Doctor Who The Handbook: The Fourth Doctor

, often referred to as simply The Fourth Doctor Handbook, is the first in the Handbook series by David J Howe, Mark Stammers, and Stephen James Walker — the major contribution by Doctor Who Books to the world of professionally published Doctor Who reference works.

The book is highly regarded as a significant work of Doctor Who scholarship, and is used as one of the main reference works for several later reference projects, perhaps most ubiquitously Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of (Time) Travel website and several issues of Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition, which in turn are two of the major resources used by this wiki.

Subject matter
Like all in the Handbook series, it is divided into three major sections. The first presents a series of snippets from interviews with principles involved in the creation of the persona of the Fourth Doctor; the second gives detailed notes about every televised adventure of this Doctor; and the last concerns itself with behind-the-scenes developments during this Doctor's era.

Publisher's summary
"DOCTOR WHO is the world's longest running science fiction television series. Each handbook provides both a broad overview and a detailed analysis of one phase of the programme's history.

"The volume covers the years from 1974 to 1981. During this time DOCTOR WHO achieved its highest viewing figures in Britain, and became a sensation in the United States.  Tom Baker played the leading role — he was the longest-serving of the seven actors who have played the Doctor to date — and for many people his portrayal of the Doctor is the definitive one.

"David J Howe, Mark Stammers and Stephen James walker are the authors of DOCTOR WHO — THE SIXTIES and THE SEVENTIES, the complete guide to the programme's early years.

"In this Handbook they set the fourth Doctor in historical context, and go on to describe:
 * Tom Baker, the actor
 * the development of the role of the fourth Doctor
 * the stories behind the TV stories
 * the re-creation and expansion of DOCTOR WHO mythology
 * a typical fourth Doctor story from script to screen
 * the marketing of the fourth Doctor

"The Handbook is a must for every DOCTOR WHO fan — and for everyone whose favourite Doctor is the curly-haired chap with the teeth and the long scarf." -- From the back cover

Notable features
This volume includes a particularly detailed examination of the making of The Brain of Morbius.