Doctor Who and the Horns of Nimon (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1979 television serial The Horns of Nimon.

Publisher's summary
In the great maze of the Power Complex dwells the dreaded Nimon, a fearsome monster with immense scientific powers.

The Nimon has promised to restore the Skonnan Empire to its former glory. But first it demands sacrifice – youths and maidens from the peaceful planet Aneth.

The Tardis collides with the space ship delivering the victims, and the captured Romana is condemned to be sacrificed to the Nimon.

Aided by the faithful K9, the Fourth Doctor goes to the rescue. In the heart of the maze he confronts the Nimon and uncovers a terrifying plot to enslave the galaxy.

Chapter titles

 * Prologue
 * 1) Ship of Sacrifice
 * 2) The Skonnons
 * 3) Sardor in Command
 * 4) Asteroid
 * 5) The Nimon
 * 6) The Maze
 * 7) Sardor's Bluff
 * 8) K9 in Trouble
 * 9) The Journey of the Nimon
 * 10) Journey to Crinoth
 * 11) Time Bomb
 * 12) The Legend

Deviations from televised story

 * An extended prologue explains how Soldeed first met the Nimon.
 * The novelisation gives the Pilot and Co-pilot names; the Pilot is named Sekkoth, whilst the Co-pilot is named Sardor.
 * The Doctor thinks the Nimon are from another universe.
 * The ending is expanded to show how Skonnos and Aneth will cope following the events of the story.
 * The Doctor refers to the events of TV: Underworld.
 * The First Empire Wars are referenced.
 * Some of the more overt comedy moments, such as the Doctor giving K9 mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and a Dog Show rosetta, are omitted.
 * Teka is said to be the daughter of the King of Aneth.
 * An unnamed Anethan girl is given a small role, explaining to the Nimon what happened to the missing hymetusite.
 * Some of the descriptions don't match on screen: Sardor and Sekkoth are said to be wearing red helmets, Teka is described as fair-haired and Soldeed as white-haired.
 * Sorak has ambitions to depose Soldeed.
 * Seth knocks Soldeed out with the staff rather than Sardor's blaster.
 * On returning from Crinoth, Romana tells Seth about the other two Nimon despite him having seen them.
 * When Seth shoots at Soldeed, he hits the console, explaining why the controls are jammed.
 * The Skonnans and Anethans take cover in the cellar when the Power Complex explodes, with the Doctor's group riding it out in the TARDIS.

Writing and publishing notes

 * to be added

British publication history
First publication:
 * Hardback
 * W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Doctor Who Magazine giveaway and mass-pulping
In 2008, Doctor Who Magazine distributed copies of some two dozen Target novelisations -- all back stock, some dating back more than twenty years -- with one of its issues. Doctor Who and the Horns of Nimon was one of the books so distributed. According to editor Tom Spilsbury's editoral in DWM 412, some 3200 books were left undistributed and returned to the warehouse -- all of which were copies of Doctor Who and the Horns of Nimon. Being unable to justify the expense of storing so many boxes of a single book, Spilsbury wrote that he reluctantly authorised the destruction of 3150 of the copies, saving one box of fifty which he subsequently made available as giveaways and to those who wrote in requesting copies.