Doctor Who: City of Death

By: Douglas Adams, James Goss

Narrated by: Lalla Ward

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

An unabridged reading of the brand-new novelisation of a classic Fourth Doctor TV story by Douglas Adams.

The Doctor takes Romana for a holiday in Paris - a city which, like a fine wine, has a bouquet all its own. But the TARDIS arrives in 1979, a table-wine year, whose vintage is soured by cracks in the very fabric of time itself.

Soon the Time Lords are embroiled in an audacious alien scheme which encompasses home-made time machines, the theft of the Mona Lisa, the resurrection of the much-feared Jagaroth race, and the beginning (and quite possibly the end) of all life on Earth.

Aided by British private detective Duggan, the Doctor and Romana must thwart the machinations of the suave, mysterious Count Scarlioni - all twelve of him - if the human race has any chance of survival.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Paris, The Doctor, and Guys With Squid Heads

One expects padding in a book such as this, but I was a little worried at the beginning. There was a lot of padding, and I wondered if Goss would ever get to the story! When he does, though, things start to fly. Goss stays true to the original Douglas Adams script for the most part, and it's entertaining stuff. Added bits I liked: more detail about how Scarlioni communicates with his past selves, and a drunk Romana. Kudos to Lalla Ward for a masterful performance.

Second review.

I still love this audio. Still my favorite Doctor Who story. For the reviewer who thought this was story was written by Neil Gaiman, for heaven sake this story was written by Douglas Adams. The creator of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

every Whovians should listen to this book

I loved this story. The narrator was engaging and excellent. I was so into the story.

Great stuff

Having watched this episode on TV numerous times, I did find this version more exciting. Ms Ward did and excellent job with the narration, too.
I was confused by the placement of an advert for Prime Computers in the episode.

Entertaining enough for me

Tom Baker was my first Doctor, and though this tale rambles a little it does feel like a Douglas Adams story (fitting, as the central concept evolved into the plot of Dirk Gently).

Engaging and brilliant

I always love hearing audio's with Lalla Ward as she has talent and tells a wonderful story. This version of city of death is more detailed with character backgrounds that set up the adventure nicely. I love all the characters that are portrayed as they all have differences whether it be accents or mannerisms Lalla does brilliantly as always. The story itself was like an extended version of the tv episode well done to all involved in the audio version of City of Death I hope there's more.

Damn. I think I'm hooked...

Ok, here's how this worked... Neil Gaiman wrote a Doctor Who story that was tucked away in one of his anthologies...it was great, seriously. Decided to try another, and just like that, I'm hooked. I only hope the rest are as good as my first two.
I do want to stress that Lalla is quite assuredly the very best female narrator I've come across yet. Great voice, great inflections...and to put it in a word... "Great."

No doctor?

It is a book about Dr. Who and he is not in the first 3 chapters. Not what I expected.