The Ark (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1966 television story The Ark.

1987 edition
It is ten million years in the future and the Earth is about to plunge into the Sun. A gigantic Space Ark has been launched to take the last of humanity to a new life on the planet Refusis II. Accompanying the humans on their journey are the Monoids, strange reptilian creatures from an alien world.

When the TARDIS materialises on board, the First Doctor and his friends are greeted with suspicion which soon turns to open hostility when Dodo inadvertently infects the Ark’s crew with a long-forgotten virus.

It is an accident which will have a terrible effect on mankind, an effect which will last for seven hundred years…

Deviations from televised story

 * The story adds the Doctor and Manyak visiting other environment regions on board the Ark that have been hit by Dodo's cold virus. These include a polar region, a desert region and several farming regions.


 * The novel expands on how the Monoids appear to be servants to the Guardians. This happens whilst on one of the farming regions, the Monoids are working on the fields. When the Doctor asks why there are no Guardians working in the fields, Manyak explains the Guardians do not prefer to do manual labour whilst the Monoids apparently embrace it.


 * Some Refusians are given names in the novel by Dodo, e.g. Charlie, Lucy and Mary etc.

Writing and publishing notes

 * The cover for the original Target Books edition featured the artwork of David McAllister.

Additional cover images
To be added

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * Paperback: Target / Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK December 1992 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)