Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus (novelisation)

 was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial The Keys of Marinus.

Publisher's summary
MARINUS

a remote force-shielded island set in a sea of acid, governed by

THE CONSCIENCE

the ultimate computer which rules and balances the gentle life of Marinus, guarded by

ARBITAN THE KEEPER

ruthless protector of a peace-loving race threatened by

YARTEK

Warlord of the brutal sub-human Voords, sworn enemy of Arbitan and of Marinus, who has within his grasp

THE KEYS OF MARINUS

the Conscience’s vital micro-circuits, the doors of good and evil.

Can the Doctor find the hidden circuits in time? Arbitan’s command was 'Find them, OR DIE!'

Chapter Titles

 * 1) The Sea of Death
 * 2) The Marble City
 * 3) The Velvet Web
 * 4) The Brains of Morphoton
 * 5) The Screaming Jungle
 * 6) The Whispering Darkness
 * 7) The Snows of Terror
 * 8) The Demons
 * 9) Sentenced!
 * 10) The Mystery of the Locked Room
 * 11) The Missing Key
 * 12) Arbitan's Revenge
 * 13) Final Goodbyes

Deviations from televised story
To be added

Writing and publishing notes

 * This title was Philip Hinchcliffe’s last contribution to the range, and his sole novelisation of a serial he did not produce.
 * With no photographs for reference, cover artist David McAllister decided to try something different and feature no people on the cover.
 * Producer John Nathan-Turner’s criticism of the cover artwork (namely the TARDIS is blue NOT grey, and the light is white NOT red), went unheeded.
 * Large chunks of dialogue and story were cut from the novelisation.

Continuity

 * Time on Marinus is counted in zeniths.
 * The Voord are said to be genetically engineered animals. Other sources position them as pre-evolutionary Cybermen. (COMIC: The World Shapers)

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * A planned reissue in 1994 was cancelled.