November 9th, 1980 5 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Doctor Who Target novels 1980

Doctor Who and the Underworld
By Terrance Dicks

From The BBC…

The TARDIS arrives on a Minyan space craft, the R1C, commanded by a man named Jackson. Jackson and his crew are on a long quest to recover the Minyan race banks from a ship called the P7E which left their planet centuries ago. The Doctor helps to free the R1C after it becomes buried in a meteorite storm, but it then crashes into another newly-formed planet.

Inside the planet is a system of caves at the heart of which is the P7E. The P7E’s computer, the Oracle, was programmed to protect the race banks but subsequently went insane and – with the aid of its robotic servants, the Seers – imposed its rule upon the Minyan survivors and their descendants.
Published January 1980

Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time
By Terrance Dicks

From The BBC…

After a meeting in space with a group of unseen aliens the Doctor returns to Gallifrey and claims the presidency of the Time Lords. Leela meanwhile tries to work out why he is behaving out of character.

At his induction, the Doctor is ‘crowned’ with a device giving him access to the Matrix.

He then arranges for the transduction barriers around Gallifrey to be put out of action by K9. When this is done, his alien ‘friends’ materialise.

They are telepathic invaders called Vardans.

Published February 1980

DOCTOR WHO AND THE STONES OF BLOOD
By TERRANCE DICKS

Chanting, hooded figures gather inside a ring of ancient stones, using rituals of blood sacrifice to awaken the sleeping evil of the Ogri.

The Doctor and Romana go from the countryside of present day England to a deep-space cruiser trapped in hyperspace in their attempt to track down an alien criminal, and unravel the mystery of the Stones of Blood.

Luckily they have the help of the faithful K9…

Published 20 March 1980

DOCTOR WHO AND THE ANDROIDS OF TARA
By TERRANCE DICKS

On a peaceful rural planet, where the colourful pageantry of old Ruritania mingles with ultra-modern Android technology, the Doctor becomes a king-maker in spite of himself.

In his search for another segment of the Key to Time, the Doctor matches wits and swords with the evil Count Grendel—aided, of course, by Romana and the invaluable K9.

Published 24 April 1980

DOCTOR WHO AND THE POWER OF KROLL
By TERRANCE DICKS

The huge, octopus-like Kroll lived deep in the swamps of the humid, steamy planet.

To the native swamp-warriors, Kroll was an angry, mythical god.

To the money grabbing alien technicians, Kroll was a threat to a profit-making scheme.

In their search for another segment of the Key to Time, the Doctor and Romana have to face the suspicion of the Lagoon dwellers, the stupidity of the technicians and, finally, the power of Kroll…

Published 26 May 1980

Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor
By Terrance Dicks

Some time ago, the White Guardian, one of the most powerul beings in the Cosmos, had set the Doctor an urgent task – to find and reassemble the six segments of the Key to Time.

The Doctor and Romana had successfully retrieved five of the segments and now they had reached the planet Atrios in the middle of an atomic war, to search for the last, most vital piece.

Sinister dangers await them in this final stage of their quest…

Published 26 June 1980

DOCTOR WHO AND THE KEYS OF MARINUS
By PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE

MARINUS a remote force-shielded island set in a sea of acid, governed by THE CONSCIENCE the ultimate computer which rules and balances the gentle life of Marinus, guarded by ARBITAN THE KEEPER ruthless protector of a peace-loving race threatened by YARTEK Warlord of the brutal sub-human Voords, sworn enemy of Arbitan and of Marinus, who has within his grasp THE KEYS OF MARINUS the Conscience’s vital micro-circuits, the doors of good and evil.

Can the Doctor find the hidden circuits in time?

Arbitan’s command was ‘Find them, OR DIE!’

Published 21 August 1980

Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden
By Terrance Dicks

From The BBC…

The Doctor and Romana meet the scientist Tryst, who has with him a Continuous Event Transmuter (CET) machine containing crystals on which are stored supposed recordings of planets that he and his team have visited.

Someone on board the liner is smuggling the dangerously addictive drug vraxoin, and to complicate matters the interface between the two ships allows some monstrous Mandrels from the mud-swamps of Eden to escape from the CET machine – which does not merely take recordings but actually displaces whole planetary areas into its crystals.

Published August 1980

DOCTOR WHO AND THE HORNS OF NIMON
By TERRANCE DICKS

In the great maze of the Power Complex dwells the dreaded Nimon, a fearsome monster with immense scientific powers.

The Nimon has promised to restore the Skonnan Empire to its former glory. But first it demands sacrifice—youths and maidens from the peaceful planet Aneth.

The Tardis collides with the space ship delivering the victims, and the captured Romana is condemned to be sacrificed to the Nimon.

Aided by the faithful K9, the Doctor goes to the rescue. In the heart of the maze he confronts the Nimon and uncovers a terrifying plot to enslave the galaxy.

Published 16 October 1980

DOCTOR WHO THE MONSTER OF PELADON
By TERRANCE DICKS

Fifty years after his first visit to Peladon, the Doctor returns to find that Queen Thalira has inherited a troubled kingdom from her father Membership of the Galactic Federation was expected to bring peace and prosperity to the planet, but the spirit of the sacred monster Aggedor is once more spreading terror and death.

The Doctor uncovers a treacherous plot to steal the mineral wealth of Peladon, and is again confronted by his old enemies – the Ice Warriors

Published 4 December 1980

Categorised under: Books, Story books