The first three Doctor Who novelisations were published in the 1960s by Frederick Muller Ltd, but it wasn't until 1973, when Target Books picked up the reprint rights, that the range of Doctor Who books began to expand.
Beginning with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, Target Books would go on to print books based on all but five of the television stories produced between 1963 and 1989, with numerous re-jacketed editions in between.
With the majority of stories novelised, the company, now owned by Virgin Publishing, went on to establish the enormously successful range of New Adventures novels.
The production of the 1996 TV movie, starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, saw BBC Books taking the decision to publish both a script book and novelisation of the story. Shortly afterwards, the decision was also taken that the time had come for Doctor Who fiction to be brought in-house, with Target/Virgin's twenty-four year association with the programme finally coming to an end in April 1997.
Beginning with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, Target Books would go on to print books based on all but five of the television stories produced between 1963 and 1989, with numerous re-jacketed editions in between.
With the majority of stories novelised, the company, now owned by Virgin Publishing, went on to establish the enormously successful range of New Adventures novels.
The production of the 1996 TV movie, starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, saw BBC Books taking the decision to publish both a script book and novelisation of the story. Shortly afterwards, the decision was also taken that the time had come for Doctor Who fiction to be brought in-house, with Target/Virgin's twenty-four year association with the programme finally coming to an end in April 1997.
Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- July 1983
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity
UK / Paperback / Target Books / October 1983 / No. 80
UK / Paperback / Target Books / March 1992 / No. 80
Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity
UK / Paperback / Target Books / October 1983 / No. 80 UK / Paperback / Target Books / March 1992 / No. 80
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1983)
When the Doctor returns to Gallifrey, he learns that his bio data extract has been stolen from the Time Lords' master computer known as the Matrix.
The bio data extract is a detailed description of the Doctor's molecular structure — and this information, in the wrong hands, could be exploited with disastrous effect.
The Gallifreyan High Council believe that anti-matter will be infiltrated into the universe as a result of the theft. In order to render the information useless, they decide the Doctor must die...
When the Doctor returns to Gallifrey, he learns that his bio data extract has been stolen from the Time Lords' master computer known as the Matrix.
The bio data extract is a detailed description of the Doctor's molecular structure — and this information, in the wrong hands, could be exploited with disastrous effect.
The Gallifreyan High Council believe that anti-matter will be infiltrated into the universe as a result of the theft. In order to render the information useless, they decide the Doctor must die...
Television Story
Arc of Infinity
Script Writer: Johnny Byrne
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
03/01/83 Part One
05/01/83 Part Two
11/01/83 Part Three
12/01/83 Part Four
Arc of Infinity
Script Writer: Johnny Byrne
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
03/01/83 Part One
05/01/83 Part Two
11/01/83 Part Three
12/01/83 Part Four
DVD 
All episodes exist and have been released on Region 2 DVD in the UK, and on Region 1 DVD in the United States.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
President Borusa / Omega / Castellan
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
President Borusa / Omega / Castellan
Notes
- Arc of Infinity was Johnny Byrne's second story for Doctor Who, after Season Eighteen's The Keeper of Traken.
- Arc of Infinity kicked off Season 20 of Doctor Who, and as such included a nod to the past in the form of Omega, the temporal engineer who had nearly destroyed Gallifrey and the Doctor in the series' tenth anniversary tale The Three Doctors, in 1972/3.
Another nod to the past was the inclusion of Borusa, now President of the High Council, and in yet regeneration. The character had first appeared in the 1976 tale The Deadly Assassin, before re-eappering when the Sontarans invaded Gallifrey in The Invasion of Time. His final appearance would be in the 20th anniversary special, The Five Doctors...
The story also re-introduced Tegan, who had been left behind on Earth at the end of Time-Flight, the final story of the previous season.
Doctor Who: Snakedance
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- January 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Snakedance
UK / Paperback / Target Books / April 1984 / No. 83
Doctor Who: Snakedance
UK / Paperback / Target Books / April 1984 / No. 83
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1984)
The TARDIS arrives on the planet Manussa — much to the Doctor's surprise, because Tegan has mysteriously set the co-ordinates.
But Tegan, once again a member of the TARDIS crew, is not her own boss. An unsuspecting medium for the sinister Mara, she enables the evil exile to return to his home planet.
On Manussa the ten-yearly celebration of the Mara's banishment is about to take place. Only the Doctor realises that this could in fact mark the spectacular revival of a reign of terror — but no one will heed his warning.
The TARDIS arrives on the planet Manussa — much to the Doctor's surprise, because Tegan has mysteriously set the co-ordinates.
But Tegan, once again a member of the TARDIS crew, is not her own boss. An unsuspecting medium for the sinister Mara, she enables the evil exile to return to his home planet.
On Manussa the ten-yearly celebration of the Mara's banishment is about to take place. Only the Doctor realises that this could in fact mark the spectacular revival of a reign of terror — but no one will heed his warning.
Television Story
Snakedance
Script Writer: Christopher Bailey
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
18/01/83 Part One
19/01/83 Part Two
25/01/83 Part Three
26/01/83 Part Four
Snakedance
Script Writer: Christopher Bailey
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
18/01/83 Part One
19/01/83 Part Two
25/01/83 Part Three
26/01/83 Part Four
VHS
All episodes exist and have been released on video in the UK and United States.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Mara
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Mara
Notes
- Snakedance was the second and final story to be written for the series by Christopher Bailey, and was a sequel to the previous season's Kinda, which had introduced the Mara.
- Snakedance marked the end for the unpopular photographic covers on the Fifth Doctor novelisations.
Doctor Who: Mawdryn Undead
by Peter Grimwade
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- August 1983
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Mawdryn Undead
UK / Paperback / Target Books / January 1984 / No. 82
UK / Paperback / Target Books / March 1992 / No. 82
Doctor Who: Mawdryn Undead
UK / Paperback / Target Books / January 1984 / No. 82 UK / Paperback / Target Books / March 1992 / No. 82
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1984)
The Doctor's time-travelling machine is trapped in the flight-path of an alien spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. To avoid the fatal impact of a head-on collision the TARDIS resorts to the only escape possible and materialises on board the on-coming liner.
This solves the immediate problem, but a new difficulty arises — the TARDIS cannot get off the ship until a radio signal transmitting from Earth has been disconnected.
The Doctor sets off in a Transmat Capsule, having programmed the TARDIS to enable Tegan and Nyssa to follow him once he has dealt with the interference.
Naturally enough, things don't go quite as planned...
The Doctor's time-travelling machine is trapped in the flight-path of an alien spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. To avoid the fatal impact of a head-on collision the TARDIS resorts to the only escape possible and materialises on board the on-coming liner.
This solves the immediate problem, but a new difficulty arises — the TARDIS cannot get off the ship until a radio signal transmitting from Earth has been disconnected.
The Doctor sets off in a Transmat Capsule, having programmed the TARDIS to enable Tegan and Nyssa to follow him once he has dealt with the interference.
Naturally enough, things don't go quite as planned...
Television Story
Mawdryn Undead
Script Writer: Peter Grimwade
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
01/02/83 Part One
02/02/83 Part Two
08/02/83 Part Three
09/02/83 Part Four
Mawdryn Undead
Script Writer: Peter Grimwade
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
01/02/83 Part One
02/02/83 Part Two
08/02/83 Part Three
09/02/83 Part Four
DVD
Mawdryn Undead was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK in August 2009 as part of the Black Guardian Trilogy box set and on Region 1 DVD in the United States in November 2009. The set also includes Terminus and Enlightenment
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart / The Black Guardian
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart / The Black Guardian
Notes
- Mawdryn Undead was the second of three scripts written for the series by Peter Grimwade, and he went on to novelise all three himself.
- Mawdryn Undead marked the first appearance in the series of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart since Terror of the Zygons in 1975, although by this point he had left UNIT and was, er, teaching maths in a boys school... The Brigadier wasn't the only character from the past to re-appear, however, as the story was effectively the first part of a trilogy in which the Black Guardian, from The Armageddon Factor in Season Sixteen, tries to make good on his promise to destroy the Doctor. And the easiest way to do this is by enlisting the help of Turlough, a pupil at the school, but one whose knowledge is rather more advanced than is normal. The character would join the time travellers on their journeys at the end of the story.
Doctor Who: Terminus
by John Lydecker
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- June 1983
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Terminus
UK / Paperback / Target Books / September 1983 / No. 79
Doctor Who: Terminus
UK / Paperback / Target Books / September 1983 / No. 79
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1983)
When the TARDIS console is wilfully sabotaged, the Doctor's time machine becomes dimensionally unstable and begins to dissolve. The area immediately affected is the room where Nyssa is working by herself.
As the creeping instability closes in on her, the TARDIS locks onto the nearest passing spacecraft, and the process of collapse is halted — but there is no sign of Nyssa.
Hoping that she has escaped onto the strangely deserted host liner, the Doctor goes looking for her. Whether or not he finds her, getting back to the TARDIS will be no easy business...
When the TARDIS console is wilfully sabotaged, the Doctor's time machine becomes dimensionally unstable and begins to dissolve. The area immediately affected is the room where Nyssa is working by herself.
As the creeping instability closes in on her, the TARDIS locks onto the nearest passing spacecraft, and the process of collapse is halted — but there is no sign of Nyssa.
Hoping that she has escaped onto the strangely deserted host liner, the Doctor goes looking for her. Whether or not he finds her, getting back to the TARDIS will be no easy business...
Television Story
Terminus
Script Writer: Stephen Gallagher
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
15/02/83 Part One
16/02/83 Part Two
22/02/83 Part Three
23/02/83 Part Four
Terminus
Script Writer: Stephen Gallagher
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
15/02/83 Part One
16/02/83 Part Two
22/02/83 Part Three
23/02/83 Part Four
DVD
Terminus was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK in August 2009 as part of the Black Guardian Trilogy box set and on Region 1 DVD in the United States in November 2009. The set also includes Mawdryn Undead and Enlightenment.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Black Guardian
Fifth Doctor / Nyssa / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Black Guardian
Notes
- Terminus was the second and final story to be written for the television series by novelist Stephen Gallagher. His earlier story was Warriors' Gate for Season Eighteen, and he was to novelise both stories for WH Allen/Target under the pen-name John Lydecker. His later work for television would include numerous episodes of BUGS; several episodes of the anthology series Chiller; adapting his novels Chimera and Oktober for ITV; creating and writing sveeral episodes of Eleventh Hour; and scripting episodes of Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes and Rosemary and Thyme.
- Terminus was the final story to feature Nyssa, as she left the TARDIS at the conclusion of the story in order to help find a cure for Lazar's Disease. The story also saw the continuation of the sub-plot involving the Black Guardian and Turlough's somewhat inept attempts to kill the Doctor and sabotage the TARDIS.
Doctor Who: Enlightenment
by Barbara Clegg
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- February 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Enlightenment
UK / Paperback / Target Books / May 1984 / No. 85
Doctor Who: Enlightenment
UK / Paperback / Target Books / May 1984 / No. 85
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1984)
In response to a warning of great danger given by the White Guardian, the Doctor sets new co-ordinates and the TARDIS materialises on the heaving deck of an Edwardian racing yacht.
But the Doctor soon discovers that this is no ordinary yacht — and no ordinary race. Captain Striker is competing for an unusual prize — 'Enlightenment'.
The crew will be lucky to reach port safely — but with such a prize would they be lucky to win?
In response to a warning of great danger given by the White Guardian, the Doctor sets new co-ordinates and the TARDIS materialises on the heaving deck of an Edwardian racing yacht.
But the Doctor soon discovers that this is no ordinary yacht — and no ordinary race. Captain Striker is competing for an unusual prize — 'Enlightenment'.
The crew will be lucky to reach port safely — but with such a prize would they be lucky to win?
Television Story
Enlightenment
Script Writer: Barbara Clegg
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
01/03/83 Part One
02/03/83 Part Two
08/03/83 Part Three
09/03/83 Part Four
Enlightenment
Script Writer: Barbara Clegg
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
01/03/83 Part One
02/03/83 Part Two
08/03/83 Part Three
09/03/83 Part Four
DVD
Enlightenment was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK in August 2009 as part of the Black Guardian Trilogy box set and on Region 1 DVD in the United States in November 2009. The set also includes Mawdryn Undead and Terminus.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Black Guardian / The White Guardian
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Black Guardian / The White Guardian
Notes
- Enlightenment was the only story ever to be written for the series by Barbara Clegg, and brought to a conclusion the Black Guardian trilogy which had begun in Mawdryn Undead and continued with Terminus, Unsurprisingly, the White Guardian also put in an appearance towards the end.
Doctor Who: The King's Demons
by Terence Dudley
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- February 1986
Other Editions
Doctor Who: The King's Demons
UK / Paperback / Target Books / July 1986 / No. 108
Doctor Who: The King's Demons
UK / Paperback / Target Books / July 1986 / No. 108
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1986)
It is 4 March, 1215, and the TARDIS materialises in England during a jousting match held in the presence of King John.
But it soon becomes apparent to the Doctor that something is very seriously wrong. Why does John express no fear or surprise at the time-travellers' sudden appearance, and indeed welcome them as the King's Demons? And what is the true identity of Sir Gilles, the King's Champion?
Very soon the Doctor finds himself involved in a fiendish plan to alter the course of world history by one of his oldest and deadliest enemies.
It is 4 March, 1215, and the TARDIS materialises in England during a jousting match held in the presence of King John.
But it soon becomes apparent to the Doctor that something is very seriously wrong. Why does John express no fear or surprise at the time-travellers' sudden appearance, and indeed welcome them as the King's Demons? And what is the true identity of Sir Gilles, the King's Champion?
Very soon the Doctor finds himself involved in a fiendish plan to alter the course of world history by one of his oldest and deadliest enemies.
Television Story
The King's Demons
Script Writer: Terence Dudley
2 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
15/03/83 Part One
16/03/83 Part Two
The King's Demons
Script Writer: Terence Dudley
2 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
15/03/83 Part One
16/03/83 Part Two
DVD
The King's Demons is due to be released on Region 2 DVD in 2010 as part of the Kamelion Collection, which will also include Planet of Fire.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Master / Kamelion
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Master / Kamelion
Notes
- The King's Demons was the last of three stories to be written for the television series by Terence Dudley, and was the only tale in Season 20 to feature the Master. On this particular occasion he was disguised as King John's Champion, Sir Gilles Estram, and had managed to find himself in possesion of a shape-changing android named Kamelion, who would find himself aboard the Doctor's TARDIS at the conclusion of the story. The mechanical prop was difficult to use effectively, however, and wasn't to re-appear again until Planet of Fire in Season 21, although an unused scene featuring the character was filmed for The Awakening.
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- November 1983
Other Editions
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors
UK / Paperback / Target Books / November 1983 / No. 81
UK / Paperback / Target Books / February 1991 / No. 81
Doctor Who: The Five Doctors
UK / Paperback / Target Books / November 1983 / No. 81 UK / Paperback / Target Books / February 1991 / No. 81
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1983)
A twentieth anniversary special featuring the Doctor in all five of his regenerations.
Why are all five Doctors being removed from their separate time-streams? Who is the enemy they will have to unite against? What will become of the Doctors when the battle is over?
We have travelled a long way with Doctor Who. The Five Doctors gives us a chance to turn the clock back and meet some old friends — and some old enemies.
A twentieth anniversary special featuring the Doctor in all five of his regenerations.
Why are all five Doctors being removed from their separate time-streams? Who is the enemy they will have to unite against? What will become of the Doctors when the battle is over?
We have travelled a long way with Doctor Who. The Five Doctors gives us a chance to turn the clock back and meet some old friends — and some old enemies.
Television Story
The Five Doctors
Script Writer: Terrance Dicks
1 × 90 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
25/11/83 The Five Doctors
The Five Doctors
Script Writer: Terrance Dicks
1 × 90 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
25/11/83 The Five Doctors
DVD (2008)
The Five Doctors has been released in the UK in three different forms on video. The first was edited, the second was the full version of the transmitted programme from 1983, and the third was a completely re-edited version with extra scenes, alternate takes and updated video effects which was released along with The King's Demons in 1995. The re-edited version was also released on DVD in 1999. A two-disc set containing the previously released edit of The Five Doctors, as well as the original unedited TV version and a host of extras, was released in the UK in March 2008. The two-disc edition was released on Region 1 DVD in the United States in August 2008.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
First Doctor / Second Doctor / Third Doctor / Fourth Doctor / Susan Foreman / Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart / Sarah Jane Smith / Romana II / The Master / The Cybermen / The Daleks / The Yeti / President Borusa / Castellan / Jamie McCrimmon / Zoe Heriot / Liz Shaw / Captain Mike Yates / K9 Mark III
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
First Doctor / Second Doctor / Third Doctor / Fourth Doctor / Susan Foreman / Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart / Sarah Jane Smith / Romana II / The Master / The Cybermen / The Daleks / The Yeti / President Borusa / Castellan / Jamie McCrimmon / Zoe Heriot / Liz Shaw / Captain Mike Yates / K9 Mark III
Notes
- As should be obvious from the details above, The Five Doctors was a one-off special produced to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Doctor Who. As well as featuring all five Doctors, it also brought back numerous old companions and enemies, and tried its best to provide a coherent story into the bargain!
- The Five Doctors was the final story to be written for the television series by Terrance Dicks, the former script editor on the show between 1968 and 1974, and prolific noveliser of Doctor Who stories for WH Allen/Target.
- The novelisation of The Five Doctors was unusual in a number of respects.
Firstly, it was released simultaneously in hardback and paperback, rather than having the paperback edition follow on some months after the hardback as was usual with the Doctor Who novelisations at the time.
Secondly, the paperback version was considered important enough to have a silver foil cover as well as a "First Edition" flash across the bottom right-hand corner.
And finally, the novelisation was actually available to buy before the story aired on television in the UK — something which wasn't at all to the liking of series producer John Nathan-Turner. The only other novelisation of a Doctor Who television story to be available in advance of broadcast was the one based on the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, which arguably went one better as there was a script book released as well!
