The Anachronauts

Companion Chronicles #6.7

Released: January 2012

Listened: 2/19/20

The next batch of Companion Chronicles take place in reverse order to their release order. This one is a bumper release with both Jean Marsh and Peter Purves, who once again plays both Steven and the Doctor. Half of it is set on a strange planet, and the other half in 1966 Germany, but there’s head games all around, so you need to be careful about what you’re hearing. Jean Marsh sounds distinctly older than Sara did originally, but she has the advantage that she didn’t have many episodes back then, so most listeners don’t remember what she sounded like. She plays Sara as tough and capable, with a military mind, which makes a distinct contrast to pretty much all the companions so far, women or men. Because it’s a longer story, there’s some time spent on her relationship with Steven, with the Doctor out of the picture, but that relationship is one of strong friendship and loyalty, even though they haven’t known each other very long. There are a number of minor characters who aren’t voiced, because it’s a Companion Chronicle, which detracts from the impact of the story -- a failing that this line doesn’t normally fall victim to. The overall plot may not be the strongest, but it’s a decent story.