Survivors: Series 3

By: Jonathan Morris, Simon Clark, Andrew Smith, Matt Fitton

Narrated by: Carolyn Seymour, Richard Heffer, Chase Masterson, John Banks, Fiona Sheehan, Paul Thornley, Andrew French

Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying.... When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces. Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again....

1: 'Cabin Fever' by Jonathan Morris. After weeks of searching for her son across a devastated Britain, Abby Grant and her allies head into London in pursuit of new leads. One of the party is quarantined, holed up with a fever. They remember the very first days of the Death and the actions of a man called John Vincent....

2: 'Contact' by Simon Clark. A lonely voice on the radio calls out across the ether. Maddie Price is a long way from home but not yet ready to give up hope.

3: 'Rescue' by Andrew Smith. When his friends' lives hang in the balance hundreds of feet above London, Jimmy Garland leads a daring rescue mission into the capital.

4: 'Leaving' by Matt Fitton. Down on the coast, plans are being made to reach out across the world. It could mean a new beginning for some and the long-awaited chance to return home for others.

Note: Survivors contains adult material and is not suitable for younger listeners.

Directed by Ken Bentley.

©2015 Big Finish Productions (P)2015 Big Finish Productions

Interruptions w/commentary

The acting is excellent and the story is engaging, but it’s not real clear what happened between the end of series 2 and the start of series 3. At the end of every “episode” (unknown which chapters are included in an episode) there’s commentary from the cast and writers for about 10-15mins which interrupts the flow of the story and takes away from the story run time. Not sure I would have purchased if I knew the run time was not all story. The ending is pretty good, but it feels like some things were still left hanging and I’m not sure if there is a series 4.

Just keeps delivering

One of the good (I guess) things about the "Survivors" world is that there is no limit to the stories that can be told. The problem will be keeping fresh plot ideas and avoiding repetition. Series 3 has the same world and most of the same characters as the earlier offerings, but there's enough variety in the situations to keep it interesting. I think the characters are a bit black-and-white, but that has been the case from the start. For the most part they are believable, as are the situations they find themselves in, given the basic plot premise that society as we know it has collapsed.

As always, the voice acting is impeccable, the sound effects engaging, and the music appropriate. Production, as ever, is superb.

Technically, a presentation like this shows the limits of the Audible format -- the effects in particular suffer from the low bit-rate presentation. For my part, I would be happy to pay extra to have this series (and the earlier ones) in a high-definition or uncompressed format. A lot of audio detail is being sacrificed by using Audible's low-bitrate delivery.

Interruptions

I have own the first two and was looking to listening to the third after I long wait for it to appear, it’s spoilt by a commentary after every story unlike the first two when it’s at the very end WHY? This spoiled the continues listening on an excellent series, I am considering returning it as it’s not a book I can listen to again and again, sorry Big Finish Productions.

Urgh, No just NO, book ruined by....

Constant interruptions from production team.
The first two in the series were good, although I got really irritated by the 40 and 60 min ‘chats’ at the end of each episode By the production team and their self ‘marvellousness’ of being so creative <boak> seems like humility left our shores some time ago.
But this series, good grief, at the end of each chapter you have approx 15 mins spiel, from the crew and cast....no, no, no this is just not ok, it’s an abomination, and interrupts and kills the suspense. What were the editors thinking? Look if you want to go on about how clever you are, at least have the good grace to put it at the end of the blooming book.
This constant interruption just ruins this production of an otherwise engaging and exciting plot. If a ‘real’ book did this, I’d be using it on the wood burner to keep warm come the winter. Sadly I can’t do that with an audio version.
I’m now really, really hesitant to buy any further big finish productions, which is a shame as I usually enjoy full cast audiobooks.

A great continuation of the story

Enjoyed these stories. They're all well acted and realistic. I just wished they were a bit longer and had the all the behind the scenes stuff at the very end rather than the end of each story.

Looking forward to season 4.

Another top drama

Again Big Finish have bought new life to Terry Nation's 'Survivors'. The entire cast flawless as the series pitches characters we have grown to love, against a dark, bigoted, hate, that would rather destroy than coexist and build a new world together. Some scenes are difficult to listen too but rewarding to get through. I also liked the fact that I couldn't predict the direction an episode was going in. A great addition to the new world. I'm looking forward to continuing on the adventures, with these characters.

Excellent so enjoyed this wonderful performance.

What a wonderful survival at its best series beautifully written and performed. Didn't very better than this.

great series

I have all three series on audible and have loved every one .from the voice acting to the story to the music .its a top notch series well worth spending your credit on . please audible make the rest of the series available .

Vinny steals the show

Vinny steals the show!

Follow him from a doomed ferry, to the heights of the Post Office Tower, to the depths of paranoia

Another excellent instalment

Love this series. Great characters and gripping storylines. I couldn't stop listening.
Yes it's dark, but it is the apocalypse!
I also enjoyed the discussion after each episode with the actors and production team.
SO pleased to hear there's more coming - Thankyou!