Earlier this year, fans of old-style science fantasy thrilled to the audio drama Space: 1889 "Red Devils", produced by Noise Monster Productions and based on the popular role-playing game.  The British Empire's "ether ships" sail from planet to planet, vying with the Germans, Russians and other Great Powers for control of space.  And in an ironic twist, the "Red Devils" aren't the Martians - they're Her Majesty's redcoats!

In the exciting conclusion to Red Devils, the ether ship Perbindesh, whilst returning alien Prince Skerrun (Tam Williams) and a precious "arena stone" to their home on Mars, is literally shot from the skies of the Red Planet.  Part Two - Space: 1889 "The Steppes of Thoth" - picks up mere days later, when Captain St. John-Ffolkes (voiced by TV veteran Simon Williams, father of Tam) is sent on a secret mission to the uncivilized Martian wilderness to find the wreckage of the Perbindesh, rescue any survivors and find the arena stone - before the Germans do!

Ffolkes takes along his trusty right-hand Sergeant Carstairs (Toby Longworth); the spirited Miss Georgina Golightly (Jo Castleton), a well-educated lass whose elderly father, Professor Golightly (Ian Brooker), is a foremost expert in Martian culture and among those who went down on the Perbindesh; and civilian guide Lucas Tyler (Jon Weinberg), a resourceful Tom Sawyer-esque American of questionable reputation.

The Steppes of Thoth is an entertaining presentation, but it's not as entertaining as Red Devils.  Like its predecessor, Thoth is a thoroughly professional production, with excellent voice talent, engaging sound effects and a rousing score.  But the story itself is largely unimaginative, a semi-exotic Western complete with barrooms and riverboats - and the "wild" Martians (with their inherent suspicion of the sophisticated "canal" Martians) are just Injuns or Zulus with funny accents.  The high point is a stimulating air battle between the British airboat Shrike and a German zeppelin (derisively and amusingly called a "Bosch gas-bag").  There's also some witty repartee amongst the various characters, especially between the wily Tyler and career army-man Carstairs.

 
