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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #46
Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks
Jo peered through the panel and saw — nothing. Yet someone had entered the cabin. She could hear hoarse breathing and stealthy padding footsteps. A beaker rose in the air of its own accord, then dropped to the floor... The Invisible Enemy
After pursuing the Daleks through Space, Doctor Who lands on the Planet of Spiridon, in the midst of a tropical jungle... and finds more than Daleks. Vicious plants spitting deadly poison, invisible Spiridons attacking from all sides and, in hiding, a vast army waits... for the moment to mobilise and conquer.
After pursuing the Daleks through Space, Doctor Who lands on the Planet of Spiridon, in the midst of a tropical jungle... and finds more than Daleks. Vicious plants spitting deadly poison, invisible Spiridons attacking from all sides and, in hiding, a vast army waits... for the moment to mobilise and conquer.
125 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 13, 1976
3 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Terrance Dicks
326 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 40 reviews
August 1, 2019
Dicks great condensed novelisation hits all the right spots even through it does highlight Terry Nation’s formula of Dalek stories (he clearly loves a deadly plague!).
But it’s quite fitting for a Tenth season story to hark back to the shows roots, not only the Thals make a return but the original TARDIS team gets referenced.
The Doctor’s legacy is something that the modern series explores, it fits well here.
A nice throwback that improves on the original televised serial.
But it’s quite fitting for a Tenth season story to hark back to the shows roots, not only the Thals make a return but the original TARDIS team gets referenced.
The Doctor’s legacy is something that the modern series explores, it fits well here.
A nice throwback that improves on the original televised serial.
July 12, 2021
This is a novelization of a six-part Doctor Who adventure that aired in the tenth season of the series, with the third iteration of The Doctor when his companion was the pleasantly competent Jo Grant. The script was written by Terry Nation, creator of the Daleks, and features many of their most popular and best known features and peculiarities. Dicks compressed the script into a good, short novel, and it's a good adventure read whether or not you're familiar with the subjects beforehand. The beginning is a little awkward since it opens with The Doctor in a coma, recovering from being shot by The Master in the previous adventure, but Jo soon wanders out to explore Spiridon, the jungle planet upon which they're landed, and is infected by deadly poisonous plants, runs afoul of the invisible Spiridons, is rescued by the Thuls, and they get back to the TARDIS just in time to rescue the The Doctor, who's recovered only to find himself imprisoned by the deadly plants. Meanwhile, there's this army of Daleks just waiting to get back into action... It's a very fast-paced story, and Dicks did an excellent job of adapting it for readers.
January 4, 2015
Planet of the Daleks was a six part story featuring the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and companion Jo Grant. It was first shown in April to May 1973 and it's one I remember well, though I suspect because I may have seen a repeat showing of it later.
The story starts with a dramatic cold open, as the Doctor seemingly lies in the Tardis dying (you would have to known that this was a cliffhanger from the previous story Frontier in Space which ends with the Master shooting the Doctor). Landing on a planet, Jo goes to finds help, while the Doctor finds himself trapped inside the Tardis and running out of air. Don't worry though, because all of this build-up is seemingly forgotten within five pages to make way for the plot.
It's an exciting story, with an army of Daleks, a group of Thals (the Daleks ancient enemy) seeking to sabotage them and invisible monsters that live on the planet. All this translates rather better on the page than it did on the screen - with a six part story you get a lot of running around. The Dalek army, if I recall, consisted of the production team going out and buying as many Dalek toys as they could find and setting them up on a flat surface! Similarly the idea of an invisible monster might have sounded like a good way of saving money (technicians waving fronds to simulate movement, for example), but it just doesn't work. The less said about the "jungle" the better, as this was done all on set and so it looks totally fake.
Back to the story though. The Doctor and Jo are portrayed well here, as are the Thals and Spiridons (the invisible inhabitants of the planet). The Daleks fare less well, having far too many emotions being shown at times - can they really show things such as amazement and astonishment? Anger I can understand though, as the motley crew successfully destroys the waiting Dalek army.
An entertaining 3 stars
The story starts with a dramatic cold open, as the Doctor seemingly lies in the Tardis dying (you would have to known that this was a cliffhanger from the previous story Frontier in Space which ends with the Master shooting the Doctor). Landing on a planet, Jo goes to finds help, while the Doctor finds himself trapped inside the Tardis and running out of air. Don't worry though, because all of this build-up is seemingly forgotten within five pages to make way for the plot.
It's an exciting story, with an army of Daleks, a group of Thals (the Daleks ancient enemy) seeking to sabotage them and invisible monsters that live on the planet. All this translates rather better on the page than it did on the screen - with a six part story you get a lot of running around. The Dalek army, if I recall, consisted of the production team going out and buying as many Dalek toys as they could find and setting them up on a flat surface! Similarly the idea of an invisible monster might have sounded like a good way of saving money (technicians waving fronds to simulate movement, for example), but it just doesn't work. The less said about the "jungle" the better, as this was done all on set and so it looks totally fake.
Back to the story though. The Doctor and Jo are portrayed well here, as are the Thals and Spiridons (the invisible inhabitants of the planet). The Daleks fare less well, having far too many emotions being shown at times - can they really show things such as amazement and astonishment? Anger I can understand though, as the motley crew successfully destroys the waiting Dalek army.
An entertaining 3 stars
July 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this one, even if it took me forever to get through. But nonetheless, it was a really exciting adventure with the Third Doctor and Jo, narrated by one of my favourite people ever, Mark Gatiss. I hope he narrates more in the future.
January 23, 2022
Another well written novel by Terrance Dicks. I am Thankful for these Target books as they fill in so many stories I haven't seen on the small screen. However as good as this one was , I found it needed just a little bit more, which can be the drawback sometimes of episodic novelizations they don't always have everything you're looking for.
September 4, 2019
No less than modern-day Dalek maestro Nicholas Briggs has observed that Terry Nation's 1973 story The Planet of the Daleks was "the Daleks greatest hits." That Nation, returning to the series for the first time in nearly a decade, reworked his earlier scripts to a large extent, creating a six-part story that feels incredibly derivative. Derivative and a little on the dull side at times. That is, on-screen at least.
Because Terrance Dicks' novelization, published three years later, is a very different animal. Dicks fixes the major pacing issues the TV version had with its series of escapes and captures having more flow in prose. Elsewhere, he's also able to fill in some of the plot holes Nation left in his TV version and even offers up the odd bit of expanded exposition. Perhaps above all else, Dicks also can paint in words those things that the BBC Special Effects Department sometimes struggled to realize visually back in 1973. Reading this is like getting a director's cut version of the story, what it would have been like if circumstances were a tad bit different.
It's also a tribute to Dicks, whose passing was announced a short time before I picked the book up to read, that it reads so well. It feels like a quintessential Target novelization. It may not have the depth of one of the better Malcolm Hulke or Ian Marter books or say Marc Platt's superb expansion of Ghost Light. It is, all the same, an immensely satisfying and pacey tale and one that should satisfy fans new and old.
Because Terrance Dicks' novelization, published three years later, is a very different animal. Dicks fixes the major pacing issues the TV version had with its series of escapes and captures having more flow in prose. Elsewhere, he's also able to fill in some of the plot holes Nation left in his TV version and even offers up the odd bit of expanded exposition. Perhaps above all else, Dicks also can paint in words those things that the BBC Special Effects Department sometimes struggled to realize visually back in 1973. Reading this is like getting a director's cut version of the story, what it would have been like if circumstances were a tad bit different.
It's also a tribute to Dicks, whose passing was announced a short time before I picked the book up to read, that it reads so well. It feels like a quintessential Target novelization. It may not have the depth of one of the better Malcolm Hulke or Ian Marter books or say Marc Platt's superb expansion of Ghost Light. It is, all the same, an immensely satisfying and pacey tale and one that should satisfy fans new and old.
December 11, 2016
The most frustrating thing about reading the Target novelizations in episode order rather than published order is that you never know what sort of junk you're going to wind up with. So, when this episode was broadcast, it was the second part of an adventure where the Third Doctor tangles with the Master, Daleks, and Draconians. The first part was novelized as the Space War, and ended with the Doctor just fine, because ... you know, otherwise it'd be a cliffhanger. Like in the show. That the novel was based off of. Even more frustrating, Space War was published AFTER Planet of the Daleks. So you'd think Terrance Dicks would know how the author decided to end The Space War.
Instead, Planet of the Daleks opens up just as the show opened up, with the Doctor in a coma-like state after his injuries. Which you don't know about if you read the previous book. So that's jarring. Maybe I'm just jaded, but if you're going to completely revamp the way the show was done, why even bother novelizing it?
Instead, Planet of the Daleks opens up just as the show opened up, with the Doctor in a coma-like state after his injuries. Which you don't know about if you read the previous book. So that's jarring. Maybe I'm just jaded, but if you're going to completely revamp the way the show was done, why even bother novelizing it?
April 12, 2022
Terry Nation is a writer who has a very specific formula which can easily be seen in The Daleks. Mysterious planet, two factions of Daleks and enemies, forest setting, capture early on, escape, ambush, harrowing sequence near the end, and a finale. This is especially apparent in longer serials by nation with the most infamous being Planet of the Daleks. Planet of the Daleks is the Pertwee Dalek story that is perhaps most well remembered by fans, however, in an age where you can watch any episode of Doctor Who at any time it becomes very apparent that it is a retread of The Daleks beat by beat. Nation even lampshades this by mentioning the events of the Daleks early on. It is actually the novelization which I’m looking at today that helped contribute to this perception simply through the fact that Terrance Dicks makes it a breeze. The page count and audiobook length is short, even for a Target novelization, only coming to about three hours read out and approximately 120 pages. Split into twelve chapters, every two chapters equals an episode and scenes just fly by because Terrance Dicks’ prose is endlessly readable. There are plenty of phrases which find their way here such as the wheezing, groaning noise and descriptions of the Doctor’s nose. There is also a genuine attempt to make the Dalek forces terrifying and moving through a serial with ease. The six episodes condensed down cuts out a lot of the Terry Nation padding to a bare minimum and the descriptions make the planet of Spiradon feel even more dangerous. There are some pieces of old-fashioned writing, especially with how Jo is described, it is made up for in explanations about how Jo wanted to enter UNIT and pulled strings to do so while the Doctor’s travels have put her in danger. Because this was released after Doctor Who and the Green Death I can’t imagine Dicks not drawing on Jo’s exit being the next story chronologically. A lot of her backstory is actually explained here and expanded upon from Terror of the Autons putting a lot of the ideas of her uncle pulling strings to get her with UNIT and the development of the Doctor and Jo’s relationship. Even some of the Thal’s get a few moments in the spotlight to expand upon Thal society and the idea of the scientist being the only scientist hits more in the novel because Dicks’ prose makes it intimate.
Overall, Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks manages to improve on the television story, even if it is a bit out of date and doesn’t necessarily do enough to rectify the fact that the story is a retread of The Daleks. Dicks is brilliant as a writer and it’s clear this is the version of the story that is in people’s minds when they think about it.
Overall, Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks manages to improve on the television story, even if it is a bit out of date and doesn’t necessarily do enough to rectify the fact that the story is a retread of The Daleks. Dicks is brilliant as a writer and it’s clear this is the version of the story that is in people’s minds when they think about it.
September 8, 2023
Entertaining reading, just nothing extraordinary.
This is a novelization of the serial of the same title.
WHO
The Doctor:
The Third Doctor
Companion:
Jo Grant
WHERE & WHEN
Planet Spiridon. Exact date is not mentioned.
WHAT
The Doctor is injured due events of the previous adventure (he was shot by The Master in Frontier in Space) and he is in a kind of coma, so the Time Lords seemed to direct the TARDIS to the planet Spiridon (why the heck sending the TARDIS to a freaking world full of Daleks instead of bringing it back to Gallifrey, I just have no clue. I think that they could have better luck if Jo just pull some control randomly and landing anywhere else) which is a world conquered by the Daleks looking for the means to become invisible which is something that indigenous race learned to do.
Since the Doctor is out of commision at first, bravely Jo looks for help, finding a group of Thals (the first native species of Skaro before the creation of the Daleks), that they went there supposedly to deal with a small advance exploratory squad of Daleks but soon enough they realize that instead it was a vast army of ten thousand Daleks.
The Doctor wakes up (it’s curious that while the injure seemed to be quite serious, he was able to heal instead of just activating a regeneration) and since he found out that Jo went alone to look for help, he went too to look for her.
The Doctor is captured by the Daleks, and Jo is able to avoid capture thanks to the helps of one of the Thals. Once both heroes eventually find each other, they join forces with the remaining Thals and a rebel force of Spiridons to find a way to stop the Daleks.
The story is entertained and while it’s not one of the finest adventures of Doctor Who, you have several good things like counting with the charm and wit of the Third Doctor, the bravery of Jo, and the fact that any story with Daleks on it, well, it will be something cool to read.
This is a novelization of the serial of the same title.
WHO
The Doctor:
The Third Doctor
Companion:
Jo Grant
WHERE & WHEN
Planet Spiridon. Exact date is not mentioned.
WHAT
The Doctor is injured due events of the previous adventure (he was shot by The Master in Frontier in Space) and he is in a kind of coma, so the Time Lords seemed to direct the TARDIS to the planet Spiridon (why the heck sending the TARDIS to a freaking world full of Daleks instead of bringing it back to Gallifrey, I just have no clue. I think that they could have better luck if Jo just pull some control randomly and landing anywhere else) which is a world conquered by the Daleks looking for the means to become invisible which is something that indigenous race learned to do.
Since the Doctor is out of commision at first, bravely Jo looks for help, finding a group of Thals (the first native species of Skaro before the creation of the Daleks), that they went there supposedly to deal with a small advance exploratory squad of Daleks but soon enough they realize that instead it was a vast army of ten thousand Daleks.
The Doctor wakes up (it’s curious that while the injure seemed to be quite serious, he was able to heal instead of just activating a regeneration) and since he found out that Jo went alone to look for help, he went too to look for her.
The Doctor is captured by the Daleks, and Jo is able to avoid capture thanks to the helps of one of the Thals. Once both heroes eventually find each other, they join forces with the remaining Thals and a rebel force of Spiridons to find a way to stop the Daleks.
The story is entertained and while it’s not one of the finest adventures of Doctor Who, you have several good things like counting with the charm and wit of the Third Doctor, the bravery of Jo, and the fact that any story with Daleks on it, well, it will be something cool to read.
May 14, 2023
Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks, by Terrance Dicks. Target, 1976. Number 46 in the Doctor Who Library. 125 pages, paperback. Original script by Terry Nation, BBC, 1973.
This adventure features the 3rd Doctor and Jo Grant.
Chasing the Daleks is a dangerous game but it’s one the Doctor has to play if he’s do discover what mischief his oldest enemy is up to. Setting the TARDIS in flight, he makes a telepathic call to the Time Lords to aid in his search. The combined strain of the telepathic call and the previous adventure, which involved galactic diplomacy between humans and Draconians and the machinations of the Master (see Doctor Who and the Space War, by Malcolm Hulke) seems to be too much for the Doctor and he lapses into a coma, leaving Jo to watch over him.
The TARDIS materializes on the planet Spiridon and, fearing that the Doctor is dying, Jo sets off in search of help. The Doctor wakes to a TARDIS that is running out of air but he can’t get out. Jo finds herself on a planet of hostile plant life and invisible inhabitants but befriends a Spiridon. The Doctor is rescued by a race of familiar people. He recognizes the Thals from Skaro and joins them in fighting the Daleks.
Will the Doctor and Jo ever see each other again? What do the Daleks want on Spiridon? There’s more than one scheme at play. Can the Doctor help the Thals to defeat the Daleks and thwart their plans?
The Planet of the Daleks is quite the adventure. Terrance Dicks brought the televised story to narrative life in this novelization. The pace is good. The calm moments are few and far between. It’s a good Dalek story and well-told. The characters, no matter how briefly in the story, are well-defined and each seems to have a role to play. I can recommend this story.
This adventure features the 3rd Doctor and Jo Grant.
Chasing the Daleks is a dangerous game but it’s one the Doctor has to play if he’s do discover what mischief his oldest enemy is up to. Setting the TARDIS in flight, he makes a telepathic call to the Time Lords to aid in his search. The combined strain of the telepathic call and the previous adventure, which involved galactic diplomacy between humans and Draconians and the machinations of the Master (see Doctor Who and the Space War, by Malcolm Hulke) seems to be too much for the Doctor and he lapses into a coma, leaving Jo to watch over him.
The TARDIS materializes on the planet Spiridon and, fearing that the Doctor is dying, Jo sets off in search of help. The Doctor wakes to a TARDIS that is running out of air but he can’t get out. Jo finds herself on a planet of hostile plant life and invisible inhabitants but befriends a Spiridon. The Doctor is rescued by a race of familiar people. He recognizes the Thals from Skaro and joins them in fighting the Daleks.
Will the Doctor and Jo ever see each other again? What do the Daleks want on Spiridon? There’s more than one scheme at play. Can the Doctor help the Thals to defeat the Daleks and thwart their plans?
The Planet of the Daleks is quite the adventure. Terrance Dicks brought the televised story to narrative life in this novelization. The pace is good. The calm moments are few and far between. It’s a good Dalek story and well-told. The characters, no matter how briefly in the story, are well-defined and each seems to have a role to play. I can recommend this story.
January 10, 2021
While the TV Story "Planet of the Daleks" feels like a Terry Nation's Greatest Hits and feels stuck in the 60s with an episode too many, the Target Novelization moves along at a good pace and tells an enjoyable story. Well written and engaging, Terrence Dicks is able to take the TV version and make it a thoroughly enjoyable Dalek story. It moves along well and has the benefit of being able to go inside the characters’ heads. Not terribly deep, but enough to help flesh them out. I’ve read that Episode 5 of the TV story is condensed to one chapter instead of the usual two so I think the novel has managed to solve the pacing problems found in the TV version.
The Audio is read quite well by Mark Gatiss with Nicholas Briggs providing the Dalek voices. The story follows the TV version rather closely, but without the staged look of things. There are some deviantions from the original TV version, as there probably always will be (the Tardis Wiki article has a breakdown of these differences in their article on the book). Yes, I'm still seeing the characters (at least some of them anyway) as their TV counterparts, but for the most part the jungle feels like a jungle and the Dalek base feels more like an alien base then a sound stage on limited budget.
It's often said in special features on the subject that the Target Novelizations helped a generation of kids learn to love reading. I've only read a handful of them, but totally understand why. In some ways, these are better than the TV versions because the reader is only limited by their imagination. And in the days before home video (yes there was a time when a TV show was aired once and that's it), these novels were the only way to re-live your favorite episodes or experience episodes that you'd missed or had been before your time. Anyway, Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks is a great novel and well worth the read.
The Audio is read quite well by Mark Gatiss with Nicholas Briggs providing the Dalek voices. The story follows the TV version rather closely, but without the staged look of things. There are some deviantions from the original TV version, as there probably always will be (the Tardis Wiki article has a breakdown of these differences in their article on the book). Yes, I'm still seeing the characters (at least some of them anyway) as their TV counterparts, but for the most part the jungle feels like a jungle and the Dalek base feels more like an alien base then a sound stage on limited budget.
It's often said in special features on the subject that the Target Novelizations helped a generation of kids learn to love reading. I've only read a handful of them, but totally understand why. In some ways, these are better than the TV versions because the reader is only limited by their imagination. And in the days before home video (yes there was a time when a TV show was aired once and that's it), these novels were the only way to re-live your favorite episodes or experience episodes that you'd missed or had been before your time. Anyway, Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks is a great novel and well worth the read.
May 20, 2025
Based on a script by Terry Nation this is number 46 in the Target catalog. The first cover is by Chris Achilleos and the second by Andrew Skilleter. I love both these covers even though the styles are very different. Each captures a critical part and the essence of the story. Chris has the Doctor and Chancellor Goth (Bernard Horsfall as the Thal, Taron but I always see him as Goth) forcing a Dalek into an ice pool. And Andrew has the Doctor under a cloak of visibility the Daleks make the Spiridonians wear.
This is a brilliant read. Whether it’s because it’s a brilliant book, or the rose-tinted glasses of entering ‘My Doctor’ period (The Doctor you saw when you were 10) is debatable. The story isn’t as complex as others in terms of plotline when compared to something like Space War (the previous story), but it has more adventure.
Like Space War this is a 6 part story condensed into the standard Target length used for 4 part stories. This undoubtedly contributes to the novelisation ripping along at a cracking pace. But unlike Space War I don’t think this really needs expansion due to it’s simpler storyline. This book is the right length with the right level of detail.
This is definitely a book I’ll come back to in the future when I want a quick, exciting, and fun read.
March 28, 2021
Another good story this one, though certainly more than a few echoes of some past Dalek stories, especially the original, but also a bit of the Dalek's Masterplan as well, in terms of inhabitants of the planet and Dalek tactics.
Is good to see the Thals again in this story, though it is hard to imagine how well they are faring on Skaro alongside the Daleks, given the Daleks' power and reach elsewhere in the universe, regularly invading other galaxies and the like.
The Doctor and Jo in good form here, circumstances driving Jo to show her independent side and strengths more than other stories managed sometimes, though also shows that the nature of the events she gets wrapped in are starting to get to her I think as well.
The Daleks still quite menacing here, which is good, and certainly some good plans they had in action here, before the Doctor came along :)
All round, a good read.
Is good to see the Thals again in this story, though it is hard to imagine how well they are faring on Skaro alongside the Daleks, given the Daleks' power and reach elsewhere in the universe, regularly invading other galaxies and the like.
The Doctor and Jo in good form here, circumstances driving Jo to show her independent side and strengths more than other stories managed sometimes, though also shows that the nature of the events she gets wrapped in are starting to get to her I think as well.
The Daleks still quite menacing here, which is good, and certainly some good plans they had in action here, before the Doctor came along :)
All round, a good read.
August 21, 2025
I usually quite enjoy it when Terrance Dicks turns a 6-parter into a cracking 80-page freight train, and Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks fits that bill. The book is lean and exciting, and of course, unrestrained from any kind of budgetary constraints so it all feels more epic. But I don't think Planet of the Daleks needed that much help, personally. Though I now understand it to be a bit like "Terry Nation's Greatest Hits" - a jungle planet with killer plants, invisibility occurring in nature, themes of bravery/cowardice and action/pacifism, engineered diseases - it happened to be the point at which I jumped onto watching Doctor Who in sequential 25-minute episodes (before that, I'd only ever caught the PBS omnibi), so it has a special, nostalgic place in my heart. But I think it stands up, especially in book form, and the Doctor has at least three great speeches.
December 8, 2020
This sci-fi novel features the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and his companion Jo Grant. The book takes the Doctor and his companion to the planet of Spiridon. A dangerous tropical jungle, a deadly fungus, and the invisible Spiridons all pale when the Doctor and Jo realize that the Daleks are using the planet as a base for revenge.
This rather typical Doctor Who novel is short and filled with action. The audiobook comes complete with sound-effects – although sometimes distracting to the narration, the effects add to the adventure. If you are a Whovian, you will most likely enjoy the book. If you are not familiar with the time lord and his TARDIS, this novel might leave you scratching your head in a state of puzzlement.
This rather typical Doctor Who novel is short and filled with action. The audiobook comes complete with sound-effects – although sometimes distracting to the narration, the effects add to the adventure. If you are a Whovian, you will most likely enjoy the book. If you are not familiar with the time lord and his TARDIS, this novel might leave you scratching your head in a state of puzzlement.
January 17, 2021
あらすじ
マスターとの戦いで瀕死の重傷を負わされたドクター。脈も心音も感じ取ることができず意識を失ったままだ。ターディスの中でジョーは途方に暮れるが、このままドクターを死なせまいと、助けを呼んでくる覚悟でターディスが着地した見知らぬ惑星に一人出て行く。しかし、ジョーが外に出た途端、ターディスは自生の植物に巻きつかれ埋もれてしまう。ジョーが出かけてほどなくしてドクターが意識を取り戻すが、ターディスの通気口が植物の放つ胞子によって塞がれてしまい、予備の酸素タンクにも穴があいて一本しか残っておらず、ドクターはターディスの外に出ようとするが、植物のせいで扉が開かない。このままでは酸素が底をつき、窒息するしかないというところで、ドクターは二人の男に助けられる。彼らはジョーに頼まれてドクターを助けにきたという。ドクターは二人がスカロ出身のサール族であることを知り、かつてスカロを訪ねたことだあると打ち明ける。ジョーを待たせているという二人の宇宙船の元に赴く途中、ドクターは二人から透明になる能力をもったダーレクの存在を見せられる、ダーレクがこの星を侵略したのはこの星の住人、スピリドンの透明になる能力を手にいれることで、サール族の二人ははそれを阻止するためにこの星に来たのだという。命を救われたお礼にドクターは手伝いを申し出る。
感想
絶対絶命としか思えない緊張感が全編にわたって続く。ダーレクとサール族、ドクターの戦いは熾烈さを増す。目的のためなら全生物を滅ぼすことも厭わない。加えて負けたことを認識しないので、やられたからといって、やられたとも思わないし、目的を止めることはない。戦っても戦っても終わりが見えない。この時点でダーレクとの戦いはすでにあまりにも不毛で悲しくなってくる。
マスターとの戦いで瀕死の重傷を負わされたドクター。脈も心音も感じ取ることができず意識を失ったままだ。ターディスの中でジョーは途方に暮れるが、このままドクターを死なせまいと、助けを呼んでくる覚悟でターディスが着地した見知らぬ惑星に一人出て行く。しかし、ジョーが外に出た途端、ターディスは自生の植物に巻きつかれ埋もれてしまう。ジョーが出かけてほどなくしてドクターが意識を取り戻すが、ターディスの通気口が植物の放つ胞子によって塞がれてしまい、予備の酸素タンクにも穴があいて一本しか残っておらず、ドクターはターディスの外に出ようとするが、植物のせいで扉が開かない。このままでは酸素が底をつき、窒息するしかないというところで、ドクターは二人の男に助けられる。彼らはジョーに頼まれてドクターを助けにきたという。ドクターは二人がスカロ出身のサール族であることを知り、かつてスカロを訪ねたことだあると打ち明ける。ジョーを待たせているという二人の宇宙船の元に赴く途中、ドクターは二人から透明になる能力をもったダーレクの存在を見せられる、ダーレクがこの星を侵略したのはこの星の住人、スピリドンの透明になる能力を手にいれることで、サール族の二人ははそれを阻止するためにこの星に来たのだという。命を救われたお礼にドクターは手伝いを申し出る。
感想
絶対絶命としか思えない緊張感が全編にわたって続く。ダーレクとサール族、ドクターの戦いは熾烈さを増す。目的のためなら全生物を滅ぼすことも厭わない。加えて負けたことを認識しないので、やられたからといって、やられたとも思わないし、目的を止めることはない。戦っても戦っても終わりが見えない。この時点でダーレクとの戦いはすでにあまりにも不毛で悲しくなってくる。
June 2, 2023
Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks (1976) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the fourth serial of the tenth season of Doctor Who and the 68th serial overall.
The Doctor and Jo travel to the planet that they have worked out is where the Daleks are going to launch an invasion from in the previous serial. There they encounter invisible locals and Thals who are searching for the Daleks in order to destroy them. The Daleks are researching the invisible locals for ways to become more stealthy.
It's not a great Doctor Who serial. For fans who like the Daleks it's worth a go.
The Doctor and Jo travel to the planet that they have worked out is where the Daleks are going to launch an invasion from in the previous serial. There they encounter invisible locals and Thals who are searching for the Daleks in order to destroy them. The Daleks are researching the invisible locals for ways to become more stealthy.
It's not a great Doctor Who serial. For fans who like the Daleks it's worth a go.
June 10, 2017
On TV, "Planet of the Daleks" is simplistic, bombastic kids fun, bloated over 6 episodes. But in the hands of Terrance Dicks, this becomes a perfect "Doctor Who" novelization. It cuts out the fat, bulks up the plot logic, and keeps all the best bits intact. It becomes a thrilling, all-ages action adventure with all the moments of charm one expects from the 3rd Doctor. Another archetypal novelization.
May 29, 2018
This is the first Doctor Who book I've read as an adult. I enjoyed it almost as much as I would an episode of the show. I thought it had just the right amount of lightheartedness while putting the characters in peril at the same time. The one thing I didn't like was the amount of side-characters. Without a face to go with a name, 5 extra people who are not the Doctor and his companion are hard to get to know and care about in 125 pages.
Well-written and fun.
Well-written and fun.
June 1, 2018
I don’t usually listen to audiobooks that aren’t audio exclusive or radio dramas because I have never really enjoyed being read to. I prefer reading. However, this one was better than most. It has an easy to listen to narrator, engaging sound effects, and of course, the voices of the Daleks add a lot to this as far as enjoyability for me. I did only choose this format because I was unable to get any other at the time and wanted whatever I could, but I don’t regret buying it.
Read
July 5, 2025Perfectly serviceable adaptation of a perfectly serviceable story. It's season 10's worst (not terrible, but often very derivative of earlier Terry Nation serials) and Terrance Dicks has never been the sort of novelisation writer to really try and raise up a story by making radical changes, but he does OK with what's there, smoothing out a few logical inconsistencies etc, what you can generally expect from a good Dicks novelisation rather than a bad one.
July 20, 2019
A rip-roaring adventure, expertly told by Terrance Dicks. Although one of the more 'straightforward' novelisations (i.e. little added to the plot or characters) there are still some additions that Terrance makes to the backstory of the characters in 'Planet of the Daleks'. Just ignore some of the more illogical plot points and convenient set-pieces.
June 24, 2024
There’s very little that’s original here but Terry Nation’s greatest hits - plague, a stranded expedition, hostile native lifeforms - combined with the prose of Terrance creates a lovely comfort read.
March 20, 2021
Novelization of a six-part story from 1973, starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. Breezy retelling that doesn't add much to what was on screen.
May 28, 2023
pdf, 100 pages
Not the bet script and not the finest novelisation, either. A reasonably fast read.
Not the bet script and not the finest novelisation, either. A reasonably fast read.
September 20, 2025
Book 350 - Terrance Dicks - Planet of the Daleks
Another trip with the Third Doctor and this one was a very special journey to the Planet of the Daleks. Back in Feb 1984 my Mum or Dad bought me a wonderfully entitled book called ‘Dalek Omnibus’. This was unusual for a few reasons… we didn’t do birthday presents, there were far too many in our family for that - being 8 of 9 (almost a Star Trek reference) - and we didn’t have a lot of money but I remember bringing presented with this marvellous compendium of Dalek stories. This is the last from that collection. Very emotional seeing my Dad’s handwriting at the front and back of the book… he always wrote our names on our books and the date it was bought at the back - 11th February 1984…. Happy memories of times gone.
The book itself would have been another huge epic… the Doctor and Jo… on an inhospitable planet… killer plants… invisible natives and behind it all… those terrifying pepper pots… the Daleks.
Throw in a group of Thals… and 10000 hidden Daleks and we have the making of a cat and mouse game… lose and the Daleks would have the power of invisibility… and a step closer to universal domination…only the Doctor, Jo, one local native and a ragtag assortment of browbeaten soldiers can stop them.
Epic…so epic…especially to little 14 year old Jason.
Another trip with the Third Doctor and this one was a very special journey to the Planet of the Daleks. Back in Feb 1984 my Mum or Dad bought me a wonderfully entitled book called ‘Dalek Omnibus’. This was unusual for a few reasons… we didn’t do birthday presents, there were far too many in our family for that - being 8 of 9 (almost a Star Trek reference) - and we didn’t have a lot of money but I remember bringing presented with this marvellous compendium of Dalek stories. This is the last from that collection. Very emotional seeing my Dad’s handwriting at the front and back of the book… he always wrote our names on our books and the date it was bought at the back - 11th February 1984…. Happy memories of times gone.
The book itself would have been another huge epic… the Doctor and Jo… on an inhospitable planet… killer plants… invisible natives and behind it all… those terrifying pepper pots… the Daleks.
Throw in a group of Thals… and 10000 hidden Daleks and we have the making of a cat and mouse game… lose and the Daleks would have the power of invisibility… and a step closer to universal domination…only the Doctor, Jo, one local native and a ragtag assortment of browbeaten soldiers can stop them.
Epic…so epic…especially to little 14 year old Jason.
February 9, 2019
As a kid I enjoyed this story a lot more. Upon re-reading it, it feels so repetitive from other Dalek stories. Terry Nation wrote this script and you can tell with the following checklist:
Jungle Planet - Dalek Masterplan
Sneaking past Daleks inside a Dalek - The Daleks
Temporary disabling someone by numbing their legs - The Daleks
Thal leader learning to take action - The Daleks
Freezing an Army - Tomb of the Cybermen
Okay, the last one was not written by Terry Nation, but it still shows the whole story is a mash-up of parts from other Doctor Who stories. Terrance Dicks again writes by the numbers, which does not help improve the story.
In summary, you get what you get with this, a recap of the TV story. One classic thing from this story is Spiridon. Which comes back later in the 1993 comic Emperor of the Daleks. I remember enjoying that one when it first ran in Doctor Who Monthly, though I have to be careful since my childhood memories seem to fail me at times.
On a side note, I might have made me give an extra star is if Jo did leave with the Thal, then I would not have to suffer through three more stories with her (2 Missing Adventures and The Green Death).
Jungle Planet - Dalek Masterplan
Sneaking past Daleks inside a Dalek - The Daleks
Temporary disabling someone by numbing their legs - The Daleks
Thal leader learning to take action - The Daleks
Freezing an Army - Tomb of the Cybermen
Okay, the last one was not written by Terry Nation, but it still shows the whole story is a mash-up of parts from other Doctor Who stories. Terrance Dicks again writes by the numbers, which does not help improve the story.
In summary, you get what you get with this, a recap of the TV story. One classic thing from this story is Spiridon. Which comes back later in the 1993 comic Emperor of the Daleks. I remember enjoying that one when it first ran in Doctor Who Monthly, though I have to be careful since my childhood memories seem to fail me at times.
On a side note, I might have made me give an extra star is if Jo did leave with the Thal, then I would not have to suffer through three more stories with her (2 Missing Adventures and The Green Death).
July 31, 2021
Absolute classic
August 20, 2012
I like Doctor Who.
The new TV series are a treat, the older ones are sometimes great.
Now I just discovered I had one of the novels in my early youth. I dimly remember to have liked this one, even if I didn't remember a thing about it. So I read it again, just to discover: it was okay. But I know now why I didn't remember anything of it. It's standard SciFi with some severe plotholes (or, to be exact, character-weaknesses).
I suppose most of the bad writing has to be atributed to the German translation from the early 80s, though, so I guess it'd be a "3" if I had read it as English original.
Funny though: the changes, the Daleks went through in those centuries in between.
A separate levitation disc as their only means to move through the air... the Daleks truly have evolved since.
The new TV series are a treat, the older ones are sometimes great.
Now I just discovered I had one of the novels in my early youth. I dimly remember to have liked this one, even if I didn't remember a thing about it. So I read it again, just to discover: it was okay. But I know now why I didn't remember anything of it. It's standard SciFi with some severe plotholes (or, to be exact, character-weaknesses).
I suppose most of the bad writing has to be atributed to the German translation from the early 80s, though, so I guess it'd be a "3" if I had read it as English original.
Funny though: the changes, the Daleks went through in those centuries in between.
A separate levitation disc as their only means to move through the air... the Daleks truly have evolved since.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2016
Finding a collection of readings from the Target novelizations helped me decide that I need to give them a listen.
This first one is read by Mark Gatiss. His reading style is well-paced, and his voicings subtle. He does a very passable John Pertwee imitation. Joining him is the voice actor for the Daleks. That added a level of depth I appreciated, along with the occasional sound effects.
This isn't an episode I had viewed before.
I appreciate the very action-oriented stories that marked the Pertwee era. This is certainly no exception. There is very little intrigue, with a moment or two of love story, with mostly plans of attack to defeat the latest Dalek threat.
This first one is read by Mark Gatiss. His reading style is well-paced, and his voicings subtle. He does a very passable John Pertwee imitation. Joining him is the voice actor for the Daleks. That added a level of depth I appreciated, along with the occasional sound effects.
This isn't an episode I had viewed before.
I appreciate the very action-oriented stories that marked the Pertwee era. This is certainly no exception. There is very little intrigue, with a moment or two of love story, with mostly plans of attack to defeat the latest Dalek threat.
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