Torchwood: Red Skies

By: Joseph Lidster

Narrated by: John Telfer

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

John Telfer reads this exclusive audio adventure, set after the conclusion of Miracle Day, featuring Captain Jack Harkness. Jack Harness is in need of a holiday. He wants to get away from Torchwood, away from the human race - and where better to get completely away from it all than Cotter Paluni's World, a planet surrounded by deadly scarlet lightning and cut off from the entire universe?

But there are some shocks in store for Jack: The "Devil's World" might be completely isolated and inaccessible, but its inhabitants worship Torchwood. And before he can find out why, or how this is even possible, he finds himself arrested for murder. It looks as if someone on the planet knows who Jack is - and they're out to get him.... Written specially for AudioGO by Joseph Lidster.

©2012 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2012 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Good message but could be more subtle

Where does Torchwood: Red Skies rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This audiobook ranks in the upper half of my personal chart but not at the very top.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would not change the story because I'm not the one who wrote it and I'm very bad at creative writing, so if I changed it, I'd probably make it worse. But as an avid consumer I would not mind the ideas promoted by this book to be expressed in a subtler way, so that the author doesn't seem like an authoritative figure who knows best what is right for the reader and pushes the reader in the right direction rather forcefully. I completely agree to follow the author's direction of my own free will. There is really not that much need to be didactic.

Which character – as performed by John Telfer – was your favorite?

My favorite character is always Captain Jack.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Are you sure your god is really a god?

Any additional comments?

Despite the negative tint of my comments, I greatly appreciate the novel's idea of equality. This book would be extremely topical in my country, were it to be translated into Russian. Then again, it would also be banned in many regions under the current homophobic laws. It would probably take a beating from the Russian Orthodox Church officials. I can relate to Mr. Lidster's desire to raise controversial questions, that's what good authors are supposed to do. I just wish ideas were not so stark obvious so that they overshadow the characters and general development of the story.

Jack's Story Continues

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Joseph Lidster is a seasoned writer who has a deep understanding of the Torchwood characters. His other books Lost Souls, In the Shadows and his script for the episode A Day in the Death combines action with a grasp of the evolving psychological complexity of the characters and their histories: especially Jack Harkness. The story line pulls the mythic elements from classics like Dante's Inferno and The Wizard of Oz in its structure, yet keeps the science fiction aspects strong. There is enough of Jack's back story to catch up the new listener, and enough development to intrigue the Torchwood fan. I hope to see more from Lidster to keep Torchwood alive until the next series or movie.

What didn???t you like about John Telfer???s performance?

John Telfer has done an excellent job on other audiobooks. However, he doesn't get the American accent and pacing right for Captain Jack Harkness. This is important because the focus is on Jack the entire time. The accent was so distracting to me that I would rather get the book and read it using my memory of John Barrowman's performances to recreate the sound of the character in the story.

Really Boring

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The basic story was rather uninteresting. Barely hung in to hear the end.

Which character – as performed by John Telfer – was your favorite?

Captain Jack

Did Torchwood: Red Skies inspire you to do anything?

nothing