Doctor Who: Son Of The Dragon by Steve Lyons
01/12/2007 . Source: Sue Davies 
CD. pub: Big Finish ISBN: 978-1-84435-181-7. 130 minute CD. Price: £14.99 (UK). Non UK £11.50) voices: Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, Caroline Morris, James Purefoy, Douglas Hodge, Barry McCarthy, Claire Calbraith, Steven Wickham and Nicola Lloyd. Buy Doctor Who Son Of The Dragon in the USA - or Buy Doctor Who Son Of The Dragon in the UK  check out web sites www.BigFinish.com
Dracula has been used, some would say rather over-used, by the entertainment industry. This time we are looking at the historical background and examining some of the myths that surround this mysterious character.
The Doctor (Peter Davison), Peri and Erimem arrive in the lands of Vlad the Impaler as a battle rages for control between the Sultan of Turkey and Vlad himself. They are quickly caught up in the violence. The Sultan's troops led by Radu the Handsome capture them almost immediately but not before they have witnessed the death of a man impaled by Dracula, Son of the Dragon. Peri might snigger at that but this is war and when Erimem finds out she and Peri might be needed to soothe the Sultan's spirit they decide its time to make a hasty exit. Out of the frying pan as they say and soon they encounter the Impaler himself and then things get even more complicated.
We are treated to guest voices that possess some quality gravitas, including James Purefoy as Dracula and Douglas Hodge as Radu and this is a wild ride of battles, politics, and romance with a little doctoring of the past. It is dramatic stuff with lots of lovely history and some excellent dialogue. Peri usually gets the best of everyone and she really produces some first-rate and crackling exchanges. Her modern turn of phrase really slams up against the historical setting. Meanwhile, the Doctor meddles as ever with the historical time-line with only the thinnest of reasons. He ponders, ruminates and gets stuck in with a sword as well. This would, as I tiresomely say at every opportunity, make an superb TV film as it combines a little of everything that makes 'Doctor Who' great and just for once doesn't have any Daleks in it.
It really is enormous fun and worth a listen. There are some fine themes in this adventure story, of which the writer Steve Lyons can be proud. It is well executed, too, and incorporates character development and excellent dialogue between various protagonists with some surprising results.
Sue Davies
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