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Post by grinch on May 25, 2022 19:08:41 GMT
I can’t be the only one to hope that the cover for this is a large watercolour portrait of the War Master?
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Post by grinch on May 25, 2022 21:11:01 GMT
Honestly doubt this will happen but if the War Master’s quest for immortality happened to lead him to the steps of Collinwood and we get an appearance from Quentin Collins then I think my head might just explode.
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Post by Alastair on May 26, 2022 21:43:40 GMT
This opens a fun question: what other fictional characters (either in public domain or within Big Finish’s licenses) would have the most to offer the Master?
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Post by grinch on May 26, 2022 22:06:02 GMT
This opens a fun question: what other fictional characters (either in public domain or within Big Finish’s licenses) would have the most to offer the Master? I’d like to see The Master face off against Dr Strange. But that just be because for some reason I’d love to see him versus an opponent who uses “magic” or is a follower of the occult. Somehow I doubt The Master would be impressed by his theatrics.
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Post by Kestrel on May 27, 2022 2:12:45 GMT
Hm... my feelings are a bit mixed here. These kinds of crossovers always feel like pretty naked cross-promotion... a way to use a more popular series to boost sales of a less popular series. And, honestly, all I really want from the WM range is the Master in the Time War -- a premise that doesn't need any gimmicks.
And it's hard not to think about how the Master! boxset wound up focusing more on Vienna than the Master, to my disappointment.
But at the same time Killing Time was also structured around a similar fanservicey premise, and wound up being excellent.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't really like how Big Finish is currently approaching the War Master range (ditto for River Song and Missy) but at the same time I've definitely learned my lesson several dozens times over: it's impossible to predict if a story will be good or bad from premise and/or marketing alone.
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Post by Digi on May 27, 2022 2:59:15 GMT
Hm... my feelings are a bit mixed here. These kinds of crossovers always feel like pretty naked cross-promotion... a way to use a more popular series to boost sales of a less popular series. And, honestly, all I really want from the WM range is the Master in the Time War -- a premise that doesn't need any gimmicks. I'm not sure if that applies in this case....special anniversary release aside, the Dorian Gray range has been over for several years at this point. I can't imagine they're trying to use a big-ticket Derek Jacobi range to try to boost sales on something they're not making anymore.
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,079
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Post by mbt66 on May 28, 2022 10:03:20 GMT
The more I think about it, the more the concept appeals to me. Having the Master entering a land of Victorian fiction where he searches for the secret of the Dorian Grey painting for his own ends; whilst having to ensure he conforms to literary structure and not kill off any annoying characters, as otherwise the world could implode with him in it.
Elementary Evil The Master encounters Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Holmes soon deduces the evil behind the mild mannered facade the Master shows. The Master forms an alliance with Professor Moriarty. Imagine what villainy The Master Criminal and The Master of Evil could concoct together.
Master and Sir Vant Through Moriarty the Master meets a kindred spirit in the hideous form of Mr Hyde. Still on the Master’s trail Holmes and Watson meet Doctor Jekyll and learn of a strange elixir that could change the nature of the Master forever.
The Picture of the Master Sir Vant is the toast of society. His generosity and good nature gives him access to many notable figures like Oscar Wilde and the charismatic Dorian Grey
The Time Machination Having acquired his own portrait the Master needs to find a way to exit this world. A time machine is just what he needs. But is Sherlock Holmes a step ahead of him…armed with The Final Solution.
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Post by grinch on May 28, 2022 10:19:04 GMT
The more I think about it, the more the concept appeals to me. Having the Master entering a land of Victorian fiction where he searches for the secret of the Dorian Grey painting for his own ends; whilst having to ensure he conforms to literary structure and not kill off any annoying characters, as otherwise the world could implode with him in it. Elementary Evil The Master encounters Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Holmes soon deduces the evil behind the mild mannered facade the Master shows. The Master forms an alliance with Professor Moriarty. Imagine what villainy The Master Criminal and The Master of Evil could concoct together. Master and Sir Vant Through Moriarty the Master meets a kindred spirit in the hideous form of Mr Hyde. Still on the Master’s trail Holmes and Watson meet Doctor Jekyll and learn of a strange elixir that could change the nature of the Master forever. The Picture of the Master Sir Vant is the toast of society. His generosity and good nature gives him access to many notable figures like Oscar Wilde and the charismatic Dorian Grey The Time Machination Having acquired his own portrait the Master needs to find a way to exit this world. A time machine is just what he needs. But is Sherlock Holmes a step ahead of him…armed with The Final Solution. Reminds me there’s actually a DWM comic strip where the Delgado Master encounters Professor Moriarty. As far as I can remember, he wasn’t too impressed with him considering him a literary device than a fully fledged character in his own right. Your idea of The Master meeting Mr Hyde is interesting though. It does make me wonder what the result would be if he were to consume his potion. Considering his own evil nature would it change him into the Lumiat or Professor Yana, I wonder?
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Post by Kestrel on May 31, 2022 22:28:30 GMT
Hm... my feelings are a bit mixed here. These kinds of crossovers always feel like pretty naked cross-promotion... a way to use a more popular series to boost sales of a less popular series. And, honestly, all I really want from the WM range is the Master in the Time War -- a premise that doesn't need any gimmicks. I'm not sure if that applies in this case....special anniversary release aside, the Dorian Gray range has been over for several years at this point. I can't imagine they're trying to use a big-ticket Derek Jacobi range to try to boost sales on something they're not making anymore. Maybe, but that's still what it feels like. And while they may not (currently) be making any more Dorian Gray stories, they are still selling them. I mean, I like the Dorian stories I've listened to well enough, I just... get tired of the focus on crossover gimmicks.
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Post by mark687 on Jul 8, 2022 15:08:50 GMT
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Post by sherlock on Jul 8, 2022 15:12:46 GMT
Okay then, the Master vs the Land of Fiction. Perfect premise to throw Jacobi’s Master into.
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Post by antartiks on Jul 8, 2022 15:16:31 GMT
The cover is stunning, probably even more so than the previous one. I really love it. An episode set within the Land of Fiction, another one with Sherlock Holmes and Watson, and a final episode with Dorian Gray ? Yeah, that's an instant preorder for me, probably the release I'm most looking forward to for the second half of 2022. It's been a long time since I've been this interested in an upcoming box set. Count me in.
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Post by theillusiveman on Jul 8, 2022 15:18:10 GMT
Gorgeous artwork but reading the episode titles did confirm that we are getting Volume 9 next year
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Post by grinch on Jul 8, 2022 15:34:30 GMT
Blimey, the Land of Fiction hasn’t half taken a battering over the years hasn’t it?
And I’m glad to hear they’re finally doing a Hand Christian Andersen story even if it’s not exactly how I envisaged it.
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Post by Max The Autist on Jul 8, 2022 16:55:17 GMT
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Post by shallacatop on Jul 8, 2022 19:40:45 GMT
Gorgeous cover. Really excited for the Land of Fiction and Hans Christian Andersen episodes, both feel like perfect scenarios for the War Master. Love the sound of the theming throughout the set and the idea of the Daleks in pursuit. I’ve only heard Nick’s Sherlock in All Consuming Fire, so looking forward to revisiting him in another Who release.
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,079
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Post by mbt66 on Jul 8, 2022 19:58:12 GMT
I stopped my collection of the Diary of River Song after the seventh set.
I didn’t take advantage of the two set bundle when I bought Self Defence, so I did wonder if I might stop the War Master sets at the same stage….
….nope, not going to happen,
That cover alone was enough to convince me. Reading the synopsis for each of the stories just excites me even more!
Edit: Just to confirm preorder has been processed!
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,079
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Post by mbt66 on Jul 8, 2022 20:07:15 GMT
Gorgeous artwork but reading the episode titles did confirm that we are getting Volume 9 next year I am intrigued. What have you noticed, that I haven’t?
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Post by mark687 on Jul 8, 2022 22:10:20 GMT
Textless Artwork
Regards
mark687
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Post by Kestrel on Jul 9, 2022 3:02:38 GMT
Well, now that the setting is confirmed... yeah, I dunno what to think. I don't have a lot of faith in this premise -- I generally find the Land of (public domain) Fiction a bit dull. And there's always that weird tension in these fictional stories where the protagonist "knows" everyone else is fiction, and also "knows" that they're "real" -- which never seems to go anywhere. And, frankly, I'm not sure there's much else to do with that tension but the cliched pondering of, "are we the dreamer or the dream?"
I dunno. It's just not a setting with much potential, IMO. It works okay for comedic stories, but drama? Not so much.
That said, I'd be the heir to throne to the kingdom of idiots if I thought an underwhelming premise indicated underwhelming stories. That ain't the case with anything, and it sure as hell ain't the case with the War Master range. So despite it all I remain pretty optimistic.
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