| THE MOONBASE by Kit Pedler (and Gerry Davis) |
| Story 33 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands on the Moon, in the year 2070. The Doctor and friends put spacesuits on to walk down to a domed base. Jamie lands badly, and is taken inside for treatment. The Moonbase staff seem irritated by their arrival, but they're beset by problems. Staff are being struck down by a mysterious disease, and there are unexplained pressure drops. Hobson, the base leader, blames the Doctor, but he eventually finds the source of the disease - in the sugar. He believes the Cybermen are at work, but Hobson scoffs until one is found in the medical bay. The Cybermen want control of the Gravitron, which the Moonbase staff use to avert climate problems on Earth. Ben and Polly use a chemical solution to get the Cybermen out of the base, and when they try to attack with a laser weapon, the Doctor turns the Gravitron onto the Moon's surface, sending them off into space. Crisis averted, the Doctor and his friends sneak back to the TARDIS. |
| Review:- The Cybermen really established themselves in this story, with an excellent redesign. They also helped cement the reputation of the new Doctor, as he stopped clowning and disguising himself, and took centre stage as himself. The idea of a machine that controls the weather is easy enough, and with the idea already understood that the Moon affects the tides, that makes a good location for the Gravitron. The suspicion of the moonbase crew is understandable, especially when the only arguments that the Doctor can come up with is that the Cybermen are responsible. There is a good thematic link when Hobson refers to the previous adventure as if it's common knowledge, but won't believe until he sees proof. The mystery virus is another good idea. The neurotropic effect coming through as a representation of veins works (for me), and the cunning of hiding the source in something mundane that gets overlooked works well, too. Ben and Polly get little to do, with Ben just a heavy, and Polly as an assistant-cum-drinks-maker. Admittedly this leads to the solution of the sugar, but it doesn't say much for her character. When their highlight is the chemical solution dubbed "Cocktail Polly", then that's not good. Jamie starts off injured, remains vulnerable, then joins Ben as a heavy. But then, this was early days for his character. The bulk of the moonbase crew are rather bland, with the obvious exception of Hobson and Benoit, the former giving one of the most convincing portrayals in a long time. The Cybermen are mainly present as an opposing force, an enemy for the humans to band together to defeat. It takes long enough for the Doctor to prove they are present, and even then, they seem to have the upper hand, whether through superior weaponry, or their controlled slaves. The Doctor holds the story together, investigating, calculating, curing. He deduces the nature of the virus, the location of its source, and how to deal with it. He then realises how to dispose of the Cybermen. On the whole, I can recommend this as a good, solid, adventure. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book. |