Doctor Who and the Mutants (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial TV: The Mutants written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin and shown from 8 April 1972.
 * The cover and information on the right are for the original Target edition. It featured the artwork of Jeff Cummins. (See below for information on editions with different covers).

Publisher's summary
A massive shape scuttles out of the darkness and strikes the earth Overlord down. It is a Mutant – a huge insectoid creature. It moves in a crouch, its back arched and scaly, with huge knobbly vertebrae. The controlling Overlord, the Marshal, has ordered all such Mutants killed instantly.

What was happening to the people of Solos? Why are they gradually turning into Monsters? Hands that become claws, flesh that turns scale-like…

When DOCTOR WHO meets the Marshal and Jaegar, he realises that all is not as it appears to be. The Marshal has a sinister plan to gain control of this planet, and DOCTOR WHO must save Solos from this mad earthman, as well as save the Solonians themselves.

DOCTOR WHO scripts – awarded the Writer’s Guild Award for the best British children’s original drama script.

Deviations from televised story

 * Solos is described as more jungle-like than it appeared onscreen.
 * The Doctor describes the use of message pods as a system used for a "real emergency" and that the "Time Lords' code" compels him to deliver it.
 * Varan's son is given a name, Vorn.
 * The assassination weapon Vorn uses is described as metallic; onscreen, it appeared to be disguised as carved wood.
 * Jaeger is given some backstory as being disgraced on Earth for stealing data from an academic colleague.
 * In addition to the stone tablets seen onscreen, the message pod also contains parchment scrolls.
 * The Marshal discovers that Stubbs and Cotton are working with the Doctor by monitoring them in the caves with a directional microphone.

Writing and publishing notes

 * The Solonian picture on the cover is almost a perfect recreation of the televised creature.
 * This is one of the Target books DWM gave away

Additional cover images
To be added

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * None

Editions published outside Britain
To be added