Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment (novelisation)

Novelisation

This novelisation is based on the original television serial (DW): The Sontaran Experiment which was and written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin and shown from 22nd February 1975.
The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel. It featured the artwork of Roy Knipe. (See below for information on other editions with different covers).

Publisher's summary

Landing on Earth, now a barren, desolate planet, Sarah, Harry and the Fourth Doctor are unaware of the large, watching robot. The robot is the work of Styre, a Sontaran warrior, who uses all humans landing here for his experimental programmes.
What has happened to the other space explorers who have come here? Why is the Sontaran scout so interested in Earth and is brutally torturing humans, including Sarah Jane? Will the Doctor, be able to prevent an invasion and certain disaster, and save both Earth and his companions?

Illustrations

None

Deviations from televised story

Unlike the televised story, in which the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry use Space Station Nerva's transmat to come down to Earth, they come down in the TARDIS, which is then accidentally returned to Nerva by the transmat.
Nerva is consistently referred to by the Doctor and other characters as "Terra Nova".
Despite being called Styre on the back cover, within the text the Sontaran refers to himself as Sontaran Military Assessor Styr.
After falling down a hole, the Doctor has a dream about rats chewing their way into the TARDIS.
Harry initially believes the Sontaran to be a Golem.
The Sontaran robot is called a Scavenger and is described as hovering and octopus-like. It is much more sophisticated than the version seen in the televised story (probably owing to the limitations of a television budget).
Styr's energy weapon is built into his armour, and described as "concealed" by the armour.
The Sontaran ship is much larger than the ones seen in the televised version, and a description of its interior as multi-chambered is given. It is also apparently patrolled by smaller versions of the Scavenger.
Inside the Sontaran ship, Harry discovers two more Sontarans, apparently hibernating.
Sarah destroys one of the patrol robots with the the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.

Writing and publishing notes

Ian Marter suggested novelising this two-parter which no-one else was interested in doing.
Marter also portrayed the character of Harry Sullivan in the story. He had previously adapted The Ark in Space, in which he had also appeared. These two books are unique as being, to date, the only examples of a Doctor Who actor adapting his own TV stories. Marter would go on to write numerous other novelisations for Doctor Who before his death in 1986 (with posthumous publications continuing for more than a year thereafter).
This was the first time a two-episode story was adapted for a novel, and established that it was possible to expand the somewhat scant material of a two-parter into a full-length novel, opening the door for later adaptations of the other two parters in the series.

Additional cover images

To be added

British publication history

First Publication:

Hardback

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

Paperback

Target

Re-issues: To be added

Editions published outside Britain