Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #3

by Terrance Dicks

The Doctor, Romana and K-9 continue their search for the six disguised segments that make up the powerful Key to Time.

When the TARDIS lands on the seemingly peaceful planet of Tara, the Doctor claims he is owed a holiday. While he takes time off to go fishing, Romana quickly locates the Fourth Segment. All is going well until the time-travellers are drawn into the complex political intrigues of Tara.

The benevolent Prince Reynart is soon to be crowned king, but the wicked Count Grendel wants both the throne, and Reynart's bride-to-be, the Princess Strella, for himself. Grendel plots with the android builder Madame Lamia, and soon both Reynart and Strella are replaced by robotic duplicates. Unfortunately for Romana, she also bears a startling resemblance to the princess - which makes her enormously valuable to the Count.

With time running out, the Doctor is unwillingly thrust into the roles of android repair-man, king-maker and, ultimately, swash-buckling hero, when he finds himself duelling with Grendel, famous for being the finest swordsman on Tara...

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Media Tie In, Speculative Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Terrance Dicks was an English author, screenwriter, script editor, and producer best known for his extensive contributions to Doctor Who. Serving as the show's script editor from 1968 to 1974, he helped shape many core elements of the series, including the concept of regeneration, the development of the Time Lords, and the naming of the Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. His tenure coincided with major thematic expansions, and he worked closely with producer Barry Letts to bring a socially aware tone to the show. Dicks later wrote several Doctor Who serials, including Robot, Horror of Fang Rock, and The Five Doctors, the 20th-anniversary special.
In parallel with his television work, Dicks became one of the most prolific writers of Doctor Who novelisations for Target Books, authoring over 60 titles and serving as the de facto editor of the range. These adaptations introduced a generation of young readers to the franchise. Beyond Doctor Who, he also wrote original novels, including children’s horror and adventure series such as The Baker Street Irregulars, Star Quest, and The Adventures of Goliath.
Dicks also worked on other television programmes including The Avengers, Moonbase 3, and various BBC literary adaptations. His later work included audio dramas and novels tied to Doctor Who. Widely respected for his clarity, imagination, and dedication to storytelling, he remained a central figure in Doctor Who fandom until his death in 2019, leaving behind a vast legacy in television and children's literature.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novelization of the fourth serial of the sixteenth season of Doctor Who, which was broadcast in November and December of 1978. Terrance Dicks adapted the original teleplay by David Fisher for the book, which is also the fourth part of the The Key To Time sextet... though it's not necessary to have read (or seen) any of the other stories to enjoy this one. The fourth regeneration of The Doctor stars, along with the first version of fellow-Gallifreyan Romanadvoratrelundar, better known as Time Lady Romana, and their loyal robotic canine, K9, plays a big part, too. It's a fun story, a medieval Shakespearean romp involving duels and a lot of impersonations and mis-identifications. (There are four identical Romana characters!) The Doctor decides to go fishing, and lets K9 and Romana carry much of the action, which they do with calm and competence, as the complications of a feudal society with advanced electronics is navigated on the quest to find the crucial fourth segment of the Key.

[John Ready Reader One · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun and interesting offering for a Doctor Who story. Only my second one so I don't have a lot to compare it to. I did like it a bit more than the first one I read Doctor Who and the Creature from the Pit. This one was also a bit campy but from what I understand this is par for the course with Doctor Who. It was interesting enough to look at getting another one.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very jolly and fun recount of a great story. Dicks clearly enjoyed writing this and his back stories for characters and for Tara itself feel natural and flow into the story easily. Grendel is an excellent villain, very much like Rupert of Hentzau, who he is based on.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrance Dicks has so accurately stuck to the original televised version it's incredible. Great book

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

There truly is a unique charm to adventures involving the Fourth Doctor and this is a great example of his playfulness and impish charms. This is another story connected to the larger arc where they're searching for the different parts of the Key of Time and it starts with the Doctor refusing to do the work. Romana sets out to efficiently find the next piece without involving herself with the locals as the Doctor would. But of course, she gets pulled into things and the Doctor's fishing data is also brought to an abrupt end. The situation on Tara is a complex one that has them in a largely medieval-style society but empowered by very human-looking androids providing supplementary labor, among other things.

This isn't the most complex Doctor Who adventure nor does it involve overly complex wibbly-wobbly science as the solution. Instead, it's a lot of maneuvering, switching around characters and their android duplicate and other hijinks as the Doctor tries to do the best thing for the people of this planet and of course to find Romana and the segment of the Key of Time. And thus we have quite the series of misadventures as we get to a proper ending. Even K9 saw a lot of action in this story as well, which I'm totally here for.

[Jason Bleckly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Classic Who doing Classic Literature. The story is a Whoified version of the 1894 Anthony Hope classic The Prisoner of Zenda. It doubles the doubles and adds androids. I love this story for all its convolutions and double dealing.

Dicks has done his usual first-rate adaptation showing why he was offered so many novelisations. He doesn’t muck up with the story trying to give it is own stamp. He simply fleshes out script. The dialogue remains unchanged and description of the seytings is added. There are a few scenes, like the end one where the Doctor is hiding the segment in his pocket while Romana is looking for it, which have been shortened slightly. The only scenes where this is done are little bits of frivolity which, while they are fun on screen, would be repetitive to read.

[Werepenguin Productions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Werepenguin Productions Content Description:

Keywords: 4th Doctor, Romana, K9, Key to Time, Androids, Feudal Society, Alien World

Violence and Gore: minor realistic (blood from cuts, nosebleeds, split lips, bruises, etc.)

Profanity: PG Language

Sex and Nudity: None

Content descriptions are provided without value judgments. We want to maximize the fun and success rates of finding a new fandom. Since audiences vary in age, culture, and comfort levels we want to help people connect with something they’ll enjoy the most. To learn more about our content description writing process click here.

https://www.werepenguinproductions.or...

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

 あらすじ
”時間の鍵”となる６つの欠片を集める任務を遂行中のドクターとロマーナ。４つ集めたんだからのんびりしたいというドクターをおいてロマーナはセンサーで感知された五つ目の欠片を探しに一人ターディスから出る。しかし、グレンデル伯爵に捕まり、伯爵の王位継承権簒奪計画の道具にされてしまう。一方、なかなかもどらないロマーナを心配したドクターは、即位を控えているレイナート王子に出会う。レイナート王子の影武者のアンドロイドが故障してしまい、修理できる人物を探しているときき、ドクターは成り行きで手伝うことに。

 感想
とにかくドクターがすごくいい加減で鈍くさくて、そして、どんでもなくかっこいい！この人は本当にすごい人なんだろうかと思わず疑いたくなるようなうっかりさんぶりが終始炸裂。けなげなK９に対する態度は雑だし、全般的に本気で大人気ないのに、ここぞという時にもうなんかとんでもなくかっこいい。K９とドクターの関係が本当に面白可笑しくて、当時子供達がドクターみたいになりたいと熱狂したのもすごくよくわかるし、実際、ドクターみたいになりたい！！と理屈抜きにテンションあがってしまいました。4thドクターが未だ大人気なのもホント納得です。

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara (1980) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the fourth serial of the sixteenth season of Doctor Who.

The Doctor, Romana and K9 continue their search for the fourth segment of the Key to Time. They land on Tara, which is a strange society where there are nobles but there are also peasants who are aided by human looking androids. Romana falls into the hands of the evil Count Grendel while the Doctor meets th swordsmen of the soon to be crowned king. It’s quite fun and pretty silly

Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara is an amusing romp.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

Has a much stronger opening and closing than Terrance Dicks' other novelisation of a David Fisher story from the same season, but I found so much of the middle incredibly rough. Especially tedious when - as in Dicks' Robots of Death - it spells out what the TV version left us to infer; this isn't expanding the worldbuilding, it's just telling us what we already knew, that on Tara android building is looked down upon as a peasant pursuit. I liked Romana teasing the Doctor about the payoff to the fishing set-up, though.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most Target Dr Who novelisations are quick reads and this is no exception. With the usual limit imposed on the page count, Dicks hardly has space for embellishments - in fact, some of the Doctor's most well-known lines from the tv series are missing altogether. The one addition Dicks does get in is the rescue of K9 from the boat at the end. In general, this isn't a bad adaptation though I'd rather watch the actual story, if only for the wonderful Mary Tamm getting to play a dual role.

[John Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lesser story, far too many narrow escapes and "you wouldn't dare" moments for my taste. Also, it's interesting to see k9 not being embarrassingly awkward but more like the character he was supposed to be.

Still, a bit of fun.

[Mole Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essentially just a rehash of the novel The Prisoner of Zenda written to quickly fill the space left behind when Ted Lewis' contribution - Shield of Zarak - fell through due to his alcoholism, The Androids of Tara is a decent adventure.

[Olly Colluphid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another faithful adaptation of the TV series. Story is very silly, but it is fun and a light enjoyable read.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3rd Dr Who I've read, and the most enjoyable so far.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun with time loards

[Julian White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pdf of the paperback

A decent alternative version of The Prisoner of Zenda, with added Doctor and multiple Romanas to boot. I am fond of the Anthony Hope original, which may be why I enjoy this novelisation more than some offerings.

[Gareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this story - really comes across as a fantasy sort of adventure set in Doctor Who, with nice interweaving of sci-fi elements. The Key to Time segment itself doesn't form that much of the central plot compared to other stories in this arc, but the story itself more than makes up for it to my mind.
The Doctor is in pretty good form here, and K9 gets to show his own heroics as well. Romana a bit more of a mixed bag, getting some good moments to shine, but other times being a damsel in distress more than necessary I think. Fun situation though, and I imagine could have been interesting for the actress to perform.
The one off characters are quite varied and interesting for the most part as well, and the main antagonist, while somewhat stereotypical in views, gets a lot of scene stealing moments and makes for a fun villain, and one that bounces well off the Doctor.
All round a good, fun read for me :)

[Mel]

I enjoyed this one. I’ve discovered that Doctor who novels make very good bed time reading. You don’t have to try very hard to remember what happened, and they are short enough that you can read just a bit a day and still the story moves on enough that you don’t get bored. Androids of Tara is an interesting Romana I and Tom Baker adventure. Set on a planet that is a strange blend of medieval, with evil counts and princesses, but also with highly realistic looking androids! I liked how technology had become something to be “scorned” that only peasants dealt with directly. But the odd mixture did seem a little unrealistic over all. Romana I isn’t really that great in this adventure, she spends nearly her whole time prisoner, and even when she does manage to escape doesn’t stay free very long. But there are still some funny moments, my favourite being K9 on the boat. All told not a bad adventure at all, but not a fantastic one!

[Ben Goodridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant little confections, these old Target paperbacks, aren't they? Since they seem to be numbered in alphabetical order, it's probably foregone that we'd have two stories about androids back-to-back. But while "The Android Invasion" was apparently inspired by "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "The Androids of Tara" takes its cues from "The Prisoner of Zenda."

One might call the series derivative, but it's a broad brush that can cover such disparate genres. So we're given a swashbuckling tale of political intrigue and body doubles, exciting swordfights and creeping villains, and an antagonist who knows exactly what side he's on and intends to wear it like a badge. The story acknowledges its own tropes, then kicks them over. It's a roast of old Hollywood adventure yarns and the books they were based on.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book replicates what I found to be problematic in the original television story...that The Doctor would simply wander away for a day off during what is supposed to be an important mission. Granted, if you can travel in time, then in theory this doesn't matter, but in fact the TARDIS has always been more than a bit unreliable in terms of precision. So, endangering the entirety of space and time to go fishing was weirdly irritating.
Then, of course, the level of coincidence in the story was a bit much, with a crown princess who just happened to be a dead ringer for Romana.
Still, it was a fun romp once it got started, with a delightfully evil villain of the "Bwa ha ha, I have you now!" sort.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining bit of fluff as Doctor Who rips off... ahem, does a homage to the 'Prisoner of Zenda'

They never quite explain how a planet that looks like a swashbuckling movie from the 40's got so good at building androids, but it's a fun story, if you don't think about it too much.

Everyone in the Tardis crew gets to do something and there's a good light hearted vibe to the whole story.

It is part of the bigger 'Key to time' series, but that part is gotten out of the way very early on, so they just focus on the main story.

[JJ Coetzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I must say I am bias towards Doctor Who, I am a huge fan

A good read I must say, a very short read at that. The Doctor and his companion saving the prince from the "bad man" like most stories go. But this planet Tara is a mixture of the medieval era and technical advance race. The book could have done with a bit more explanation and elaborating,but guess it could not as it is a media tie-in after all.

My conclusion not bad for a 3rd Doctor book

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very wallpaper-ish, run-of-the-mill adaptation from a season where (apart from the first two stories) the novelizations don't go out of their way to enhance or improve the original broadcast adventures. I'm sure David Fishes looked at the bland adaptations of his two Key to Time stories and made the decision to novelize his next two "Doctor Who" stories personally...which ended up being a gift to fans.

[Russio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fine. I mean, it whips along at a jolly pace and recounts a rather wonderful episode with the usual Target gusto. It is no Milan Kundera but, given the requirements of the genre, I guess it never was going to be. I read it very quickly on the tube and enjoyed it, although I did notice that people sat well away from me as I did so.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1047630.html#cutid3[return][return]Another standard Dicks write-what's-on-the-screen treatment.

[Caitlin]

Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara by Terrance Dicks (1983)

[stormhawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good send-up of a castles and conspiracies plot, featuring one of the most dishonorable bad guys of the series.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book thoroughly reminds me of this Doctor on the TV series. It wasn't bad at all.