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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #50
Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars
For many thousands of years the Suthekh had waited, trapped in the heart of an Egyptian Pyramid. Now at last the moment of release, when all the force of his pent-up malice would be unleashed upon the world, had come. The TARDIS lands on the site of Unit headquarters in the year 1911, and the Doctor and Sarah emerge to fight a terrifying and deadly battle.
125 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
4 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Terrance Dicks
327 books219 followersTerrance 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 3, 2019
Another great Fourth Doctor story, this serial from Tom’s Second season as the Time Lord has always been a firm favourite of mine.
It’s quite apparent that Dicks novelised this adventure only a year after it had been televised, as it hits all the right beats whilst adding a great prologue that explores the history of Sutekh and the Osirans.
I like the use of time travel in this serial as The Doctor and Sarah Jane had intend to arrive at UNIT HQ only to land at the site far earlier than intended. With the current location being an old English mansion during 1911.
There’s a nice mix of Egyptian mythology being explained as alien involvement, along with the great scene of The Doctor taking Sarah to her time and showing her the consequences of history changing if Sutekh is allowed to escape is just as chilling.
It’s quite apparent that Dicks novelised this adventure only a year after it had been televised, as it hits all the right beats whilst adding a great prologue that explores the history of Sutekh and the Osirans.
I like the use of time travel in this serial as The Doctor and Sarah Jane had intend to arrive at UNIT HQ only to land at the site far earlier than intended. With the current location being an old English mansion during 1911.
There’s a nice mix of Egyptian mythology being explained as alien involvement, along with the great scene of The Doctor taking Sarah to her time and showing her the consequences of history changing if Sutekh is allowed to escape is just as chilling.
March 7, 2023
Straight up, straight down, 100% stone cold classic.
May 15, 2022
http://nhw.livejournal.com/1046178.html#cutid2
A good novelisation of one of the great stories. Dicks has topped and tailed the narrative with an explanation of the Osirians, and a nice vignette of Sarah going back to see what the local newspapers said about it all at the time. Again, some of the effects work better on the page than on the screen. (Though the written word can never give us the excellent performances of the guest cast here.)
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/pyramids-of-mars-by-kate-orman-and-robert-holmes-and-terrance-dicks/
It’s still a good read. Terrance Dicks’ crisp and simple prose pulls the screen onto the page, with Sarah (who he had of course introduced when he was script editor) as the viewpoint character.
A good novelisation of one of the great stories. Dicks has topped and tailed the narrative with an explanation of the Osirians, and a nice vignette of Sarah going back to see what the local newspapers said about it all at the time. Again, some of the effects work better on the page than on the screen. (Though the written word can never give us the excellent performances of the guest cast here.)
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/pyramids-of-mars-by-kate-orman-and-robert-holmes-and-terrance-dicks/
It’s still a good read. Terrance Dicks’ crisp and simple prose pulls the screen onto the page, with Sarah (who he had of course introduced when he was script editor) as the viewpoint character.
August 20, 2023
Another faithful adaptation by the brillaint Terrance Dicks. There are a few added background details to characters, although the constricted page count means that he didn't get to add many embellishments. Easily read in a day, as most of the Target range is.
December 8, 2024
Doctor Who And The Pyramids of Mars is fascinating and nerve-wracking. Moments where you truly wonder how the book will end and how many more deaths will take place. As Sutekh the Destroyer tries any means he can to escape his imprisonment from an Egyptian pyramid...
March 13, 2024
A great novelisation of one of the best 1970's Doctor Who stories
April 11, 2025
That was so much fun!
November 16, 2011
I think Terrance Dicks is an amazing author. Whether he is adapting television stories, or writing original Doctor Who stories, his books are simply unputdownable.
Terrance Dicks made me want to be a writer. The Pyramids of Mars is a brillaint novelisation of the TV version, with extra character and depth. I just love how Terrance expanded on characters and situations from the orginals, and brought them to life. Clements the poacher is a fine example.
Oh. And I just love Andrew Skilleter's artwork. I always wanted to write a book with artwork created by Andrew. I used to try and copy his artwork when I was a kid.
Great book.
Terrance Dicks made me want to be a writer. The Pyramids of Mars is a brillaint novelisation of the TV version, with extra character and depth. I just love how Terrance expanded on characters and situations from the orginals, and brought them to life. Clements the poacher is a fine example.
Oh. And I just love Andrew Skilleter's artwork. I always wanted to write a book with artwork created by Andrew. I used to try and copy his artwork when I was a kid.
Great book.
November 21, 2025
The pyramids of mars Is one of the very best stories and so it when it came to the book it was such a nice feeling knowing not only that it was a great and faithful adaption of the story. But we gets some excellent expansion on characters making it a must read. Terrance dicks can sometimes be too script focused on the story with very little room for development or inner thoughts etc, however here be really captures the true power of Sutekh and the horror throughout.
As said above it was great to get some background information on characters who are in the story but we don't really now why. We finally learn how Ibrahim Namin got involved with Sutekh. I liked hearing how he was apart of a cult to protect the pyramid and Sutekh within it. I would of loved a chapter on this but it was enough. We also learn more about that little old man who gets chased by the mummy's. As a kid I always wondered why he was there. Now I know, he's a very dedicated friend of the scarmans estate and so would do the odd job on the grounds. He never really speaks but Terrance really let's you get into his head to make him feel like an actual person. Making his death quite sad. I also loved the final chapter of Sarah reading about what the media thought had started the fire, rather than what actually happened. The book ends with an excellent weight to it just like the villian should have. I really loved this book!
As said above it was great to get some background information on characters who are in the story but we don't really now why. We finally learn how Ibrahim Namin got involved with Sutekh. I liked hearing how he was apart of a cult to protect the pyramid and Sutekh within it. I would of loved a chapter on this but it was enough. We also learn more about that little old man who gets chased by the mummy's. As a kid I always wondered why he was there. Now I know, he's a very dedicated friend of the scarmans estate and so would do the odd job on the grounds. He never really speaks but Terrance really let's you get into his head to make him feel like an actual person. Making his death quite sad. I also loved the final chapter of Sarah reading about what the media thought had started the fire, rather than what actually happened. The book ends with an excellent weight to it just like the villian should have. I really loved this book!
March 11, 2019
The Doctor and Sarah are returning to their home base at the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce when the TARDIS is disrupted by some alien force which lands them in 1911. The Egyptian god Sutekh is working to free himself and destroy everything, and only The Doctor can stop him!
This time around I read Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars by Terrance Dicks, adapted from the Doctor Who story The Pyramids of Mars by Stephen Harris. I rather enjoyed this book. I had seen the television story some time ago, but it had been so long, the novel adds plenty, and it elaborates so much more that it is worth reading regardless.
One of the main benefits of books over television is how much more one can elaborate. Descriptions can be added with the history of something, and one can much more easily know what a character is thinking or feeling. Televisions has its benefits, but it isn’t the best for everything, and this book is a great example of this. I also like how this book did its epilogue. It isn’t essential to the story, but it is a nice addition, explaining how people can so easily ignore huge events, passing them off as everyday things.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and would read it if you come across a copy.
This time around I read Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars by Terrance Dicks, adapted from the Doctor Who story The Pyramids of Mars by Stephen Harris. I rather enjoyed this book. I had seen the television story some time ago, but it had been so long, the novel adds plenty, and it elaborates so much more that it is worth reading regardless.
One of the main benefits of books over television is how much more one can elaborate. Descriptions can be added with the history of something, and one can much more easily know what a character is thinking or feeling. Televisions has its benefits, but it isn’t the best for everything, and this book is a great example of this. I also like how this book did its epilogue. It isn’t essential to the story, but it is a nice addition, explaining how people can so easily ignore huge events, passing them off as everyday things.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and would read it if you come across a copy.
June 30, 2020
The title was both accurate and wildly misleading, since most of the story takes place on Earth. Still, this was based on one of the early Tom Baker episodes, and the book did great justice to the broadcast version. In addition to the main story, there is a moment of almost reminiscence, as the Doctor remembers an earlier companion, before he and Sarah Jane face a truly old and odd menace. Once again, aliens have used Earth as a dumping ground for their problems, but this time they also affected our history and religious past, as the Egyptians witnessed some of the things going on at the time. So of course, most of the story takes place neither on Mars nor in Egypt, but instead at a manor in England, in 1911.
A fun story, and anyone who liked the Tom Baker version of the Doctor should pick this one up.
A fun story, and anyone who liked the Tom Baker version of the Doctor should pick this one up.
April 18, 2021
A really good story for me this one, and captures the essence of the type of horror, while allowing the characters to shine, much better than Planet of Evil did for me.
A nice scientific explanation to somewhat meta-phsyical stuff here, as we meet Sutekh and hear about many of the Egyptian gods, and overall really well done how it is all explained and plays out.
A contained cast of characters, but all get well fleshed out here, and get to see their motivations, and while can disagree with their actions, it is believable how they got there. The Doctor and Sarah both get to shine at different times here as well, Sarah happily disobeying orders to do what she feels is right, and has some great action scenes of her own.
Good mix of action, tension and horror in the book, leading to a great all round read.
A nice scientific explanation to somewhat meta-phsyical stuff here, as we meet Sutekh and hear about many of the Egyptian gods, and overall really well done how it is all explained and plays out.
A contained cast of characters, but all get well fleshed out here, and get to see their motivations, and while can disagree with their actions, it is believable how they got there. The Doctor and Sarah both get to shine at different times here as well, Sarah happily disobeying orders to do what she feels is right, and has some great action scenes of her own.
Good mix of action, tension and horror in the book, leading to a great all round read.
August 31, 2025
This is my all-time favourite Doctor Who story ever. And Terrance does the story justice. I read the entire book cover to cover in 1 sitting. I love this story.
There’s a few very minor differences in dialogue. I’ve seen the broadcast version so many times I read the dialogue as it was on TV rather than as it was on the page. The biggest difference was the scene getting the gelignite from Clements hut. The essence of the scene is the same, but the actual dialogue and actions are different.
The only disappointment was the Mars section at the end. It seemed very rushed in comparison to the rest of the story. Also, the overuse of the phrase ‘crashing discords from some enormous organ’ that exact phrase and syntax is used often enough to become distracting in the first 1/4 of the book.
I’m going to be re-reading this one frequently.
There’s a few very minor differences in dialogue. I’ve seen the broadcast version so many times I read the dialogue as it was on TV rather than as it was on the page. The biggest difference was the scene getting the gelignite from Clements hut. The essence of the scene is the same, but the actual dialogue and actions are different.
The only disappointment was the Mars section at the end. It seemed very rushed in comparison to the rest of the story. Also, the overuse of the phrase ‘crashing discords from some enormous organ’ that exact phrase and syntax is used often enough to become distracting in the first 1/4 of the book.
I’m going to be re-reading this one frequently.
February 24, 2019
Werepenguin Productions Remarks:
This was a fun romp with the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane.
Content Description:
Keywords: 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane, K9, Egypt, Earth-Past
Violence and Gore: minor realistic (blood from cuts, nosebleeds, split lips, bruises, etc.), several people are killed but it is not graphically described.
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...
This was a fun romp with the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane.
Content Description:
Keywords: 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane, K9, Egypt, Earth-Past
Violence and Gore: minor realistic (blood from cuts, nosebleeds, split lips, bruises, etc.), several people are killed but it is not graphically described.
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...
March 19, 2025
I had not seen or read this story before. After seeing the latest television series, I was interested to see/read the original story with Sutekh.
There was a lot of death in this story. I guess it is appropriate with the particular villain of the story, but it was pretty jarring compared to a typical Doctor story. Every character introduced in this story is killed, excluding the Doctor and Sarah Jane who are not introduced here but existing. It is a little disappointing because at least one of the characters seemed to have potential for further adventures.
I like the ancient aliens trope, not that I believe it.
A good, average, quick read. But a little sadder than normal.
There was a lot of death in this story. I guess it is appropriate with the particular villain of the story, but it was pretty jarring compared to a typical Doctor story. Every character introduced in this story is killed, excluding the Doctor and Sarah Jane who are not introduced here but existing. It is a little disappointing because at least one of the characters seemed to have potential for further adventures.
I like the ancient aliens trope, not that I believe it.
A good, average, quick read. But a little sadder than normal.
July 4, 2023
Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars (1978) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the third serial of the thirteenth season and the eighty second serial overall.
The Doctor and Sarah are drawn to 1911 due to a strange apparition. There they encounter a house full of Egyptian artifacts. There are mummies who work on command for the mysterious Egyptian Ibrahim Namin. The house is owned by Marcus Scarman who is a famed archaeologist.
It’s really quite a good serial. The elements work really well together.
The Doctor and Sarah are drawn to 1911 due to a strange apparition. There they encounter a house full of Egyptian artifacts. There are mummies who work on command for the mysterious Egyptian Ibrahim Namin. The house is owned by Marcus Scarman who is a famed archaeologist.
It’s really quite a good serial. The elements work really well together.
June 20, 2024
A great classic Doctor Who story brought to life by the great Terrance Dicks. Like most of these earlier Target range novelisations, it could do with my detail, but this brevity of approach does lead to breathy pace and none of the fat that it might have.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to others.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to others.
September 24, 2025
One of Dicks' finest Targets, complete with a prologue and epilogue, and little narration bridges in the text explaining little things such as why Clements went back to the lodge and the connection between him, Dr Warlock and the Scarmans.
All in all, a brilliant read which is very much on par with the televised epic.
All in all, a brilliant read which is very much on par with the televised epic.
March 1, 2024
The best of what Doctor Who audiobooks can be. The writing for this story matches the vibe from the old doctor who episodes in the 1970's. Tom Baker is a wonderful narrator. Having aliens AND mummies in the same book was pretty great. I would definitely listen to this one again.
August 31, 2024
An excellent recount of a story that seems to defy the endless revisionism that Who goes through every few years. Dicks adds depth to the story, adding characterisation and history to the slim cast and settings, making the events of the story even more impactful.
June 10, 2025
pdf; 113 pages
A fan favourite story - it's ok but... This is a serviceable novelisation - nothing overtly added (apart from a note about the Osirians and Earth, setting the scene, as it were) but far from the most skimpy adaptation of the script so a bonus! A quick read.
A fan favourite story - it's ok but... This is a serviceable novelisation - nothing overtly added (apart from a note about the Osirians and Earth, setting the scene, as it were) but far from the most skimpy adaptation of the script so a bonus! A quick read.
November 16, 2025
On the one hand, I do think this doubles down on the racism of the original in its emphasis on the beautiful Englishness of the estate that's about to be invaded. On the other, there's some effective enhancements here, and I particularly like the epilogue that sees Sarah back on Earth.
November 27, 2020
On the whole a good read enjoyed the epilogue.
September 13, 2021
My first and favourite book ever! I read this aged 6 in 1977, and haven't looked back. Terrance was a genius of short form prose. I have learnt a lot from him.
November 23, 2021
Great Read! Lots of extra details. Fun!
December 13, 2021
This is one of those Doctor Who stories that I didn’t really like that much when I saw it on TV. I wondered if the novelization might be better. Not really.
December 16, 2021
This is a favorite audio book. Tom Baker does the voices very well in this book, and I have enjoyed it a great deal.
February 12, 2023
Another enjoyable read.
June 18, 2024
[in B-52's voice] SU-TEKH, BABY!
June 13, 2025
A +++++ one of my favorites!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews