August 5th, 2026
20 comments
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Doctor Who The Vampire Mutation TD Novel 2
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk, www.hive.co.uk, www.bookshop.org and www.waterstones.com
Terrance Dicks’s The Vampire Mutation was intended to open Doctor Who’s 15th season in 1977. Cancelled at the last moment, its secrets were believed lost forever. Now, working from never-before seen scripts and synopses, Steve Cole’s novelisation brings this ‘lost’ adventure from a much-loved writer into the light.
‘The conjunctions of the stars at last permit the awakening of the Dead One…’
Summoned by the White Guardian to a domain outside time and space, the Doctor learns that the lynchpin of the cosmos – the Time Key – has been stolen. He must recover its six components before a great darkness smothers the universe.
The first fragment draws the TARDIS to a remote, mist-choked planet. Captured by terrified locals, Leela hears tell of night-creatures that drink the blood of their victims… while the Doctor falls prey to the sinister Council of Seven.
Who are the Witch Lords? What is the terrible significance of the Thousand Year Sabbath? With the world on the brink of catastrophe, will the vampire mutation thwart the Doctor’s quest for the Time Key before it’s even begun?
Categorised under: Books, Story books
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RobW
August 6th, 2026 - 11:07amIt’s incredible that we are getting Terrance Dicks books in 2026. Uncle Terry should have been nominated for an honour to children’s services. Sadly I only met him once in the later years, I dont think he was well and a little grumpy at the time.
Lee Moone
August 7th, 2026 - 7:08amI’m surprised Big Finish didn’t get their hands on this 1st.. they must be chomping at the bit!
. Personally, glad to see it as a novelistion 1st.
RobW
August 7th, 2026 - 10:07amI think Tom is retired from BF and they have enough in the bag to keep releasing over several years. The BBC might release it as an audio book, if say Louise was the reader and maybe Peter Davison for the Six Doctors.
bryan
August 9th, 2026 - 1:57amHi RobW.
TOM is still working for BF. He continues to record,but we won’t Hear 2026 date recordings until around 2030 ish.
Both Tom and John Leeson have just been recording Sir Sherlock adaptations fro AUK Studios,and they are superb.
MDS
August 5th, 2026 - 7:34pmI hope we see a book based on the original scripts for The Brain of Morbius, if they exist.
Bookcollector
August 5th, 2026 - 7:45pmThat would be interesting, it sounded like a more sensible story in terms of why the body what mismatched.
War Chief.
August 5th, 2026 - 7:58pmSolon should just have put Morbius’s brain…in the Doctor’s head……
I guess anyone can be wise after the event….
Bookcollector
August 5th, 2026 - 8:04pmIn the original it wasn’t solon it was a robot that had no aesthetic sense so it makes the best body it can. Solon didnt really have that excuse, something Terrance did point out to Robert Holmes!
War Chief.
August 5th, 2026 - 8:29pm‘The body was designed for its efficiency, not its appearance….’
Too true…!
Peter
August 6th, 2026 - 9:31amWell, TBF, Solon was limited in what supplies he could get – forcing random ships to crash. Never know what you’re gonna get. He must be a misogynist if he didn’t want to use one of the Sisterhood? Or did he just fear the wrath of Maren if he did that? Why not just use Condo – because he needed his assistance for the op to man the pump or whatever?
War Chief.
August 6th, 2026 - 9:42amApparently neither Condo’s nor Sarah’s head was suitable….
All hands to the pump….or stump, as the 7th Doctor would say…
Bellal
August 5th, 2026 - 4:32pmCan’t beat good old uncle Terrance. Will be buying
War Chief.
August 5th, 2026 - 12:52pmThis was his original script….
Then, he was told to do something about a lighthouse…
On replying he knew b****r all about lighthouses, Terrance was told to read a Ladybird book about them…
And, ever resourceful, that’s just what he did….the result being one of the best Dr Who stories ever…
I think I’ve got that right….
Bookcollector
August 5th, 2026 - 2:37pmPretty much. Wonder if this will be the original leela version?
Bookcollector
August 5th, 2026 - 2:50pmIf I remember correctly it was a sort of joke. I think when asked to set a story in medieval times (the time warrior) Robert Holmes said I know nothing about the period. So Terrance as script editor said go and read the ladybird book as a joke. When asked by Holmes (the then script editor) to set a story in a lighthouse Terrance said I don’t know anything about lighthouses so Holmes jokingly said go read the ladybird book. The fact horror was written at the last minute and is such a great story so a testament to Terrance as a writer.
War Chief.
August 5th, 2026 - 3:03pmIt was a brilliant story….
The only pity was, on our 70s black and white tv, the Rutan looked pretty naff…
I didn’t even get all those tantalising green glowing scenes, till buying the video 20 years later…
bookcollector
August 5th, 2026 - 7:55pmJust ordered monster of fang rock, can’t wait!
bryan
August 5th, 2026 - 10:39pmBookcollector
Well it has leela,The Time Key,&Vampires,The….
from penguins website
Terrance Dicks’s The Vampire Mutation was intended to open Doctor Who’s 15th season in 1977. Cancelled at the last moment, its secrets were believed lost forever. Now, working from never-before seen scripts and synopses, Steve Cole’s novelisation brings this ‘lost’ adventure from a much-loved writer into the light.
‘The conjunctions of the stars at last permit the awakening of the Dead One…’
Summoned by the White Guardian to a domain outside time and space, the Doctor learns that the lynchpin of the cosmos – the Time Key – has been stolen. He must recover its six components before a great darkness smothers the universe.
The first fragment draws the TARDIS to a remote, mist-choked planet. Captured by terrified locals, Leela hears tell of night-creatures that drink the blood of their victims… while the Doctor falls prey to the sinister Council of Seven.
Who are the Witch Lords? What is the terrible significance of the Thousand Year Sabbath? With the world on the brink of catastrophe, will the vampire mutation thwart the Doctor’s quest for the Time Key before it’s even begun?
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/478412/td-novel-2-by-cole-steve/9781911743187
bookcollector
August 6th, 2026 - 8:43amThanks Bryan, didn’t think to look at the penguin site. Sounds interesting.
bookcollector
August 6th, 2026 - 3:07pmShould say, when I asked if it was leela there was no info about the book listed in case anyone wondered