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“The Price of Paradise: A Paradise Planet with Potential, but No Spark”

Colin Brake’s The Price of Paradise offers all the ingredients for a classic Doctor Who adventure: a paradise planet disrupted by monsters, a clash between natives and human explorers, and the Doctor stuck between two worlds, trying to save the day. Unfortunately, while the premise is sound, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The story revolves around the Laylorans, including a wise shaman and the young Kendel, alongside the spaceship Humphrey Bogart, led by Captain Petra Shulough and her small crew. The abridged audiobook, read by Shaun Dingwall (Pete Tyler in the TV series), takes its time introducing the extended cast before Ten and Rose enter the fray. Rose befriends a local while the Doctor ends up imprisoned by the human visitors, with both gradually unravelling the planet's mystery.

While the setup is promising, the characters and setting fail to truly come alive. The indigenous Laylorans are portrayed with familiar tropes—shamans, rituals, and a reverence for nature—making them feel more like generic stand-ins than a unique culture. There’s some amusement in Rose’s interactions with the locals, who struggle with human customs, but it’s not enough to lift the story.

The pacing also suffers, particularly in the first half, which drags as it sets the stage. The second half picks up slightly, but the sluggish narrative prevents it from gaining real momentum.

Brake does, however, introduce an intriguing idea: the entire planet as a sentient being, allergic to humans and fighting back through monsters and possessions. It’s a fascinating concept that sadly remains underexplored in the broader context of the story.

📝Verdict: 5.79/10

Ultimately, The Price of Paradise has flashes of creativity but fails to sustain interest, leaving it a middling entry in the New Series Adventures.