Doctor Who in an exciting adventure with the Daleks
Season One
Season One
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Doctor Who in an exciting adventure with the Daleks Season One |
Target Books Season One |
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A Review by Richard Radcliffe 19/10/03
Introduction:
My appreciation of Doctor Who started with the TV programme. I remember bits and pieces of Pertwee, but it was Season 12 (1974) that hooked me to the series. I was 6 when Season 12 began, and I would curl up in my Grandad's TV chair every Saturday tea-time. Grandad let me have one of the 2 special TV chairs for Doctor Who - and we would watch it together, enthralled.
About the same time, every Monday evening my Mum would take us to the big library in the nearby town Stalybridge (I lived in a small village 3 miles away). Once I became hooked on the TV show, I began to notice the hardbacks in the children's section. They looked so much more grown up than the Paddington Bear books I usually borrowed. I began to borrow them one by one.
In the summer of 1975 we went to the Norfolk Broads on holiday, and one day my Grandad gave each of us 50p to spend at the holiday shop. I chose The Giant Robot TARGET book, it seemed to be the only one with the real Doctor on it (as I believed then).
Over the coming years I gradually collected all the TARGET books, even those that I had read from the library. Due to restricted pocket money (10p up to being 10 - 1978, still only 35p at age 14 - 1982) it took me a long time to get the full set, but when I bought Terminus I was buying them as them came out every month or so. I collected them all (except K9 and Company which mysteriously was never stocked anywhere I looked - I finally obtained it 6 months ago!), and since 1991 there they have sat on various bookshelves, in various houses I had lived.
I suspect many DW fans of my age have similar stories, and that's mine. TARGET DW Books were a significant part of my childhood and teens - and it was wonderful. Since 1991 though they have sat unread. I read them when I bought them, usually within a few weeks of them coming out - and apart from the odd sort out they've been untouched.
Recently I have been reading the excellent ON TARGET website. I decided I would go back to these miniature gems, because I was convinced I would enjoy them again. In many cases it had been 20 years since I read them. Nostalgia would kick in, and yet another piece of DW legend would be enjoyed to its full.
But where to start? DWM, a few years ago, did reviews in TARGET release order accompanying their excellent 6 part series. But DW already has an order, dictated by TV chronology. They were all there, even those pesky 2nd Dr Dalek ones. Thanks to TSV we also have the missing 5 Adams and Saward ones. I would start from An Unearthly Child, and sample each for what they were, and the spirit in which they were written. It would take me a long time, but I just knew it would be worth it.
Here then begins my review of Doctor Who - season by season, as TARGET presented it:-
An Unearthly Child
Terrance Dicks. Favourite author of my childhood and teens, simply because he wrote most of the DW books. Affectionately referred to as Uncle Terrance by many fans. His novelizations will dominate my TARGET reading, weeks will go by during the 4th Dr's books where I will hardly read anybody else! Books loved when fans were kids, now seen in a rather lesser light by fandom. I suppose it's only fitting he starts the ball rolling with the first novelization, and I believe it will be typical of the type of adaptation he presents. It's the TV version, keeping strictly to how it was shown. Little embellishments therefore, very little new added. To hate this novelization you have to hate the TV version - and the 1st episode is one of the best of the entire series. Admittedly it does go downhill from Stone Age onwards though. I quite enjoyed this book though. It's a sedate start, bringing you in gently. 7/10
Considered one of the highlights of the range, this book launched the whole TARGET series, pretty much like its TV predecessor. I was expecting a good book therefore, and David Whittaker writes a cracker. The choice to write in the voice of Ian Chesterton brings us closer to the action. It also means some TV scenes are glossed over simply because Ian wasn't there. Inevitably it is the science teacher who comes off best, but all the TARDIS crew are superbly presented. The alternative beginning was totally understandable in its day, and now stands as an interesting side-step to the genesis of Who. It reminded me a lot of the film - but quickly Hartnell's Doctor asserted himself, rather than Cushing. It's an impressive read after all these years. Is the first the best - it's certainly up there with the best. 9/10
The then editor of the range, Nigel Robinson, fleshes out this obscure 2-parter extremely well. Frankly I don't think much of the TV story, but this is much better. The further insights into the TARDIS, the greater emphasis on the personalities of the time travellers, the claustrophobic nature of the story, the surreal happenings - all make this book a fine adaptation, a vast improvement on its source. The whole book fairly races by as you are sucked into the drama on board ship. Like An Unearthly Child this was over and done in a day - a real testament to a fine novelization. 9/10
Missing stories were at one time only represented by the TARGET novelization. Nowadays we have audio CDs with narration, and reconstructions. I can't remember what I thought of Marco Polo when I first read it in the 80s, but that probably indicates it was unmemorable, therefore not so good. Reading it now shows what a missed opportunity this was. This is a TV story rich in characterization, that lends itself to wondrous descriptions of a foreign land - but we find very little of that within. The straight adaptation, giving us the basics only, is a real disappointment. Rarely has a TV story been crying out for a more lavish treatment - it fails to deliver the goods. I stumbled through this book, it took me about 5 days to read. The narrative doesn't flow, resulting in a stop-start narrative. John Lucarotti is a good writer, but this is not a good book at all. Great TV, poor novelization. 4/10
It's totally bizarre that Philip Hinchcliffe ended up writing this book. The greatest producer of DW obviously showed an interest in novelizing some of his stories, that's understandable - but this 1st Doctor quest story? Nonetheless, there it is, and what we have is actually rather good. Keys of Marinus was let down on TV by a poor budget. No such restrictions here, and for the first time the books make the most of unlimited imaginative possibilities. What is essentially 5 stories in one constantly makes the book feel new - like a short story collection. I read this in a day as well, on a plane ride over to America - it fairly raced past, with just enough elaboration, without going too far away from the original script. As an example of a writer novelizing someone else's scripts, it's a great success, and one of the underrated books from the early stories. 8/10
John Lucarotti brings his 2nd contribution to the range, and it's quite a bit better than Marco Polo. He just seems more interested in the subject matter here, as the Aztec culture is brought to us. Maybe he found it easier fitting a 4 parter to the TARGET book format - because this certainly is a much better novelization. The main characters are explored more, with Barbara benefitting the most. What was a pretty good TV story, turns into a pretty good book - not too bad at all. 7/10
The Sensorites
Nigel Robinson is clearly interested in the early days of the show, along with Lucarotti he is the only writer to contribute 2 stories to the opening season. A lacklustre TV story is enlivened as a result. A slow moving piece is suddenly a brisk read - and again TARGET produce a story better than the source. Unfortunately there are some aspects of the story that were plain bad anyway, and a novelization can't just change that. Thus the Sensorites themselves still have a dull civilization, and that business with the ribbons on them is still very silly. But Robinson does just about as best he can here. A very good novelization of a below average story. 7/10
The Reign of Terror
The first contribution by Ian Marter, and showing just what a terrific writer he really is. Allowed a higher page count than usual this story, already a good one, becomes a cracker. As the story moves around post revolution Paris, Ian Marter brings this period of history alive. Only The Aztecs has achieved anywhere near this sense of place, but in fairness this book knocks spots of that book. There's greater insight into the TARDIS crew, and also historical figures, showing at its best how DW could mix entertainment with education. Reign of Terror is well written, expanding the TV story no end. Excellent 9/10
If the rest of the TARGET range can achieve the standard and diversity of the 1st Season's novelizations, then I am in for a treat with this TARGET reading. Daleks, Edge of Destruction and Reign of Terror - they would be my pick of this season, the latter 2 being ordinary TV stories - showing bad TV will not necessarily mean bad books. I look forward to other surprises as I go through this nostalgic series. It was lovely too having these books in my left hand back pocket once again. It's rather comforting, a return to happy times of my childhood. I feel young again!