Doctor Who - The Daleks' Masterplan

by John Peel

Stranded in the jungles of Kembel, the most hostile planet in the Galaxy, Space Security agent Marc Cory has stumbled across the most deadly plot ever hatched - the Daleks are about to invade and destroy the Universe. Cory has to get a warning back to Earth before it’s too late - but the Daleks find him first.

Months later the Doctor and his companions arrive on Kembel and find Cory’s message. But it may already be too late for Earth - the Daleks’ Masterplan has already begun…

With the Time Destroyer, the most deadly machine ever devised, they will conquer the Universe. Only one person stands in their way - the Doctor. For he has stolen the precious Taranium core which is vital to activate the machine.

Travelling through Time and Space, the Doctor and his companions are forever on the move in case the Daleks track them down. But after several months, to their horror, the TARDIS indicates that they are being followed…

The Doctor faces his greatest foes in this 30th Anniversary single edition of John Peel's novels.

344 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2011

About the author

John Peel is the author of Doctor Who books and comic strips. Notably, he wrote the first original Doctor Who novel, Timewyrm: Genesys, to launch the Virgin New Adventures line. In the early 1990s he was commissioned by Target Books to write novelisations of several key Terry Nation Dalek stories of the 1960s after the rights were finally worked out. He later wrote several more original Daleks novels.

He has the distinction of being one of only three authors credited on a Target novelisation who had not either written a story for the TV series or been a part of the production team (the others were Nigel Robinson and Alison Bingeman).

Outside of Doctor Who, Peel has also written novels for the Star Trek franchise. Under the pseudonym "John Vincent", he wrote novelisations based upon episodes of the 1990s TV series James Bond Jr..

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst marathoning through the entirety of Doctor Who, it's such a shame that so much of Season Three is missing from the archives.
This audiobook release of the two novelizations from this epic adventure is the perfect way to enjoy this serial.

The reason why I enjoyed this take is due to the inclusion of the single standalone adventure that the first part of this release takes its name from.
Recapping the events of ancient Troy and Katarina coming aboard the TARDIS. (Which she calls a blue temple!)
Whilst then telling the epic 12 episodes that was televised between 1965/66, which gives a great snapshot of this era.

You know its an epic story as this release is narrated by two of the original actors in this story.
With Peter Purves (Steven) and Jean Marsh (Sara) alternates the different chapters, it took a little while to get used to but Purves does a great Hartnell impression.
Whilst the Dalek voices by Nicholas Briggs is also a nice touch.

Talking about Sara Kingdom, there's been much debate if she counts as an official companion - Peel allows 6 months to alapse in the second book to allow for more adventures to be included in between.

I love the fact that the novel acknowledges the Christmas episode that made up part of this adventure.
The seventh episode was the first time the show aired on that day.
It would be amazing to watch now, but the least likely to return.

A great massive concept, with plenty of strong character moments.
There's a nice blend of comedy and tragedy, though feels a little reminiscent of The Chase.