November 9th, 1979 4 comments

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Doctor Who Target novels 1979

DOCTOR WHO AND THE HAND OF FEAR by TERRANCE DICKS

The Tardis lands in England, and Sarah, the Doctor’s companion, looks forward to going home. A freak accident in a quarry leaves the unconscious Sarah clutching an enormous stone Hand. The Hand is the only surviving remnant of Eldrad, an alien super-being expelled from his planet, Kastria—and it has the power to control the human mind. Using Sarah as its instrument, the Hand goes in search of the atomic energy it needs to regenerate Eldrad’s body. Eldrad is determined to return to Kastria and punish his enemies. The Doctor and Sarah are caught up in the terrifying conclusion of betrayal and revenge that began millions of years ago.

Published 18 January 1979

DOCTOR WHO AND THE INVISIBLE ENEMY by TERRANCE DICKS

A mysterious cloud drifts menacingly through space… A sudden energy flash and the Doctor is infected with the Nucleus of a malignant Virus that threatens to destroy his mind. Meanwhile, on Titan, human slaves prepare the Hive from which the Virus will swarm out and infect the universe. In search of a cure, Leela takes the Doctor to the Foundation where they make an incredible journey into the Doctor’s brain in an attempt to destroy the Nucleus. But can the Doctor free himself from the Nucleus in time to reach Titan and destroy the Hive? Luckily he has help – in the strangely dog-like shape of a mobile computer called K9…

Published 29 March 1979

Doctor Who and the Robots of Death
by Terrance Dicks

On a desert planet the giant sandminer crawls through the howling sandstorms, harvesting the valuable minerals in the sand.

Inside, the humans relax in luxury, while most of the work is done by the robots who serve them.

Then the Doctor and Leela arrive—and the mysterious deaths begin. First suspects, then hunted victims, Leela and the Doctor must find the hidden killer—or join the other victims of the Robots of Death.

Published 24 May 1979

Doctor Who and the Image of the Fendahl
by Terrance Dicks

A sonic time scan draws the TARDIS to the Fetch Priory on Earth.

There, the Doctor and Leela discover an impossibly old human skull that is the key to a nightmare from the Time Lords’ past.

A murderous monster stalks the priory grounds; and within, someone is intent on unleashing a malevolent creature that feeds on death itself…

Published 26 July 1979

Doctor Who and the War Games
by Malcolm Hulke

The TARDIS arrives on a planet where a race known only as the Aliens have gathered soldiers from a number of different wars in Earth’s history, brainwashed them and put them to battle. Their aim is to form an invincible army from the survivors and use this to take over the galaxy.

The War Lord is assisted by a Security Chief and a War Chief, the latter of whom the Doctor quickly recognises as a member of his own race, the Time Lords. The War Chief has provided the Aliens with the time vessels, SIDRATs, that are essential to their scheme; but he secretly plans to double-cross them and seize power for himself.

Published 25 September 1979

DOCTOR WHO AND THE DESTINY OF THE DALEKS
by TERRANCE DICKS

Landing on an apparently devastated planet, the Doctor and Romana make a horrifying discovery. The planet is Skaro, home-world of the Daleks.

The Daleks are excavating in order to find and revive Davros, the mad, crippled, scientific genius who first created them.

They hope that he will give them the scientific superiority to break the deadlock with their Movellan enemies. Faced once more with the deadly and seemingly indestructible Daleks, the Doctor’s wits and strength are stretched to their very limits…

Published 20 November 1979

DOCTOR WHO AND THE RIBOS OPERATION
by IAN MARTER

Reluctantly cancelling his well-earned holiday, the Doctor sets off in the TARDIS to trace and re-assemble the six segments of the Key to Time on which the stability of the entire Universe depends.

Assisted by the argumentative Romanadvoratrelundar and K9, he lands on the planet Ribos in search of the first segment and finds himself entangled in the machinations of two sinister strangers, Garron and the Graff Vynda Ka. Who are they?

Is Garron simply a shady confidence-trickster dealing in interplanetary real estate? Is the Graff Vynda Ka just a power-crazed exile bent on revenge?

Or are they both really agents of the Black Guardian, intent upon seizing the precious Key in order to throw the Universe into eternal chaos?

Risking his life within the monster-infested catacombs of Ribos, the Doctor has to use all his wit and ingenuity to find out…

Published 11 December 1979

Other Places of interest…

Wikipedia Resource for Target Doctor Who Novels with selectable dates, numbers and listings.

On Target A comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations including Alternative covers.

Categorised under: Books, Story books