Product Description

"The Green Death" begins slowly. In a small Welsh mining village a man emerges from the disused colliery covered in a green fungus. Minutes later he is dead. UNIT, Jo Grant and Doctor Who in tow, arrive on the scene to investigate, but strangely reluctant to assist their inquiries is Dr. Stevens, director of the local refinery, Panorama Chemicals. Are they in time to destroy the mysterious power which threatens them all before the whole village, and even the world, is wiped out by a deadly swarm of green maggots? Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant in the original 1973 TV serial on which this book is based, reads Malcolm Hulke's complete and unabridged novelization, first published by Target Books in 1975. 'BBC Audio books has chosen well with its books and has taken the right approach with its readers...they benefit from new music and sound effects' - "Doctor Who Magazine".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #424285 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-11
• Released on: 2008-09-11
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Invasion of the maggots
People near a Welsh mining village are dying mysteriously leaving a bright green hue on their skin. The Doctor comes to investigate this phenomenon and in the process finds himself potted against the BOSS

Classic Adventure in Spoken Form
Forming part of Doctor Who's tenth season, The Green Death will always be remembered by those of a certain age as "the one with the maggots". The BBC has issued a series of audio books based upon the original Target novelisations of the 1970s - with variable results. I am happy to report that this release is one of if not the best of the releases so far.

Read with gusto by actress katy Manning - who also appeared in the show as Jo Grant - the story diverges somewhat from its televised counterpart and is adapted well for the written medium by its author, the late Malcolme Hulke.

The story offers a stark warning against the perils of toxic waste affecting the Earth and also highlights the plight of whole communities suddenly out of work - two strands as relevant today as they were when the story was written 35 years ago.

Here we see the results of Man's haphazard regard for his environment as toxic waste is pumped into a disused mine with startling and deadly consequences.

Ms Manning captures the spirit of the piece with various accents from the boyish Welsh charm of Professor Cliff Jones to the gruff efficiency of brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The real revelation is how effortlessly she hops between these characterisations - including an excellent reprise of Jo Grant - and her reading is supported by an excellent soundscape and new incidental music.

I would recommend this audio book to those of you who watched the original show or read the novelisation as a child, and to those of you for whom the new version has been the jumping point for enjoyment of all things "Who". Its good clean fun for all ages and helps pass a few hours with great enjoyment.

A great release and I hope Ms Manning is back to read more of these classic tales - particularly those season eight stories not yet available.