Doctor Who: Nuclear Time

By: Oli Smith

Narrated by: Nicholas Briggs

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

‘My watch is running backwards.’ Colorado, 1981. The Doctor, Amy, and Rory arrive in Appletown - an idyllic village in the remote American desert where the townsfolk go peacefully about their suburban routines. But when two more strangers arrive, things begin to change. The first is a mad scientist - whose warnings are cut short by an untimely and brutal death. The second is the Doctor....

As death falls from the sky, the Doctor is trapped. The TARDIS is damaged, and the Doctor finds he is living backwards through time. With Amy and Rory being hunted through the suburban streets of the Doctor’s own future and getting farther away with every passing second, he must unravel the secrets of Appletown before time runs out....

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy, and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

©2010 Oli Smith (P)2010 AudioGO Ltd

What A FInd!

You first need to know this comes from someone who has followed the Doctor's adventures from the Seventies until today. I especially enjoy the narrator, Nicholas Briggs, as producer of a whole line of audio adventures made and distributed by Big Finish Productions. I may have been a bit predisposed to like this, but I still was amazed at what a find this particular story is.

For me, it was like getting an extra episode of the T.V. series. The story was brilliant. Even though you know the characters are going to make it out, there were at least two... maybe three times when you could have believed they may not. The plot twist that has the Doctor going backward through time was amazingly well done and must have been a very complicated thing to write. The personalities of the characters were all in place. One little gem has the Doctor acquiring a new toy with a "Happy Christmas, me!", which one could totally hear Matt Smith's character saying.

Nicholas Briggs is simply jaw dropping. I cannot fathom how he goes seamlessly from the Doctor to Amy's Scottish accent to the other Americans. It was an inspired performance that married itself to this incredible story to produce a five star wonder that I hope Doctor Who fans will enjoy as much as I did.

very..timey wimey

I liked it, good time travel situations? eight words left for the review now two.

Not really my style and storyline.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was not really involved in the outcome as I struggled to maintain much interest in the storyline. It may be because I hate any war type story where armed forces are involved especially as I feel counties would utilise this kind of science for gain and world domination which could end in catastrophic results. It is kind of how one feels toward the scientist's that discovered the atom bomb.

What does Nicholas Briggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nicholas Briggs was a good narrator and it was through no fault of his that the story did not really engage me. It is very rare that I have not really loved a DW audio book.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Of course I would see the movie if this book was turned into a DW movie, things change when you start casting actor's, actress's in the roles and you identify with them and of course you hopefully have your regular beloved cast members of DW. There is no way in the world I would ever say

Any additional comments?

Don't be turned off by my review read the book for yourself because as I mentioned there could be a number of reasons for feeling the way I did about the book, it could be as simple as my mood on the day. Everyone is entitled to have a different view of the book so jump in and do your review so you can have your chance to tell our community of DW readers and Audible your own take on the book.

Broken Don't Buy

This is a fairly good book, if you forgive the fact that they haven't managed to get the 11th Doctor's personality.

However I would not recommend that anyone buy it until it is fixed!

The final chapter is marred by the fact that the theme music ends the book over the top of the finale.

Just as you're waiting to find out what happens to the villains in come the music drowning out the last of the book.

So confusing!

This story was ridiculously confusing. It was one of those that go back and rewrite themselves at the very end to change history, similar to Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS in season 7. You have a whole story developed, then that one thing that "changes the course of history" goes back and erases everything and nobody remembers or it never happened. I had no idea what was going on most of the time, and then at that crucial moment, I almost lost it. It was very odd, and I'm not sure if it fits with the Doctor Who canon laws of time and all that.
Nick Briggs, however was absolutely fantastic, as always, and he's one of the only reasons I stuck through to the end. I wished there had been more Amy and Rory as well, there's very little of them in this story at all.

poor story

A shame, as I like any of the doctor who audios narrated by nicholas briggs, but this was just a really bad story. It skipped around everywhere and barely made any sense. I found I really didn't care about any of the characters, and the companions seemed like an after thought. I have bought one other oli smith story which I didn't like either. I must remember to give him a miss next time.

Great story, great voice

This is a story that breaks all the rules and is great for it. This story has the Doctor doing the running , whilst Amy and Rory and flashbacks fill out this complex story. What can I say about Nicholas Briggs. He understands what it takes to be the Doctor (yep a Big Finish fan) and this comes across . Every portrayal of every doctor shows this understanding. Add to that the fact that he takes us much care with his understanding of the other characters. Fantastic