Marco Polo (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial Marco Polo.

Publisher's summary
The young Venetian Marco Polo is on his way to the Emperor's court in Peking when he meets the intrepid time-travellers, for the TARDIS has landed on Earth in the year 1289.

Marco Polo recognises in the TARDIS a means of winning favour with the Emperor. But in the end the Doctor has no one but himself to blame for the loss of his wondrous travelling machine – which he gambles away to Kublai Khan...

Chapter titles

 * 1) Roof of the World
 * 2) Emissary of Peace
 * 3) Down to Earth
 * 4) Singing Sands
 * 5) Desert of Death
 * 6) A Tale of Hashashins
 * 7) Five Hundred Eyes
 * 8) Wall of Lies
 * 9) Too Many Kan-Chow Cooks
 * 10) Bamboozled
 * 11) Rider from Shang-Tu
 * 12) Runaway
 * 13) Road to Karakorum
 * 14) Mighty Kublai Khan
 * 15) Gamblers
 * 16) Best-laid Schemes
 * 17) Key to the World

Deviations from televised story

 * Discarding the recap from The Edge of Destruction for the novelisation, the Doctor decides to leave the Himalayas immediately on arrival. However, a fault in the dematerialisation control trips the circuit-breaker. He discovers the cause to be the energy distributor which has broken down. Without power, the four travellers run the serious risk of freezing to death.
 * The novelisation features extensive descriptions of the Silk Road's landmarks and history. Scenery and vistas that would've been impossible to realise within the budget of the televised serial.
 * The Doctor's attempt to gamble back the TARDIS from Kublai Khan is met with maudlin defeat in the novelisation. He returns to his companions empty-handed. For the televised version, the Doctor is given a piece of consolatory money by the Khan. He instead regards the failed exercise with a sad humour and a laugh.
 * In the novelisation, Tegana seals the throne room, preventing anyone from entering to rescue Kublai Khan. Rather than being bested in a sword fight with Marco Polo and committing suicide in a final act of defiance, Tegana is slain with an arrow from Ling-Tau through a secret Judas-eye in the Khan's gaming room.
 * The Doctor and his companions' departure is far less hurried in the novelisation. The Khan freely gifts Marco's key as thanks for the saving of his life. On television, Marco hurriedly returns his key and urges the travellers inside the TARDIS. The Khan acquiesces in both instances, believing in the latter account that the Doctor would have eventually won it back in Backgammon.
 * Rather than concluding on Polo's speculations, the author notes that the Khan's TARDIS key has survived the passage of time and now resides in a Peking museum as the "Key to the World".
 * The bandit Kuiju is not killed in the novel.

Writing and publishing notes

 * Dedication: In fond memory of the Inimitable Original, William `Bill' Hartnell
 * Along with The Myth Makers, this novelised title had the highest first print run of the Target novelisations (65,000).
 * The audiobook was released shortly after Zienia Merton's death.

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Audiobook
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 6 December 2018 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Zienia Merton.

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.