Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death

Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #121

by Terrance Dicks

Seven months after it left Mars there has still been no radio communication with the Probe Seven spacecraft or the astronauts inside it. Back on Earth concern is mounting and eventually a recovery capsule is sent up to rescue the astronauts.

But when the capsule returns to Earth it is found to be empty. As the Doctor and Liz investigate, they discover that the interior of the capsule is highly radioactive: if anyone was inside they would now surely be dead.

Have the astronauts returned to Earth? And if not, who are the sinister space-suited figures who stalk the countryside and whose very touch means instant death?

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1987

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

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this is the weakest story in Season 7, Dicks is able to condense the overly long seven part serial to the traditional Target page length which helps benefit the story.

I liked that the previous adventure with The Silurians is mentioned near the beginning of this story, it feels like The Doctor and Liz Shaw are getting to know each other better.

The story of the disappearing astronauts on a return journey from Mars is a nice simplistic story, though feels very much of its time.
Dicks can always be relied upon to write the Third Doctor well.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final televised Third Doctor story to reach the printed page was something of a disappointment when I read it initially thirty plus years ago. However, thanks to the audiobook line from BBC Audio, I was given the opportunity to visit the story once again.

In the years since I first read the novel, "The Ambassadors of Death" has grown a bit in my estimation. Yes, it's still the weakest story of season seven, but that's damning a bit with faint praise.

Terrance Dicks' adaptation of the David Whitacker/Malcolm Hulke script does a serviceable job of trying to condense seven episodes into the mandated page count. Dicks is able to streamline some of the action sequences (Liz Shaw's car chase, for example, takes about a paragraph or so) and give a bit more time and space to early developments. However, after listening to some of Dicks' earlier works when he was given more time to develop the characters and add in some background details to the situation, I can't help but wish he'd done that here. Imagine the Dicks who wrote "Day of the Daleks" being allowed to fill in the history of the Mars Probe missions or even time to make General Carrington a bit more of a sympathetic villain (or at least give us a better understanding of his motives).

I can't help walking away from this one feeling like it's a missed opportunity more than anything.

And yet, for all of that, the audio version was still a pleasure to listen to. Part of that is narrator Geoffrey Beavers, who could probably read Malcolm Hulke's grocery list and it would be utterly scintillating to the listening ear. Once again, Beavers shows he's one of the jewels in the audio book line.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrance Dicks does a fantastic job but even his prose can’t conceal that big chunks of this story are just padding. It’s fun, but very slight. Which is a pity because the story itself is terrific.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much better book than the Cave Monsters for me. Is an interesting story, though will need to set aside the continuity issues we have with new series stories, I just think is a reflection that the modern series seems to be in at least one parallel universe compared to the classic series, though the classic series has it's own issues (especially around UNIT).
I think it is a nice change here that there are a number of characters who have a good idea of what is going on, compared to it usually being the Doctor at least initially, and certainly adds a bit of mystery, trying to work out who knows what, with a fair bit of subterfuge going on.
The antagonists are a good, varied bunch, with various different motivations which leads to clashes within themselves, not just with the protagonists.
We get to see a bit of the fallout from the Cave Monsters story in terms of the relationship between the Doctor and the Brigadier, and see it starting to mend which is good. While Liz doesn't escape being a damsel in distress at times, even when in such a state her scientific abilities and intelligence shine through, which is good.

[Jason Bleckly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a script credited to David Whitaker, but with input from Malcolm Hulke and Trevor Ray this is number 121 in the Target catalogue. The first cover is by Tony Masero and the second by Alister Pearson. I’ve got to say I love the second. The Ambassadors hand seems to be leaping off the cover at you.

As a youngster this wasn’t one of my favourite stories, but as I’ve grown older the complexity of the characters and plot has grown on me to the point it’s now one of my favourite stories. And what I love about Terrance book is he sticks to the story. It reads like he took the script and just added the descriptive bits of scenery.

One of the things I particularly like about this story is the double story for the villians. It’s not just the mad general fighting the aliens, there’s dissention in the ranks with Keegan making his own plans. Keegan is my favourite character in this story. He’s a man looking out for number one and doing it with suave cynicism and sarcasm. He’s a character I can really relate too.

[Michel Siskoid Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrence Dicks' adaptation of Doctor Who's The Ambassadors of Death makes the Action by HAVOC as exciting as what was one TV, perhaps a bit more, but it's hard to get too excited about a story that has so much padding. People escape and get re-captured so much, you'll think this was a First Doctor historical! I'm being facetious. It's not all escapes and captures, but it might as well be. For every step forward by the heroes, the villains make them take two steps back, until the head honcho finally explains the plot, all in one go, in the final episode (i.e. the last 15 pages). None of which means it's a bad book, or even a bad Doctor Who story (it keeps the mystery going, has lots of action, and upends the usual invasion narrative), but I feel like Dicks could have collapsed the story into fewer pages. Notable changes/additions include a backstory for the nasty Reegan and Dr. Lennox being a little more self-serving.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not the greatest story in the world, due to serious logic problems with the villains, but Terrance Dicks turned in a readable version of a less-than-great story.
Most of my problem with the villains is that they had too much power, aimed in a totally vague direction in the context of what their leader actually wanted. In addition, the muscle guy for the villains really didn't fit the rest of the story.
Also, there is a hypnotic device used in the story that has no actual purpose, and makes very little sense.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite bring myself to hate this one, both because there's some genuinely funny stuff thrown in there (the Brigadier stressing about the Doctor's pressure on UNIT's budget...) and it's based on a pretty solid story, albeit my least favourite of a very good season. However, it is ultimately Dicks in his most prolific and therefore least focused era. I feel no particular desire to read this again when I could just watch the TV version instead.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doctor Who : The Ambassadors of Death (1987) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the third serial of the seventh season of Doctor Who and the 53rd serial overall.

The Doctor, Liz and the Brigadier get involved with a rescue mission that is going to contact the Mars Probe Seven vehicle. The astronauts on the mission then go silent but three space suited astronauts then return.

It’s a bit all over the place. But it’s still quite fun.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

pdf, 135 pages

A lot more enjoyable than he usual paint-by-numbers reread of the script - that said, I'm not over-fond of the original, finding the seven episode format overlong to sustain interest (or even plot) for the entire story without resorting to a variety of 'padding' exercises. In this one it's the overlong fight scenes - and amusingly it's possible to pick them out in the book!

I'm often very sniffy about some of these novelisations but here I have to say 'Well done!' -= and I have no hesitation in awarding more stars than my normal rating.

[Denis Southall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor and Liz get mixed up in interplanetary diplomacy gone wrong with mysterious aliens who 'eat' radioactivity and are used as tools by human megalomaniacs intent on obtaining great wealth or wiping out the aliens hovering space ship. This story felt a bit weak overall but I'm a fan, so as usual, I enjoyed it.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I found this one to be fairly entertaining. I am not really familiar with Liz's run on the show, so it was nice to read a story with her in it. I thought the plot was interesting and enjoyed the inclusion of the Brigadier.

[Shawn McLain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third doctor is always entertaining.

[Ross DS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written conversion of an epic 7 part story into a good little book.
Re the TV serial, it’s much better watched one episode a night rather than in one long sitting

[Twainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the soundtrack of a 7 episode story from the third Doctor’s reign, it’s enhanced by the actress who plays Liz Shaw who narrates between scenes. There’s an interview with this actress after the story.

A mission to Mars hasn’t returned but the rescue team has or have they?! The Doctor, Liz & the Brig solve the mystery.

This was a fun book. I love the Brig!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Matthew Kresal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ambassadors of Death, the third story for Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor in 1970, is one of those overlooked Doctor Who stories. Its novelization published seventeen years later is similarly neglected despite it rounding off that Doctor's adventures for that range. Which is a shame both on-screen and on the page for there's a compelling thriller to be found.

The TV version of the story had an especially rocky start, commissioned from writer David Whitaker by a production team who grew less and less happy with it. In the end, Whitaker was forced to abandon it. Instead, a combination of script editor Terrance Dicks, his assistant Trevor Ray, and Dicks' mentor Malcolm Hulke completed it. The result is an engaging earthbound thriller but one with perhaps a few cracks in its plot.

So who better than its script editor to novelize it?

One of the fascinating things in encountering the book now is how much Dicks works to smooth over those cracks. Some apparent plot holes get filled or, if nothing else, better explained here than they were on screen. Characters likewise get more depth to them, such as the scientists Heldorf and Lennox, or the roguish Reegan.

Some of the issues the TV version had remains, though. There were too many characters with not enough to do between them, for example. Elsewhere, Dicks passed up a golden opportunity to expand upon the characterization of the serial's eventual villain despite adding some nice touches along the way. Those are comparatively minor quibbles, though, especially given Dicks' efforts elsewhere with the source material.

Beyond that, Dicks' prose quite suits the thriller tone of the tale. Coming late in the Target range when he wasn't writing a book a month, Ambassadors of Death has a feeling more akin to the early days of the line. The pacing is solid, adding to the thriller aspects of the story, as well as giving the entire story a better flow than it enjoyed on screen. The little details Dicks adds here and there help as well, fleshing things out. Above all else, the action sequences come across splendidly, perhaps none more so than the attack on the UNIT convoy transporting the Recovery 7 capsule. In many ways, the book feels like a return to form for Dicks after years of what started to feel like copy and paste novelizations.

The 2018 audiobook edition of it adds a whole new life to it. Geoffrey Beevers, who briefly appeared in the story as a UNIT soldier before going on to play the Master a decade later, proves an adept reader of the tale. Though none of the characters he voices are impersonations of their TV performers, each is distinct and nicely drawn in Beevers' tones. The music and sound effects by Simon Power similarly doesn't necessarily evoke the TV story or Dudley Simpson's music for it but, at the same time, create an atmosphere all their own. The result is both a solid reading a slightly alternate take on the tale.

At the end of the day, the novelization of The Ambassadors of Death might not solve some of the issues the original TV version has, but it's an entertaining ride nonetheless. Indeed, the result might be more of an SF thriller than Who's typical alien invasion tale. This isn't a bad thing as Terrance Dicks produces a fine thriller from an overlooked serial.

And that is no mean feat.

[Christian Petrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a few days to go, nearing the end of another year of my Doctor Who challenge. In the 2 1/2 years I have worked my way to the 3rd Doctor. Also, the first time that I have read a book shortly after watching the story it is about. This gives a different feel to the book.

The premise is finding out what happened to the astronauts that were sent to Mars and the one on the rescue vehicle. This is told over the course of six episodes on TV, which could have been shortened to four episodes. Because of this plot being stretched out you have people being captured, escaping, being captured again. Along with different revelations on who is behind the whole conspiracy.

When this is translated into the novel, a couple of things happen. With all the action going on, you rarely see anyone die. This is not explained on screen, but Terrance Dicks creates a reason within the bad guys why they are not killing. He also expands one of the bad guys to show why he does kill. There are a couple of other examples of simple lines to expand the story. This is on par with what Dicks and other authors have done in the past.

Normally I would have said, that the six episodes don't translate well into the novel because it falls under the Target limits. It is the reverse in this case. Because the plot seems to be stretched for six episodes, the Target novel makes it flow faster with the shorten descriptions.

Terrance Dicks does a good job in converting the story to the novel. He covers what is needed and adds the extra to it. Because of the nature of the plot, it does not make it too memorable. It is a nice distraction and a quick burn. Not too bad, though at the end, like in the televised version, it comes across a bit sudden of the Doctor leaving everyone.

[Spoiler]
My opinion is that the Doctor feels that there will be no more action, even though the astronauts have not arrived. Even though returning the astronauts is not complete, it is boring so he decided to go somewhere else that more exciting.

[Daniel Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sad thing about these later novelisations by Dicks is that they were unfortunately for the most part sub-par stories.

This story is a prime example. When initially conceived it was intended to be a simple four part story set in a future Earth with the second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe and written by 60s stalwart David Whitaker, who was keen for a simpler story after a series of high maintenance commissions by the Doctor Who production team who tended to overuse him.

After six redrafts by Whitaker and three other writers (four done by Whitaker, one by junior script editor Trevor Ray and the final one undertaken by Malcolm Hulke & Terrance Dicks pulling another 'War Games' job at the last minute) the serial become a seven part monstrosity set on contemporary Earth with the third Doctor, Liz Shaw and the ever growing UNIT family.

Needless to say its the worst story of the 1970 season and one of the worst of the Pertwee era full stop. Too much padding, escapes, recaptures, the same cliffhangers again and again, stereotypical characters and convoluted plot contrivances particularly around the character of General Carrington.

When it came time to novelise the script in 1986, Dicks did an adequate job, unfortunately the page count of 144 makes it a very tight adaptation with Dicks insisting on including all the scenes in the transmitted version, so we are somewhat lacking in the usual back story and explanation common to most good novelisations, which make it seem like he really was just transferring the script to the page.

The familiar adage of 'you can't polish a turd' also comes to mind as even with the tight page count you still feel like the story is over long and prone to plot fatigue. The description of fire fights where no one is harmed makes you feel what a novelisation of The A Team would have felt like. After a while you're just turned off and craving a story which moves at a much better pace.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1032344.html?#cutid3

This is not particularly good. We lose out on the action scenes which were one of the original story's strong points (along with generally good direction), and Dicks adds little new to the plot which basically exposes its weaknesses rather more mercilessly to the reader. Published in 1987, this was the last of the televised Third Doctor stories to reach print (wording chosen carefully to allow for Barry Letts' novels based on his two audio dramas).

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3792884.html

I think I was a little harsh. Squeezing seven episodes into a Target novelisation is a considerable challenge which the late great Terrance Dicks managed effortlessly, and he also gives us brief introductory characterisation paragraphs for all of the significant characters. It's still not my favourite novelisation, not even of Season 7 (Cave Monsters for the win!) but I should have been fairer.

[Jonathon Dabell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as a brief time filler, having got back into the old Doctor Who stories and programmes due to my daughter's interest in them. The book is very straightforward and simplistic, and bears all the hallmarks of a hastily novelised spin-off (which, of course, is precisely what it is). Very fast and easy to read, but lacking true verve. Some of the plotting was interesting(ish), such as the various double-crosses that take place throughout the story and the fact that the perceived "baddies" turn out to be less evil and mean-spirited than we are led to expect early in the story. The dialogue is exceptionally clunky and unbelievable though, and the book is somewhat lacking in real depth and "soul".

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a big fan of the TV version of "The Ambassadors of Death" -- too long, too drawn out, and too concerned with tiny details at the expense of a brisk pace. But in the hands of former script editor Terrance Dicks, the prose version of this tale is stripped down and streamlined into a much more manageable...and much more enjoyable...adventure. The last of the Jon Pertwee/3rd Doctor novelizations makes for surprisingly crisp and concise reading.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a change of pace story for Doctor Who, as it's a very straightforward and tries for a more hard science approach.
Miscommunication between aliens and humans, mixed in with a bit of paranoia causes trouble for the British Space program, the Doctor and soon earth itself.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contrast to the previous novel which had a solid plot but was poorly written. This novel has good writing thanks to Terrance Dicks, but a dish water dull plot. All but the last couple chapters feel like a Nasa training manual.

[stormhawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of the better episodes, surely a superintelligent, highly radioactive, spacefaring alien race would find a better way of sending ambassadors to Earth than having them kidnapped ...

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't even finish. Slow moving and didn't feel like doctor who.