Doctor Who: The Wheel of Ice (2nd Doctor Novel)
Stephen Baxter Audio Book

For a Classic Who adventure, The Wheel of Ice bears all the hallmarks of the new series; the humour in Patrick Troughton’s portrayal of the titular Time Lord is nicely exploited, whilst paying careful attention to his darker side. As a CD audiobook, this adventure works particularly well, allowing the listener to lose themselves in Baxter’s twisty-turny tale.

The plot of this MP3 audiobook seems simple enough; it’s classic base-under-attack-style stuff, with the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arriving at a mining adventure on one of Saturn’s moons. However, true to form, there’s something inside the moon that the colonists have unwittingly disturbed and its awakening brings dire consequences…

Baxter’s already-sparkling script is given an extra dimension in the hands of the narrator. David Troughton, Patrick Troughton’s son, is an accomplished actor in his own right but, here, he seems determined to do his father’s legacy justice. His vocal skills are unquestionable, but it is as the Second Doctor that we are transported; he sounds incredibly like his father and has captured all the whimsy and hidden steel of the original performance. A wonderful piece of re-booted nostalgia for Classic Whovians and a great introduction for fans of the new series.