by Ian Potter

Obverse Books

Obverse Books’ ongoing series of monographs focusing on a Doctor Who serial or story hits 1965’s Season 3 four-parter The Myth Makers.

Donald Cotton’s The Myth Makers is one of those frustrating serials where no episodes are available to watch, having been wiped or destroyed in the 1970s. As such, writer Ian Potter has to rely on third party testimony and documentation for his Black Archive, which I must say is an excellent read.

I wholeheartedly agree with his view that it’s wittily written and played for laughs, but fumbles Vicki’s departure and Katarina’s joining the crew, and he shares why this is the case. He also busts the myths that the serial is based on The Iliad and uses Troilus and Cressida to write Vicki out.

We get chapters filling in the lives and careers of Donald Cotton and John Wiles, but for me the strongest section is the forensic dissection of the various episode breakdowns and drafts, highlighting important changes to what makes it to the screen.

Verdict: Detailed, well-researched and easy to read, it’s definitely more hit than myth. 9/10

Nick Joy

Click here to order from Obverse Books