The Rescue (novelisation)

The Rescue was a novelisation based on the 1965 television serial The Rescue.

Publisher's summary
From his one previous visit the Doctor remembers the inhabitants of the planet Dido as a gentle, peace-loving people.

But when he returns, things have changed dramatically. It seems that the Dido have brutally massacred the crew of the crashed spaceliner Astra. Even now they are threatening the lives of the sole survivors, Bennett and the orphan girl Vicki.

Why have the Didoi apparently turned against their peaceful natures? Can Bennett and Vicki survive until the rescue ship from Earth arrives? And who is the mysterious Koquillion?

Deviations from televised story

 * In this novel the natives who surprise Bennett are a male and a female (they both appeared to be male on screen). They are killed by the crew of the rescue ship.
 * The novel includes scenes set on board the rescue ship.

Writing and publishing notes

 * Author Ian Marter died in October 1986, nearly a year before the initial hardcover publication of The Rescue. It was the last of several novelisations that Marter had completed before his death to be published.
 * An editor's note was added to the book to acknowledge Marter's passing: "Shortly after completing work on The Rescue Ian Marter died. It was a great loss to his publishers and to the world of Doctor Who as a whole. Ian loved his work on Who both as an actor and a writer of many of the novelisations of the TV shows. He especially enjoyed and appreciated the interest fans showed in his work. And in his absence, it’s to all his fans that I’d like to dedicate this, his last book. NR"
 * The first cover design showing Koquillion standing holding a power tool was rejected.

Additional cover images
To be added

British publication history

 * Hardback (August 1987)


 * W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:0491033176, copies priced £7.95 (UK))
 * Paperback (January 1988)


 * Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. One single paperback edition, estimated print run: 23,000,  priced £1.95 (UK).