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Doctor Who Annuals #1
The Dr Who Annual 1966
Contains the following stories:
* The Lair of Zarbi Supremo
* The Sons of the Crab
* The Lost Ones
* The Monsters from Earth
* Peril in Mechanistria
* The Fishmen of Kandalinga
* The Lair of Zarbi Supremo
* The Sons of the Crab
* The Lost Ones
* The Monsters from Earth
* Peril in Mechanistria
* The Fishmen of Kandalinga
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1965
About the author
David Whitaker
56 books27 followersDavid Whitaker was an English screenwriter and novelist best known for his work in the early days of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He served as the series' first story editor working on the programme's first fifty one episodes in this capacity.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 7, 2021
Not by David Whitaker but by J.L. Morrissey, who brings a distinctive voice to Doctor Who, envisaging the lead character as a lone human scientist exploring the frontiers of space, time and intelligent life.
January 4, 2021
THIS PART OF THE REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE STORIES " THE SONS OF THE CRAB, THE LOST ONES AND THE MONSTERS FROM EARTH" i will add the rest when i get to it on my chronological readthrough of everything doctor who :)
THE SONS OF THE CRAB:
This was a pretty creepy story, it takes place on a planet in the Crab nebula that is plagued by a sun that gives off weird radiation. It makes it so nothing can keep its form for long and will constantly change, like an eldritch abomination.
The scientists on the planet want to keep the Doctor to dissect him and see if they can use the knowledge gained to turn themselves normal again.
"Not one in the hundred (embryos) had survived the transition. Either that or the baleful radiations of the star Mortain had become, in some unknown way, necessary for the germ-plasm to survive."
-The Doctor
THE LOST ONES:
Another story from the very first annual, and a weird one at that. The Doctor has landed on the web planet (for the first time) and is rescued by the Menoptera from the mind control of the Zarbi. They want to dissect him but he gets rescued by an Atlantean. The Doctor needs to repair their ship but he ends up not doing it because he fears what this might mean for humanity.
Overall an enjoyable story, but i'm glad it wasnt a novel.
"By Zeus himself, old Mother nature does work in the most curious ways. This one even looks like a man. imagine that now. A world of insects grown to man size and they evolve an insect which looks like a man."
-Captain of the Atlanteans
THE MONSTERS FROM EARTH:
This was a pretty nice story, although I thought it was quite out of character for the doctor to leave the Tardis open in such a way that 2 random kids can just walk in like that. But then again, the old doctor was also from Earth and a human according to some stories.
The plot is kinda cool! the Doctor lands on the Sense Sphere (dont recall if they name it in this story) for the first time and fights of giant spiders and Sensorites together with 2 kids and their dog. I think it could be a pretty neat story if they made it into an actual episode, i sure wouldnt mind if they made a story with the Sensorites again, i think theyre cool!
"No Sensorite would ever willingly enter a cavern. Only our vilest criminals are ever condemned to that fate."
-Ystal (a Sensorite)
THE SONS OF THE CRAB:
This was a pretty creepy story, it takes place on a planet in the Crab nebula that is plagued by a sun that gives off weird radiation. It makes it so nothing can keep its form for long and will constantly change, like an eldritch abomination.
The scientists on the planet want to keep the Doctor to dissect him and see if they can use the knowledge gained to turn themselves normal again.
"Not one in the hundred (embryos) had survived the transition. Either that or the baleful radiations of the star Mortain had become, in some unknown way, necessary for the germ-plasm to survive."
-The Doctor
THE LOST ONES:
Another story from the very first annual, and a weird one at that. The Doctor has landed on the web planet (for the first time) and is rescued by the Menoptera from the mind control of the Zarbi. They want to dissect him but he gets rescued by an Atlantean. The Doctor needs to repair their ship but he ends up not doing it because he fears what this might mean for humanity.
Overall an enjoyable story, but i'm glad it wasnt a novel.
"By Zeus himself, old Mother nature does work in the most curious ways. This one even looks like a man. imagine that now. A world of insects grown to man size and they evolve an insect which looks like a man."
-Captain of the Atlanteans
THE MONSTERS FROM EARTH:
This was a pretty nice story, although I thought it was quite out of character for the doctor to leave the Tardis open in such a way that 2 random kids can just walk in like that. But then again, the old doctor was also from Earth and a human according to some stories.
The plot is kinda cool! the Doctor lands on the Sense Sphere (dont recall if they name it in this story) for the first time and fights of giant spiders and Sensorites together with 2 kids and their dog. I think it could be a pretty neat story if they made it into an actual episode, i sure wouldnt mind if they made a story with the Sensorites again, i think theyre cool!
"No Sensorite would ever willingly enter a cavern. Only our vilest criminals are ever condemned to that fate."
-Ystal (a Sensorite)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2015
Why I was (alot) younger I had a number of annuals including this one. Most of the others were comic books, but although this does contain a few rather simple picture this is more a collection of short stories.
It is amazing how over the years the character of Dr (or Doctor) Who has changed. In this he is the William Hartnell doctor. He is called Dr Who and not Doctor Who as he has now become. Today he is always referred to as Doctor, where as in these stories he is referred to as Dr Who. The door of the tardis is referred to as the great door and there are many other changes that have happened between 1966 and now.
But what of the stories, there are very simplistic, probably because they are aimed at a young audience and
when compared to today's rather poorly written. However as a window back into my childhood I am really happy I read it.
It is amazing how over the years the character of Dr (or Doctor) Who has changed. In this he is the William Hartnell doctor. He is called Dr Who and not Doctor Who as he has now become. Today he is always referred to as Doctor, where as in these stories he is referred to as Dr Who. The door of the tardis is referred to as the great door and there are many other changes that have happened between 1966 and now.
But what of the stories, there are very simplistic, probably because they are aimed at a young audience and
when compared to today's rather poorly written. However as a window back into my childhood I am really happy I read it.
June 17, 2023
55 years of following Dr Who! Makes me feel special.
I'm still waiting for the Tardis to appear in my lounge room. Someday!
I'm still waiting for the Tardis to appear in my lounge room. Someday!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews