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TARDIS Guide

Overview

Released

Saturday, January 20, 1996

Written by

Barry Letts

Publisher

BBC Audio

Runtime

162 minutes

Time Travel

Past, Present

Inventory (Potential Spoilers!)

Sonic Screwdriver

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Sicily

Synopsis

"When the barrier gives way, this planet will be flooded by all the evil in N-Space; and at the moment I have no idea how to stop it."

The Brigadier's ancient great-uncle Mario seems unsurprised by the spectres which haunt his even more ancient Sicilian castle. But when the Doctor comes to investigate he finds himself faced with a danger as great as any he has yet encountered.

Is the answer to be found in the past, in the corrupt alchemy of the black-hearted sorcerer said to have walled up alive for his evil deeds? Or must the Doctor — and the faithful Sarah Jane Smith — brave the realm of ghosts and face the very fiends of hell?

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4 reviews
There are a lot of good things about this story, but they never quite come together. The narrative itself is not particularly interesting. If this story was shorter and plot threads were cut, I'd likely like this more.
C.

Azurillkirby

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just cant recommend boring


Rock_Angel

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This has a really interesting structure, both in that it constantly shifts between the Doctor's and the Brig's (and later Sarah's) perspectives and in its combination of multiple genres and elements: post-medieval and Regency historical, Gothic, hard sci-fi, Christian/European mythology, probably more I'm forgetting already. I didn't enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Paradise of Death, as its dialogue isn't as snappy and it's denser (hard sci-fi is always hard for me to follow, though). But Christian mythology specifically is something I've always felt is underused in Doctor Who – probably to avoid offense – so it's very cool to see it get some use here. The Brig's uncle is a good comic relief character, and Jeremy is still a solid quasi-companion. On the other hand, by this time Jon wasn't always audibly recognizable as the Doctor, and Sarah is a bit weak and imo even out of character in this.


SophieScarlet

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The Ghosts of N-Space is a great story with the Third Doctor, told over six, 30 minutes episodes. While on the surface, and in the beginning, it feels like a simple ghost story, but about a third of the way through it changes and turns into the Doctor Who we know and love from the era depicted. The plot keeps moving at a decent pace, with enough breathing room to put the expansive plot together, and rarely has a dull moment. The characters, and situations, are interesting. The cast is wonderful, with the returning Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor bringing all the charm I was expecting. Elisabeth Sladen and Nicolas Courtney also give great performances as Sarah Jane Smith and The Brigadier, respectively. The rest of the guest cast is solid, including a couple of over-the-top accents. The only real criticism I can give is that sometimes there is too much 'explaining' narration of other's actions. While it happens a few times, generally it is very quick. Overall, I think this is a great story that is well worth seeking out if you are a Third Doctor fan.


ItsR0b0tNinja

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3.23 / 5

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Quotes

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DOCTOR: The best thing that you can do is to change gender again.

— Third Doctor, The Ghosts of N-Space

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Transcript Needs checking

[Episode One]

BRIGADIER: Uncle Mario, how can I help you if you won't tell me what the trouble is?
MARIO: I tell you what trouble is, don't I? For thousand years we say castello is home sweet home, sí?
BRIGADIER: Mm.
MARIO: For ninety-two years I live here, sí? When I die, you be Barone, sí? You want it should be stole away like the pig?
BRIGADIER: Pig? What pig?
MARIO: What Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son stole.
BRIGADIER: Oh, that pig.
MARIO: Yes.
BRIGADIER: Yes, I see. And who is going to steal the castle, Uncle?
MARIO: Nobody. You stop him. That's why I ask you to come to island.
BRIGADIER: But stop who? What are you talking about?
MARIO: Ah, you not listen. The gangster man Vilmio - Max Vilmio - he say, I no sell him castello, island, all, I be sorry. Be very... I be very sorry to die.
BRIGADIER: Die? You mean he's threatened to kill you?
MARIO: Oh yes.
BRIGADIER: Well, that's intolerable. I think I'd better have a word with Mr Vilmio.
MARIO: Well, he no listen to word. You see, he wait until you go, and then - boof!
BRIGADIER: Mm. Listen Uncle, this is more serious than I realised. I think I'd better go back to the mainland and pick my stuff up from the hotel and come and stay for a while - just till it's sorted out. I'm due for a spot of leave. And if this Vilmio chap...

(Tapping and bird-like cry.)

BRIGADIER: Good grief. Creature... a thing looking through the window. It's flying off now.
MARIO: Black, with wings?
BRIGADIER: Red with wings. Blood-red.
MARIO: Oh yes. I seen him. Some of them have wings. The little fiends from Hell.
BRIGADIER: You mean you've seen them before?
MARIO: Oh, they come, they go. Never mind the piccoli diavoli - you go get bag, sí? Then come back to castello, and kill this Vilmio for me. Okay?

(Helicopter.)


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