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After the successful reprinting of three novelisations dating back to 1964 and 1965, the Target Books novelisations line began in earnest with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, the first original Target novelisation to be published. Despite it being an adaption of Spearhead from Space, the opening chapter of the book also partially adapts episode 10 of the preceding story, The War Games. With this book, Target continued the practice, introduced with Doctor Who and the Crusaders, of using titles different from the original TV serial. This practice would continue off-and-on before being mostly abandoned by the mid-1970s, although the title format Doctor Who and the ... and variations therefore would continue to be used until the early 1980s.
Publisher's summary
1974 Target edition
In this, the first adventure of his third `incarnation’, DOCTOR WHO, Liz Shaw, and the Brigadier grapple with the nightmarish invasion of the AUTONS — living, giant-sized, plastic-modelled `humans’ with no hair and sightless eyes; waxwork replicas and tailor’s dummies whose murderous behaviour is directed by the NESTENE CONSCIOUSNESS — a malignant, squid-like monster of cosmic proportions and indescribably hideous appearance.
“This DOCTOR WHO adventure (televised as 'Spearhead from Space’) wins my vote as the best in the lifetime of this series so far.’ Mathew Coady, The Daily Mirror
“DOCTOR WHO, the children’s own programme which adults adore…” Gerard Garrett, The Daily Sketch
1991 Target edition
"You will be exiled to Earth in the Twentieth Century Time Zone. You will remain there for as long as we think proper. And for that time the secret of the TARDIS will be taken from you."
Found guilty by his fellow Time Lords of interference in the affairs of other planets, the Doctor is forced to undergo his second regeneration and is exiled to Earth.
But strange meteorites are landing in Essex and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT has reason to believe that they were deliberately aimed at the Earth's surface. In order to avert a possible catastrophie the Doctor joins forces with UNIT and battles with the sinister Autons - creatures whose murderous behaviour is directed by the Nestene Consciousness, a hideous entity of cosmic proportions.
This story was written by Robert Holmes and broadcast under the title The Spearhead from Space (sic.). It was the first programme to feature Jon Pertwee in the role of the Doctor and marks the beginning of his Earth-bound adventures.
Doctor Who - The Spearhead from Space has recently been broadcast on BSB television.
2011 BBC edition
"Here at UNIT we deal with the odd-the unexplained. We're prepared to tackle anything on Earth. Or even from beyond the Earth, if necessary."
Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower. But these are no ordinary meteorites.
The Nestene Consciousness has began its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and Deadly window shop dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack. But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn't even recognise him. Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT's trust before the invasion begins?
This novel is based on "Spearhead From Space", a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3 January-24 January 1970.
Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Chapter titles
- Prologue: Exiled to Earth
- The Mystery of the Meteorites
- The Man from Space
- The Faceless Kidnappers
- The Hunting Auton
- The Doctor Disappears
- The Horror in the Factory
- The Auton Attacks
- The Creatures in the Waxworks
- The Final Battle
Deviations from televised story
- When the Third Doctor stumbles out of the TARDIS in the episode, he is still wearing the Second Doctor's clothes. However, the illustration of the scene below shows him wearing the Second Doctor's trousers, but the First Doctor's coat, waistcoat and cravat.
Writing and publishing notes
- Terrance Dicks' first novelisation for the Doctor Who series was among the first commissioned new titles and arrived one week late. Dicks, who at the time was a member of the TV series production team, would be the most prolific author of the Target Novelisation line, writing dozens of works that would be published between 1974 and the publication of The Space Pirates in 1990, after which Dicks would write a original novels for virtually every continuation series of original fiction. He would also write two more novelisations: Shakedown, based upon an independent spin-off film, and the premiere episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Invasion of the Bane.
- The first edition cover includes the face of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, making him the first recurring character other than the Doctor to appear on the cover of a Target novelisation.
- The novel was republished in July 2011 by BBC Books. For this edition, an introduction by producer Russell T Davies was added and the title of the book reverted to Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion.
Covers
1974 hardcover edition; cover by Chris Achilleos
1981 hardcover edition; cover by Andrew Skilleter
2011 edition; cover by Chris Achilleos
British publication history
First publication:
- Hardback
- Initial hardcover release in 1974 was for libraries only; mass-market hardcover issued in 1981.
- W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK
- Paperback
- Target
Re-issues:
- 30p (UK)
- 1982 Target Books with a new cover by Andrew Skilleter
- 1991 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alistair Pearson priced £2.50 (UK)
Editions published outside Britain
To be added
Audiobook
This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Caroline John who played Liz Shaw.
The audio set of 4 CDs with an ISBN 1-405-? was released in June 2008 priced £13.99 (UK)
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
