Author: Derelict Space Sheep

The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime

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The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime

ed. Martin Edwards (British Library Crime Classics, 2022)

audiobook read by Sarah Barron, Mark Meadows, David Monteath & John Telfer (Soundings, 2023)

Book cover: “The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime” ed. Martin Edwards (British Library Crime Classics, 2022); audiobook read by Sarah Barron, Mark Meadows, David Monteath & John Telfer (Soundings, 2023)

A readable but unremarkable collection of historically overlooked short stories. Though often possessed of comely prose, few are satisfying as mysteries—tending to some combination of character vignette without detection, token framework for clever ‘shock’ ending, or revelation based on withheld information.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

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The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson (Longmans, Green & Co., 1886)

audiobook read by Ian Holm (Canongate, 2007)

Book cover: “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson (Longmans, Green & Co., 1886); audiobook read by Ian Holm (Canongate, 2007)

Stevenson’s gothic horror novella holds up well, despite the plot twist being well and truly out of the bag for modern readers. The story’s original publication as a ‘shilling shocker’ reflects the sensationalist speculative element rather than any dearth of literary quality.

Doctor Who: The Five Companions

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Doctor Who: The Five Companions

by Eddie Robson (Big Finish, 2011)

Audio drama cover: “Doctor Who: The Five Companions” by Eddie Robson (Big Finish, 2011)

Nostalgia is well and truly satisfied with five former companions yanked back into the fray. Evergreen acting chops notwithstanding, the opportunity for poignant character moments is largely frittered away in a pointless Death Zone slugfest involving Sontarans, dinosaurs and, inevitably, screeching Daleks.

Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour

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Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour

by Terry Nation, with new material by Russell T Davies; ed. Benjamin Cook (BBC, 2023)

TV poster: “Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour” by Terry Nation, with new material by Russell T Davies; ed. Benjamin Cook (BBC, 2023)

The colouring works well! However, too much plot has been expurgated, leaving this version frenetic and a good 25 minutes short. Quiet moments, suspense and drama give way to near-farcical, jump-cut action montages and the grandiloquent fanfare of Mark Ayres’ new score.

Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier Australian Tour 2004

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Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier Australian Tour

Live @ Brisbane Convention Centre (23 November 2024)

Bill Bailey Thoughtifier Australian Tour poster; review of Brisbane performance, 23 November 2024

Bill Bailey kept himself amused and the Brisbane crowd equally so with a freewheeling show mixing self-aware stand-up and multi-instrumental musical comedy. Highlights from the latter included Bill’s touch-sensitive musical balls and a piece de resistance Kraftwerk spoof on the laser harp!

The Sea of Adventure

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The Sea of Adventure

by Enid Blyton (Macmillan, 1948); audiobook read by Thomas Judd (Bolinda, 2021)

Book cover: “The Sea of Adventure” by Enid Blyton (Macmillan, 1948); audiobook read by Thomas Judd (Bolinda, 2021)

Blyton mixes the formula just right in this fourth adventure, adding a real sense of peril to the usual holiday atmosphere. The girls make genuine contributions. Huffin and Puffin, with only one syllable between them, enter the pantheon of great support characters!

1968: The Year that Rocked the World

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1968: The Year that Rocked the World

by Mark Kurlansky (Ballantine, 2003); audiobook read by Christopher Cazenove (Phoenix, 2004)

Book cover: “1968: The Year that Rocked the World” by Mark Kurlansky (Ballantine, 2003); audiobook read by Christopher Cazenove (Phoenix, 2004)

A deep dive into the momentous-seeming socio-political events (mostly American and European) that shaped 1968. Kurlansky makes connections and shows likenesses, but whereas he biographises 1968 down to its minutiae, he omits the ‘what happened after’ contextualising necessary to establish lasting impact.

The Possessors

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The Possessors

by John Christopher (Hodder & Stoughton, 1965)

Book cover: “The Possessors” by John Christopher (Hodder & Stoughton, 1965) [Sphere, 1978 edition]

The sort of novel whose publication in 1965 might well have informed Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davis as they gravitated Doctor Who towards ‘base under siege’ stories. Christopher postulates an isolated setting and bleak alien invasion scenario, grimly explored through damaged characters.

Derelict Space Sheep