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{{Infobox Story |
{{Infobox Story |
||
| − | |name= Occam's Razor |
||
|image=Occams Razor.jpg |
|image=Occams Razor.jpg |
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| − | | |
+ | |range = Kaldor City (audio series) |
| − | |number= 1 |
+ | |number in range= 1 |
|main character= [[Kaston Iago]] |
|main character= [[Kaston Iago]] |
||
| − | |featuring= |
+ | |featuring= Kiy Uvanov |
| + | |featuring2= Carnell |
||
|enemy= |
|enemy= |
||
|setting= [[Kaldor City]], [[2889]] |
|setting= [[Kaldor City]], [[2889]] |
||
| − | |writer= [[Alan Stevens]] |
+ | |writer= [[Alan Stevens]], [[Jim Smith]] |
| − | |director= [[Alistair Lock]] |
+ | |director= [[Alistair Lock]], Alan Stevens |
|producer= Alan Stevens |
|producer= Alan Stevens |
||
|publisher= Magic Bullet Productions |
|publisher= Magic Bullet Productions |
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| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
|production code= KC001 |
|production code= KC001 |
||
|isbn= ISBN |
|isbn= ISBN |
||
| − | |prev= none |
||
|next= Death's Head (audio story) |
|next= Death's Head (audio story) |
||
| + | }}{{audio stub}}{{You may|Occam's razor|n1=the concept this story is named after}} |
||
| − | }} |
||
| − | '''Occam's Razor''' |
+ | '''''Occam's Razor''''' was the first audio play in the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series. Written by [[Alan Stevens]] and [[Jim Smith]], it focused on the arrival of a mysterious figure called [[Kaston Iago]] and his insinuation into the confidence of [[Kiy Uvanov|Chairholder Uvanov]]. |
== Publisher's summary == |
== Publisher's summary == |
||
"You are dealing with a professional. Probably a hired killer. Resourceful, highly intelligent. A [[computer]] specialist." |
"You are dealing with a professional. Probably a hired killer. Resourceful, highly intelligent. A [[computer]] specialist." |
||
| − | [[Kaldor City|Kaldor]]: A city of [[robot]]s on a world of robots. The Board runs the Company, and the Company runs the planet. Nothing happens in Kaldor City without the Board's approval. So how come its members are dying? |
+ | [[Kaldor City|Kaldor]]: A city of [[robot]]s on a world of robots. The Board runs the Company, and the Company runs the planet. Nothing happens in Kaldor City without the Board's approval. So how come its members are dying? |
| − | [[Kiy Uvanov|Company Chairholder Uvanov]] is faced with an escalating problem: political allies and enemies are being killed and nobody knows who will be next or why. Even [[Carnell]], the ex-Federation psycho-strategist, is at a loss to provide an explanation. |
+ | [[Kiy Uvanov|Company Chairholder Uvanov]] is faced with an escalating problem: political allies and enemies are being killed and nobody knows who will be next or why. Even [[Carnell]], the ex-[[Terran Federation|Federation]] psycho-strategist, is at a loss to provide an explanation. |
| − | One man may hold the answers-- a man who crossed the border into Kaldor City six hours ago: Kaston Iago, a man with a past and maybe an agenda. A man with the skills to set everything right. |
+ | One man may hold the answers-- a man who crossed the border into Kaldor City six hours ago: [[Kaston Iago]], a man with a past and maybe an agenda. A man with the skills to set everything right. |
''Kaldor City - Occam's Razor uses characters and concepts from [[Chris Boucher]]'s Doctor Who novel [[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]] to tell a dark, aggressive tale of ultraviolence and political intrigue.'' |
''Kaldor City - Occam's Razor uses characters and concepts from [[Chris Boucher]]'s Doctor Who novel [[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]] to tell a dark, aggressive tale of ultraviolence and political intrigue.'' |
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| Line 47: | Line 46: | ||
* [[Voc 31]] - [[Robert Lock]] |
* [[Voc 31]] - [[Robert Lock]] |
||
* Voice 1 - [[Alan Stevens]] |
* Voice 1 - [[Alan Stevens]] |
||
| − | * [[Pull Buggy Voc]] - [[Mark Christian]] |
+ | * [[Pull Buggy Voc]] - [[Mark Christian]] |
* [[Justina Kessel|Justina]] - [[Patricia Merrick]] |
* [[Justina Kessel|Justina]] - [[Patricia Merrick]] |
||
* [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] - [[Peter Miles]] |
* [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] - [[Peter Miles]] |
||
* [[Kyle (Occam's Razor)|Kyle]] - [[David Bickerstaff]] |
* [[Kyle (Occam's Razor)|Kyle]] - [[David Bickerstaff]] |
||
* Voice 2 - [[Bruce McGilligan]] |
* Voice 2 - [[Bruce McGilligan]] |
||
| − | * Lift - [[Fiona Moore]] |
+ | * Lift - [[Fiona Moore]] |
* Computer Voice - [[Tracy Russell]] |
* Computer Voice - [[Tracy Russell]] |
||
* [[Devlin (Occam's Razor)|Devlin]] - [[Annabel Leventon]] |
* [[Devlin (Occam's Razor)|Devlin]] - [[Annabel Leventon]] |
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| Line 62: | Line 61: | ||
== References == |
== References == |
||
=== Individuals === |
=== Individuals === |
||
| − | * [[Stenton Rull]] is operations supervisor for [[Kaldor City Company| |
+ | * [[Stenton Rull]] is operations supervisor for [[Kaldor City Company|the Company]]. |
| + | * Justina isn't a member of the [[Founding Families]]. |
||
| − | * [[Cotton (Occam's Razor)|Cotton]] is Rull's deputy operations supervisor. |
||
| + | * Iago's normal occupation is [[robot programmer]]. |
||
| − | * [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] was born a very poor man. He built himself from nothing. |
||
| + | * Iago is apparently member of the [[assassins' guild]]. |
||
| − | * [[Justina Kessel|Justina]] is Uvanov's executive assistant, and as such lives in a suite of private rooms situated in Uvanov's house. She isn't a member of the [[Founding Families]]. |
||
| + | * Carnell is not part of the [[company board]]. |
||
| − | * [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] is officially in [[Kaldor City]] on holiday, his normal occupation is [[robot programmer]]. There is no record of Iago having ever been employed by 'The Company', freelance or otherwise. Iago now acts as Uvanov's 'personal security advisor'. |
||
| − | * Iago is apparently member of the [[assassins' guild]]. It's against the assassin code to knowingly give out information leading to the death of a fellow assassin. |
||
| − | * [[Carnell]] is a Firstmaster, but not part of the [[company board]]. He is also a psychostragist the only one there has ever been on the planet, and is on the run from the Federation. Much to Carnell's surprise, Iago knows what a psychostragist is and about the Federation. |
||
| − | * [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] is a primary member of a senior founding family. |
||
=== Objects === |
=== Objects === |
||
| − | * |
+ | * Justina owns a painting of a red pentagram by [[Wallbank]]. |
* A [[stun kill]] is an electro shock baton. |
* A [[stun kill]] is an electro shock baton. |
||
| − | * |
+ | * Iago recommends the walls in Uvanov's place of residence be reinforced with [[Herculaneum alloy]]. |
| − | ** The windows to be replaced with prism glass in order to throw off a sniper aim. |
||
| − | ** The walls to be reinforced with [[Herculaneum alloy]] girders in order to withstand the impact of a flier on ‘maximum drive'. |
||
| − | ** Steel braces for the top story ceiling so the roof space can be filled with 3 tonnes of rubber. The entire basement floor to be seeded with landmines in order to prevent anyone from tunnelling into the building. The floor space to be re-concreated to a depth of 9 feet, the mines sinked to a depth of 10 feet, so any blast will be directed downwards and won't effect the integrity of the house. |
||
| − | ** All visitors to be strip searched and then subjected to an internal organ scan. |
||
=== Kaldor City === |
=== Kaldor City === |
||
| + | * The [[Hotel Kolibri]] is located in the eastern sector of the Kaldor City.. |
||
| − | * [[Kaldor City]] is established as having no interstellar trade. |
||
| − | * The social divisions in Kaldor City are vast. [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] believes trade with other worlds will disrupt the societies inherent inequality. |
||
| − | * The [[Hotel Kolibri]] is located in the eastern sector of the Kaldor City. [[Kaston Iago|Iago's]] room is on the 4th floor of Hotel Kolibri, room 407, door code: 67767. The hotel is completely destroyed during an operation to take Iago into custody. Nineteen guards are killed in the ensuing firefight. |
||
=== The Outer Zones === |
=== The Outer Zones === |
||
| − | * |
+ | * Iago crossed the border into Kaldor City about 6 hours before [[Bibo Mechman]]'s death. |
| − | * Iago crossed the border into Kaldor City about 6 hours before [[Bibo Mechman|Bibo Mechman's]] death. |
||
| − | |||
| − | === The Company Board === |
||
| − | * [[Layly Landerchild|Landerchild]] and [[Devlin (Occam's Razor)|Devlin]] are powerful members of the Company board. |
||
| − | * [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] murders several [[Frustmaster|Firstmasters]] of the Company board in order insinuate himself into [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov's]] confidence. These are: |
||
| − | ** [[Bibo Mechman]], who is found dead in Uvanov's office, having been killed by a plasma bullet. She was a member of one of the 20 [[Founding Families]]. |
||
| − | ** [[Stal Ryan]], who arrives dead in a [[Robot Pull-buggy]] outside Uvanov's office. |
||
| − | ** [[Barlic]], who arrives dead in a [[Flier]] that crashes into Uvanov's office. |
||
| − | ** [[Ellia Sladen]], who arrives dead inside a package addressed to Uvanov. She's been shot through the heart. |
||
| − | ** Maco, who is killed by poison at a company reception. |
||
| − | ** Devlin, whom Uvanov instructs Iago to kill, for her part in the killing for the previous five murders. Iago having now framed Devlin. |
||
| − | |||
| − | === The Minor Faction === |
||
| − | * [[Devlin (Occam's Razor)|Devlin]] is a loyal member of the minor faction. |
||
| − | * [[Landerchild]] dispises the minor faction. |
||
== Notes == |
== Notes == |
||
* The title of the story, that the simplest explanation is true, refers to the fact [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] has been committing the murders before framing another board member in order to gain [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov's]] trust. |
* The title of the story, that the simplest explanation is true, refers to the fact [[Kaston Iago|Iago]] has been committing the murders before framing another board member in order to gain [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov's]] trust. |
||
| − | * The events of the story are based on the {{w|Night of the Long Knives}}, where the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]], under the authority of Adolf Hitler, purged a Nazi paramilitary organisation called the Sturmabteilung (SA), and hundreds were killed. A clue to the source material appears in the name of the hotel Iago stays in called Kolibri, which is German for |
+ | * The events of the story are based on the {{w|Night of the Long Knives}}, where the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]], under the authority of Adolf Hitler, purged a Nazi paramilitary organisation called the Sturmabteilung (SA), and hundreds were killed. A clue to the source material appears in the name of the hotel Iago stays in called Kolibri, which is German for "Hummingbird", the codeword used to send the execution squads into action on the day of the purge. The society of Kaldor is partly based on Nazi Germany.<ref>[http://jaredubernerdfunk.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/kaldor-city-critical-response-part-i.html Kaldor City: A Critical Response Part I]</ref> |
* The line where Iago claims to be a rhubarb farmer, inspired the plot of [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'' involving oxygen production. Rhubarb being a plant that produces high levels of oxygen. <ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/features/articles/tcrecording.html A Day in Kaldor City: 8 August 2002 by Douglas McNaughton]</ref> |
* The line where Iago claims to be a rhubarb farmer, inspired the plot of [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hidden Persuaders (audio story)|Hidden Persuaders]]'' involving oxygen production. Rhubarb being a plant that produces high levels of oxygen. <ref>[http://www.kaldorcity.com/features/articles/tcrecording.html A Day in Kaldor City: 8 August 2002 by Douglas McNaughton]</ref> |
||
* There was an unfortunate coincidence, when this audio story was made available; it had been recorded in 2000, but was released in early September 2001, and the first review producer [[Alan Stevens]] read of it tied 9/11 to a scene where a flyer crashed into a building. The script was written about eighteen months before those events took place. <ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-2-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 2 of 2)]</ref> |
* There was an unfortunate coincidence, when this audio story was made available; it had been recorded in 2000, but was released in early September 2001, and the first review producer [[Alan Stevens]] read of it tied 9/11 to a scene where a flyer crashed into a building. The script was written about eighteen months before those events took place. <ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-2-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 2 of 2)]</ref> |
||
* [[Wallbank]] is probably named after [[Peter Wallbank]], who produced artwork for several [[Blake's 7]] audio productions associated with the makers of the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series. |
* [[Wallbank]] is probably named after [[Peter Wallbank]], who produced artwork for several [[Blake's 7]] audio productions associated with the makers of the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series. |
||
* The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or Iago will fill your attic full of rubber." |
* The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or Iago will fill your attic full of rubber." |
||
| − | * This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of |
+ | * This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of ''[[Death's Head (audio story)|Death's Head]]''.<ref>[http://www.radiodramarevival.com/the-true-history-of-magic-bullet-an-interview-with-alan-stevens-producer-of-kaldor-city-and-faction-paradox-part-1-of-2/ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)]</ref> |
| − | * [[Russell Hunter]] reprised his role as [[Kiy Uvanov|Uvanov]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]''. |
||
| − | * [[Scott Fredericks]] reprised his role as [[Carnell]] from the ''[[Blake's 7]]'' episode "Weapon". He previously played [[Maximillian Stael]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Image of the Fendahl (TV story)|Image of the Fendahl]]''. |
||
| − | * [[Brian Croucher]] (Cotton) previously played [[Borg (The Robots of Death)|Borg]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]''. |
||
* The CD cover art was designed by [[Andy Hopkinson]]. |
* The CD cover art was designed by [[Andy Hopkinson]]. |
||
* The third edition of [[Mad Norwegian Press|Mad Norwegian Press']] reference work ''[[AHistory]]'' gives a year of [[2889]] for the events of this story. |
* The third edition of [[Mad Norwegian Press|Mad Norwegian Press']] reference work ''[[AHistory]]'' gives a year of [[2889]] for the events of this story. |
||
| Line 122: | Line 94: | ||
* Bibo Mechman, who is found dead in this story, appeared in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]]''. |
* Bibo Mechman, who is found dead in this story, appeared in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Corpse Marker (novel)|Corpse Marker]]''. |
||
* Justina owns a painting of a red pentagram by [[Wallbank]]. This is foreshadowing the emergence of the [[Fendahl]]. This scene will be revisited in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''. The portrait of the [[Fendahleen]] given to Uvanov in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Taren Capel (audio story)|Taren Capel]]'' is also by Wallbank. |
* Justina owns a painting of a red pentagram by [[Wallbank]]. This is foreshadowing the emergence of the [[Fendahl]]. This scene will be revisited in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]''. The portrait of the [[Fendahleen]] given to Uvanov in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Taren Capel (audio story)|Taren Capel]]'' is also by Wallbank. |
||
| − | * The scene in which [[Justina |
+ | * The scene in which [[Justina Kessel|Justina]] is left alone in the bitterly cold wind takes on a more sinister aspect in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Checkmate (audio story)|Checkmate]]'' in which, transformed into the [[Fendahl Core]], she mentions the cold winter wind that blows in directly from the centre of the [[Blind Heart Desert]]. |
* Carnell's comment, ''"People like to see patterns in things, even when there not there."'' is reminiscent of a line spoken by the [[Eighth Doctor]] in the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 Doctor Who made-for-TV movie]]: ''"I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren't there."'' |
* Carnell's comment, ''"People like to see patterns in things, even when there not there."'' is reminiscent of a line spoken by the [[Eighth Doctor]] in the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 Doctor Who made-for-TV movie]]: ''"I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren't there."'' |
||
* [[Voc 31|V31]] is in the service of Carnell. V31 will next appear in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Taren Capel (audio story)|Taren Capel]]'', again voiced by [[Robert Lock]]. |
* [[Voc 31|V31]] is in the service of Carnell. V31 will next appear in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Taren Capel (audio story)|Taren Capel]]'', again voiced by [[Robert Lock]]. |
||
* As with [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'' this story revolves around a murder mystery. |
* As with [[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'' this story revolves around a murder mystery. |
||
* Uvanov recently made a proposal to the company board concerning the opening up of trade links between Kaldor and other colony worlds. This helps reconcile the continuity of the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series with [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Robophobia (audio story)|Robophobia]]'' in which Kaldor City has a massive interstellar robot trade. |
* Uvanov recently made a proposal to the company board concerning the opening up of trade links between Kaldor and other colony worlds. This helps reconcile the continuity of the ''[[Kaldor City (audio series)|Kaldor City]]'' series with [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Robophobia (audio story)|Robophobia]]'' in which Kaldor City has a massive interstellar robot trade. |
||
| − | * |
+ | * This story seeds the idea that [[Kaston Iago]] is actually {{w|Kerr Avon}} from ''[[Blake's 7]]'': |
| − | ** Iago meets Psychostrategist Carnell |
+ | ** When Iago meets Psychostrategist Carnell (played by [[Scott Fredericks]], reprising his role from ''[[Blake's 7]]''), he already knows about the {{w|Terran Federation}} and what a psychostrategist is. Carnell remarks that Iago must be the only other person on the planet with this information. |
| − | ** Iago is skilled in robotic computer programming. |
+ | ** Like Avon, Iago is skilled in robotic computer programming. |
| − | ** The sound effect of Iago's gun blaster is very similar to that used by Avon in the fourth and final series of '' |
+ | ** The sound effect of Iago's gun blaster is very similar to that used by Avon in the fourth and final series of ''Blake's 7''. |
| − | ** Iago mentions [[Herculaneum alloy |
+ | ** Iago mentions [[Herculaneum alloy]], which promised the {{w|Liberator (Blake's 7)|Liberator}}'s hull in ''Blake's 7''. |
| − | ** In addition, it is stated in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Taren Capel (audio story)|Taren Capel]]'' that Iago killed the 'The Butcher of Zircaster' ''(This name is given in the charity audio {{w|The Mark of Kane}} to {{w|Travis}}, the [[Blake's 7]] villain whom Avon shot dead on screen.)'' |
||
| − | *** Many fans of the series have taken these things - combined with similarities in Darrow's performance - to mean Kaston Iago is in fact {{w|Kerr Avon}} going for his own reasons under an assumed name. [[Magic Bullet Productions]] have neither confirmed nor denied this, and although other characters have been more explicitly linked to either ''[[Doctor Who]]'' or ''[[Blake's 7]]'', [[Chris Boucher]] did not create Kerr Avon and so would have no claim to his copyright. |
||
| − | ** [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Metafiction (audio story)|Metafiction]]'' plays with the listener's expectation of this idea. |
||
== External links == |
== External links == |
||
| + | * {{randomstatic|kaldor-city-occams-razor/}} |
||
| − | + | {{official website|www.kaldorcity.com/audios/occam.html}} |
|
| − | + | {{dwrefguide|kaldor01.htm|Occam's Razor}} |
|
== Footnotes == |
== Footnotes == |
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| Line 144: | Line 114: | ||
{{TitleSort}} |
{{TitleSort}} |
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[[Category:2001 audio stories]] |
[[Category:2001 audio stories]] |
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| − | [[Category:Kaldor City |
+ | [[Category:Kaldor City audio stories]] |
[[Category:Stories set in 2889]] |
[[Category:Stories set in 2889]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series]] |
||
Revision as of 14:38, 30 December 2019
- You may be looking for the concept this story is named after.
Occam's Razor was the first audio play in the Kaldor City series. Written by Alan Stevens and Jim Smith, it focused on the arrival of a mysterious figure called Kaston Iago and his insinuation into the confidence of Chairholder Uvanov.
Publisher's summary
"You are dealing with a professional. Probably a hired killer. Resourceful, highly intelligent. A computer specialist."
Kaldor: A city of robots on a world of robots. The Board runs the Company, and the Company runs the planet. Nothing happens in Kaldor City without the Board's approval. So how come its members are dying?
Company Chairholder Uvanov is faced with an escalating problem: political allies and enemies are being killed and nobody knows who will be next or why. Even Carnell, the ex-Federation psycho-strategist, is at a loss to provide an explanation.
One man may hold the answers-- a man who crossed the border into Kaldor City six hours ago: Kaston Iago, a man with a past and maybe an agenda. A man with the skills to set everything right.
Kaldor City - Occam's Razor uses characters and concepts from Chris Boucher's Doctor Who novel Corpse Marker to tell a dark, aggressive tale of ultraviolence and political intrigue.
Plot
to be added
Cast
(in order of appearance)
- Iago - Paul Darrow
- Voc Receptionist - Alistair Lock
- Uvanov - Russell Hunter
- Rull - Trevor Cooper
- Cotton - Brian Croucher
- Carnell - Scott Fredericks
- Voc 31 - Robert Lock
- Voice 1 - Alan Stevens
- Pull Buggy Voc - Mark Christian
- Justina - Patricia Merrick
- Landerchild - Peter Miles
- Kyle - David Bickerstaff
- Voice 2 - Bruce McGilligan
- Lift - Fiona Moore
- Computer Voice - Tracy Russell
- Devlin - Annabel Leventon
- Security Man - Andy Hopkinson
- Voc Server - Matt Symonds
- Strecker - Peter Tuddenham
- Guard - Robert Edwards
References
Individuals
- Stenton Rull is operations supervisor for the Company.
- Justina isn't a member of the Founding Families.
- Iago's normal occupation is robot programmer.
- Iago is apparently member of the assassins' guild.
- Carnell is not part of the company board.
Objects
- Justina owns a painting of a red pentagram by Wallbank.
- A stun kill is an electro shock baton.
- Iago recommends the walls in Uvanov's place of residence be reinforced with Herculaneum alloy.
Kaldor City
- The Hotel Kolibri is located in the eastern sector of the Kaldor City..
The Outer Zones
- Iago crossed the border into Kaldor City about 6 hours before Bibo Mechman's death.
Notes
- The title of the story, that the simplest explanation is true, refers to the fact Iago has been committing the murders before framing another board member in order to gain Uvanov's trust.
- The events of the story are based on the Night of the Long Knives, where the SS, under the authority of Adolf Hitler, purged a Nazi paramilitary organisation called the Sturmabteilung (SA), and hundreds were killed. A clue to the source material appears in the name of the hotel Iago stays in called Kolibri, which is German for "Hummingbird", the codeword used to send the execution squads into action on the day of the purge. The society of Kaldor is partly based on Nazi Germany.[1]
- The line where Iago claims to be a rhubarb farmer, inspired the plot of AUDIO: Hidden Persuaders involving oxygen production. Rhubarb being a plant that produces high levels of oxygen. [2]
- There was an unfortunate coincidence, when this audio story was made available; it had been recorded in 2000, but was released in early September 2001, and the first review producer Alan Stevens read of it tied 9/11 to a scene where a flyer crashed into a building. The script was written about eighteen months before those events took place. [3]
- Wallbank is probably named after Peter Wallbank, who produced artwork for several Blake's 7 audio productions associated with the makers of the Kaldor City series.
- The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or Iago will fill your attic full of rubber."
- This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of Death's Head.[4]
- The CD cover art was designed by Andy Hopkinson.
- The third edition of Mad Norwegian Press' reference work AHistory gives a year of 2889 for the events of this story.
Continuity
- Uvanov became Firstmaster Chairholder in PROSE: Corpse Marker.
- From an in-universe perspective, Carnell first appeared in PROSE: Corpse Marker.
- Bibo Mechman, who is found dead in this story, appeared in PROSE: Corpse Marker.
- Justina owns a painting of a red pentagram by Wallbank. This is foreshadowing the emergence of the Fendahl. This scene will be revisited in AUDIO: Checkmate. The portrait of the Fendahleen given to Uvanov in AUDIO: Taren Capel is also by Wallbank.
- The scene in which Justina is left alone in the bitterly cold wind takes on a more sinister aspect in AUDIO: Checkmate in which, transformed into the Fendahl Core, she mentions the cold winter wind that blows in directly from the centre of the Blind Heart Desert.
- Carnell's comment, "People like to see patterns in things, even when there not there." is reminiscent of a line spoken by the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who made-for-TV movie: "I love humans. Always seeing patterns in things that aren't there."
- V31 is in the service of Carnell. V31 will next appear in AUDIO: Taren Capel, again voiced by Robert Lock.
- As with TV: The Robots of Death this story revolves around a murder mystery.
- Uvanov recently made a proposal to the company board concerning the opening up of trade links between Kaldor and other colony worlds. This helps reconcile the continuity of the Kaldor City series with AUDIO: Robophobia in which Kaldor City has a massive interstellar robot trade.
- This story seeds the idea that Kaston Iago is actually Kerr Avon from Blake's 7:
- When Iago meets Psychostrategist Carnell (played by Scott Fredericks, reprising his role from Blake's 7), he already knows about the Terran Federation and what a psychostrategist is. Carnell remarks that Iago must be the only other person on the planet with this information.
- Like Avon, Iago is skilled in robotic computer programming.
- The sound effect of Iago's gun blaster is very similar to that used by Avon in the fourth and final series of Blake's 7.
- Iago mentions Herculaneum alloy, which promised the Liberator's hull in Blake's 7.
External links
- Official Occam's Razor page at Random Static
- Official website
- Occam's Razor at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
Footnotes
- ↑ Kaldor City: A Critical Response Part I
- ↑ A Day in Kaldor City: 8 August 2002 by Douglas McNaughton
- ↑ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 2 of 2)
- ↑ The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)
