The Companions of Doctor Who: Difference between revisions

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'''''The Companions of Doctor Who''''' was an imprint of [[Target Books]] which published novels about [[the Doctor]]'s [[companion]]s after they had stopped travelling with him. It was notable for being the first series of books to include wholly original novels set in the [[Whoniverse|''Doctor Who'' universe]].  

Prior to the advent of the imprint, novel-length prose set in the Whoniverse was strictly reserved for [[Target Novelisation|novelisations of televised serials]]. By [[1986]], however, [[BBC Enterprises]] was willing to let Target tell a few of its own stories, although not with the Doctor as the central character.  

The first release in the series was ''[[Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma]]'', focusing on [[Vislor Turlough]] after he left [[fifth Doctor|the Doctor]]. It stands as the longest novel published in the standard Target Books format which was in use from 1973-1991, though a few releases in the later [[Virgin Missing Adventures]] format were longer.  

This book was followed by the second release of 1986, ''[[Harry Sullivan's War]]''. As the title suggests, it focused on the military exploits of [[Harry Sullivan]]. It is notable for being one of only two instances in which an actor playing a regular character on ''Doctor Who'' was able to write an original, published work featuring that character. Author [[Ian Marter]] is joined only by [[Colin Baker]] in the distinction.

The third and final release broke the format of the imprint somewhat by being a [[K9 and Company (novelisation)|novelisation of]] ''[[A Girl's Best Friend]]'', the pilot episode of the aborted ''[[K9 and Company]]'' spin-off series. Unlike its predecessors, however, it was published in [[1987]].