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The tale of the Martian invasion of Earth – as narrated by Mr H.G. Wells…

We’ve had a number of versions of Wells’ tale over the past few decades – from Jeff Wayne’s iconic double album (and its associated live performances, stage show, cuddly toy etc.) to the Spielberg movie, with a high budget BBC version courtesy of Peter Harness currently in post-production. There’ve been a couple of other audios in the last year: BBC Radio 4’s take, which sprang in multiple directions from Wells’ text, and Nicholas Briggs’ contribution to Big Finish’s Wells season, which used the text as a springboard for some intriguing adventures.

What no one has really done is simply focus on what Wells tells us, rather than extrapolate from the text. Nick Scovell’s 100 minute audio does pretty much just that (he still gives the writer’s brother a fiancée which alters the character’s trajectory somewhat from the original), with Lisa Bowerman overseeing an audio extravaganza that is well worth the wait.

She’s brought together a strong cast, led by Colin Morgan as the writer, desperate to find the wife whom he believed he had sent to safety. Ronald Pickup gives a terrific performance as the Curate, a tortured character markedly different from the way that he comes across in the Jeff Wayne version, Nigel Lindsay’s artilleryman is much more of a realist than you might expect, and you understand far more why the central writer is keen to get back to his wife, as played by Olivia Poulet. Dan Starkey’s Ogilvy the astronomer, and Stephen Critchlow’s captain of the Thunderchild both resist the temptation to go overboard – the latter, in particular, embodies the phlegmatic character of the time – and the supporting cast all make their mark.

The sound design is immersive – and even more so in the surround sound version which really puts you in the middle of the battle – although there are odd moments where, if you don’t know the story, you’re not quite sure what’s happening until something’s said afterwards. Those are minor quibbles though: this is a audio-cinematic presentation of a very familiar tale in a way that honours and celebrates the story Wells told 120 years ago.

Verdict: An epic version that gives Wells’ words due prominence. 8/10

Paul Simpson