2004-10-18 Downbeat but intriguing collection

Of the sixteen stories the best concern the 3rd Doctor apparently causing someone's death, leaving him trapped as a ghost unable to communicate with his old friends; the 1st Doctor finding himself trapped into ruining the life of a schoolboy by his own future actions; and a tramp who's life is saved by the 8th Doctor questioning his motives.

Reasonable stories concern the 8th Doctor uncovering illegal genetic experiments on Gallifrey; the 7th Doctor unwittingly bringing someone back to life; a rag & bone man picking up alien technology discarded by the 1st Doctor at Totters Lane; the 6th Doctor facing execution for interfering in history; the 1st Doctor on trial for murder; the 4th Doctor getting involved with the outbreak of the Great Fire of London; the 5th Doctor both initiating and preventing the assassination of Margaret Thatcher; the 4th Doctor meeting mythical wolf people in Australia; and the 2nd Doctor confronting a magician who has summoned a demon to destroy the timelines the Doctor has woven around the Earth.

The only really poor stories feature the 3rd Doctor encountering the Master and various technobabble concerning time-loops; the 5th Doctor going undercover to trap a cheesy gangster aided by alien technology; a bland tale of the 2nd Doctor combating an Oil Baron in the Wild West; and a tedious tale of diplomats after a 6th Doctor adventure.

All in all this is a fairly downbeat collection, but the linking story of Charley helps immensely, and despite the inevitable odd misfire this is one of Big Finish's better collections.