NEXT MONTH SEES THE RELEASE OF another batch of titles in the Target range, the classic Doctor Who novelisations revived in recent years by BBC Books. They hold a special place in the hearts of generations of fans – some of whom also happen to be writers of 21st century Who.
“The Target books defined my childhood really,” says Pete McTighe (“Kerblam!”). “My memories of them actually predate my memories of watching the show, weirdly. I think I was four when I got my first, bought for me by my grandmother – The Abominable Snowmen.”
“I loved it when the writer added a little extra that wasn’t in the TV show,” says Keith Temple (“Planet Of The Ood”). “One of my favourites is The Cave Monsters by Malcolm Hulke. There’s a passage in the book where a Silurian that Dr Quinn has imprisoned in his cottage breaks free and kills him. As I was six or seven when that was on, I only remembered bits and pieces. So when it first came out on video, I thought that they must have cut that scene out! In my mind’s eye, that was part of the TV show.”
A Third Doctor adventure also springs to mind for Phil Ford (“The Waters Of, because of the massive revelation about the incantation the Master makes at one point, when masquerading as this evil magician. I remember sitting there reading it and suddenly thinking, ‘Hang on… that’s ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ backwards!’”
