I had been looking forward to hearing this audio for some time. Although
I try not to read reviews of things I'm going to experience soon I
couldn't help but pick up the generally positive vibe, as well as
comments to the effect that it was perfect 50th Anniversary material -
just released a little early. So, I listened to it a little late - at
the perfect time, in fact.
Though it starts with a look rather than a listen. Alex Mallinson's
cover design is particularly fine, being both attractive and
appropriate. I especially like the faded-out museum corridor behind
(which reminds me of one of M.C. Escher's pictures), the choice of
colours, and the way Ian's memories are presented. Also, the design fits
well with the stripe-down-the-left Big Finish house style. Good job!
Jumping to the end, the CD extra is just a brief clip of producer David
Richardson interviewing the actors and director: a bit of fluff that
doesn't add to my knowledge or insight, and doesn't even mention the
lunches. This doesn't detract from the experience, though, and everyone
sounds happy, so fair enough.
Back to the story, then; and one interesting aspect for readers of Elizabeth Sandifer's blog (or of the musings of some like-thinking people)
is the adventure set on Vastradia. This is the only part to resemble a
traditional Companion Chronicle, and it is where alchemy raises its
head; so I just want to say a little about that. The adventure begins
because of the mercury in the fault locator (or something - whatever, it
is in itself a jumbled version of events from past stories), but the
key element this time is molybdenum. An interesting choice: the name
comes from a Greek word for lead, because the ores were often mistaken
for each other. So, a confusing element for a confused account! It is an
important substance in life processes since it is the main catalyst
used by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, without which multicellular life could
not exist. Transformative not just in the sense of affecting a chemical
process, then, but also in the sense of affecting the whole history of
life on Earth.
Alchemically, it is mercury that is the agent of change, transforming
base lead into pure gold just as the Doctor transforms societies - for
example, on Vortis. And in a later conversation about that very world
Ian mentions a forbidden metal which Pendolin tentatively identifies as
molybdenum, but which is actually gold. The narrative has moved further
on in the process. Intentional? Probably not, but that doesn't actually
matter with symbolism.
Molybdaenum, plumbum, lead - what's in a name? Thing can be referred to
by different titles - and titles can refer to different things. Even on
the TV show, The Rescue is both a serial in its own right and an episode of The Daleks, which is itself also an episode of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. Once you introduce expanded universe stories what hope is there? The Time Museum (as well as being a pun on The Space Museum)
was a comic strip in the 1969 TV Comic Annual. If I find a copy I'll
read it at the appropriate time, though from the TVC stories I have seen
it's not going to be a priority!
James Goss is the author of a few eleventh Doctor books, though he is probably better known for writing a large number of Torchwood novels, short stories, and audios. Of these I've only read one (The Undertaker's Gift, not really my thing) and heard one other (The Golden Age, which was fun). The Time Museum
is the earliest of his three Companion Chronicles to date, and one
thing that strikes me is their variety (though they are all, in their
various ways, nostalgia fests). The other thing of note is their
quality: this is my least-favourite, and it's still above average.
Unusually, I can say a little bit about what makes this a good script.
It is exemplified by the line "Mr Chesterton, you don't give up!", which
summarises Ian's character beautifully, but not in a completely obvious
way. Throughout, there is the sense that Goss really knows the period
and has thought quite deeply about it.
Published:
Date: July 2012
ISBN: 1-78178-018-3
Rating:
7/10. But only just.
Next Time:
The Cannibal Flower.
No comments:
Post a Comment