I really wanted to like this, but honestly, it's a bit of a snoozefest. It spends way too much time doing absolutely nothing, with lackluster worldbuilding, lackluster characters and setup for negative payoff.

The Genocide Machine is a landmark in Big Finish history as their very first Dalek story and, for the most part, it knows it. The first half is packed with atmosphere and tension, from the jungle planet setting of Kar-Charrat to the creeping threat of the Daleks as they close in on a vast library of knowledge. Mike Tucker’s script draws on classic Who beats, particularly the Pertwee era, and delivers an excellent midpoint cliffhanger. The Daleks are used with impressive restraint at first, and when they do show up, the moment lands with all the impact you’d hope for.

Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t quite live up to the promise. The story starts piling on ideas—data ghosts, sentient water-dwellers, a rogue Dalek, even a philosophical epiphany—and the result is a resolution that feels rushed and a little too convenient. The Doctor becomes oddly passive, andseveral plot elements appear just in time to undo the Daleks’ carefully built threat. It’s not that these ideas are bad individually, but they don’t gel into a satisfying climax, especially after such a strong start.

Still, there’s plenty to admire, including the inspired (if underused) concept ofa Dalek-duplicated Ace, and a genuine sense of scale. It’s not a classic, but it is a bold swing—and a significant moment in Big Finish history. For fans of the Seventh Doctor and Ace, it’s a must-hear, even if it doesn’t quite fire on all available cylinders. As a debut Dalek tale for the audio range, The Genocide Machine doesn’t hit perfection, but it absolutely hits potential.

Great Dalek story, invested fully. That chief librarian was annoying as hell, but a testament to the writing that I hated him so much. A planet I would have happily seen on screen, with beautiful soundscapes and dark plots. Brilliant ideas that make a good story.

This isn't the worst Dalek story put there, but considering the general quality of Dalek stories that doesn't say much. I think there were some interesting concepts (such as the library and water-based lifeforms) and some fun moments (like the character who never got to speak and Ace getting to blow things up, as usual) but it's a pretty middling story for the most part.

What really dragged it down for me was the sound design. While the voice acting for the Daleks is quite good, their voices are extremely grating in this story. On top of that, there's this terrible high-pitched whine in every scene in their statis chamber that gave me quite a headache. The beeps and chirps used for almost every machine in this audio were also very annoying. It made it very difficult to get through.

It's ok, perfectly serviceable - but nothing so special to talk about. Solid performances all round, and this is enjoyable, and its nice to have the Daleks in audio, even if a stronger introduction would have been nice.

Some good ideas throughout, and they're introduced throughout to maintain some interest, however, even these aren't strong enough to carry the story.

It's ok, but could have been much better.