PLOTLINE  

The world is held in the grip of a second Ice Age, and faces total destruction from the rapidly advancing glaciers. Doctor Who, with Victoria and Jamie, lands at a top scientific base in England, where they have just unearthed an ancient Ice Warrior. Aliens from Mars, preserved in the ice for centuries and now revitalised, the Ice Warriors feel ready to take over...Can the Doctor overcome these warlike Martians and halt the relentless approach of the ice glaciers?

COMMENT

For the first time DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES stalwart Frazer Hines presents a BBC AUDIO unabridged novelisation and, unreservedly, reenergises a previously stagnant CD brand (this is the first release to push the boundaries of "dramatic reading" that is superbly successful). This in no part to the actor's consummate skill in maintaining pace & dramatic tension, delineating a raft of disparate characters and a wonderful swan-like realisation of the Second Doctor (as played by Patrick Troughton in this 1967 drama.

In addition to Hines' respectful delivery, Brian Hayles' TV six-parter is augmented by Meon Productions (orchestrated by Simon Power, under the guidance of Kate Thomas) outstanding music score and highly atmospheric special effects (including a highly effective voice treatment for the ever-present Tannoy delivered by Hines).

With that said, is clear that this is BBC AUDIO's "next generation" of DOCTOR WHO audio - exceptional presentation, and sets the standard for future releases.

As fans know, DOCTOR WHO AND THE ICE WARRIORS is the standard "base-under siege" story that, at times is so pedestrian that a Zimmer-framed pensioner would overtake. However, following an uneventful two chapters (in effect Episode One), Hines' delivers a tantalizingly roller-coasting adventure on par with the audio readings presented by David Tenannt for BBC AUDIO. But once the Doctor (accompanied by Jamie and Victoria) materialise the story's pace and intrigue is relentless.

Having worked alongside Troughton throughout "the sixties", Hine's Doctor is subtle, authoritarian and calming, whilst his 21 st century re-working of Jamie McCrimmon is as sharp as a Sgian Dhubh and his "...pretty doll-like bird...", Victoria Waterfield is reminiscent to BBC NEWS' presenter Fiona Bruce (and that' not a criticism...). Eerily, for the next four hours, the iconic team is back and it is as comforting as dunking a half-coated chocolate digestive biscuit in milky Ovaltine on a winter's evening.

However, having lambasted the opening episode (yes, it's dull to a point where Windowlene would have a challenge in polishing a shine into it), there is one outstanding gem; the first view of the base from the viewpoint of the TARDIS crew.

He pressed the button. The inner door slid back to reveal a scene that made even the Doctor wonder. There, under an immense plastic dome that kept the Arctic weather conditions at bay, stood a gracious and elegant Georgian country house in a state of perfect preservation. Ahead of them, across a short stretch of lawn, a terrace and a side door opened into a stable block. The Doctor's eye's twinkled with appreciation. "Absolutely charming," he said, with a smile. "Shall we go in?"

Of course, Hayles' DOCTOR WHO AND THE ICE WARRIORS introduces the now legendary Martian aliens and with a further three stories featuring the warring creatures it is hoped that BBC AUDIO release them as unabridged reading (with Hines reprising his presentation for DOCTOR WHO AND THE SEEDS OF DEATH).

With a contemporary focus, DOCTOR WHO AND THE ICE WARRIORS theme of ecological containment & resolution is perfect for a younger generation NEW SERIES fans to enjoy; the power of nature that threatens a naive population with a scientific conflict between "traditionalist" and "technological" with the complication of an alien archaeological find cocooned beneath the ice.

Fans should thank BBC AUDIO for not only releasing this frequently overlooked CLASSIC SERIES story for NEW SERIES fans to relish but also for the reduced "recommended retail price" of £12.99 (almost £5.00 less than the previously release of DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH for the same number of discs).