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REVIEW: Doctor Who: Shard of Life
Shard of Life provides an elegant balance between classic Doctor Who story beats and a modern pace Shard of Life is the latest in BBC Audio’s Doctor Who audiobooks. By this stage the range has clearly honed the format to perfection. At just over an hour long, they somehow manages to capture all the character and style of 20th century Who while striking a much brisker pace. This particular entry is from author David J Howe, perhaps better known for his non-fiction work. All the same, Shard of Life displays a deep understanding of the show, and the Troughton era in particular. It’s what you’d expect from someone’s who’s spent decades thinking and writing about it. The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on yet another desolate world; the Scotsman finding it hard to tell them apart. What follows also hits all the curves of a familiar story shape. A survey team from Earth is beset by mysterious disappearances, and an equally mysterious illness spreading through the group. They’re a base very much feeling under siege by whatever dark forces are already on the planet. The listener starts off ahead of both them, and the Doctor, thanks to an opening scene in which the shard of rock that gives the story its title absorbs a hapless member of the team It’s an eerie and unsettling moment that echoes the creepy and baffling Picnic at Hanging Rock. David Troughton’s reading add to the sense of authenticity Of course, the nature of Doctor Who is that even the most inexplicable threat is ultimately rendered, well, explicable. It may not be anything as prosaic as Cybermen spiking the sugar, but there are still satisfying answers to what the Shard actually is and, crucially, what it wants. The Doctor’s investigations uncover a pattern between the explorers’ migraines, strange fascination with the Shard, and finally, disappearance without trace. It all feel lovingly authentic. This Doctor comes complete with masquerading as an Earth inspector, testing the last nerve of the base commander, and bags of cosmic hobo charm. That authenticity is helped hugely by a lively reading by David Troughton, son of Patrick. It’s full of that mischief and whimsy that his father brought to the role, along with that slight edge of danger. In contrast to those classic stylings, both the reason behind these events, and the solution, are distinctly modern. That’s probably partly a pragmatic decision. It certainly allows the plot to wrap itself up quickly without sacrificing its logic. Despite some of the outstanding questions and consequences being lightly batted aside by the Doctor, it’s still a nicely conceived idea. These Audio Originals have well established themselves now as fast, fun, slices of Doctor Who. It’s tempting to wish they were longer, but then perhaps its their relative brevity that makes them so fresh and appealing. It’s certainly a range that deserves many more releases to come. Doctor Who: Shard of Life When the TARDIS materialises on a barren planet the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe encounter an Earth survey team led by Commander Harlowe. A distinctive shard of rock has been troubling the group, and three of the original team have vanished without trace. As other crewmembers become sick, Zoe develops a debilitating headache. Could there be a link with the strange buzzing that only certain people can hear? The Doctor’s investigations are hampered by the disappearance of the TARDIS’s interior dimensions, and with Jamie’s help he realises that humans may not be the only ones sizing up the planet as a new home. Then the shard begins to crack open… You can order Shard of Life now from your preferred retailer with the links here. Like this: Like Loading…
