The Novel of the Film (novelisation): Difference between revisions
(maor trim of lead; this is not the place for a major run-down of the history of DW publishing.) |
|||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
writer= [[Gary Russell]] | | writer= [[Gary Russell]] | | ||
publisher= [[BBC Books]] | | publisher= [[BBC Books]] | | ||
release date= [[May]], [[1996]] | | release date= [[16th May]], [[1996]] | | ||
format= Paperback Book, 223 Pages | | format= Paperback Book, 223 Pages | | ||
isbn= ISBN 0-563-38000-4| | isbn= ISBN 0-563-38000-4| | ||
previous story= [[NA]]: [[Lungbarrow]]| | previous story= [[NA]]: [[Lungbarrow]]| | ||
next story= [[NA]]: [[The Dying Days]]<br>[[EDA]]: [[The Eight Doctors]]}} | next story= [[NA]]: [[The Dying Days]]<br>[[EDA]]: [[The Eight Doctors]]}} | ||
'''Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film''' | '''''Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film''''' is a [[Gary Russell]] novelisation of the [[1996]] TV movie, ''[[Doctor Who: The TV Movie|Doctor Who]]'', which was published in conjunction with the film's broadcast in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Though for copyright purposes known as simply '''''Doctor Who''''', the book has a cover which sends somewhat ambiguous signals about its title. On the front cover it's ''Doctor Who'', but on the spine, it's ''Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film''. | ||
The book was significant for a number of reasons. It was the premiere release of a ''Doctor Who'' novel by [[BBC Books]], which would completely take over the ''Doctor Who'' publishing license from [[Virgin Publishing|Virgin]] by late [[1997]]. It was also the first novelisation not appearing under the [[Target Books|Target]] or Virgin labels, and the first novelisation to be completed ''before'' the filmed version was. That it had to be written so early created certain contradictions in the text, especially in terms of the physical description of some of the minor characters. It also made it one of the few ''Doctor Who'' novelisations to be in [[British]] shops well prior to the debut of its episode on [[BBC One]]. | |||
==Publisher’s Summary== | ==Publisher’s Summary== | ||
| Line 27: | Line 23: | ||
But the Doctor is not the only time-traveller in San Francisco. His oldest adversary, [[the Master]], is there as well, desperately trying to steal the Doctor's newly-regenerated body. Before long, the Doctor is faced with a choice: to save his own life, or the billions of people who have no future unless the Master is stopped. If only the Doctor could remember how... | But the Doctor is not the only time-traveller in San Francisco. His oldest adversary, [[the Master]], is there as well, desperately trying to steal the Doctor's newly-regenerated body. Before long, the Doctor is faced with a choice: to save his own life, or the billions of people who have no future unless the Master is stopped. If only the Doctor could remember how... | ||
==Deviations from the film== | ==Deviations from the film== | ||
| Line 62: | Line 52: | ||
==International Editions== | ==International Editions== | ||
* Much like the DVD release of the TV movie, there have been | * Much like the DVD release of the TV movie, there have been releases of this novelisation outside Britain. In 1996, BBC Books did not have a distribution agreement for North America (unlike Virgin) so it was not made available overseas except by specialist importers, despite the film's strong ties to both the US and Canada. Oddly, though, the novelisation's release date ensured it could spoil the British public's enjoyment of the film. It came out after the North American debut of the film, but over a week before the British one. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*''[[Doctor Who - The Script of the Film]]'' | *''[[Doctor Who - The Script of the Film]]'' | ||
Revision as of 14:49, 15 January 2010
Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film is a Gary Russell novelisation of the 1996 TV movie, Doctor Who, which was published in conjunction with the film's broadcast in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Though for copyright purposes known as simply Doctor Who, the book has a cover which sends somewhat ambiguous signals about its title. On the front cover it's Doctor Who, but on the spine, it's Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film.
The book was significant for a number of reasons. It was the premiere release of a Doctor Who novel by BBC Books, which would completely take over the Doctor Who publishing license from Virgin by late 1997. It was also the first novelisation not appearing under the Target or Virgin labels, and the first novelisation to be completed before the filmed version was. That it had to be written so early created certain contradictions in the text, especially in terms of the physical description of some of the minor characters. It also made it one of the few Doctor Who novelisations to be in British shops well prior to the debut of its episode on BBC One.
Publisher’s Summary
Late December, 1999: the brink of a new millennium. An anachronistic British Police Box materialises in San Francisco's Chinatown amid a hail of bullets which find an unintentional target — a strange man who walks out of the Police Box. Despite the best efforts of Dr Grace Holloway, the unknown traveller dies and his body vanishes. And soon another stranger appears, claiming to be the same man inside a different body; a mysterious wanderer in time and space known only as the Doctor.
But the Doctor is not the only time-traveller in San Francisco. His oldest adversary, the Master, is there as well, desperately trying to steal the Doctor's newly-regenerated body. Before long, the Doctor is faced with a choice: to save his own life, or the billions of people who have no future unless the Master is stopped. If only the Doctor could remember how...
Deviations from the film
According to the introduction of the book, Russell wrote the adaptation based upon the screenplay, without having seen the finished product. As a result the novel contains a number of differences from the movie.
- Grace and Chang Lee's back stories are explored in greater detail than in the TV movie.
- The first chapter and a half goes into more detail about aspects of the TARDIS and how and why the Doctor got the Master's remains.
- During the final battle between the Master and the Doctor, the Master leaves Bruce's body and becomes a bleached silhouette of a man.
- The book does not end with things messing up again in the TARDIS, instead the Doctor ponders over where to go next, hoping for somewhere exciting or at least a place with a good pot of tea.
Author, Writing and Publishing Notes
- Photography for the front cover and rear cover is by Joe Lederer.
- The cover features a the 'Doctor Who' logo in a silver reflective effect (which is also used on the spine of the novel).
- The front cover carries the line "He's Back...And It's About Time", a line never used in the TV movie but which became a tagline for many of the products and advertisements associated with the TV movie.
- The cover design of the first edition is virtually identical to that used for the first VHS release.
- The novelisation is dedicated to: Terrance Dicks (with the added line "Who made me want to write a Doctor Who novelisation"), Philip Segal and Matthew Jacobs.
- Author Gary Russell went on to work with the Big Finish audio dramas series, and as script editor for Doctor Who when it returned to telvision in 2005. This makes him one of the few people connected in a major way to the 1996 movie to carry on with the later revival. He would also go on to write for the IDW Doctor Who comic book series in 2007-08 as well as novelisations based upon episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Audiobook
- The BBC released an abridged audiobook of this novel on audiocassette, read by Paul McGann. This release is notable for being McGann's first appearance on a Doctor Who audio.
Associated Images
Audiobook cover
Publishing History (UK)
- BBC Books, paperback, 1996
- BBC Audiobooks, audiocassette, 1996
International Editions
- Much like the DVD release of the TV movie, there have been releases of this novelisation outside Britain. In 1996, BBC Books did not have a distribution agreement for North America (unlike Virgin) so it was not made available overseas except by specialist importers, despite the film's strong ties to both the US and Canada. Oddly, though, the novelisation's release date ensured it could spoil the British public's enjoyment of the film. It came out after the North American debut of the film, but over a week before the British one.
See also
