The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1988 television serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. The title of this story carries a certain irony as this novelisation was the first to be published after the broadcast of the final episode of the original 1963-89 TV series.

1989 edition
CREEPY. That's what Ace thinks of clowns. But the Doctor insists on entering the talent contest at the Psychic Circus, the self-proclaimed Greatest Show in the Galaxy, on the planet Segonax.

What has reduced Segonax to an arid wasteland? Why have the happy-go-lucky circus folk stayed here for so long? And why are they no longer happy? Above all, what is the dreadful truth about the Ringmaster and his robot clowns?

The Doctor and Ace need all their death-defying skills in the big top to uncover a brooding, ancient evil that has broken the spirit of the Circus and demanded the sacrifice of so many lives.

Chapter titles

 * Overture
 * 1) Beginners
 * 2) Welcome to Segonax
 * 3) Captain Cook
 * 4) The Hippy Bus
 * 5) The Psychic Circus
 * 6) Nord's Finest Hour
 * 7) The Well
 * 8) The End of Bellboy's Dream
 * 9) That Old Devil Moon
 * 10) Kingpin
 * 11) The Gods of Ragnarok
 * 12) Positively Last Performance
 * Coda

Deviations from televised story
to be added

British publication history
First publication: Paperback (December 1989) Re-issues: (December 1991)
 * Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. One single paperback edition, estimated print run: 22,000,  priced £1.99 (UK).
 * Target / Virgin Publishing. One single paperback edition, priced £2.99 (UK).

Audiobook
This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Sophie Aldred.

The audio set of four CDs was released in August 2013 priced £13.99 (UK)