By Gary Russell

BBC Books: eBook available now, paperback January

An electronic Target novelisation of the first of the three Doctor Who diamond anniversary specials.

Gary Russell adapts Russell T Davies’ screenplay, which in turn is partially based on the Doctor Who Weekly comic strip by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons, and what a lot of fun it is.

Written in a breezy, no-nonsense style, the backbone to the novel is of course Davies’ script, which appears to be unchanged from what appears on screen, but embellished with some charming character moments and little treats for fans of the original strip.

Disappointed that The Meep’s ‘Hippity Hop, Boppity Bop’ line didn’t make it to TV, or the Wrarth’s ‘tongue-fingers’ were absent? Fret no more, because Russell has slipped in a number of references to appease the old guard. Millson Wagner Steelworks? I see what you did there! There’s also a device of including documents between the book’s chapters, with communiques from the MOD and UNIT as well as a text message conversation.

Verdict: If you can’t wait for the paperback in early 2024, this electronic copy is the perfect accompaniment to the TV special. 9/10

Nick Joy

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