Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #5

by Terrance Dicks

Some time ago the White Guardian set the Doctor an urgent task to find and reassemble the six segments of the Key to Time. The Doctor and Romana arrive on the planet Atrios in the middle of an atomic war. There they must find the last, most vital piece of the Key—but sinister dangers await them. A novelization of a 1978 TV serial.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy

128 pages, Mass Market 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 sixth adventure of the sixteenth season of Doctor Who, and is the final story in the six-part Key to Time arc. It was broadcast in January and February of 1979, and this adaptation was written by Terrance Dicks, based on the original teleplay by Bob Baker and Dave Martin. It starred the fourth Doctor with his companions Romanadvoratrelundar (Romana for short, a Time Lady here in her first incarnation), and the inimitable robotic dog sidekick, K-9. It was one of the last of the long (six part) serials, and Dicks does a good job of compressing it to the standard Target length by omitting some needless chasing back and forth. The intrepid TARDIS crew follows the trail of the final segment of the Key to Time to the planet Atrios, which is involved with an interplanetary war with neighboring planet Zeos. There's an evil computer directing the war, Mentalis, and they discover the real enemy is hiding in the Shadows. The Black and White Guardians reappear, and we meet Princess Astra, who will be quite familiar in the coming years. The ultimate conclusion is a little of a let-down after a whole season of build-up, but it's a good, classic story, and Dicks' writes it in a clear, straight-forward friendly style.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story done in the Tom Baker era and style. Apparently it's the 6th in a series, but it didn't really matter, I wasn't lost. And it was easy to imagine the 70's sets and costumes with this story. Enjoyable read for a fan.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked it, even if what was going to happen was clear from p. 5 XD

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the idea of the Key to Time season of Doctor Who, the premise of having a story arc that links all the season together. I enjoy all of the stories leading up to this to varying degrees. Even the much maligned Power of Kroll gains brownie points for being the first story I ever watched. However, Armageddon Factor is just so flat and lifeless in both TV and novelisation forms, that this brave season idea ends with a whimper and lingers like a bad fart. such a disappointing end to a great premise.

[Mestor · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Terrance Dicks's light touch Target efforts, but where The Armageddon Factor is concerned, that's no bad thing, given how the televised serial drags interminably. This lightweight effort does the story a world of good!

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dicks wrote 16 Who novels during 1979-80. This one comes in at no. 13 and it shows. Condensing 6 parts into a space barely adequate for 4, it’s rushed and vague. Probably the biggest disappointment in this series in a long time.

[Rocky Sunico]

My efforts to collect the classic Doctor Who Target books has been a diverse experience and I was super lucky to get this title, which is the last part of the Key to Time series of stories. Here the Doctor finds himself caught between two warring worlds, one which appears to be home to the final piece of the Key to Time.

But this more than a struggle between two planets as there is another force that appears to be manipulating both sides for their own purposes. In time it is revealed that this mystery figure is not just inciting two planets to war, but is also after the Key to Time that the Doctor and Romana have been struggling to piece together.

There are different elements to this story that ring somewhat predictable, especially if you've experienced a lot of these Doctor Who stories. But it doesn't make it a bad thing - if anything this title is a celebration of what makes the Fourth Doctor so charming and memorable and quite the canny opponent to those who stand in his way. I enjoyed this a lot and I appreciate the clever ending it represents for the 6-act story arc as a whole.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor (1980) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the sixth serial of the sixteenth season of Doctor Who. It is also the final appearance for the first regeneration of Romana played by Mary Tamm.

The Doctor, Romana and K9 search for the final piece of the Key to Time and journey to Atrios. Atrios is at war with the nearby planet of Zeos and the citizens of Atrios have moved underground due to the contamination of the surface due to bombardment. Atrios is led by the Marshall and also Princess Astra. The Princess was played by Lalla Ward who would go on to play the second regeneration of Romana. The Doctor soon discovers a third force that has been manipulating the situation for their own ends. The evil Shadow appears to even be aware of what the Doctor is.

Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor is actually a bit of a disappointment as the conclusion to the Key to Time season. But it’s alright and it’s amusing enough.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sixth and final part of the key to time series. We meet Drax and learn of the Doctor's nickname whilst at the academy. Also the last time we see Romana I. The menace of the Black Guardian is brilliant.

[John Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a good one. It was worth it to see the plot twists and changes and for the Doctor to fail and need rescue is a good reminder that there was a time when he didn't just solve things by running and talking very quickly.

K9 remains silly and far too powerful though.

[Julian White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacklustre perfunctory novelisation of an uninspired derivative story - a rather typical final episode in the six story Key to Time sequence that fails to make the best of the six episodes allotted to the serial. he best that can vbe said is that it is a fast read...

[Ryan Hertel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great novelization of the end of the White Guardian/Black Guardian saga.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

time lords fun

[Gareth · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a number of strong Key to Time stories, this last one just felt a little flatter, and while not a bad story, not necessarily a particularly great one either, and while not helped by page count limits leading to a sense of abbreviation, I think is mainly due to the source material.
Really, it just seems like they tried to fit too many ideas into the one story, leading to a sense of being crammed in, and not letting any individual piece the chance to really be properly fleshed out. The portrayal of Romana is a bit disappointing too, beginning as a rough equal to the Doctor, but pretty quickly falls from that, from not picking up clues the Doctor has, to being less proactive and while both captured at various points, only the Doctor seems able to get himself out of trouble. Given also the last story for Romana 1, makes it particularly disappointing in this regard, and also a shame that the actress doesn't get a farewell as such, even though the character at least doesn't have issues.
The Doctor is in pretty good form here, and K9 also gets quite a bit to do, which is a nice change.
At least also gives us a sense of opposition to the quest for the Key to Time, which had been absent up until now, and lots of interesting moments and scenes leading to a reasonable read at least.

[Damon Habbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

a really good read would have love to have known more about the shadow, clever plot.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is the grand finale to the 'Key to time' story arc. It's a fun little epic, in which the fourth Doctor, Rommana and K-9 get caught in the middle of an intergalactic war while searching for the last piece of the Key and this time, the Black Guardian has decided to get involved as well.

The bad guys are suitably evil, there some good bits with K-9, the hiding place of the last piece is clever and there are some good background characters.

Having a connected story line like this was a nice change of pace for Doctor Who ( until Russell Davies started doing it every season of the TV show) and it bought out some strong writing and ideas.
Plus, I really liked the combination of the Doctor, Rommana and K-9.

[Ben Goodridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a time when I disliked Terrance Dicks's takes on these stories. Doctor Who's former script editor was responsible for a lot of novelizations, and he had an unadorned style that hewed close to the original screenplay, and the results could be a bit mechanical.

But these novels were pretty much the only aftermarket in the days before VHS. In some cases, they were the only aftermarket that could exist. Hewing close to the original screenplay was a benefit in that context. And after reading a few of them in a row, I've come to appreciate his economy of style. The range had many authors, each bringing their own talents to the table, but it was Terrance Dicks who tried his best to re-create the television experience.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The culmination of the Key to Time series. The Doctor and Romana search for the last shard of the Key while simultaneously trying to prevent planetary destruction. Doctor Who has always liked talking about violence begets violence, as in this story. There's a cool twist near the end--not everything (aka, The Guardians) are as they seem.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1047630.html#cutid5[return][return]Dicks doesn't add much to what we saw on screen (with of course the added constraint of cutting six episodes down to Target size) and the weaknesses of the plot are consequently more visible.[return]

[Mark]

"... first Atrios will be destroyed and then a rather big bang will blow up the whole of Zeos. The war will end in a draw. It's the way these military minds work, you see. Destruction rather than defeat. You could call it the Amageddon Factor." (p. 71)

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[stormhawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unexciting ending to the Key to Time story arc which never really caught on for me. I'm just glad its over and I can get back to more hearty adventures with the Doctor.

[Almustafa Couch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good book. However, the reader must have a foreknowledge of Dr Who, K9 and Romana (2). No character development occurs, which given the nature of the 'project' is totally understandable.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrance Dicks tries his best, but even he -- at his most concise & efficient -- can't raise this under-whelming conclusion to the Key to Time saga above the level of disposable entertainment. At the very least, it doesn't out-stay its welcome...unlike the original 6-part TV story that gave birth to it.

[Erika]

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http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14501950