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Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment

A Fourth Doctor Novelisation

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About this listen

An unabridged audiobook of this classic novelisation of a Fourth Doctor TV adventure from 1975.

Landing on Earth - now a barren, desolate planet - Sarah, Harry and the Doctor are unaware of a large, watching robot. The robot is the work of Styre, a Sontaran warrior who uses all humans landing here for his experimental programmes.

What has happened to the other space explorers who have come here? Why is Styre so interested in Earth and in brutally torturing humans, including Sarah Jane? Will the Doctor be able to prevent an invasion and save both Earth and his companions?

©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Fantasy Science Fiction Time Travel Fiction Technology Robotics
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The Sontaran Experiment was my second novelization adapted by Ian Marter and what an adaptation it was! I was so impressed with Marter's treatment of The Ark In Space that I sought out other titles he has novelized and even purchased three extra credits to do it! My money was well spent as Ian Marter has delivered another fantastic reworking of this short Tom Baker era story.

As I recall, the original version of The Sontaran Experiment was a mere two part story. Usually, for classic Doctor Who, stories occupied four and even six episodes, so, how did Marter expand his version to over three hours? By doing what Ian Marter does so well and using his wonderful imagination and superb writing abilities to hugely expand this story into something much bigger, better and visceral then the original.

I was actually quite shocked at the scenes where Marter depicts so vividly the horrors of Sarah Jane's mental torture. Marter really came up with truly disturbing and nightmarish trials for Sarah to endure, something that would have never made it to a screen version. I can't stress enough how incredible Marter's imagination is and how well he realizes this through his vivid and articulate prose style. His opening description of the Earth as it was in the far future, really sets the scene and it does so skilfully. As with the Ark In Space, Marter has a wonderful ability to really pull the reader into the worlds or scenes he is writing about.

As alluded to before, this novelized version is greatly expanded, but done in such a way as to remain true to the original. If the BBC had the budget and effects capabilities back then and were able to fully realize Martter's adaptation, then it would have been a truly epic story. His Sontaran is much bigger and physically nastier than that able to be depicted on television. Given the short story Marter had to work with, it's a real testament to this writers skill, imagination and love for the show that he was able to adapt this so brilliantly.

This really is Doctor Who at its best and a hugely entertaining and immersive experience. The sound effects only add to the superb writing and are never intrusive or out of place.

Yet again, Jon Culshaw delivers an utterly superb reading of this, using his amazing voice talents to perfectly reproduce the Sontarans voice as was heard on the television episode. Also, Culshaw's Tom Baker is incredible and adds the final polish and authenticity to this brilliantly written novelization.

I can't say much more, other than to wonder why you have not already downloaded this gem.

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This story is very different to the TV. But all of them are like this. Even though it is good, Ian Marter is as good as Terrance Ducks.

Not like the TV

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