Somehow: they did it again. Trying to live up to Spare Parts 23 years later seems like an impossible task, but it's one that was pulled off successfully. This time Tegan and Adric join the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa for the ride, showing us a different vision of Mondas.

Here, Mondas is portrayed as high-tech medieval society, I certainly didn't expect the story to start with the prince discussing his next role on stage. However, the planet is slowly dying, and the prince's younger brother Dega is trying to save their father which naturally leads him to the Cybermen.

The prince, Sylvan, forces the TARDIS thirty years into the future to find the Cybermen have already started. Dega is both a pathetic and haunting antagonist, and the slow build-up of the Cybermen is handled beautifully. And the electro music that starts at the part three cliffhanger is unbelievably cool.

Poor Nyssa is wracked with guilt for having helped inspire the Cybermen, a shame that story thread will never get explored as this is in its own continuity bubble. Also the Mondasian survivors become the first humans?

All in all: it's a fantastic story and a great remix of the Cybermen's origins.

Absolutely incredible stuff! Every performance is fantastic, with the supporting cast especially being stand out! I really grew to care about Sylvan and Sega, and their inevitable tragic drift apart.

Every character arc here makes perfect sense and they all flow together and connect.

In a rare moment for a 5 TARDIS Team, all 3 companions get something to do! And they're all great, with me even liking Adric for once! Even if it does take time to get used to Waterhouse's aged voice.

The atmosphere is incredible, with this ever looming sense of dread and inevitability. And the story is beautifully paced too to match.

I also appreciate how, like all the best Cybermen stories, there's a focus on the humanity and the pain of the process, and they aren't just evil plotting robots or whatever!

Agreed with everyone else on the soundtrack.

Finally, I wanna say that every cliffhanger is an absolute cracker here and kept me gripped and wanting to hear more.

Overall, this was [Cyberleader voice] EXCELLENT!

This had no right being this good like honestly wow they say lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice but with big finish doing a cybermen origin story it definitely does

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“GENESIS OF THE CYBERMEN; A DARKLY TRAGIC ORIGIN STORY”

Genesis of the Cybermen kicks off Big Finish’s ninth series of Lost Stories in spectacular fashion, adapting Gerry Davis’s original vision for the Cybermen’s origins. While the concept was eventually vetoed in favour of Earthshock, its influence can be seen in Spare Parts and World Enough and Time. Now, finally realised as an audio drama, this story offers a bleak, Shakespearean tragedy that makes the Cybermen more horrifyingly human than ever before.

A WORLD ON THE BRINK

David K. Barnes’ adaptation takes an unusual approach, initially setting the story in a kingdom where medieval aesthetics are juxtaposed with advanced technology. A dying king clings to life through artificial means, while his two sons—one devoted to art, the other to science—vie for control. It’s an intriguing setup that echoes The Androids of Tara but soon takes a far darker turn.

Hints of the planet’s inevitable downfall are woven in from the start. The people are suffering from declining lifespans, and their world is slowly spiralling into its sun. The reveal that this is Mondas—home of the Cybermen—shifts the story into high gear, and from that moment, the horror steadily escalates.

When the Doctor, his companions, and Prince Sylvan are transported to Mondas’ future, they witness a crumbling society on the edge of desperation. The new ruler, Dega, has embraced cybernetic augmentation, and the population is being driven towards a horrifying “solution.” The creeping inevitability of the Cybermen’s creation makes for a tense and foreboding atmosphere.

A FUTURE THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED

The story cleverly plays with the knowledge that the Doctor and his companions are powerless to stop history from unfolding. This is particularly heartbreaking for Nyssa, who desperately tries to change Mondas’ fate but only succeeds in accelerating its downfall. Her belief that technology can be used for good is brutally twisted, as her well-intentioned actions inadvertently inspire the very thing she hoped to prevent. Her realisation—that she, not the Doctor, may be responsible for the Cybermen’s creation—is a devastating moment.

Adric’s arc follows a similar trajectory, as he is forced to use his mathematical skills to help the Cybermen escape Mondas, sacrificing his ideals to protect his friends. Tegan, though slightly sidelined, adds emotional weight to the courtly intrigue, while the Fifth Doctor remains an unwavering presence, watching helplessly as events unfold.

A CYBERMEN ORIGIN LIKE NO OTHER

Unlike the emotionless Cybermen of later eras, these early versions still retain some semblance of humanity, making them all the more unsettling. The script vividly conveys the trauma of conversion—both physical and psychological—adding a tragic weight to their existence. The moment Dega willingly transforms himself into the first Cyber Controller, stripping away his emotions, is one of the most chilling moments in Big Finish history.

There’s an almost operatic grandeur to the conflict between Sylvan and Dega, two brothers torn apart by their ideologies. Their fractured relationship is the heart of the story, with Sylvan fighting to save what little remains of his people while Dega embraces cold logic and power. Meanwhile, Queen Meta’s arc—from seeming madness to tragic heroism—adds another layer of depth.

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AND ATMOSPHERIC POWER

Big Finish delivers a masterclass in sound design here. The synthesised 80s-style music sets a distinct tone, different from their usual offerings, and the eerie soundscape of Mondas enhances the story’s oppressive atmosphere. The decision to have the Cybermen speak in their 80s voices rather than The Tenth Planet style is a curious choice but doesn’t detract from their presence.

The Part 2 cliffhanger, in which the Doctor is prepared for conversion to force Sylvan’s hand, is a standout moment—one of the most harrowing in Big Finish’s catalogue.

📝VERDICT: 9/10

Genesis of the Cybermen is a dark, tragic masterpiece that stands alongside Spare Parts as one of the most compelling Cybermen origin stories. With its Shakespearean family conflict, gripping emotional stakes, and a suffocating sense of inevitability, it’s an unforgettable tale that leaves a lasting impact.

A hauntingly brilliant exploration of the Cybermen’s birth, this lost story would have been an instant classic had it made it to screen.

Ooh boy, what a ride.

I was at first skeptical, but once I saw the cover (and when my Cyberman bias took over), I decided to give it a go.
And it was worth it.

Great alternate take on the Cybermen origin, even showing their earlier versions that quite differ from what we are used to (for example:the Cybermen were doubting their decision of undergoing conversion).

Every character was great here and had a great part in the plot.

The soundtrack is one of the best, 5 is quite lucky of getting the best soundtracks BF ever made. It starts as usual for 5 era - synthesizer plus a bit medieval music, but as the story progresses and the stakes get higher, the music becomes more and more techno, and I LOVE that.

The only problem I have with this story is the ending. For some it might seem reminiscent of "The Visitation", but there it sort of made sense. Here it is downright strange:after escaping the Cybermen the surviving Mondasians leave their planet in spaceships and head to Earth, which is prehistoric at that moment. And the Doctor quite strongly implies that they may be the humanity's predecessors. Very, very strange decision that doesn't quite click with me :(.

But overall, a really great audio, I enjoyed it A LOT. If it wasn't for the ending, I would've rated this story higher, but for now it gets what it deserves - a very very nice surprise.

The music in this has to be one of BF's best ever scores. Absolutely incredible, no notes. Actually, I wish they leant more into the techno, when they did it was incredible. My only note for this, is that with it being an alternate timeline/not canon to ours, I really wish they converted/killed Nyssa or Adric. I really thought they would. Overall though, fantastic. Really strong BF release. BF are really on top form right now. This last year has been amazing.