| SLIPBACK by Eric Saward |
| Story ? Synopsis: The Doctor receives a telepathic distress call, and the TARDIS lands near the Vipod Mor, where he detects time spillage. He and Peri are chased by a Maston, but escape. The ship's captain, Slarn, is concerned about Mr Grant, a crew member who is wanted by a couple of policemen. When the Doctor gets separated from Peri, she finds herself assisting the cops. They want Grant, and believe the Doctor could be him. The Doctor and Grant find a place where the Doctor talks to the ship's computer, which has become schizophrenic. Part of it plans to take the ship back in time to change history. Slarn has a tendency to infect his subordinates, but his final illness also infects himself. The Doctor and Peri dash back to the TARDIS, where he is informed that the Vipod Mor's trip is part of history, one of the factors which began life in the Universe. |
| Review:- With the Doctor's planned trip to Blackpool curtailed, the 18-month hiatus did lead to this spin-off audio drama over 6 ten minute episodes, written by script editor Eric Saward, whose experience before joining the series had been partly in audio dramas. What he creates is a gentle runaround that provides some fair use of the audio medium, whilst also trying to keep to the style seen in Season 22. There's only time to create a few focal points. The Captain, and his virulent disease problems, seems a far scarier concept than many seen on telly at the time. However, he is only needed to provide a little drama towards the end. The mysterious Shellingborne Grant is probably the main antagonist, and he seems pretty reasonable for much of the time. Like Orcini or Lytton, he is heroic without being particularly good. His crimes have a "greater good" ring to them, thus once again reminding the listener that things aren't always black and white, good and bad. The mystery of the Vipod Mor computer, and its final destination, provides more intrigue to sustain interest, although the conclusion does overlap with that seen already in Terminus. Whether it also contradicts that other tale is probably up to the listener to decide. Given the purpose of the medium, this story can be judged as proto-Big Finish, albeit 14 years before they got going (and possibly contemporaneous with the 'Audio Visuals' fan range which were genuine ancestors to BF). Unlike those tales, this was definitely a Radio 4 production, and the inclusion of Valentine Dyall (in his last job) is as much a part of that as the usage of Nick Revell and Jon Glover, two comic actors who provide some of the necessary comic voices. Perhaps not the best showcase for the Doctor and Peri, for whom it's little more than a basic runaround, the story has moments of magic, and was also turned into an even better book. Worth a listen, then. |
| Disclaimer: I've an idea what happens. |