By Terrance Dicks et al.

BBC Books, out October 24

A hardback collection of 15 Doctor Who short stories, spinning off from televised adventures, and featuring one last tale from the King of Target, Terrance (Uncle Terry) Dicks.

And what an eclectic mix of writers we have, from a Doctor (Colin Baker) to a companion (Matthew Waterhouse) to script editor (Dicks) to episode writers (Joy Wilkinson, Vinay Patel) and other familiar writers of Doctor Who fiction novels. This hardback is dedicated to writer Tommy Donbavand, though one imagines that the eventual paperback might also include a dedication to recently-departed Dicks.

Stories are in Doctor author (though with an additional 13th Doctor tale by Joy Wilkinson up front), and because we’re taking a trip through the time vortex, they aren’t all sequels, some being prequels or happening simultaneously with the original story. Each contribution is around 20-25 pages, making it eminently snackable in a ‘one a day’ strategy, or as it suits you. I also wonder how many people will start with their favourite Doctor/writer rather than from the beginning.

Each story has a full page black and white illustration by Mike Collins, though you might want to save this enjoyment until reading the story for fear of mild spoilers. Anthony Dry provides the cover, continuing his fine work on the last set of Targets. As to the stories, I’m going to remain oblique, as part of the fun is working out which televised story the short story has associated itself with. For some, you get it on the first page, others being a bit more sneaky.

The range of ideas here is most impressive, some replacing first or third person narrative with far more inventive approaches. What also comes through strongly is the authors’ desire to create something that’s honest to the TV serial as it was at the time of transmission. These stories don’t embrace the attitude that books have no budget limitations, so you can go anywhere; instead they paint pictures of planets and places, with authentic dialogue, that could sensibly have been created on TV.

Favourite stories? Terrance Dicks’ has a lovely, warm throwback vibe, tying in directly with more than one serial, and serves well as a fitting swan song. Matthew Sweet’s Clean Air Act is a clever adjunct to the Third Doctor’s tenure, and Susie Day’s Punting gives Tom’s Doctor and Romana more to do while out on the Cam. I couldn’t single out a weak entry, and even if a particular Doctor is not your favourite, you’re never more than twenty-odd pages from the next one.

Verdict: Being a hardback Target book, this project has a lovely nostalgia glow – the only thing that’s missing is the plastic protective wrapper and the ‘Charminster Library’ sheet with a return date haphazardly stamped on it. Fill your boots with your favourite Doctor(s) – let’s hope this is popular enough to make it an annual event. 8/10

Nick Joy

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