Written by Terrance Dicks, based on Louis Marks’ scripts for the 1972 TV serial.

Another Target that opens with a map, this time of Austerly House. There are also some nice illustrations dotted through the text of early editions: the scene of past Doctors appearing on the Dalek mind probe is illustrated with a great portrait of Doctor Patrick. The first chapter acts as a prologue setting the scene of 22nd Century Earth, where enslaved humans eke an existence in the ruins of civilisation, ape warriors patrol the wastelands and the Daleks (including the infamous Black Dalek, not just the TV’s golden leader) are securely in control. These could easily be scenes from Terry Nation’s Dalek Invasion of Earth, which is a clearer influence here than in the TV version of Day.

Dicks sketches in the desperate nature of the international situation, as the Brigadier ponders a return to the regulars. Apart from one slightly odd moment where it seems the Brigadier is slacking in his duty to investigate paranormal mysteries, his ‘voice’ is spot on: mild exasperation present and correct. Jo is much more familiarly ditzy than the would-be Tara King of The Doomsday Weapon while also being more useful (like when the Doctor’s Venusian karate fails on an Ogron). This acts as an introduction for the wider UNIT family including Yates (“the Brigadier’s number two”) and the ever-put-upon Benton.

This is a faithful adaptation, but Dicks applies his script editor skills to finesse the scripts. In particular, unlike their slightly weedy presentation in the TV production, here the Daleks are at their most Dalek-y, shrieking, “Exterminate!” and behaving with all the twitchy paranoia of their 1960s heyday. Dicks also reinserts a cut scene from the scripts, with the Doctor and Jo from the future encountering their past selves (a joke lacking a punchline on TV). Unlike other novelisers in these early days, Dicks never calls the Doctor “Who.”

He amusingly makes it a very bibulous story, with the Doctor’s liking for fine wines playing like a running joke as Jo reflects on the poor quality of the Controller’s cellar versus Sir Reginald Styles’ and wine bottles prove to be the get out of several tight spots. In Dicks’ hands, this has become the event story the TV series was striving for. Grade 1: Excellent.

According to the 1974 paperback, books in preparation included “The Sea-Monsters” and “The Yeti” (ultimately released under their familiar titles The Sea Devils and The Abominable Snowmen).

Next Time: Doctor Who And… The Dæmons