Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Doctor Who and the Ark in Space

  • By: Ian Marter
  • Narrated by: Jon Culshaw
  • Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Doctor Who and the Ark in Space cover art

Doctor Who and the Ark in Space

By: Ian Marter
Narrated by: Jon Culshaw
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment cover art
Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin cover art
Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet cover art
Doctor Who and the Giant Robot cover art
Doctor Who and the Ice Warriors cover art
Doctor Who: The Three Doctors cover art
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks cover art
Doctor Who and the Dinosaur Invasion cover art
Doctor Who and the Zarbi cover art
Doctor Who: Marco Polo cover art
Doctor Who and the War Games cover art
Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen cover art Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars cover art
Doctor Who and the Face of Evil cover art
Doctor Who: The Romans cover art
Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius cover art

Summary

Jon Culshaw reads this exciting novelisation of a 1975 TV adventure featuring the Fourth Doctor.

At a time in the far-off future, Earth has become uninhabitable. A selection of humanity is placed, deep-frozen, in a fully automated space station to await the day of their return to Earth.

Thousands of years later, the Doctor arrives with his companions, Sarah and Harry, and finds things going suspiciously wrong. The station is under attack from the giant Wirrn, deadly creatures who, in their lust for power, now threaten the future of the whole human race....

Jon Culshaw reads this unabridged novelisation written by Ian Marter, who played Harry Sullivan in the original BBC TV series.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about Doctor Who and the Ark in Space

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

Well .... wow!

What a revelation! What a tour de Force the late Ian Marter was as a writer. Not only did he act and play the part of the fourth Doctor's male companion, Harry Sullivan, but after listening to his novelization of the classic Who story, The Ark In Space, it turns out he is a superb writer too.

The Ark In Space is an early Tom Baker era story and one I remember with fondness, so I immediately short listed this as my next purchase from Audible. After listening to the sample, my mind had been made up and I hit the purchase option right away.

There are many successful writers, some more than others, some more deserving of their success than others. Marter is one of those much lesser know, less appreciated writers. Someone who has a natural ability to put into words the story he has chosen to novelize. Marters style of writing is wonderfully straightforward, vivid and wonderfully immersive, placing the reader right there in the midst of the action. He is able to articulate through his superb and flowing prose style the most difficult scenes with fantastic detail and pace. I just wish my own ability to convey how impressed I was with his work could do it justice.

Marter also excels at adding further detail to the television version, which is done so well and so seamlessly that, for me, it's the definitive version. To be more precise, this audio version is. The production quality of this adaptation is excellent with very atmospheric sound effects that really do add greatly to the experience. In particular, the sounds of the horrific alien parasites, the Wirrn, are done superbly.

I so enjoyed the way Marter adapted this story. He, like Terrance Dicks, really captured the imagination of the reader with their wonderfully articulate style. I was amazed and repulsed at how well Marter was able to describe the horrifying metamorphosis of Noah, I think few other writers could have done as well.

If you talk writers and mention Douglas Adams, most people will have heard of him. Mention Ian Marter and you will likely draw a blank expression from most people. Ironically, in my humble opinion, Marter is a more talented writer than Adams. I was considering another Doctor Who novelization, The Pirate Planet by Douglas Adams, but after listening to the rather lack lustre sample, decided to skip it. I found Adams' style somewhat overly wordy and rather waffely.

It's a real shame Ian Marter died so young back in 1986, his talents as a writer could have reached greater heights - such a shame. I also like that Marter had the love for the show to do this. So many actors seem to shy away from the very thing that made them a house hold name and yet Marter embraced Doctor Who which shows in his superb treatment of this classic story. Marter shows a fantastic imagination when penning the additional elem,ents to this story not included in the television version. For example, he describes so vividly how Sarah felt during her trip via the transmat couch, something we are never privy to in the TV show.

Ian Marter has thoroughly impressed me and I am already seeking out other stories adapted by him. I just listened to the sample of Earth Shock and I was hooked! Now, that's good writing!!

To top off this excellent story, the amazing Jon Culshaw narrates and his Tom Baker impression is flawless. Had you not told me it was Culshaw, I would've sworn it was Baker himself. Culshaw's narration and Marter's writing is a perfect combination, it really is.

If you liked the TV version of Ark In Space, you'll absolutely love this version.

As I reflect on Who's best years and best people, I am saddened to ponder over the loss of so many greats: Elisabeth Sladen, Jon Pertwee, Barry letts, Terrance Dicks and Ian Marter amongst others. At least their wonderful legacy will live on.
!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Narration by Jon Culshaw

I thought that Tom Baker and Ian Marter were doing the reading with Jon Culshaw but its ALL him well done absolutely FAB

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Culshaw.

Jon Culshaw excels again in this Doctor Who reading. His narration fully conveys the menace and disturbing nature of the story. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!