Russell Cook finds out if reading too many Doctor Who novels is bad for your health…
It is a known fact that binge drinking is not to be encouraged. Consuming all the weekly recommended units in one go. Is there a Doctor in the house? Can the same be said for Target Doctor Who novelisations? Binge reading four in one go and you discover there is definitely a Doctor in the house, but for all the right reasons. “Stick to the recommended 126 pages in one day, then you will really appreciate each story” was the advice recommended to me by the tall dark stranger standing by the familiar blue box…
BBC Books have issued three new novelisations to complement the recently completed eight-part series the first for the fifteenth incarnation of the most famous of Time Lords. Space Babies, 73 Yards and Rogue have been Targeted, whilst the fourth is the paperback edition of The Church on Ruby Road, which came out in hardback earlier this year.
Of the three new books, Scott Handcock’s prose version of the Russell T. Davies screenplay 73 Yards is the closest to what we viewers saw on screen. A Doctor-lite tale that works wonderfully well on the printed page, all the mystery and growing sense of unease as Ruby lives her full life is here, many of the characters who appeared all too briefly on screen are given backstories and as for what that old woman is saying? No, you don’t find out. A strong retelling of the most accessible of the season’s stories.
Alison Rumfett does a sterling job of turning Space Babies into something that can almost be classed as likeable and away from the general consensus of “what the f#@* am I watching?”, an opinion which flooded the fan forums when the episode hit the streaming platforms at the witching hour a few months back. The author takes no prisoners in emphasising that this tale is literally a crazy spooky bedtime story gone a little haywire, and it works very well in this context. Keep sticking to this theory and don’t think too hard about babies having a chat thanks to CGI, and it’s a win win.
The interesting and intriguing Rogue is novelised by the original authors Kate Herron and Briony Redman. Again, a straight retelling of the screenplay with the added joy of it being a pseudo-historical, a term first coined back in the classic series days. History and science fiction meet on the battlefield – take a bow, The Time Warrior. Jump into the delights of Regency Romance, intrigue, and aliens of the feathery kind. The central premise of the story is the relationship between the Doctor and the mysterious and charismatic Rogue, and there is added backstory thanks to Art, a former partner of Rogue. Do read on, a story that on the page has added emotional depth.
With the Targets safely on the bookshelves we need to talk about Melanie – yes that one Mel Bush, she of Pease Pottage fame. The resurgence of a character that was not very well regarded back in the day has been a surprise and a delight beginning with her brief appearance in the 2022 episode The Power of the Doctor to the most recent, opposite Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor in the two-part finale of the 2024 season. But what of her life since deciding to stay on Iceworld in Dragonfire, with the infamous Sabalom Glitz?
All is revealed in the novel, Death in the Stars, written by Bonnie Langford whilst channelling her inner co-author, Jacqueline Rayner. Prepare for an Agatha Christie style Murder mystery that doesn’t have a Vervoid in sight.
From the way the tightly crafted tale progresses it is clear that Mel loves the thrill of a mystery, and one in an enclosed space. Of course, she has to deal with Glitz, who seems to have one eye on amassing a personal fortune at every opportunity. However, despite the characters being quite rightly embedded in their 1987 television personas, the story develops into a tense whodunnit that will keep the pages turning.
Watch out for the AIs as well. You’ll never watch reruns of late 1980s Broom Cupboard escapades in the same way again. In space no one can hear you…
Russell Cook
• Doctor Who: Space Babies is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
On her first adventure in outer space, Ruby learns that the universe is bigger, more colourful, and crazier than she could ever have imagined. She also learns that even the Doctor can feel afraid – and that certain nightmares are all too real…
• Read Tim Robins review of the TV episode here on downthetubes
• Doctor Who: 73 Yards is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Haunted by a sinister presence, Ruby must cope with losing the Doctor and the life she once knew. With her new life without her best friend becoming bleaker by the day, something terrifying is unleashed, and it’s up to Ruby to stop it.
• Read Tim Robins review of the TV episode here on downthetubes
• Doctor Who: Rogue is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Earth’s Regency era – a time of culture, extravagance, sumptuous balls… and aliens? While Ruby is a popular new addition to the Duchess of Pemberton’s ball, the Doctor’s world is about to be forever rocked by a dashing visitor from space. With many party-guests facing an identity crisis like no other, it is up to the Doctor and Ruby to stop the menacing Chuldurs’ plot.
• Read Tim Robins review of the TV episode here on downthetubes
• Doctor Who: Death in the Stars is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
A band of killers. Survivors with a secret. A death-defying murder mystery in space.
When young Mel’s business partner, Sabalom Glitz embarks on yet another “get rich quick” scheme, it marks the start of an epic, death-defying murder-mystery in space.
After barely escaping the snares of a murderous galactic cult, Mel searches for fellow survivors in a nearby spaceship graveyard – while Glitz looks to fill his pockets. But the discovery of a spaceship with its crew in suspended animation and incredible secrets on board leaves the duo stranded with no way off.
Mel revives the crew – and then the murders start. Murders that cannot possibly have been committed by any of the crewmembers. In fact, there are only two realistic suspects – Glitz and Mel themselves…
One of many guest posts for downthetubes.
Categories: Books, Doctor Who, Features, Other Worlds, Reviews, Science Fiction, Television
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