The Ambassadors of Death (novelisation)

The Ambassadors of Death
Based on:	The Ambassadors of Death
Doctor:	Third Doctor
Companion(s):	Liz
Featuring:	The Brig, Benton
Main enemy:	Ambassadors
Main setting:	Earth, circa 1970s
Key crew
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen
Writer:	Terrance Dicks
Cover by:	Tony Masero
Release details
Release number:	121
Release date:	1 October 1987
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions; 16 Chapters, 144 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-20305-4
Target novelisations
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The Ambassadors of Death was the 1987 Target novelisation of the Doctor Who serial of the same name. It was written by Terrance Dicks, based upon a script by David Whitaker.

Publisher's summary

1987 edition

Seven months after it left Mars there has still been no radio communication with the Probe Seven spacecraft or the astronauts inside it. Back on Earth concern is mounting and eventually a recovery capsule is sent up to rescue the astronauts.

But when the capsule returns to Earth it is found to be empty. As the Doctor and Liz investigate, they discover that the interior of the capsule is highly radioactive: if anyone was inside they would now surely be dead.

Have the astronauts returned to Earth? And if not, who are the sinister space-suited figures who stalk the countryside and whose very touch means instant death?

Chapter Titles

1. 'Something Took Off from Mars...'
2. 'That Sound--It Was Some Kind Of Message...'
3. 'They'll Never Survive...'
4. 'Recovery Seven--It's On The Way Back!'
5. 'The Capsule Has Landed.'
6. 'They've Started To Crack The Code...'
7. 'You Must Feed Them Radiation--Or They'll Die!'
8. 'We've Got To Get That Rocket Up!'
9. 'Someone's Threatening To Kill Miss Shaw!'
10. 'An Attack On The Space Centre?'
11. 'Do You Really Think They're Not Human?'
12. 'Large Unidentified Object Approaching On Collision Course...'
13. 'The Capsule Will Be Smashed To Fragments...'
14. 'Your Doctor Friend Is As Dead As A Doornail...'
15. 'We May Not Have Much More Time!'
16. 'We're Being Invaded!'

Deviations from televised story

• Reporter John Wakefield is renamed Michael Wakefield, possibly in tribute to the actor who played him in the televised story, Michael Wisher.

Writing and publishing notes

• It was the first time for a while that Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor's likeness had been used on the cover and, ^{[statement unclear]}unhappy with the likeness presented, the cover illustration was redrawn with different lighting so as to bring out Pertwee’s silver hair.
• The publication of this title completed the Third Doctor's novelisations. His era was the first to be completely adapted.

British publication history

Hardback (May 1987)

• W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:0491037120, copies priced £7.50 (UK))

Paperback (October 1987)

• Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. Single paperback edition, estimated print run: 27,500, priced £1.95 (UK).

Paperback (March 1991)

• Target / Virgin Publishing New cover artwork by Alister Pearson, estimated print run: 5,000, priced £2.50 (UK).

External links

• On Target - A comprehensive guide to Doctor Who - The Ambassadors of Death