of a setup for the later stories in the sequence. I think the setup itself is quite intriguing: Magrs has set up a scenario where the Doctor will battle the same enemy across different places and times. It's just kind of a pity that you have to wait almost until the end of the first CD to really see where it's all going.

You also have to wait a little while to get the full thrill of "Wooohooo! The 4th Doctor is back!" that fans were really anticipating. The Doctor we meet initially sounds rather subdued. There are reasons within the drama for this, and by the time the story gets to the climax, Tom Baker is playing the part with all his old energy. But it is initially disappointing.

So, this isn't an unmitigated triumph. But it could be the start of something promising. At the very least, I'll buy the next CD in the sequence on the basis of this one.

[Daniel Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time coming, but here we go! Hornets Nest was at the time Tom Baker's great return as The Doctor after a great many years of absence in the role. It brought back Mike Yates too as a companion, along with the infamous Miss Wibbsey. I've been looking forward to this, but I'm admittedly a die-hard Big Finish fan, so finding time for this has been difficult.

Mike Yates has been retired for a few years now, but when he finds an advertisement in the paper referencing things only he'd know, he's suspicious that an old ghost might be waiting for him in the present. Mike's to be a guest at Nest Cottage, where The Doctor has a terrifying story to tell him. In the night, stuffed animals are waking up and attacking the occupants. What's going on, and how can Mike help his old friend?

Paul Magrs has written a brilliant opening story that wonderfully tackles the balance between narration and drama, the atmosphere is chilling and the dialogue is sparkling with wit and character. I wasn't sure what to think of 4 and Mike being a duo, but honestly, I like it and can't wait to see how their bond develops throughout this series. The Hornets are a terrifying foe and seeing what they can do to the corpses of stuffed animals and living beings is chilling.

Overall: It's a very unsettling and exciting opening episode that has hooked me, I can't wait to see what happens next! 9/10

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used to watch the Tom Baker era as a kid and it's great to have him narrating new adventures for his classic character. Brings back memories and the new stories add to the nostalgia.

[Nicholas Whyte]

"Hornet's Nest 1: The Stuff of Nightmares, by Paul Magrs, brings back the Fourth Doctor in alliance with ex-Captain Mike Yates (who was actually a Third Doctor companion, but never mind), inhabiting a peculiar country house with even more peculiar stuffed animals. I've seen a couple of reviews commenting that it has a lot more talking-book style narration by Yates and the Doctor, and hence much less actual dialogue, than we are used to from Big Finish; myself, I felt that this was being honest to an earlier style of doing things, namely that of Doctor Who and the Pescatons, the first ever Doctor Who audio from the. 1970s; except that The Hornet's Nest, so far, is much much better. And I think it will certainly attract those who enjoy nostalgia for the glory days of Hinchcliffe and Holmes / Letts and Dicks, but are less interested in obtaining new adventures from the John Nathan-Turner era Doctors (let alone Paul McGann). Amazon tells me that the second CD is already winging its way to me; can't wait!"

[Leila Anani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of 5 linked stories in the Hornet's Nest series written by Paul Magrs featuring Tom Baker as the Doctor. One of my absolute favourites this series is what made me love Dr Who in the first place mixing weird and creepy.

It begins like a Sherlock Holmes tale in which Captain Mike Yates, now retired, responds to a highly unusual advertisement that can only be meant for him, and ends with alien hornets infesting the brains of taxidermied animals.

If I have to be picky, it's not the greatest stand alone story - you do need to have the rest of the series on hand - but it truly is a cracking start. This knows it's Whoverse - with references to The Green Death, Image of the Fendahl and Ark in Space - all favourites of mine - There are definite parallels with the Wirrin - though of course this one's set on Earth rather than in space.

Its genuinely scary, tense and freaky with an excellent voice cast. Baker is marvellous and I love Susan Jameson as the no nonsense Mrs. Wibbsey - What Dr Who is all about. Recommended.

[J.E. Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say I found this story a bit odd. Partially because I'm used to the quality of the Big Finish audios, and I just don't think this one lived up to what those audio dramas offer. But, mostly because this felt so much like a Paul Magrs story. Magrs has a habit of writing silly into the middle of serious moments, which Tom Baker tends to do very well. In this situation, however, the transition felt a bit odd from the seriousness of Baker in Invasion of Time (which this story is meant to be set sometime after) to the silliness of the 4th Doctor in this story.

Once I accepted the Doctor's attitude (not completely out of character, just a dramatic shift from the last story) and was able to shift into a near-audio book form of narrative (rather than audio drama), it was quite a bit of fun. Baker is hilarious, and imagining the Doctor tell this story to Mike Yates is almost as fun as having them actually go through the adventure. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm torn. This was fun to hear performed so well by Tom Baker and Richard Franklin (as Mike Yates) but the story is slow and, until nearly the end of the Classic Who style of cliff-hanger ending, a bit dull. It's a Night at the Museum meets an alien hive-mind creature intent on taking over the world (and then the Doctor!) for its flesh and warmth by using discarded museum stuffed animals as their golem-soldiers. Since much of hte story is just the Doctor telling Mike Yates about what has happened to this point it is a lot of "And then I did that...and then this happened..." and not as exciting as the moments which happen in-scene. Not a great start to the 5-book series; unsure if I'm enthused enough to continue.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to Demon Quest first, thus-out of order, I am puzzled why when Captain Yates arrives, he says he recognizes him. If this is Tom Baker's incarnation, then he and Captain Yates never met on screen.
Yates' last story is Jon Pertwee's last episode, Planet of the Spiders. Yates had already been dismissed after Invasion of the Dinosaurs, thus, should not have been at U.N.I.T. headquarters where the Doctor regenerated.
That aside, I like how the Doctor lures him to The Nest.
Half of this first episode is Tom Baker delivery a dramatic monologue to tell Captain Yates what the situation is at the moment.
It is a fine beginning. I am ready for the next one!

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Doctor Who: Hornets' Nest, Part 1 -The Stuff of Nightmares audio drama. I am a Doctor Who fan, but I, surprisingly, have never seen a Tom Baker Doctor Who episode. This audio drama was my first Tom Baker experience. Excellent narrator! In The Stuff of Nightmares, Doctor Who takes on alien hornets who inhabit the dead, stuffed bodies of animals. The story was a little creepy to me, which made it all the more entertaining to listen to. Do I recommend listening to The Stuff of Nightmares? Absolutely.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Yates answers an unusual ad in the paper for a companion and when he gets to Nest cottage finds his old friend, The Doctor is involved in more strange happenings. This time stuffed (and not the cute fluffy kind) are coming to life and attacking.

The thought of taxidermist animal attacking really creeps me out, never been a big fan overall (though I do acknowledge it IS an artform). Always love The Doctor and of course, Tom Baker's narration just gives it even more of a fun factor.

[Paul Doody · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2009, Tom Baker was lured back to the show which made him world-famous, and this is the first of a five-part sequence. It's great to have him back, but the story disappoints.

[Nathan Friedl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth the price to have Tom Baker back voicing the Doctor again, and Richard Franklin (Yates) is great as well. Good fun, and looking forward to the next in the series.

[Debra Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

sucked. He just put me to sleep.

[RC · Rating 2 out of 5]

A ridiculous story but Tom Baker pulls it off.