Customer Reviews (3)

Valuable firsthand account of Who's last two seasons
If the cover of Sophie Aldred having dealt the Black Dalek with her aluminum bat doesn't convince Who fans that she's the toughest companion since Leela of the Tom Baker era, nothing will.Sophie is well-placed to tell her experiences in Doctor Who, as she was the series' last companion.She came in the wake of a tough transition in Doctor Who's history--following the dismissal of Colin Baker and the installing of Sylvester McCoy, Sophie was chosen to succeed Bonnie Langford as the new companion.

Mike Tucker, her collaborator of this work, was the visual effects designer during Doctor Who's dying days.He too provides his point of view and remembrances with equal aplomb.
In each of her nine stories (Dragonfire, Remembrance Of The Daleks, The Happiness Patrol, Silver Nemesis, The Greatest Show In The Galaxy, Battlefield, Ghost Light, The Curse Of Fenric, and Survival) she provides vivid commentary and detail from her diary of her experiences.There's lots of behind the scenes photographs in B&W and colour, early design sketches, listings of the cast and production team, director, story number, number of episodes and date broadcast--it's pretty comprehensive.

And yes, the famous incident of her while shooting Battlefield is included.Basically, she was in a water-filled tank and was to be pulled up.Sylvester McCoy noticed the glass bulging and then... CRACK!Sylvester shouted for the crew to lift her out, which they did, before anything happened to her.She also tells about this in the More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS video.

Considering how she was one of the few ex-alumni of Who to come out in the More Than... video, it shows how much she loved the show.She was very heartbroken when Sylvester McCoy told her that there wasn't going to be a 27th season, and that too is included in the book.

At the end of the book are photos and text of some of her post-Who efforts, including More Than A Messiah, an episode of the Stranger, the short-lived Colin Baker series, and Shakedown, a Who-spin off that not only featured the return of the troll-like Sontarans but paired her with Carole Ann Ford, Dr. Who's first ever companion.Then there's an interview where she tells what her favourite story was, plus her favourite Doctor.I have to commend her on her answer--she has good taste.

This is a splendid companion-piece after watching any of the 7th-Doctor/Ace stories.If you can find this book--get it.Break through hoardes of Daleks to get this treasure.

So you want to know about the end of an Era?
Sophie Aldred was the last companion for the longed lived Doctor Who program.She and special effects wizard Mike Tucker give their thoughts on the last three seasons of the show.The book is filled with pictures fromthe show and behind the scenes.It also contains quotes from variouspeople including Sylvester McCoy, AKA the Seventh (and final of the series)Doctor. It really is a good read, whether you like Sophie or just likeDoctor Who in general.It also contains mainly behind the scenes antics,even the infamous tank scene, where Sylvester became an actual hero.

This really is a perfect companion book to go in any collection.

The 'Ace' SophieAldred gives her view on Doctor Who
This book has it all; full colour pictures, many from the private collections of Sophie and SFX creator Mike Tucker, the technical working of the show, and witty, genuine commentary from Sophie herself. By reading this book you get a real understanding of how episodes in the Ace era wereproduced, what the cast and crew thought of them, and what they got up toon set. Sophie is full of information, and you'll want go back and watchall your videos again and go "Ah! i know how they did that!" ... Read more

Product Description
No one writes better animal stories than Dick King-Smith. In this audiobook we meet, among others, Babe, the sheep-pig, Max the muddled hedgehog, a hugely fat cat called Lawrence, Ethel the hungry mouse and we learn the excitement of being Ernest. Packed with humour, adventure and fun, "Animal Stories" will cheer up any day of the week. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Far From Traditional And All The Better For It.
Let me start by saying that The Rapture is far from a traditional Doctor Who story so if you don't like non-traditional style stories stay away. Otherwise you're in for a treat. The Rapture is far from traditional and all the better for it.

The Rapture gets a good start with splendid performances from Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor and Sophie Aldred in one of her best performances as Ace. It also ahs a strong supporting cast starting with David John as Liam, the man with a secret from Ace's past in one of Big Finish's best supporting roles. Add on to him Daniel Wilson (Brian), Anne Bird (Caitriona), Carlos Riera (the Doctor's old friend Gustavo) and famous DJ Tony Blackburn as himself and its one of the strongest Big Finish casts. Then there are the villains who literally steal the show: Matthew Brenher (Jude) and Neil Henry (Gabriel). Thought o call them villains might be pushing it, though you'd have to listen to this to get my point. There sympathetic in a odd sort fo way.

Outside of the cast, this is a very strong story. It has a strong religious allegory in it that pretty obvious when you hear it, but it's a point that needed and continue to be needed to be said. Then there's the techno score which is excellent, especially the techno version of the Doctor Who Theme (anyone know where I can get a copy of this online?) which I love. Then there's the huge twist with Ace and her past: it's a shocker to say the least. Plus there's a twist ending that you just have to hear.

In short, The Rapture is an excellent adventure for McCoy and Aldred. With strong performances, terrific writing, and a techno score it's one of the most original Doctor Who stories ever. As I wrote, if you dislike non-traditional stories, stay away. Otherwise: This is far from traditional and all the better for it.
... Read more

Product Description
This collection features work from over 60 favourite poets. mixing the funny, the unusual, the traditional and the contemporary. Listeners are invited to visit the animals, meet the family, go on outings, read some fun and nonsense and much more. ... Read more

Product Description
This audiobook contains fifteen stories including the seven-armed octopus, the sneezy elephant, the racing sloths and Little Red Riding Pig. The naughty Norty the hedgepig and the chameleon who couldn't change colour are also among the strange and wonderful animals. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by Jack Curtis. Only one human being could have gotten Kiowa Smith to quit his drifting ways - Paddy Burke, the tomcatting hombre who offered to partner Kiowa on a new ranch outside the town of Galilee, Kansas. But now Paddy lies dead at the hands of Sheriff Ben Clark, for no good reason except a murdering streak in the lawman. The unwritten law the country lives by says Kiowa must take down Clark in revenge - and half of Galilee's ready to pay him to do it. But some foreign-born desperadoes from back East have arrived and Kiowa must now keep Sheriff Clark alive to save himself. ... Read more

Product Description
Twins Wayne and Wendy have two extraordinary friends - an ice-cream van called Macaroni, and a goat called Gina. Then one day they both disappear! Who would steal a bashed-up ice-cream van, and a very naughty goat? Does someone know that Macaroni is actually magical? Hot on the trail of their missing friends, the twins meet Pa Periwinkle - a famous apothecary who once owned Macaroni. The twins need help! Luckily Pa and his magic Fizzbomb Sherbet are soon exploding into action. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of football poems covering a range of different aspects of the game, including refrees, team talk and the 1966 World Cup. The poems are written in a variey of verse forms, for example, sonnets, rhyming couplets and narrative poems. The poems are both read and sung aloud. ... Read more

Product Description
A new series by Cathy MacPhail - winner of the Kathleen Fidler Award, and author of the best-selling Missing, Bad Girls and Dark Waters. This hilarious series for younger readers is a new departure for Cathy. When enormous, rhinoceros-lookalike Granny Nothing arrives on the McAllisters' doorstep it's a big shock for Stephanie and Ewen. They didn't even know she existed! Now Granny Nothing is making up for lost time, sorting out the vicious rottweilers from next door, the sadistic Nanny Sue, and Ewen's problems with the school bully. But not everyone's happy with Granny Nothing's methods... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

GREAT FUNNY BOOK
I loved this book its sooo funny granny nothing is a great book!!! shes not your dream of a great grandmotherbut your nightmare but why do all the kidzz love her so much that they would........ i cant say read the book to find out
... Read more

Product Description
These are abridged readings of Doctor Who short stories, by a variety of authors, from the book of the same name: "Freedom", "Model Train Set", "Glass", "Degrees of Truth", "Stop the Pigeon" and "Old Flames. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dr. Who Fans - Like having a story read to you at bed time.
This is excellent work.I've already worn out my first copy of the tapes and, sadly, this isn't available as a CD.Courtney and Aldred are both exceptional voice actors and do a wonderful job in bringing selected stories from the book Short Trips to life.This is a worthy investment for a Who Fan with a long drive or with children s/he wants to help introduce to reading since a child can follow along with the text in the (not included) book version. ... Read more

Product Description
How does a film script by an unknown writer get to be read by a Hollywood studio boss? What happens if he loves it? And what do his people do, if they have no idea who wrote it? Stuck in workaday London, rejected by the literary elite, wannabe screenwriter Milly has no idea of the pandemonium her script is causing Stateside. And so it falls to LA movie executive Mitch to cut through the Hollywood madness, save his own job, and rescue Milly from obscurity. All he has to do is find her. So begins a breathless romantic hunt, and a hilarious modern day fairytale from a sensational new voice in contemporary comic fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
Here are the Greek myths as you've never heard them before. Susan is whisked back through time to Ancient Greece, and finds that helping Hercules clean the Augean stables is much, much worse than tidying her room.One hair-raising experience follows another as she goes down into the Underworld with Orpheus, just misses being turned to stone by Medusa, and rides on the winged horse Pegasus. This is both a fabulously funny story and a brilliant way to introduce children to eight of the best-known Greek myths.Susan meddles in each of the myths - taking a dim view of the gods and goddesses and heroes she encounters - but gets out in the nick of time, so the myths themselves remain unchanged and will be remembered vividly by their readers. ... Read more

Product Description
A lively collection of nineteen five-minute stories, ideally suited to the audio book format. Here are stories old and new, from Perrault's "Little Red-Riding Hood" and the traditional tale of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" to Margaret Mahy's "Horrendous Hullabaloo" and Dick King-Smith's "Blessu". There are stories about animals, magic and mermaids, in this fascinating audio book anthology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Better than Nytol!
This book has proven to be a Godsend for our 4 and 2 year old boys - it converts them from rambunctious destroyers to nuzzling geeks just in time for bed.The stories are replete with quirky characters, the occasional moral and cute (but not too cute) depictions.I'll confess that some of these rich tales do extend into the 7 or 8 minute range but you'll hardly notice. ... Read more