The Aztecs (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial generally referred to as DW: The Aztecs which included individual episode titles and was shown from 23rd May 1964 and written by John Lucarotti.


 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Nick Spender. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

1984 edition
The TARDIS materialises in Mexico during the Aztecs civilisation. The Doctor and his companions step outside to discover they are inside a tomb - the tomb, it turns out, of Yetaxa, once High Priest of the Aztecs.

Barbara is hailed as Yetaxa’s reincarnation by Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge, and Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, when they find her in the precincts of the tomb wearing the bracelet of the deceased Priest, now revered as a god.

And she takes advantage of her position of unaccustomed power to try and dissuade the Aztecs from practising human sacrifice…

1992 edition
The Doctor stood up. "There's to be a human sacrifice at sunset," he said. "Ian is to escort the chosen victim to the altar."

When the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara arrive accidentally in ancient Mexico, Barbara is mistaken for a god by the Aztecs. Horrified by the barbarous practice of human sacrifice which she is forced to observe, she is determined to use her power to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. The Doctor must use every means in his power to prevent her from interfering with the natural course of history, but he himself is occupied by other matters - such as the rather attractive Cameca...

This is a novelization by John Lucarotti of his own television story, first broadcast in 1964 and featuring William Hartnell as the first Doctor.

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Chapter Titles
01 Coiled Serpent. 02 Yetaxa the God. 03 Chosen Warriors. 04 Sacrifice to Tlaloc. 05 Perfect Victim. 06 Thorn of Doom. 07 No Holds Barred. 08 Cups of Cocoa. 09 Bride of Sacrifice. 10 Offence and Retribution. 11 Crawl,Swim,Climb. 12 Wall of Deception. 13 False God. 14 Day of Darkness. 15 Eclipse.

Illustrations
None

Deviations from televised story

 * The novelisation dates the story as 1507.

Writing and publishing notes

 * John Lucarotti extensively rewrote the teleplay for this novelisation of his own story.
 * This was the last book to be published featuring the colour version of the Target Books logo. The book published just prior to this one, the novelisation of Warriors of the Deep, had introduced a new white-outline version of the logo.

British publication history
To be added

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * Paperback
 * Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK October 1992 Cover by Andrew Skilleter (£2.50 UK)

International Editions
To be added

External Sources

 * The Target Book by David J Howe (Telos Publishing 2007)