“Doctor Who: The Hounds of Artemis”
by James Goss
read by Matt Smith & Clare Corbett.
Produced by BBC Audiobooks
approx 1 hour.
Not sure why it took me so long but not until the 5th season and the 11th doctor did I get into the return of the series “Doctor Who.” I loved it as a kid especially the Tom Baker version of the Doctor. But before I got into the series I had to start from the 9th Doctor and work my way back up to now…I’m now caught up with the TV series and, well, I’m impressed. Great storyline, and the special effects are awesome. The BBC even has 2 spinoff series, on for kids, “The Sarah Jane Adventures” a series for young adults (which ended due to the death of Elizabeth Sladen) and “Torchwood,” which went for 3 seasons, each on a different BBC channel and then coming to America on a subscription cable channel for a 4th season.
So now I’m caught up on the series and all the side series’ I’m doing my best to wait for each new episode. So what does an audio book lover do? Find Doctor Who audiobooks, and let me tell you the BBC has done their best to make sure there is a plethora of them available. So far I have liked all 3 of the new doctors (David Tenant was my fave, but the latest, Matt Smith is really growing on me. He’s my son’s fave so hey, there’s that.) This audiobook is a one hour release from BBC Audiobooks and features the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, and his companion, Amy Pond.) In the continuity of the series this audio falls before the “Big Bang” episode because it features the smiling crack in reality that is always following Amy.
In 1929 Lord Woolcroft and his team break open the fabled Tomb of Artemis, sealed for thousands of years, they are astonished by what they find inside…A man and a woman. The man is wearing a bowtie and introduces himself as The Doctor. He then tells them they are in great danger, and thus begins the adventure.
As are many things in time this event is a fixed moment and cannot be changed, however maybe the casualties can be lessened so that is what the Doctor and Amy set out to do. The Tomb of Artemis is opened and soon wolves/hounds begin to terrorize the archeaeological team. Once entering the tomb, the priestess of Artemis is there and presenting a feast of what seems to be each person’s favorite food. So it seems Artemis is feeding off the mental energy of the humans. Soon Artemis reveals her plan to escape and take over the world, but the Doctor decides this cannot happen.
Just as with the tv series this audiobook features excellent writing that makes the adventure one that will keep you wondering what will happen next the book is read by the star of the series, Matt Smith and by Clare Corbett. Clare Corbett’s reading sections are when the story is being told from Amy Pond’s diary and as the teller of the story, a descendent of one of the archaelogical team. Matt Smith delivers the rest and gives the story that extra Doctor Whoishness.
Great little audiobook that may get you hooked into the Doctor Who world if you aren’t already.