Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)

After the successful reprinting of three novelisations dating back to 1964 and 1965, the Target Books novelisations line began in earnest with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, the first original Target novelisation to be published.

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW: Spearhead from Space which was shown from 3rd January 1970 and written by Robert Holmes. With this book, Target continued the practice, introduced with Doctor Who and the Daleks, of using titles substantially different from the original TV serial. This practice would continue off-and-on before being mostly abandoned by the mid-1970s (although the title format Doctor Who and the ... and variations thereof would continue to be used until the early 1980s.
 * 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).

1974 edition
In this, the first adventure of his third `incarnation’, DOCTOR WHO, Liz Shaw, and the Brigadier grapple with the nightmarish invasion of the AUTONS – living, giant-sized, plastic-modelled `humans’ with no hair and sightless eyes; waxwork replicas and tailor’s dummies whose murderous behaviour is directed by the NESTENE CONSCIOUSNESS – a malignant, squid-like monster of cosmic proportions and indescribably hideous appearance. “This DOCTOR WHO adventure (televised as 'Spearhead from Space’) wins my vote as the best in the lifetime of this series so far.’ Mathew Coady, The Daily Mirror “DOCTOR WHO, the children’s own programme which adults adore…” Gerard Garrett, The Daily Sketch

1991 edition
"You will be exiled to Earth in the Twentieth Century Time Zone. You will remain there for as long as we think proper. And for that time the secret of the TARDIS will be taken from you." Found guilty by his fellow Time Lords of interference in the affairs of other planets, the Doctor is forced to undergo his second regeneration and is exiled to Earth. But strange meteorites are landing in Essex and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT has reason to believe that they were deliberately aimed at the Earth's surface. In order to avert a possible catastrophie the Doctor joins forces with UNIT and battles with the sinister Autons - creatures whose murderous behaviour is directed by the Nestene Consciousness, a hideous entity of cosmic proportions. This story was written by Robert Holmes and broadcast under the title The Spearhead from Space (sic.). It was the first programme to feature Jon Pertwee in the role of the Doctor and marks the beginning of his Earth-bound adventures. Doctor Who - The Spearhead from Space has recently been broadcast on BSB television.

Deviations from televised story
To be added

Writing and publishing notes

 * Terrance Dicks first novelisation for the Doctor Who series was among the first commissioned new titles and arrived one week late. Dicks, who at the time was a member of the TV series production team, would go on to be the most prolific author of the Target Novelisation line, writing dozens of works that would be published between 1974 and tje publication of The Space Pirates in 1990, after which Dicks would write a number of original novels for virtually every continuation series of original fiction, and also write two more novelisations: Shakedown, based upon an independent spin-off film, and the premiere episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Invasion of the Bane.
 * The first edition cover includes the face of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, making him the first recurring character other than the Doctor to appear on the cover of a Target novelisation (although whether he counts as a companion is disputed).

Interior

 * This title contain 11 illustrated pages by Chris Achilleos

British publication history
To be added

First Publication:
 * Hardback
 * Initial hardcover release in 1974 was for libraries only; mass-market hardcover issued in 1981.
 * W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * 30p (UK)
 * 1982 Target Books with a new cover by Andrew Skilleter
 * 1991 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alistair Pearson priced £2.50 (UK)

Editions published outside Britain
To be added

Audio Release
This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio Books and read by Caroline John who played Liz Shaw. The audio set of 4 CD's with an ISBN 1-405-? was released in June 2008 priced £13.99 (UK) 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

External Sources

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