Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel)

By: Alastair Reynolds

Narrated by: Geoffrey Beevers

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

After billions of years of imprisonment, the vicious Sild have broken out of confinement. From a ruined world at the end of time, they make preparations to conquer the past, with the ultimate goal of rewriting history. But to achieve their aims they will need to enslave an intellect greater than their own...

On Earth, UNIT is called in to investigate a mysterious incident on a North Sea drilling platform. The Doctor believes something is afoot, and no sooner has the investigation begun than something even stranger takes hold: the Brigadier is starting to forget about UNIT's highest-profile prisoner. And he is not alone in his amnesia.

As the Sild invasion begins, the Doctor faces a terrible dilemma. To save the universe, he must save his arch-nemesis... the Master. Geoffrey Beevers reads this brand new adventure featuring the Third Doctor, from award-winning science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds, with original sound design.

©2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2013 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The third Doctor rides again

A great brand new adventure of the Third Doctor. With Joe Grant and the Master and Members of UNIT, this feels like a classic 70s Doctor Who serial but with a bigger budget.
Highlights of the story.
A lot of action.
A great Doctor vs The Master story
A great look into their past friendship
The Master treated and imprisoned like Hannibal Lecter
A borg like enemy for the Doctor to fight
Also having Geoffrey Beavers an actor who played the master in the original show and on audiobooks narrate the book. He has the perfect voice.
A great audiobook

Stands out in my memory

Where does Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best unabridged audiobooks -- as opposed to radio plays or audio dramas (such as those by Big Finish) -- that I have listened to. It is one of the top two or three Audible books I have listened to.

What other book might you compare Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) to and why?

If you listened to Wheel of Ice (a Second Doctor book), that's the one that is most like it that I have listened to. However, the scope of Harvest of Time is greater, and overall, the story appealed to me more. At some point, I mean to read it in its non-audio format, I liked it so much. Both stories, though, do a good job of capturing the eras in which they are set but without being overly restrained by them. Harvest of Time is more complex and less action-oriented than Wheel of Ice.

Which character – as performed by Geoffrey Beevers – was your favorite?

Beevers did an especially excellent job as the Master, a role he performs regularly for Big Finish, and I've thought it a pity that he wasn't able to play the Master more back in the television series -- and not just the moldering version of him. He also did a very creditable Third Doctor, with no jarring imitations of Pertwee.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the Master is honest with the Doctor, and the Doctor doesn't believe him -- and then the Doctor regrets it because the Master was, for once, being sincere and truthful. Don't want to say much more than that -- no spoilers!

Any additional comments?

Geoffrey Beevers really is a fabulous narrator. He set a very high bar for other audiobooks I've since listened to. I don't think there's another who has done better, though a very few have just about measured up, and many others have disappointed me.

Masterful Doctor Who Adventure!

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) the most enjoyable?

'Harvest of Time' is more like an expanded novelisation of a Jon Pertwee TV story than a typical Alistair Reynolds novel. The author obviously knows his Doctor Who, as everything is spot on.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel)?

The dialogue between The Doctor and The Master is brilliant, you could almost hear Pertwee and Delgado sparring with one another.

What about Geoffrey Beevers’s performance did you like?

Geoffrey Beever's did a great job narrating this book. He has a very creepy voice, perfect for The Master. Although I was so immersed in the story that all of his voices must have fitted in well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me very nostalgic!

This book perfectly captures the era of Doctor Who in which it is set. (Somewhere between The Daemons and The Sea Devils.)

Any additional comments?

'Harvest of Time' is a Third Doctor novel set when the Doctor was exiled on earth, and it ticks every box that a fan of that era would want; The Doctor, Jo Grant, Bessie, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, UNIT and of course The Master... then we've North Sea oil rigs, dodgy Government officials, plus the obligatory alien invasion of Earth. So everything is here, including the kitchen sink!

This book is well written and jolly good fun.

Excellent, If A Little Long

Doctor Who: The Harvest of Time is an excellent story. The pacing is a bit iffy and the political message is very in-your-face in the epilogue, but neither of these even remotely harmed my enjoyment of the story.
Indeed, the only real negative I could give this story comes from a scene that basically says that the Master and the Doctor, as students, were tasked with imprisoning the most dangerous creatures and machines in creation. Way to go, Time Lords.
Not only does this retcon the biggest mystery in the whole of the show, but it glorifies the two as something they aren’t and makes the whole of the Time Lords look like idiots. So, basically, still better than that stupid “HeRE cOme THe DrUMs” thing in 2006.
In short, this story combines all elements loved in the Pertwee era, has perfect narration by Geoffrey Beevers and even finds time to rehash “Fury From the Deep”. The Harvest of Time is perfect for any fan of Doctor Who. 8/10 would recommend.

times of change

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) the most enjoyable?

The narrator was so good at doing all the voices. I didn't have to worry about keeping the characters straight as the were instantly recognizable.

What other book might you compare Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) to and why?

This book was similar to most of the Doctor Who books, so if you are a fan you know what to expect in the way of quality and content. The characters are mostly known to fans. The Master and the Doctor remember their shared childhood which is interesting.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favourite scene involves The Master seeing many versions of himself. I can't say too much or it will mess up the surprise in the storyline for you.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I'm not a big fan of books that feature The Master but this book shows him in a different light. At least at times. There is one scene in particular when the Doctor and the Master are alone in the TARDIS that is very memorable and could have changed everything. SPOILERS. So I won't say anything.

Any additional comments?

A solid Doctor Who novel that wad improved by a great narrator.

One of The Best

It has time travel. It has some of the back story of the Doctor and The Master. It has some of the most memorable characters from the T.V. series. It has a cosmic, sweeping story that plays a wonderful movie in the imagination. The best of all, though, is narrator Geoffrey Beavers and his superlative performance. He goes very easily from Scottish brogue to one of the best imitations of Roger Delgado that I have ever heard. Easily one of the best Doctor Who audibles you are likely to find.

Captures to essence of Dr Who

Harvest of Time took me back to my childhood watching John Pertwee playing the Dr on TV.
The characters are very much from that era although there's nothing in the story to date it precisely in earths history other than similarities with events happening at that time.
Reynolds captures the style of those old TV shows perfectly, fair departure from his other books.
This is a typical 'Radio Drama' style of story, but was great fun, the sort of story that you can dip into between other things without losing track of where you are.
All in all a great, fun read.

Whovians will enjoy this book

An updated story for Whovians that need to read/hear Doctor Who escapades to constantly get their fix for the operations of the Doctor and companions.

Good Story and Great Performance

Good story, love it when the doctor and the master are pitted against one another. The narrator nailed this one. Each character was identifiable by accent, tone and delivery was perfect. A real pleasure listening to it.

Excellent Third Doctor Story

Would you listen to Doctor Who: Harvest of Time (3rd Doctor Novel) again? Why?

If I have time, certainly. It's very much like one of the better series on TV, one of those things I might enjoy every now and again.

What did you like best about this story?

The characterizations were spot on and in perfect synch with the Third Doctor eps.

Which scene was your favorite?

Attacking cows.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Tons of nostalgia, remembering my days as a kid, watching Doctor Who on my local PBS station on Saturday nights.

Any additional comments?

Here is a book that is not only a stellar Doctor Who novel in its own right, but does a superb job of capturing the atmosphere of the classic BBC series, from the cheesy cheeky characters to the weird alien stuff (like alien possessed attack cows!) to even the bad special effects. I’ve read several Who novels and this is the only one that I feel truly captures the essence of what makes the old series so unique and special, stories that weren’t built on special effects but used stellar writing and a talented cast to rise above the cheap sets, the goofy costumes, and sometime silly “Britishness” of the series (and I mean that in the fondest possible context, I truly do). You can literally picture the knock-off effects and bad costumes in the writing. This is every bit a Third Doctor story, from the Doctor’s exile on earth and his time with UNIT. There are several Third Doctor series on Netflix, I strongly encourage any reader who hasn’t seen the Third Doctor in action to watch a Third Doctor series or two before reading this book. Being able to put faces and personalities with the characters really brings this story to life.