Doctor Who and the Giant Robot (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW:  Robot  which was shown from 28th December 1974 and written by Terrance Dicks
 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the Target novel and featured the artwork of Peter Brookes. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).
 * The first edition utilized a unique variant of the Doctor Who logo incorporating an image of the Fourth Doctor within the O in Who (Otherwise, the Doctor is absent from the main art, the first time this had occurred since the first edition of Doctor Who and the Crusaders nearly a decade earlier.
 * Although the idea of incorporating the Doctor's face into the logo is dropped, the books continued to use this version of the series logo for the rest of the decade.
 * The first hardcover edition did not appear until more than 11 years later.

1975 edition
`Look, Brigadier! It’s growing!’ screamed Sarah. The Brigadier stared in amazement as the Robot began to grow … and grow … swelling to the size of a giant! Slowly the metal colossus, casting its enormous shadow upon the surrounding trees and buildings, began to stride towards the Brigadier. A giant metal hand reached down to grasp him … Can DOCTOR WHO defeat the evil forces controlling the Robot before they execute their plans to blackmail – or destroy – the world?

Illustrations

 * None

Deviations from televised story
To be added

Writing and publishing notes

 * The cover logo for the first edition uniquely used the Fourth Doctor’s face in the `O’ lettering in WHO. Disregarding this modification, this was the first Target novelisation to feature the then-current diamond logo (although only the lettering, not the diamond itself). Prior to this release the line had used a unique logo reminiscent of the one used between 1970 and 1973.
 * The inside cover of the original edition notes: “THE CHANGING FACE OF DOCTOR WHO. The cover illustration of this book portrays the fourth DOCTOR WHO” !

Publishing History (UK)
First Publication:
 * Hardback
 * W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:

International Editions
To be added

Audio Release
This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio Books and read by Tom Baker who played the Fourth Doctor.

The audio set of 4 CD's with an ISBN 1-405-XX was released in November 2007 priced £17.99 (UK)

The cover blurb was retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power

Junior edition

 * Main article: Junior Doctor Who and the Giant Robot.

In 1980, Terrance Dicks published a shorter version of this novel aimed at younger readers; it was one of two such experiments.

External Sources

 * The Target Book by David J Howe (Telos Publishing 2007)
 * On Target a comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations by Tim Neal