| BLOODTIDE by Jonathan Morris |
| Story ? Synopsis: The TARDIS lands on the Galapagos Islands, where the Doctor is expecting the arrival of Charles Darwin, Evelyn's hero. But the village of Baquierizo Moreno is troubled by people going mad. A Silurian has awoken and is undertaking experiments. S'rel Tulok was banned for his genetic experiments. Now he has begun again. The Doctor tries to convince Tulok's colleague, Shvak, that Tulok must be stopped. Tulok claims that it was his experiments that caused the apes whom the Silurians regarded as pets to evolve into homo sapiens. Darwin fights to prove that humans are the fittest to survive. Shvak betrays Tulok, who dies. The Doctor and Evelyn leave, sure that Darwin will make his discoveries and change the world with his work. |
| Review:- The stories where the Doctor meets historical figures were rather phased down on television as time went on, but the freedom of Big Finish allows the scope for their occasional reintroduction. And with Evelyn's interest in history, there is a valid narrative excuse for this to happen (the Doctor showing Evelyn the truth of history). Here, the Doctor meets Charles Darwin. Not only that, we get a return for some old enemies of the Doctor - the Silurians. What this allows is a story about evolution, from the novel perspective of a species who inhabited the earth before homo sapiens started getting its act together. So, over the course of events, Darwin is prompted to make his infamous and world-changing theories, whilst the Doctor has to deal with Tulok's arguments in favour of genetic modification, another buzz topic dealt with effectively. This is a rich and warmly entertaining story. The Darwin angle is not overdone, and the settings are well realised. It certainly sounds like the high seas in the 19th century presumably would. The Doctor and Evelyn are well written, with the former showing a wide range, from puns to serious speeches, and Evelyn is never likely to sacrifice the history she knows just for temporary advantage. The Silurian angle gives a good reason for them being the villains, and adds depth to the creative legacy of Malcolm Hulke. Overall, worth listening to. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |