Review – Doctor Who: The Essential Terrance Dicks Vol. 1 continued

Terrance Dicks wrote over sixty Target novels during his life and its easy to see why his work is such a favourite with fans of Doctor Who. Turning the TV series into engrossing, exciting adventure books, his stories are essential Whovian reading.

Continuing his battle against the Daleks across time and space, the Doctor finds himself stuck on Earth in Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks. With his Tardis not cooperating, the Timelord and his assistant Jo Grant find themselves attached to UNIT. But, when a peacekeeping mission to protect an important political delegation goes wrong, threatening to spark WWIII, the Doctor realises something much more nefarious is at work.

Strange apparitions are bent on stopping a high ranking British figure from attending a meeting with Russian, Chinese and American delegates. It soon becomes clear to the Doctor that these ghosts are from the future. In classic Doctor Who fashion, he and his assistant become embroiled in a twisting tale of time travel, alien invasion, human rebellion and deceit. Faced with saving Earth once again from the evil Dalek forces, the Doctor unpicks a tricky temporal problem to save the day.

Full of action, adventure and an apocalyptic future, Day of the Daleks features some interesting commentary on human resistance, opposition to invading and cruel ideologies and what people will convince themselves of in order to survive. Another, brilliant classic well worth reading.

Review copy

Published by BBC Books

Review – Doctor Who: The Essential Terrance Dicks Vol.1

A collection of early Doctor Who stories, first published as Target novels, these volumes bring back the nostalgia of Saturday nights spent hiding behind the sofa as Daleks invaded the streets of London. Adapted from the TV show, Terrance Dicks is quintessential Doctor Who reading.

Though a little dated in it’s language, these stories bring back the original Doctor in all his glory. Beginning with Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth, Terrance Dicks manages to build a brilliant picture of a future Earth ravaged by the alien robots. With his granddaughter, Susan, and companions Ian and Barbara, the Doctor finds himself in London, almost a century removed from his targeted timeline. What quickly becomes apparent is that this future is one of ruin and destruction.

When Ian and the Doctor attempt to scout for answers and supplies, things quickly unravel. Susan and Barbara disappear – taken to an underground HQ by a ragged band of human survivors whilst Ian and the Doctor are confronted by robomen and Daleks. Ever the inquisitive mind, the Doctor wants answers; his companions just want to escape the horrors that have befallen humanity.

What ensues is a quick, nicely constructed adventure. As Barbara and Susan join the rebel humans, Ian and the Doctor take on the Daleks at their own game. It’s a short, punchy ride but far from saccharine; sacrifices are made and lots of characters fall foul of the Daleks superior weapons. However, just like the TV show, it’s wrapped up in satisfying fashion, highlighting the Doctor’s humanity in opposition to his stark intellect, ready for the next episode.

Review Copy

Published by BBC Books