Back in the dark days before VHS, DVD or BBC iPlayer, the only way to relive an episode of Doctor Who after broadcast was to seek out the novel adaptation produced by Target Books, a long-running series of paperbacks in which classic Doctor Who stories of old were given a new lease of life in print form. Aimed at fans who were too young to have seen the original television version, as well as those who were keen to experience the story again after many years, the Target Books fast became invaluable pieces of Doctor Who merchandise for many a Whovian throughout the years prior to the advent of home video.
Now, thanks to the team at BBC Books, four Doctor Who stories from the Fifteenth Doctor’s first season get the Target treatment, following on from the trilogy of 60th Anniversary adventures earlier this year, with gorgeous cover artwork from illustrator Dan Liles.
Our resident Whovians Pete Messum and Matt Dennis give us their verdict on each of the new books below!
The Church On Ruby Road
The fantastical atmosphere of The Church on Ruby Road lends itself perfectly to a novelisation from author Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, which feels aimed towards Doctor Who‘s younger audience.
Jikiemi-Pearson’s adaptation inevitably has more breathing room than its TV counterpart, allowing for a bit more backstory for Ruby and the Sunday family, as well as delving into the Fifteenth Doctor’s psyche a little more – he’s clearly a more open and emotive Doctor, often referred to as ‘the dancing Doctor’ from his first meeting with Ruby – although the book’s narrative sticks with Ruby herself for the most part, letting us into her world before delving into the Doctor’s. Some deleted moments and lines of dialogue are reinstated, with references to U.N.I.T Tower, The Giggle and the Toymaker’s legions.
This novelisation of The Church on Ruby Road is a nice way to revisit the Christmas Special in a new medium, as well as expanding on the story in some fun and interesting ways. It’s a faithful retelling from Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, and one I’d definitely recommend to younger fans.
Previously published in hardback with alternative artwork, this new Target-style paperback edition seems to be identical inside, leaving it up to fans as to which version they’d prefer on their bookshelves. PM
Order THE CHURCH ON RUBY ROAD here
Space Babies
Space Babies made for a somewhat divisive start to Doctor Who‘s 2024 season, making this novelisation by horror author Alison Rumfitt a welcome chance for fans to re-evaluate the story in a new medium. This is, for the most part, a very faithful retelling, reinstating a few deleted lines and moments (including the infamously cut “push the button” musical sequence in the TARDIS), although if you weren’t a fan of Space Babies on TV, I can’t see this adaptation changing your mind at all.
The beginning still feels like one huge exposition dump, and one that could have perhaps been trimmed on the page given that readers will presumably be fans, or at least familiar enough with the premise of Doctor Who, to not require such a thorough induction. Rumfitt often gets readers inside the Doctor’s head, which is a little surprising given how much of the story is focused on Ruby’s first experiences in the TARDIS, but does provide an interesting point of view. Jocelyn, AKA: Nan-E, gets fleshed-out more in this novelisation, although the overall world/universe-building still feels quite underwhelming (especially given what could be expanded upon in prose). There’s a touch more horror in how Rumfitt frames the Bogeyman, creating a sinister presence throughout the story before reframing it by the end.
Space Babies is certainly a fun read, maintaining a good sense of pace and delving into the characters’ internal monologues, although as with its small-screen counterpart, the exposition-heavy beginning is a bit clunky and the tonal whiplash between Alien-esque horror and childish whimsy can feel a bit jarring. For fans of Space Babies though, Alison Rumfitt‘s novelisation is well worth a read! PM
Order SPACE BABIES here
73 Yards
On first glance, 73 Yards seems a strange TV story to novelise, given the script’s unorthodox narrative and lack of definitive answers. On television, this was a strength. On the page, it feels lacking.
The main issue is the story’s folk horror vibes, which never quite register here. The adaptation is a fairly straightforward one that mostly sticks to the televised events, but nearly all of the spooky atmosphere that was prevalent in the original version fails to translate from screen to page. Series script editor Scott Handcock does a good job of retelling the events of the episode but the scarier or more disturbing moments lose their impact on the printed page. On telly, 73 Yards was a terrifying, engaging episode that found a creepiness in its off-kilter atmosphere and strange visuals, but the novelisation ultimately struggles to get any of this across effectively in prose form.
Where Handcock’s adaptation excels is in the way he fleshes out the backstory for most of the minor characters, whilst simultaneously polishing up some moments from the TV version that perhaps didn’t quite come together as intended (Ruby shows a lot more guilt and sympathy for the character of Marti here, whilst Roger Ap Gwillam’s motivations and general nastiness get a little more exploration). Anyone expecting a more concrete explanation about the nature of the events herein will be left wanting though, as the book wisely withholds on definitive answers surrounding the mysterious Woman who stalks Ruby, leaving everything up to the imagination of the reader (as well it should).
There’s some surprises for fans, but these mostly result in a few unnecessarily gratuitous cameos, which feel like padding and do nothing to enhance the story. Thankfully these are few in number and don’t last long enough to distract from Ruby’s story, which the author knows is key to proceedings. Handcock captures Ruby Sunday’s voice well throughout, and her thoughts and feelings are laid more bare here then any TV version could hope to achieve, resulting in an emotionally investing tale regardless of the lack of horror. MD
Order 73 YARDS here
Rogue
One of the most exciting aspects of the Doctor Who Target novelisations is that they can provide the original screenwriters an opportunity to flesh out their stories, unincumbered by TV budgets and running-times. Rogue writers Kate Herron and Briony Redman have seized that opportunity and run with it, not only telling the full story as seen on TV but incorporating a new prologue, epilogue, flashbacks and a chapter detailing the history of the story’s antagonists, the Chuldur.
A number of scenes play out differently, whether taken from earlier drafts of the script, deleted scenes or even just re-working for the new medium, making for an engaging read even for fans who have seen the episode multiple times already. For those who weren’t keen on the TV episode, there’s a good chance that this expanded prose version might change your mind on it.
Ultimately, Rogue is a rollicking regency romance novel, primarily telling its story from the perspective of the eponymous bounty hunter, that expands on the TV version in some surprising and interesting ways that make this well worth reading for Whovians everywhere. And for those wanting more Rogue, there might even be a clue as to the character’s future… PM
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