Barry Letts (1925–2009)

The Ghosts of N-Space is a six-part Doctor Who adventure. It's not a soundtrack from a TV adventure. It was actually written for the radio and recorded in 1995. Jon Pertwee provided the voice of the third Doctor, as he did for the radio drama The Paradise of Death, but his own death prevented more third Doctor radio serials.

Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, head of the UK contingent of UNIT (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, is in Sicily. He drops by the castello (castle) of Mario, whom he calls 'Great-Uncle,' but he's really a several-times removed cousin. Mario is the current Barone, or Baron in English. The Brigadier is next in line for the title, which he doesn't want. Mario is having a problem with Vilmio, a mobster who wants the castle and is not planning to take 'No!' for an answer. The castle's ghosts don't bother Mario that much, although the Brigadier sees one that gives that stalwart solider pause.

In fact, the Brigadier phones the Doctor to come help out. The poor man is rattled enough by what he saw that when he sees reporter Sarah Jane Smith, he assumes she's not there. Sarah Jane thinks the Brigadier is pretending he doesn't know her and is determined to find out why, vacation be hanged. Her co-worker, Jeremy Fitzoliver, who was traveling with her, is roped into following the Brigadier. Too bad they don't know they've just taken the last ferry of the day to the island where Mario's castle is. (The Doctor arrives by T.A.R.D.I.S., which is handy, because he'll be needing it.)

The Doctor explains that there's a crack between our world and N-Space [Null-Space] where spirits who can't move on are trapped. The crack is why they're able to see the ghosts. He's got to find out what caused the crack. After some research it's T.A.R.D.I.S time.

Sarah Jane nearly gets herself killed when she sees the re-enactment of a 19th century tragedy. She and the Doctor get to travel to that time more than once. Now that Sarah Jane has met Luisa (Louisa?) in the flesh, she's more determined than ever to prevent the romantic young lady's death, even if you aren't supposed to change history. Her efforts are hampered because she can't tell Luisa that she's from the 20th Century and the very thing Luisa expects to make marrying the handsome young gardener acceptable to her guardian will lead to her terrifying demise. (It's nasty enough to be worthy of the Gothic romances Luisa loves.)

Another time the Doctor and Sarah visit is the 16th century. Sarah is not best pleased to have to play the Doctor's male servant, Jack. There they run afoul of an evil alchemist named Vilmius. Could he be Vilmio's ancestor? He's certainly up to No Good. Can the Doctor and companion prevent his scheme and thereby fix the castle's problem?

Don't feel sorry for the Brigadier and Jeremy for staying in the present. They aren't going to miss out on all of the excitement. Vilmio sends his mistress, Maggie, to find out what she can. The Brigadier doesn't fall for Maggie's charms, but Jeremy is more susceptible. I don't want to give too much away, but it would take more than a rubber mask or two to manage the 20th century perils. As it is, give your imagination a workout.

The action switches among characters and time periods. Sarah Jane does some screaming, but Jeremy is our 'damsel' in distress. I enjoyed the Brigadier's attempts to deal with Mario wanting to fire his antique blunderbuss.… (mehr)