The Invasion (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1968 television serial The Invasion.

1985 edition
Materialising in outer space, the TARDIS is attacked by a missile fired from the dark side of the moon.

Back on Earth, the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, led by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, is disturbed by a series of UFO sightings over Southern England.

Meanwhile, a large consignment of mysterious crates is delivered to the headquarters of International Electromatix, the largest computer and electronics firm in the world.

These seemingly unconnected events-but in reality the preparations for a massive Cyberman invasion of Earth who with one aim-the total annihilation of the human race.

Chapter Titles

 * Prologue
 * 1) Home Sweet Home?
 * 2) Old Friends
 * 3) Cat and Mouse
 * 4) Hitching Lifts
 * 5) Skeletons and Cupboards
 * 6) Secret Weapons
 * 7) Underground Operations
 * 8) Invasion
 * 9) Counter Measures
 * 10) The Nick of Time

Deviations from televised story

 * The novel includes the UNIT rescue scene of Professor Watkins not included in the original televised transmission.
 * Gregory is shot and killed by Benton during the rescue of Watkins instead of being killed by a Cyberman in the sewers.
 * Vaughn convinces Rutlidge to shoot himself.
 * International Electromatics is renamed International Electromatix. The logo is also changed from a representation of the letters to a lightning bolt insignia and the company has a private commune.
 * Jamie writes "Kilroy was here" in the cell, a phrase popularised by American soldiers during WWII.
 * The language is more explicit than the televised version: Packer calls the Doctor a "bastard."
 * The Brigadier views the TARDIS dematerialisation at the end of the story, the first time this has happened.
 * There is a third man with Benton and Tracy when they pick up the Doctor and Jamie.
 * Turner is not present in the early aircraft scenes, not appearing until the Brigadier sends him up in the helicopter.
 * Planet 14 is referred to as Planet Sigma Gamma 14.
 * The policeman killed in the sewers is described as "young": On television, he is middle-aged.
 * There is a second private, Harris, with Turner in the sewers who is injured during the battle. The sergeant with the group is not identified as Walters.
 * Packer strikes Jamie across the face upon recapturing him at IE, causing him to bleed.
 * The Doctor addresses Turner as "young man", a phrase more likely to come from his first incarnation.
 * The missile base is renamed from Henlow Downs to Henlow Flats. Major Branwell becomes Squadron Leader Bradwell and Sergeant Peters become a flight lieutenant. (These are RAF ranks rather than the army ones given on screen.)
 * The Doctor is seen to have a neurister fitted when the signal is turned on, rather than it falling off.
 * The Russian shuttle base is named Nykortny, an in joke referring to Nicholas Courtney.
 * The Doctor seems to take longer to realise the Cybermen can launch the Megatron bomb without the signal.

Writing and publishing notes

 * Back pages feature details of Fantastic Doctor Who Poster Offers-without the colour pictures of the posters!
 * The cover of the original Target Books edition featured the artwork of Andrew Skilleter.

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * 1993 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alistair Pearson priced £3.50 (UK)