Tardis

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Tardis
Tardis

prose stub

Slipback was a novelisation based on the 1985 radio drama Slipback. It was the first novelisation of a Doctor Who story that had not been produced for television.

Publisher's summary[]

The TARDIS materialises on board the Vipod Mor, a galactic survey ship captained by the repulsive Orlous Moston Slarn.

Things are not going too well on board the spacecraft: a mysterious killer stalks the ship's infrastructure; a junior officer, whose body is four years older than his brain, commands its bridge; the craft's computer seems to be developing its own distinctive personality; and Slarn threatens to vent his vindictive anger on his crew.

Soon the Doctor and Peri stumble upon a shocking secret, a secret upon which depends the fate of the entire Universe...

The novelisation of the Radio 4 Doctor Who story.

Deviations from broadcast story[]

  • The first 50 pages of the novel do not feature the Doctor or Peri and do not adapt the radio play; instead they provide backstory on the characters and circumstances encountered by the Doctor later.
  • In the radio play, when the Doctor tells Peri he's about to recite his favourite sonnet, "Ode to a Flashist Mud Scavenger", Peri replies that this inspiring title "brings tears to my ears"! This is changed to "eyes" in the novelisation, though "ears" may have been a deliberate allusion to Peri was hearing rather than reading the title.
  • The steward, named as Vesper, kills Slarn before he can release his virus, then incinerates both of them to destroy the infection.
  • The computer's external personality orders the crew to evacuate the ship before sending it back in time.

Writing and publishing notes[]

to be added

Additional cover images[]

British publication history[]

to be added

First Publication:

  • Hardback
W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK
  • Paperback
Target

Re-issues:

None

External links[]