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The Silurian Candidate was the two hundred and twenty-ninth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Matthew Elliott and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush and Sophie Aldred as Ace.

Though the Seventh Doctor had previously faced the Silurians, most notably in the novel Blood Heat, this marked the first such encounter to actually be performed by Sylvester McCoy.

Publisher's summary[]

The year is 2085, and planet Earth remains on the edge of a nuclear precipice. At any moment, either of two vast rival power blocs, to the West and the East, might unleash a torrent of missiles, bringing about the terrible certainty of Mutual Assured Destruction.

But there is another way – or so Professor Ruth Drexler believes. Hence her secret mission deep in Eastern bloc territory, to uncover a hidden city, never before glimpsed by human eyes: the Parliament of the Silurians, the lizard people who ruled the Earth before humankind.

There, she’ll encounter a time-travelling Doctor, who knows the Silurians well. A Doctor on a secret mission of his own.

Plot[]

Part one[]

to be added

Part two[]

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Part three[]

to be added

Part four[]

to be added

Cast[]

Worldbuilding[]

  • The Doctor comments that the Karlas are very "Fritz Lang," referring to the movie Metropolis.
  • After being knocked out, the Doctor dreams of a man with ringlets telling him "Come in, No. 7. Your time is up."
  • Platinum Karlas have whisper settings and are expensive.
  • Drexler first met Gorrister in 2081.
  • By 2085, there are no more presidents and no more paper money.
  • Shen is the Director of the Eastern Bloc.

Silurians[]

  • The Parliament of the Silurians existed in the Silurian capital city.
  • Silurian building ceilings are tall to accommodate dinosaurs.
  • No member of the Triad can order another member.
  • Falco believes there are billions of Silurians in hibernation.
  • Mel believes the Silurians could use solar radiation to revive their entire species.

Technology[]

Gallery[]

Notes[]

  • The title of this story is a reference to the 1959 novel The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon.
  • This story was recorded on 2 and 3 May 2017 at the Moat Studios.
  • Ruth almost says "Doctor Who?" before being interrupted.
  • As one of the Karlas goes offline, she states that any complaints can be directed to Doctor Clayton Forrester, referring to the character of either the 1953 film The War of the Worlds or the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
  • This story dates Doctor Who and the Silurians as occurring before 1985.
  • The cover of this story is the last to use the Seventh Doctor sidebar.
  • This story was reviewed in DWM 518 alongside Time in Office and The Night Witches, and received an illustration from Jamie Lenman.

Continuity[]

External links[]

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