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Big Finish: Doctor Who

Mr Person

Mr Person

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I realized it was silly not to publicly do something I've done in PMs.

Enjoy Doctor Who? Read on.

Don't? Ignore.

Note: I have no connection to the company and only intend to alert people to its existence.





So, much to my surprise I discovered in 2009 that there is a company making full-cast audio episodes of this endless story since 1999.

Audiobooks from Big Finish

They also make audio episodes of other old sci-fi stuff, but on top, they even have a Hamlet out and such. (They also produce audiobook type things, so pay attention to what you're getting. Full-cast audios are radio plays: everything a television show has other than visuals. But, the audio is excellently produced, so your mind will create the visuals on its own). But their specialty is Who. They now have the license to create episodes with anyone in the classic series and in the new series, stopping short just before Capaldi (or that may actually have gotten extended). Tom Baker has done six seasons....in his eighties!

So, they have all surviving classic Doctors recording episodes, plus David Tennant and a few other new series actors. Audio may be a bit tough to adjust to at first, but once you do, it is quite frankly better than television. Significantly so. The stories are far better on average, and the visuals....well.....that's down to what your mind's eye can do.

They've got something like 230+ episodes w/ classic actors in the "Main Range". They have others in "Early Adventures" ,etc, with classic actors doing double roles (for example, Frasier Hines (Jamie) does a near-perfect #2). They have Tom Baker in his own range (~50ish episodes at this point, roughly, plus they've recorded several years out and he's doing all he can), even, and McGann in his own on top of being in early-mid MR.

Spread the word.
 
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Mr Person said:
I realized it was silly not to publicly do something I've done in PMs.

Enjoy Doctor Who? Read on.

Don't? Ignore.

Note: I have no connection to the company and only intend to alert people to its existence.





So, much to my surprise I discovered in 2009 that there is a company making full-cast audio episodes of this endless story since 1999.

Audiobooks from Big Finish

They also make audio episodes of other old sci-fi stuff, but on top, they even have a Hamlet out and such. (They also produce audiobook type things, so pay attention to what you're getting. Full-cast audios are radio plays: everything a television show has other than visuals. But, the audio is excellently produced, so your mind will create the visuals on its own). But their specialty is Who. They now have the license to create episodes with anyone in the classic series and in the new series, stopping short just before Capaldi (or that may actually have gotten extended). Tom Baker has done six seasons....in his eighties!

So, they have all surviving classic Doctors recording episodes, plus David Tennant and a few other new series actors. Audio may be a bit tough to adjust to at first, but once you do, it is quite frankly better than television. Significantly so. The stories are far better on average, and the visuals....well.....that's down to what your mind's eye can do.

They've got something like 230+ episodes w/ classic actors in the "Main Range". They have others in "Early Adventures" ,etc, with classic actors doing double roles (for example, Frasier Hines (Jamie) does a near-perfect #2). They have Tom Baker in his own range (~50ish episodes at this point, roughly, plus they've recorded several years out and he's doing all he can), even, and McGann in his own on top of being in early-mid MR.

Spread the word.
Click to expand...

So they are free, and all you need is an account? Never really got into Dr Who, but I am a big audiobook listener, and am always looking for good, new listens.
 
countryboy said:
So they are free, and all you need is an account? Never really got into Dr Who, but I am a big audiobook listener, and am always looking for good, new listens.
Click to expand...

No. You must buy them.




They usually aren't narrated audio-books, they're full-cast episodes on audio for the most part. It's only video that's missing. But they're made to be audio-only, so everything you need to visualize a scene in the way they intend is provided in sound and they do a top-notch job of it. However, you need to pay attention to what "range" you are in. If it's something like "Short Trips", those are audio book equivalents. But the "Main Range", the "8th Doctor" range, the War Doctor range (John Hurt did 12 episodes before passing), or the 4th Doctor range, the existing David Tennant box set (3 eps w/ Donna) and the second one (w/ Rose) coming this Nov, are all full-cast audioplays, not audiobooks.

If you like it, I can only scream praise for the "Dalek Empire" series, which is very cheap at this point since it's old. Tennant is in series 3, recorded before the reboot. He also did multiple non-Doctor parts in the MR.

They do regularly put out the first part of new releases as teasers. You can try some of that and see if you get into it. But really, I recommend just buying a subscription to the "Main Range" and start with the first 12 episodes, as a download-only option. The first 50 MR episodes are cheap, and they also put on various sales throughout the year if money is tight.



If you're not into Who, then it may not be for you...but hey...try it out if you need something to listen to. I'm aiming the information overload in these posts at anyone who is into it.
 
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Mr Person said:
No. You must buy them.




They usually aren't narrated audio-books, they're full-cast episodes on audio for the most part. It's only video that's missing. But they're made to be audio-only, so everything you need to visualize a scene in the way they intend is provided in sound and they do a top-notch job of it. However, you need to pay attention to what "range" you are in. If it's something like "Short Trips", those are audio book equivalents. But the "Main Range", the "8th Doctor" range, the War Doctor range (John Hurt did 12 episodes before passing), or the 4th Doctor range, are all full-cast audioplays, not audiobooks.

They do regularly put out the first part of new releases as teasers. You can try some of that and see if you get into it. But really, I recommend just buying a subscription to the "Main Range" and start with the first 12 episodes, as a download-only option. The first 50 MR episodes are cheap, and they also put on various sales throughout the year if money is tight.
Click to expand...

That's cool, I have no problem paying for content. I do a blend of Audible, and library. I am into mostly epic high fantasy, so some of the books I listen to are on the order of 40 to 50 hours long. But I like a variety of genres, including science fiction, so this sounds right up my alley. Thanks. :)
 
Mr Person said:
I realized it was silly not to publicly do something I've done in PMs.

Enjoy Doctor Who? Read on.

Don't? Ignore.

Note: I have no connection to the company and only intend to alert people to its existence.





So, much to my surprise I discovered in 2009 that there is a company making full-cast audio episodes of this endless story since 1999.

Audiobooks from Big Finish

They also make audio episodes of other old sci-fi stuff, but on top, they even have a Hamlet out and such. (They also produce audiobook type things, so pay attention to what you're getting. Full-cast audios are radio plays: everything a television show has other than visuals. But, the audio is excellently produced, so your mind will create the visuals on its own). But their specialty is Who. They now have the license to create episodes with anyone in the classic series and in the new series, stopping short just before Capaldi (or that may actually have gotten extended). Tom Baker has done six seasons....in his eighties!

So, they have all surviving classic Doctors recording episodes, plus David Tennant and a few other new series actors. Audio may be a bit tough to adjust to at first, but once you do, it is quite frankly better than television. Significantly so. The stories are far better on average, and the visuals....well.....that's down to what your mind's eye can do.

They've got something like 230+ episodes w/ classic actors in the "Main Range". They have others in "Early Adventures" ,etc, with classic actors doing double roles (for example, Frasier Hines (Jamie) does a near-perfect #2). They have Tom Baker in his own range (~50ish episodes at this point, roughly, plus they've recorded several years out and he's doing all he can), even, and McGann in his own on top of being in early-mid MR.

Spread the word.
Click to expand...

I was a huge Dr. Who fan from William Hartnell through Sylvester McCoy. I have all those episodes on VCR tape. I suppose I should transfer them to DVD. But after McCoy, I really didn't care much for the series. I still pull out some of the tapes and watch the old episodes. I just can't get into the new ones. Tom Baker was my favorite doctor.
 
Perotista said:
I was a huge Dr. Who fan from William Hartnell through Sylvester McCoy. I have all those episodes on VCR tape. I suppose I should transfer them to DVD. But after McCoy, I really didn't care much for the series. I still pull out some of the tapes and watch the old episodes. I just can't get into the new ones. Tom Baker was my favorite doctor.
Click to expand...

I hear you. My ranking is actually this:

1. Big Finish audioplays.

2. Classic, declining (with exceptions) after Davison took over.

3. New Who (far more hit or miss than classic, but there are some really good ones that did things classic didn't try, ie, Blink (David Tennant) or Heaven Sent (Capaldi)).

The writing is so much better in BF and I suspect a lot has to do with not having to worry about making it look good on a shoestring budget. I suppose I ought to dig up the email I sent to an old friend recommending my own favorite episodes w/ Classic people.




They've only just started up with New Who stuff. The vast bulk is Classic. They even had, until a couple years ago, the actor who played Ian voicing that character and a near-perfect (imo) Hartnell impression. But he's in his mid-90s now and may not do more.
 
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Ok, so without regard to the intended chronological order of listening, this is what I recommended to a friend a year or so ago:

ain Range:
14. The Holy Terror
15. The Mutant Phase
25. Colditz + (130. A Thousand Tiny Wings, 131. Survival of the Fittest, 132. The Architects of History)
29. The Chimes of Midnight (though I think the ending is stupid)
34. Spare Parts
40. Jubilee
54. The Natural History of Fear
74. Live 43
79. Night Thoughts
80. Time Works
120. The Magic Mousetrap
136. Cobwebs
149. Robophobia
157. The Fourth Wall
195. Mistfall, 196. Equilibrium, 197. The Entropy Plague
209. Aquitaine

Main range historicals (set in proper Earth history, and without the usual Sci-Fi elements; no aliens, etc. )
6. The Marian Conspiracy
68. The Council of Nicaea
82. The Settling
99. Son of the Dragon
122. The Angel of Scutari
210. The Peterloo Massacre

Box Sets:
Dark Eyes 1 (Paul McGann)
Doom Coalition 1 (Paul McGann)
Psychodrome & Iterations of I (Peter Davison)


Lost Stories:
Foe from the Future & Valley of Death (Tom Baker)

Novel adaptations:
Damaged Goods (Sylvester McCoy)
The Ghosts of Gralstead (Tom Baker)
The Devil's Armada (Tom Baker)

Specials
50th Anniversary Special: "Light at the End".






There's more since then, obviously. I'd definitely add "The Night Witches" (Frazier Hines voicing Jamie + 2nd Doc, original Ben & Polly)
 
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Mr Person said:
I realized it was silly not to publicly do something I've done in PMs.

Enjoy Doctor Who? Read on.

Don't? Ignore.

Note: I have no connection to the company and only intend to alert people to its existence.





So, much to my surprise I discovered in 2009 that there is a company making full-cast audio episodes of this endless story since 1999.

Audiobooks from Big Finish

They also make audio episodes of other old sci-fi stuff, but on top, they even have a Hamlet out and such. (They also produce audiobook type things, so pay attention to what you're getting. Full-cast audios are radio plays: everything a television show has other than visuals. But, the audio is excellently produced, so your mind will create the visuals on its own). But their specialty is Who. They now have the license to create episodes with anyone in the classic series and in the new series, stopping short just before Capaldi (or that may actually have gotten extended). Tom Baker has done six seasons....in his eighties!

So, they have all surviving classic Doctors recording episodes, plus David Tennant and a few other new series actors. Audio may be a bit tough to adjust to at first, but once you do, it is quite frankly better than television. Significantly so. The stories are far better on average, and the visuals....well.....that's down to what your mind's eye can do.

They've got something like 230+ episodes w/ classic actors in the "Main Range". They have others in "Early Adventures" ,etc, with classic actors doing double roles (for example, Frasier Hines (Jamie) does a near-perfect #2). They have Tom Baker in his own range (~50ish episodes at this point, roughly, plus they've recorded several years out and he's doing all he can), even, and McGann in his own on top of being in early-mid MR.

Spread the word.
Click to expand...

I know they also made some for Torchwood too but I haven't had the time to listen to them
 
Crovax said:
I know they also made some for Torchwood too but I haven't had the time to listen to them
Click to expand...

Oh, right, they did that too. I never did get around to watching/listening to Torchwood. I think they did at least a couple series but I'm not sure how many exactly.
 
Mr Person said:
I hear you. My ranking is actually this:

1. Big Finish audioplays.

2. Classic, declining (with exceptions) after Davison took over.

3. New Who (far more hit or miss than classic, but there are some really good ones that did things classic didn't try, ie, Blink (David Tennant) or Heaven Sent (Capaldi)).

The writing is so much better in BF and I suspect a lot has to do with not having to worry about making it look good on a shoestring budget. I suppose I ought to dig up the email I sent to an old friend recommending my own favorite episodes w/ Classic people.




They've only just started up with New Who stuff. The vast bulk is Classic. They even had, until a couple years ago, the actor who played Ian voicing that character and a near-perfect (imo) Hartnell impression. But he's in his mid-90s now and may not do more.
Click to expand...

There were some combo's, The Two Doctors and the Five Doctors. Although in the Five Doctors Tom Baker was frozen in his car. The second doctor, they tried to save money by making him earth bound. Jon Pertwee. I don't have a favorite episode. I like all of them from Doctor one through seven. I did enjoy K-9 as a companion to the Doctor, Tom Baker. ACE was good with McCoy. Leela and Jo Grant were also good companions, totally different. Think I'll have to go watch some.
 
On a side note: quite a few of my fellow indie authors are all saying that audiobooks will be the next big thing and a number of them are making big money. But looking at producing one is pretty substantial in terms of investment. It would eat up all the chump change I make selling my ebooks. :lol:
 
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