Surprise Adventures

Surprise Adventures is an audiobook released in 1998 by MCI on cassette in the UK. It was later re-released in 2000 by ABC Music and EMI on cassette and CD in Australia. It features all ten songs from Series 5, along with a story written by Alec Reid and narrated by Michael Angelis.

Description

Thomas' adventures began one winter when the mail arrived late from the mainland. Very soon, he was helping Harold the Helicopter with a daring rescue. As you listen to this brand new story, you will discover you can have fun joining in with ten songs about Thomas and his friends.

Plot

The engines are resting after Christmas but more work needs to be done. The Fat Controller explains to Thomas that the Christmas mail is delayed and that he and Percy are to take it. However after a rather silly accident involving Percy, Thomas is to take all the mail, leaving him puffed out the next morning.

Thomas is ready for work again and on the way he explains to Percy that he will soon be rescued. As he is working he discovers Dilly the Duck, who is stranded on the ice and cannot move due to an injured wing. However, Harold comes to the rescue, and Thomas and his friends look after her, despite her nonstop quacking.

Spring soon arrives, followed by Summer. Thomas is needed to take seven coaches to Gordon, but Thomas needs help and Bill and Ben are the only engines left. In the end, the Fat Controller agrees that Bill and Ben can help.

Characters

Thomas
Percy
Bill and Ben
Annie and Clarabel
Bertie
Harold
Sir Topham hatt
Dilly
Henry (does not speak)
Gordon (does not speak)
Donald (mentioned)

Songs

Trivia

On the UK song list, a small advert for the VHS Spooks and Surprises can be seen. In turn, this audio cassette is advertised on the back cover of this same video release.
Six of the songs on this audiobook were later reused on Thomas' Songs & Roundhouse Rhythms as well as three on the full release of Thomas' Train Yard Tracks and the last on the sampler version of the latter.
The UK cover was reused from the 1997 VHS Playtime.
This was the only Thomas audiobook released by MCI (VCI's music division).
The episodes, Thomas Comes to Breakfast, Down the Mine and Thomas, Terence and the Snow are referenced.
As this audiobook was first intended for release on cassette, it was split into two halves for side A and side B. However for the CD release it was joined together where The Snow Song fades out and a wind effect fades in, allowing seamless playback. The earlier audiobook release Thomas and the Best-Kept Station Competition retains its original split on the CD release with a gradual fade out and fade in of the two halves.
The line "Thomas explained the situation to the driver" after Donald's duck calls for help suggests that the engines are able to understand animals, whereas their drivers cannot.
This audiobook marks Dilly's only speaking role. Throughout the story she is never mentioned by name and is instead always addressed as "Donald's duck".
The CD release came as a bonus with a unique version of the Australian Thomas and the Jet Engine DVD. While being a later pressing it uses the exact same data as on the standalone CD release of three years prior. The disc printing is almost identical with exception of the Digital Audio Technologies Australia logo being absent due to the disc being pressed by a different company.
There was a re-release of the standalone CD in 2003 that used the same disc as seen in the Australian Thomas and the Jet Engine DVD and CD gift set. It had the same artwork as the original CD release but a new barcode sticker was placed on the case over the original printed one. The case of this release also lacks the Digital Audio Technologies Australia logo but is present on the disc despite being made by the same company as the CD included with the DVD that lacked this logo.

Goofs

On the track list for the UK release, the song Sir Topham Hatt is misspelt as "Sir Topham Hat".
The intro theme was incorrectly mixed and has the main piano, drums and bass tracks noticeably leaning more towards the right channel while the other instruments retain their original mix.
There is an audible pop during the opening theme that is present on all releases of the audiobook.
On the inner sleeve of the Australian CD release, Nickelodeon is misspelt as "Nikelodeon".