Setting the scene in Marc Platt's First Doctor story as told by one of his former companions Maureen O'Brien is indeed a delightful narrator easing you gently into the story by an initial conversation with Keith Drinkel's slightly mocking 'The Cinder' character. In the effectively created audio surroundings of the dank cisterns below the Temple of Astarte you get the brief impression during that hesitant initial portion of this disc that Vicki, despite her love for Troilus, has a tinge of regret at living in the past of Ancient Carthage 1164 BC (as related in the 1965 television story "The Myth Makers"). However 'the tale that she has to tell' is definitely effective Hartnell era replete with Maureen's praise worthy occasional First Doctor mannerisms. As with other companion chronicles entries this offering slots in between established transmitted chronology with Vicki stating that the Doctor's other travelling companion Steven Taylor has only recently joined them after the business… more »

Setting the scene in Marc Platt's First Doctor story as told by one of his former companions Maureen O'Brien is indeed a delightful narrator easing you gently into the story by an initial conversation with Keith Drinkel's slightly mocking 'The Cinder' character. In the effectively created audio surroundings of the dank cisterns below the Temple of Astarte you get the brief impression during that hesitant initial portion of this disc that Vicki, despite her love for Troilus, has a tinge of regret at living in the past of Ancient Carthage 1164 BC (as related in the 1965 television story "The Myth Makers"). However 'the tale that she has to tell' is definitely effective Hartnell era replete with Maureen's praise worthy occasional First Doctor mannerisms. As with other companion chronicles entries this offering slots in between established transmitted chronology with Vicki stating that the Doctor's other travelling companion Steven Taylor has only recently joined them after the business with the Daleks and Mechanoids ("The Chase") and 'that business with the Monk' ("The Time Meddler"). This disc's story is a pleasant blending of a historical setting (Regency London, 1814 AD) plus meeting a famous literary figure (in this instance Miss Jane Austen) together with the two aspects hinted at in the title, that of a fire-breathing Dragon and 'the deadliest weather you ever did see'. An enchanting 67 ¾ mins that effectively recreates the mid 60s era of classic series Doctor Who.

I do hope play.com will be offering the third season of these companion chronicles that begin their monthly releases in July 2008!