Invasion of the Bane (novelisation)

This book adapts Invasion of the Bane, the inaugural episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Published at the same time as the novelisations for Revenge of the Slitheen, Eye of the Gorgon and Warriors of Kudlak, but listed first as it's based upon the pilot episode, this marks the first novelisation of a Doctor Who-related television production since the 1996 release of Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film (based upon Doctor Who) and the first adaptation of a "regular" episode/serial since The Evil of the Daleks in 1994. By writing this inaugural book, Terrance Dicks continues his prolific association with Who-related fiction; this is his first television novelisation since his adaptation of The Space Pirates was published in 1990.

Publisher's summary
Life on Earth can be an adventure, too. You just need to know where to look.

Maria's fascinated by her new neighbour, Sarah Jane Smith -- she's a journalist, but she also helps aliens! After a visit to the Bubble Shock factory, Sarah Jane and Maria's lives change forever when they meet the Archetype. But why is everything he does so strange? And what does he have to do with Bane, the mysterious organic ingredient in Bubble Shock?

Illustrations

 * Includes an 8-page section of photographs from the episode.

Deviations from the Televised Story

 * For some reason, Alan Jackson wishes for "Angela Jolie" to appear at his front door, instead of Angelina Jolie as he does in the televised version.
 * Sarah Jane communicates with K-9 via a monitor (which for some reason is kept in a safe), as opposed to the televised version which implies that the safe contains some sort of dimensional portal.
 * Mr. Smith does not play a fanfare when he's activated. (DW: The Stolen Earth established that the musical cue heard in the show whenever the computer was summoned actually is heard by the characters.)

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

 * Author Terrance Dicks worked as script editor for Doctor Who in the 1970s and wrote or co-wrote scripts for the series beginning in 1969. He is perhaps best known for writing the lion's share of Target novelisations published between 1974 and the early 1990s, and has also contributed to most lines of original Doctor Who fiction published since 1991. His last novelisation before this one was Shakedown in 1995.

Associated Images
To be added

Publishing History (UK)
First Publication:
 * Paperback
 * Penguin Character Books

International Editions
To be added