Doctor Who The Sea Devils audiobook

Ah, the Sea Devils. Most people of a certain age remember that iconic scene of the titular monsters emerging from the sea. 
And the bit in the minefield.
And these scenes are, of course in here… but it is surprising just how little ‘sea devil’ the reader/listener gets for their money here. After a brief appearance at the beginning, the creatures disappear for the majority of the story, only popping up again towards the final act.
What we get for most of the story is a no less interesting tale of the Doctor visiting the recently captured Master on an island prison. Actually, I mentioned the classic scenes above, well there is another in the TV show (unless I have created a false memory!) where the Master is watching the Clangers on television, and is whistling back at them in an attempt to communicate. But unfortunately this wonderful scene does not feature in the book.
As for the book, it is pretty well written. There are long passages of obvious padding – like a lengthy explanation of how sonar works – that are there for no other reason than to lift the word count, and serve only to slow down the story.
That being said, I enjoyed listening to this. Pertwee’s Doctor was always good at pricking the pomposity of the establishment, which is something he gets to do a lot in this one. And this incarnation of the Master is delightfully scheming. Charming and cruel in turn, and sometimes at the same time.
The Sea Devils audiobook is released by AudioGo.

Assassin’s Creed III’s The Hidden Secrets Downloadable Content

Today, Ubisoft announces the Assassin’s Creed III’s first downloadable content pack, The Hidden Secrets, is now available for Season Pass owners on Microsoft’s Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system and Windows PC and will be available tomorrow for PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system . The Hidden Secrets downloadable pack will be available broadly on December 11 on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC and will be available on December 13 on the PlayStation^® Network. The first downloadable content pack will release for the Nintendo Wii U^TM at a later date.

The Hidden Secrets for Assassin’s Creed III adds three extra missions, including the Lost Mayan Ruins, the Ghost of War and a Dangerous Secret, for an additional hour of gameplay, taking gamers from the lost Mayan ruins to the high seas. Every successful mission is rewarded with in-game weapons. Gamers will also receive:

·         Two single-player costumes including the fabled Captain of the Aquila uniform and the traditional Colonial Assassin outfit

·         Two multiplayer characters including the fearsome Redcoat and the deadly Sharpshooter

The Assassin’s Creed III Season Pass grants access to all five upcoming downloadable content packs including The Hidden Secrets, to gamers owning the original game.  The Season Pass provides more than 25% savings versus purchasing the DLC separately.

Assassin’s Creed III Season Pass is available for purchase for 2400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE or £23.99 on the PlayStation^®Network. It can also be purchased at GAME in the UK.

Future Assassin’s Creed III downloadable content will feature “The Tyranny of King Washington,” an all-new single-player campaign told through three episodic content packs that lets gamers experience an alternate history of the events following the American Revolution.

It’s 1783 and the American Revolution is over, but the true battle is just beginning. Blinded by a thirst for unlimited power, George Washington has declared himself King. Now, our new hero Ratohnhaké:ton must dethrone the tyrant and return freedom to the land.

In addition to this all-new single player experience, Assassin’s Creed III downloadable content will feature new maps and characters for an even more expansive multiplayer experience in the upcoming  “The Battle Hardened” pack.

Assassin’s Creed III is now available on PlayStation^® 3, Xbox 360^®, PCs and the Nintendo Wii U^TM.

About Assassin’s Creed III:

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Gamers become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date.

Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier and bustling colonial towns to the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army and the tumultuous high seas. Assassin’s Creed III will feature unprecedented scope and scale.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed III, please visit the Assassin’s Creed Official Website: http://www.assassinscreed.com

DANDY EXHIBITION LAUNCH AND DIGITAL DANDY EVENT - SATURDAY 8TH

On Saturday 8^th December at 2pm there will be an opening event for the University of Dundee’s latest comics exhibition which will celebrate the 75th birthday of the world’s third-longest running comic, The Dandy, created by Dundee publishers DC Thomson. The exhibition looks back over the Dandy’s past, but also towards its future as it moves on-line with the launch of the Digital Dandy this week.

The exhibition features original artwork from DC Thomson’s collections dating back to the earliest years of the comic, much of which has never been shown in public before. The launch event will also give an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creation of the new Digital Dandy, with a discussion led by Dr Chris Murray, with contributions from Morris Heggie, former Dandy editor, new Digital Dandy editor Craig Ferguson, Digital Production manager Mark Hunter, writer Dan McGachey, long-time DCT artist David Sutherland, and one of the artists who is very closely involved in the direction of the Digital Dandy, Stephen White (Brassneck and Keyhole Kate).

The exhibition and launch have been created as part of an on-going partnership between DC Thomson & Co Ltd, the University of Dundee Museum Services and the newly established Scottish Centre for Comics Studies based at the University. Dr Chris Murray, director of the centre, said: “We are proud to be able to help The Dandy celebrate its 75th anniversary, which is a remarkable achievement. Of course, the comic is also in a process of transition, as the final print version goes to press and is replaced by a new digital Dandy. This promises to be an exciting and innovative step forward for comic and its beloved characters.”

All are welcome for what promises to be an informative and engaging series of talks about The Dandy’s history and its future.

The exhibition is open Monday-Saturday until 7th January (except when the University is closed for Christmas 23 December – 2 January). The launch will be on Saturday 8^th December at 2pm in the Tower Building, University of Dundee. Admission is free.

For further information email museum@dundee.ac.uk or c.murray@dundee.ac.uk