The Krotons (novelisation)

The Krotons
Based on:	The Krotons
Doctor:	Second Doctor
Companion(s):	Jamie, Zoe
Main enemy:	Krotons, Eelek
Main setting:	The Gond planet
Key crew
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen & Co
Writer:	Terrance Dicks
Release details
Release number:	99
Release date:	14 November 1985
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions; 12 Chapters, 121 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-20189-2
Target novelisations
← Previous	The Invasion
Next →	The Seeds of Death

The Krotons was a novelisation based on the 1968 television serial The Krotons.

Publisher's summary

1985 edition

Many thousands of years ago strange crystalline creatures came down from the stars and settled on the planet of the Gonds.

Over the years they educated the Gonds through teaching machines in the great Hall of Learning. In return, the Gonds periodically selected their two most brilliant scholars to become the `companions' of these mysterious beings.

But when the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on the planet, they soon discover the true evil purpose of the aliens and learn what it really means to be companions of the Krotons...

1991 edition

According to legend, many thousands of years ago strange creatures came from the skies and settled on the planet of the Gonds. They were the Krotons.

And now, every year, the Gond's two greatest scholars are chosen to become the companions of the Krotons. They disappear and are never seen again, but it is held to be a great honour; for only the finest are chosen.

But when the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on the planet, they discover the true, evil purpose of the aliens and find out what it really means to be the companions of the Krotons...

Doctor Who - The Krotons, featuring Patrick Troughton in the role of the Doctor, was broadcast in 1968 and was written by Robert Holmes. This novelization is by Terrance Dicks, who has novelized over sixty Doctor Who television stories; at the time The Krotons was broadcast he was the script editor of the series.

Doctor Who - The Krotons is available as a BBC video.

Chapter titles

1. A Candidate for Death
2. The Rescue
3. The Rebels
4. The Genius
5. The Companions
6. The Krotons Awake
7. The Militants
8. The Attack
9. The Second Attack
10. Battle Plans
11. Eelek's Bargain
12. Acid

Deviations from televised story

• The Doctor's claim that he is "not a doctor of medicine" is repeated, followed by the omniscient narrator describing this reply "a little unfair[...], since he was in fact a doctor of almost everything."
• The Doctor is amazed that the Krotons feed off living thoughts and feels this justifies their arrogance.
• Vana justifies avoiding the evacuation by saying she is a scientist and can help Beta.
• The continuity error of Beta being in the Underhall when he was left behind in the laboratory is corrected, with his line given to an unnamed engineer (as it was in the original script).
• The comedy business of Beta burning his finger while testing the acid is removed.

Writing and publishing notes

• Inside back cover features colour Fantastic Doctor Who Poster Offers!
• The cover of the original Target Books edition featured the artwork of Andrew Skilleter.

Additional cover images

• 

  1991 Target reprint, cover by Alister Pearson

British publication history

First publication:

• Hardback

W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

1991 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alistair Pearson priced £2.50 (UK)

External links

to be added