The Sandman [AUDIO/2002.10.24]

★★★☆☆

  What is the truth? What is myth, and what is its relation to the truth? How does race memory affect culture and civilisation? These are questions asked by Simon A. Forward's The Sandman, one of Big Finish's most criminally overlooked installments. I can understand to a degree why not many newcomers pick this up -- it was made fairly early on in Big Finish's lifespan, the Lee Binding cover is (intentionally or not) unappealing to the eye, and it doesn't feature any recognisable Doctor Who staples, bar the Doctor himself. Make no mistake, however; this is something of a hidden gem, taking us to a completely alien location and a fascinating tale of lies and legends.

  How fascinating is the idea that the Doctor sacrifices his good reputation in order to save a planet from invasion? Furthermore, how interesting is the idea that the invader race had their race memory taken from them to prevent them from further indulging in their predatory nature? This is perhaps one of the most challenging roles the Sixth Doctor has taken, becoming the bogeyman of an entire culture to save countless others from invasion. This means that Colin Baker gets to act as a complete megalomaniac, and he's glorious in those scenes. Like Creatures of Beauty (which was released after), The Sandman takes a more thorough look at the consequences of the Doctor's actions, and Forward succeeds in telling such a compelling tale because the Galyari society is well-written in detail. My only real gripe with the adventure is that the execution, while still good, doesn't hold a candle to the fascinating script. Forward also seems to struggle a bit tying all the threads and explanations in the final episode, making it a bit stuffed with technobabble. If you can stomach a bit of an exposition dump, though, The Sandman is a very worthy listen if you're interested in the Doctor embodying a villainous role.

artwork by Caroline Tankersley