Marco Polo (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial Marco Polo.

Publisher's summary
The young Venetian Marco Polo is on his way to the Emperor's court in Peking when he meets the intrepid time-travellers, for the TARDIS has landed on Earth in the year 1289.

Marco Polo recognises in the TARDIS a means of winning favour with the Emperor. But in the end the Doctor has no one but himself to blame for the loss of his wondrous travelling machine–which he gambles away to Kublai Khan...

Chapter titles

 * 1) The Roof of the World
 * 2) The Emissary of Peace
 * 3) Down to Earth
 * 4) The Singing Sands
 * 5) The Desert of Death
 * 6) A Tale of Hashashins
 * 7) Five Hundred Eyes
 * 8) The Wall of Lies
 * 9) Too Many Kan-Chow
 * 10) Bamboozled
 * 11) Rider from Shang-Tu
 * 12) Runaway
 * 13) The Road to Karakorum
 * 14) Mighty Kublai Khan
 * 15) Gamblers
 * 16) Best-laid Schemes
 * 17) Key to the World

Deviations from televised story

 * Marco Polo does not have a sword fight with Tegana to save Kublai Khan.
 * Tegana was killed by a arrow from Ling-Tau. In the televised story, Tegana killed himself with his sword.
 * Kublai Khan gifts the TARDIS to the Doctor for saving his life, rather than Marco Polo stealing the keys to the ship.
 * The bandit Kuiju is not killed in the novel.

Writing and publishing notes

 * Dedication: In fond memory of the Inimitable Original, William `Bill' Hartnell
 * Along with The Myth Makers, this novelised title had the highest first print run of the Target novelisations (65,000).
 * This story was released as an audiobook read by Zienia Merton.

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


 * Paperback
 * Target