Doctor Who and the Carnival of Monsters (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW: Carnival of Monsters which was shown from 27th January 1973 and written by Robert Holmes
 * 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).

1977 edition
The Doctor and Jo land on a cargo ship crossing the Indian Ocean in the year 1926. Or so they think. Far away on a planet called Inter Minor, a travelling showman is setting up his live peepshow, watched by an eager audience of space officials On board ship, a giant hand suddenly appears, grasps the Tardis and withdraws. Without warning, a prehistoric monster rises from the sea to attack What is happening? Where are they? Only the Doctor realises, with horror, that they might be trapped …

Illustrations

 * None

Deviations from televised story

 * The introduction makes specific reference to the events of The Three Doctors.
 * The Scope is made more impressive in the novelisation, producing a mild-hypnotic effect that helped draw the viewer into the experience of the scene being viewed.
 * While in the televised version the Doctor ignited the marsh gas with his sonic screwdriver, he uses a flare pistol in the novelisation.

Writing and publishing notes
To be added

Publishing History (UK)
To be added

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


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * 70p
 * 1993 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alister Pearson priced £3.50 (UK)

International Editions
To be added

Mistakes and Errors

 * At one point Plectrec calls Tellurians "Humans" when this name was not known to them.

External Sources

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