The Monster Collection: Book re-issues

I know it’s slightly off-topic here, but I thought I’d talk about some upcoming novels that are being released later this year. Last year this was done for the 50^th anniversary, with one novel featuring each Doctor, with the books drawn from the BBC’s Past Doctor Adventures line for Doctors 1 to 6, a Target novelisation for the Seventh Doctor, a BBC Eight Doctor Adventure (it’s hard finding a title from there not continuity linked in some way!) and the BBC New Series Adventures for Doctors 9-11.

This new batch of books has TV monsters in prose form, in all new stories, with the new covers showing that monster. The original texts are also taken from a wider range of ranges, including the Virgin novels! If I have read that title, I may give my verdict on it.

Corpse Marker by Chris Boucher (Fourth Doctor and Leela, Voc Robots)

Past Doctor Adventures #27, released November 1999

The Doctor and Leela arrive on the planet Kaldor, where they find a society dependent on benign and obedient robots. But they have faced these robots before, on a huge Sandminer in the Kaldor desert, and know they are not always harmless servants. The only other people who know the truth are the three survivors from that Sandminer - and now they are being picked off one by one. The twisted genius behind that massacre is dead, but someone is developing a new, deadlier breed of robots. This time, unless the Doctor and Leela can stop them, they really will destroy the world. It is an adventure featuring the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker, and his companion Leela.

My verdict: Not as good as Robots Of Death, but then it takes someone as amazing a Nick Briggs to pen that amazing a sequel. Some intriguing developments, so worth a read

Shakedown by Terrance Dicks (Seventh Doctor, Benny, Chris and Roz, Sontarans)

Virgin New Adventures #45, released December 1995

For thousands of years the Sontarans and the Rutans have fought a brutal war across the galaxy. Now the Sontarans have a secret plan to destroy the Rutan race - a secret plan the Doctor is racing against time to uncover. Only one Rutan spy knows the Sontarans' plan. As he is chased through the galaxy in a desperate bid for his life, he reaches the planet Sentarion - where Professor Bernice Summerfield's research into the history of the Sontaran-Rutan war is turning into an explosive reality. It is an adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor, as played by Sylvester McCoy.

Fun fact: Part of this novel is based on the spin-off video Shakedown: Return Of The Sontarans, the second (and so far last) time the Sontarans and the Rutans appeared on screen together

Illegal Alien by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry (Seventh Doctor and Ace, Cybermen)

Past Doctor Adventure #5, released October 1997

The Blitz is at its height. As the Luftwaffe bomb London, Cody McBride, ex-pat American private eye, sees a sinister silver sphere crash-land. He glimpses something emerging from within. The military dismiss his account of events - the sphere must be a new German secret weapon that has malfunctioned in some way. What else could it be? Arriving amid the chaos, the Doctor and Ace embark on a trail that brings them face to face with hidden Nazi agents, and encounter some very old enemies. It is an adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor, as played by Sylvester McCoy, and his companion Ace.

My verdict: Get this one. It is a good read, and if you choose to pick up later releases that link into this one, rewarding.

Fun fact 1: This was going to be a TV story before the 89’ cancellation. Mike Tucker mentions this in the documentary on the Survival DVD

Fun fact 2: This is the first book in a cycle of Seventh Doctor and Ace stories. After Illegal Alien, there’s #16 Matrix, #23 Storm Harvest (first appearance of the Krill, who are also in the Big Finish Dust Breeding with a certain Mr Seta..), #33 Prime Time, #57 Heritage and #60 Loving The Alien (wraps up threads from these books)

Touched By An Angel by Jonathan Morris (Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory, Weeping Angels)

New Series Adventure #46, released June 2011

'The past is like a foreign country. Nice to visit, but you really wouldn't want to live there.' In 2003, Rebecca Whitaker died in a road accident. Her husband Mark is still grieving. He receives a battered envelope, posted eight years earlier, containing a set of instructions with a simple message: 'You can save her.' As Mark is given the chance to save Rebecca, it's up to the Doctor, Amy and Rory to save the whole world. Because this time the Weeping Angels are using history itself as a weapon. It is an adventure featuring the Eleventh Doctor, as played by Matt Smith, and his companions Amy and Rory.

My verdict: Jonathan Morris weaves his magic with the Weeping Angels, who are just as intense on print as they are on screen. Why can’t Johnny Morris write a TV script? I’d recommend all his Big Finish stuff, and also his many other novels. His debut, Festival Of Death (re-released last year) is a masterpiece)

The Scales Of Injustice by Gary Russell (Third Doctor, Liz and UNIT, Silurians and Sea-Devils)

Virgin Missing Adventure #24, released July 1996

When a boy goes missing and a policewoman starts drawing cave paintings, the Doctor suspects the Silurians are back. With the Brigadier distracted by questions about UNIT funding and problems at home, the Doctor swears his assistant Liz Shaw to secrecy and investigates alone. But Liz has enquiries of her own, teaming up with a journalist to track down people who don't exist. What is the mysterious Glasshouse, and why is it so secret? As the Silurians wake from their ancient slumber, the Doctor, Liz and the Brigadier are caught up in a conspiracy to exploit UNIT's achievements - a conspiracy that reaches deep into the heart of the British Government. It is an adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw and UNIT.

Popular opinion: Often said to be a very popular book, I hope this gives me the chance to read for myself

Fun fact: Some characters reappear in the Past Doctor Adventures novels Business Unusual and Instruments Of Darkness, both by Gary Russell

Prisoner Of The Daleks by Trevor Baxendale (Tenth Doctor, Daleks)

New Series Adventure #33, released April 2009

The Daleks are advancing, their empire constantly expanding. The battles rage on across countless solar systems - and the Doctor finds himself stranded on board a starship near the frontline with a group of ruthless bounty hunters. Earth Command will pay these hunters for every Dalek they kill, every eyestalk they bring back as proof. With the Doctor's help, the bounty hunters achieve the ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner - intact, powerless, and ready for interrogation. But with the Daleks, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe. Before long the tables will be turned, and how will the Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of the Daleks? It is an adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant.

My verdict: By getting past the Dalek continuity from the new series, Trevor Baxendale brings us hoards of Daleks and a plot that will impact the whole universe. The characters are memorable as well. Get it

Sting Of The Zygons by Stephen Cole (Tenth Doctor and Martha, Zygons)

New Series Adventure #13, released April 2007

The TARDIS lands the Doctor and Martha in the Lake District in 1909, where a small village has been terrorised by a giant, scaly monster. The search is on for the elusive 'Beast of Westmorland', and explorers, naturalists and hunters from across the country are descending on the fells. King Edward VII himself is on his way to join the search, with a knighthood for whoever finds the Beast. But there is a more sinister presence at work in the Lakes than a mere monster on the rampage, and the Doctor is soon embroiled in the plans of an old and terrifying enemy. And as the hunters become the hunted, a desperate battle of wits begins - with the future of the entire world at stake. It includes an adventure featuring the Tenth Doctor, as played by David Tennant, and his companion Martha.

My verdict: not the best, yet an interesting story none the less, and the “who (or what…) is a zygon” thing is fun. I would rather the BBC brought out the early Eighth Doctor Adventure The Body Snatchers by Mark Morris, which featured Sam and Litefoot (the book is also referenced the Eighth Doctor Big Finish audio The Zygon Who Came To Earth), and is less widely available than this title

The Sands Of Time by Justin Richards (Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan, Osirians and Mummy Robots)

Virgin Missing Adventure #22, released May 1996

The Doctor is in Victorian London with Nyssa and Tegan - a city shrouded in mystery. When Nyssa is kidnapped in the British Museum, the Doctor and Tegan have to unlock the answers to a series of ancient questions. Their quest leads them across continents and time as an ancient Egyptian prophecy threatens future England. To save Nyssa, the Doctor must foil the plans of the mysterious Sadan Rassul. But as mummies stalk the night, an ancient terror stirs in its tomb. It is an adventure featuring the Fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison, and his companions Nyssa and Tegan.

My verdict: An original idea, with plenty of time-hopping and good, but not overdone use of timey-wimey. I say yes, and you're also unlikely to find it anywhere else.

These titles are available from March this year. Some are from the hard to find Virgin years (which can only be found on eBay or second hand bookshops) and hopefully include forwards by the authors like last year’s batch did. A good introduction to prose Doctor Who if you target likes the monsters

Comment below, or tweet me at @jbmastawa. What books or authors would you like to see re-issued? Have you read these titles and which ones do you recommend? What ones would you like to read or re-read?