Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #47

by Terrance Dicks

A survey team of eight men from the mighty Morestran Empire lands on Zeta Minor, a remote planet on the fringes of the universe. Before their expedition is over, seven of the men are mysteriously and horrifically murdered. A distress signal brings the Doctor to the planet- but his good intentions are not appreciated. The commander of a Morestran rescue party, sent to investigate the disappearance of the survey team, is convinced the Doctor is the killer. And while the Doctor is kept prisoner and powerless to act, the merciless hell-planet claims even more victims....

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

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

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a very familiar foes heavy first season for Tom Bakers Fourth Doctor, the series would start to move towards borrowing heavily from some noticeable classic Sci-Fi/Horror tales.
This serial is very indebted to both Jekyell & Hyde and Forbidden Planet.

The planet was alive - and it was a killer.

The episodes themselves are celebrated for the amazing jungle sets and Dicks does a commendable job of bring Zeta Minor to life on the page.
But it's the threat from the antimatter monster where this novelisation really succeeds.

It's a pretty straightforward page to screen retelling that were essential reading for the fans in pre-Video/DVD age, though the extra characterisations of the Morestrans makes for a nice welcomed addition.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novelization of the second adventure from the thirteenth season of Doctor Who, which was first presented in September and October of 1975. Terrance Dicks wrote the novel based on the teleplay by Louis Marks. It features the most popular of the classic cast, the fourth version of the Doctor accompanied by the intrepid Sarah Jane Smith. The story is a very cool and straightforward blend of Forbidden Planet and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (I read a review suggesting that the original Alien film owes something to this episode, which is an interesting idea but I don't really think so.) Dicks' novelization is in some ways easier to appreciate than the televised version, which suffered from a very low special effects budget, and Dicks was gifted in describing creepy and impressive monsters and artifacts in a clear and concise manner. The Doctor solves the mystery and the problem with considerable humor and customary flair, though Sarah isn't as instrumental this time out as she usually was. It's one of the most enjoyable of the Target series.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A direct follow-up from the Monster of Loch ness monster aka Terror of the Zygons tale in which the Doctor & Sarah Jane decide to travel from Scotland to London and end up at the end of the Universe. Here a group of scientist look for a solution for the dying sun in their home-system. The trouble is that most of the expedition member have died bar one a professor Sorenson and the expedition has send a emergency signal back home that was picked up by the TARDIS as well. As the Doctor and Sarah Jane arrive they are considered the murderers of the expedition members. It takes the Doctors intellect and wit to save all involved from a certain death.

This was one of the classic Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith scifi adventures that warranted a place behind the couch during its original showing on the telly. The writer Dicks responsible for many of the Doctor Who novelizations delivers another very enjoyable tale of Who that is probably very well loved by the fans of the classic show.
Nice to read again and certainly a strong memory of this show that was initially taken of the Dutch television due to the pressure of the Dutch parents who considered this show not being fit for children. Which was too late as my love for the show was already born.

[Anna Secret Poet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a brief review!

I felt I should leap to the book's defences somewhat as I've read the other reviews on here criticising its brevity and simplicity. A wee reminder that this book and indeed most of the other Target books in the 70s were aimed at young readers and it's on tomes such a these that I cut my young teeth. I love how they are generally a quick read. I polished this off in just under 2 hours. I think rather highly of Terrance Dicks and I often wish I was able to think and write in this straight to the point manner especially as I'm prone to a stream of consciousness ramble at times.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Doctor Who that is considered a classic that left me feeling underwelmed.

Some good sci-fi ideas and nice creepy tense atmosphere, but otherwise the nicest thing I can say is there was nothing in this one that seriously annoyed me.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between a 3 and a 4 for me, somewhat in two minds about it. The overall idea I find really good, as we dip again into the horror type stories that a chunk of the Fourth Doctor's run featured, and a real Lovecraftian / Other sort of horror here, of the unknown and mysterious. However, at times it descends into more straight human drama sort of occurrences, which don't come across as well - yes would expect some, but here some of the characters didn't seem to behave in that believable a manner.
The Doctor and Sarah have some good moments, but Sarah does get as much opportunity to be proactive as often can be the case, with the Doctor driving quite a bit of the action at times.
A good underlying menace to the planet itself, and an interesting resolution, and did break against type somewhat with the finish which was good, so a story I enjoy reading, but left thinking it could have been even better :)

[▫️Ron S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the serials that looks very much like they were making it up as it went along, but in the tradition of DW that I find very comforting and classic-feeling. Visiting and revisiting the same holding cells, Sarah being held hostage every so often for the very same reasons as had happened 20 or 30 pages previous - all culminating in a rather silly mess. Possibly the most accurate TARDIS steering in the history of the series, in service of some lose threads that needed tying because they'd been written into a corner. Kind of beautiful, in its way. Also lovely is the fact that the main 'villain' gets precisely the opposite of what he deserves, in the most grand fashion imaginable.
Terrance Dicks, the king of spinning gold from dross, makes reading Target novels something that never gets old - and feeling just the same as it did sitting under a tree during summer vacation as a kid.

[morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You get a little bit more backstory here than on TV with the Morestrans. Salamar got the commander job because of political connections, while the older, wiser Vishinsky had been passed over for promotion. Overall, the book is enjoyable, has some moments of tension and suspense. Dicks' prose is sturdy for the most part, but I feel like it could have used another pass of copy editing. The term 'cracking up' is used about three times over two pages at one point, and in my edition, page 25, the Doctor gives the Tardis key to Sarah, and then it's repeated in a subsequent paragraph, the Doctor gives the Tardis key to Sarah.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil (1977) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the third serial of the thirteenth season of Doctor Who and the eighty first serial overall.

The Doctor and Sarah go to the planet Zeta Minor because of a distress call. There they meet a scientific expedition where people are being killed after encountering a mysterious force. There is also a strange dark pool. A military rescue ship is also on the way.

The cover also looks quite like parts of Twin Peaks.

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil is an OK Doctor Who serial.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrance Dicks adapts Louis Marks' archetypal slice of gothic-era-horror "Doctor Who" goodness with a great deal of enthusiasm. He papers over Prentis Hancock's over-the-top performance and the sterility of the Morestran ship scenes on television to create a more solid & coherent thriller in prose. I particularly love Andrew Skilliter's artwork for the reprint cover, which I'm using for my review; its creepiness has stayed with me since I was a boy.

[Mestor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even more atmospheric than the televised story, Terrance Dicks captures the claustrophobia of the tense situation in which the Fourth Doctor and Sarah find themselves on the planet Zeta Minor. The 'Jekyll and Hyde' elements of the story also come across more effectively. Where the televised story is let down by the questionable rendition of the anti-matter monster, Dicks's presentation of it is far more successful in the novelisation.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth Doctor’s second season continues with a fun pastiche of Forbidden Planet. Dicks translates the fabulous jungle set of Zeta Minor wonderfully to the page and builds the tension nicely. The characterisations of the main players work well but I’d have liked the climactic scenes - conclusion and episode cliffhangers - to have been played out with a little more detail.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not particularly fond of this story anyway, and some noticeable shoddiness is creeping into Dicks' work at this point, like describing Antiman as both bestial and wolfish in one description and some quite perfunctory fight scenes.

[Mario Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good story, the anti-man was a little to much but a good story none the less.

[Dodau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally ignores all the laws of science

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extra star for the spectacularly crappy cover. Worst dr who likeness ever 😉🤣

[Damon Habbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The TV version has never been one of my favourites but this book is a little better adds more background

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another faithful retelling of the televised story. As usual with Target books, the strict page count left little room for embellishments, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There is no anti matter abroad this ship!"
"And i tell you, there is!"

The Doctor and Sarah Jane are trying to get back to London, where they get a distress call from Zeta Minor, the last planet in the known universe. The pair discover a scientific expedition, where people are being killed...

A classic Dicks novel, sticks very closely to what we see on screen. But gained a little more background information especially for Salamar and Viskinsky. Overall, didn't love it or hate it, but enjoyable all the same.

[Jason Bleckly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, this has never been one of my favourite stories. I don’t know why. It’s basically the Doctor Who version of Jekyll and Hyde and I love the other classics they Who’d during this era.

Terrance has produced another quick easy read that’s an excellent match to the broadcast version. The pace and tension he builds helps you overlook how wrong keeping crystalised antimatter in small metal tin is.

This is a good novelisation of what I feel is an average story.

[Mikes Dw Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read that explains the whole plot of the alien takeover and why the planet reluctantly allows you to leave a lot more clearer. However the tension and spooky factor isn't as good as the tv episode. But the scenes between the dr and the anti monster in the pit are really well written.

[Christian Petrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here we have another interesting concept that just does not work. Growing up Planet of Evil was one the few stories I did not see much of. This lead me to not understanding why some people regard it as a classic. In reading the novelization, I'm still not impressed.

As I mentioned it does have an interesting concept. It could be described as Jekyll and Hyde in space. You might laugh at that concept, but it could be held true.

The story involves The Doctor and Sarah, Harry did not carry on with them after Terror of the Zygons, receiving an emergency distress call. From here we have back and forth between the TARDIS, the planet, and a rescue ship. It seems to go back and forth on where things are heading.

I think with the actions takes place, my thoughts are they had an idea that worked on paper, but the execution turned out not quite right. In addition to the Jekyll and Hyde case with a professor, there is also an issue with matter/anti-matter problem, and the home planet needing more energy resources. Oh, and almost forget the Doctor and Sarah being accused of murder.

As far as the writing goes, it is bellow the Target average. We get the story across, but not much else. If you enjoyed the story on TV you probably will enjoy the book. If you did not enjoy the story, you can skip this one.

[Michael Lasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovin' these ol' Whovian novelizations. Magic.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1046178.html#cutid1[return][return]This is fairly standard stuff, with (as so often) the advantage of the printed page being that it spares us the embarrassing special effects and occasional wobbly acting of the original version.

[David Macpherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed something to read while walking the dog and this paperback was nearby so there you go. The story of the Doctor going to a planet that is a doorway to an alternative dimension was horror movie silly and confused but readable. I enjoyed reading it, but near the end, I was looking forward to its conclusion. I know this is a novelization, but it was a fun little book

[Julian White · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dull, routine retelling of the script, with little added. The usual mixture, plus a whopping great science mistake on page 2. (A sort of 'Jekyll and Hyde' story with 'Forbidden Planet' additions.) And blessedly short at 98 pages.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly, cheesy sf trying to deal with Jekyll/Hyde and the consequences of exploiting an unknown ecology.

[stormhawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of my favorite stories, but still entertaining. Sort of an Antimatter Jekyll and Hyde.

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diverting, but ordinary.