Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)


 * This article concerns the novelization. For the film, see Dr. Who and the Daleks.

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial generally referred to as DW: The Daleks which included individual episode titles and was shown from 21st December 1963 and written by Terry Nation.
 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. Internal illustrations were by Arnold Schwartzman. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

Publisher's Cover Blurb
This is DOCTOR WHO’s first exciting adventure – with the DALEKS! Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright travel with the mysterious DOCTOR WHO and his grand-daughter, Susan, to the planet of Skaro in the space-time machine, Tardis. There they strive to save the peace-loving Thals from the evil intentions of the hideous DALEKS. Can they succeed? And what is more important, will they ever again see their native Earth?

Chapter Titles.

01 A Meeting on the Common. 02 Prisoners in Space. 03 The Dead Planet. 04 The Power of the Daleks. 05 Esacpe into Danger. 06 The Will to Survive. 07 The Lake of Mutations. 08 The Last Despairing Try. 09 The End of the Power. 10 A New Life.

Deviations from the Televised Story

 * The novelisation deviates greatly in that Ian and Barbara have never met each other or the Doctor and Susan prior to the events of the story, thereby ignoring the events of An Unearthly Child.
 * The book is told in first person, narrated by Ian.
 * Susan Foreman is referred to as "Susan English" in this adaptation.

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

 * This has no continuity with An Unearthly Child (which would be adapted into novel form eight years later), with Ian and Barbara having never met each other or the Doctor and Susan prior to the events of the story.
 * It was originally titled Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks and was first published in hardback by Frederick Muller Ltd on 12th November 1964 at a price of 12s 6d. It was reprinted in December 1964.
 * A paperback edition was issued on 4th October 1965 by May Fair Books Ltd, under the "Armada Paperbacks for Boys & Girls" imprint (priced 2s 6d). This version did not use Schwartzman's artwork, using cover and 6 illustrations by Peter Archer.
 * It was then reprinted as the first title in the new range of Doctor Who novelisations planned by Target Books. It was published 2nd May 1973 as Doctor Who and the Daleks with the subtitle "Based on the popular BBC television serial".
 * The hardback edition illustrations were retained.
 * Quickly sold out of the first 20,000 copies and was reprinted.
 * Chris Archilleos used a slightly different style of Dalek on his cover wanting to reflect different rank and functions of the Daleks.

Illustrations
Contains 12 illustrated pages by Arnold Schwartzman

Publishing History (UK)
To be added

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * Paperback
 * Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK January 1991 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)

International Editions
To be added

External Sources

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