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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #123
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
In the far future a group of humans is living an idyllic existence on a distant planet. Their colony is run like a gigantic holiday camp and nothing seems to trouble their carefree existence.
When one of them claims that the colony is being invaded by hideous monsters, no one takes him seriously. But the Doctor's suspicions are immediately aroused.
What is the terrible menace that lurks at the heart of this apparent paradise? Why are the colonists unaware of the danger that lies before their very eyes? And what is the Macra Terror?
When one of them claims that the colony is being invaded by hideous monsters, no one takes him seriously. But the Doctor's suspicions are immediately aroused.
What is the terrible menace that lurks at the heart of this apparent paradise? Why are the colonists unaware of the danger that lies before their very eyes? And what is the Macra Terror?
139 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
202 people want to read
About the author
Ian Stuart Black
30 books5 followersIan Stuart Black was a novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Both his 1959 novel In the Wake of a Stranger and his 1962 novel about the Cyprus emergency The High Bright Sun were made into films, Black writing the screenplays in each case.
He also wrote scripts for several British television programmes from the 1950s to the 1970s, including The Invisible Man and Sir Francis Drake (for which he was also story editor), as well as Danger Man (on which he served as associate producer) and Star Maidens.
In addition, he wrote three stories for Doctor Who in 1965 and 1966. These stories were The Savages and The War Machines (with Kit Pedler and Pat Dunlop) for William Hartnell's Doctor; and The Macra Terror for Patrick Troughton. He novelised all three stories for Target Books.
His final credit was for a half-hour supernatural drama called House of Glass, which was made by Television South in 1991.
He was the father of actress Isobel Black.
He also wrote scripts for several British television programmes from the 1950s to the 1970s, including The Invisible Man and Sir Francis Drake (for which he was also story editor), as well as Danger Man (on which he served as associate producer) and Star Maidens.
In addition, he wrote three stories for Doctor Who in 1965 and 1966. These stories were The Savages and The War Machines (with Kit Pedler and Pat Dunlop) for William Hartnell's Doctor; and The Macra Terror for Patrick Troughton. He novelised all three stories for Target Books.
His final credit was for a half-hour supernatural drama called House of Glass, which was made by Television South in 1991.
He was the father of actress Isobel Black.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 1, 2019
‘There is no such thing as Macra’
Well currently that’s true as all four episodes of this underrated Troughton story is missing from the archives, but there’s plans to release an animated version of this serial next month.
A human colony that appears to be happy and tranquil holds a sinister secret.
It’s such a great concept, the problem is this novelisation doesn’t really convey the darker tone of the story.
Especially as one of the TARDIS team starts to become effected by the brainwashing techniques of the Macra.
I was quite surprised how quickly it took me to read this novel, I felt that Black didn’t really give he’s script justice.
Hopefully the DVD release will help to reappraise this story.
Well currently that’s true as all four episodes of this underrated Troughton story is missing from the archives, but there’s plans to release an animated version of this serial next month.
A human colony that appears to be happy and tranquil holds a sinister secret.
It’s such a great concept, the problem is this novelisation doesn’t really convey the darker tone of the story.
Especially as one of the TARDIS team starts to become effected by the brainwashing techniques of the Macra.
I was quite surprised how quickly it took me to read this novel, I felt that Black didn’t really give he’s script justice.
Hopefully the DVD release will help to reappraise this story.
February 11, 2018
This is one of my favourite stories from Patrick Troughton's 2nd Doctor era, but the author doesn't quite push the strangeness and anarchy as hard as he can in print. It's a very readable novelization, but Ian Stuart Black is still traveling the road that will lead him to his last and best developed book, "The War Machines". This is the second stop on Black's prose journey through his own "Doctor Who" stories, and while you can see him deepening his adaptation skills, he's not quite reached the pinnacle just yet.
March 30, 2021
The plot was hard to follow due to the quality of the audiobook.
February 28, 2016
After obtaining every single episode of Doctor Who in its 50 year run (the internet is amazing), I've found a new obsessive pleasure: reading the novelizations along to the audio of junked episodes.
Using The Macra Terror as the first foray into new nerd territory, I was pretty impressed with how well this technique works. Listening to poorly recorded dialogue and trying to decipher what's actually happening (or which of Patrick Troughton's two faces he's using) all while staring at still images SOUNDS pretty enthralling...but...shockingly it's pretty mind-numbing. Reading a description of Patrick Troughton's smug wry smile as his dialogue is heard? Mind-blowing.
Well. Mind-satisfying.
Using The Macra Terror as the first foray into new nerd territory, I was pretty impressed with how well this technique works. Listening to poorly recorded dialogue and trying to decipher what's actually happening (or which of Patrick Troughton's two faces he's using) all while staring at still images SOUNDS pretty enthralling...but...shockingly it's pretty mind-numbing. Reading a description of Patrick Troughton's smug wry smile as his dialogue is heard? Mind-blowing.
Well. Mind-satisfying.
September 6, 2016
I bought the newly released audio book read by Anneke Wills. She does a fantastic job bringing the story to life, using different voices for all the main characters. I often forgot I was listening to one woman. The Macra Terror is a great 60s science fiction adventure. A holiday camp space colony, where everyone has to conform is, unsurprisingly, actually evil! This is a very subversive adventure with the Doctor saying things like, Laws are meant to be broken, and how you shouldn't believe things you are told but investigate everything for yourself! Fantastic story with a great message. Definitely recommended!
October 28, 2017
Back in 1989 I was just nine-years-old and fascinated by Doctor Who. I absolutely loved the show and at that time Sylvester McCoy was wrapping up his tenure as the Doctor.
Nothing would excite me more than coming home after school, flipping on the TV to ABC and watching The Doctor saunter around the screen, dealing with evil aliens, strange creatures and more.
My favourite Doctor would have to be Sylvester McCoy and his adventures with Mel and more frequently Ace. Often it was through the lens of Ace that we get to learn some of the dark secrets that The Doctor contains.
Nothing will ever replace my memories of the terrifying, yet entertaining classic episode series like Paradise Towers, The Happiness Patrol , and of course The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
So as a young fan of Doctor Who, I managed to pick up (read: beg my parents to buy me) a copy of The Macra Terror by Ian Stuart Black, first published on the 1st of December, 1987.
Ian Stuart Black was also the author of the original four television episodes first aired in 1967 on which this novelisation is based.
At that stage I was unfamiliar with Patrick Troughton’s depiction of The Doctor (I still really haven’t seen much) and little did I know that The Macra Terror was one of the most popular stories from his series.
I really can’t remember my first reading of The Macra Terror but I do remember the descriptions of the huge, crab-like creatures that inhabit the sub-terrain and emerge at night.
I’d been meaning to re-read The Macra Terror for a long time, today I had the chance (ie. I finally remembered) to do exactly that.
For those unaware of the story, here is a quick synopsis:
The Doctor and companions Ben, Polly, and Jamie glimpse something frightening on the TARDIS’ scope for a second while traversing time and space, soon after then land on a world The Doctor determines as being in the future where upon early investigation they find what appears to be a typical British-style holiday camp.
When they encounter a member of the camp attempting to escape from the local police-force, the foursome travel to the camp and are welcomed with open arms and relaxing spa treatments.
But not all is what it seems behind the thin veil of happiness…
Not having watched the original series episodes, I don’t really have any direct comparison for the novelisation, however I found it particularly easy to read. Being one-hundred-and-thirty pages long, this slim tome doesn’t take a lot of time to read, which I easily knocked over about an hour and a half.
That said, I found the story quite enjoyable, and quite typical of the standard Doctor Who fare. Ian Stuart Black has written quite a readable short story, with great visual descriptions of the setting, antagonists, and alien creatures alike.
One thing I did notice, especially toward the final crescendo of the story, was the continual head-hopping. Chapters often started with a singular character perspective and shifted to include other perspectives. While this is a little off-putting it’s not enough to break the stories rhythm.
If you’re a Doctor Who fan looking to experience the story of The Macra Terror, and/or haven’t seen the original series episodes, then I’d suggest pick up a copy if you can through Book Depository or Amazon Books
Nothing would excite me more than coming home after school, flipping on the TV to ABC and watching The Doctor saunter around the screen, dealing with evil aliens, strange creatures and more.
My favourite Doctor would have to be Sylvester McCoy and his adventures with Mel and more frequently Ace. Often it was through the lens of Ace that we get to learn some of the dark secrets that The Doctor contains.
Nothing will ever replace my memories of the terrifying, yet entertaining classic episode series like Paradise Towers, The Happiness Patrol , and of course The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
So as a young fan of Doctor Who, I managed to pick up (read: beg my parents to buy me) a copy of The Macra Terror by Ian Stuart Black, first published on the 1st of December, 1987.
Ian Stuart Black was also the author of the original four television episodes first aired in 1967 on which this novelisation is based.
At that stage I was unfamiliar with Patrick Troughton’s depiction of The Doctor (I still really haven’t seen much) and little did I know that The Macra Terror was one of the most popular stories from his series.
I really can’t remember my first reading of The Macra Terror but I do remember the descriptions of the huge, crab-like creatures that inhabit the sub-terrain and emerge at night.
I’d been meaning to re-read The Macra Terror for a long time, today I had the chance (ie. I finally remembered) to do exactly that.
For those unaware of the story, here is a quick synopsis:
The Doctor and companions Ben, Polly, and Jamie glimpse something frightening on the TARDIS’ scope for a second while traversing time and space, soon after then land on a world The Doctor determines as being in the future where upon early investigation they find what appears to be a typical British-style holiday camp.
When they encounter a member of the camp attempting to escape from the local police-force, the foursome travel to the camp and are welcomed with open arms and relaxing spa treatments.
But not all is what it seems behind the thin veil of happiness…
Not having watched the original series episodes, I don’t really have any direct comparison for the novelisation, however I found it particularly easy to read. Being one-hundred-and-thirty pages long, this slim tome doesn’t take a lot of time to read, which I easily knocked over about an hour and a half.
That said, I found the story quite enjoyable, and quite typical of the standard Doctor Who fare. Ian Stuart Black has written quite a readable short story, with great visual descriptions of the setting, antagonists, and alien creatures alike.
One thing I did notice, especially toward the final crescendo of the story, was the continual head-hopping. Chapters often started with a singular character perspective and shifted to include other perspectives. While this is a little off-putting it’s not enough to break the stories rhythm.
If you’re a Doctor Who fan looking to experience the story of The Macra Terror, and/or haven’t seen the original series episodes, then I’d suggest pick up a copy if you can through Book Depository or Amazon Books
April 29, 2025
The Macra Terror is a bit weird. It’s one of the later Target novelizations, being published in late 1987 so right on the border between novelizations as simple adaptation and novelization as early pitches for original Doctor Who fiction. It’s also a novelization of a completely missing serial, the soundtrack being one of the early releases in 1992, however like Marco Polo and The Massacre, it has its original author coming back to novelize it based on his scripts. Ian Stuart Black would actually novelize all three of the stories he wrote for the series, The Macra Terror being the second of the three to be novelized. Despite this, the novelization remains quite close to the soundtrack of the television story, the dialogue is especially similar throughout with a lot of the lines that would be best remembered in the animated version remaining intact. Black actually works quite well as a novelist, making it surprising that he never actually pitched anything for Virgin Books because he’d have made something good out of it. The Macra Terror is a novelization that while keeping everything intact outside of making the structurally weak decision to let Medok live thus making the Macra less deadly a threat, feels quite a bit deeper in the way it characterizes the regulars.
The character dynamics of Ben, Polly, and Jamie as a TARDIS team were always a bit rough, since Jamie was quite literally a last minute addition causing last minute rewrites to The Underwater Menace and The Moonbase. The Macra Terror was the serial where they actually clicked the most as a team, Ben being the working class everyman who succumbs to the influence of the Macra. The novelization takes it one further, Black really wanting to delve into how Polly and Jamie react differently to Ben’s betrayal. Jamie in particular holds a grudge which while not explored too much, this is a shorter novelization after all, what is explored is fascinating. The trust is broken and Polly is the one worrying that Ben will be hurt by Jamie because of it, it adds this tiny little layer of drama that elevates this from simple novelization. There’s some slight reordering of the events of Episode 1 in particular that add to this, the business with Jamie carrying a big stick actually feels more comedic in the novelization which works pretty well. The Doctor in general is also emphasized as the total mythic trickster figure that was what Patrick Troughton excelled at especially.
Overall, The Macra Terror despite being a later novelization is mostly a match in terms of quality and engaging storytelling when compared to what remains of the television counterpart. Black’s prose is quite slick and emphasizes the size and cunning of the Macra which was difficult to really portray on television and to get some actual deeper characterization in a way only prose really can do. 8/10.
The character dynamics of Ben, Polly, and Jamie as a TARDIS team were always a bit rough, since Jamie was quite literally a last minute addition causing last minute rewrites to The Underwater Menace and The Moonbase. The Macra Terror was the serial where they actually clicked the most as a team, Ben being the working class everyman who succumbs to the influence of the Macra. The novelization takes it one further, Black really wanting to delve into how Polly and Jamie react differently to Ben’s betrayal. Jamie in particular holds a grudge which while not explored too much, this is a shorter novelization after all, what is explored is fascinating. The trust is broken and Polly is the one worrying that Ben will be hurt by Jamie because of it, it adds this tiny little layer of drama that elevates this from simple novelization. There’s some slight reordering of the events of Episode 1 in particular that add to this, the business with Jamie carrying a big stick actually feels more comedic in the novelization which works pretty well. The Doctor in general is also emphasized as the total mythic trickster figure that was what Patrick Troughton excelled at especially.
Overall, The Macra Terror despite being a later novelization is mostly a match in terms of quality and engaging storytelling when compared to what remains of the television counterpart. Black’s prose is quite slick and emphasizes the size and cunning of the Macra which was difficult to really portray on television and to get some actual deeper characterization in a way only prose really can do. 8/10.
May 10, 2019
Ever since first experiencing this serial on BBC cassette in the mid-1990s, I have found 'The Macra Terror' an intriguing set of Doctor Who episodes. If I could only choose one story to be returned to the BBC archive of the 97 episodes (currently) still missing, I would name 'The Macra Terror'. You can imagine my excitement on the recent release of the animated reconstruction on DVD, which partly explains why I selected this to be my next choice of Doctor Who related reading matter.
Ian Stuart Black's novelisation is a slightly perfunctory effort, with no attempt to capture or describe the Second Doctor's traits or mannerisms, nor those of his companions. Back stories are taken as read. Disappointingly, no attempt is made to examine the inner thoughts of any of the characters, which seems a wasted opportunity. Why, for example, do we not get to experience Ben's thoughts as he adapts to and struggles against the Macra's insidious mind-control?
Depending on your point of view, the fact that we learn nothing about the Macra's origins and motivations is either frustrating or else adds to their mystery. I incline to the latter, and I think it is more effective that their actions remain malevolently motiveless beyond deliberately subjugating the colonists for their own selfish ends.
I also enjoy the story's Orwellian undertones, and it is abundantly clear in the novelisation the influence of 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty Four' on the story's themes.
Despite some of the shortcomings of Black's novel, the quality of the story shines through, even if the ending, even more so than in the televised episodes, is a rather rushed and anti-climactic affair.
Ian Stuart Black's novelisation is a slightly perfunctory effort, with no attempt to capture or describe the Second Doctor's traits or mannerisms, nor those of his companions. Back stories are taken as read. Disappointingly, no attempt is made to examine the inner thoughts of any of the characters, which seems a wasted opportunity. Why, for example, do we not get to experience Ben's thoughts as he adapts to and struggles against the Macra's insidious mind-control?
Depending on your point of view, the fact that we learn nothing about the Macra's origins and motivations is either frustrating or else adds to their mystery. I incline to the latter, and I think it is more effective that their actions remain malevolently motiveless beyond deliberately subjugating the colonists for their own selfish ends.
I also enjoy the story's Orwellian undertones, and it is abundantly clear in the novelisation the influence of 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty Four' on the story's themes.
Despite some of the shortcomings of Black's novel, the quality of the story shines through, even if the ending, even more so than in the televised episodes, is a rather rushed and anti-climactic affair.
November 1, 2025
I have soft spot for the Macra terror. Its a great little story about a colony driven to be happy and work, while the giant crab monsters lurk underground. The orginal story, while mostly missing, struggles to convincingly show off the macra and atmost times they just sit in a corner and our actors try the absolute best to make them look like they are attacking.
But with the book it's no problem, the crabs can be expanded upon and have much more action. So to my absolute shock and surprise, they don't. I can't understand why given the free range of the books the writer made them just as useless? The scenes in act 3 were we mainly see the macra at large are actually quite dull and very lackluster to read. So is the end, it just happens. In one part jamie sort of walks around them as they very slowly try to get him or have a sleep? I will give one scene some praise. When Ben and polly first encounter the Macra we get a pretty cool scene of the main one attacking polly and then the others start digging their claws in the space trying to get at them.
So I'm gonna say it, the animation is still the best version of this story. What they did with that scene with Jamie was so brilliant, exciting and scary. Having the macra come out the mines every where and chase him down is brilliant. While the other part of the story is a quick retelling, it's okay, but lacks any depth or even a slight depth to the characters so it's unfortunately a rather pointless read.
But with the book it's no problem, the crabs can be expanded upon and have much more action. So to my absolute shock and surprise, they don't. I can't understand why given the free range of the books the writer made them just as useless? The scenes in act 3 were we mainly see the macra at large are actually quite dull and very lackluster to read. So is the end, it just happens. In one part jamie sort of walks around them as they very slowly try to get him or have a sleep? I will give one scene some praise. When Ben and polly first encounter the Macra we get a pretty cool scene of the main one attacking polly and then the others start digging their claws in the space trying to get at them.
So I'm gonna say it, the animation is still the best version of this story. What they did with that scene with Jamie was so brilliant, exciting and scary. Having the macra come out the mines every where and chase him down is brilliant. While the other part of the story is a quick retelling, it's okay, but lacks any depth or even a slight depth to the characters so it's unfortunately a rather pointless read.
February 12, 2021
Might be nostalgia colouring this one, another one of the older books in my collection, that I have fond memories of reading, and I find the Macra to be an unusual villain / monster as such here, and even in the book they have trouble defining them really.
Quite a lot of mystery to begin with, trying to determine who is right and who is wrong, and some interesting character interactions here.
It is one that shows some of the weakness with Classic Doctor Who though, in while we tend to see the companions grow and learn from their experiences, we don't see them react so much to individual parts (An exception is Tegan and Nyssa later with Adric's death). Steven's experiences in Dalek's Masterplan and the Massacre built to the ending of the Massacre, but then seemed forgotten.
Likewise what happened here with Ben is very interesting, but you don't see any of it in the following story, which is a lost opportunity I think. It could have even helped drive Ben and Polly's decision to leave, but nothing.
A good story in of itself though, a bit of a different tale, and the Doctor and his companions get to shine, and we get to understand a bit of some of the one off characters as well, with one I got invested enough in to quite worry about his fate.
Quite a lot of mystery to begin with, trying to determine who is right and who is wrong, and some interesting character interactions here.
It is one that shows some of the weakness with Classic Doctor Who though, in while we tend to see the companions grow and learn from their experiences, we don't see them react so much to individual parts (An exception is Tegan and Nyssa later with Adric's death). Steven's experiences in Dalek's Masterplan and the Massacre built to the ending of the Massacre, but then seemed forgotten.
Likewise what happened here with Ben is very interesting, but you don't see any of it in the following story, which is a lost opportunity I think. It could have even helped drive Ben and Polly's decision to leave, but nothing.
A good story in of itself though, a bit of a different tale, and the Doctor and his companions get to shine, and we get to understand a bit of some of the one off characters as well, with one I got invested enough in to quite worry about his fate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2021
This doesn't really merit a review, I'm just trying to plow through a few short books to meet my target for the year. But I sometimes wonder at the juxtaposition of books that I read consecutively, am I only the person in history to have ever read Gilead immediately followed by The Macra Terror? I think the odds are good. These season 4 novelizations are improved by now having the visuals in your head of the recent animated versions, which take the long-held place of the grainy telesnaps on the reconstructions, which were better than nothing but didn't do much to promote a favorable impression of the story. You can't beat the premise of an isolated colony with no name that unbeknownst to its inhabitants is secretly run by sentient evil lobsters. How would a 2021 live action version of this look? The Macra would probably look a lot less like lobsters, for starters. I like how cool and calculating the second Doctor is in this one, there's no back story on any of the colonists but they are after all under mind control, so give them a break. Black's novelization is heavy on dialog, including some explanations that I don't remember from the tv version, which has its merits in spite of the obvious limitations on sets and effects. Great stuff!
October 11, 2024
Based on his own script this is number 123 in the Target catalogue. The cover art is by Tony Masero.
This is the third and final (in story order, not publication order) Target novel by Ian. I have loved all of them. He doesn’t muck about with the story, but brings enrichment to them.
There’s a couple of notable additions to story that don’t feature in the TV episodes. Firstly a little section at the start where the Doctor and co get pampered on arrival at the colony. The Doctor get’s his shoes shined, his clothes pressed, and his hair done. And then immediately returns them to his scruffy normal self. It’s a fun little addition.
Medox, a minor character written off as nuts in the broadcast version, gets a lot more prominence in the book. Additional scenes escaping the mines and running about in the forest. As well as being point of view and showing us his thoughts.
And the forest surrounding the colony was a change from the broadcast version as well.
The other thing where the book is far superior to the broadcast version is in it’s silence. The jingle music in the TV episode grates like fingernails down a blackboard. Admittedly that was its intent, but that doesn’t stop it being irritating.
In my opinion Ian is one of the better Doctor Who authors.
This is the third and final (in story order, not publication order) Target novel by Ian. I have loved all of them. He doesn’t muck about with the story, but brings enrichment to them.
There’s a couple of notable additions to story that don’t feature in the TV episodes. Firstly a little section at the start where the Doctor and co get pampered on arrival at the colony. The Doctor get’s his shoes shined, his clothes pressed, and his hair done. And then immediately returns them to his scruffy normal self. It’s a fun little addition.
Medox, a minor character written off as nuts in the broadcast version, gets a lot more prominence in the book. Additional scenes escaping the mines and running about in the forest. As well as being point of view and showing us his thoughts.
And the forest surrounding the colony was a change from the broadcast version as well.
The other thing where the book is far superior to the broadcast version is in it’s silence. The jingle music in the TV episode grates like fingernails down a blackboard. Admittedly that was its intent, but that doesn’t stop it being irritating.
In my opinion Ian is one of the better Doctor Who authors.
December 7, 2025
I thought I had watched a recreation of this story but it turns out that it was The Faceless Ones I was thinking of so I went into it pretty blind. I knew of the Macra from the 2007 episode Gridlock but my knowledge only extended to giant crabs who fed on gas from a previous lost episode.
The Macra Terror was okay. I believe it probably translated better on the screen but because of the BBC *pointed look* we may never get to see the story in its original form. I flew through the book, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. I enjoyed the way the 2nd Doctor messes with the people of the colony in this one, the way he slips his way around them was really enjoyable. Would have loved to have seen Patrick Troughton's portrayal *pointed look at the BBC* Ben and Polly were the most bearable that I've encountered so far (funny that happens when Ben is hypnotised for a large portion of the story) but Jamie-my beloved-you have my heart ❤️
Overall it was pretty inoffensive. Not particularly bad but didn't leave much of an impression.
The Macra Terror was okay. I believe it probably translated better on the screen but because of the BBC *pointed look* we may never get to see the story in its original form. I flew through the book, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. I enjoyed the way the 2nd Doctor messes with the people of the colony in this one, the way he slips his way around them was really enjoyable. Would have loved to have seen Patrick Troughton's portrayal *pointed look at the BBC* Ben and Polly were the most bearable that I've encountered so far (funny that happens when Ben is hypnotised for a large portion of the story) but Jamie-my beloved-you have my heart ❤️
Overall it was pretty inoffensive. Not particularly bad but didn't leave much of an impression.
February 27, 2025
Apparently, line editor Nigel Robinson directed Ian Stuart Black to adapt The Macra Terror as a more adult story by leaning into the mind control element. He didn't. Black is the king of old-fashioned sci-fi Doctor Who serials so he doesn't stray too far into modernity. This story's Orwellian/Huxleyan vibes are, in fact, pretty modern for him. The adaptation improves some parts of the story, with more details on the Macra and how they might have evolved, the Colony feeling much bigger without television's production limits, and a better epilogue. But at this point, Troughton has really grown into his Doctor and just using his dialog and describing his shenanigans accurately makes for a breezy, bouncy book. I do wish Black had tracked Ben's brainwashing a little better - as it is, he's just suddenly cured and everyone accepts it.
November 30, 2019
Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this novelization, which is tragic to me because the episode itself is long-gone (though I have heard that they're animating it). It was a big simple, and characters did things for weird, random reasons -- that is, for example, Ben easily fell under the effects of the "gas" -- why him more than the others? Why was Jamie able to pull himself out of it? We are probably meant to assume that Ben's military background made him more susceptible to obeying orders, or that Jamie's simple world becoming suddenly much bigger made him more suspicious, but these lines are never drawn. It's a shame!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MACRA!
Doctor Who meets 1984 with giant crabs… what’s not to Love?
The original 1967 story is an absolute gem of a story with its dark story telling and great social commentary. The original story is unfortunately missing but the novelisation is absolutely stellar. Adding in some great world building and story elements like the Mara giving off a horrible smell, the jungle outside the colony and the scenes of Medok watching the TARDIS dematerialise at the end really adds some depth to the story.
I highly recommend! Especially in winter!
Doctor Who meets 1984 with giant crabs… what’s not to Love?
The original 1967 story is an absolute gem of a story with its dark story telling and great social commentary. The original story is unfortunately missing but the novelisation is absolutely stellar. Adding in some great world building and story elements like the Mara giving off a horrible smell, the jungle outside the colony and the scenes of Medok watching the TARDIS dematerialise at the end really adds some depth to the story.
I highly recommend! Especially in winter!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2020
A faithful adaptation to the Troughton tv story, judging by the animated version. The main problem with the novel stems from a production alteration - as I understand it, originally the Macra were going to be more like insects but they were changed to be crabs. It would have been easy for Black to just stick with the latter but rigidly sticking to the script frequently gives us references to insects alongside descriptions of claws and hard shells.
November 4, 2021
I love this story but...honestly, this doesn't do anything particularly exciting with it, which was basically the same problem I had with Black's novelisation of The Savages. Some of Ben's struggles are cut down, which along with the lack of an actor weakens that arc slightly. Overall, I'd much rather watch the story - and I do think the animation for it is a particularly strong one, so I have no complaints about doing that.
March 3, 2023
Doctor Who : The Macra Terror (1988) is the novelisation of the 7th serial of the fourth season of Doctor Who. The Second Doctor and companions Jamie, Ben and Polly land on a planet that appears to be full of happy workers.
But there is strangeness afoot, a man named Medok has seen strange creatures with large claws outside.
That Macra Terror is quite fun, it’s not a bad story of an earth colony on a strange track. It’s not great, but it’s an amusing read.
But there is strangeness afoot, a man named Medok has seen strange creatures with large claws outside.
That Macra Terror is quite fun, it’s not a bad story of an earth colony on a strange track. It’s not great, but it’s an amusing read.
September 13, 2023
A fairly by-the-numbers adventure given a couple of interesting twists. Black builds the tension adequately towards the climax, but the first half of the story is a lot of walking around, meeting characters and learning about the world and how it works.
July 17, 2018
Sorry for the lack of review. I'm catching up on posting my reading, but don't feel up to comments.
November 13, 2019
A not untypical DW romp with the kernel of a great idea. It finished way too quickly for me.
January 5, 2020
The Doctor and his companions arrive at a human colony in the far future. Shortly they become suspicious of what is going on. Why is everyone upset with Medok and what is the Macra?
November 17, 2023
This book manages to keep the same amount of Atmosphere as the TV story does, it’s an absolutely fantastic read and I highly recommend you read it, Ian Stuart Black did great with this one.
January 11, 2022
I read this a few years ago. Enjoyable. I'm glad Ian Stuart Black took the time to novelize his own scripts.
March 27, 2020
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1028417.html#cutid4
I enjoyed this more than I had expected to, chiefly because of Black's characterisation of the Doctor, which seems to me to capture Troughton's performance better than any of the novels I have read so far. We do, of course, miss out on the superb soundscape of the original (alas, the video is no longer available), and poor Polly ends up screaming a lot. But it's a worthy attempt.
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3359142.html
Rereading it, I felt that it possibly gets us closer to the spirit of the original production than any of the efforts at reconstruction have managed, working from a twenty-year-old script and Black's own intuition of what he had wanted to convey.
I enjoyed this more than I had expected to, chiefly because of Black's characterisation of the Doctor, which seems to me to capture Troughton's performance better than any of the novels I have read so far. We do, of course, miss out on the superb soundscape of the original (alas, the video is no longer available), and poor Polly ends up screaming a lot. But it's a worthy attempt.
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3359142.html
Rereading it, I felt that it possibly gets us closer to the spirit of the original production than any of the efforts at reconstruction have managed, working from a twenty-year-old script and Black's own intuition of what he had wanted to convey.
June 30, 2011
The Macra Terror is one of the stories that underlines the difference between the "old" Doctors and the "new" ones ... When an Earth Colony is threatened by the indigenous species, Troughton's Doctor,
It's a fun story, and the descriptions of the Doctor's antics are spot on.
It's a fun story, and the descriptions of the Doctor's antics are spot on.
December 14, 2009
Second Doctor, Jamie, Ben, Polly. Novelisation of a season 4 story of which only the soundtrack has been recovered. I enjoyed most of it, mainly due the characterisation of the Doctor; unfortunately the climax and end are rushed and not well described. The occasional minor jump in a scene makes you wonder if the author forgot to describe something or if it somehow got deleted.
August 27, 2014
As always, the Second Doctor and Jamie can do no wrong. This time with Ben and Polly in tow they encounter monsters and mind control and poison gas seeping up from the ground. A rousing adventure with plenty of genius, courage, and running.
Yet another story sadly lost in the vaults of the BBC, but this novelization does its best.
Yet another story sadly lost in the vaults of the BBC, but this novelization does its best.
September 18, 2011
I was a little disappointed in this Doctor Who book. I'm not sure if this was because it was about the second Doctor rather than my favourite Doctor (the fourth) or because it was written by a different person than what I usually read...
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