"Doctor Who: The Jade Pyramid" by Martin Day

"Doctor Who: The Jade Pyramid"
by Martin Day
Read by Matt Smith
Produced by AudioGO Ltd.
approx 1 hour.


What to do with the Doctor Who TV series on hiatus until fall 2012?  Catch up on my Doctor Who audiobooks, that's what.  I've got a lot to get through and I thought since the series is on the 11th Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith, I'd get through the latest ones first.  It seems that Matt Smith is growing on me as the Doctor, I wasn't quite sure at first, I had really become fond of David Tenant, but change is inevitable, especially with the doctor.  With this audiobook featuring Matt Smith reading, I've grown a little more fond of his portrayal of the Doctor, he is able to continue with the attitudes that only he could have in this role and this reading makes it easy to escape into another episode of Doctor Who.

Another aspect of the audiobook being easy to perceive as another episode is that it is just over one hour of listening time.  Sure Doctor Who can run a multi-episode story arc, but some of the best are simple one show adventures, and that is exactly what this book is.  The audiobook even begins and ends with the iconic them music so you know you are ready for a ride in the TARDIS.

The story begins with the TARDIS receiving a distress call from a Shinto shrine, in medieval Japan on Earth.  The Doctor and Amy Pond arrive in a small village and met by the village elder,  Shijo Sada. He finds the Doctor an intriguing sort, who seems aloof yet full of the knowledge of the ages.  He takes them to a holy site that is guarded by small ogre-like statues called Otoroshi.  The Otoroshi are said to guard the ancient jade pyramid in the heart of the temple.  The temple is so holy that only the monks are allowed in and that the temple has strange healing properties. 

It turns out the Shogun, the ruler of Japan, wants the pyramid and has ordered seven samurai to take possession of the temple.  Amy ventures into the temple and discovers that the guardians can come to life to protect the temple.  The Doctor is attacked by a niinja and the adventure runs from there leading the Doctor deep within the temple to discover the secrets of the Jade Pyramid.

With Samurai, Ninjas, Aliens and the Doctor, this story is full of fun and adventure and is a must hear for any Doctor Who fan, and who knows, maybe able to attract the few that have yet to discover the fun in Doctor Who.

"Doctor Who: Hunter's Moon" by Paul Finch

"Doctor Who: Hunter's Moon"
by Paul Finch   
read by Arthur Darvill   
Published by BBC Audiobooks
Approx 6.5 hours

Okay before we talk about this particular audio book I've gotta point out something I just found out and it has me stoked; there are like a bazillion Doctor who audiobooks.  I was looking around for something to shove into my iPod and remembered having listened to a couple of Doctor who books and thought that would be cool let's see what else is out there.  'Lo and behold there are several for the latest 3 Doctors and many more for the older series.  BBC Audiobooks has been busy. 

This time around I've picked up another audiobook featureing the 11th Doctor (portrayed by Matt Smith) and in the continuity it takes place just before the 5th season episode of "The Impossible Astronaut."  The Doctor's companions are still Amy and Rory and their adventures takes them to a region that is pretty much like a gambler's heaven, Leisure Platform 9.  Before he can join Rory and Amy, the Doctor has to go and visit an old friend, Kobal Zalu, who is head of the police force in this sector.  Zalu mentions that the last time he saw the Doctor, the Doctor had white hair, so this is digging out an old friend from way back, the first or second Doctor.   It seems Zalu doesn't as much act as a police officer but more of a peacekeeper between gamblers and vilians and as long as the locals aren't harmed all else is ignored.

This book is ready by Arthur Darvill, the actor portraying Rory in the series, and not only is this a good choice because the bulk of the story is told from Rory's point of view, but because Darvill has a great delivery.  His voice is flexible enought to change between different characters talking in the story, but he does a pretty good impression of Matt Smith (the Doctor). 

While on the platform Rory notices a game of chance that he's pretty good at, well least the Earth version (craps).  While observing a player at the game Rory remarks that the game of chance is chancing more to the players benefit.  When he remarks outloud about this the player then challenges Rory.   Rory plays ends up winning but on the final throw loses, and loses big, in fact he loses the TARDIS to the player (it doesn't matter that Rory isn't the owner.)  So as payment the player, Xorg Krauzzen, kidnaps Rory and takes him to the planet Gorgoror, where Rory and other kidnapped earthlings are part of a hunt, not as hunters but as hunted. 

The Doctor and Amy go undercover to save Rory and end up uncovering a fiendish hunt that has been going on illegally for years, so now the Doctor must stop this evil, rescue his friends and get the TARDIS back.  In a non-stop thrillride this story will keep you on the edge of your seat, have you chew down all your fingernails and keep your adrenaline up until the very end.