Doctor Who and the Pescatons (audio story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image=DW and the Pescatons Argo record cover.jpg
|image       = DW and the Pescatons Argo record cover.jpg
|series= [[BBC Audio Dramas]]
|series       = [[BBC Doctor Who audio stories|BBC ''Doctor Who'' audio stories]]
|doctor= Fourth Doctor
|novelisation = The Pescatons (novelisation)
|companions= [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]]
|doctor       = Fourth Doctor
|enemy= {{il|[[Zor]]|The [[Pescaton]]s}}
|companions   = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]]
|writer= [[Victor Pemberton]]
|enemy       = [[Zor]]
|director= [[Don Norman]]
|setting     = {{il|[[London]], [[20th century]]|[[Pesca]], [[15th century]]}}
|setting= {{il|[[London]], the [[20th century]]|[[Pesca]], the [[15th century]]}}
|publisher    = Argo Records
|producer=
|writer      = Victor Pemberton
|novelisation= The Pescatons
|director    = [[Don Norman]]
|publisher= Argo Records
|producer    =  
|release date=[[July (releases)|July]] [[1976 (releases)|1976]]
|cover        = [[Laurie Richards]] <small>(1976)</small>, [[Frazer Irving]] <small>(2005)</small>
|format= {{il|Record album|Cassette tape|CD}}
|release date = July 1976
|production code=
|format       = Vinyl<br/>CD<br/>Cassette
|isbn= ISBN 0-563-52764-1
|production code =  
|prev           = Glorious Goodwood (audio story)
|isbn         = ISBN 0-563-52764-1
|next           = Exploration Earth (audio story)
|prev         = Glorious Goodwood (audio story)
|next         = Exploration Earth (audio story)
|epcount = 2
}}
}}
'''''Doctor Who and the Pescatons''''' was the first original, officially licensed audio drama based upon ''Doctor Who''. Originally released by [[Argo Records]], the story featured [[Tom Baker]] and [[Elisabeth Sladen]], as the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. It was divided into two episodes, complete with opening and closing themes, simulating the televised series.
'''''Doctor Who and the Pescatons''''' was the first original, officially licensed audio drama based upon ''Doctor Who''. Originally released by [[Argo Records]], it featured [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Elisabeth Sladen]] as [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. It was divided into two episodes, complete with opening and closing themes, simulating the televised series.


Discounting a couple of radio appearances and an LP version of ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'' with added narration, ''The Pescatons'' was the last time that Baker participated in an original ''Doctor Who'' audio drama until the ''[[Hornets' Nest]]'' arc in [[2009]].
Discounting a couple of radio appearances and an LP version of ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'' with added narration, ''The Pescatons'' was the only time that Baker participated in an original ''Doctor Who'' audio drama until the ''[[Hornets' Nest]]'' arc in 2009.


The story was unusual because of its first-person perspective. Though first-person narratives weren't entirely without precedent — the earlier ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks]]'' had been written from [[Ian Chesterton]]'s point of view — this was the first time that a story had been told from [[the Doctor]]'s perspective, similar to [[Big Finish Productions]]' ''[[The Companion Chronicles|Companion Chronicles]]'' series. Until [[2010]]'s ''[[Dead Air (audio story)|Dead Air]]'', it remained the only original story narrated by the Doctor himself.
The story was unusual because of its first-person perspective. Though first-person narratives weren't entirely without precedent — the earlier ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks]]'' had been written from [[Ian Chesterton]]'s point of view — this was the first time that a story had been told from [[the Doctor]]'s perspective, similar to [[Big Finish Productions]]' ''[[The Companion Chronicles|Companion Chronicles]]'' series. Until 2010's ''[[Dead Air (audio story)|Dead Air]]'', it remained the only original story narrated by the Doctor himself.


It was also unusual for its depiction of a [[genocide]] devised and led by Sarah and the Doctor, without either character displaying even a tinge of remorse.
It was also unusual for its depiction of a [[genocide]] devised and led by Sarah and the Doctor, without either character displaying even a tinge of remorse.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] and his [[companion]] [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] battle against some of the most heinous foes to emerge from the outer [[universe]]: The [[Pescaton]]s. The Doctor finds himself in the capital city of [[London]], where the population is bewildered and trembling beneath the violent onslaught of a merciless [[alien invasion|invader]].
The [[Fourth Doctor]] and his [[companion]] [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] battle against some of the most heinous foes to emerge from the outer [[universe]]: The [[Pescaton]]s. The Doctor finds himself in the capital city of [[London]], where the population is bewildered and trembling beneath the violent onslaught of a merciless [[alien invasion|invader]].


Who or what is the mighty [[Zor]], whose green slanting luminous eyes glare out from the dark of night like giant emeralds? What is the powerful [[alien]] force that is bringing Earth's civilisation to a standstill, threatening to annihilate everything in its path?
Who or what is the mighty [[Zor]], whose green slanting luminous eyes glare out from the dark of night like giant emeralds? What is the powerful [[alien]] force that is bringing Earth's civilisation to a standstill, threatening to annihilate everything in its path?
Line 36: Line 38:


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Part one
=== Part one ===
 
The TARDIS arrives on a beach by the Thames Estuary at night, and the Doctor and Sarah discover a metallic seaweed there.
The TARDIS arrives on a beach by the Thames Estuary at night, and the Doctor and Sarah discover a metallic seaweed there.


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That night, more meteorites land in the Thames.
That night, more meteorites land in the Thames.


Part two
=== Part two ===
 
London is invaded, and the Doctor recalls his visit to planet Pesca, home of the Pescatons. He fell down a chasm into a cavern and met Zor, the leader of the Pescatons who informed him that they were going to use him to find a new home now that their own planet was drying out as it fell towards their sun. Zor used his hypnotic powers on the Doctor, who fought back and escaped.
London is invaded, and the Doctor recalls his visit to planet Pesca, home of the Pescatons. He fell down a chasm into a cavern and met Zor, the leader of the Pescatons who informed him that they were going to use him to find a new home now that their own planet was drying out as it fell towards their sun. Zor used his hypnotic powers on the Doctor, who fought back and escaped.


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* [[Zor]] - [[Bill Mitchell]]
* [[Zor]] - [[Bill Mitchell]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The Doctor sings "[[Hello, Dolly!]]".
* The Doctor sings "[[Hello, Dolly!]]".


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* [[Bill Mitchell]] (Zor) filmed a scene for [[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]'' in which he played a [[26th century]] [[Newscaster (Bill Mitchell)|newscaster]]. While the scene was cut from the televised version of the story, it was included in the novelisation [[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Space War]]''.
* Unusually, the Doctor here calls the [[Pescaton]]s "evil" on many occasions. This characterisation of another species is atypical for the Doctor. Indeed, it lays the foundation for another extraordinary feature of the story: the Doctor and Sarah devise and participate in the remorseless [[genocide]] of the Pescatons.
* Unusually, the Doctor here calls the [[Pescaton]]s "evil" on many occasions. This characterisation of another species is atypical for the Doctor. Indeed, it lays the foundation for another extraordinary feature of the story: the Doctor and Sarah devise and participate in the remorseless [[genocide]] of the Pescatons.
* In the style of ''[[The Companion Chronicles]]'', Tom Baker narrated the story in-character as the Fourth Doctor, allowing the story to be told from his perspective.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Similarly, [[Victor Pemberton|Pemberton]] also wrote the [[Second Doctor]] story [[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'', which also featured an aquatic lifeform that was vulnerable to high-pitched sounds (in that case [[Victoria Waterfield|Victoria's]] screams), and opened with [[the TARDIS]] landing on a deserted beach.
* The Doctor rhetorically asks Sarah if she thinks he's the [[Pied Piper]] of [[Hamelin]], whom he had met during his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Challenge of the Piper (comic story)|Challenge of the Piper]]'')
* A scene which once may have played as a "[[Tom Baker]]-ism" now has [[retroactive continuity]] with ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'' and ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]''. At one point, the Doctor and Sarah encounter an abandoned [[baby]] on the streets of [[London]]. The Doctor attempts to talk to him, but flatly says that "he won't talk." Sarah corrects him, saying that "he ''can't'' talk." Since modern listeners know that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] claims to be able to speak "[[Baby (language)|Baby]]," the scene ''now'' plays as though the Doctor's statement is probably more accurate than Sarah's.
* The Doctor recalls encountering hostile seaweed from a burned-out spacecraft before. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury From The Deep]]'')
* The Doctor asks Sarah, "What do you take me for, the [[Pied Piper]] of [[Hamelin]]?" The Doctor met the Pied Piper while in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Challenge of the Piper (comic story)|Challenge of the Piper]]'') Sarah would later encounter the Pied Piper herself in [[2009]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Clown (TV story)|The Day of the Clown]]'')


== Home media releases ==
== Home media releases ==
This story has been released several times on both cassette and audio CD.
''Doctor Who and the Pescatons'' has been released several times on both cassette and audio CD.


=== Record release ===
=== Vinyl Record releases ===
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
File:DW and the Pescatons Argo record cover.jpg|Argo record release: [[1976 (releases)|1976]]
File:DW and the Pescatons Argo record cover.jpg|Argo record release: [[1976 (releases)|1976]]
File:Doctor_Who_and_the_Pescatons_2nd_Vinyl.jpg|Demon Records release: [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


=== Cassette releases ===
=== Cassette releases ===
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:DW and the Pescatons UK cassette Argo cover.jpg|Argo UK release cover: [[1986 (releases)|1982]]
File:DW and the Pescatons UK cassette Argo cover.jpg|Argo UK release cover: [[1986 (releases)|1982]]
File:DW and the Pescatons Newman cassette cover.jpg|Newman US release cover: 1986
File:DW and the Pescatons Newman cassette cover.jpg|Newman US release cover: 1986
Line 87: Line 87:


=== Audio CD releases ===
=== Audio CD releases ===
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:DW and the Pescatons Silva screen CD cover.jpg|[[Silva Screen]] [[1991 (releases)|1991]] release
DW and the Pescatons Silva screen CD cover.jpg|[[Silva Screen]] [[1991 (releases)|1991]] release
File:DW and the Pescatons UK BBC Audio CD cover.jpg|[[BBC Audio]] [[2005 (releases)|2005]] release
DW and the Pescatons UK BBC Audio CD cover.jpg|[[BBC Audio]] [[3 January (releases)|3 January]] [[2005 (releases)|2005]] release
The BBC Radio Episodes CD Box Set.jpg|''[[The BBC Radio Episodes Collection|The BBC Radio Episodes]]'' 2011 release (boxset)
Doctor Who and the Pescatons 2011 CD cover.jpg|The BBC Radio Episodes release (CD)
Doctor Who And The Pescatons audiobook.jpg|[[2019 (releases)|2019]] release
</gallery>
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{dwrefguide|pescaton.htm|Doctor Who and the Pescatons}}
{{dwrefguide|pescaton.htm|Doctor Who and the Pescatons}}{{chakoteya|Extras/Pescatons.html|Dr Who and the Pescatons}}
* {{tetrap|other/pesca.html|Doctor Who and the Pescatons}}
{{tetrap|other/pesca.html|Doctor Who and the Pescatons}}
{{BBCDWA}}
{{AudioGO}}
{{AudioGO}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
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[[Category:1976 audio stories]]
[[Category:1976 audio stories]]
[[Category:Sarah Jane Smith audio stories]]
[[Category:Sarah Jane Smith audio stories]]
[[Category:BBC Audio audio stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 15th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 15th century]]
[[Category:BBC Audio audio stories]]
[[Category:Two part audio stories]]
[[Category:Full-cast audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 12:08, 8 December 2024

RealWorld.png

Doctor Who and the Pescatons was the first original, officially licensed audio drama based upon Doctor Who. Originally released by Argo Records, it featured Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith. It was divided into two episodes, complete with opening and closing themes, simulating the televised series.

Discounting a couple of radio appearances and an LP version of Genesis of the Daleks with added narration, The Pescatons was the only time that Baker participated in an original Doctor Who audio drama until the Hornets' Nest arc in 2009.

The story was unusual because of its first-person perspective. Though first-person narratives weren't entirely without precedent — the earlier Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks had been written from Ian Chesterton's point of view — this was the first time that a story had been told from the Doctor's perspective, similar to Big Finish Productions' Companion Chronicles series. Until 2010's Dead Air, it remained the only original story narrated by the Doctor himself.

It was also unusual for its depiction of a genocide devised and led by Sarah and the Doctor, without either character displaying even a tinge of remorse.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fourth Doctor and his companion Sarah battle against some of the most heinous foes to emerge from the outer universe: The Pescatons. The Doctor finds himself in the capital city of London, where the population is bewildered and trembling beneath the violent onslaught of a merciless invader.

Who or what is the mighty Zor, whose green slanting luminous eyes glare out from the dark of night like giant emeralds? What is the powerful alien force that is bringing Earth's civilisation to a standstill, threatening to annihilate everything in its path?

This is the story of a dying Planet, of a Deadly Weed, and the merciless Creatures themselves. It is a Challenge to the Doctor—a frightening race against time...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS arrives on a beach by the Thames Estuary at night, and the Doctor and Sarah discover a metallic seaweed there.

The Doctor consults with Professor Emerson, who says that three expeditions to recover a recent meteorite from the bottom of the estuary have all vanished. The Doctor goes diving and is nearly killed by something that wraps itself around him, but then lets him go. He discovers that the meteorite is a wrecked spaceship buried under the estuary, and he knows where it comes from

The Doctor tells Sarah about the Pescatons, a form of carcharhinidae, or deep water shark. Naturally, the experts scoff until one comes out of the Thames and makes its way to London Zoo in search of salt water. The Doctor confronts it in the Aquarium, where it dies and disintegrates.

That night, more meteorites land in the Thames.

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

London is invaded, and the Doctor recalls his visit to planet Pesca, home of the Pescatons. He fell down a chasm into a cavern and met Zor, the leader of the Pescatons who informed him that they were going to use him to find a new home now that their own planet was drying out as it fell towards their sun. Zor used his hypnotic powers on the Doctor, who fought back and escaped.

Back in London, Sarah finds an abandoned baby while the military try to shoot the invading Pescatons to no avail. The Doctor distracts a Pescaton by singing Hello Dolly and doing a dance so that Sarah can get away with the child. Finally the Pescatons retreated back into salt water, except for one trapped in an Underground tunnel. The Doctor and Sarah go in search of it, and the Doctor starts playing his piccolo to calm his nerves. The Pescaton retreats at the sound.

Professor Emerson helps the Doctor build a high frequency sound trap inside a sewer, and Zor is lured there to be destroyed as the planet Pesca disintegrates in its orbit. Without Zor to control it, the Pescaton invasion ends.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Unusually, the Doctor here calls the Pescatons "evil" on many occasions. This characterisation of another species is atypical for the Doctor. Indeed, it lays the foundation for another extraordinary feature of the story: the Doctor and Sarah devise and participate in the remorseless genocide of the Pescatons.
  • In the style of The Companion Chronicles, Tom Baker narrated the story in-character as the Fourth Doctor, allowing the story to be told from his perspective.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who and the Pescatons has been released several times on both cassette and audio CD.

Vinyl Record releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Argo record release: 1976

    Argo record release: 1976

  • Demon Records release: 2011

    Demon Records release: 2011

Cassette releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Argo UK release cover: 1982

    Argo UK release cover: 1982

  • Newman US release cover: 1986

    Newman US release cover: 1986

  • Polygram UK release: 1993

    Polygram UK release: 1993

Audio CD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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