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Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #77
Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday
Whilst trying to return Tegan to Heathrow Airport, the Doctor instead lands the TARDIS on a seemingly deserted alien spacecraft, just four days away from its final destination — Earth.
The TARDIS crew discover that the ship isn't as empty as it first appears. On board they find Chinese, Mayan, Greek and Aboriginal crew members — and the alien froglike Urbankans. The Urbankan leader, Monarch, invites the Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Adric to continue the trip to Earth as his guests.
Monarch has returned to Earth every few thousand years throughout history, but now his intention is to stay for good. The Urbankans want to colonise Earth — but what plans does Monarch have for the future of mankind?
The more the Doctor learns of Monarch's grand scheme, the more unsettled Tegan and Nyssa become. But Adric thinks his friends have got the Urbankans all wrong. Who is the Doctor to trust...?
The TARDIS crew discover that the ship isn't as empty as it first appears. On board they find Chinese, Mayan, Greek and Aboriginal crew members — and the alien froglike Urbankans. The Urbankan leader, Monarch, invites the Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Adric to continue the trip to Earth as his guests.
Monarch has returned to Earth every few thousand years throughout history, but now his intention is to stay for good. The Urbankans want to colonise Earth — but what plans does Monarch have for the future of mankind?
The more the Doctor learns of Monarch's grand scheme, the more unsettled Tegan and Nyssa become. But Adric thinks his friends have got the Urbankans all wrong. Who is the Doctor to trust...?
128 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 1983
2 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Terrance Dicks
327 books220 followersTerrance Dicks was an English author, screenwriter, script editor, and producer best known for his extensive contributions to Doctor Who. Serving as the show's script editor from 1968 to 1974, he helped shape many core elements of the series, including the concept of regeneration, the development of the Time Lords, and the naming of the Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. His tenure coincided with major thematic expansions, and he worked closely with producer Barry Letts to bring a socially aware tone to the show. Dicks later wrote several Doctor Who serials, including Robot, Horror of Fang Rock, and The Five Doctors, the 20th-anniversary special.
In parallel with his television work, Dicks became one of the most prolific writers of Doctor Who novelisations for Target Books, authoring over 60 titles and serving as the de facto editor of the range. These adaptations introduced a generation of young readers to the franchise. Beyond Doctor Who, he also wrote original novels, including children’s horror and adventure series such as The Baker Street Irregulars, Star Quest, and The Adventures of Goliath.
Dicks also worked on other television programmes including The Avengers, Moonbase 3, and various BBC literary adaptations. His later work included audio dramas and novels tied to Doctor Who. Widely respected for his clarity, imagination, and dedication to storytelling, he remained a central figure in Doctor Who fandom until his death in 2019, leaving behind a vast legacy in television and children's literature.
In parallel with his television work, Dicks became one of the most prolific writers of Doctor Who novelisations for Target Books, authoring over 60 titles and serving as the de facto editor of the range. These adaptations introduced a generation of young readers to the franchise. Beyond Doctor Who, he also wrote original novels, including children’s horror and adventure series such as The Baker Street Irregulars, Star Quest, and The Adventures of Goliath.
Dicks also worked on other television programmes including The Avengers, Moonbase 3, and various BBC literary adaptations. His later work included audio dramas and novels tied to Doctor Who. Widely respected for his clarity, imagination, and dedication to storytelling, he remained a central figure in Doctor Who fandom until his death in 2019, leaving behind a vast legacy in television and children's literature.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 12, 2023
“I know this may surprise you, but I don’t think we’ve landed in Heathrow…”
5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan
The Doctor attempts to take Tegan back to Heathrow like always he is unsuccessful. But instead, ends up on a spaceship that was heading towards Earth. They soon end up meeting the Urbankans, who are on a peace mission on Earth. Soon, The Doctor discovers, whether the Urbankans are all they are cracked up to be.
Terrance doesn't really expand much on this story, again just felt like a transcript. He does describe the ship a lot more and you do get an understanding of the Urbankans plan and what they are really going to do when they get to Earth.
Also the book ends differently to the tv episode. Nyssa doesn't end up fainting but with the four going off travelling.
5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan
The Doctor attempts to take Tegan back to Heathrow like always he is unsuccessful. But instead, ends up on a spaceship that was heading towards Earth. They soon end up meeting the Urbankans, who are on a peace mission on Earth. Soon, The Doctor discovers, whether the Urbankans are all they are cracked up to be.
Terrance doesn't really expand much on this story, again just felt like a transcript. He does describe the ship a lot more and you do get an understanding of the Urbankans plan and what they are really going to do when they get to Earth.
Also the book ends differently to the tv episode. Nyssa doesn't end up fainting but with the four going off travelling.
August 23, 2021
This is a novelization by Terrance Dicks of the teleplay by Terence Dudley that was the second serial of the nineteenth season of Doctor Who. It was broadcast in January of 1982, and and featured the fifth regeneration of The Doctor along with one of his most dysfunctional crews of companions, Tegan, Nyssa, and Adric. The story is set almost entirely on a massive alien spacecraft on its way to Earth to wipe out the current residents and strip away the minerals to improve the vessel. The aliens are carrying four different samples of Earth cultures and claim they're looking for peaceful cooperation and coexistence, but The Doctor knows better... Adric sides with the conquerors and Tegan complains all the time, and it's up to Nyssa to help The Doctor save the day. Dicks follows the script rather closely, with the main difference being he doesn't have Nyssa collapse at the end to set up the next serial. It's a pretty good adaptation of a fairly standard episode.
August 24, 2018
It's one of Terrance Dicks' more straightforward efforts, but I do have a soft spot for this story overall, as it was the first 5th Doctor story (MY Doctor) that I watched from start to finish, and it made Peter Davison into my hero. Where else are you going to find giant humanoid frogs ruling over a starship full of androids representing ancient Earth cultures? Only "Doctor Who" can do this.
June 22, 2017
There are times reading a Terrance Dicks adaptation of a classic Doctor Who serial that I imagine the poor man, chained to a typewriter, given only bread and water and told to churn out the next Target adaptation as quickly as possible. Dicks was prolific adapting the classic Who stories in the age before we could own the entire run on VHS or DVD. And many times he could turn a less than memorable story into a more memorable one by either harnessing the reader's imagination or creating some deeper characterization than we were treated to on-screen.
Unfortunately, he's not able to do much with the second story of the Peter Davison era, Four to Doomsday. It's an entirely faithful adaptation of what we saw on our screens with little or no room for embellishment. The televised version had Monarch offering commentary on what the Doctor and his companions were up to across the ship with jump cuts for a reaction and a word or two. The novel keeps those intact and feels a bit scattered and unfocused at times. Dicks also tries his best to give some motivation to Adric's shifting loyalties and trying to make sense out of the long term invasion plan that Monarch is running. Neither is entirely successful, but it's nice of him to try.
This one was part of my Target collection back in the day and I believe I picked it up right after seeing the serial in question repeated on my local PBS station. Years later, listening to it again as an audiobook, I found myself enjoying it a bit more than on the printed page simply because of the performance by Matthew Waterhouse. Yes, you read that correctly.
While he was never the strongest asset to the series, Waterhouse has delivered a couple of nicely performed audio books in the Target range. Waterhouse ably mimics the speech pattern of Monarch and he gives the reading some subtle shading as it goes along. It doesn't help make the story itself any better, but it did lead me to enjoy listening to this story again a lot more than I originally expected.
It also made me almost give into an urge to dust off the DVD and give the story another look.
Unfortunately, he's not able to do much with the second story of the Peter Davison era, Four to Doomsday. It's an entirely faithful adaptation of what we saw on our screens with little or no room for embellishment. The televised version had Monarch offering commentary on what the Doctor and his companions were up to across the ship with jump cuts for a reaction and a word or two. The novel keeps those intact and feels a bit scattered and unfocused at times. Dicks also tries his best to give some motivation to Adric's shifting loyalties and trying to make sense out of the long term invasion plan that Monarch is running. Neither is entirely successful, but it's nice of him to try.
This one was part of my Target collection back in the day and I believe I picked it up right after seeing the serial in question repeated on my local PBS station. Years later, listening to it again as an audiobook, I found myself enjoying it a bit more than on the printed page simply because of the performance by Matthew Waterhouse. Yes, you read that correctly.
While he was never the strongest asset to the series, Waterhouse has delivered a couple of nicely performed audio books in the Target range. Waterhouse ably mimics the speech pattern of Monarch and he gives the reading some subtle shading as it goes along. It doesn't help make the story itself any better, but it did lead me to enjoy listening to this story again a lot more than I originally expected.
It also made me almost give into an urge to dust off the DVD and give the story another look.
Read
April 8, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/1054675.html#cutid3[return][return]A standard write-up from Dicks, losing the fairly impressive visuals of the original and thus exposing the weaknesses of the plot more visibly.
December 12, 2021
I've loved Doctor Who since I was young, with the 4th and 5th Doctors being my favourites. This story was a typical Doctor Who adventure, and such, I found it a very enjoyable read.
May 30, 2021
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4. Back to Terrance Dicks as an author, and subsequently a lot easier read than the two preceding it, just a nice pace and not so dry.
The story itself is an interesting one for most part I think, echoes of The Ark, and some interesting twists with the antagonists in here, though the character traits of the prime antagonist in hindsight did sort of give away one of the twists, as the Doctor pointed out.
The Doctor definitely in better form here than in Castravolva, get to see him acting as his normal self as such, and I do like the fifth Doctor, generally more open / friendly, but can have a temper on him, and can be condescending at times, similar to the First or Third (not as condescending as the First though), and happy to play the fool a bit to help the enemies underestimate him.
The companions are a bit more mixed here - up until now I was thinking Adric isn't as bad as I recall, but he was as bad as I recall in this story - misogynistic, arrogant, and siding with the enemy, though at least in the book it is suggested he was mentally overpowered to do so, not sure if that was the case in the TV story.
Tegan also not at her best here for chunks of it, being somewhat abrasive in attitude (though Adric not helping here), and also complaining a fair bit as well.
Nyssa doesn't fare so badly, but at the same time seems to fade a bit into the background at times as more passive than the others.
Overall though, my issues with the characters aren't necessarily due to bad writing, can be an argument that is good writing - other books certainly succeed well in making you dislike characters intentionally, and definite feeling that that is the intent here with Adric (or at least one would hope) - not so sure on Tegan though, and overall still an enjoyable read.
The story itself is an interesting one for most part I think, echoes of The Ark, and some interesting twists with the antagonists in here, though the character traits of the prime antagonist in hindsight did sort of give away one of the twists, as the Doctor pointed out.
The Doctor definitely in better form here than in Castravolva, get to see him acting as his normal self as such, and I do like the fifth Doctor, generally more open / friendly, but can have a temper on him, and can be condescending at times, similar to the First or Third (not as condescending as the First though), and happy to play the fool a bit to help the enemies underestimate him.
The companions are a bit more mixed here - up until now I was thinking Adric isn't as bad as I recall, but he was as bad as I recall in this story - misogynistic, arrogant, and siding with the enemy, though at least in the book it is suggested he was mentally overpowered to do so, not sure if that was the case in the TV story.
Tegan also not at her best here for chunks of it, being somewhat abrasive in attitude (though Adric not helping here), and also complaining a fair bit as well.
Nyssa doesn't fare so badly, but at the same time seems to fade a bit into the background at times as more passive than the others.
Overall though, my issues with the characters aren't necessarily due to bad writing, can be an argument that is good writing - other books certainly succeed well in making you dislike characters intentionally, and definite feeling that that is the intent here with Adric (or at least one would hope) - not so sure on Tegan though, and overall still an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2022
This was a weird little Doctor Who adventure but one that is very in tune with this particular incarnation of the Doctor. It's the classic case of the Doctor and his companions stumbling across a race of beings who may very well take over the Earth. And in a similar manner, they'll stumble right out of it with the usual mix of luck and ingenuity.
The structure of the story could be simple but there's something about it that I deeply enjoyed. Even in this very brief format, the book has a particular charm to it and the various beats of the narrative. Some of the situations could be rather ridiculous with the people of different "nationalities" present among the aliens, but all that just worked for me on some level?
It's not the greatest Doctor Who story ever told or anything like that. But it's a solid adventure that provides entertainment and a lot of good moments for the different characters.
The structure of the story could be simple but there's something about it that I deeply enjoyed. Even in this very brief format, the book has a particular charm to it and the various beats of the narrative. Some of the situations could be rather ridiculous with the people of different "nationalities" present among the aliens, but all that just worked for me on some level?
It's not the greatest Doctor Who story ever told or anything like that. But it's a solid adventure that provides entertainment and a lot of good moments for the different characters.
September 19, 2021
Matthew Waterhouse who plays Adric narrates.
This is a novelization of a screenplay. I loved this story & the reptilian megalomaniacal Monarch, Persuasion & Enlightenment.
Adric was the typical annoying know-it-all kid. Teagan was her typical bossy self. Nysa ends up lending actual help.
The fifth Doctor is trying to get Tegan home to Heathrow airport when the TARDIS materializes on a seemingly unmanned alien spaceship a few days from Earth. In those few days the representatives of 4 Earth cultures (2K years apart) are introduced then we meet the aliens & suss out their plans.
Adric is easily manipulated by the aliens. It takes the Doctor most of the story to convince him of the alien’s evil plan. This is only 2nd to my favorite Adric story Earthshock & being narrated by the actor was fun.
I would recommend this to fans of the original show. Great memories.
This is a novelization of a screenplay. I loved this story & the reptilian megalomaniacal Monarch, Persuasion & Enlightenment.
Adric was the typical annoying know-it-all kid. Teagan was her typical bossy self. Nysa ends up lending actual help.
The fifth Doctor is trying to get Tegan home to Heathrow airport when the TARDIS materializes on a seemingly unmanned alien spaceship a few days from Earth. In those few days the representatives of 4 Earth cultures (2K years apart) are introduced then we meet the aliens & suss out their plans.
Adric is easily manipulated by the aliens. It takes the Doctor most of the story to convince him of the alien’s evil plan. This is only 2nd to my favorite Adric story Earthshock & being narrated by the actor was fun.
I would recommend this to fans of the original show. Great memories.
September 6, 2023
Doctor Who : Castrovalva (1983) by Terrance Dicks is the novelisation of the second episode of season nineteen.
The Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan try to get back to Heathrow to return Tegan but instead wind up in a spaceship near earth that appears to be empty.
They meet the Urbankan commanders of the ship then people from far in the Earth’s past. The ship appears to have visited earth repeatedly. The Doctor worries that they may have designs on earth. Adric is sympathetic to the Urbankans. A Greek philosopher starts to talk to the Doctor.
Four to Doomsday had some nice parts as a TV serial. The book does the job but isn’t anything special.
The Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan try to get back to Heathrow to return Tegan but instead wind up in a spaceship near earth that appears to be empty.
They meet the Urbankan commanders of the ship then people from far in the Earth’s past. The ship appears to have visited earth repeatedly. The Doctor worries that they may have designs on earth. Adric is sympathetic to the Urbankans. A Greek philosopher starts to talk to the Doctor.
Four to Doomsday had some nice parts as a TV serial. The book does the job but isn’t anything special.
May 8, 2024
The usual quick read from Terrance Dicks. Yet again, the limited page count left very little room for embellishments though thankfully the dreary dance sequences from the tv version are glossed over quite well. Surprisingly for Dicks, there's a number of mistakes in this - Tegan has been around since before the Doctor's fifth regeneration (Baker to Davison was the fourth time). Otherwise , this is a nice adaptation.
October 23, 2021
pdf - the cover scan has the different and incorrect ISBN (0 426192974) allocated to Time-Flight)
The novelisation manages to skate over some of the slower passages as well as making the ship (or at least the 'throne room') larger than on screen. As the first episode to be filmed with this Doctor there are no obvious changes to his visual performance (though the science, as ever, is a trifle suspect). A fair version of a not too inspired story. (And a fast read!)
The novelisation manages to skate over some of the slower passages as well as making the ship (or at least the 'throne room') larger than on screen. As the first episode to be filmed with this Doctor there are no obvious changes to his visual performance (though the science, as ever, is a trifle suspect). A fair version of a not too inspired story. (And a fast read!)
March 23, 2025
A fairly straightforward retelling of Terence Dudley’s script manages to highlight the strengths of the story - what Monarch is trying to do, for one thing - but I think it will be remembered now for the annoyingly relevant subplot about a young man being radicalised by a mysteriously charismatic leader who promotes a divided society.
November 14, 2018
There are a lot of big, brilliant, science-fiction ideas in here, but once set up they are largely ignored in favour of a distinctly sub-Game of Thrones power play. The head canon it will induce is a lot better than the story itself.
April 22, 2022
I actually do not remember having ever watched this episode. Now that I have read the book I wish I could do so. It was a good solid classic doctor who story. Love the 5th Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa, and Adric combo. The actual plot was fairly interesting. Very enjoyable.
June 10, 2017
The fifth Doctor is just so easy to get into. I really like both Tegan Jovanka and Nyssa. Adric I always found a trifle annoying
November 14, 2023
Always had a soft spot for this story flows at a nice pace but like most Dr Who stories it ends very abruptly.
November 22, 2023
A good read
February 2, 2024
A novelization of one of my all time favorite episodes that was so good that I could see the entire show play out in my mind. A great bit of nostalgia.
October 31, 2021
Doctor Who – Four to Doomsday, by Terrance Dicks. Target, 1983. Number 77 in the Doctor Who Library. 128 pages, paperback. ISBN: 0-426-19334-2. Original script by Terance Dudley, BBC 1982.
This adventure features the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan Jovanka.
In an attempt to bring Tegan home, the TARDIS lands on spaceship that's four days away from Earth. The TARDIS crew meets the seemingly benevolent Monarch, Enlightenment, and Persuasion of the Urbankan race. It doesn't take long for the Doctor and company to realize that there's more to these aliens than meets the eye. As the adventure unfolds, it is revealed that the Monarch has plans for Earth beyond the settlement of the survivors of the Urbankan race. And that's not all that's revealed about the Monarch and his cronies – or the human passengers on the ship. The horrific truths come to light a bit a time as the companions are separated over the course of the adventure. And one of the companions has to decide where their loyalty lies.
Four to Doomsday, to me, is a bit slow but I actually enjoy it. I'm typically not keen on mysteries as reading material but, for me, the mystery atmosphere works fairly well in this story. As far as stakes for the Doctor and companions, I think I felt more threat from Persuasion than from the Monarch. And I think the reveal of the androids has more impact on screen than in the book.
Not a huge favorite, but not unfavorable, I think Four to Doomsday falls somewhere in the middle for me.
This adventure features the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan Jovanka.
In an attempt to bring Tegan home, the TARDIS lands on spaceship that's four days away from Earth. The TARDIS crew meets the seemingly benevolent Monarch, Enlightenment, and Persuasion of the Urbankan race. It doesn't take long for the Doctor and company to realize that there's more to these aliens than meets the eye. As the adventure unfolds, it is revealed that the Monarch has plans for Earth beyond the settlement of the survivors of the Urbankan race. And that's not all that's revealed about the Monarch and his cronies – or the human passengers on the ship. The horrific truths come to light a bit a time as the companions are separated over the course of the adventure. And one of the companions has to decide where their loyalty lies.
Four to Doomsday, to me, is a bit slow but I actually enjoy it. I'm typically not keen on mysteries as reading material but, for me, the mystery atmosphere works fairly well in this story. As far as stakes for the Doctor and companions, I think I felt more threat from Persuasion than from the Monarch. And I think the reveal of the androids has more impact on screen than in the book.
Not a huge favorite, but not unfavorable, I think Four to Doomsday falls somewhere in the middle for me.
February 2, 2009
A rather weak TV show is turned into an equally weak book.
An alien that looks like a leftover Vogan from the 'Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy' TV show has a vague plan to take over the earth using androids patterned after humans from various historical periods.
There are some nice moments between the four main characters, as they have only been recently thrown together and are having a a rough time dealing with each other let alone saving the world.
Aside from that and a pretty clever bit involving a cricket ball, there's not much to recommend this book.
An alien that looks like a leftover Vogan from the 'Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy' TV show has a vague plan to take over the earth using androids patterned after humans from various historical periods.
There are some nice moments between the four main characters, as they have only been recently thrown together and are having a a rough time dealing with each other let alone saving the world.
Aside from that and a pretty clever bit involving a cricket ball, there's not much to recommend this book.
July 4, 2021
Rating between 3.5 & 4
When originally broadcast not a favourite of mine from season 19. The book improved on the story slightly even if it was one of TD’s middling adaptations.
Surprisingly I did enjoy this reading by MW, his Tegan and Nyssa voices were not very good, in fact Tegan is awful, but that aside this worked very well.
There are some sound effects and music but nothing too intrusive.
MW reading of the Doctor and especially Monarch brought life to those characters.
Overall a good listen then would be a recommendation.
When originally broadcast not a favourite of mine from season 19. The book improved on the story slightly even if it was one of TD’s middling adaptations.
Surprisingly I did enjoy this reading by MW, his Tegan and Nyssa voices were not very good, in fact Tegan is awful, but that aside this worked very well.
There are some sound effects and music but nothing too intrusive.
MW reading of the Doctor and especially Monarch brought life to those characters.
Overall a good listen then would be a recommendation.
April 18, 2008
The Doctor, Adric, Tegan and Nyssa land on a spaceship filled with a variety of people from Earth's ancient cultures. They are androids, however, and are kept as slaves to the alien Urbankans for use in the eventual invasion of Earth. Although Adric is taken in by the Urbankans, the other time travelers do their best to sabotage the invasion.
January 10, 2022
Terrance Dicks improves on the televised story quite a bit. Good characterization; gets us into the heads of Tegan, Adric; tells us what characters are thinking. super fun read.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
March 8, 2016
3.5* - decent novelisation.
October 16, 2024
Avonturen van The Doctor zorgen er telkens opnieuw voor dat lastige werkjes een stuk minder lastig voelen !
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