Doctor Who and the Ark in Space (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial (DW): The Ark in Space which was shown from 25th January 1975 and written by Robert Holmes
 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

1977 edition
At a time in the far-off future, Earth has become uninhabitable. A selection of Humanity is placed, deep-frozen, in a fully automated space station, to await the day of their return to Earth … Thousands of years later, DOCTOR WHO arrives. He finds things going suspiciously wrong, and the station under attack from the giant WIRRN, deadly creatures who, in their lust for power, now threaten the future of the whole Human Race …

Illustrations

 * None

Deviations from televised story
To be added

Writing and publishing notes

 * Ian Marter suggested writing this novelisation having been closely involved with the story. Marter portrayed Harry Sullivan in The Ark in Space and after leaving the series went on to write several Target Books novelisations. His authorship of this book makes him the only actor in Doctor Who history to write a novel adapting a serial in which he played a major role (a feat he would repeat a year later with Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment). This was Marter's first novelisation for Target; he would continue contributing to the range for the rest of his life.
 * Marter originally planned to write the novel in first person from Harry Sullivan's point of view, but this idea was abandoned.
 * This was Chris Achilleos's last cover for the Target range.
 * The inside page includes the comment: "THE CHANGING FACE OF DOCTOR WHO. The cover illustration of this book portrays the fourth DOCTOR WHO"

Publishing History (UK)
To be added

First Publication:
 * Hardback
 * W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * 1991, with new cover by Alister Pearson

International Editions
To be added

External Sources

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