‘Doctor Who’: ‘Snake Bite’ audiobook review

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‘Snake Bite’ is the last audio story to feature recently departed television companions Amy Pond and Rory Williams. In a reversal of fortunes from their final on-screen outing, this tale sees the two again separated with Rory and the Doctor paired together. Meanwhile Amy and the TARDIS are taken from them when the time machine deposits them the critical moments of a dangerous experiment.

Husband and wife team Dr Elehri Mussurana and Professor Ernst Wharner run the experiment in question; the two have spent a lifetime secretly creating a wormhole in the fabric of space/time. They work about the Jörmungand Spacestation, a gargantuan construction comprised of a ring of spaceships that encircle the planet of Midgard and protect the unique species that dwell on it. At the far end of the wormhole, as Amy discovers, is a dying planet and a desperate serpentine species that will do anything to survive.

The setting is a great concept and its reference points in Norse mythology inform the tale well. We did feel that Amy’s portion of the story was a little weak, however, as she does little other than wait for rescue while exploring the far end of the wormhole and that seems somewhat at odds with her television character.

Writer Scott Handcock catches the regulars well. His Doctor is flighty and prone to distraction yet far more aware of what is going on than he allows others to see. In the tale’s resolution, the Doctor displays an almost ruthless, pragmatic streak that the 11th has shown before when dealing with those he cannot reason with.

For those who enjoy such things, as we do at CultBox, there are name checks to look out for; the serpentine villains from the ‘Serpent Crest’ audio series are referenced as well as the planet of Metebelis Three.

Narrator Frances Barber, familiar from her appearances across Series 6 as Madame Kovarian, has a wonderfully rich voice and provides some great characterisations. Like Tom Baker, she has the kind of voice that could make a reading of the telephone directory engaging. Unfortunately, her Scots accent for Amy is a bit of a struggle making Ms Pond far too broad. She does manage to covey the Doctor’s sparky enthusiasm too but unsurprisingly is at her devilish best when unleashed as the villain of the piece.

Released on 6 December 2012 by AudioGO.

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