Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)


 * This article concerns the novelization. For the film, see Dr. Who and the Daleks.

Originally published in 1964 as Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks and later retitled Doctor Who and the Daleks, this adaptation by David Whitaker was the first Doctor Who novelisation, and indeed the first Doctor Who novel of any kind. When republished by Target Books in 1973, strong sales resulted in Target launching its extensive series of novelisations.

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial generally referred to as DW: The Daleks which included individual episode titles and was shown from 21st December 1963 and written by Terry Nation.
 * The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. Internal illustrations were by Arnold Schwartzman. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

1965 Armada edition
The story from the beginning! Here is the exciting adventure of Dr. Who, Susan, Barbara, Ian, from the moment they meet one foggy autumn night on a lonely common beside a Police Box (Ah, but what a curious Police Box!) to the time they encounter the weird Daleks.

It is a thrilling story, and we know this book will be one of the most popular published in the Armada series. Can you wait any longer? Start reading!

1973 Target edition
This is DOCTOR WHO’s first exciting adventure – with the DALEKS! Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright travel with the mysterious DOCTOR WHO and his grand-daughter, Susan, to the planet of Skaro in the space-time machine, Tardis. There they strive to save the peace-loving Thals from the evil intentions of the hideous DALEKS. Can they succeed? And what is more important, will they ever again see their native Earth?

Chapter titles
1. A Meeting on the Common. 2. Prisoners in Space. 3. The Dead Planet. 4. The Power of the Daleks. 5. Esacpe into Danger. 6. The Will to Survive. 7. The Lake of Mutations. 8. The Last Despairing Try. 9. The End of the Power. 10. A New Life.

Deviations from the Televised Story

 * The opening deviates greatly in that Ian and Barbara have never met each other, let alone the Doctor or Susan prior to the events of the story, thereby ignoring the events of An Unearthly Child. The novelisation of An Unearthly Child would not be published until 1981.
 * Susan Foreman is referred to by the name "Susan English".
 * The book is told in first person by Ian.
 * A Dalek leader inside a transparent casing appears. An actual Glass Dalek appeared in the television story Reveleation of the Daleks.

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

 * Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks came out before any Doctor Who-based book, fiction or nonfiction. It was first published in hardback by Frederick Muller Ltd on 12th November 1964 at a price of 12s 6d. It quickly sold out of the first 20,000 copies and was reprinted in December 1964. The name Doctor Who appeared very prominently on the first printing, with the rest of the title more of an afterthought.
 * This has no continuity with An Unearthly Child (which would be adapted into novel form years later as Doctor Who and An Unearthly Child).
 * A paperback edition was issued on 4th October 1965 by May Fair Books Ltd, under the "Armada Paperbacks for Boys & Girls" imprint (priced 2s 6d). This version did not use Schwartzman's artwork, instead having a cover and 6 illustrations by Peter Archer.
 * It was then reprinted as the first title in the new range of Doctor Who novelisations planned by Target Books. It was published 2nd May 1973 as Doctor Who and the Daleks with the subtitle "Based on the popular BBC television serial".
 * The hardback edition illustrations were retained.
 * Chris Archilleos used a slightly different style of Dalek on his cover, wanting to reflect different rank and functions of the Daleks. These seem to use the same photo references consulted by other artists, seeming to show high-tech circular "grills" just below the "head". In reality, the "grills" merely identified individual Daleks so that they might say, for example, "Dalek 3, turn right!" Before actual filming, they removed them, so that they never appeared on-screen.

Illustrations
Contains 12 illustrated pages by Arnold Schwartzman

Publishing History (UK)
To be added

Second Edition:
 * Hardback
 * W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK


 * Paperback
 * Target

Re-issues:
 * Paperback
 * Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK January 1991 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)

International Editions
To be added

External Sources

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