Exotron (audio story)
Exotron was the three-part story comprising part of the ninety-fifth release in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Paul Sutton and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.
Released in 2007, it was the the second audio story that featured the Fifth Doctor and Peri Brown without Erimem. The first, Red Dawn, had been published seven years earlier in the year 2000.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
Exotron (A Three-Part Story)
"The Farakosh attack us — and my Exotrons defend us."
On a distant colonial outpost of Earth, a group of terraformers is under threat from the planet's most fearsome predator: the giant carnivorous Farakosh. All that stands between the colonists and a grisly death are the Exotrons — huge robots equipped with devastating firepower, designed by the outpost's leader, Major Taylor.
But all is not as it seems. How are the Exotrons controlled, and where did the colonists find the resources to build them? The Doctor wants answers and Taylor is reluctant to provide them.
Meanwhile, outside the compound, the Farakosh are massing...
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor - Peter Davison
- Peri Brown - Nicola Bryant
- Hector Taylor - John Duttine
- Paula Taylor - Isla Blair
- Sergeant Shreeni / Secretary of the Interior Ballentyne - Nick Brimble
- Corporal Mozz / Christian Liptoye - Richard Earl
- Weiss / Kucha / Computer - Claire Wyatt
Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Cover Art - Alex Mallinson
- Director - Barnaby Edwards
- Executive Producers - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
- Music - Andy Hardwick
- Producer - Sharon Gosling
- Script Editor - Alan Barnes
- Sound Design - Gareth Jenkins
- Writer - Paul Sutton
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor has studied Greek and knows the language.
- The Doctor is prepared to sacrifice himself, noting that the TARDIS will look after Peri.
Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Paula is the former wife of Major Hector Taylor.
- Taylor's co-conspirator in the Exotron project is Secretary of the Interior Ballentyne, whose office is in Brussels, Belgium.
- Paula had an affair with a lieutenant named Christian, which led to the deterioration of her marriage.
Species[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Farakosh are a hyena-like species that have a natural telepathic field.
Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]
- If the TARDIS is not too far away, the Doctor can link with the telepathic circuits.
- The Exotrons are robots that serve as shells for dead soldiers.
- The Exotron Net is a single consciousness.
- Taylor controls the Exotrons via a cerebral link interface with intravenous implants.
Psychic abilities[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Telepathy can not only allow two minds to communicate, but with enough telepathic energy the stronger mind can actually control the weaker mind.
- The planet is immersed in telepathic fields, allowing some individuals to hear the thoughts of others.
Government organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The terraformers answer to the Earth Authority.
Plants[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Peri studies the xerophytes on the unnamed Earth colony and collects several samples to bring back to the TARDIS.
Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]
Original cover art
CD sleeve illustration which shows events from the story
Illustrated preview by Martin Geraghty from DWM 382
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Exotron is three episodes long. The other episode on the second disc is Urban Myths.
- This release includes behind-the-scenes interviews with members of the cast.
- After AUDIO: Red Dawn, this is only the second Fifth Doctor audio drama to feature Peri but not Erimem.
- This audio drama was recorded on 5 and 6 February 2007 at the Moat Studios.
- REF: AHistory arbitrarily places this story in 2350 due to the level of technology depicted.
- Peter Davison and John Duttine had previously worked together on the television series Ain't Misbehavin' from 1994 to 95.
- An illustrated preview for this story appeared in DWM 382 with artwork by Martin Geraghty.
- This story is set between Planet of Fire and The Caves of Androzani.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Peri uses her botany skills to analyse the plants on the colony. (TV: The Mark of the Rani, Timelash)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official Exotron page at bigfinish.com
- Exotron at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- DisContinuity for Exotron at Tetrapyriarbus - The DisContinuity Guide
