The Zygon Invasion (novelisation)
The Zygon Invasion was a novelisation based on the 2015 television episodes The Zygon Invasion and The Zygon Inversion. It was written by one of the original writers Peter Harness and released by Target Books on 13 July 2023.
Publisher's summary
"We will die in the fire instead of living in chains."
For years, 20 million shape-changing Zygons have lived among us in secret. They wear human form, hiding in plain sight. Now a fanatical Zygon splinter group seek to expose their own kind and provoke a conflict that will force both sides to the brink of Armageddon to ensure their own survival.
It took three Doctors to broker a fragile peace between Zygons and Humans. Now the 12th must face the fallout alone. With his allies compromised and his companion believed dead, can he stop the world from plunging into war?
Chapter titles
- Prologue
- 1. Operation Double
- 2. The Twins at the Park
- 3. The Boy on the Stairs
- 4. The Stranger on the Bus
- 5. The Town in the Wilderness
- 6. The People in the Church
- 7. The Zygon on the White Cliffs of Dover
- 8. The Diner Across the Road
- 9. The Creature in the Dream
- 10. The Man on the Estate
- 11. The Motel on the Edge of Town
- 12. The Woman in the Pod
- 13. Truth or Consequences
Deviations from televised story
- Jimi Hendrix is mentioned as having been a former companion of the Doctor, from whom he received his guitar.
- The Doctor appropriated the name “Dr. Funkenstein” during a prior adventure, that was supposedly novelised as “The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein”.
- Interludes focused on how Bonnie embarked on her crusade are featured. They introduce the character of Clyde, Bonnie’s counterpart who had a facial imprint based on Danny Pink.
- A deleted scene implying that Clara’s father and aunt were replaced with Zygon impersonators is reinstated.
- Kate accuses the Doctor of disappearing without explaining how the situation would work, which he accepts.
- It is explained that the Zygon High Command refused any assistance with resettling the Zygons and just sent British-accented children to remote places with no jobs or places to stay.
- It is made clear only Kate, Osgood and Jac knew about the Zygon resettlement.
- The Zygon that impersonates Hitchley's mother is able to answer his questions and convinces him his superiors have been replaced.
- A deleted scene of Walsh killing a Zygon posing as her son is included.
- Jac orders the UNIT troops to open fire on the Zygons, only for it to turn out Bonnie has sabotaged their guns.
- There is no mention of the air strike being brought forward.
- Etoine was kept in the United Kingdom to function as a lieutenant and executioner for the High Command.
- Kate insists she's Scottish when Norlander asks if she's English and learns the police were beating and mistreating the newcomers before finding out they were Zygons.
- Clara is depicted as influencing Bonnie (or at least putting suggestions into her head) during the Doctor's speech in the Black Archive, giving new meaning to the Doctor's statement about Bonnie having let Clara into her head.
- Clara is identified at one point by the full name Clara Oswin Oswald, seemingly contradicting The Bells of Saint John, which indicated that the "original" Clara did not have a middle name, much less the middle name "Oswin".
- Clara is said to be 28 years old, placing the story approximately one year after the events of Deep Breath, despite The Caretaker having a scene suggesting it takes place at least a year after Clara and Danny first meet in Into the Dalek.
- Several references to Danny are made, including one that implies that Bonnie had feelings for his Zygon doppelganger, Clyde.
Writing and publishing notes
to be added
Continuity
to be added
Audiobook
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 7 September 2023 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Dan Starkey.
Audiobook cover
External links
- Official The Zygon Invasion page at Penguin Books
