Doctor Who Audiobooks: Where to start

A couple weeks ago, my British boss and I were talking about the BBC 4 audio player and I commented on how when I had been traveling in the U.K., I heard audiobooks playing on the radio, which is a rarity in the U.S. without special channels. My boss nodded and replied, "Just like there is nothing like a Hollywood movie, there is nothing like a British audio drama."

I mention this because if you are a Doctor Who fan who has not discovered the DW Audio dramas produced by British company, Big Finish, you are missing out. These are fully cast and scored stories with all the elements of an episode except the visuals. And like any good audio story, they do a great job of compensating for that.

Now when you visit their website, you might initially be overwhelmed by the selection and have no idea where you want to start. Fear not, I'm here to help. Here's an overview of what I think are the best spots to enter, based on my own experiences. Your choices will of course hinge on which Doctor or characters you are interested in exploring. The stories mostly add extra adventures to what we already know, but in some cases, they fill in gaping holes in the mythology that fans have long been curious about.

What Doctor Who Fans are Waiting for from Big Finish

The Adventures of Martha and Micky

We last saw Mickey "The Idiot" Smith and his former U.N.I.T. bride, Martha Jones, in The End of Time, Part 2 where they were shown fighting a Sontaran. Martha made a reference to them recently "going freelance" which we can only infer as the couple defending the Earth on their own terms. Like most former companions, we've heard nothing from them since, but unlike most other companions, the story potential is endless. What are their lives like? Do they have day jobs? Who do they work for as freelancers? Are they Earth's new A Team? If the actors would be willing to sign on, Big Finish would have no problem pumping out a few action packed stories about this alien fighting duo.

An Open Letter to Chris Chibnall Concerning Doctor Who

Dear Mr. Chibnall,
I'm not going to mince words here, you have an uphill battle ahead of you. You've been given command of a sinking ship and asked to keep it going. This particular ship sprung a leak a while ago, but no one seems to have noticed or done anything about it, and now you're already halfway underwater.

But I want to help you. Doctor Who has weathered worse problems than this and a new Doctor is always an opportunity to win a new audience. Here's what I think you can do to get the show back to the basics that the fans know and love.

Why the War Doctor Was a Pointless Act of Creative Cowardice

It's been almost a year since the landmark 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who aired. Upon repeat viewings, the episode does still hold up, but there is one thing I now find irksome; the War Doctor really didn't need to be there. Either the 8th or 9th (preferably the former) would have functioned in that role without a massive retcon and the creation of a zero sum character. Let's look at Moffat's reasons for bringing in the 8.5th Doctor and see why they are invalid and just created more problems. 

Masters of the Timelords

The new season (or if you speak British, the new series) has begun of the long lasting Doctor Who.  The first half of this season marks what I hope will be the beginning of the end of the second phase of the contemporary series.  The first phase was the Russell T. Davies era and the second was the Steven Moffat era.  There are thematic and stylistic differences between the two that extend beyond just a different Doctor and companions.  Which of the two is better is as much a battle as Kirk vs. Picard, so I'll try to stay objective.  Each one has different things to offer.