The Five Doctors (novelisation)

The Five Doctors (novelisation)

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The Five Doctors
Doctor:	[[doctor::First Doctor Second Doctor Third Doctor Fourth Doctor Fifth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Tegan Jovanka Vislor Turlough The Brigadier Sarah Jane Smith Susan Foreman Romana II K-9 Mark III
Main enemy:	Borusa Daleks Cybermen The Master
Main setting:	Eye of Orion , Gallifrey
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::Target Books, W.H. Allen & Co]]
Writer:	Terrance Dicks
Release details
Release number:	81
Release date:	November 1983
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions, 128 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-491-03052-5 (Hardcover edition) ISBN 0-426-19510-8 (Paperback edition)

Novelisation

• This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW: The Five Doctors which was shown from 25th November 1983 and written by Terrance Dicks
• The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Andrew Skilleter. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).
• This was the first Fifth Doctor-era novelisation cover to use a piece of artwork rather than a photograph, and was the only release of its kind during the Davison era to depict the Fifth Doctor in an illustration rather than a photo.

Publisher's summary

1983 edition

A twentieth anniversary special featuring the Doctor in all five of his regenerations.
Why are all five Doctors being removed from their separate time-streams? Who is the enemy they will have to unite against? What will become of the Doctors when the battle is over?
We have travelled a long way with Doctor Who. The Five Doctors gives us a chance to turn the clock back and meet some old friends – and some old enemies.

Illustrations

• None

Deviations from televised story

• Dicks adds a segment accounting for Susan Foreman's abduction by the timescoop, set in the era after The Dalek Invasion of Earth.
• The First Doctor is stated to be nearing his first regeneration.

Writing and publishing notes

• Written by Terrance Dicks to tie-in with the Anniversary TV broadcast, this was the quickest novelisation for Terrance to write.
• After several unsuccessful attempts to simultaneously release titles at the time of broadcast, there was general disapproval that the book was available in some areas, up to two weeks before transmission. According to a featurette on the 25th anniversary DVD, it is believed that the release before broadcast was in fact an error.
• The usual cover price of £1.35 (UK) was significantly raised for this titles release, to a special price of £1.50 (UK), before being lowered again for subsequent releases.
• This as the first title to be seen through by Nigel Robinson, the new range editor, who took over from Christine Donohoe who had already commisioned a number of titles that Nigel inherited.
• This was the 100th title in the Doctor Who Target Book range.
• Foil cover with a lower corner flash reading `A TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FIRST EDITION’.
• The inside front of the book included a single page advert for Fantastic Doctor Who Poster Offer! (Featuring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and a host of target novelisations)

Additional cover images

• 

  Paperback First Edition

• 

  1991 edition; Cover by Alister Pearson

British publication history

To be added

First Publication:

• Hardback

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

Editions published outside Britain

To be added

See also

To be added