The Aztecs (novelisation): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes)
 
(155 intermediate revisions by 35 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Novel|
{{title dab away}}
novel name= Doctor Who - The Aztecs|
{{real world}}
image= [[Image: Aztecs_novel.jpg|250px]] |
{{Infobox Story SMW
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[Target Novelisation]] |
|image           = <gallery>Aztecstarget88.jpg|1984 edition
number= 88 |
PearsonThe Aztecs.jpg|1992 edition
doctor=[[First Doctor]] |
</gallery>
companions= [[Susan Foreman]], [[Barbara Wright]], [[Ian Chesterton]] |
|series          = [[Target novelisation]]s
enemy= [[ ]] |
|number         = 88
year= [[ ]], |
|novelisation of = The Aztecs (TV story)
writer= [[John Lucarotti]] |
|doctor         = First Doctor  
publisher= [[Target Books]], [[W.H. Allen & Co]] |
|companions     = [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]]  
release date= [[September]]  [[1984]] |
|enemy           = [[Tlotoxl]]  
format= Paperback Book, --- Pages |
|setting        = [[City (The Aztecs)|Aztec city]], [[1507]]
isbn= ISBN 0-426-19588-4|
|writer          = John Lucarotti
previous story=[[ Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus ]] |
|read by        = [[William Russell]]
next story=[[The Sensorites (novelisation) | Doctor Who – The Sensorites]] }}
|publisher       = Target Books
|publisher2      = W.H. Allen  
|cover          = [[Nick Spender]]
|release date   = 20 September 1984
|format         = Hardcover and paperback editions; 15 Chapters, 121 Pages  
|isbn           = ISBN 0-426-19588-4
|prev            = Warriors of the Deep (novelisation)
|next            = Inferno (novelisation)
|series2        = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV series order]]
|prev2          = Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus (novelisation)
|next2          = The Sensorites (novelisation)
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]''.
 
== Publisher's summary ==
=== 1984 Target Books edition ===
[[the Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] materialises in [[Mexico]] during the [[Aztec]] civilisation. [[First Doctor|The Doctor]] and his companions step outside to discover they are inside a tomb - the tomb, it turns out, of [[Yetaxa]], once High Priest of the Aztecs.
 
[[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] is hailed as Yetaxa's reincarnation by [[Autloc]], High Priest of Knowledge, and [[Tlotoxl]], High Priest of Sacrifice, when they find her in the precincts of the tomb wearing the bracelet of the deceased Priest, now revered as a god.
 
And she takes advantage of her position of unaccustomed power to try and dissuade the Aztecs from practising human sacrifice...
 
=== 1992 Target Books edition ===
THE DOCTOR STOOD UP. 'THERE'S TO BE A HUMAN SACRIFICE AT SUNSET,' HE SAID. '[[Ian Chesterton|IAN]] IS TO ESCORT THE [[First victim|CHOSEN VICTIM]] TO THE AULTAR.'


==Novelisation==
When the Doctor, [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], Ian and Barbara arrive accidentally in ancient Mexico, Barbara is mistaken for a god by the Aztecs. Horrified by the barbarous practice of human sacrifice which she is forced to observe, she is determined to use her power to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. The Doctor must use every means in his power to prevent her from interfering with the natural course of history, but he himself is occupied by other matters - such as the rather attractive [[Cameca]]...
* This novelisation is based on the original television serial generally referred to as [[DW]]: '' [[The Aztecs (TV story)| The Aztecs]] '' which included individual episode titles and was shown from 23rd May 1964 and written by [[John Lucarotti]].


* The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of [[Nick Spender]]. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).
This is a novelisation by [[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]] of his own television story, first broadcast in [[1964 (releases)|1964]] and featuring [[William Hartnell]] as the first Doctor.


==Publishers Cover Blurb==
TARGET DOCTOR WHO NOVELISATIONS 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD
The TARDIS materialises in Mexico during the [[Aztec]]s civilisation. The Doctor and his companions step outside to discover they are inside a tomb - the tomb, it turns out, of [[Yetaxa]], once High Priest of the Aztecs.<br>
Barbara is hailed as Yetaxa’s reincarnation by [[Autloc]], High Priest of Knowledge, and [[Tlotoxi]], High Priest of Sacrifice, when they find her in the precincts of the tomb wearing the bracelet of the deceased Priest, now revered as a god.<br>
And she takes advantage of her position of unaccustomed power to try and dissuade the Aztecs from practising human sacrifice…


==Illustrations==
== Chapter titles ==
None
# Coiled Serpent
# Yetaxa the God
# The Chosen Warriors
# Sacrifice to Tlaloc
# The Perfect Victim
# The Thorn of Doom
# No Holds Barred
# Cups of Cocoa
# The Bride of Sacrifice
# Offence and Retribution
# Crawl, Swim, Climb
# Wall of Deception
# False God
# The Day of Darkness
# Eclipse


== Deviations from the Televised Story ==
== Deviations from televised story ==
''To be added''
* The novelisation dates the story as [[1507]].
* Aztec culture is elaborated on.
* Ian discovers the skeleton of Ixta's father in the secret passage.
* [[Ixta]] is said to be [[Topau]]'s grandson, instead of his son.
* There is no fight between Ixta and Ian on the pyramid, but instead Ian shines the Doctor's torch in Ixta's face, stunning him, causing him to fall off the pyramid.
* The televised cliffhanger leading into ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'' is not included.


==Author, Writing and Publishing Notes==
== Writing and publishing notes ==
''To be added''
* [[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]] extensively rewrote the teleplay for this novelisation of his own story.
* This was the last book to be published featuring the colour version of the Target Books logo. The book published just prior to this one, the novelisation of ''[[Warriors of the Deep (novelisation)|Warriors of the Deep]]'', had introduced a new white-outline version of the logo.
* This novelisation was later released as part of ''[[The History Collection (audio anthology)|The History Collection]]''.


==Associated Images==
== Additional cover images ==
<gallery>
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Image:2Aztecs.jpg|Cover by [[Alistair Pearson]]  
File:HardbackThe_Aztecs.jpg|1984 Hardback edition
File:PearsonThe_Aztecs.jpg|1992 edition.<br />Cover by [[Alister Pearson]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Publishing History (UK)==
== British publication history ==
''To be added''
First publication:
 
* Hardback
'''First Publication:'''
: W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK
* Hardback  
: W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK  
* Paperback
* Paperback
: Target  
: Target
'''Re-issues:'''
Re-issues:
* Paperback
* Paperback
: Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK October 1992 Cover by Andrew Skilleter (£2.50 UK)
: Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK October 1992 Cover by Andrew Skilleter (£2.50 UK)


==International Editions==
== Audiobook ==
''To be added''
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on [[2 August (releases)|2 August]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]] complete and unabridged by [[BBC Audio]] and read by [[William Russell]].
 
The cover blurb and thumbnail illustrations were retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by [[David J. Howe]]. Music and sound effects by [[Simon Power]].


==External Sources==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
''To be added''
The Aztecs Audio.jpg|Audiobook cover
</gallery>


== External links ==
*
{{DWN}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category: Target Novels]]
[[Category:First Doctor novelisations]]
[[Category:The History Collection novels]]
[[Category:1984 novels]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1507]]
[[Category:Novels set in Mexico]]

Latest revision as of 20:50, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

The Aztecs was a novelisation based on the 1964 television serial The Aztecs.

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

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

The TARDIS materialises in Mexico during the Aztec civilisation. The Doctor and his companions step outside to discover they are inside a tomb - the tomb, it turns out, of Yetaxa, once High Priest of the Aztecs.

Barbara is hailed as Yetaxa's reincarnation by Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge, and Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, when they find her in the precincts of the tomb wearing the bracelet of the deceased Priest, now revered as a god.

And she takes advantage of her position of unaccustomed power to try and dissuade the Aztecs from practising human sacrifice...

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

THE DOCTOR STOOD UP. 'THERE'S TO BE A HUMAN SACRIFICE AT SUNSET,' HE SAID. 'IAN IS TO ESCORT THE CHOSEN VICTIM TO THE AULTAR.'

When the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara arrive accidentally in ancient Mexico, Barbara is mistaken for a god by the Aztecs. Horrified by the barbarous practice of human sacrifice which she is forced to observe, she is determined to use her power to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. The Doctor must use every means in his power to prevent her from interfering with the natural course of history, but he himself is occupied by other matters - such as the rather attractive Cameca...

This is a novelisation by John Lucarotti of his own television story, first broadcast in 1964 and featuring William Hartnell as the first Doctor.

TARGET DOCTOR WHO NOVELISATIONS 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD

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

  1. Coiled Serpent
  2. Yetaxa the God
  3. The Chosen Warriors
  4. Sacrifice to Tlaloc
  5. The Perfect Victim
  6. The Thorn of Doom
  7. No Holds Barred
  8. Cups of Cocoa
  9. The Bride of Sacrifice
  10. Offence and Retribution
  11. Crawl, Swim, Climb
  12. Wall of Deception
  13. False God
  14. The Day of Darkness
  15. Eclipse

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

  • The novelisation dates the story as 1507.
  • Aztec culture is elaborated on.
  • Ian discovers the skeleton of Ixta's father in the secret passage.
  • Ixta is said to be Topau's grandson, instead of his son.
  • There is no fight between Ixta and Ian on the pyramid, but instead Ian shines the Doctor's torch in Ixta's face, stunning him, causing him to fall off the pyramid.
  • The televised cliffhanger leading into The Sensorites is not included.

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

  • John Lucarotti extensively rewrote the teleplay for this novelisation of his own story.
  • This was the last book to be published featuring the colour version of the Target Books logo. The book published just prior to this one, the novelisation of Warriors of the Deep, had introduced a new white-outline version of the logo.
  • This novelisation was later released as part of The History Collection.

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

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

First publication:

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

Re-issues:

  • Paperback
Virgin Publishing Ltd. UK October 1992 Cover by Andrew Skilleter (£2.50 UK)

Audiobook[[edit] | [edit source]]

This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 2 August 2012 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by William Russell.

The cover blurb and thumbnail illustrations were retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power.

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