What do you think?
Rate this book
Doctor Who Target Books (Numerical Order) #74
Doctor Who: Time-Flight
The Doctor and his companions arrive on Tegan's home planet at a moment of crisis: a Concorde aeroplane has inexplicably vanished while in flight.
The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa, together with the TARDIS, join the crew of a second Concorde that sets out to simulate the fateful journey of the missing supersonic jet...
Coming back to Earth is not the return to normality that the rescue team might reasonably have expected. Seeing is believing, people say. The Doctor and his friends begin to realise that it just isn't as simple as that...
The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa, together with the TARDIS, join the crew of a second Concorde that sets out to simulate the fateful journey of the missing supersonic jet...
Coming back to Earth is not the return to normality that the rescue team might reasonably have expected. Seeing is believing, people say. The Doctor and his friends begin to realise that it just isn't as simple as that...
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 1983
2 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Peter Grimwade
11 books5 followersPeter Grimwade was a British television writer and director, best known for his work on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.
Outside of Doctor Who, Grimwade wrote and directed The Come-Uppance of Captain Katt for the ITV children's drama series Dramarama. The play was about events behind-the-scenes on a low-budget television science fiction series, which Grimwade openly acknowledged was inspired by his experience working on Doctor Who.
When the BBC gave the publisher W. H. Allen the rights to use Vislor Turlough in the novel Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, W. H. Allen offered Grimwade a chance to publish an original novel. The result was Robot, a book filled with Doctor Who references.
Afterwards, Grimwade left the BBC and mainly worked in producing industrial training videos. He died in 1990 of leukaemia.
Outside of Doctor Who, Grimwade wrote and directed The Come-Uppance of Captain Katt for the ITV children's drama series Dramarama. The play was about events behind-the-scenes on a low-budget television science fiction series, which Grimwade openly acknowledged was inspired by his experience working on Doctor Who.
When the BBC gave the publisher W. H. Allen the rights to use Vislor Turlough in the novel Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma, W. H. Allen offered Grimwade a chance to publish an original novel. The result was Robot, a book filled with Doctor Who references.
Afterwards, Grimwade left the BBC and mainly worked in producing industrial training videos. He died in 1990 of leukaemia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 16, 2021
This is a novelization by Peter Grimwade of his own teleplay for the seventh adventure of the nineteenth season of Doctor Who, which was broadcast in March of 1982. The Doctor was in his fifth regeneration and was accompanied by contemporary Australian airline stewardess Tegan and aristocrat from Traken in E-space, Nyssa. It's a somewhat atypically somber story, as it begins with the team dealing with the recent death of Adric and concludes with Tegan being left behind. The TARDIS arrives at Heathrow Airport and soon become engaged with opposing another nefarious plot of The Master that spans the present to 140 million years in the past. It's an okay read, but not among the best.
May 30, 2020
Another good Target installation. Having never actually seen the episodes that go with the novel the surprise of the Master did catch me off guard. On top of that I have no complaints about what I think is my first 5th Doctor novel.
March 3, 2014
What do you call a sheep with no eyes? A shp!
No, wait, I think I meant no ‘e’s, not no eyes. What do you call a sheep with no ‘e’s? A shp!
Actually no, it wasn't sheep. It was fish. Okay, here we go.
What do you call a fish with no ‘e’s? A fsh!
That doesn't sound right either. Oh well, perhaps it's time we faced facts. When it comes to telling jokes, I am just okay. Kind of like this book, which is just okay.
No, wait, I think I meant no ‘e’s, not no eyes. What do you call a sheep with no ‘e’s? A shp!
Actually no, it wasn't sheep. It was fish. Okay, here we go.
What do you call a fish with no ‘e’s? A fsh!
That doesn't sound right either. Oh well, perhaps it's time we faced facts. When it comes to telling jokes, I am just okay. Kind of like this book, which is just okay.
December 16, 2017
Time-Flight was one of the lesser Davison-era stories. Part of this was down to the we've-run-out-of-money sets and effects. Another part was a seemingly hastily written script that peculiarly involves The Master seemingly shoe-horned into a story that might not have been written for him. That is how it feels, even if that may not be the case. We return to Heathrow Airport, last featured in The Faceless Ones from 1967. As with that story, once more we have a missing plane with passengers. This time, though, rather than taking a ride to low Earth orbit, they take a ride to prehistoric Earth. The TARDIS gets sidetracked by the time meddling and the Doctor has to pull out the UNIT card, making him suddenly involved in the whole affair. The story continues the approach to The Master that John Nathan-Turner would favor through his time running the show. The Master is heavily disguised, only to be revealed as The Master after half the story has gone by. Also, The Master is greatly reduced as an adversary. His main motive is to save himself rather than to take over the universe. His motivation is desperation rather than domination, and it greatly reduces any threat potential The Master may have. This, too, is typical of the Nathan-Turner era Master stories. One major problem with this story is that there is no clear reason for The Master to be in disguise, and none is given. Add to this several plot holes and overly convenient ways out of dead-end situations and one concludes that the story needed serious revision. Peter Grimwade's approach to novelizing his story is to focus on the "for children" brief from Target, so that there are many clumsy explanations that read as if a presenter from Blue Peter were telling the story. It's a brisk read, but insignificant.
June 8, 2021
Not a bad story, but not a particularly memorable one for me. At the same time though, it does help relax / ease you after the ending of Earthshock.
On that front though, while we see the impacts at the beginning, they do seem relatively quickly resolved / everyone moving on from Adric's death- and while we have seen the Doctor do this previously, it seemed a bit out of character for Nyssa and Tegan. It also doesn't necessarily make sense to me that the Doctor couldn't try and save Adric at the last moment - the ship crashing was certainly a fixed point in time as such, but not Adric's death to me, even if I wasn't sorry to see him go.
The story itself is interesting, and the Master makes a return and in another of his disguises, favoured by this incarnation, though it must be said that it is hard to understand why he is in disguise in this one, and can back the Doctor when he says he doesn't understand.
Outside of that, the Master is good and menacing again here, and is an interesting set up that is going on, and resolved satisfactorily as well.
Overall, a decent read, but a couple of issues outlined above, and just not memorable.
On that front though, while we see the impacts at the beginning, they do seem relatively quickly resolved / everyone moving on from Adric's death- and while we have seen the Doctor do this previously, it seemed a bit out of character for Nyssa and Tegan. It also doesn't necessarily make sense to me that the Doctor couldn't try and save Adric at the last moment - the ship crashing was certainly a fixed point in time as such, but not Adric's death to me, even if I wasn't sorry to see him go.
The story itself is interesting, and the Master makes a return and in another of his disguises, favoured by this incarnation, though it must be said that it is hard to understand why he is in disguise in this one, and can back the Doctor when he says he doesn't understand.
Outside of that, the Master is good and menacing again here, and is an interesting set up that is going on, and resolved satisfactorily as well.
Overall, a decent read, but a couple of issues outlined above, and just not memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2023
This is ... awful. Just mind-numbingly awful. Even for what it is (a novelization for a classic episode of Doctor Who, Grimwade's writing falls short. I think I would have preferred this to just be a screenplay of the episode, for all the description that he provides, which leaves the plot feelingly woefully underdeveloped.
I guess the main issue is that the plot for the episodes themselves wasn't really terrific, due to budget constraints during production. However, Grimwade could have expounded on the plot quite a bit; after all, there's a lot of good material given that these episodes take place immediately following the tragic events of Earthshock, and the Doctor and his companions are trying to deal with those events. Barely a whisper of this is contained in Time-Flight however, and the narration just falls flat.
I guess the main issue is that the plot for the episodes themselves wasn't really terrific, due to budget constraints during production. However, Grimwade could have expounded on the plot quite a bit; after all, there's a lot of good material given that these episodes take place immediately following the tragic events of Earthshock, and the Doctor and his companions are trying to deal with those events. Barely a whisper of this is contained in Time-Flight however, and the narration just falls flat.
June 4, 2020
Great little adventure, while not one of the best, it still does well to capture the spirit we have come to expect when diving into the world of Doctor Who - a mysterious trip into space and time.
It also perfectly represents early 80s Doctor Who, with both the regular and story characters playing conventional roles in a mostly superficial but fast moving and entertaining plot.
While the TV version doesn’t rate well, the book makes up for the imaginative gaps that an 80s BBC production team with little money could never fill.
It also perfectly represents early 80s Doctor Who, with both the regular and story characters playing conventional roles in a mostly superficial but fast moving and entertaining plot.
While the TV version doesn’t rate well, the book makes up for the imaginative gaps that an 80s BBC production team with little money could never fill.
November 12, 2023
"The illusions always one of normality."
5th Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa
The Doctor finally lands at Heathrow. A plane has been thrown off course and time travelled to 140 million years to the past. The Doctor ends up taking another plane along the same path to find the missing crew and plane. While also trying to find out why this happened in the first place.
Due to budget I remember the tv episode being very limited to what was able to be done. Similar to a few Terrance Dicks books I have read. It felt more like a transcript rather than being expanded on. It was a opportunity.
Also at the begin, we see the TARDIS crew grieving from the death of Adric. I was hoping the novel would have expanded more on this. As just like the tv episode it was dusted over very quickly.
5th Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa
The Doctor finally lands at Heathrow. A plane has been thrown off course and time travelled to 140 million years to the past. The Doctor ends up taking another plane along the same path to find the missing crew and plane. While also trying to find out why this happened in the first place.
Due to budget I remember the tv episode being very limited to what was able to be done. Similar to a few Terrance Dicks books I have read. It felt more like a transcript rather than being expanded on. It was a opportunity.
Also at the begin, we see the TARDIS crew grieving from the death of Adric. I was hoping the novel would have expanded more on this. As just like the tv episode it was dusted over very quickly.
May 28, 2025
I am so glad that this book remains as entertaining as it was when I first read it over 40 years ago. Peter Grimwade gives us his story the way it should have been presented, without the pitfalls of a low-budget SF program. He evokes the setting and feel of the story wonderfully, making me think more than once of the work of Clark Ashton Smith. There are some lovely nods to the history of the show as well as some lovely portraits of the supporting cast and a much more gripping version of the rather cliched tale we got on screen.
May 12, 2022
I only remember the ending scene of this episode from when I was a kid so it must not have made too much of an impression on me. After reading this book I can see why that would be. It isn't a very well written story. It is convoluted, and kind of boring which usually isn't the case at least for me when it comes to Doctor Who. So overall it was just okay.
August 2, 2024
If any of the 5th Doctor's tv stories needed embellishing in novel form, it'd be this one. Unfortunately, although well written, it's a straight adaptation thus missing the opportunity to clearly explain the Master's plan and make it make more sense. As it is, it's an ok book but you'd be better off watching the dvd or bluray.
December 7, 2019
This is a good , but not great , Doctor Who story !! It is a Fifth Doctor adventure , and feature the overused villain " The Master " as the enemy . I can recommend this book , but I can only give it Four out of Five Stars !!
August 25, 2022
Like Time-Flight, this novelization is somewhat forgettable. The best thing I can say about it is that Grimwade can at least write the novelization decently - something that his contemporary Terence Dudley falls flat on his face doing.
June 21, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. And once again the Master causing grief and mayhem. The Doctor having to explain to all and sundry what happened and where and when they are.
February 25, 2019
Not one of the greatest stories ever - but a servicable retelling.
August 25, 2019
This and other Peter Grimwade books reviewed here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com...
January 5, 2020
the doctor has to deal with aliens, time contours, Concordes, angry airport controllers, hypnotised passengers and an old enemy-great stuff!
November 7, 2024
This book is…….okay. If you want a verbatim retelling of the tv broadcast, then fine. If you want something in addition to to that, then you will be disappointed.
I was a bit disappointed.
I was a bit disappointed.
December 25, 2021
Rating between 1 & 2
Listened to the audio book read by Peter Davison.
A slim, basic adaptation of the last story in season 19. At least on screen you had the Concorde’s to look at, on the page and aurally there is nothing much to hold your interest in my opinion. It is a very basic plot that doesn’t seem to make much sense really, what makes even less sense is the Master appearing in disguise for the majority of the story.
There is no real mention or discussion of the fate of Adric in the previous story and the emotional consequences felt by the travellers. This was also the first departure of Tegan and that just happened at the end of episode 4 as she is just left behind. A bit of a double bluff cliffhanger perhaps?
On screen I remember there being not very good CSO usage and in the book there wasn’t any really additional storylines or character backgrounds added to make it more interesting.
Even by the standard of some of Terrance Dicks basic adaptations this one I found particularly poor - and it is by the original author.
Only recommendation is really for the reading by PD, otherwise give it a miss.
Listened to the audio book read by Peter Davison.
A slim, basic adaptation of the last story in season 19. At least on screen you had the Concorde’s to look at, on the page and aurally there is nothing much to hold your interest in my opinion. It is a very basic plot that doesn’t seem to make much sense really, what makes even less sense is the Master appearing in disguise for the majority of the story.
There is no real mention or discussion of the fate of Adric in the previous story and the emotional consequences felt by the travellers. This was also the first departure of Tegan and that just happened at the end of episode 4 as she is just left behind. A bit of a double bluff cliffhanger perhaps?
On screen I remember there being not very good CSO usage and in the book there wasn’t any really additional storylines or character backgrounds added to make it more interesting.
Even by the standard of some of Terrance Dicks basic adaptations this one I found particularly poor - and it is by the original author.
Only recommendation is really for the reading by PD, otherwise give it a miss.
May 17, 2008
A decent idea that was turned into a pretty weak TV episode and while the book helps fix a few things it also reminds you that it wasn't that hot of a story to start with.
The stuff at the airport is fine and the reveal of the bad guy was fun but the alien minions are pretty boring, might have helped if they'd used an old Who villain and the setting for the second half is a typical generic alien set.
The Who adaptions are pretty hit or miss and it's a shame that when adapting a weaker episode the writer didn't try harder to fix things.
Some 'so-so' TV episodes have been turned into really good books. This isn't one of them.
The stuff at the airport is fine and the reveal of the bad guy was fun but the alien minions are pretty boring, might have helped if they'd used an old Who villain and the setting for the second half is a typical generic alien set.
The Who adaptions are pretty hit or miss and it's a shame that when adapting a weaker episode the writer didn't try harder to fix things.
Some 'so-so' TV episodes have been turned into really good books. This isn't one of them.
September 14, 2023
Doctor Who : Time-Flight (1983) by Peter Grimwade is the novelisation of the seventh and final serial of the nineteenth season of Doctor Who.
The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa are attempting to return to Heathrow when they are thrown off course as a Concorde is whisked into time travel. The Doctor lands at Heathrow, uses his UNIT credentials and investigates the mystery which involves taking another Concorde along the same flight path.
It’s all pretty bonkers.
It’s not one of the stronger Doctor Who serials.
The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa are attempting to return to Heathrow when they are thrown off course as a Concorde is whisked into time travel. The Doctor lands at Heathrow, uses his UNIT credentials and investigates the mystery which involves taking another Concorde along the same flight path.
It’s all pretty bonkers.
It’s not one of the stronger Doctor Who serials.
Read
April 8, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/1054675.html#cutid6[return][return]A terrible adaptation of a bad story. Wood and Miles rightly mock one of the particularly bad lines in About Time 5, but actually get it wrong; the full quote in all its glory is "'Eevanaraagh' cried out Kalid, as the Plasmatron cumulation entered his chamber." Truly dreadful and over-written.
Currently reading
December 7, 2008Not sure I saw this episode all the way through. Luckily, I have found a bookstore near my office that has a large collection of Dr. Who titles, most of them for $1.50. I'm buying them one or two at a time and slowly cleaning out the store's supply. I like this one and Peter Davison was my favorite Doctor, until David Tenant. Good book.
January 4, 2011
The first book...and the first Doctor Who novel...I ever bought with my own money. Like "Battlefield", it is much better than the TV original...and for me, it comes with the priceless nostalgia value of younger, more golden & idealistic days.
August 17, 2007
Concorde and Dr Who!
December 10, 2010
No horrible accent! That alon was worth reading the book!
November 22, 2016
On screen or in print, nothing stops this story from being a turgid old duffer.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews