By Colin John Francis

DWAS, available now in aid of Marie Curie

A comprehensive list of all Doctor Who stories released in audio form up to 2013.

I wasn’t quite sure what form this guide would take – and for those looking for something on the lines of the I, Who books that Mad Norwegian did in the early part of this century, this isn’t it. It’s not a look at the fiction of the series (with one important caveat which I’ll come to below), but at the facts behind that fiction.

The books are in chronological order of first broadcast or release of the relevant story – so the vast majority of the material for 1963 to 1973, for instance, refers to the TV series in order. An Unearthly Child hasn’t yet been released in audio form (as most people know, there was a hold up with Nigel Robinson’s fresh audio version of it that persists still), so The Daleks (or whatever title you want to know the second ever serial as) comes first, with covers from the various different releases of William Russell’s reading of David Whitaker’s novel (including a pic of the Radio 4 Extra broadcast screen!) and noting where there are differences between the editions. (Radio 4 Extra’s version has been released in just under 30 minute episodes, rather than following the chaptering.) Credits are given for both those involved with the original TV production, whose work is included, and the audio production team. When we get to Marco Polo, the inclusion of the cut-down version on The Beginning DVD set warrants a mention… and so on.

Every freebie version of a story gets a separate listing and a relevant picture, and original stories – from Doctor Who and the Pescatons onwards – are slotted in where they’d have appeared for the avid contemporary Doctor Who fan. Stories that haven’t had their Target novel preserved for audio posterity as yet don’t appear so there are jumps, although Michael Stevens and team are filling those gaps rapidly. The period after the TV Movie features the original 8th Doctor tales before Big Finish effectively takes over the listings (and their giveaway edition covers are reprinted too), interrupted by Death Comes to Time. The occasional Target of the new series pops up, as do the specials such as The Dalek Conquests (forever known as the Dalek Story in my house, as it was my daughter’s most-requested car listening CDs for about two years around the time of release!). Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures spin-offs arrive as appropriate.

The books are rounded off with an index of contributors, and an alphabetical list of stories covered in both volumes (suitably boldened). But inbetween these comes a bold attempt to put all the stories in some form of order as experienced by the Doctor. They’re all canon according to Francis, so get equal weight – and there’s some bold choices here, notably the very first two entries that are mentioned, based on series 12!

It’s as valid a way of looking at them as any (there are a number of such lists online that widen the scope even further), and give the book a little extra edge.

Verdict: It’s clearly a labour of love, and if you’re a Doctor Who audio fan – or in a position where you need to access information on their history – then this will be invaluable. And it’s all for a very good cause. 9/10

Paul Simpson