PLOTLINE  

Long, long ago on the great plains of Asia Minor, two mighty armies faced each other in mortal combat. The armies were the Greeks and the Trojans, and the prize they were fighting for was Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. To the Greeks, it seemed that the city of Troy was impregnable and only a miracle could bring them success.

And then help comes to them in a most mysterious way, as a strange blue box materialises close to their camp, bringing with it the Doctor, Steven and Vicki, who soon find themselves caught up in the irreversible tide of history and legend...

COMMENT

Releasing DOCTOR WHO AND THE MYTHMAKERS is a mark of genius by BBC AUDIO.

The novelisation of William Hartnell's' 1965 four-parter is widely recognised by DOCTOR WHO aficionados to be one of the truly originals from the TARGET range. With both the television story and novel written by Donald Cotton (screenwriter of THE GUNFIGHTERS and novel writer of Dennis Spooner's THE ROMANS), the novel captures the historical context of ancient Asia Minor and the originally witty (occasionally highly comedic) television presentation.

In a casting coup, BBC AUDIO has garnered the considerable & reassuring vocal talents of Stephen Thorne (THE DÆMONS and THE THREE DOCTORS).

An Award winning spoken word orator continuing in the footsteps (in this instance, marked in the sun-warmed sand of the plains.) of Geoffrey Beevers and Tom Baker to enthrall and entertain with the tale, delivered in the "first person" of myth maker, Homer, that ensnare the bumbling Doctor, innocent Vicky and the bewildered Steven.

Thorne adds a gravitas and maturity that mellows the humorous 20th. century dialogue that is littered across the ancient setting yet, like a stone mason executing a hardened steel on to the surface of a stone, steadies the historical tomus unraveled by Homer for the listener to wish that this BBC AUDIO had been available instead of a school's tedious History lesson. In fact, the first chapters are so educationally precise that could pass an exam as a result.

Interestingly, as you are hypnotically drawn into the story, the construction of the dialogue is strangely familiar. It seems to be a template for several of the "historical-based" NEW SERIES episodes as created by Russell T Davies. The "olde worldly" language of "Thee's" and "Thou's" replaced by conversationalist (read: period slang and constrictions) of the 21 st century so not to alienate the viewer/listener. It is a brave move but like, for example, THE SHAKESPEARE CODE (2007) Cotton's novelisation is a triumph and ahead of its time. So much so that if re-made for the NEW SERIES, THE MYTH MAKERS would be indeed successful.

Since 1965, DOCTOR WHO AND THE MYTH MAKERS has been derided for being a part of an attempt to continue with the "history as education" element following the success of MARCO POLO, THE AZTECS and THE REIGN OF TERROR. An attempt that had seemingly failed and has become co-joined with the previous season's THE ROMANS.

However, with this BBC AUDIO unabridged release, under the guidance and skill of Stephen Thorne, this unwarranted reputation has been quashed.