Doctor Who: The Bride Of Peladon by Barnaby Edwards
01/05/2008 . Source: Sue Davies 
CD. pub: Big Finish ISBN: 978-1-84435-289-0. 60 minute CD. Price: £14.99 (UK))voices: Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Caroline Morris, Phyllida Law, Jenny Agutter, Christian Coluson, Yasmin Bannerman, Nicholas Briggs, Jane Goddard, Richard Earl, Philip Childs and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Buy Doctor Who: The Bride Of Peladon in the USA - or Buy Doctor Who: The Bride Of Peladon in the UK  check out web site www.BigFinish.com
Erimem, Peri and the Doctor arrive on Peladon when it is in transition. A new ruler is being crowned and he is to welcome a bride. But these are dark times on Peladon. The previous ruler died mysteriously and she is not resting in peace. When Pelleas hears her ghost on the battlements, he is utterly convinced that she was murdered and must be revenged.
Meanwhile, his bride-to-be is having second thoughts as the prospects for a young female queen don't seem to be that healthy. Elsewhere, there is more death as a young miner at the trisilicate mine, meets something that is hungry for blood.
Offworlders are suspected and there are plenty of those to choose from. Ambassador Zixlyr, the Ice Warrior, is here to find out what happened to the last ambassador who mysteriously disappeared. Elkin, who is charge of the mining operation, is also dealing with an offworlder, the double-dealing Arktos, putting the miners in grave danger.
Peri teams up with the Ambassador, albeit reluctantly, and Erimem finds herself with the groom-to-be, Pelleas, and is drawn to him unlike his bride who is only a convenience for them both. Then there is Alpha Centauri who has accompanied Pandora and he and the Doctor have a history. Alpha is a hermaphrodite hexapod and appeared in 'The Curse Of Peladon' and 'The Monster Of Peladon' in 1972 and 1974 respectively. This story uses and builds on the previous ones. Amusingly, Alpha was previously known as seeing women as unimportant and this time is surrounded by a bunch of post-feminist women who would make mincemeat of most of the men.
There's a strong royal connection here and Erimem is a key player in this drama as all roads lead from Ancient Egypt to the planet of Peladon.
Guest cast is eclectic again. Thomas Brodie-Sangster pops up as the young miner and acting greats Jenny Agutter and Phyllida Law are the scary royal family.
A cracking tale with lots of complicated leads means you must pay attention at every point or you will be lost in the mines of Peladon. It's neatly assembled and draws on precious TV series but you won't need to have previous knowledge to enjoy the visit to this planet.
Extras are the usual enjoyable interviews and spoilers so don't listen until the end of the adventure as you won't want to spoil the surprise.
Sue Davies
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