The Romans (novelisation): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image           = Romans novel.jpg  
|name= The Romans 
|series         = [[Target novelisation]]s
|image= Romans novel.jpg  
|number         = 120  
|series=[[Target novelisation]]s  
|novelisation of = The Romans (TV story)
|number= 120  
|doctor         = First Doctor  
|novelisation of=The Romans (TV story)
|companions     = [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]]  
|doctor=First Doctor  
|enemy           = [[Locusta]]   
|companions= [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]]  
|setting         = [[Rome]], [[July]] [[64]]
|enemy= [[Locusta]]   
|writer         = Donald Cotton
|setting= [[Rome]], [[July]] [[64]]
|read by        = [[Tim Treloar]], [[Jamie Glover]], [[Dan Starkey]], [[Clare Corbett]], [[Jon Culshaw]], [[Maureen O'Brien]], [[Louise Jameson]]
|writer= [[Donald Cotton]] 
|cover          = [[Tony Masero]]
|publisher= [[Target Books]], [[W.H. Allen & Co]]
|publisher      = Target Books
|release date= [[17 September (releases)|17 September]] [[1987 (releases)|1987]]
|publisher2      = W.H. Allen  
|format= Hardcover and paperback editions, 128 Pages  
|release date   = 17 September 1987
|isbn= ISBN 0-426-20288-0
|format         = Hardcover and paperback editions; 31 Chapters, 128 Pages  
|prev= The Rescue (novelisation)  
|isbn           = ISBN 0-426-20288-0
|next= Doctor Who and the Zarbi }}
|prev           = The Reign of Terror (novelisation)
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the [[1965 (releases)|1965]] television serial ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]''.
|next            = The Ambassadors of Death (novelisation)
|series2        = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV series order]]
|prev2          = The Rescue (novelisation)
|next2          = Doctor Who and the Zarbi (novelisation)
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the 1965 television serial ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]''.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
The [[the Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] crew members have taken a break from their adventures and are enjoying a well-deserved rest in a luxury villa on the outskirts of [[Rome|Imperial Rome]].
[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] crew members have taken a break from their adventures and are enjoying a well-deserved rest in a luxury villa on the outskirts of [[Rome|Imperial Rome]].
 
But in the gory grandeur that is Rome, things don't stay quiet for long. If the time-travellers can save themselves from being sold as slaves, assassinated by classical hit-men, poisoned by the evil [[Locusta]], thrown to the lions, maimed in the arena and drowned in a shipwreck, they still have to face the diabolical might of the mad [[Nero|Emperor Nero]].


But in the gory grandeur that is Rome, things don’t stay quiet for long. If the time-travellers can save themselves from being sold as slaves, assassinated by classical hit-men, poisoned by the evil [[Locusta]], thrown to the lions, maimed in the arena and drowned in a shipwreck, they still have to face the diabolical might of the mad [[Nero|Emperor Nero]].
As if that isn't enough, they also discover that, although Rome wasn't built in a day, it was [[Great Fire of Rome|burnt down]] in considerably less time...


As if that isn’t enough, they also discover that, although Rome wasn’t built in a day, it was burnt down in considerably less time...
== Chapter titles ==
* Prologue: Epistle to The Keeper of the Imperial Archives, Rome
* Document I: First Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document II: First Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document III: First Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document IV: Second Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document V: Second Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document VI: Second Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document VII: Third Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document VIII: Third Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document IX: Third Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document X: Fourth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document XI: First Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
* Document XII: Fourth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document XIII: First Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook - An Ode to Barbara
* Document XIV: Fourth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document XV: Fifth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document XVI: Fifth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document XVII: Second Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
* Document XVIII: A Poisoner Remembers (Extract from The Autobiography of Locusts)
* Document XIX: Letter from Barbara Wright
* Document XX: Second Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook
* Document XXI: Sixth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document XXII: Third Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
* Document XXIII: Fifth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document XXIV: Sixth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document XXV: Seventh Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
* Document XXVI: Seventh Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Document XXVII: Sixth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
* Document XXVIII: Third Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook
* Document XXIX: Eighth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
* Epilogue: A Second Epistle to The Keeper of the Imperial Archives, Rome


== Deviations from televised story ==
== Deviations from televised story ==
* Rather than write a straightforward narrative, Cotton chose to write this novelisation in the form of letters and journal entries.
* Rather than write a straightforward narrative, Cotton chose to write this novelisation in the form of letters and journal entries.
* [[Ascaris]] continues to appear in the second half of the story, accidentally killing the [[Centurion]], being pursued into the arena by lions unwittingly unleashed by the Doctor during Ian and [[Delos]]' gladiatorial fight, and fleeing Rome during the Great Fire, with the epilogue stating he is currently working on Hadrian's Wall and could be blamed for the fire. The novelisation also makes him a legionary first class and Locusta's son.
* Other characters have their parts reduced: [[Sevcheria]] disappears after recapturing Ian and Delos in Rome, [[Locusta]]'s death is omitted, Delos departs after the gladiatorial fight and [[Tavius]] only meets the Doctor briefly, with his status as a Christian and conspirator against Nero only established in the epilogue.
* The Doctor encounters Barbara at the palace and bustles her and Ian away from the scene when Nero and [[Poppaea]] are distracted by the lions he released earlier, before accidentally starting the fire himself by dropping the burning plans into the sewer.
* [[Otho (emperor)|Otho]] and [[Vespasian]] are mentioned.


== Writing and publishing notes ==
== Writing and publishing notes ==
* No photographic reference material was available at the time and cover artist [[Tony Masero]], instead took his inspiration from a picture of Peter Ustinov as [[Nero]] in the film [[Quo Vadis]].
* No photographic reference material was available at the time and cover artist [[Tony Masero]], instead took his inspiration from a picture of [[Peter Ustinov]] as [[Nero]] in the film [[Quo Vadis]].


== Additional cover images ==
== Additional cover images ==
''To be added''
<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" >
File:HardbackRomans.jpg|1987 Hardback edition
</gallery>
 
== Audiobook ==
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on [[5 January (releases)|5 January]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[Tim Treloar]], [[Jamie Glover]], [[Dan Starkey]], [[Clare Corbett]], [[Jon Culshaw]], [[Maureen O'Brien]] and [[Louise Jameson]].
 
This audiobook was the first release to use the [[Doctor Who logo#2022-present|stacked version]] of the [[2022 (releases)|2022]] logo.
 
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
The Romans audiobook.jpg|Audiobook cover
</gallery>


== British publication history ==
== British publication history ==
: '''Hardback''' (April 1987)
: Hardback (April 1987)
* W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:049103833X, copies priced £7.50 (UK))
* W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:049103833X, copies priced £7.50 (UK)
: '''Paperback''' (September 1987)
: Paperback (September 1987)
* Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. Single paperback edition, estimated print run: 30,000, priced £1.95 (UK).
* Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. Single paperback edition, estimated print run: 30,000, priced £1.95 (UK).


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{On target|1987/romans/87romans.htm|Doctor Who - The Romans}}
''to be added''
 
{{DWN}}
{{DWN}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
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[[Category:Target novelisations]]
[[Category:Target novelisations]]
[[Category:1987 novels]]
[[Category:1987 novels]]
[[Category:First Doctor novelisations]]
[[Category:Stories set in Rome]]
[[Category:Stories set in 64]]
[[Category:Novels set in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Stories set in Italy]]
[[Category:Target novelisations with audiobook readings]]

Latest revision as of 20:50, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

The Romans was a novelisation based on the 1965 television serial The Romans.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS crew members have taken a break from their adventures and are enjoying a well-deserved rest in a luxury villa on the outskirts of Imperial Rome.

But in the gory grandeur that is Rome, things don't stay quiet for long. If the time-travellers can save themselves from being sold as slaves, assassinated by classical hit-men, poisoned by the evil Locusta, thrown to the lions, maimed in the arena and drowned in a shipwreck, they still have to face the diabolical might of the mad Emperor Nero.

As if that isn't enough, they also discover that, although Rome wasn't built in a day, it was burnt down in considerably less time...

Chapter titles[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Prologue: Epistle to The Keeper of the Imperial Archives, Rome
  • Document I: First Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document II: First Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document III: First Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document IV: Second Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document V: Second Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document VI: Second Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document VII: Third Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document VIII: Third Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document IX: Third Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document X: Fourth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document XI: First Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
  • Document XII: Fourth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document XIII: First Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook - An Ode to Barbara
  • Document XIV: Fourth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document XV: Fifth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document XVI: Fifth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document XVII: Second Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
  • Document XVIII: A Poisoner Remembers (Extract from The Autobiography of Locusts)
  • Document XIX: Letter from Barbara Wright
  • Document XX: Second Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook
  • Document XXI: Sixth Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document XXII: Third Extract from the Commonplace Book of Poppea Sabina
  • Document XXIII: Fifth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document XXIV: Sixth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document XXV: Seventh Extract from the Journal of Ian Chesterton
  • Document XXVI: Seventh Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Document XXVII: Sixth Letter from Legionary (Second Class) Ascaris
  • Document XXVIII: Third Selection of Jottings from Nero's Scrapbook
  • Document XXIX: Eighth Extract from the Doctor's Diary
  • Epilogue: A Second Epistle to The Keeper of the Imperial Archives, Rome

Deviations from televised story[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Rather than write a straightforward narrative, Cotton chose to write this novelisation in the form of letters and journal entries.
  • Ascaris continues to appear in the second half of the story, accidentally killing the Centurion, being pursued into the arena by lions unwittingly unleashed by the Doctor during Ian and Delos' gladiatorial fight, and fleeing Rome during the Great Fire, with the epilogue stating he is currently working on Hadrian's Wall and could be blamed for the fire. The novelisation also makes him a legionary first class and Locusta's son.
  • Other characters have their parts reduced: Sevcheria disappears after recapturing Ian and Delos in Rome, Locusta's death is omitted, Delos departs after the gladiatorial fight and Tavius only meets the Doctor briefly, with his status as a Christian and conspirator against Nero only established in the epilogue.
  • The Doctor encounters Barbara at the palace and bustles her and Ian away from the scene when Nero and Poppaea are distracted by the lions he released earlier, before accidentally starting the fire himself by dropping the burning plans into the sewer.
  • Otho and Vespasian are mentioned.

Writing and publishing notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Additional cover images[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 1987 Hardback edition

    1987 Hardback edition

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 5 January 2023 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Tim Treloar, Jamie Glover, Dan Starkey, Clare Corbett, Jon Culshaw, Maureen O'Brien and Louise Jameson.

This audiobook was the first release to use the stacked version of the 2022 logo.

  • Audiobook cover

    Audiobook cover

British publication history[[edit] | [edit source]]

Hardback (April 1987)
  • W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:049103833X, copies priced £7.50 (UK)
Paperback (September 1987)
  • Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. Single paperback edition, estimated print run: 30,000, priced £1.95 (UK).

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

v • e
Doctor Who novelisations
 
First Doctor
Susan, Barbara, Ian
Barbara, Ian, Vicki
Barbara, Ian, Vicki, Steven
Vicki, Steven
Vicki, Steven, Katarina
Steven, Katarina, Sara
Steven, Sara
Steven
Steven, Dodo
Dodo, Ben, Polly
Ben, Polly
 
Second Doctor
Ben, Polly
Ben, Polly, Jamie
Jamie, Victoria
Jamie, Zoe
 
Third Doctor
Liz
Jo
Sarah
 
Fourth Doctor
Sarah, Harry
Sarah
Alone
Leela
Leela, K9 Mark I
Romana I, K9 Mark II
Romana II
Romana II, K9 Mark II
Romana II, K9 Mark II, Adric
Adric
Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
 
Fifth Doctor
Adric, Nyssa, Tegan
Nyssa, Tegan
Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough
Tegan, Turlough
Turlough, Peri
Peri
 
Sixth Doctor
Peri
Mel
 
Seventh Doctor
Mel
Mel, Ace
Ace
 
Eighth Doctor
Grace
Solo
 
Ninth Doctor (Scream of the Shalka)
Alison
 
Ninth Doctor
Rose
Rose, Adam
 
Tenth Doctor
Rose
Donna
Alone
 
Eleventh Doctor
Amy
Amy, River
Clara
 
Twelfth Doctor
Clara
Alone
Bill, Nardole
 
Thirteenth Doctor
Yaz, Ryan, Graham
 
Fourteenth Doctor
Donna
 
Fifteenth Doctor
Ruby
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