Doctor who novels

[Vulpine]

Right I would like this thread to be about any Dr who novels and quick review on it. I'm doing a Dr Who game and models (as most of you will know) so I'm doing a lot of research and they are nice short-mid size books to get into. Just like the TV program they have been produced for a long period of Time with different authors so it is a real mix bag of fantastic to pants!

The first book I have to talk about is Cybermen by David Banks

http://www.film-tvtieins.com/shop_image/product/005084.jpg

David Banks was the Cyber Leader from Davidson - Maccoys era. It's a really good book and links the TV storeys together very nicely. From other things I've read on the Cybermen it seams like all the other Authors have taken this book as the Bible on Cybermen history. Almost like they have said "most of Banks's ideas and links are made up by him, but, he is a fantastic cyberleader... If Cybeleader says so its fact".

This book starts with the basic history of "what are cybermen" or other Androids and robots. Then there are parts about the history and  it was laid out with a really cool time line map. It goes all the way from The 10th planet to Attack (and a sneak peak at silver nemesis... What a way for Banks to go out on )

It covers the design differences of each generation of Cybermen and has some info from the creators and designers of the suits. It also has all the cybermen TV story's written as a kind of mid size novel, each of them! So if you ain't seen or got a Cyberman episode you can catch it in this book until you can afford the £10-20 price tag the Beeb is selling the recycled program's for (although I'm sure a load of work goes into sorting the quality and sound out as well as extras and some have re-edited special effects).

It then has a part about the episodes, background on making them and info on what, how, who and when each was made including the episodes when a Cyberman might walk past in the background and such.

It's a fantastic book, probably one of my all time best books on sci fi not just DW, most likely because it has loads of pictures but it really has a bit of everything in it. Theory, design, producing of a episode, short stories and detailed pictures. You can pick this up for around £7-£12

This book in my opinion really is Five Adric stars out of five *****

[goat major]

My favourite doctor who novel was the really old one (Jon Pertwee period ?) featuring Yetis and lots in UNIT soldiers in the London Underground

[Vulpine]

Oh yeah! If the doctor wasn't in a quarry he was under London (underground or sewer system). But any UNIT story should be good.

[Raider4]

My favourite doctor who novel was the really old one (Jon Pertwee period ?) featuring Yetis and lots in UNIT soldiers in the London Underground

Ahh, Web Of Fear. But even older than you're remembering, with Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, not Jon Pertwee.

I loved the old novelisations when I was a kid. Recently found a list, I know had the first 50 published.

Cheers, Martyn
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[Vulpine]

Web of fear with the Trought-maester? He was the doctor in the TV serial... Are you thinking 'Planet of spiders"

[goat major]

Raider has it spot on . Ahhhh the memories

[Raider4]

... Are you thinking 'Planet of spiders"

Arrghhh! Not Planet of the Spiders. Pertwee's last serial. I remember watching that as a kid. Scared me witless. Giant bloody spiders that leapt onto your back ...? Scary stuff.

I never found the Daleks & Ogrons & giant robots & Cybermen and things scary. But giant spiders? Urrgghh!

That one and the one with the giant maggots in some Welsh mine (also Pertwee - Green Death, maybe?) gave me the willies.

Cheers, Martyn
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[goat major]

Yep the Green Death - also terrified me. I made the mistake of buying the DVD a few years ago. Slightly less terrifying ...

[Vulpine]

Oh... I see now!!! Yeah, Dr.T not Perty!

I dunno, I think the Cybermen are scary! Especially the Invasion/revenge  ones... If I woke with one of them at the bottom of the bed I'd... Do something yucky!

Raston warrior robot is rather nasty. The Robots from Robots of death are creepy ("creepy mechanical men"), cybermen in tomb are creepy, Daleks have the scare factor, when they glide past and don't notice your hiding from em. Morbious is scary and rock hard.

But for me, the dummy from talons of WengChang is the thing I'd least like to bump into in the dark!

[Techno]

Most of the time, while I'm pushing putty about....I listen to 'talking' books, normally borrowed from the local traveling library, to pass the time.
Recently picked up four Dr Who stories from a local 'flea market' to add a bit of variation.
They were great fun !
Short....But quite entertaining.
Cheers - Phil.