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A real crackerWould you recommend this product to a friend? Definitely yes
Strangers were not always welcomed... I approached this audio with some trepidation: based in medieval Japan, it promised to feature Samurai, ninja, village elders and all the usual stereotypes associated with 'Japanese' stories, generally the weaker ones.
Happily, this concern was almost immediate assuaged, with the descriptions of Amy and the Doctor's arrival from Shijô Sada's point of view demonstrating a wonderfully elegant and evocative approach to the text. From the outset, the author has tried to present a carefully constructed, and reasonably plausible, environment for his lightly drawn characters to populate. Time is given to each character, allowing you to gain a general feel for them, but this has been held in enough check to avoid the story being dragged down.
Which is the first reason for enjoying the story: it is a good story. Well-paced, with a gradual build-up to a solid climax and a resolution that, while being somewhat predictable, was worth the wait.
The second reason to listen to this audio is the presentation: AudioGO have provided an atmospheric and appropriate soundscape that consistently feeds into the story, lending authority to the performance, the third good reason to listen.
Matt Smith is an obvious bonus to the story, after all, he is the Doctor, but he works hard to make it obvious that this is 'Matt Smith' reading the story, not the 'Doctor'. He narrates with a quiet, even and almost confidential tone, sounding a little like you, the listener, is the only one this story is for. His characterisations are well-presented, but his 'Doctor' comes across a little muted in comparison with his on-screen persona, while his entertaining rendition of Amy must have drawn a few comments from his erstwhile co-star!
This audio manages to provide the trifecta of Good Story, Good Performace and Good Presentation, a solid entry in this series of Audio Exclusives. (Posted on 17 January 2013)
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Definitely yes
The eleventh Doctor Matt Smith reads this exclusive to audiobook story as he and Amy Pond land the TARDIS in ancient Japan.
The beautiful jade pyramid is a treasure so sacred that only the monks may gaze upon it. This prized artefact is housed in a temple watched over by imposing stone warrior statues known as the Otoroshi. When the ruler of Japan hatches a plan to steal it the Doctor and Amy are embroiled in an adventure to help the locals to protect the pyramid – and uncover its true secret.
Smith’s reading is lively and features a range of accents and voices and the opening scenes are full of interesting historical context, setting the scene for a fantastic adventure. Atmosphere is enhanced with clever sound effects and backing music on this audiobook for CD.
Martin Day is a novelist and scriptwriter who has penned a number of episodes of Doctors for BBC1 and Family Affairs for Channel Five. He is best known for his Doctor Who work though and as well as being a prolific writer for the Dr Who CD audiobook series, he has also written for other titles in the Whoniverse including comic strips and the Sarah Jane adventures.
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