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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #4
Doctor Who and the Ark in Space
The survivors of a devastated future Earth lie in suspended animation on a great satellite. When Earth is safe again, they will awaken. But when the Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive on the Terra Nova, they find the systems have failed and the humans never woke.
The Wirrrn Queen has infiltrated the satellite, and laid her eggs inside one of the sleepers. As the first of the humans wake, they face an attack by the emerging Wirrrn.
But not everyone is what they seem, and the only way the Doctor can discover the truth is by joining with the dead mind of the Wirrrn Queen. The price of failure is the Doctor's death, and the end of humanity.
This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 25 January to 15 February 1975.
Featuring the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker, and his companions Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan
The Wirrrn Queen has infiltrated the satellite, and laid her eggs inside one of the sleepers. As the first of the humans wake, they face an attack by the emerging Wirrrn.
But not everyone is what they seem, and the only way the Doctor can discover the truth is by joining with the dead mind of the Wirrrn Queen. The price of failure is the Doctor's death, and the end of humanity.
This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 25 January to 15 February 1975.
Featuring the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker, and his companions Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 1977
16 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Ian Marter
24 books20 followersIan Don Marter was born at Alcock Hospital in Keresley, near Coventry, on the 28th of October 1944. His father, Donald Herbert, was an RAF sergeant and electrician by trade, and his mother was Helen, nee Donaldson.
He was, among other things, a teacher and a milkman.
He became an actor after graduating from Oxford University, and appeared in Repertory and West End productions and on television. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic. He was best known for playing Harry Sullivan in the BBC Television series Doctor Who from 1974 to 1975, alongside Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen. He had already appeared in the show as Lieutenant John Andrews in the Jon Pertwee serial Carnival of Monsters. He had numerous TV roles including appearances in Crown Court and Bergerac (Return of the Ice Maiden, 1985, opposite Louise Jameson).
Marter got into writing the novelisations following a dinner conversation. He went on to adapt 9 scripts over ten years. He started with The Ark in Space, the TV version of which he'd actually appeared in as companion Harry Sullivan. In the end he adapted more serials than he appeared in (7 appearances, 9 novelisations), and wrote one of the Companions series, telling of the post-Doctor adventures of Harry in Harry Sullivan's War. Shortly before his death he was discussing, with series editor Nigel Robinson, the possibility of adapting his unused movie script Doctor Who Meets Scratchman (co-written with Tom Baker) into a novel.
He was, among other things, a teacher and a milkman.
He became an actor after graduating from Oxford University, and appeared in Repertory and West End productions and on television. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic. He was best known for playing Harry Sullivan in the BBC Television series Doctor Who from 1974 to 1975, alongside Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen. He had already appeared in the show as Lieutenant John Andrews in the Jon Pertwee serial Carnival of Monsters. He had numerous TV roles including appearances in Crown Court and Bergerac (Return of the Ice Maiden, 1985, opposite Louise Jameson).
Marter got into writing the novelisations following a dinner conversation. He went on to adapt 9 scripts over ten years. He started with The Ark in Space, the TV version of which he'd actually appeared in as companion Harry Sullivan. In the end he adapted more serials than he appeared in (7 appearances, 9 novelisations), and wrote one of the Companions series, telling of the post-Doctor adventures of Harry in Harry Sullivan's War. Shortly before his death he was discussing, with series editor Nigel Robinson, the possibility of adapting his unused movie script Doctor Who Meets Scratchman (co-written with Tom Baker) into a novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 15, 2018
Marter’s first foray into the Target novelisations is a classic fans favourite base under siege story.
Having played companion Harry Sullivan in this story, I felt that Marter really got the characteristics of the TARDIS team - especially Sarah.
Some really great body horror (no bubble-warp limitations) and longer chapters than normal really gave it more of an adult feel.
Marter becomes one of the best writers in the whole range.
Having played companion Harry Sullivan in this story, I felt that Marter really got the characteristics of the TARDIS team - especially Sarah.
Some really great body horror (no bubble-warp limitations) and longer chapters than normal really gave it more of an adult feel.
Marter becomes one of the best writers in the whole range.
July 1, 2012
The Doctor, Sarah and Harry find themselves on a seemingly deserted space station countless years in the future. They soon discover that they are far from being alone.
If Terrance Dicks was the workhorse of the Target Doctor Who novelisations then I'd have to say that Ian Marter was one the best actual writers. Of all the regular Target writers I found Ian's prose to be one of the best. Some of his descriptions of the Wirrn larva are absolutely alive with bubbling sizzling threat. To be honest as an eight year old I was petrified of the green bubble-wrap bits of the mutating commander Noah so I'm pretty thankful that they didn't achieve the seething monstrosity that Marter delivers. The action scenes are particularly well done. Libri's comedy tv death becomes something quite brutal and vicious. Looking back at the book now I do miss some of the funnier lines, probably mainly Robert Holmes at his witty best. Whether Marter actively took them out or more likely they were late script editions that weren't in Marter's research material, I don't know. It's easy to drop them back in from memory though, so the witty little knitter and naval jokes can live again for those that really care. Script differences aside Marter has a lot of fun with the space station Nerva's on board technology eg moving walkways and mentally activated hatchways etc. Great stuff from one of the all time classic Doctor Who seasons and come on... who doesn't adore Harry Sullivan? And all written by the man himself.
Original artwork , features on script to novel, Ian Marter, Robert Holmes and a new introduction by Steven Moffat.
If Terrance Dicks was the workhorse of the Target Doctor Who novelisations then I'd have to say that Ian Marter was one the best actual writers. Of all the regular Target writers I found Ian's prose to be one of the best. Some of his descriptions of the Wirrn larva are absolutely alive with bubbling sizzling threat. To be honest as an eight year old I was petrified of the green bubble-wrap bits of the mutating commander Noah so I'm pretty thankful that they didn't achieve the seething monstrosity that Marter delivers. The action scenes are particularly well done. Libri's comedy tv death becomes something quite brutal and vicious. Looking back at the book now I do miss some of the funnier lines, probably mainly Robert Holmes at his witty best. Whether Marter actively took them out or more likely they were late script editions that weren't in Marter's research material, I don't know. It's easy to drop them back in from memory though, so the witty little knitter and naval jokes can live again for those that really care. Script differences aside Marter has a lot of fun with the space station Nerva's on board technology eg moving walkways and mentally activated hatchways etc. Great stuff from one of the all time classic Doctor Who seasons and come on... who doesn't adore Harry Sullivan? And all written by the man himself.
Original artwork , features on script to novel, Ian Marter, Robert Holmes and a new introduction by Steven Moffat.
August 28, 2012
I read a lot of Doctor Who books when I was a kid, but I can’t recall which ones. I’m fairly sure this wasn’t one of them, though. I certainly would have remembered. There are some surprisingly gruesome scenes depicted here. Also, the premise of the novel is quite memorable. I don’t recall too many Doctor Who stories that take place in Space. Then again, I don’t recall too many Doctor Who stories in any case, so feel free to enlighten me.
In the far, far future the last remnants of humanity are placed in an “Ark” (the commander of which is aptly named Noah) in Space. These humans have been placed in “hyper-sleep” and are to be awakened when Earth is liveable again, to return and start over. Slight problem: an alien entity has entered the Ark and switched off the alarm clock, so to speak. This “overgrown locust” also snacks on the sleeping humans and plants its pupae inside them. Not cool.
Fortunately, Doctor Who arrives to put an end to the status quo. Filled with wacky science, a lot of running to and fro and absolutely zero character development, The Ark in Space is probably one of the more interesting Doctor Who adventures because of its unique setting and really icky aliens.
In the far, far future the last remnants of humanity are placed in an “Ark” (the commander of which is aptly named Noah) in Space. These humans have been placed in “hyper-sleep” and are to be awakened when Earth is liveable again, to return and start over. Slight problem: an alien entity has entered the Ark and switched off the alarm clock, so to speak. This “overgrown locust” also snacks on the sleeping humans and plants its pupae inside them. Not cool.
Fortunately, Doctor Who arrives to put an end to the status quo. Filled with wacky science, a lot of running to and fro and absolutely zero character development, The Ark in Space is probably one of the more interesting Doctor Who adventures because of its unique setting and really icky aliens.
September 12, 2021
This is a novelization of the second adventure from the twelfth season of Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in January and February of 1975. It was the second serial which starred the fourth regeneration of the titular character, who was accompanied by plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith and (medical) Doctor Harry Sullivan of UNIT by way of the Royal Navy. The script was written by Robert Holmes and this adaptation is by Ian Marter, the actor who portrayed Harry. Set in far future on a space station orbiting Earth, it's the story of mankind in suspended animation on the giant space station as they await the Earth recovering enough so that they can return to the surface, but the station comes under attack by the evil alien Wirrrn and The Doctor has to come to the rescue. Marter captures the vastness of the setting and the technological wonders quite well, much better than the limited effects budget allowed in the broadcast version. He gets the "voices" of the TARDIS crew quite well also, particularly Sarah Jane. (He tends to make Harry just a bit more of bumbler than he was on screen.) It's a good episode, one of the best straight science fiction stories from the classic run.
October 21, 2015
Whenever I'm asked by new Who fans for a good starting point to watch classic Doctor Who, I don't point to "An Unearthly Child" but instead to Robert Holmes' classic fourth Doctor serial, "The Ark In Space."
Not only does the story kick off a great run of stories, but it comes from an era this is (arguably) the most consistent and best in the entire fifty plus year run of the show -- classic or otherwise.
The story includes a minor call back or two to the previous installment, but for the most part it's a self-contained horror story set in the near future. Promising Harry a quick trip to the moon to prove the TARDIS is what the Doctor says it is, our trio instead ends up in the far future thanks to Harry's twisting the helmic regulator a bit too much. The Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive on a future space station that is home to the final remnants of humanity in suspended animation waiting their chance to awaken and begin the conquering the Earth again. But something has gone wrong and humanity has overslept.
What's gone wrong is the Wirrin, an insect race that can survive in deep space and has journeyed to the ark seeking our humanity. The Wirrin are also driven to survive and are looking for a new home -- and the ark and the Earth look like just the right place to get started.
If you didn't know that Holmes had to hastily create a new script using the already created sets for space station because another script feel through, odds are you wouldn't notice during the four episodes of this story. Ian Marter's novelization of the story is one of his most straight-forward, following Holmes' original script and storyline faithfully. There are some embellishments for the printed page, such as the additional r in the name of the Wirrrin and some of the descriptions of the Wirrrin taking over their human hosts are bit more graphic than the show could have got away with at the time (or, quite frankly, could get away with today).
Marter drops a few lines that were possibly ad-libbed on the set or that don't present his character of Harry in the best of lights. He also makes the Wirrin a bit more horrifying than they are on our screens -- and that's saying a bit since the concept of the Wirrin is pretty chilling when you stop to think about it.
It all adds up to one of the better entries from the Target lines of Doctor Who adaptations. A lot of the Target novels make me want to go back and review the original story again. "The Ark in Space" is one that almost demands that you immediately watch the story again.
The audiobook is read by Jon Culshaw, who made quite a name for himself imitating the fourth Doctor as part of the "Dead Ringers" crew in the UK. (If you haven't heard some of those bits, I recommend them. As a Doctor Who fans, I enjoyed them immensely) Culshaw uses his fourth Doctor imitation in the audio novel and the first time I heard it, it felt like they'd sampled Tom Baker's lines from the original serial and dropped them in here.
Culshaw's reading of the story is spot-on, adding to the atmosphere of the novel. Marter expanded on the sequence of Sarah crawling through the duct work of the station and Culshaw really runs with it here. It's one of the most suspenseful and riveting parts of this audiobook. I tend to listen to these audiobooks while jogging and I wouldn't be shocked if my speed picked up a bit during this portion of the story (even knowing the outcome already).
When the Doctor Who audiobook line returned earlier this year, I was thrilled at the selection of stories that were coming our way. "The Ark in Space" is yet another superb entry from that line. It's a great combination of a great original story by Robert Holmes, a superlative adaptation by Ian Marter and a great performance by Jon Cullshaw.
Highly recommended.
Not only does the story kick off a great run of stories, but it comes from an era this is (arguably) the most consistent and best in the entire fifty plus year run of the show -- classic or otherwise.
The story includes a minor call back or two to the previous installment, but for the most part it's a self-contained horror story set in the near future. Promising Harry a quick trip to the moon to prove the TARDIS is what the Doctor says it is, our trio instead ends up in the far future thanks to Harry's twisting the helmic regulator a bit too much. The Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive on a future space station that is home to the final remnants of humanity in suspended animation waiting their chance to awaken and begin the conquering the Earth again. But something has gone wrong and humanity has overslept.
What's gone wrong is the Wirrin, an insect race that can survive in deep space and has journeyed to the ark seeking our humanity. The Wirrin are also driven to survive and are looking for a new home -- and the ark and the Earth look like just the right place to get started.
If you didn't know that Holmes had to hastily create a new script using the already created sets for space station because another script feel through, odds are you wouldn't notice during the four episodes of this story. Ian Marter's novelization of the story is one of his most straight-forward, following Holmes' original script and storyline faithfully. There are some embellishments for the printed page, such as the additional r in the name of the Wirrrin and some of the descriptions of the Wirrrin taking over their human hosts are bit more graphic than the show could have got away with at the time (or, quite frankly, could get away with today).
Marter drops a few lines that were possibly ad-libbed on the set or that don't present his character of Harry in the best of lights. He also makes the Wirrin a bit more horrifying than they are on our screens -- and that's saying a bit since the concept of the Wirrin is pretty chilling when you stop to think about it.
It all adds up to one of the better entries from the Target lines of Doctor Who adaptations. A lot of the Target novels make me want to go back and review the original story again. "The Ark in Space" is one that almost demands that you immediately watch the story again.
The audiobook is read by Jon Culshaw, who made quite a name for himself imitating the fourth Doctor as part of the "Dead Ringers" crew in the UK. (If you haven't heard some of those bits, I recommend them. As a Doctor Who fans, I enjoyed them immensely) Culshaw uses his fourth Doctor imitation in the audio novel and the first time I heard it, it felt like they'd sampled Tom Baker's lines from the original serial and dropped them in here.
Culshaw's reading of the story is spot-on, adding to the atmosphere of the novel. Marter expanded on the sequence of Sarah crawling through the duct work of the station and Culshaw really runs with it here. It's one of the most suspenseful and riveting parts of this audiobook. I tend to listen to these audiobooks while jogging and I wouldn't be shocked if my speed picked up a bit during this portion of the story (even knowing the outcome already).
When the Doctor Who audiobook line returned earlier this year, I was thrilled at the selection of stories that were coming our way. "The Ark in Space" is yet another superb entry from that line. It's a great combination of a great original story by Robert Holmes, a superlative adaptation by Ian Marter and a great performance by Jon Cullshaw.
Highly recommended.
July 29, 2012
Ian Marter played companion Harry Sullivan during Tom Baker's first season as the Doctor...but who new he was also to become one of Target's best "Doctor Who" authors. With his very first attempt, he transforms the clinical body horror of the TV version of "The Ark in Space" into something even more frightening and gory...which would have, no doubt, met with Robert Holmes' approval. It's no wonder Steven Moffat gushes about this story in his introduction...it's worthy of such praise.
December 27, 2021
The Fourth Doctor takes Sarah Jane and Harry on a trip in the TARDIS, where they find themselves on an ancient satellite with thousands of cryogenically preserved humans. Their search of the satellite leads them to the Wyrrrn, an alien race who are using the humans as hosts for their eggs.
Marter's first novelisation sticks closely to the original script, but his sparse, punchy narrative is engaging.
Marter's first novelisation sticks closely to the original script, but his sparse, punchy narrative is engaging.
Read
October 21, 2007http://nhw.livejournal.com/763482.html[return][return]Marter may well have been tempted to write this from the viewpoint of Harry Sullivan; if so, I think he was wise to restrain himself. He both adds and subtracts from the TV show here. He subtracts, somewhat to my surprise, most of the humorous lines of dialogue - specifically the Doctor's line "Well, my doctorate is purely honorary, and Harry here is only qualified to work on sailors." It is of course a joke against Harry (a naval doctor, but one who appears rather a twit at times), but I don't think that is the reason; perhaps Marter just felt the line didn't work as well on the page as it does on the screen, as he also drops the banter between Rogin and Lycett just after they are woken up. [return][return]He adds, however, some simply superb descriptive passages which one really regrets were not realised on-screen. Sometimes it's just little things, like the Doctor opening a door on the space station by thinking at it. There's also Sarah's journey through the ventilation duct, through the mass of Wirrrn (another thing added by Marter is an extra "r" in the name of the monster). He also adds graphical nastiness and violence. Noah's head explodes, revealing the Wirrrn within. Rogin's body is "burnt to a colourless crystal". [return][return]Basically, if your attention is suddenly held by the prose in one of Marter's novelisations, it's a fair bet that it's something he added to the original story. Doctor Who and the Ark in Space is a really good read.
April 10, 2023
[Target] (1982). SB. Reprint. 140 Pages. Purchased from Zardoz Books.
The first of eight Dr. Who stories penned by the late Ian Marter under this celebrated imprint.
The author played Harry Sullivan in the early 70s, long before the show decayed into inane woke rubbish.
I enjoyed the series, watching it as a child, in 1975. A subsequent viewing, ~20 years later in the U.S., was rather disappointing. I just couldn’t cope with all that green bubble wrap.
The (1975) novel is atmospheric, tense, claustrophobic, thought provoking and well executed.
The first of eight Dr. Who stories penned by the late Ian Marter under this celebrated imprint.
The author played Harry Sullivan in the early 70s, long before the show decayed into inane woke rubbish.
I enjoyed the series, watching it as a child, in 1975. A subsequent viewing, ~20 years later in the U.S., was rather disappointing. I just couldn’t cope with all that green bubble wrap.
The (1975) novel is atmospheric, tense, claustrophobic, thought provoking and well executed.
April 30, 2024
3.5 I found the middle a little slow but the start and end were great! Look forward to watching the episodes
April 7, 2021
It's like watching the episode. I love it. And being that I can't watch it as much as I would love to, I can read it and picture the show in my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2025
Excellent novelisation of the Çlassic Tom Baker story
February 9, 2019
This has to be one of the best adaptions of a Doctor Who televised episode. It helps that it was already a good story to begin with, but Ian Marter did an excellent job of transferring it over to the written form.
The plot is the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry arrive on Terra Nova. They find out that it is a cryogenic storage for the human race, but has been delayed by an outside force.
What Ian Marter does with this plot is enhance with descriptions you would not find on the televised show, and reduces technobabble dialog to brief one sentence descriptions. By doing this he enhances the descriptive nature of the Wrinn. Or more precisely, the Wrinn conversion process which is more than the green bubble wrap shown on TV.
It is this descriptive process that elevates this among the Target books. I was very surprised it was not cut. Also, the nature of his writing is a breath of fresh air compared to the Terrance Dicks books of the same period.
Out of the Target books so far, I do highly recommend this one.
The plot is the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry arrive on Terra Nova. They find out that it is a cryogenic storage for the human race, but has been delayed by an outside force.
What Ian Marter does with this plot is enhance with descriptions you would not find on the televised show, and reduces technobabble dialog to brief one sentence descriptions. By doing this he enhances the descriptive nature of the Wrinn. Or more precisely, the Wrinn conversion process which is more than the green bubble wrap shown on TV.
It is this descriptive process that elevates this among the Target books. I was very surprised it was not cut. Also, the nature of his writing is a breath of fresh air compared to the Terrance Dicks books of the same period.
Out of the Target books so far, I do highly recommend this one.
February 8, 2009
One of the classics.
The fourth Doctor, Harry and Sarah are stuck on a massive space station with a group of colonists and a swarm of enormous, hungry space bugs.
Strong characterization and a great feeling of suspense and menace.
The fourth Doctor, Harry and Sarah are stuck on a massive space station with a group of colonists and a swarm of enormous, hungry space bugs.
Strong characterization and a great feeling of suspense and menace.
November 6, 2020
This story was ruined for me due to the Harry Sullivan character. All that "old girl" type of banter got tired real fast. That being said it was a solid story, the fourth Doctor kicks ass as always and Sarah was pretty groovy getting it done as well. Frickn Harry though ...
June 12, 2017
“Doctor Who and the Ark in Space” by Ian Marter.
Enjoyable read. The novelisation of the TV series.
Quotes:
“The Doctor was a tall, broad man with a riot of curly brown hair....” (p5)
“Upon entering the TARDIS, 'It's bigger than a Cathedral... on the inside...' he [Harry] gasped in amazement.” (p7)
“In his resonant voice, excitement, understanding and wonder were mingled as he crept respectfully round the chamber. For a moment, his companions' discomfort gave way to amazement.” (p9)
* cyanosed = Cyanosis is defined as the bluish or purplish discolouration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface having low oxygen saturation. ... It is derived from the color cyan, which comes from kyanós, the Greek word for blue. (p13)
* convalescent = (of a person) recovering from an illness or medical treatment. (p14)
Cricket references (p19)
“cryogenic … the theory of tissue preservation for long periods of time .. from the Greek word for frost.” (p22)
* relating to or involving the branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures. "a powerful cryogenic engine"
* relating to the deep-freezing of the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future. "a body being prepared for cryogenic preservation"
“… large ovoid window panels of tinted glass...” (p26)
* ovoid = (of a solid or a three-dimensional surface) more or less egg-shaped.
{Frequent lack of spaces between sentences, e.g. page 28}
“The subdued lighting gave the chamber a solemn, church-like atmosphere.” (p32)
A sort of Noah's Ark (p34, 46)
“Homo sapiens .. what an indomitable species... it is only a few million years since it crawled up out of the sea and learned to walk... a puny defenseless biped... it has survived flood, plague, famine, war... and now here it is out among the stars... awaiting a new life. …” (p36)
* viscous = having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity. (p49)
* pustular = A pustule is a small collection of pus in the top layer of skin (epidermis) or beneath it in the dermis. (p54)
* suppurating = undergo the formation of pus; fester. (p73)
“It may be a trifle irrational of me,” he smiled, “but human beings are quite my favorite species.” (p86)
* ice floe = a sheet of floating ice. (p88)
rugger tackle (rugby) (p96)
* irresolution = hesitancy; uncertainty (p132)
Enjoyable read. The novelisation of the TV series.
Quotes:
“The Doctor was a tall, broad man with a riot of curly brown hair....” (p5)
“Upon entering the TARDIS, 'It's bigger than a Cathedral... on the inside...' he [Harry] gasped in amazement.” (p7)
“In his resonant voice, excitement, understanding and wonder were mingled as he crept respectfully round the chamber. For a moment, his companions' discomfort gave way to amazement.” (p9)
* cyanosed = Cyanosis is defined as the bluish or purplish discolouration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface having low oxygen saturation. ... It is derived from the color cyan, which comes from kyanós, the Greek word for blue. (p13)
* convalescent = (of a person) recovering from an illness or medical treatment. (p14)
Cricket references (p19)
“cryogenic … the theory of tissue preservation for long periods of time .. from the Greek word for frost.” (p22)
* relating to or involving the branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures. "a powerful cryogenic engine"
* relating to the deep-freezing of the bodies of people who have just died, in the hope that scientific advances may allow them to be revived in the future. "a body being prepared for cryogenic preservation"
“… large ovoid window panels of tinted glass...” (p26)
* ovoid = (of a solid or a three-dimensional surface) more or less egg-shaped.
{Frequent lack of spaces between sentences, e.g. page 28}
“The subdued lighting gave the chamber a solemn, church-like atmosphere.” (p32)
A sort of Noah's Ark (p34, 46)
“Homo sapiens .. what an indomitable species... it is only a few million years since it crawled up out of the sea and learned to walk... a puny defenseless biped... it has survived flood, plague, famine, war... and now here it is out among the stars... awaiting a new life. …” (p36)
* viscous = having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity. (p49)
* pustular = A pustule is a small collection of pus in the top layer of skin (epidermis) or beneath it in the dermis. (p54)
* suppurating = undergo the formation of pus; fester. (p73)
“It may be a trifle irrational of me,” he smiled, “but human beings are quite my favorite species.” (p86)
* ice floe = a sheet of floating ice. (p88)
rugger tackle (rugby) (p96)
* irresolution = hesitancy; uncertainty (p132)
July 10, 2022
A palate cleanser. I first read this as a 11/12 yea rold in 1977, soon after it was published. The Ark in Space was an immediate hit when we watched it on first broadcast and this novelisation sealed that reputation for me. I havent watched the DVD form many ears, so after finishing this read, I will revist the actual version rather than the TV form. In the pre-VHS/DVD days, the novelisations allowed us to relive the stories we liked from TV (and those we have never watched or didnt remember) multiple times and they all had the advantage that the imagination also beats speciual effects (or at least apart from the very highest quality model work and real effects blended with CGI). Even today ~I doubt the Wirrn lavae could be dome a lot better than the BBC did on a £100 budget back in 1975.
At its heart, there are facrtors in the story that really dont make much sense. Why would a 30th Centrury Earth only manage to set up one Ark. Being at the galatic federation, wouldnt most or many people have been evacuated before or after the Solar Storms (Earth might not be habitable, but evacuation from shelters could continue after the event). Surely Mars and the outer planets would have sizeable populations by then. Wouldnt the Ark have been well known and protected ? It needed a little more thought into the setting, but when youre 10 or 12 fan these problems really don't matter that much.
The book definitely improves on the TV show, and indeed could easily be turned into a much more adult sci-fi horro story with a little more effort. Of course target audience was 8 to 14 year olds (and older fans lol) and for that age group, at least in the more innocent age of the 1970s UK, it is perfectly suited.
At its heart, there are facrtors in the story that really dont make much sense. Why would a 30th Centrury Earth only manage to set up one Ark. Being at the galatic federation, wouldnt most or many people have been evacuated before or after the Solar Storms (Earth might not be habitable, but evacuation from shelters could continue after the event). Surely Mars and the outer planets would have sizeable populations by then. Wouldnt the Ark have been well known and protected ? It needed a little more thought into the setting, but when youre 10 or 12 fan these problems really don't matter that much.
The book definitely improves on the TV show, and indeed could easily be turned into a much more adult sci-fi horro story with a little more effort. Of course target audience was 8 to 14 year olds (and older fans lol) and for that age group, at least in the more innocent age of the 1970s UK, it is perfectly suited.
July 16, 2025
That was … interesting. Ian really likes his splatter. The larval Wirrrn reminded me more of John Carpenter’s Thing than BBC bubble wrap. The story is still the same, but much more visceral in it’s telling. And Noah is a bit more homicidal than in the TV version, though he’s fairly sociopathic even there.
I did find the Doctor’s character a bit off. He often called Sarah my dear. I don’t recall the 4th Doctor ever saying that. That was more a verbal trait of the 1st Doctor.
The ending is a bit different to the TV version, but I guess that was to make it a standalone rather than intrinsically linked. They depart in the TARDIS rather than transmat down to Earth which makes some of the comments odd, such as not inviting Sarah and Harry to come with him. In the book version that means he was going off in the TARDIS and planning to leave them behind, whereas the TV version they were going to stay safe on the station while he fixed the transmat, but then he was coming back for his TARDIS and they’d all go off in it together. It’s only a minor difference, but with significant implications
But these are only minor quibbles in what is a very good adaptation and right in the heart of my favourite period of Doctor Who, the bits I saw when I was 10.
I did find the Doctor’s character a bit off. He often called Sarah my dear. I don’t recall the 4th Doctor ever saying that. That was more a verbal trait of the 1st Doctor.
The ending is a bit different to the TV version, but I guess that was to make it a standalone rather than intrinsically linked. They depart in the TARDIS rather than transmat down to Earth which makes some of the comments odd, such as not inviting Sarah and Harry to come with him. In the book version that means he was going off in the TARDIS and planning to leave them behind, whereas the TV version they were going to stay safe on the station while he fixed the transmat, but then he was coming back for his TARDIS and they’d all go off in it together. It’s only a minor difference, but with significant implications
But these are only minor quibbles in what is a very good adaptation and right in the heart of my favourite period of Doctor Who, the bits I saw when I was 10.
December 1, 2020
I thought that this was one of the better Target book adaptations, and that it was surprising. I mean, wasn't this Ian Marter's first attempt at such a thing? On the other hand, he knew the material pretty well, since he was in the story when it was broadcast.
Ian Marter doesn't always get credit for being a good writer, and I really wish that the screenplay he co-wrote for a Doctor Who movie had been produced.
In this case, though, the story is a sort of "siege on a space station" scenario, in which The Doctor and two companions help a small group of humans to fight some very alien aliens. We don't find out just why, but these humans, along with a lot more in suspended animation, were sent out to provide a saved remnant of humanity after some awful disaster that would take thousands of years for the Earth to recover from. That seems to happen to Earth a lot...
The WIRRN are pretty hideous, as aliens go, but of course The Doctor and company usually find a way to win. This story, though, is cool because that's not exactly what happens.
I recommend this one, either in video form or in the form of this very quick read.
Ian Marter doesn't always get credit for being a good writer, and I really wish that the screenplay he co-wrote for a Doctor Who movie had been produced.
In this case, though, the story is a sort of "siege on a space station" scenario, in which The Doctor and two companions help a small group of humans to fight some very alien aliens. We don't find out just why, but these humans, along with a lot more in suspended animation, were sent out to provide a saved remnant of humanity after some awful disaster that would take thousands of years for the Earth to recover from. That seems to happen to Earth a lot...
The WIRRN are pretty hideous, as aliens go, but of course The Doctor and company usually find a way to win. This story, though, is cool because that's not exactly what happens.
I recommend this one, either in video form or in the form of this very quick read.
June 29, 2021
This was quite the quirky little Fourth Doctor adventure and I do love it when he's paired up with Sarah Jane Smith. This book has the classic structure of our travelers stumbling across a group that ultimately needs their help even if they don't know that they do. And we literally got bug-eyed monsters for the fun of things! Truly classic indeed.
And this is quite a complex plot with a lot of peaks and valleys. We have different companions finding themselves in danger alternating with the Doctor himself potentially facing death. We have humans from the future who naturally don't trust our protagonists. And we have horrific aliens who cannot deny their inevitable biological drive.
A bit of a weird towards the end where the Doctor practically negs Sarah Jane into action, but we'll just acknowledge that this story is a product of its time and has some of the more "archaic" aspects of shows from that era.
And this is quite a complex plot with a lot of peaks and valleys. We have different companions finding themselves in danger alternating with the Doctor himself potentially facing death. We have humans from the future who naturally don't trust our protagonists. And we have horrific aliens who cannot deny their inevitable biological drive.
A bit of a weird towards the end where the Doctor practically negs Sarah Jane into action, but we'll just acknowledge that this story is a product of its time and has some of the more "archaic" aspects of shows from that era.
August 29, 2025
Ian Marter's prose is always so dark and violent. Things hurt more. Monsters are more disgusting. Tasks are that much harder. So he's the perfect writer to adapt (Doctor Who and) The Ark in Space, the serial that almost certainly inspired Ridley Scott's Alien. This is actually his first book for Target, so he's not entirely there in terms of geography and choreography - I felt a little lost at times because he gets a little too technical in describing Nerva Station (here, Terra Nova) - but he expands on the claustrophobic world we saw on screen, and on the psychology and biology of the Wirrn (here, Wirrrn). The first Doctor Who actor to write his own character, he apparently almost wrote the book with Harry Sullivan's first person narration, which would have been a trip. As is, the one possible clue as to the writer's connection with Harry is that the Who-After-Dark sailor joke has been excised... Don't think I didn't notice!
April 10, 2021
A good story this one, and well written by Ian Marter - first of his I think I've read in this run.
Very body horror sort of story, that always puts me in mind of Alien, though produced well before Alien was, but evokes that sort of creepy atmosphere, and some of the same behavior on the respective alien parts, though the ones here are communicative as well.
The Doctor, Harry and Sarah all get their moments to shine, getting themselves into and out of danger in various ways, and always willing to push through their fears.
The one off characters do let the story down a bit - a couple of them are good, but some are quite narrow minded, and create tension in the story through their narrow mindedness rather than through more believable scenarios that could have occurred instead. Without that, I think this could have pushed towards 5 stars.
Very body horror sort of story, that always puts me in mind of Alien, though produced well before Alien was, but evokes that sort of creepy atmosphere, and some of the same behavior on the respective alien parts, though the ones here are communicative as well.
The Doctor, Harry and Sarah all get their moments to shine, getting themselves into and out of danger in various ways, and always willing to push through their fears.
The one off characters do let the story down a bit - a couple of them are good, but some are quite narrow minded, and create tension in the story through their narrow mindedness rather than through more believable scenarios that could have occurred instead. Without that, I think this could have pushed towards 5 stars.
June 20, 2023
Doctor Who and the Ark in Space (1977) by Ian Marter is the novelisation of the second serial of the twelfth season of Doctor Who and the seventy sixth serial overall.
The Doctor, Harry and Sarah materialise on an ark ship where there they find the remains of some sort of giant insect and an empty pod. The other pods contain thousands of people. They eventually revive some of the crew and the nature of the giant insect and the aim of the insects becomes apparent.
It’s an interesting setup that is a bit like Alien. It would be interesting to see if the writers of Alien had ever seen the serial.
The end is also quite touching.
Doctor Who and the Ark in Space is a solid serial and has a good story.
The Doctor, Harry and Sarah materialise on an ark ship where there they find the remains of some sort of giant insect and an empty pod. The other pods contain thousands of people. They eventually revive some of the crew and the nature of the giant insect and the aim of the insects becomes apparent.
It’s an interesting setup that is a bit like Alien. It would be interesting to see if the writers of Alien had ever seen the serial.
The end is also quite touching.
Doctor Who and the Ark in Space is a solid serial and has a good story.
March 16, 2021
Quick read. Interesting setting. I think Doctor Who narrative structure of far future human preserve satellite invaded by inhuman alien to sabotage/kill humans has been used a few times over the years. I haven't watched really any fourth doctor, does Harry really say "old girl" that often? It seemed like really sloppy character writing. Also, are the future humans in this satellite kind of like Nazi's? They didn't seem like they were that worth saving.
August 19, 2023
Ooo this is a good one, written by the guy who played the companion Harry Sullivan in the tv series.
As novelisations go this is very good and while the tv story has aged badly IMO with its bubble wrap special effects the full body horror of succumbing to the Wirrn works far better on the page (albeit targeted at an adolescent audience).
Its a gripping ride of a story and one of the better Who novelisations i have read.
As novelisations go this is very good and while the tv story has aged badly IMO with its bubble wrap special effects the full body horror of succumbing to the Wirrn works far better on the page (albeit targeted at an adolescent audience).
Its a gripping ride of a story and one of the better Who novelisations i have read.
March 8, 2018
A classic TV story. Goes to show you don't need budget to deliver.
The novelisation isn't on the level with the story, some issues but I enjoy it.
Was one of the first Doctor Who book I ever read.
7/10
The novelisation isn't on the level with the story, some issues but I enjoy it.
Was one of the first Doctor Who book I ever read.
7/10
March 6, 2022
This was another good Doctor Who story. I always favored this particular trio of Sarah Jane, Harry, and the Fouth Doctor even if poor Harry gets on the Doctor’s last nerve. I thought the storyline was a good one and very well told.
July 13, 2024
Ian Marter’s first foray into the novelisations is a doozy. There’s all kinds of horror, a wonderful antagonist (definitely not a villain), and some terrific expansions from the teleplay. Just fabulous.
November 25, 2018
Curiously uninvolving novelisation - disappointingly as it's by Ian Marter who played Harry Sullivan. A lot seems to be going on but not much really gets done...
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