From Newsgroup: rec.arts.drwho.moderated   
   From Address: jphalt@aol.com   
   Subject: Re: jphalt's Doctor Who reviews   
      
   THE NIGHTMARE OF BLACK ISLAND (BBC AUDIO)   
      
   2 episodes. Approx. 138 minutes. Written by: Mike Tucker. Produced by:   
   Kate Thomas. Read by: Anthony Head.   
      
      
   THE PLOT   
      
   Nightmares have come to life in the Welsh village of Ynys Du. Every   
   night, as soon as the children begin to sleep, the monsters come out -   
   hideous creations which stalk the woods and the coast near the disused   
   lighthouse on Black Island. The villagers shut themselves in their   
   homes or the local pub in each night, waiting for daylight to grant   
   them sanctuary.   
      
   Mutterings from the locals lead the Doctor and Rose to the private   
   nursing home of Nathaniel Morton, an old recluse who does not take   
   kindly to questions from strangers. Morton and his nurse, Peyne, bar   
   them from the home - but not before they get a glimpse of several   
   slumbering figures, all attached to machinery that is clearly alien.   
      
   As the night draws close, the monsters begin to emerge once more - and   
   with the plans of Peyne and Morton nearing completion, this may just   
   be the final night for Ynys Du!   
      
      
   CHARACTERS   
      
   The Doctor: Anthony Head does a terrific job of capturing the 10th   
   Doctor's enthusiasm, and he does it without compromising the Doctor's   
   inherent intelligence. His voice may not be anything like David   
   Tennant's, but he gets the intonations just right. This makes it very   
   easy to "hear" Tennant in the reader's line deliveries.   
      
   Rose: Head does a fantastic Rose, capturing her personality even   
   better than Tennant did in his three audio readings. The story is a   
   strong one for Rose, with writer Mike Tucker splitting her up from the   
   Doctor and giving her a strong role with a young companion of her own.   
   The bond Rose develops with Ali Hardy, a genuinely well-written child   
   character, is one of the freshest and most enjoyable parts of the   
   book.   
      
      
   THOUGHTS   
      
   The Nightmare of Black Island is one of many (too many) new series   
   audiobooks that feels like something straight out of the classic   
   series. Its setting, a sleepy Welsh fishing village with a nearby   
   lighthouse, with aliens hiding in the home of a wealthy recluse, would   
   fit right in with the Jon Pertwee/early Tom Baker period of the show.   
   With only the most minor touch-ups, you could replace a few character   
   names and seamlessly place this same book anywhere between Seasons 8   
   and 15. In fact, it feels more like something that belongs there than   
   with the new series.   
      
   It also happens to be a good story.   
      
   Mike Tucker's story may follow a familiar template, but he writes it   
   well. He takes the trouble to address the usual logic gaffes of such   
   tales. Why don't the villagers get help? Or take their families and   
   get out? It turns out there is an explanation which makes sense within   
   the story. The Doctor's psychic paper gets him into Morton's home   
   once... but when he clearly isn't acting the part, he doesn't get to   
   stay for long and doesn't fool anyone into thinking that he actually   
   is whoever the paper claims him to be.   
      
   Characterizations are above average for a Who novel, with well-drawn   
   backstories for critical guest characters. Nathaniel Morton's   
   background is largely delivered in one chunk of exposition. This could   
   be deadly - but the story infuses enough emotion into it that it   
   becomes arguably the best scene in the book, transforming a one-note   
   villain into a fully formed character. Bronwyn, a local eccentric who   
   helps the Doctor, has a backstory that is revealed in more gradual   
   bits and pieces. Her story is also infused with emotion, and linked to   
   Morton's in a way that lifts both characters' tales.   
      
   A well-written book, seamlessly abridged for audio and given a   
   terrific reading by Anthony Head. It's not in the top ranks of the new   
   series Who books, its formulaic storytelling and over-easy resolution   
   working against its best elements. Still, it's well above average for   
   the range. Well worth a listen.   
      
      
   Overall Rating: 7/10.   
      
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