The Ghosts of N-Space was a BBC Radio drama released in 1996. It was the second and final audio drama that Jon Pertwee lent his voice to. He passed away a few months later after its broadcast.
Publisher's summary
"When the barrier gives way, this planet will be flooded by all the evil in N-Space; and at the moment I have no idea how to stop it."
The Brigadier's ancient great-uncle Mario seems unsurprised by the spectres which haunt his even more ancient Sicilian castle. But when the Doctor comes to investigate he finds himself faced with a danger as great as any he has yet encountered.
Is the answer to be found in the past, in the corrupt alchemy of the black-hearted sorcerer said to have walled up alive for his evil deeds? Or must the Doctor — and the faithful Sarah Jane Smith — brave the realm of ghosts and face the very fiends of hell?
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
- Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
- The Brigadier - Nicholas Courtney
- Jeremy - Richard Pearce
- Max - Stephen Thorne
- Mario - Harry Towb
- Luisa - Deborah Berlin
- Clemenza - Jonathan Tafler
- Don Fabrizio - Don McCorkindale
- Nico - David Holt
- Maggie - Sandra Dickinson
- Umberto - Peter Yapp
- Maid - Joanne Sergeant
- Paolo - Paul Brooke
- Barone - Gavin Muir
- Baronessa / Marcella - Jillie Meers
- Roberto - Jonathan Keeble
- Guido - Jim Sweeney
Crew
- Writer - Barry Letts
- Director - Phil Clarke
- Incidental Music - Peter Howell
- Technical Presentation - John Whitehall, Alison Carter, Colin Guthrie
- Production Assistant - Dawn Ellis
- Producer - Phil Clarke
References
Individuals
- Sarah feels like a refugee from Pride and Prejudice.
Theories and concepts
- The Doctor says that synchronicity is "the principle that a coincidence may happen without any causal link and yet still be significant".
- Null-Space
Notes
- This story was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 5 from 20 January to 24 February 1996.
- It was next released on double cassette.
- In 2000, it was released on CD.
- This was the final official performance for Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor before his death on 20 May 1996, though he would reprise the role for the fan production Devious, with recording from the production later being used in the Big Finish audio Zagreus, and an in-character guest appearance on Surprise Surprise. His final line in the role was: "Yes, and that means "minstrel"."
- This story had its incidental music composed by Peter Howell and features his arrangement of the theme, rather than the Derbyshire version used for the Third Doctor's TV stories.
Continuity
- The story revolves around the reappearance of Theodore Clancy's Comet every hundred fifty-seven years. Previous appearances were in 1504, 1661 and 1818, placing this story in 1975.
- The Doctor claims to have met Leonardo da Vinci. However, during his fourth incarnation, he would later tell Sarah that he had always wanted to meet him. (TV: The Masque of Mandragora) He had done so by the time that he was travelling with the second incarnation of Romana. (TV: City of Death)
- The Doctor mentions that he has met H. G. Wells. He would later do so again in Scotland in 1885 during his sixth incarnation (TV: Timelash) and in London in 1889 during his tenth incarnation (COMIC: The Time Machination). On the latter occasion, the Doctor hinted that he and Wells would meet again. It is possible that he was referring to this encounter, which seemingly occurred during one of his first three incarnations, but which has not yet happened in Wells' personal timeline.
- The Doctor brings back a modified stun gun from Parakon. (AUDIO: The Paradise of Death)
- This story takes place after TV: Death to the Daleks, first indicated by a comment Sarah makes about a "Dalek piece" she tried to submit for publication which was not accepted.
Releases
The Ghosts of N-Space was released on CD by BBC Audio on 5 June 2000.
Novelisation
Novelisation cover
- Main article: The Ghosts of N-Space (novelisation)
- A novelisation written by Barry Letts was published in 1995. As the Target Books range had been retired by this time, the novelisation was published as part of the Virgin Missing Adventures line. Unusually, the novel was published before the radio play was broadcast.
