The Caves of Androzani (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1984 television serial The Caves of Androzani.

1985 Target Books edition
From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for the Doctor and his new young companion, Peri.

They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.

Key to the struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but in its raw state it is a deadly poison – a fact which will cost the Doctor another of his Time Lord lives...

1992 Target Books edition
PERI LOOKED AT THE DOCTOR. NOW WHAT DO WE DO?' THE DOCTOR SIGHED. 'SURRENDER,' HE SAID WARILY AND RAISED HIS HANDS.

From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for the Doctor and Peri. They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops, and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.

Key to the struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but in its raw state it kills.

Based on a television story written by Robert Holmes, The Caves of Androzani was the last adventure to feature the fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison.

Chapter titles

 * 1) Androzani Minor Revisited
 * 2) Spectrox War
 * 3) The Execution
 * 4) Sharaz Jek
 * 5) The Escape
 * 6) The Magma Beast
 * 7) Spy!
 * 8) The Boss
 * 9) Crash Down
 * 10) Mud Burst
 * 11) Takeover
 * 12) Change

Deviations from televised story

 * Elements of Androzani society, such as chakaw picking, is explored.
 * While the description is largely faithful, the Magma Beast is said to be able to camouflage itself by resembling a boulder.
 * The last surviving gunrunner is named as Stark.
 * Morgus' order for the lift maintenance engineer to be shot is given more motivation: He demanded a large bribe to fix the lift shaft so the doors would open while the lift wasn't there.
 * The lack of soldiers other than Chellak approaching Jek's base is explained as the survivors having pulled back to avoid the mud burst.
 * The motor sound that leads Morgus and Stotz to Jek's hideout is explained as him turning the extractor fan back on to keep Peri cool.
 * Instead of forcing Morgus' head into a laser beam, Jek strangles him and then hurls him into a console which explodes.

Writing and publishing notes

 * The title page credits Robert Holmes as the author, both of the original television story and the book.
 * Although number #92 in the Doctor Who library, the book was actually the 93rd to be released; this was because it was swapped in the publication order with the novelisation of Planet of Fire late in the day without the numbers being reassigned.

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Audiobook
This Target Book was released on 1 November 2018 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Peter Davison.

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.