Son of the Dragon (audio story): Difference between revisions

{{Infobox Story

|image = Bf099_sonofthedragon_big.jpg  

|name = Son of the Dragon

|series = [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|Big Finish ''Doctor Who'' audio stories]]

|number = 99

|doctor = Fifth Doctor

|companions = [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Erimem]]

|enemy = [[Dracula]]

|setting = [[Ungro-Wallachia]] and the surrounding area, [[17 June]] to [[2 July]] [[1462]]<br />

|writer = [[Steve Lyons]]

|director = [[Barnaby Edwards (actor)|Barnaby Edwards]]

|music = [[Andy Hardwick]]

|post production=[[Gareth Jenkins]]

|cover=[[Stuart Manning]]

|publisher = Big Finish

|release date = [[September (releases)|September]] [[2007 (releases)|2007]]

|format = 2 CDs - 4 Episodes

|production code = 6Q/K

|isbn = ISBN 978-1-84435-181-7

|prev = Frozen Time (audio story)

|next = 100 BC (audio story)

}}

'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the ninety-ninth [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|monthly ''Doctor Who'' audio release]] produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. Released in [[2007 (releases)|2007]], it was about the historical [[Dracula]], often called [[Dracula|Vlad the Impaler]].  

Like preceding [[Erimem]] adventures ''[[The Church and the Crown (audio story)|The Church and the Crown]]'' and ''[[The Council of Nicaea (audio story)|The Council of Nicaea]]'', it was a so-called "pure historical": a story featuring no [[science fiction]]al elements outside of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. Also in common with several other Erimem stories, ''Dragon'' contained an element of tension over whether Erimem would be departing. In this case, listeners heard the story of Erimem's first engagement, presaging her eventual royal matrimonial departure in ''[[The Bride of Peladon (audio story)|The Bride of Peladon]]''.  

The title referenced [[Vlad the Great]], Dracula's father, known as "the Dragon". Although the pre-titles sequence of part one directly stated that the "Son of the Dragon" was Dracula, in fact the rest of the story made clear that the title also applied to Vlad the Great's ''other'' son, [[Radu the Handsome]]. The contrast between the two leaders was one of the central themes of the piece.  

I am [[Dracula]].

The [[Fifth Doctor]] arrives in 1462 with [[Peri Brown]] and [[Erimem]]. The [[TARDIS]] materialises in the ruins of a small village. Disgusted by the smell, they find the village burned and the livestock slaughtered. The people were impaled and left to die. One lingering victim tells them that the destruction was by the Son of the Dragon, also known as [[Dracula]].

The Doctor [[deduce]]s that they are in [[Wallachia]], and a group of soldiers approach. They run. The Doctor is embarrassed by a fall into a pit trap, and they are caught by [[Radu the Handsome]] and the Sultan's Army. Radu is impressed by former [[pharaoh]] Erimem, and places them under his protection. They head to the soldier's camp, which was away from the TARDIS. Erimem rides ahead at Radu's request. The Doctor corrects Peri when she mentions Count Dracula, telling her that the real man, Prince Vlad Dracula III, ruler of this area, was worse. They have already seen Vlad the Impaler's favourite form of punishment, meaning that the villagers were probably collaborating with the enemies of the voivode of Wallachia. They realise they are travelling with the prince's enemies, the Turkish army led by Sultan [[Mehmed II]], also known as Mehmed the Conqueror.  

* [[Dracula|Dracula / Prince Vlad / Vlad the Impaler]] - [[James Purefoy]]

== References ==

* Like his father [[Vlad the Great]], [[Dracula]] is a member of the [[Order of the Dragon]].

* [[Bram Stoker]] was inspired to write his novel ''[[Dracula (novel)|Dracula]]'' from stories of the Prince of Wallachia's cruelty.

* When she meets Dracula, Peri tells him that he is shorter than she expected.

* The Doctor quotes [[Omar Khayyám]]: "Awake! For morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts the Stars to flight".

* A preview appeared in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 386|issue 386]], illustrated by [[Martin Geraghty]].

* This audio drama was recorded on [[6 February (production)|6]] and [[8 February (production)|8 February]] [[2007 (production)|2007]] at [[The Moat Studios]].

* Erimem is still learning [[English language|English]] from Peri and is now reasonably proficient in written English. Peri began teaching her friend English in ''[[The Axis of Insanity (audio story)|The Axis of Insanity]]'' and continued in ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|The Roof of the World]]''.

* The [[Sixth Doctor]] would later meet Dracula's [[Dracula (fictional character)|fictional vampire namesake]] in the [[Land of Fiction]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Legend of the Cybermen (audio story)|Legend of the Cybermen]]'')

* {{bigfinish|releases/v/son-of-the-dragon-265|Son of the Dragon}}

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[[Category:Audio stories that use the Peter Howell Doctor Who theme]]