Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth (novelisation)

Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth
Based on:	The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Doctor:	First Doctor
Companion(s):	Susan, Barbara, Ian
Main enemy:	The Daleks, the Robomen
Main setting:	London, 2167
Key crew
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen
Writer:	Terrance Dicks
Release details
Release number:	17 (given to later editions)
Release date:	24 March 1977
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions; 14 Chapters, 142 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-11244-X
Target novelisations
← Previous	Planet of Giants
Next →	The Rescue

Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

Publisher's summary

1977 edition

The TARDIS lands in a London of future times — a city of fear, devastation and holocaust… a city now ruled by DALEKS.

The Doctor and his companions meet a team of underground resistance workers, among the few survivors, but after an unsuccessful attack on the Dalek spaceship, they are all forced to flee the capital.

A perilous journey through England finally brings them to the secret centre of Dalek operations… and the mysterious reason for the Dalek invasion of Earth!

Chapter Titles

1. Return to Terror
2. The Roboman
3. The Freedom Fighters
4. Inside the Saucer
5. Attack the Daleks!
6. The Fugitives
7. Reunion with the Doctor
8. The Mine of the Daleks
9. Dangerous Journey
10. Trapped in the Depths
11. Action Underground
12. Rebellion!
13. Explosion!
14. The Farewell

Deviations from televised story

• As is common in many of the Target Novelisations, the wording of the dialogue is quite different, including the First Doctor's famous farewell speech to Susan. Some lines of dialogue are also given to different characters.
• When Ian asks how the Daleks survived, the Doctor, rather than claim the events of The Daleks took place "a million years in the future", merely suggests the Daleks had other colonies on Skaro that were not involved in the Thal attack and so the destruction was not as complete as everyone believed.
• Carl Tyler is renamed Jim Tyler. Similarly, Jack Craddock is renamed Bill Craddock.
• The Black Dalek is larger than the other Daleks.
• The Dalek Saucer Commander is not identified, although a second-in-command is present.
• The Doctor does not pass out like he does in Episode 4 and helps David disarm the Dalek firebomb (called a "blockbuster bomb").
• Some Robomen are present when Barbara and Jenny are arrested by the Daleks at the womens' hut.
• Instead of the two brothers killing each other in a struggle, Larry kills the robotised Phil by knocking his helmet off, then a Dalek arrives on the scene and kills Larry in his grief.
• The Doctor orders both the slaves and the Robomen to clear the mine area before the explosion. What happened to the Robomen after the Dalek invasion force is destroyed is left unexplained.
• A few scenes are changed to closer resemble the movie remake of the story starring Peter Cushing:
  • Dortmun's death sees him buried under falling rubble, taking a Dalek with him, rather than just being shot by them.
  • Ian uses some wooden planks to send the Dalek bomb on the wrong course as Tom Campbell did, rather than jamming it in place.

Writing and publishing notes

• The original Target edition featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. In the absence of an accurate photo reference, the Roboman and Dalek Saucer shown on the cover resemble those from the film Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.. See below for information on editions with different covers. The Dalek has its gun stalk swapped with its plunger.

Additional cover images

1980 edition

1990 edition
Cover by Alister Pearson

British publication history

First publication:

• Hardback

W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

• Paperback

Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK September 1990 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)

Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK May 1991 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)

Editions published outside Britain

To be added

External links

• On Target - A comprehensive guide to Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth