Doctor Who: Kinda

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #84

by Terrance Dicks

Nothing could disturb the serene peace of the planet Deva-Loka - or could it? An expeditionary force from Earth is dangerously out of control—and it's not only the peaceful race of the Kinda who are at risk...

A gentle stroll in the lush jungle leads the Doctor and Adric to an unexpected confrontation-and puts them at the mercy of a maniac...

But it is Tegan, lulled to sleep by mysterious wind-chimes, who comes the closest to the real danger that threatens not only her sanity but the existence of the whole planet...

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

126 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1983

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

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novelization of the third serial of the nineteenth season of Doctor Who, which was broadcast in February of 1982, when the fifth regeneration of the character was extant. Terrance Dicks wrote the adaptation based on the teleplay by Christopher Bailey. It's a pretty straight-forward adaptation of a rather weak episode, I think, with some religious imagery and nature symbology substituting for plot or character development. The Doctor has three companions at the time, but neither he nor any of them do much beyond react to events. Adric does little of a constructive nature and the two females, Nyssa and Tegan, aren't any help. Respectively, one passes out from exhaustion and doesn't reappear until the very last page to say she feels better, and the other falls asleep next to evil wind-chimes and is possessed by the nefarious Mara who wants to manifest on our plane. (Or something... come to think of it, it's a kind of misogynistic episode, truth be told.) It's a fast (probably takes longer to watch) read, entertaining even if not up to the usual standard.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 2 out of 5]

"There’s always something to look at if you open your eyes!"

5th Doctor, Adric, Tegan and Nyssa

The TARDIS lands on the planet Deva Loka. Nyssa wasn't about much as she was sick. You see her faint on the tv episode at the end of 'Four to doomsday' but it wasn't included in the Target Novel. There should have been something to explain this. The Doctor, Tegan and Adric go off to explore, Tegan falls asleep, due to the Mara possessing her and taking her into dream state. Where she ends up mentally abused/ tortured.

So far I think one of my least favourite Terrance Dick novel. I really enjoyed the tv story and I loved seeing Tegan take more central stage, earlier part of the story rather than later. The novel just felt like a transcript of the story. I was hoping to see more scenes with Tegan trapped within her own mind.

"I have the power of life and death over all of you."

[Mikes Dw Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda is already a fantastic story so its hard not to do the story justice. Here Terrance Dicks writes a stright forward retelling but keeps the flow/pace of the story going, but still makes sure its always interesting. He does a rather basic but honestly helpful breakdown of the scripts main characters of the tribe and the villan the Mara. He explains the more techno/mind mysteriousness babble so it at least makes sense and helps you understand how the Mara came to be, what it relly wants and plans to do. Even if it does show a few plot holes. That being that wise woman's box does whatever the script needs it to without question. One minute it makes them all crazy and childlike, the next it reverses it. It also seems odd the Mara cares about blowing up the dome as it seemed like the people was going to do it anyways. Its just a pointless final act, it should of just focused the maras desire to control the tribes people and cause chaos.

It would of also been nice to have gotten some expansion and really get into the heads of these characters. This is the perfect story to really explore and excel at that. However this book has a big dialogue problem. It's too heavy on its dialogue and very low on its description and inner thoughts. While it's still a good book it feels this story really needed the opposite.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find this quite an interesting tale, with the nature of the Mara, and the impacts of both the Mara and the Kinda on everyone in the tale, with some quite amusing scenes really with some of the visitors to the planet.
Nyssa is pretty absent during the story - apparently due to contract negotiations, but seemed a way to resolve the issues with juggling 3 companions.
This is an interesting story for Tegan, being subject to mental attacks and possessed, something we don't often see, and is played up quite well in the story.
Adric isn't as annoying as in Four to Doomsday, but is still a bit grey in here, still a touch arrogant, and seemingly ready to take the side of the bad guys, but as in Full Circle is more clear that this is to try and trick the bad guys / help the others.
The Doctor is in good form here, and is shown to quite happily be taken for an idiot, if it means he can try and find out more / help out more.
Overall quite an interesting tale, if not quite reaching the height of some other stories.

[Hoyt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just a direct transcription of the TV show, with no added insight or explanation of anything. When I read a novelization of a show, I want some added content. Some extra background information, maybe some internal thoughts of the characters. This was just a direct transfer of the show into a novella. All of the dialog is pulled directly from the show. We've been watching all of the classic Doctor Who episodes, and found this story to be rather confusing. On watching the behind-the-scenes extras, we found out that the screenwriter and director clashed a bit, resulting in the mess of a story that you see on the screen. So I got this book, hoping that it might provide more of a coherent story. Nope.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda is a superb piece of television, with a witty, smart and intelligent script that explores some difficult themes intelligently. Terrance Dicks, although I adore most of his work, has approached this story as a bog-standard story with very little subtlety. It’s clear that he has enjoyed writing parts of this but there are other parts that I think he finds a little baffling or far too televisually literary to translate effectively to the page - the climax of Episode 3 immediately springs to mind. He even ignores Nerys Hughes performance as Todd and makes her far less interesting on the page than she was on the screen, although glimpses of it do appear on the page.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little meh as far as Doctor Who stories go. It was just another weird thing about the Doctor and his companions being in a new space, getting entangled in their problem, and then getting out - which is not uncommon for Doctor Who stories. But something about it felt less impactful - maybe because the threat so vague - even given how the Mara had more of an impact in Snakedance.

It's okay, but not great. And Nyssa being sick the whole time was just an additional piece of weirdness.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fifth Doctor's adventures continue. I haven't seen the Mara stories for years. Well written and worth reading

[Damon Habbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was never one of my favourite TV stories, but I enjoyed this book, although the TV story did have a better scene inside Tegans mind.

[Victoria Timpanaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of my all time favorite episodes comes to life in this novelization. Fans of the 5th Doctor will love this story.

[Mark Pidgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good narration and a fun Fifth Doctor tale, doesn’t overstay its welcome on the short runtime so easy for a single listen

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda (1983) by Terrance Dicks is a novelisation of the third serial of the nineteenth season of Dr Who which was a Peter Davison series. The companions are Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Nyssa is barely in the story however as she stays in the TARDIS.

The TARDIS arrives on the jungle planet Deva Loka where a survey team from earth has been losing people. The planet seems idyllic and has a peaceful native race called the Kinda. Tegan and Adric go off and Tegan falls asleep. Meanwhile the Dr encounters the survey team.

Kinda is ….. kinda good. It’s a sort of classic Dr Who plot. It is taken in reasonably interesting ways and there is a nice evil presence. The book also benefits from not having the special effects of the TV series that were amusingly bad but that detracted from the story.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

If "Day of the Daleks" is Terrance Dicks firing on all thrusters..."Kinda" is a wasted opportunity of criminal proportions. To have a television story as deep, dark, and astonishing as "Kinda" transformed into what amounts to an amateurish transcript is nothing short of horrifying. This, rather than the more infamous BBC novel "Warmonger" is Terrance Dicks' lowest literary point in the Doctor Who universe. A travesty against my favourite Doctor.

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting jumble that never quite jelled for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but was never one of my favorite stories.
The main story reminds me of Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' in space and then there's the creepy bit with Tegan and the Mara entity.
Good characterization for Tegan and Adric as they both really push the bounderies of what a companion generally gets to do.

[Lubo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Doctor Who book of any kind, randomly picked it up at the local used bookstore -- I was not blown away by it, but then again I didn't expect to be. It did, however, turn out to be an entertaining little read on a lazy Sunday morning. Almost no character development, but after all, I picked it up to be an entertaining quick read, and that it was and more.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1054675.html#cutid4[return][return]Another standard write-up, not doing any favours to a story whose impact was visual and implicit.

[S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

An unimaginative, hasty recounting of a television story that was sub-par to begin with. It was difficult to follow the television plot and the novel failed to improve the situation. This book was a waste of time, but on the upside it was short enough to finish in one sitting.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Brian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

***star review only***