The Paradise of Death

A new space theme park opens outside London, which is nothing that should demand UNIT's attention, until a dead man is found at its gates, his body mauled by a massive animal. The Brigadier investigates with the Doctor, and Sarah Jane Smith accompanies them in her capacity as a journalist with her photographer Jeremy Fitzoliver in tow. Space World offers spectacles of monsters from other planets and a new form of virtual reality that actually records experiences from people and implants them into others; technology that does not exist on this planet yet. The Parakon Corporation who own Space World are actually from the planet Parakon, the son of the Emperor directly overseeing the operation on Earth along with his slimy henchman, Tragan. The Doctor, the Brigadier and Jeremy follow Sarah to Parakon after she stows away in a spaceship and discover the planet has been lain waste with the weed crop Rapine; under normal circumstances it can be harvested and refined into any substance but it makes immense demands of the soil and the entire planet is being sucked dry of its nutrients. The truth of how the crop is being sustained is a well hidden secret, and once the Doctor discovers it he must call upon the oppressed denizens of Parakon to overthrow the evil that is spearheading the operation.

This adventure was written by former producer Barry Letts and produced for broadcast in five parts on BBC radio in 1993 - four years after the original series had concluded its final broadcast. Reuniting the third Doctor with Sarah and the Brigadier seems an interesting choice; I have a feeling this was supposed to be a UNIT story with Katy Manning as Jo Grant, but it does not diminish the effect of hearing them all together one bit. Jon Pertwee does sound noticeably older than he does on the televised episodes, but that hardly takes away from the fun of the audio adventure.

Maybe there's a bit too much fun though. In episode 5, the Doctor is forced into another trial by combat scenario against a notorious butcher which he defeats with ease, but before combat begins the Doctor is dressed as a clown and the opponant told that he has done so in a gesture of insult towards his mother. Riiiight.

Things like this you either love or you hate, whether you are a Barry Letts fanboy, a purist, or you simply love the show regardless of who writes the script. I personally found it amusing and fun; it made for a leisurely Sunday morning listen with a cup of tea this time, although in past it has served as audio entertainment for a road trip and even for something to listen to at the gym on the exercise bike.

And now... back to TV.

NEXT EPISODE : INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS