Doctor Who Literature
- Description:
- Doctor Who is not just one of the world's longest-running science fiction TV shows, but it's also generated a prolific amount of tie-in books, often with strong literary merit. Join Jason from the Trap One Podcast on a solo journey through the Target novelizations, in publication order.
RSS Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/72d51f48/podcast/rss
- Episodes:
- 168
- Average Episode Duration:
- 0:1:29:24
- Longest Episode Duration:
- 0:2:18:20
- Total Duration of all Episodes:
- 10 days, 10 hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds
- Earliest Episode:
- 6 November 2021 (4:53pm GMT)
- Latest Episode:
- 24 November 2024 (7:09am GMT)
- Average Time Between Episodes:
- 6 days, 15 hours, 5 minutes and 5 seconds
Doctor Who Literature Episodes
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Episode 15 - The Green Death (with Hannah Long)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 45 minutes and 11 secondsWelcome to a special recorded-at-Gallifrey-One-in-Los-Angeles edition of Doctor Who Literature. While Jason the Brooklyn boy is somewhat out of his element in this big big city, he's joined long-distance by a fellow Brooklynite to discuss Malcolm Hulke's glorious August 1975 paean to the common man and laborer.
The first half of the book features Jason's breakdown of the text of the book, adapted from a three-part blog post originally published in February 2017.
The second half sees Hannah Long, a freelance writer and commentator, discuss "Doctor Who and the Green Death" from a different perspective to Jason's own, but they do find a lot of common ground to like about the book. You can find Hannah's writings about Doctor Who here and please look her up on Twitter as well.This episode features musical selections from the legendary Woody Guthrie and the incomparable Mandy Patinkin.
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Episode 14 - Terror of the Autons (with Eric Gjovaag)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 40 minutes and 53 secondsIt's May 1975, and Terrance Dicks' second book in three months. Will his increased writers' output affect his style, descriptive powers, wit, pizzazz? ... obviously not. This book is tremendous and actually an improvement over the TV serial in several spots.
In the first half of the episode, Jason breaks down why this novelization is such an upgrade from TV, and why the mere act of opening the book brings a lump to his throat.
In the second half, Jason is joined by a very old internet friend from the rec.arts.drwho days, Eric Gjovaag. Eric tells some wild stories about the old days of American Doctor Who fandom in the 1980s and '90s, and these are not to be missed.
You can find Erc's own Wizard of Oz book and other Oz writings, as well as his long-running Oz homepage, and his Doctor Who fan club's page.
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Episode 13 - The Giant Robot (with Stacey Smith?)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 36 minutes and 7 secondsIt's Episode Lucky-Number-Thirteen. Doctor Who and the Giant Robot is one of our favorite novelizations from childhood, a slim volume -- the shortest Target book to date -- but it's held an outsized influence over Jason's life, since he first read it over 35 years ago. What about this little book is so magical? Why should it still be widely read today?
In the first half of the episode, Jason takes you on journey through the book's text. Terrance Dicks uses fewer words here, in the March 1975 release, than in his earlier books, but pulls no punches, and works his usual craft in adapting the teleplays while never missing a wicked character aside or sharp internal thought.
In the second half, we're rejoined by Stacey Smith?, a prolific Doctor Who non-fiction writer and editor, making her second appearance on Doctor Who Literature. How did Stacey come to get this book co-signed by the wrong Doctor? Is this book more memorable than its parent TV story? How do the book's politics play out in this tumultuous world of 2022?
This episode features Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter" (not featuring Miss Winters... or Arnold Jellicoe).
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Episode 12 - The Cybermen (with Pete Lambert)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 37 minutes and 20 secondsDoctor Who Literature turns to Jason's first novelization, Doctor Who and the Cybermen, which Jason first read -- all in one day -- on Super Bowl Sunday 1985. Thirty-seven years later and the book's prose, vocabulary, and descriptive powers, are still unmatched.
In the first half of the episode, Jason breaks down what makes Gerry Davis' writing style so good, and fortunately there are many more Davis novelizations to come.
In the second half, we're joined by Pete Lambert, a good friend from the Trap One Podcast. We talk about how influential this book was to us as young readers, what other classic book series we moved away from once the Doctor entered our lives, and how the Target books would stack up against today's YA fiction. What is the significance of the word "radiophonic" to the text? Who exactly in the story as a "fetish", and what's it about? And why are there Welsh shepherds on the moon? A truly fun and relaxed conversation, and we can't wait to have Pete back on again soon.
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Episode 11 - The Curse of Peladon (with Ross from Gallifrey's Most Wanted)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 39 minutes and 56 secondsWe're up to the 1975 Target Doctor Who novelization releases. Up first, the first novelization (of two) by Brian Hayles, featuring the first novelization (of four) to feature the Ice Warriors.
Stand by... for news. A lot happened in the Doctor Who universe this week. We learned the identity of the next five Target novelizations: three New Series adventures, and new takes on two Classic Series tales. We learned which Classic Series season is getting the Blu-ray treatment, via another canon-worthy Pete McTighe-scripted trailer, and with a tantalizing set of new Chris Chapman documentaries, Matthew Sweet interviews, and all the other usual Behind the Sofa-type goodness. And, lastly, happy birthday to Doctor Who's reigning elder statesman.Once we get to the book, the first half of the episode is Jason and his trademark breakdown Brian Hayles' prose style and narrative choices.
In the last half of the episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Ross from Gallifrey's Most Wanted, who provides a different take on Hayles' prose style. We thoroughly explore the politics of this story, and what those politics look like today, both in the UK, where the Peladon adventures were written, and here in the States, where similar issues continue to drive the political narrative. This is a can't-miss conversation.
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Episode 10 - The Abominable Snowmen (with Jonathan Blum)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 37 minutes and 56 secondsWelcome to the double digits for the Doctor Who Literature podcast (excluding bonus episodes), and it's the last Target novelization of 1974, Terrance Dicks' third book, and the first novelization of a Patrick Troughton/2nd Doctor adventure.
The Abominable Snowmen has been in the news this week, or, at least, on the rumor mill, with stories that the forthcoming animation of the TV serial, co-funded by BBC America, will be the last such project... at least, co-funded by BBC America.
In the first half of the episode, we break down Terrance's book, and talk about how he works his magic in print, elevating or often improving on the visuals we saw on TV.
In the second half, we're joined by prolific Doctor Who novelist Jonathan Blum, who reveals a soft spot for Terrance Dicks. We discuss how Terrance actually adapted, rather than merely transcribed, the TV serial, and what objectionable bits he removed along the way. We take a tough look at the TV production, and examine why we enjoyed the book regardless.
Musical cues taken from the 1961 rendition of "Blue Moon" by The Marcels.
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Episode 9 - The Sea-Devils (with Frazer Gregory)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 46 minutes and 25 secondsIt's October 1974, and Malcolm Hulke's third novelization of the year. He'll never have another year this prolific, but what a trilogy of books he's left us. Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils is the shortest of the bunch, but don't let the length fool you; there's some terrific material here in terms of character insights and observational humor. Even if there aren't too many actual Sea-Devils.
In the first half of the episode, I break down Hulke's writing style in the book, and catalogue the many changes from screen to book.
In the second half, I'm joined by one of my favorite podcast guests, Frazer Gregory, who shares his memories of this novelization, and does some of the best dramatic readings from the book that you'll find, outside of the Target novelization audiobook range.
This may be the end of Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils, but the Sea Devils will return.
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Episode 8 - The Daemons (with Simon Hart)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 34 minutes and 51 secondsThis week we're up to October 1974 and the first book of Target's last double-release month. The first of those two books is the novelization of "The Daemons", the Season 8 finale, and is written by the episode's producer and co-writer, Barry Letts. It's one of the longest novelizations Target will ever put out, and in the first half of this episode, we'll take a deep dive into just what Barry is able to do with all that extra space.
For the second half of the episode, we're joined by Simon Hart (@Si_Hart), a very prolific and very funny podcaster, who talks about how he first encountered this novelization, and how well it holds up today.
This week's outro music features two different versions of "Heart" from the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees", including selections from the 1958 movie adaptation and a 1969 episode of the Ed Sullivan Show.
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Episode 7 - Day of the Daleks (with Tony Whitt)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 19 minutes and 47 secondsMarch 1974 saw two Target novelization releases; Episode 6 covered one of those, Malcolm Hulke's Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon. This week we jump back in time from the 30th century to the 22nd and take a long look at Terrance Dicks' Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks. A remarkable book, one of Terrance's longest, this expands greatly on the troubled TV production, adding a prologue and epilogue not seen on TV, and giving us Terrance with some of his most evocative prose ever.
The first half of the episode features Jason's trademark deep dive into the book's prose.
For the second half, we're joined this week by Tony Whitt of the Doctor Who Target Book Club podcast (@DWTARGETBC). Tony's excellent Target podcast previously covered this book -- and paid tribute to Terrance Dicks in general -- in 2019, and you can find that episode here:
https://soundcloud.com/doctorwhotargetbc/ep-59-day-of-the-daleksdicks-tribute-wlarry-vanmersbergen
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Episode 6 - The Doomsday Weapon (with Mark from Trap One)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 42 minutes and 13 secondsIt's March 1974, and the third and fourth Target novelizations of Doctor Who episodes are released in the same month. Once again, the double release features one Malcolm Hulke book and one Terrance Dicks book. This week we're discussing the Hulke entry, the novelization of 1971's "Colony in Space".
In the first half of the episode, we'll break down this long and remarkable book. In the second half, we're joined by Mark (@QuarkMcMalus) from the Trap One Podcast (@trapone_), for a wide-ranging discussion about the book, and a few related topics.Living on a hostile alien planet and being threatened by a capitalist world-state, has never been this entertaining or illuminating!
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Episode 5 - The Cave Monsters (With Stacey Smith?)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 27 minutes and 10 secondsFor the first time, Jason is joined by a guest, prolific Doctor Who non-fiction writer, longtime fan, epidemiologist, and a former profile subject on Morgan Freeman's "Through The Wormhole", the inimitable Stacey Smith? (the questionmark is part of her name).
In the first part of the episode, Jason goes in-depth on the text, prose, and themes of The Cave Monsters. Then, as Stacey joins in, together, we discuss and debate Malcolm Hulke's first novelization, "Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters". Stacey previous wrote about the parent TV story for the Black Archive series, which she and I previous discussed on Trap One, which you can listen to below.
This week we also pay tribute to Chris Achilleos, one of the great Doctor Who illustrators, who painted the cover and drew the internal illustrations for The Cave Monsters. Chris Achilleos passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2021.
https://trapone.podbean.com/e/stacey-smith-on-the-black-archive-the-silurians/
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Episode 4 - The Auton Invasion
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 31 minutes and 32 secondsAfter three episodes on the Frederick Muller books from the 1960s, it's now 1974, and the Target range -- which began with 1973 reprints of the Muller books -- begins properly with a twin January 1974 release of novelizations of "Spearhead From Space" and "Doctor Who and the Silurians". It's a very warm welcome to the Target line for Terrance Dicks -- they'll end up keeping him. Join us for a deep dive in Terrance's magnum opus, a 150-page book, one of his very best, if not THE best, books he wrote. What value does Terrance add to the TV scripts and direction? How does he describe the TARDIS materialization sound and the Third Doctor's face, in this, his first Doctor Who book? Join us, and find out ...
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Bonus Episode - Corporals Aren't Colonels
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 24 minutes and 53 secondsChapter 5 of Doctor Who: Flux, Survivors of the Flux, contained a voice cameo hearkening back to UNIT's glory days, as well as a surprising if somewhat illogical revelation about that voice's military track record. Join us for a bonus episode looking back to November 2003's Past Doctor Adventure novel, "Deadly Reunion", Doctor Who's 40th anniversary story, and something of an autobiography for its co-author, one Barry Letts.
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Episode 3 - The Crusaders
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 36 minutes and 20 secondsThe third and final Frederick Muller-published Doctor Who novelization -- and its second by David Whitaker -- came out in February 1966. The book remains in print today and still generates many fresh topics for discussion. Are Ian and Barbara a couple? Are wars only waged between one good side and one evil side? Who are we supposed to root for in this book? When is it appropriate for an author to break the "show-don't-tell" rule? Is this a rote adaptation of the TV scripts for "The Crusade", or is David Whitaker using the book platform to tell a new story, one too broad and deep for the small screen? Join us as we discuss all these things.
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Bonus Episode - Doctor Who Turns 58
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 59 minutes and 57 secondsWelcome to the first bonus episode of Doctor Who Literature. For this episode we're discussing not the books, but the TV series itself, on this, November 23, 2021, it's 58th anniversary. Tying in to Jason's recent Twitter watch-through of the Classic Series, #drwhopilgrimage, this episode will feature two randomly selected episodes of the classic series, with live and unscripted commentary over each one. Most of Doctor Who is made up not of all-time stone-cold classics or the worst turkeys, but just average workaday episodes. What can we learn about classic Doctor Who by not watching the all-time titans, but just two random ordinary episodes? Which episodes will the episode generator give us, and what larger lessons about Doctor Who can we gather from these random stories?
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Episode 2 - The Zarbi
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 26 minutes and 10 secondsWelcome back to the Doctor Who Literature podcast. This week, I'm discussing the second published Doctor Who novelization, adapting the notorious (and very highly-rated) 1965 serial, "The Web Planet". Bill Strutton's only contribution to the books line. Strutton, who had a prolific career and a fascinating biography, came to the books very early on, and some of his assumptions about the TARDIS and the Doctor's female companions look downright odd to us today in 2021. How does the book hold up, 56 years after its release? What positive messages can we take away from it today?
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Episode 1 - An Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 29 minutes and 3 secondsWelcome to the first full episode of the Doctor Who Literature podcast. I'm discussing the first Doctor Who episode novelization, 1964's "Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks". It's a novelization... that isn't.
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Trailer for The History of Doctor Who Literature
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 5 minutes and 0 secondsComing soon, the History of Doctor Who Literature podcast, a book by book examination of the Target novelizations, in publication order.