Terror of the Vervoids (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1986 television story Terror of the Vervoids.

Publisher's summary
The Time Lords have brought the Doctor to trial, accusing him of gross interference in the affairs of other planets. If he is found guilty he must forfeit all his remaining regenerations.

In his defence the Doctor tells of an adventure set on board the Hyperion III space liner in his future. Answering a distress call, the Doctor and Mel arrive on the liner just as a series of grisly murders begins.

Who is behind the murders? Do the enigmatic Mogarians have anything to do with them? Who sent the distress call to the TARDIS? And what hideous menace lies waiting in the Hydroponic Centre?

Chapter titles

 * Prologue
 * 1) The Defence Begins
 * 2) Identity Crisis
 * 3) Welcome Aboard
 * 4) Limbering up
 * 5) Tiger Trap
 * 6) The Booby Trap
 * 7) The Fateful Harvest
 * 8) The Demeter Seeds
 * 9) A Change of Course
 * 10) Death of An Imposter
 * 11) A Plethora of Suspects
 * 12) The Isolation Room
 * 13) Quirky Phenomena
 * 14) The Enemy Within
 * 15) Deadly Disposal
 * 16) A Heinous Crime
 * 17) The Black Hole of Tartarus
 * 18) A Deadly Intruder
 * 19) A Whiff of Death
 * 20) Hijack
 * 21) A Sacrificial Goat
 * 22) Dénouement
 * 23) Philosophy of a Vervoid
 * 24) The Life Cycle
 * 25) Epilogue

Deviations from televised story

 * There are extra trial room scenes of the Valeyard complaining about the absence of the Doctor from the early sequences and attempting to blame him for Bruchner's death. (These were recorded and are included as deleted scenes on the DVD.)
 * More emphasis is placed on the Valeyard using the same phrase that the Doctor supposedly used in the faked conversation with Mel.
 * It is mentioned that Kimber is going to Earth to visit his son and grandchildren and that the watch left behind after he is killed has an inscription from them.
 * It is more clear than on screen that the Mogarians are killed by having acid thrown over their face plates, damaging them and exposing them to the Earthlike atmosphere.
 * Mel, Janet and Doland are accompanied by guards when they find the dead Mogarians on the bridge.
 * Lasky is given back story as the daughter of an unemotional scientist whose mother was fond of plants and died when she was young.

Writing and publishing notes
to be added

British publication history

 * Hardback (September 1987)


 * W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:0491030568, estimated print run: 1,750 copies priced £7.95 (UK))
 * Paperback (February 1988)


 * Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. One single paperback edition, estimated print run: 25,000, priced £1.95 (UK).
 * Interior ISBN reads 0426203097X and exterior ISBN 04262030135

Audiobook
This Target Book was released on 3 October 2013 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Bonnie Langford as part of The Trial of a Time Lord Vol. 2.

The cover blurb and thumbnail illustrations were retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power.