Author Archive: Shaun

Traveling the Vortex > Articles by: Shaun

The Midnight Schedule Is Close At Hand * UPDATED *

October 17, 2017 0 Comments

Busy Busy Busy this week as we run up to Time Eddy III. If you are new the proceedings, thanks for joining us, here’s a breakdown of what’s on tap for the podcast if you want to follow along:

Our weekly Doctor Who watch along Friday Night Who selection on 10/20 is “An Unearthly Child” (but of course a reminder that due to con commitments we may not actually be present for it. If not, just push play at 10:30 without us! 

TTV #353 – The Trilogy Concludes, as we bring you all the news fit to print, talk, and rave about Time Eddy III. 

FNW 10/27 our Halloween offering this year features Tom Baker vs the Great Vampires in “State of Decay”

TTV #354 – It’s been too long since we last checked in on the Brig-Verse, so it’s past time for some book reviews! We’ll offer up thoughts on The Two Brigadiers by Jonathan Macho, Lethbridge-Stewart: Daughters of Earth by Sarah Groenewegen, and The Cruel Oil by Harry Draper.  

Colin Baker falls into a “Twin Dilemma” on 11/3 Friday Night Who.

Continuing where we left off on Excelis, TTV #355 will have our thoughts on Big Finish’s “Excelis Rising” and “Excelis Decays”. 

FNW 11/10 is the first three parts of the third Doctor story “The Sea Devils”.

And we’ll finish off the saga of Excelis and give our thoughts on the over all arc in TTV #356 with Bernice Summerfield in “The Plague Herds Of Excelis”. 

FNW 11/17 finishes off “The Sea Devils” with Parts 4-6. 

Back to the books in TTV #357 with a look at Lethbridge-Stewart: The Dreamer’s Lament by Benjamin Burford-Jones. 

Matt Smith comes back to FNW on 11/24 in “The Rings Of Akhaten”.

A mixed bag this week for TTV #358 as we review Big Finish #94 “Id/Urgent Calls”, and pending the outcome of this year’s Lost Dimension crossover event, Titan Comics 11th Doctor Season 3 issues #6-10. Very subject to change here.  

FNW on 12/1 is the always near the top of the list rated “Caves Of Androzani” with Peter Davison.

TTV #359 has us look at Big Finish #99 “Son Of The Dragon”, and Titan Comics 12th Doctor Season 3 issues #1-5. 

A brand new one this week for Friday Night Who on 12/8! “The Creature From The Pit” with Tom Baker. 

and we’ll offer up our thoughts on that story in TTV #360. 

Pertwee returns to FNW on 12/15 in “The Curse Of Peladon” 

We’ll review the Brig-Verse novella The Flaming Soldier by Christopher Bryant in TTV #361.

Hope you picked up your bluray or DVD copies of Series 10, as we’ll do a recap of the finale “World Enough and Time / The Doctor Falls” for Friday Night Who on 12/22… 

…and then it will be time to say goodbye to Peter Capaldi in TTV #362 as we discuss his swan song and the arrival of Jodi Whitaker in the Christmas special “Twice Upon A Time” 

Wouldn’t be Christmas without a proper Christmas Who, so even though it’s a week late, our last Friday Night Who of the year (12/29) will be “The Runaway Bride” with David Tennant.

TTV #363 will bring on The Havoc Files 4 collection of short stories from Candy Jar Books and the Brig-Verse.

Beyond that? 2018. 

Misc, News

Scheduling Support From Viewers Like You

August 18, 2017 0 Comments

The adventures in scheduling topics and conversations with Friday Night Who episodes and conventions continues… In this episode…

Friday Night Who on 8/25 is the William Hartnell story “Planet of Giants”. 

TTV #344 features our look at a pair of Big Finish Companion Chronicles from Season 3: #1 “Here There Be Monsters” (Susan) and #7 “The Transit of Venus” (Ian). 

Everybody’s favorite (except ours), “The Talons of Weng-Chiang” hits Friday Night Who on 9/1. (Well, the first three parts anyway.) 

Since we’ll have Tom on the brain, TTV #345 finishes off the Big Finish 4th Doctor Adventures Season 2 with episodes #6 “The Dalek Contract”, and #7 “The Final Phase”.

We’ll finish the final three parts of “Talons of Weng-Chiang” on 9/8. 

TTV #346 has our insights into this year’s Topeka based Top Con.

FNW 9/15 is “Four To Doomsday” 

More big finish is on tap for TTV #347 with a big jump ahead to #221 “The Star Men”, as well as Titan Comics 10th Doctor Season 3 issues #1-5. 

FNW 9/22 has Patrick Troughton’s second Doctor in “The Krotons”

Lost In Time returns! TTV #348 will take a comprehensive look at “The Wheel In Space” (Assuming the Britbox Recon is released by now) 

FNW 9/29 – Battlefield (7 McCoy) 

TTV #349 sees us review Big Finish #92 Nocturne, and Titan Comics 9th Doctor ongoing issues #6-10.  

PCap makes a return visit to Friday Night Who on 10/6 with “Under The Lake” and “Before The Flood”. 

The mission of Traveling The Vortex is to create Doctor Who related content that educates, informs and inspires. To do this, Traveling The Vortex offers programming that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds, non-commercialized news programs that keep listeners informed on world events and cultures and programs that expose them to the worlds of music, theater, dance and art. The vast majority of fundraising for Traveling The Vortex takes place at the local level. Your generous gift allows everyone the ability to explore new ideas and new worlds through innovative online programming and podcasts. Together, as a Traveling The Vortex supporter, we can offer trusted news and premier children’s programming today, tomorrow and in the future. Visit https://www.patreon.com/travelingthevortex  to make a gift today. That’s right. We’ve been threatening you with this for a long time, and now, the time is at hand. To celebrate our epiversary, TTV #350 is… a… PLEDGE DRIVE! Surprises abound this week, including an exclusive sneak peak preview of a new Candy Jar Books project that doesn’t release until NEXT YEAR! Curious? Tune in to find out what it is! 

FNW 10/13 – Frontios (5 Davidson) 

Here’s a feature that hasn’t been seen in a while, making a return to TTV #351. A Companion Archive on one Iris Wildthyme. We’ll take a look at two Big Finish tales, Excelis Dawns and mainline story #51 The Wormery. 

and we go back to the beginning for Friday Night Who on 10/20 with “An Unearthly Child”. 

TTV #352 is our very full discussion of what is sure to be a very full weekend at Time Eddy III. (Have you bought YOUR ticket yet?)

Beyond that? Christmas baby! Christmas!

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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Friday Night Who 7/28

July 28, 2017 0 Comments

It’s another “Funky Pertwee” episode tonight, or at least, half of one. Grab your DVD or boot up your Britbox subscriptions and join us for the first three parts of “Colony In Space” tonight at the *new* time of 10:30pm Central. Be sure to follow us on twitter (@travelvortex) and look for the #FridayNightWho #ColonyInSpace hashtags to join the conversation…

 

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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Deborah Watling Has Passed

July 21, 2017 0 Comments

With heavy heart we must report that Doctor Who actress Deborah Watling has passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease just six weeks ago.

She was 69.

Best known for playing 2nd Doctor companion Victoria Waterfield, (and daughter of Jack Watling, who played Professor Edward Travers) many of Deborah’s episodes are still missing, with her only complete serials being Tomb of the Cybermen and Enemy of the World. Most parts of The Ice Warriors and The Web of Fear exist as well.

Deborah was a delight to talk to, as we had the pleasure of doing at Time Eddy in Wichita two years ago. She often found herself the butt of many jokes frequently administered by co-star Frazer Hines, but you could tell it was all in good fun, and their panel was one of the more spirited and fun ones we’ve ever had the privilege to moderate.

Mel and I enjoyed a small, quiet moment with her poolside at Gally several years back. She came out of the hotel, looked up at the sun and closed her eyes for a moment to just bask. Then she looked at us, smiled brilliantly and commented the only downside to conventions was while you got to spend all day with lovely fans, you did it all indoors.

She was a class act, and we will miss her.

 

Misc, News

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The Schedule Falls – UPDATED

June 22, 2017 0 Comments

Updates Updates Updates!

As we discussed on the podcast this week there is a tweak to the schedule, (we have added a week to our Candy Jar book reviews to better get caught up and cover the awesomeness there in.) Changes marked in red. The rest of the schedule stays the same, just backs up a week…

First, the big super huge announcement you may have missed… Based on YOUR feedback, (no, not you. You. No, you! You in the back. YES YOU! YOUR FEEDBACK!) Our weekly Doctor Who watch along Friday Night Who has been moved to a new time, permanently! (Well, as permanent as anything is in this crazy mixed up world of ours.)

Join us now each week, starting at 10:30pm Central.

This means you ALL better be breaking out that BritBox subscription or booting up your DVDs to join us!!!

Next up is the schedule:

Friday Night Who on 6/23 is Colin Baker in “Attack Of The Cybermen”

Our show this week for Traveling The Vortex #336 is the penultimate series 10 episode “World Enough And Time”

FNW 6/30 is the first appearance of Mondasian Cybermen in “The Tenth Planet” with William Hartnell.

and TTV #337 is the series finale, “The Doctor Falls”

Peter Davidson hits Friday Night Who on 7/7 in “Awakening”

TTV #338 will have our review of the first (and possibly only season) of the spin-off series Class.

FNW 7/14 is a Nu Who episode with Matt Smith, “The Beast Below”

We’ll take a look at some Eleventh Doctor comics in TTV #339. Titan Comics 11th Doctor Season 3 #1-5 to be exact, along with Big Finish mainline #89 “No Man’s Land”

We’ve added a week here: FNW 7/21 is the Tom Baker serial “The Sun Makers”

We’re breaking up our Candy Jar book reviews, into two weeks! Traveling The Vortex #340 takes a look at Havoc Files 3 (featuring a story by a certain member of this podcast, who will NOT be allowed to tell you how great it is), and the novela Life of Evans by John Peel.

FNW 7/28 is the debut of the Jon Pertwee story “Colony In Space” Parts 1-3

More Candy Jar goodness with the short story Runaway Bomb by Nick Walters, and the novel Lethbridge-Stewart: Night Of The Intelligence by Andy Frankham-Allen (which features a prologue by a certain member of this podcast, who will NOT be allowed to tell you how great it is.)

We’ll finish up “Colony In Space” Parts 4-6 for Friday Night Who on 8/4

TTV #341 will feature our review of “Colony In Space”

A classic FNW for 8/11 featuring Tom Baker, “The Brain Of Morbius”

8th Doctor Big Finish action in TTV #342 with our thoughts on the Big Finish 8th Doctor Adventures Season 2: #7 “Sisters of the Flame”, and #8 “Vengeance of Morbius”

More NU WHO on FNW 8/18 with Christopher Eccelston in the two part “Aliens In London / World War III”

and TTV #343 has Big Finish 8th Doctor Adventures Season 3: #1 “Orbis” and Titan Comics 9th Doctor Season 1 #1-5

Beyond that in the dog days of summer? I can strongly hint that our Lost In Time feature is coming back, and we might just be revisiting the idea of Beyond The Doctor.

Maybe.

As always, thanks for listening!

 

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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Friday Night Who Moves To New Time

June 22, 2017 0 Comments

 

We asked, you answered, we listened.

Our weekly Doctor Who watch along Friday Night Who will make the permanent move to 10:30pm on Friday Nights instead of midnight. (Times are still Central). We hope this change will allow more of you to join in with us!

The change is effective immediately, with this week’s offering, #AttackOfTheCybermen

Fire up those BritBox subscriptions or dust off your DVDs, We push play at 10:30, and look for the #FridayNightWho hashtags on twitter!

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

Podcast Delayed

June 5, 2017 0 Comments

Slight delay in the proceedings this week as Shaun and Glenn took last night to recover from the drive back from their weekend at British Fest. We are working on the audio from our panels to share with you all, and plan to record the new episode tonight, which means there’s still time to get your feedback in on The Lie Of The Land! 

Misc, News

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Friday Night Who 5/26

May 26, 2017 0 Comments

 

Join us for Friday Night Who, a different episode of Doctor Who every Friday Night at midnight, Central time! Tonight’s selection is the Tom Baker masterpiece, Pyramids Of Mars! Synchronize your watches and DVD copies (or boot up that BritBox subscription) we push play at midnight. Be sure to follow @travelvortex on twitter for all the action and look for those #FridayNightWho #PyramidsOfMars hashtags!

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

Goodbye Capaldi Scheduling

April 14, 2017 0 Comments

It’s been difficult putting this schedule together, as I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to say goodbye to P-Cap (and the BBC continues to fiddle with episode titles depending on what site you visit). At any rate, for those of you that like to follow along at home, or want to take advantage of your new BritBox subscription and join us for our weekly Doctor Who watch/tweet along Friday Night Who, here’s the line up:

TONIGHT, (4/14) Friday Night Who offering is Tom Baker in “Destiny Of The Daleks”. This is notable for also being the first (and so far only) appearance of the Movellans, who are supposed to reappear in this weekend’s season opener.

TTV #326 We’ll take a look at “The Pilot” (10×1) and give you our thoughts. NuWho is back, baby!

Because we like paring things up when the show comes back, FNW on 4/21 features Matt Smith in “The Girl Who Waited”, because handbots are really close to those emoji bots, right?

TTV #327 Details of the emoji bots in our look at “Smile” (10×2)

Celebrating both Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) and John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) at this years Planet Comicon in KC, our offering this week (FNW 4/28) is “The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances” with Christopher Eccelston.

Side Trip 27 will bring you all the ins and outs of our local big con, Planet Comicon 2017.

And TTV #328 (our proper show for the week) will have our thoughts on “Thin Ice” (10×3)

Okay, this is totally cheesy and NOT the way to schedule, but FNW 5/5 is “End Of Time / End Of Time Part 2” with David Tennant…

…because this week’s NuWho episode is called “Knock, Knock” (10×4). GET IT?!? Yeah, probably no more tie in than that for TTV #329.

5/12 is surprisingly, one we’ve never officially done for Friday Night Who before, Jon Pertwee’s “Terror Of The Autons”

TTV #330 will have our thoughts on “Oxygen” (10×5)

FNW 5/19 is the last appearance of Missy from Peter Capaldi’s last series, “The Magician’s Apprentice / The Witches Familiar”

…because we have it on pretty good authority she returns this season. Will it be in “Extremis” (10×6), discussed in TTV #331?

FNW 5/26 is the Tom Baker classic “Pyramids Of Mars”

TTV #332 has our thoughts on “The Pyramid At The End Of The World” (10×7).

Join us and Frazer Hines at Britishfest in Omaha this weekend. We’ll be watching “The Seeds Of Death” Part 1-3 with Patrick Troughton

Side Trip 28 has all the fun to be had from Britishfest 2017

TTV #333 – The Lie Of The Land (OR) The Truth (10×8)

FNW 6/9 will finish off “The Seeds Of Death” with Parts 4-6

as the Ice Warriors reappear in TTV #334 as we discuss “The Empress Of Mars” (OR) “The Martian Queen” (10×9)

Mura Rono is back this season, having previously written this week’s FNW 6/16 “Survival” starring Sylvester McCoy.

and is the only author to write for both classic and NuWho with TTV #335’s discussion topic, “Eaters Of Light” (10×10)

The complete televised history of the Mondasian Cybermen unfolds the next two weeks, as FNW on 6/23 is “Attack Of The Cybermen” featuring Colin Baker.

TTV #336 has the new Mondasian Cybermen in “World Enough And Time” (OR) “The Converted” (10×11)

and finally, FNW 6/30 brings us “The Tenth Planet” the last episode of William Hartnell.

Will TTV #337 have us discussing the last episode of Peter Capaldi? “The Doctor Falls” (OR) “Steel Skinned” (10×12) will tell.

Beyond that?

Depression.

Deep. Dark. Depression.

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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Scheduling From Here To Easter Saturday

February 13, 2017 0 Comments

With the Beeb’s recent announcement of Season 10 premiering on Easter Saturday, we feel confident in releasing the rest of the schedule up to that point for those of you who like to follow along…

Friday Night Who on 2/3 is “The Gunfighters” with William Hartnell.

TTV #317 is a Book Review of Lethbridge-Stewart: Mind Of Stone by Iain McLaughlan, and The Christmas Files shorts.

FNW 2/17 (Finally) is “The Power of the Daleks” Part 1-3, as the Patrick Troughton story comes to DVD in North America at last.

TTV #318 We’ll finish off Titan Comics 11th Doctor series 2 with #2.11 – #2.15, and tackle Big Finish 4th Doctor Adventures: S2 #5 “Phantoms Of The Deep”.

Friday Night Who on 2/24 finishes “The Power of the Daleks” Part 4-6…

…and then an in-depth look into the story. We’ll talk about “The Power of the Daleks”(story, the animation, the color version), and the fan mounted film version in Traveling The Vortex #319

3/3 brings David Tennant to “New Earth” for Friday Night Who.

Our podcast epsisode #320 will review Titan Comics 10th Doctor series 2 issues #2.11 – #2.17, and Big Finish mainline story #82 “The Settling”.

FNW 3/10 is the masterful Tom Baker story “City Of Death”

TTV #321 is our Book Reviews of the novelization of City Of Death by Douglas Adams & James Goss

Friday Night Who on 3/17 brings back Peter Davidson and Team TARDIS in “Time Flight”

A pair of audios round things out for show #322, with Big Finish mainline stories #91 Circular Time and #93 Renaissance Of The Daleks.

Hartnell returns to Friday Night Who on 3/24 in “The Ark”

TTV #323 features our current listener’s poll, with a twist. We want all of YOU to vote on the WORST monsters to grace Doctor Who. The dregs, the deplorable, the ones despised by fandom. You know the ones. We’ll take the top ten vote getters, and then our job will be to rise to their defense and explain why they’re actually pretty great. If we can. Challenge Accepted!

Get your Funky Pertwee on with FNW on 3/31 as we watch the first three parts of “Invasion Of The Dinosaurs”

CORRECTION:

TTV #324 features the conclusion of Titan Comics 12th Doctor series 2 with issues #2.11 – #2.15, and Big Finish mainline story #89 No Man’s Land CHANGED TO: #79 Night Thoughts. 

FNW on 4/7 will finish off “Invasion Of The Dinosaurs” parts 4-6.

And in TTV #325 we’ll cover Titan Comics third Doctor mini series, and Big Finish mainline story #108 The Assassin In The Limelight.

Thanks again for your support!

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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REVISED! New Year, New Schedule-More Comedy, Less Tragedy

January 11, 2017 0 Comments

1/20/17 – There have been a few tweaks based on the Titan comics release schedule, and a change to the Power Of The Daleks show, which we are NOT treating as a Lost In Time Segment. Updated entries to the schedule are in RED.

It’s time for a whole new batch of what’s coming up in the Vortex…

Friday Night Who on 1/13 is the Sylvester McCoy vehicle “Dragonfire”.

TTV #313 will take a look at Titan Comics 12th Doctor comics, series 2, #2.1 – #2.5, as well as Big Finish mainline audio #74 “LIVE 34”.

FNW 1/20 is the final part of Colin Baker’s Trial Of A Time Lord, “The Ultimate Foe”.

More Titan Comics featuring the 12th Doctor, Series 2 #2.6-#2.10, and Big Finish 8th Doctor Adventures Season 2: #5 “Grand Theft Cosmos” for TTV #314.

FNW 1/27 brings us last seasons “The Zygon Invasion” and “The Zygon Inversion” with Peter Capaldi.

Setting up TTV #315 for an Adversary Archive on The Zygons! Well listen to Big Finish 8th Doctor Adventures Season 2: #6 The Zygon Who Fell To Earth, then step outside the world of Who proper with a look at the professionally produced fan film Zygon, When Being You Just Isn’t Enough *.

* NOTE – Zygon, When Being You Just Isn’t Enough deals with Mature content and situations, and may not be suitable for everyone.

Friday Night Who on 2/3 is “The Gunfighters” with William Hartnell.

TTV #316 is a Book Review of Lethbridge-Stewart: Mind Of Stone by Iain McLaughlan, and The Christmas Files shorts.

FNW 2/10 (Finally) is “The Power of the Daleks” Part 1-3, as the Patrick Troughton story comes to DVD in North America at last.

TTV #317 We’ll finish off Titan Comics 11th Doctor series 2 with #2.11 – #2.15, and tackle Big Finish 4th Doctor Adventures: S2 #5 “Phantoms Of The Deep”.

Friday Night Who on 2/17 finishes “The Power of the Daleks” Part 4-6…

…and then an in-depth look into the story. We’ll talk about “The Power of the Daleks”(story, the animation, the color version), and the fan mounted film version in Traveling The Vortex #318

2/24 brings David Tennant to “New Earth” for Friday Night Who.

Our podcast epsisode #318 will review Titan Comics 10th Doctor series 2 issues #2.11 – #2.17, and Big Finish mainline story #82 “The Settling”.

FNW 3/3 is the masterful Tom Baker story “City Of Death”

TTV #319 is our Book Reviews of the novelization of City Of Death by Douglas Adams & James Goss

Friday Night Who on 3/10 brings back Peter Davidson and Team TARDIS in “Time Flight”

A pair of audios round things out for show #320, with Big Finish mainline story #91 Circular Time and #93 Renaissance Of The Daleks.

After that? Season 10 starts soon. (And keep in mind that it may start sooner than this schedule allows for, so things are always subject to change…) Thanks again for your support!

Misc, News, Upcoming Events

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The Curse Of Scheduling The Power Of The Daleks

November 25, 2016 0 Comments

So once again we have been foiled by an uncertain time frame. In our desire to get Power Of The Daleks on the schedule (and Friday Night Who) as close to air date as possible, we have been stymied by BBC America and BBC Worldwide’s decision to release the six part serial WEEKLY. Which threw a major monkey-wrench into our plans. So, with much apology, I present a REVISED schedule for those of you that like following along…

Friday Night Who TONIGHT 11/25 will star David Tennant in The Doctor’s Daughter

TTV #306 will have our reviews of Big Finish The 4th Doctor Adventures S2: #4 The Justice Of Jalxar, AND the first two episodes of The Power Of The Daleks.

FNW 12/2 is Web Of Fear Parts 1-3

For Traveling The Vortex #307 we’ll discuss Power Of The Daleks episode #3, and bring you some Book Reviews with the Candy Jar shorts The Creatures in the Cave by Rick Cross, The Last Duty by Christopher Bryant, Eve of the Fomorians by Robert Mammome, and The Lost Skin: Episode 1 by Andy Frankham-Allen

FNW 12/9 is Web Of Fear Parts 4-6

TTV #308 covers Power Of The Daleks #4, and a Book Review, Lethbridge-Stewart: Times Squared by Rick Cross

Tom Baker returns to FNW on 12/16 for Revenge Of The Cybermen

Which allows us to take a look at both the 4th Doctor Mini-Series, AND Supremacy Of The Cybermen Mini-Series from Titan Comics, as well as Power Of The Daleks episode #5 in TTV #309.

Our holiday edition of FNW 12/23 is last year’s The Husbands Of River Song

and coming fresh of the airing, TTV #310 will have our thoughts on Power Of The Daleks #6, and the 2016 Christmas special The Return Of Doctor Mysterio

FNW 12/30 is Jon Pertwee in The Time Monster Parts 1-3

TTV #311 will be A Very Vortex Christmas Special. Not sure what we’re looking at yet, but Glenn is digging up some goodies!

Leading off the shiny new year is a bit of left over business from last, as we finish The Time Monster Part 4-6 for Friday Night Who on 1/6

 

Beyond that I’ll keep things a little closer to the vest to make sure they pan out as anticipated. But be ready for more comics, big finish and Zygons as we run up to Season 10…

 

Misc, News, Upcoming Events