Doctor Who: 73 Yards

Doctor Who: Target Books #183

by Scott Handcock

How long is 73 yards?

Haunted by a sinister presence, Ruby must cope with losing the Doctor and the life she once knew. With her new life without her best friend becoming bleaker by the day, something terrifying is unleashed, and it’s up to Ruby to stop it.

This eerie episode from Russell T Davies is novelised by series script editor Scott Handcock, featuring the Fifteenth Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa and Ruby Sunday played by Millie Gibson.

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

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2024

Reviews

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the one question knobdy wants the answer too?
See if you can get it before you read my review?
This dark time for Ruby Sunday alone in a world with no Doctor,for first time since William Hartnell in Tenth Planet we have a story about no Doctor because Ncuti was unavailable and we end up a brilliant story.When this episode was show the general election was taking place.
In the book is whole chapter on UNIT that was not in the episode
The shadow female 73 yards away from Ruby is her answer
The day you die
Run and scream!

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent expansion of an excellent episode by the excellent Scott Handcock. He adds some interesting details and catches the characters perfectly. He also manages to retain the spooky atmosphere which isn't always easy to do.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that was never going to be easy to novelize, considering how dependent it was on visual discomfort and disturbing/bleak atmosphere. Series script editor Scott Handcock gives it the old college try...taking a few interesting turns and deciding on a few reinterpretations in the process. It's never going to compete with the original, but as its own artefact, this is a first rate read in its own right.

[Paul Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something deeply satisfying about a Target novelisation and Scott Handcock’s done a grand job in presenting a more atypical story. Nicely fleshed out in places (Yes that additional cameo appearance was brilliant) but don’t expect any additional explanations!

[Jack Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Hancock did an absolutely amazing job novelising this, what was my favourite episode of Season 1 with brilliant flourishes where the story is expanded and explored. Highly recommend to all

[Joe Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better episodes from the latest season of Doctor Who unsurprisingly produces an excellent novelization in the hands of author Scott Handcock, who also serves as script editor for the TV series. This book channels the unsettling folk horror of the original television piece, while simultaneously deepening its characterization of the Fifteenth Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday, who spends most of the adventure on her own after the Time Lord vanishes near the start. As viewers already know, she actually lives out the remainder of her life stranded on Earth without him, before some sci-fi paradox ex machina manages to reset everything and avert the whole plot in the first place.

That's not necessarily the most satisfying ending, either here or on the screen, but the route to get there is an interesting one, from the creepy figure who stays perpetually the titular distance away from the protagonist and drives anyone who talks to her mad (and upset with Ruby, for some reason) to the evolution that the heroine undergoes over the years as she makes peace with her situation and even learns how to wield it for the greater good. As a character, the teenage orphan is terrified of being abandoned by more of the people whom she loves, and having her experience that fear made literal remains a sharp idea from the Russell T. Davies script that the other writer is adapting.

The story still raises more questions than it answers, so readers hoping to get further explanations on the page will likely leave disappointed. But there is plenty of added material to enjoy, including scenes with recurring franchise players like Ace and Osgood who weren't in the televised version, and the character study of Ruby is all the stronger for the interiority into her thoughts that a novel is able to provide. Overall, it's a fun way to revisit the title.

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[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small accident on a Welsh clifftop causes Ruby Sunday to become separated from the Doctor for the rest of her life. Following clues in their last conversation, Ruby tries to fix what went wrong but is increasingly frustrated as she is abandoned by everyone she's ever loved.

A predestination paradox is a bold idea for "children's" TV and this novelisation tries to add a bit of extra detail to explain what's going on. A creepy and sad story with a great, if inevitable, climax.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

73 yards is my favourite Doctor Who episode since Heaven Sent/Hell Bent - which isn't saying much, I know, with the writing let-down of all of 13's run (she deserved better) - and this captured it beautifully. I usually tire of reading novelisations of things I've already seen but this was just as gripping as watching the episode for the first time, with the added comfort of a story well loved.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The episode that this novelization is based on was one of the best episodes of the newest season and of NuWho in awhile, in my opinion. I like that this book expanded on the episode and loved the bonus scene where Ruby met Ace. We need more Ace!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this in one sitting. It was an easy read and I appreciated some of the extra details that weren't part of the original episode.

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy 4.5
One of my favorite episodes from this latest season of Doctor Who and I'm so glad we're getting more Target Novelizations lately so I can relive the episodes again in a different media.

[Peter Somerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It had survived this long, she thought, enduring an unpredictable world and weathering whatever the elements threw at it.”

4/5.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great story and goes down as one of my absolute favourites of the new series. It’s so creepy, atmospheric and a super compelling plot that leaves you hooked and wondering what’s going to happen next.

I have fond memories of watching the episode so I couldn’t wait to start the target book (the audiobook was great - narrated by Susan Twist too. I love listening to the audiobooks as they’re always fab productions, with the accompanying soundtracks, sound effects etc.. they’re always super entertaining).

Strong recommend if you enjoy the show and loved the episode. It was great!

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the physical version of this along with this audiobook edition which was a brilliant way to absorb this story. What I found really good and helped to expand the story were the expansions and additions of scenes that didn't appear in the tv episode presumably for time reasons. Especially liked the scene with how Ruby came to contact UNIT as well as the unrequited love story between the landlady of the pub Ruby stays at when she gets stranded early on in the story and one of her customers. For a doctor who novelisation the doctor is definitely awol for 90% of the story but due the additions in the story I didn't miss the doctor as much as I thought I would. Ruby was a strong enough character to be front and centre in this novel. The bits with Carla and Kate were pretty much the same with only small additions that made the story more well rounded. Definitely would potentially reread and will rewatch the episode of 73 yards as I feel that episode will make more sense now I have read the novelisation.

[Kyle Theobald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given the TV episode this is based on leaves you with more questions than answers, it lends itself well to a novelisation. Handcock strikes a good balance between expanding on and fleshing out the source material while still maintaining its enigmatic quality. At one point Ruby begins seeing a therapist, which compliments the subtly implied theme of mental health and abandonment. We also get a little more insight into the near future political landscape that led to the rise of Roger ap Gwilliam, and what became of UNIT in this alternate timeline. All the little details mean that by the end I'd actually argue the book is even more successful than the episode at conveying the sense that Ruby has lived an entire lifetime. Pivotal plot points like the circle on the cliff, Mad Jack, and the ending are still left very much ambiguous though, in keeping with the TV story.

[John Parungao · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best episodes from this season of Doctor Who has received an adaptation that is worthy of the source material.
This is a story about Ruby Sunday and the bizarre turn her life takes after one misstep breaks a fairy circle and her friend the mysterious traveler known only as The Doctor vanishes! The only clue Ruby has that something strange is unfolding is a mysterious woman who is always 73 yards away from Ruby.
Ruby's friends and family can't help her, everyone who tries to communicate with the strange woman flees from her in terror. Even UNIT can't help Ruby! They too fall victim to this strange hysteria.

This adaptation captures the atmosphere of the original TV story but also features some nice Easter eggs for longtime Doctor Who fans. Cameos from characters like Ace and Osgood were my favorite parts of this book.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

73 Yards is one of my favourite episodes of Doctor Who, so it was enjoyable to revisit it again in prose form. It was, however, let down a little by short shifts in perspective that interrupted the flow more than added to any tension. These featured full paragraph breaks, which felt unnecessary - especially when there are four over a two-page spread. I also took issue with some of the more...juvenile writing choices that felt a tad bit patronising - which conflicts with darker insinuations within the plot. The author also seemed to have missed a couple of points in the script, almost as if it was being written while watching the episode, without going back to straighten out any lines.
Regardless, it was a breezy read and I'm a fan of the plot, so it was an easy win to make.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable light read, if not a little lacking in giving extra detail beyond the original script.

This was my favourite episode from 'season 1', and so it made sense to be the one doctor who novelisation I wanted to read. For that alone, this was fun to read just to relive the mystery of the story.

I just wish there was more to it. Sure, we might not get answers that the official script never gave, but I feel like we could have learnt more about characters or their emotions. More hints maybe at answers to its mystery?

But still, this gets a 4 star from me as I still enjoyed reading and reliving.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t come to Scott Handcock’s novelization of 73 Yards for more clarity on the episode’s intentionally vague mysteries. You’re not gonna find any new answers here. But what you will find is a faithful retelling of the TV episode with a few world building tidbits sprinkled about. It’s a quick, fun read that’s rooted in love for Doctor Who and its past, present, and future. Spooky, emotional, and surprisingly nearly as effective as its TV counterpart, 73 Yards is a must read for all Doctor Who fans.

[Lewis Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't lie, I've never been taken with this on original transmission. But now, after reading this, I just grew a whole new appreciation for this story, the characters and their backstory.

Spoilers

The surprise appearance of Ace and interacting with Ruby Sunday. Is something I need to see if there are deleted scenes right now.

And having clarity on certain points was good too. All in all, I'd read this again in a heartbeat.

This has definitely shot the episode up in my overall rankings of Season 1.

Onto Rogue.

[Neveah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s not a huge amount extra in this book other than some added thematic context for most of the other characters (especially the ones in the pub), but this is such a good story anyway and the author does that justice (which not all of the novelisations do), and it really keeps the tone of the episode well. A fast read but worth it.

[Andrew Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adaptation of one of my favorite Doctor Who TV stories. Love all the added details, but I love that they didn’t actually try to explain the driving mysteries that the episode didn’t answer.

Also, picked up some nice small foreshadowing to the Empire of Death that I don’t remember if it was in the original episode.

[Caron Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for something which would expand my understanding of my favourite episode of the 2024 series. The novelisation is very well done and there are some delightful additional scenes. The author expanded on the characters we met in the episode with sensitivity. I am left feeling how fragile life is and how easily and suddenly the courses of our lives can be altered.

[Jonathan Picard · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first watched the episode, I was blown away by how good it was. I felt a bit weird about it being one of my favourites from Season 14 even though the Doctor was not very prominent in the story. Reading this novelisation really took me back to all the emotions I was feeling last year when it aired on TV. The added bits really reinforce the story and are always welcomed. ♥️➕🟦🟦

[Declan O'Keeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun retelling of an excellent episode of Doccy who. Not a whole lot new, but a fun version of events even so.

I was more interested in this one than any of the others released today. Still might give rogue a go at some point.

[John]

The novelisation adds some more substance to some of the more rushed scenes from the episode and it's nice to hear Ruby's thoughts but the writing lacks the style of Dylan Holmes Williams direction. Susan Twist's narration is very good.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does the quite admirable job of adding some much-needed colour and background while still staying thematically in step with the episode and not giving any more clues about the ending. One of the more entertaining Target novelisations.

[David Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great telling of the story that was already amazing but adds a lot more detail to really sink your teeth into.

[Max Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful addition to the episode. It gives some fascinating insights into the minds of the characters that expand the story in a good way. Let’s call it a good companion to the show.

[Danielle Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novelisation of the TV episode. Throughly enjoyed.