Doctor Who and the Dinosaur Invasion (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs which was shown from 12th January 1974 and written by Malcolm Hulke
 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover). The first-edition cover is unusual for incorporating a comic book-style sound effect in the artwork.

1976 Target edition
The Doctor walked slowly forward into the cul-de-sac. The giant dinosaur turned its head to focus on the midget now approaching … the Doctor aimed his gun to fire … suddenly from behind came a great roar of anger. He spun round – blocking the exit from the narrow street towered a Tyrannosaurus rex, its savage jaws dripping with blood ... The Doctor and Sarah arrive back in the TARDIS to find London completely deserted – except for the dinosaurs. Has the return of these prehistoric creatures been deliberately planned and, if so, who can be behind it all?

1979 Pinnacle Books edition
RETURN OF THE PREHISTORIC CREATURES

Three hundred and fifty million years ago, dinosaurs crawled the Earth, devouring everything in sight. But then they disappeared. Certainly, no one ever expected them to return ...

When Doctor Who lands in London and finds the entire city deserted - except for dinosaurs - he figures something really weird is going on. It is. A clever group of misguided idealists is at the center of a bizarre plot to reverse Time to a golden era - an era before technology, before pollution, before the hydrogen bomb. The group is going to give the human race a second chance.

But, to implement Operation Golden Age, the past must be eliminated. The present will not exist - and only the chosen will survive.

Doctor Who must turn the clock forward to stop Operation Golden Age, but will he be able to do it before Earth's Time runs out?

Illustrations

 * None

Deviations from televised story
To be added

Writing and publishing notes
To be added

Publishing History (UK)
To be added

First Publication:
 * Hardback
 * W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * 60p (UK)

1993 Target Books with a new cover by Alister Pearson priced £3.50 (UK)

International Editions

 * Pinnacle Books, United States, 1983 (includes essay "Introducing Doctor Who" by Harlan Ellison)

Audio Release
This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio Books and read by Martin Jarvis who played Butler. The audio set of 4 CD's with an ISBN 1-405-XX was released in November 2007 priced £17.99 (UK) The cover blurb was retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power

External Sources

 * The Target Book by David J Howe (Telos Publishing 2007)
 * On Target a comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations by Tim Neal