This latest new series tie-in from BBC Audiobooks takes the listener on a trip through the history of the Daleks’ battles with The Doctor.
Written and narrated by Nick Briggs who voices the Daleks in the new series and Big Finish audios the feature takes the form of a documentary pieced together from various historical records and extracts from Dalek transmissions.
From their first encounter on Skaro through to the final showdown on Platform 5 every adventure is woven into a single history with linking narration setting them in context as well as connecting continuity and plot points between stories.
Starting in the remains of Van Statten’s underground Utah base with a look at the events portrayed in ‘Dalek’ the feature then looks at each encounter in the order that they occur on screen.
Rather than Briggs simply describe each story the feature includes original audio from each encounter which, coupled with the engaging nature of Briggs’ narration, helps makes the whole experience feel rich and alive.
Despite spanning two discs running over 2 and a half hours the feature zips along at a good pace and never fails to hold the listener’s attention and, despite the archive nature of much of the audio, doesn’t suffer from any obvious faults with consistent clarity throughout.
Although those new to the series or perhaps just less familiar with every Dalek story are likely to get the most out of this release it’s sufficiently entertaining that it should keep even the most knowledgeable Dalek and Who fans occupied.
Doctor Who: The Dalek Conquests is released on 1st May 2006 and be purchased via BBCShop.com priced