Warriors of the Deep (novelisation): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|image       = <gallery>
|image= Warriors of the Deep novel.jpg
Warriors of the Deep novel.jpg|1984 edition
|series=[[Target novelisation]]s
2WarriorsDeep.jpg|1992 edition
|number= 87
</gallery>
|doctor=Fifth Doctor
|number       = 87
|companions=[[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], [[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]]
|doctor       = Fifth Doctor
|enemy=[[Silurian]]s, [[Sea Devil]]s
|companions   = [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], [[Vislor Turlough|Turlough]]
|setting= [[Sea Base 4]], [[2084]]
|enemy       = [[Silurian]]s, [[Sea Devil]]s
|writer= [[Terrance Dicks]]
|setting     = [[Sea Base 4]], [[2084]]
|read by=[[Peter Davison]]
|writer       = Terrance Dicks
|publisher= Target Books
|read by     = [[Peter Davison]], [[Janet Fielding]]
|publisher2= W.H. Allen
|cover        = [[Andrew Skilleter]]
|novelisation of= Warriors of the Deep (TV story)
|publisher   = Target Books
|cover= [[Andrew Skilleter]]
|publisher2   = W.H. Allen
|release date= [[16 August (releases)|16 August]] [[1984 (releases)|1984]]
|novelisation of = Warriors of the Deep (TV story)
|format= Hardcover and paperback editions; 12 chapters, 126 pages
|release date = 16 August 1984
|isbn= ISBN 0-426-19561-2
|format       = Hardcover and paperback editions; 12 chapters, 126 pages
|prev=The Five Doctors (novelisation)
|isbn         = ISBN 0-426-19561-2
|next=The Awakening (novelisation)
|series      = [[Target novelisation]]s
}}'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the [[1984 (releases)|1984]] television serial ''[[Warriors of the Deep]]''.
|prev         = The Dominators (novelisation)
|next        = The Aztecs (novelisation)
|series2      = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV series order]]
|prev2        = The Five Doctors (novelisation)
|next2        = The Awakening (novelisation)
}}'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the 1984 television serial [[Warriors of the Deep (TV story)|of the same name]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
=== 1984 edition ===
=== 1984 Target Books edition ===
When [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] materialises on [[Earth]] in the year [[2084]], the Doctor meets an old enemy – the [[Sea Devil]]s. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their position of domination...
When [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] materialises on [[Earth]] in the year [[2084]], [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor]] meets an old enemy – the [[Sea Devil]]s. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their position of domination...


This will entail the infiltration of Earth's defence systems and the provocation of another World War, more terrible than any yet experienced, to bring about the complete annihilation of the human race.
This will entail the infiltration of Earth's defence systems and the provocation of another World War, more terrible than any yet experienced, to bring about the complete annihilation of the human race.


Not only is the first stage of the Sea Devil's attack successful, their associates in this dastardly plan are the sinister [[Silurian]]s, also known to the Doctor of old.
Not only is the first stage of the Sea Devil's attack successful, their associates in this dastardly plan are the sinister [[Silurian]]s, also known to the Doctor of old.
=== 1992 Target Books edition ===
'LET'S FACE IT, [[Tegan Jovanka|TEGAN]],' SAID [[Vislor Turlough|THURLOUGH]] BRUTALLY. 'THE DOCTOR'S DROWNED.' AND HE DRAGGED HER AWAY.
When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor meets an old enemy – the Sea Devils. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their once-mighty position of dominance. And their associates in this deadly plan are none other than the sinister Silurians, old and evil enemies of the Doctor.
This is a novelization by [[Terrance Dicks]] of an original screenplay by [[Johnny Byrne]] and featuring [[Peter Davison]] as the Doctor. Broadcast in [[1984 (releases)|1984]], the story marked the first appearance of the Silurians in ten years.


== Chapter titles ==
== Chapter titles ==
Line 45: Line 58:


== Deviations from televised story ==
== Deviations from televised story ==
* In the televised version it is implied the [[Sea Devil]]s are hibernating in a bunker beneath the ocean floor. In the novelisation they are hibernating in the lower depths of the [[Silurian]] craft.
* The world of 2084 is explored in greater detail. [[Terrance Dicks]] makes no implication regarding the two sides in the human conflict, clearly referring to them as East Bloc and West Bloc. The West Bloc's use of the human brain in their synch-op systems provided a tactical edge that the East lacked. It also proved to be their weakest link due to the strict requirements of the position. The Sea Bases were constructed to offset the new vulnerabilities of space-based warfare in the latter half of the [[21st century]].
* [[Terrance Dicks]] in his novelisation makes no implication regarding the two sides in the human conflict, clearly referring to them as "East Bloc" and "West Bloc".
* Icthar is identified multiple times, by the Doctor and the author, as the unnamed [[Bokka K'to|Silurian Scientist]] previously encountered by the [[Third Doctor]] in the televised ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]''. Poised between the [[Okdel L'da|Old Silurian]] initially leading the shelter and the [[Morka|Young Silurian]] who usurped him.
* The novelisation explains that [[Tegan]]'s foot is undamaged when trapped under the heavy door "by a kind of freak accident".
* While the televised version implies the [[Sea Devil]]s are hibernating in a bunker beneath the ocean floor, the novelisation describes them as sleeping in the lower depths of the [[Silurian]] craft itself. Their length of inactivity is stretched from hundreds of years to thousands.
* Terrance Dicks paints Doctor [[Solow]] as a sympathetic character, persuaded by [[Nilson]] that the "East Bloc" had the solution to banish suffering and injustice from the world.
* Solow and Nilson converted to the ideology of the East Bloc, the power bloc opposed to the base. After the death of Solow's husband and parents, Nilson convinced her that the philosophy of the East Bloc was the answer to all of life's problems, but for the East Bloc to wipe out all suffering and injustice on Earth, sacrifices would have to be made. Conversely, Nilson is described as "a complete fanatic", if anything more ruthless than the people he serves.
* [[Icthar]]'s reference to twice having offered the hand of friendship does not fit with shown continuity (possibly explained in the [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] novel ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]''), and is rewritten as the Doctor having twice tried in vain to make peace.
* The [[Myrka]] is described as a kind of "sea dragon", specially bred and adapted by the Silurians with cybernetic technology. It electrocutes its victims as with the televised story, but attacks with a lash-like tail that can send people hurtling across the room with its kinetic power alone. To the Doctor's knowledge, the creature is "almost invincible".
* Icthar is clearly identified as the unnamed [[Silurian]] previously encountered by the [[Third Doctor]] in the televised ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]''.
* The novelisation clarifies that [[Tegan]]'s foot is undamaged while trapped under the toppled airlock door "by a kind of freak accident".
* Terrance Dicks retains in his novel an attempted rescue of the Doctor by [[Turlough]] and [[Preston (Warriors of the Deep)|Preston]], cut from the televised version to emphasise Turlough's cowardice and selfishness.
* When Nilson takes Tegan hostage, the Doctor follows them to the [[ultraviolet converter]] carrying the dead [[Karina (Warriors of the Deep)|Karina]]'s blaster for protection. He's forced to discard it when Nilson calls his bluff and threatens Tegan with his own weapon.
* On television the [[Sea Devil]]s had been hibernating for hundreds of years. In the novelisation Terrance Dicks changes this to thousands.
* [[Icthar]]'s belief to having twice offered the hand of friendship (possibly explained in the [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] novel ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'') is rewritten as the Doctor having twice tried in vain to make peace.
* When Nilson takes Tegan hostage, the Doctor follows them to the [[ultraviolet converter]]. In the novelisation, when the Doctor follows, he grabs a base rifle for protection, but is forced to abandon it when Nilson threatens Tegan with his blaster.
* Terrance Dicks retains an attempted rescue of the Doctor by [[Turlough]] and [[Preston (Warriors of the Deep)|Preston]], cut from the televised version to emphasise Turlough's cowardice and selfishness.
* The world of 2084 is explored in detail.
* The confrontation in the chemical stores between the Doctor's party and [[Sauvix]] plays out a bit differently compared to the televised version. Preston shoots one of the cylinders with her blaster-rifle as she dies, rather than [[Bulic]] attacking Sauvix with the [[Hexachromite gas]] as in the broadcast story.
* While the novelisation ends on a similarly bitter note, the Doctor recognises that there will be other survivors hiding throughout Sea Base 4. Bulic will have to assume command of the base while the TARDIS is repaired and explain to their rescuers what transpired.
* Some of the character descriptions do not match how characters appeared on screen: [[Vorshak]] is described as dark-haired and Karina as oriental.
* It is specified that the marine guards normally function as radiation crew, explaining their uniforms.
* The character of [[Paroli]] is omitted entirely, with some of his role being given to various unnamed guards.
* It is made clearer that on screen that Vorshak is shot while shielding the Doctor.
* Vorshak is referred to as sitting in a command chair, whereas on screen he tends to stand.
* The Doctor is said to remove his disguise after surrendering his gun to Vorshak, instead of remaining in a guard's uniform until the end of the story.
* The Doctor turns off the UV converter when the Sea Devils turn up instead of it being shorted out.
* The humans' weapons can harm Sea Devils by striking the unarmoured portions.
* Turlough is given a dead guard's gun during the Myrka's first attack, rather than wrestling one from the sergeant.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Line 61: Line 84:
== Additional cover images ==
== Additional cover images ==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
File:2WarriorsDeep.jpg|1992 edition; Cover by [[Alister Pearson]]  
HardbackWarriorsOfTheDeep.jpg|1984 Hardback edition
2WarriorsDeep.jpg|1992 edition.<br />Cover by [[Alister Pearson]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


== British publication history ==
== British publication history ==
First publication:
First publication:
* Hardback  
* Hardback
: W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK  
: W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK
* Paperback
* Paperback
: Target
: Target


== Audiobook ==
== Audiobook ==
In [[June (releases)|June]] [[1995 (releases)|1995]], [[BBC Audio]] released an abridged audio book version of the novel, read by [[Peter Davison]]. It was later reissued on ''[[Tales from the TARDIS Volume 2]]''.
In [[June (releases)|June]] [[1995 (releases)|1995]], [[BBC Audio]] released an abridged audio book version of the novel, read by [[Peter Davison]]. It was later reissued on ''[[Tales from the TARDIS: Volume Two]]''.
 
The Target Book was again released as an audiobook on [[4 May (releases)|4 May]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by [[Janet Fielding]].
 
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Warriors of the Deep audiobook.jpg|Audiobook cover
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecl6nb/OnTarget/general/main.htm ''On Target'', a comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations by Tim Neal]
* [http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecl6nb/OnTarget/general/main.htm ''On Target'', a comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations by Tim Neal]
{{DWN}}
{{DWN}}
{{BBCDWA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Target novelisations]]
[[Category:Target novelisations]]
[[Category:1984 novels]]
[[Category:1984 novels]]
[[Category:Fifth Doctor novels]]
[[Category:Fifth Doctor novelisations]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2084]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2084]]
[[Category:Stories set on Earth]]
[[Category:Novels set on Earth]]
[[Category:Silurian and Sea Devil novels]]
[[Category:Silurian and Sea Devil novels]]
[[Category:Tales from the TARDIS: Volume Two stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:52, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Warriors of the Deep was a novelisation based on the 1984 television serial of the same name.

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

1984 Target Books edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor meets an old enemy – the Sea Devils. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their position of domination...

This will entail the infiltration of Earth's defence systems and the provocation of another World War, more terrible than any yet experienced, to bring about the complete annihilation of the human race.

Not only is the first stage of the Sea Devil's attack successful, their associates in this dastardly plan are the sinister Silurians, also known to the Doctor of old.

1992 Target Books edition[[edit] | [edit source]]

'LET'S FACE IT, TEGAN,' SAID THURLOUGH BRUTALLY. 'THE DOCTOR'S DROWNED.' AND HE DRAGGED HER AWAY.

When the TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 2084, the Doctor meets an old enemy – the Sea Devils. Once the masters of this planet, they are now forced to live in the murky depths of the sea. But their intention is to reclaim their once-mighty position of dominance. And their associates in this deadly plan are none other than the sinister Silurians, old and evil enemies of the Doctor.

This is a novelization by Terrance Dicks of an original screenplay by Johnny Byrne and featuring Peter Davison as the Doctor. Broadcast in 1984, the story marked the first appearance of the Silurians in ten years.

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

  1. The Intruder
  2. The Traitors
  3. Hunted
  4. The Sea Devils Awake
  5. The Attack
  6. The Myrka
  7. The Breakthrough
  8. Sabotage
  9. The Hostage
  10. Captured
  11. Counterattack
  12. Sacrifice

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

  • The world of 2084 is explored in greater detail. Terrance Dicks makes no implication regarding the two sides in the human conflict, clearly referring to them as East Bloc and West Bloc. The West Bloc's use of the human brain in their synch-op systems provided a tactical edge that the East lacked. It also proved to be their weakest link due to the strict requirements of the position. The Sea Bases were constructed to offset the new vulnerabilities of space-based warfare in the latter half of the 21st century.
  • Icthar is identified multiple times, by the Doctor and the author, as the unnamed Silurian Scientist previously encountered by the Third Doctor in the televised Doctor Who and the Silurians. Poised between the Old Silurian initially leading the shelter and the Young Silurian who usurped him.
  • While the televised version implies the Sea Devils are hibernating in a bunker beneath the ocean floor, the novelisation describes them as sleeping in the lower depths of the Silurian craft itself. Their length of inactivity is stretched from hundreds of years to thousands.
  • Solow and Nilson converted to the ideology of the East Bloc, the power bloc opposed to the base. After the death of Solow's husband and parents, Nilson convinced her that the philosophy of the East Bloc was the answer to all of life's problems, but for the East Bloc to wipe out all suffering and injustice on Earth, sacrifices would have to be made. Conversely, Nilson is described as "a complete fanatic", if anything more ruthless than the people he serves.
  • The Myrka is described as a kind of "sea dragon", specially bred and adapted by the Silurians with cybernetic technology. It electrocutes its victims as with the televised story, but attacks with a lash-like tail that can send people hurtling across the room with its kinetic power alone. To the Doctor's knowledge, the creature is "almost invincible".
  • The novelisation clarifies that Tegan's foot is undamaged while trapped under the toppled airlock door "by a kind of freak accident".
  • When Nilson takes Tegan hostage, the Doctor follows them to the ultraviolet converter carrying the dead Karina's blaster for protection. He's forced to discard it when Nilson calls his bluff and threatens Tegan with his own weapon.
  • Icthar's belief to having twice offered the hand of friendship (possibly explained in the Virgin Missing Adventures novel The Scales of Injustice) is rewritten as the Doctor having twice tried in vain to make peace.
  • Terrance Dicks retains an attempted rescue of the Doctor by Turlough and Preston, cut from the televised version to emphasise Turlough's cowardice and selfishness.
  • The confrontation in the chemical stores between the Doctor's party and Sauvix plays out a bit differently compared to the televised version. Preston shoots one of the cylinders with her blaster-rifle as she dies, rather than Bulic attacking Sauvix with the Hexachromite gas as in the broadcast story.
  • While the novelisation ends on a similarly bitter note, the Doctor recognises that there will be other survivors hiding throughout Sea Base 4. Bulic will have to assume command of the base while the TARDIS is repaired and explain to their rescuers what transpired.
  • Some of the character descriptions do not match how characters appeared on screen: Vorshak is described as dark-haired and Karina as oriental.
  • It is specified that the marine guards normally function as radiation crew, explaining their uniforms.
  • The character of Paroli is omitted entirely, with some of his role being given to various unnamed guards.
  • It is made clearer that on screen that Vorshak is shot while shielding the Doctor.
  • Vorshak is referred to as sitting in a command chair, whereas on screen he tends to stand.
  • The Doctor is said to remove his disguise after surrendering his gun to Vorshak, instead of remaining in a guard's uniform until the end of the story.
  • The Doctor turns off the UV converter when the Sea Devils turn up instead of it being shorted out.
  • The humans' weapons can harm Sea Devils by striking the unarmoured portions.
  • Turlough is given a dead guard's gun during the Myrka's first attack, rather than wrestling one from the sergeant.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This was the first book to use the white outline version of the Target Books logo, which would be used for the remainder of the range's run. The previous colour logo appeared on one book published later before being retired.

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

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

First publication:

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

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

In June 1995, BBC Audio released an abridged audio book version of the novel, read by Peter Davison. It was later reissued on Tales from the TARDIS: Volume Two.

The Target Book was again released as an audiobook on 4 May 2023 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Janet Fielding.

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