The War Machines (novelisation)
The War Machines was a novelisation based on the 1966 television serial The War Machines.
Publisher's summary
1989 Target Books edition
London, 1966 — when the TARDIS materialises outside the Post Office Tower the Doctor becomes aware of a powerful and evil force nearby, so he and the ever-curious Dodo set off to investigate.
Inside the tower they track down the source of power to Professor Brett and WOTAN, his revolutionary new computer.
Designed as a universal problem solver, WOTAN has suddenly begun to think for itself and has formulated a deadly plan. Using its phenomenal power it will programme humans to build mobile fighting computers, and with these indestructible war machines WOTAN will take over the world...
1992 Target Books edition
HE STOOD IN A TRANCE BEOFRE THE COMPUTER. 'WHAT DO YOU WANT OF ME?' HE ASKED
London, 1966 — when the TARDIS materialises outside the Post Office Tower and the Doctor becomes aware of a powerful and evil force nearby. Inside the tower he and the ever-curious Dodo track down the source of power to Professor Brett and WOTAN, his revolutionary new computer.
Designed as a universal problem solver, WOTAN has suddenly begun to think for itself and has formulated a deadly plan. Using its phenomenal power it will programme humans to build mobile fighting computers, and with these indestructible war machines WOTAN will take over the world.
First broadcast in 1966, The War Machines introduced companions Ben and Polly, and was written by Ian Stuart Black, who also wrote The Savages.
Chapter titles
- The Home-Coming
- The Super-Computer
- A Night Out
- Servant turned Master
- Putting the Team Together
- Working for the Cause
- A Demonstration of Power
- The One Who Got Away
- Attack and Defence
- Taking to the Streets
- Setting the Trap
- The Showdown
- We Can't Stay Long
Deviations from televised story
- The Doctor gains access to the Post Office Tower with forged credentials and the fact that he and Brett have a mutual acquaintance in Ian Chesterton, who is now a respected name in the technology world.
- The Doctor defeats the first War Machine by burning out its circuit with a radiowave, rather than it simply stopping.
- The second War Machine is named as Valk. It is not armed prior to going rogue, meaning the Doctor has to fit it with an automatic rifle after reprogramming it.
- The Doctor enters the tower on realising humans are in danger from Valk's attack.
- The battle between WOTAN and Valk is more involved, with the computer trying to defend itself by putting up force-fields of electrical charges.
Writing and publishing notes
- The original Target edition featured the artwork of Alister Pearson with circles by Graeme Way.
Additional cover images
to be added
British publication history
First publication: Paperback (February 1989)
- Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. One single paperback edition, estimated print run: 21,000, priced £1.99 (UK).
Re-issues: (November 1992)
- Target / Virgin Publishing, priced £2.99 (UK).
Audiobook
This Target Book was released as an audiobook on 7 March 2019 complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Michael Cochrane.
The cover blurb and thumbnail illustrations were retained in the accompanying booklet with sleeve notes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power.
Audiobook cover
External links
to be added
