The Nightmare Fair (novelisation)

The Nightmare Fair, published in 1989, was the first release in the Target Books spin-off line, Target Missing Episodes. This line novelised scripts commissioned for Season 23 before the BBC decided to put Doctor Who on hiatus for eighteen months in 1985-1986. When the series returned, it was decided to do a season-long arc called The Trial of a Time Lord, and the originally commissioned Season 23 serials were abandoned.

Big Finish Productions released an audio version as part of their The Lost Stories line.

1989 edition
''On Wednesday 27 February 1985 the BBC announced that their longest running sci-fi series, Doctor Who, was to be suspended. Anxious fans worldwide, worried that this might mean an end to the Time Lord's travels, flooded the BBC with letters of protest. Eighteen months later the show returned to the TV screens.''

''But missing from the Doctor's adventures was the series that would have been made and shown during those lost eighteen months. Now, available for the first time as a book, is one of those stories: The Nightmare Fair.''

Drawn into 'the nexus of the primeval cauldron of Space-Time itself,' the Doctor and Peri are somewhat surprised to find themselves at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Is it really just chance that has brought them to the funfair? Or is their arrival somehow connected with the sinister presence of a rather familiar Chinese Mandarin?

1992 edition
"How often do I have to win before you give up?" the Sixth Doctor demanded with a sigh. "Oh lots," replied the Mandarin...

In February 1985 the BBC announced that their longest-running SF series, Doctor Who was to be suspended. Anxious fans worldwide, worried that this might put an end to the Time Lord's longevity, flooded the BBC with letters of protest. Eighteen months later the show returned to the TV screens.

But missing from the Doctor's adventures was the series and would have been made and shown during those eighteen months, and contained in this volume is one of those stories: THE NIGHTMARE FAIR.

Drawn into the nexus of the primeval caudron itself, the Doctor and Peri are somewhat surprised to find themselves at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Is it really just chance that has brought them to the funfair? Or is their arrival somehow connected with the sinister presence of a rather familiar Chinese Mandarin?....

Characters

 * Sixth Doctor
 * Peri Brown
 * The Toymaker
 * Kevin
 * Stefan
 * Woman
 * Shardlow
 * Yatsumoto
 * Geoff

Audio adaptations
In 2003 an unofficial audio drama adaptation of the novel/TV script was produced by Argolis. Produced in two episodes on a single CD, the production was released as a charity fund-raiser for, and included liner notes by Anthony Read, who chose the charity. The CD cover does not identify it as a Doctor Who story, but rather gives the overall title as Series X.

In November 2009, an official full cast audio drama adaptation was released by Big Finish Productions. It was the first in a spin-off series called The Lost Stories which adapted stories planned for television production, but never made.

Continuity

 * The Doctor refers to Duggan, whom he met in Paris in 1979. (TV: City of Death)

Audiobook
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 1 June 2023 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Toby Longworth.

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.