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: Warriors of the Deep
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- May 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Warriors of the Deep
UK / Paperback / Target Books / August 1984 / No. 87
UK / Paperback / Target Books / August 1992 / No. 87
Doctor Who: Warriors of the Deep
UK / Paperback / Target Books / August 1984 / No. 87 UK / Paperback / Target Books / August 1992 / No. 87
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1984)
When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor meets an old enemy — the Sea Devils. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their position of domination...
This will entail the infiltration of Earth's defence systems and the provocation of another World War, more terrible than any yet experienced, to bring about the complete annihilation of the human race.
Not only is the first stage of the Sea Devils' attack successful, their associates in this dastardly plan are the sinister Silurians, also known to the Doctor of old.
When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor meets an old enemy — the Sea Devils. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their position of domination...
This will entail the infiltration of Earth's defence systems and the provocation of another World War, more terrible than any yet experienced, to bring about the complete annihilation of the human race.
Not only is the first stage of the Sea Devils' attack successful, their associates in this dastardly plan are the sinister Silurians, also known to the Doctor of old.
Television Story
Warriors of the Deep
Script Writer: Johnny Byrne
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
05/01/84 Part One
06/01/84 Part Two
12/01/84 Part Three
13/01/84 Part Four
Warriors of the Deep
Script Writer: Johnny Byrne
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
05/01/84 Part One
06/01/84 Part Two
12/01/84 Part Three
13/01/84 Part Four
DVD 
CD
Audio Download (UK) 
All episodes exist and were released on Region 2 DVD in the UK in January 2008 as part of the Beneath the Surface box set, which also included Doctor Who and the Silurians and The Sea Devils. The set was released on Region 1 DVD in the United States in June 2008. The complete soundtrack to the story was released on CD by BBC Audiobooks in January 2008, with linking narration by Janet Fielding.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Silurians / The Sea Devils
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Silurians / The Sea Devils
Notes
- Warriors of the Deep was the last of three stories to be written for the television series by Johnny Byrne, although he would go on to write the script to the unproduced movie Doctor Who: Last of the Time Lords — no connection to the TV episode of the same name.
- Warriors of the Deep saw the return of two enemies who had made their only previous appearances in the Third Doctor's era, during the early 1970s. The Silurians had made their debut in the second story broadcast, Doctor Who and the Silurians, while the Sea Devils had appeared in the imaginatively titled The Sea Devils. Warriors of the Deep was the final time that they were to appear in the series on television.
While the Sea Devils were to remain on the sidelines, the Silurians were to gain an extra lease of lfe in the New Adventures series of novels in the 1990s, with Jim Mortimore's Blood Heat proving to be an excellent "alternate universe" sequel to their first television appearance. They also made occassional appearances in other books, although as their original creator Malcolm Hulke had wrongly established their origins as being in the Silurian era, they were re-named Earth Reptiles.
Doctor Who: The Awakening
by Eric Pringle
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- February 1985
Other Editions
Doctor Who: The Awakening
UK / Paperback / Target Books / June 1985 / No. 95
UK / Paperback / Target Books / April 1992 / No. 95
Doctor Who: The Awakening
UK / Paperback / Target Books / June 1985 / No. 95 UK / Paperback / Target Books / April 1992 / No. 95
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1985)
The Doctor has promised Tegan that they will visit her grandfather in the English village of Little Hodcombe, in the year 1984, a precision of timing and location that the TARDIS has not always achieved...
When the Type-40 machine comes to rest, the view on the scanner screen only serves to confirm Tegan's rather low expectations of the TARDIS's performance.
The most sensible course of action would be to leave immediately — but despite Turlough's protests the Doctor rushes out to take on a seemingly hopeless rescue mission...
The Doctor has promised Tegan that they will visit her grandfather in the English village of Little Hodcombe, in the year 1984, a precision of timing and location that the TARDIS has not always achieved...
When the Type-40 machine comes to rest, the view on the scanner screen only serves to confirm Tegan's rather low expectations of the TARDIS's performance.
The most sensible course of action would be to leave immediately — but despite Turlough's protests the Doctor rushes out to take on a seemingly hopeless rescue mission...
Television Story
The Awakening
Script Writer: Eric Pringle
2 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
19/01/84 Part One
20/01/84 Part Two
The Awakening
Script Writer: Eric Pringle
2 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
19/01/84 Part One
20/01/84 Part Two
VHS
All episodes exist and have been released on video in the UK and United States.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Notes
- The Awakening was the only story to be written for Doctor Who by Eric Pringle.
Doctor Who: Frontios
by Christopher H Bidmead
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- September 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Frontios
UK / Paperback / Target Books / December 1984 / No. 91
Doctor Who: Frontios
UK / Paperback / Target Books / December 1984 / No. 91
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1984)
The TARDIS has drifted far into the future and comes to rest hovering over Frontios, refuge of one group of survivors from Earth who have escaped the disintegration of their home planet.
The Doctor is reluctant to land on Frontios, as he does not wish to intervene in a moment of historical crisis — the colonists are still struggling to establish themselves and their continued existence hangs in the balance.
But the TARDIS is forced down by what appears to be a meteorite storm, and crash-lands, leaving the Doctor and his companions marooned on the hope-forsaken planet...
The TARDIS has drifted far into the future and comes to rest hovering over Frontios, refuge of one group of survivors from Earth who have escaped the disintegration of their home planet.
The Doctor is reluctant to land on Frontios, as he does not wish to intervene in a moment of historical crisis — the colonists are still struggling to establish themselves and their continued existence hangs in the balance.
But the TARDIS is forced down by what appears to be a meteorite storm, and crash-lands, leaving the Doctor and his companions marooned on the hope-forsaken planet...
Television Story
Frontios
Script Writer: Christopher H Bidmead
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
26/01/84 Part One
27/01/84 Part Two
02/02/84 Part Three
03/02/84 Part Four
Frontios
Script Writer: Christopher H Bidmead
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
26/01/84 Part One
27/01/84 Part Two
02/02/84 Part Three
03/02/84 Part Four
VHS
All episodes exist and have been released on video in the UK and United States.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Fifth Doctor / Tegan Jovanka / Turlough
Notes
- Frontios was the third and final Doctor Who story to be written by Christopher H Bidmead, after Logopolis and Castrovalva.
- The following story, Resurrection of the Daleks, was never novelised so Frontios was to be the final book in television order to feature Tegan as she left the TARDIS at the end of Resurrection.
Doctor Who: Planet of Fire
by Peter Grimwade
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- October 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: Planet of Fire
UK / Paperback / Target Books / January 1985 / No. 93
Doctor Who: Planet of Fire
UK / Paperback / Target Books / January 1985 / No. 93
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1985)
The Doctor is enjoying the sun on a holiday island — but things are soon hotter than he bargained for.
The young American Perpugilliam Brown brings to the TARDIS a mysterious object that her archaeologist step-father has found in a sunken wreck. Kamelion, the Doctor's robot friend of a thousand disguises, reacts to the object totally unexpectedly, with bewildering consequences for the TARDIS crew.
For Kamelion sends the Doctor and his friends to Sarn, a terrifyingly beautiful planet of fire. This strange world provides the key to Turlough's secret past — and once again the Doctor is pitted against the wily Master.
The Doctor is enjoying the sun on a holiday island — but things are soon hotter than he bargained for.
The young American Perpugilliam Brown brings to the TARDIS a mysterious object that her archaeologist step-father has found in a sunken wreck. Kamelion, the Doctor's robot friend of a thousand disguises, reacts to the object totally unexpectedly, with bewildering consequences for the TARDIS crew.
For Kamelion sends the Doctor and his friends to Sarn, a terrifyingly beautiful planet of fire. This strange world provides the key to Turlough's secret past — and once again the Doctor is pitted against the wily Master.
Television Story
Planet of Fire
Script Writer: Peter Grimwade
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
23/02/84 Part One
24/02/84 Part Two
01/03/84 Part Three
02/03/84 Part Four
Planet of Fire
Script Writer: Peter Grimwade
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
23/02/84 Part One
24/02/84 Part Two
01/03/84 Part Three
02/03/84 Part Four
DVD
Planet of Fire is due to be released on Region 2 DVD in 2010 as part of the Kamelion Collection, which will also include The King's Demons.
Regular Characters
Fifth Doctor / Turlough / Peri Brown
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Master / Kamelion
Fifth Doctor / Turlough / Peri Brown
Familiar Faces / Returning Characters
The Master / Kamelion
Notes
- Planet of Fire was the last of Peter Grimwade's three Doctor Who stories for the television series.
- Planet of Fire is probably best remembered as a story which tied up loose ends and laid the foundations for the future.
Appropriately, having written Turlough's opening story, Mawdryn Undead, Peter Grimwade now had the opportunity to write him out of the series, and had the character leaving the TARDIS in order to return to his home planet, Trion.
Also leaving was the shapeshifting android Kamelion, who had been sidelined by the production team as something of a bad idea. Although the character looked good, it was impractical in the studio due to the time constraints on recording. Planet of Fire was a good opportunity to remove the character from the TARDIS, where he had lurked unseen since his first story, The King's Demons, although a scene featuring Kamelion had been recorded for The Awakening.
Planet of Fire also saw a new companion entering the TARDIS is the shape of American botany student Perpugilliam Brown, or Peri for short. - As had now become the norm, the Master made his once-yearly appearance, this time apparently being consumed in flames at the conclusion of the story.
- Although the character of Kamelion only appeared twice in the television series, he made a number of appearances in the original novels, chiefly in Craig Hinton's The Crystal Bucephalus for the Missing Adventures range in 1994 and Christopher Bulis's Imperial Moon in 2000.
- In 1986 Target Books launched their extremely short-lived Companions of Doctor Who range of books, and to kick the series off they returned to the character of Turlough, picking up his story after the events of Planet of Fire in Tony Attwood's Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma. This was the very first original novel based on Doctor Who to be published, and as such it's a shame that it was so appallingly bad! Only two other titles were published in the series: Ian Marter's excellent Harry Sullivan's War and Terence Dudley's novelisation of K9 and Company.
Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Hardback
- WH Allen
- November 1984
Other Editions
Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani
UK / Paperback / Target Books / February 1985 / No. 92
UK / Paperback / Target Books / May 1992 / No. 92
Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani
UK / Paperback / Target Books / February 1985 / No. 92 UK / Paperback / Target Books / May 1992 / No. 92
Back Cover Blurb — Target Books (1985)
From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for the Doctor and his new young companion, Peri.
They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.
Key to the struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but in its raw state it is a deadly poison — a fact which will cost the Doctor another of his Time Lord lives...
From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for the Doctor and his new young companion, Peri.
They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.
Key to the struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but in its raw state it is a deadly poison — a fact which will cost the Doctor another of his Time Lord lives...
Television Story
The Caves of Androzani
Script Writer: Robert Holmes
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
08/03/84 Part One
09/03/84 Part Two
15/03/84 Part Three
16/03/84 Part Four
The Caves of Androzani
Script Writer: Robert Holmes
4 × 25 Minutes / BBC1 / Colour
08/03/84 Part One
09/03/84 Part Two
15/03/84 Part Three
16/03/84 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 / Peri Brown
Fifth Doctor / Peri Brown
Notes
- The Caves of Androzani marked the first return to writing on Doctor Who for Robert Holmes since The Power of Kroll in 1978/9.
- The Caves of Androzani is notable for seeing the departure of the Fifth Doctor, who regenerates at the conclusion of the story.
- Keen-eyed observers may notice a blurred image in orange above the face of Sharaz Jek on the cover. This is actually the only time that the features of the Sixth Doctor would appear on the cover of a Doctor Who novelisation until Target Books' massive re-covering project in the early 1990s.
