The Celestial Toymaker (novelisation): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story
|image= Celestial Toymaker novel.jpg  
|image       = <gallery>
|series = Publication Order
Celestial Toymaker novel.jpg|1986 edition
|number= 111  
2Celestial Toymaker novel.jpg|1992 edition
</gallery>
|number       = 111  
|novelisation of = The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)
|novelisation of = The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)
|doctor=First Doctor  
|doctor       = First Doctor  
|companions= [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], [[Dodo Chaplet|Dodo]]  
|companions   = [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], [[Dodo Chaplet|Dodo]]  
|enemy= [[The Toymaker]]  
|enemy       = [[The Toymaker]]  
|setting= [[Celestial Toyroom]]  
|setting     = [[Celestial Toyroom]]  
|writer= [[Gerry Davis]] and [[Alison Bingeman]]
|writer       = [[Gerry Davis]] and [[Alison Bingeman]]
|publisher= Target Books
|cover        = [[Graham Potts]]
|publisher2= W.H. Allen
|publisher   = Target Books
|cover= [[Graham Potts]]
|publisher2   = W.H. Allen
|release date= [[20 November (releases)|20 November]] [[1986 (releases)|1986]]
|release date = [[20 November (releases)|20 November]] [[1986 (releases)|1986]]
|format= Hardcover and paperback editions; 10 Chapters, 127 Pages  
|format       = Hardcover and paperback editions; 10 Chapters, 127 Pages  
|isbn= ISBN 0-426-20251-1
|isbn         = ISBN 0-426-20251-1
|prev= Fury from the Deep (novelisation)
|series      = Publication Order
|next= The Seeds of Death (novelisation)
|prev         = Fury from the Deep (novelisation)
|series2 = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV series order]]
|next         = The Seeds of Death (novelisation)
|prev2= The Ark (novelisation)
|series2     = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV series order]]
|next2= The Gunfighters (novelisation)
|prev2       = The Ark (novelisation)
|next2       = The Gunfighters (novelisation)
}}
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the 1966 television serial ''[[The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)|The Celestial Toymaker]]''.
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the 1966 television serial ''[[The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)|The Celestial Toymaker]]''.
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== Additional cover images ==
== Additional cover images ==
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
File:HardbackCelestialToymaker.jpg|1986 Hardback edition
HardbackCelestialToymaker.jpg|1986 Hardback edition
File:2Celestial Toymaker novel.jpg|1992 edition.<br />Cover by [[Alister Pearson]]
2Celestial Toymaker novel.jpg|1992 edition.<br />Cover by [[Alister Pearson]]
</gallery>
</gallery>



Revision as of 21:48, 12 June 2023

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The Celestial Toymaker was a novelisation based on the 1966 television serial The Celestial Toymaker.

Publisher's summary

1986 Target Books edition

Somewhere outside space and time there waits the Toymaker, an enigmatic being who ensnares unwary travellers in his domain to play out his dark and deadly games.

Separated from the security of the TARDIS, the Doctor is forced to play the complex trilogic game with the evil magician. Meanwhile, Dodo and Steven must enter into a series of tests with, among others, the schoolboy Cyril and the King and Queen of Hearts.

If they lose, they are condemned to become the Toymaker's playthings for all eternity. For in the malevolent wonderland that is the Celestial Toyroom, nothing is just for fun...

1992 Target Books edition

THE TOYMAKER NODDED SLOWLY. 'I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, DOCTOR...'

Somewhere outside space and time there waits the Celestial Toymaker, an enigmatic being who ensnares unwary travellers in his domain to play out his dark and deadly games.

Separated from the security of the TARDIS, the Doctor is forced to play the complex trilogic game with the evil magician. Meanwhile, Dodo and Steven must enter into a series of tests with, among others, the schoolboy Cyril and the King and Queen of Hearts. For in the malevolent wonderland that is the Celestial Toyroom, nothing is just for fun...

Written by Who veteran Brian Hayles, The Celestial Toymaker featured William Hartnell in the role of the Doctor; this novelisation contains a foreword by Gerry Davis which tells of some of the difficulties which faced the cast and crew while making this story.

Chapter titles

  1. Trapped
  2. Bring On The Clowns
  3. Snakes and Ladders
  4. The Hall of Dolls
  5. Siege Perilous
  6. The Last Deadly Sister
  7. Enter Mrs Wiggs and Sergeant Rugg
  8. The Ballroom
  9. The Final Test
  10. Stalemate

Deviations from televised story

  • The Toymaker's backstory is expanded upon; the Doctor describes him as native to the universe, and as having created the Celestial Toyroom himself as "a universe entirely in his own vision". He and his games have allegedly become "notorious" in the universe. He is seen to use a sapphire ring to control his creations, similar to the Doctor's signet ring.
  • The cliffhanger leading into The Gunfighters is omitted, with the novel ending on the Doctor's statement that they will encounter the Toymaker again, and him starting to work on teaching Dodo to improve her elocution.
  • Additional scenes compare the toys to nuclear weapons.

Writing and publishing notes

  • A foreword by Gerry Davis (Los Angeles, 1985) explains that “for this book version we were able to resurrect some extra material which had to be cut from the TV serial” which he also explains was written hurriedly in an emergency.
  • Writer Gerry Davis was very keen to get the commission for this, eagerly awaited novelisation, which he then gave to Alison Bingeman.
  • Bingeman's credit makes this the first novel in the history of the Target Books series to be written (or, in this case, co-written) by someone who had not either written scripts for Doctor Who or had been part of its production team. In the next few years several other novels by such "third parties" would be published by Nigel Robinson and John Peel.
  • The back cover includes colour details of Fantastic Doctor Who Poster Offers!
  • The cover for the original Target Books edition features the artwork of Graham Potts.

Additional cover images

British publication history

First publication:

  • Hardback
W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK
  • Paperback
Target

Re-issues:

Paperback: Target / Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK December 1992 Cover by Alistair Pearson (£2.50 UK)

External links

to be added