Pest Control

I did not realize how much I missed Donna Noble and the 10th Doctor until I started listening to this audiobook. Donna Noble's sass and the Doctor's humor come out within the first minute of the production and it doesn't stop until the very end! Great chemistry! David Tennant, as narrator, does a wonderful imitation of Catherine Tate's Donna. I could envision the actress in my head saying the lines. :) Ahhhh, the wonderous days of the 10th Doctor. I miss him! (Tom Baker as Doctor #4 is still my favorite....but David Tennant as #10 is a very close second).

There's a little bit of everything in this adventure.....battlefield action, warrior centaurs, giant beetles, a lost TARDIS and a violent exterminator robot. I loved it! The best part was when the doctor introduced himself and Donna Noble as Doctor McCoy and Captain Kirk. :) Great Doctor Who adventure!

As usual, this BBC audiobook is great -- nice sound effects and perfect narration and acting by David Tennant. At almost 2.5 hours long, the audiobook is of easy listening length. I enjoyed listening while doing household chores and driving in my car. Very enjoyable story!

I'm definitely going to listen to more of these BBC Doctor Who audiobooks read by David Tennant. So far I have loved every one I've listened to!
( )

"Read" as an audiobook. ( )

Fun story and I always like hearing David Tennant's voice and he did a very good job getting Donna's character across when he spoke as her. It felt like an unseen episode of the show. ( )

Doctor Who: Pest Control by Peter Anghelides is (somewhat obviously) Doctor Who licensed fiction. I listened to it in audiobook form which is the only format it exists in, based on its goodreads page. It's quite short, only running for about two and a half hours. Also, in case you can't read the small print on the cover, it's read by David Tennant.

The main reason to read this review is David Tennant's narration. Seriously. I mean, a) it's David Tennant and b) it's a Scottish accent, what's not to like? And the parts where he does the Doctor's voice are awesome because of the contrast between his accents. His take on Donna's voice was pretty amusing and reasonably convincing (although I was a smidge disappointed Catherine Tate wasn't also in it). The minor character voices were also very nicely done. 10 / 10 for the narration.

Unfortunately, that was my favourite thing about it. It's a fun Doctor Who style adventure story, which I suppose is the third best thing about it after the fact that the Tenth Doctor is the best. My least favourite thing was the portrayal of Donna. She was less tough and resourceful than in the show and I was honestly a bit offended on her behalf. Especially when she didn't want to boss people around (way out of character) and spent far too long worrying about her wardrobe. Not at all impressed by this author on that front. Donna was a good companion, but in this book she just... wasn't. And it was not made up for by the Doctor calling her amazing for really not doing much at all.

The only reason I even had this audiobook is because there was a time when I had a surplus of Audible credits and spent them on random Doctor Who (and Torchwood) licensed fiction for my Mum, who is a big Doctor Who fan from way back. I just had a look through the others I have waiting for me and I'm probably going to give them a go, especially since it's such a low time investment (and there aren't any more by this author). They also seem suitable for listening to in the car since they aren't as serious and don't require the commitment of the other audiobooks I have waiting for me. And they make a nice change from podcasts every once in a while.

3.5 / 5 stars (the extra half-star is for David Tennant)

Read more reviews on my blog. ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2243749.html

the very first New Who original audiobook, a story that was never published in hard copy, but just read by David Tennant on two CDs. It's actually very good, with Tennant doing all the voices - his Doctor, Donna, various other characters including a centaur with an Ulster accent - and narrating in his native Scots burr. I thought the story was a notch above average - centaurs and humans are fighting, but giant insects and huge robots make an appearance too, and there's some consideration of body shape and destiny, and telling the truth. Glad to have caught up with this at last. ( )