Doctor Who: Warriors’ Gate

4th Doctor Novelisation

By: John Lydecker

Narrated by: Jon Culshaw, John Leeson

Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Jon Culshaw reads this iconic novelisation of a Fourth Doctor TV adventure, newly restored and extended by the author

The Doctor and his companions are trapped in E-Space, struggling to find their way back into their own universe. Arriving at an intersection, the TARDIS is invaded by a refugee of the enslaved Tharil race.

With K9 damaged by the Time Winds, the Doctor, Romana and Adric explore the strange white eternity of the Gateway, where past, present and future cross over.

They also meet the crew of the Privateer, led by the embattled Rorvik. As all parties strive to find a way out, the Doctor realises that Rorvik’s ship holds the terrible secret of the Tharils’ history, as well as the means of their liberation.

Jon Culshaw reads Stephen Gallagher’s novelisation (writing as John Lydecker) of his 1981 TV adventure starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, now newly extended and restored from an unpublished manuscript. John Leeson provides the authentic Voice of K9.

©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic reviews

“Attention to detail is the hallmark of this always excellent range” Doctor Who Magazine

I can't believe that wasn't Tom Baker's voice

Superb narration for a superb classic who story; strongly recommended for fans of the classic show and newcomers.

Nice way to round out The E-Space Trilogy.

The first two chapters (Full Circle and State of Decay) already have had their audio releases, and now the final chapter is finally available as an extended audio release that adds three hours of content to the 1981 televised version. Jon Culshaw has narrated several 4th Doctor titles and does a fair-to-middling "Tom Baker Impression" as he has done in other releases like The Pirate Planet and The Sontaran Experiment. John Leeson also returns as the voice of K9.

Warrior's Gate was an interesting story that handled some pretty complex topics. The slavers are now the enslaved, but have they learned from their mistakes and do they deserve The Doctor and Romana's help? Will K9 survive?. Who will escape to N-space, and who will stay behind?

The story does well as an extended release and covers more ground than the shorter televised version by filling in and expanding on many details that couldn't be crammed into the original ninety minutes. It can be a little dry at times, and I think it would been a lot more FUN if there had been more for K9 to do, as variety in the narrative is always a welcome thing. Unfortunately for plot purposes, poor K9 is running-on-empty most of the time, so his presence in this story is limited.

While Romana and K9 opt to remain in E-Space and thus "Warrior's Gate" is their final appearance in Classic Doctor Who television, Tom Baker himself only remained for two additional episodes after "Warrior's Gate". After "Keeper of Traken" and the final scene of "Logopolis", the Tom Baker (classic) Era was over with Peter Davison taking over as Doctor #5.

for Whovians

Romana's last adventure with the Doctor. Where she learns how to lead people out of trouble.

An EXTENDED Classic!

Culshaw and Leeson give a Grand performance of a restored classic story. I loved it.