Doctor Who: Hornets' Nest 1 - The Stuff of Nightmares

Tom Baker's [Fourth] Doctor was a master of quick, quirky quips and turn-on-a-dime reaction. With a booming voice, instantly recognizable scarf, and a series of memorable facial expressions: he still is /the/ Doctor for many fans of the long running series. While all the other living Doctors from the original series have showed up in third party materials, especially the Big Finish radio productions, Baker has tended to stay aloof from the role, excepting bits here or there, since he departed in 1981. Getting any bit of Whoniverse with Tom Baker in it is a delight: Hornet's Nest was absolutely a must buy.

It IS charming and interesting. Baker's voice is magnificent. Franklin, returning as once-Captain Yates, is spot on. The foley effects and soundtrack are all top notch. The story, too, is appropriately weird and spooky and ends only after hooking you in for more (parts 2-5 of Hornet's Nest). It is just not quite Doctor Who.

The presentation has a lot to do with this. It is not an audiobook, nor is it exactly full cast. Somewhere in between. Most of the 72 minutes is taken up by either the Doctor or Yates retelling what happened to them, with a second voice or so added in during key dialogues. While I will never criticize Baker's speaking voice, it does break the weird, sporadic quirk that was a staple of his version of the Doctor. Only in one or two short spots does the cadence we are used to seep out.

The Tardis is mostly mentioned, not used (short time jumps, apparently, took place). The rest of it surrounds 7th-9th season [Third Doctor] like storyline of him being in one place for some time. It even has an [ex-]UNIT member.

Still, I chuckled at the explanation of why the Fourth Doctor got captured so often (the best way to see inside the secret fortress) and I'll have to hear more: give it time to bring out the Tardis and more "Who"-esque stories. Just, fans, be aware that it is Baker, but not quite as you remember.

I rely solely on audio. I am blind.

The sound effects, the narrators, and the plot line itself was brilliant! The quality of the audio was also wonderful. I cannot wait to get the final installment of this story!

Even though Tom Baker has a definitive English accent, he is still easily understandable. He also places the inflection on the right places, and his depiction of the doctor's flipancy is great!

This book made me hold my breath, and I kept wanting more and more. I did not want it to end!

Yes. Audible, PLEASE continue to provide unabridged audiobooks in the Doctor Who series!

As far as I'm concerned Tom Baker is the ONLY "Dr. Who" - whether it is video or audio.
The story seemed interesting and was delivered well as are the other Baker/Who stories I have.
My chief complaint is the fact that the full 6 hour story would wind up costing either 6 credits or over $38 - whereas some other excellent stories I have, some over 25 hours long, were obtained for ONE credit or less than $20.

Tom Baker, the fourth doctor, who is an excellent reader, deserves some great writing! Something of the calibur of what the current tv series provides to us. As thrilled as we all are to hear Tom Baker, back and reading once again as The Doctor, the material that Mr. Baker has been provided with to read to us is beyond retarded. Please god, some good author, write something and send it to Mr. Baker to consider reading. Unfortunately, we don't have Douglas Adams anymore. How about Neil Gaiman?

Also the whole scum bag money sucking approach by Audible regarding this series is shameful. (They release the story an hour at a time and have the gall to charge for each hour).