The Smugglers (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1966 television serial The Smugglers. This was the final Target Books novelisation published in a hardcover edition and thus the last Doctor Who fiction to be published in the hardcover format until the launch of the Telos Novellas range in 2001.

1988 Target Books edition
A 17th century Cornish town - villainous pirates roam the seas searching for treasure while the townspeople have turned to smuggling, wheeling and dealing in contraband.

Into this wild and remote place the TARDIS materialises and the Doctor and his companions find themselves caught up in the dubious activities of the locals.

When the Doctor is unwittingly given a clue to the whereabouts of the treasure the pirates are determined to extract the information - whatever the cost...

1993 Target Books edition
'WE'D BETTER FIND THAT OLD DOCTOR FELLER AND GET OUR HOOKS INTO HIM!'

Seventeenth-century Cornwall - a time when villainous pirates roam the seas searching for treasure while townspeople turn to smuggling, wheeling and dealing in contraband. Into this wild and remote place the TARDIS materialises and the Doctor and his companions find themselves caught up in the dubious activities of the locals. When the Doctor is unwittingly given a clue to the whereabouts of the treasure, the pirates are determined to extract the information, whatever the cost...

Doctor Who - The Smugglers was written by Brian Hayles, scriptwriter of several other Doctor Who stories, including The Monster of Peladon and The Curse of Peladon; it was the last story but one to feature William Hartnell, the first actor to the part, in the role of the Doctor.

Chapter titles

 * 1) A Shock for Polly and Ben
 * 2) The Frightened Man
 * 3) Longfoot's Friends
 * 4) Pike
 * 5) Pirate Treasure
 * 6) Kewper's Trade
 * 7) Captured
 * 8) The Squire's Plan
 * 9) Pike's Revenge
 * 10) Treasure Hunt
 * 11) Cherub's Move
 * 12) The Treasure

Deviations from televised story

 * It is explained that Kewper contacted Pike because the smugglers' normal boat had been seized by the Revenue men and they were searching for a replacement.
 * Pike learns of Cherub's absence from a pirate named Crow immediately after killing Jamaica and notes they returned to the boat together.
 * Gaptooth's death during the battle is omitted: He is last mentioned when he sends Spaniard and Daniel to guard the boat, making his fate unclear.

Writing and publishing notes

 * This was the last title to be released in both hardback and paperback due to declining sales.
 * The cover for the original Target Books edition featured the artwork of Alister Pearson.

British publication history

 * Hardback (June 1998)


 * W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:0491031483, estimated print run of only 1000 copies priced £7.95.
 * Paperback (January 1989)


 * Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. One single paperback edition, estimated print run: 23,000, priced £1.99 (UK).
 * Re-issues (February 1993)


 * Target / Virgin Publishing, priced £3.50 (UK).

Audiobook release
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 6 August 2020 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Anneke Wills.

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