Doctor Who and the Daleks
 

No. 16 of 156 in the Target novelisations series
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By:David Whitaker
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Editions:  UK (1st hardback) | UK (2nd hardback) | UK (1st paperback) | Netherlands (hardback) | US (paperback) | UK (2nd paperback) | UK (3rd paperback) | Netherlands (paperback) | Turkey (paperback) | UK (3rd hardback) | UK (4th paperback) | Japan (paperback) | Portugal (paperback) | France (paperback) | Germany (paperback) | UK (5th paperback) | UK (6th paperback) | UK (4th hardback) | UK (illustrated hardback)
Description:  Novelisation of the 1963-64 Doctor Who TV story The Daleks (a.k.a. The Dead Planet), which marked the debut of the Doctor’s most famous alien foe. Also available as an audio reading.

Cover image for Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Edition: UK (1st hardback)
Title:  Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Released:  November 1964
Publisher:  Frederick Muller
ISBN:None
Format: hardback
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Cover blurb:
A thick fog and a girl in distress are just the things that Ian Chesterton needs to escape from a life of dull routine. He has no idea that this is merely a prelude to an adventure quite beyond any normal conception of the word. Or that Barnes Common on a foggy autumn night is the last view of Earth he may ever have.

Both he and the girl he tries to help, Barbara Wright, are transported to a distant planet named Skaro by a mysterious old man known to them as the Doctor. With his granddaughter Susan, the Doctor sets them down in a world all but destroyed by atomic warfare, the only survivors being a peace-loving and cultured people called the Thals and their bitter enemies the Daleks, horribly mutated both in mind and body.

Thrust into constant danger, his courage and determination tested almost beyond endurance, Ian is forced to struggle against alien creatures and superior enemies with no other weapons than surprise and ingenuity.

The rewards of victory are life for Ian and his new friends... but life where? Can the Doctor return him and Barbara to Earth again?

Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (2nd hardback)
Released:  December 1964
Publisher:  Frederick Muller
ISBN:None
Format: hardback
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Note:  This reprint is identical to the first edition but with a grey dustjacket. Dated 1965 inside but it was released in mid-December 1964. Subsequently reprinted again in September 1965.

Cover blurb:
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Cover image for Dr Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Edition: UK (1st paperback)
Title:  Dr Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Released:  October 1965
Publisher:  Armada
ISBN:None
Format: paperback
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Note:  One of only two paperback novelisations published in the UK before the Target range began in 1973. (The other was the 1967 Dragon edition of Doctor Who and the Crusaders)

Cover blurb:
The story from the beginning! Here is the exciting adventure of Dr. Who, Susan, Barbara and Ian, from the moment they meet one foggy autumn night on a lonely common beside a Police Box (Ah, but what a curious Police Box!) to the time they encounter the weird Daleks.

It is a thrilling story, and we know this book will be one of the most popular published in the Armada series. Can you wait any longer? Start reading!

Cover image for Dr. Who en de Daleks
Edition: Netherlands (hardback)
Title:  Dr. Who en de Daleks
Released:  January 1966
Publisher:  Uitgeversmij
ISBN:None
Format: hardback
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Note:  This was the only foreign-language Doctor Who book published during the 1960s. It also uses a different translation than the later Dutch paperback edition.

Cover blurb:
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Cover image for Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Edition: US (paperback)
Title:  Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Released:  July 1967
Publisher:  Avon
ISBN:None
Format: paperback
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Cover blurb:
One man stands against the mutant minds and bodies of an incredible space monster

THE DALEKS HAVE ARRIVED

“Free...free... He thought when he woke in the strange machine that had whisked him away from despair on Earth. But the flight through space had ended and he and the hollow-eyed girl he found by his side were strangling in the poisoned air they swallowed with every breath. And around them lay a world in ashes controlled by a hidden city of monstrous machines."

To sleep on Earth.. and awaken to interplanetary horror!

Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (2nd paperback)
Released:  May 1973
Publisher:  Target
ISBN:0-426-10110-3
Format: paperback
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Cover blurb:
This is DOCTOR WHO’s first exciting adventure — with the Daleks!

Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright travel with the mysterious DOCTOR WHO and his grand-daughter, Susan, to the planet of Skaro in the space-time machine, Tardis. There they strive to save the peace-loving Thals from the evil intentions of the hideous DALEKS. Can they succeed? And what is more important, will they ever again see their native Earth?

Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (3rd paperback)
Released:  October 1974
Publisher:  Target
ISBN:0-426-10612-1
Format: paperback
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Note:  ISBN 0-426-11287-3 also appears on some reprints around this time.

Cover blurb:
Same as 2nd UK paperback edition.

Cover image for Doctor Who en de Daleks
Edition: Netherlands (paperback)
Title:  Doctor Who en de Daleks
Released:  December 1974
Publisher:  Unieboek B.V. Bussum
ISBN:90-269-8102-3
Format: paperback
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Note:  This uses a different translation than the earlier Dutch hardback edition. One of 8 Dutch paperback novelisations, all published in 1974 — the others were: The Auton Invasion, The Cave-Monsters, The Crusaders, The Daemons, The Day of the Daleks, The Doomsday Weapon and The Zarbi.

Cover blurb:
Dit is het eerste, adembenemende avontuur van de geheimzinnige DOCTOR WHO — zijn ontmoeting met de DALEKS.

In zijn ruimteschip Tardis doorbreekt hij de dimensies van de Tijd en de Ruimte en samen met Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright en zijn kleindochter Susan landt hij op de planeet Skaros. Ze binden daar de strijd aan met de laaghartige DALEKS die bezield zijn van het duivelse voornemen om de vredelievende Thals te vernietigen.

Zullen zij de DALEKS overwinnen? Maar wat belangrijker is, zullen Ian en Barbara ooit weer terugkeren op hun eigen planeet, de Aarde?

Cover image for Doktor Kim ve Dalekler
Edition: Turkey (paperback)
Title:  Doktor Kim ve Dalekler
Released:  April 1975
Publisher:  Remzi Kitabevi
ISBN:None
Format: paperback
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Note:  One of 6 Turkish novelisations, all published in 1975 — the others were: The Abominable Snowmen, The Cybermen, The Auton Invasion, The Doomsday Weapon and The Day of the Daleks.

Cover blurb:
DOKTOR KİM’in ilk serüveni. Bu serüvende uzay-zaman makinesi Tardis, Skaro gezegenine gidiyor. DOKTOR KİM ve arkadaşları barışsever Thal’leri, DALEKLER’in saldırısından korumaya çalışıyor.

İngiltere’nin televizyonunda yayımlanan bu bilim-kurgu dizisi, çocuklarin ve gençlerin hatta daha çok büyüklerin ilgisini çekmistir.

Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (3rd hardback)
Released:  June 1975
Publisher:  White Lion
ISBN:0-85686-172-3
Format: hardback
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Note:  Yes, that really is Tom Baker on the cover! White Lion reprinted the 3 original Doctor Who novels in 1975 (the others were The Zarbi and The Crusaders) but chose to use a cover illustration of the then-current Doctor to boost their appeal — although the original internal illustrations (featuring the First Doctor) still remain. This edition appears to exist as two variants: One similar to the other White Lion reprints (full-size hardback with dustjacket) but also a smaller-sized hardback edition with a laminated cover.

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Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (4th paperback)
Released:  January 1977
Publisher:  Target
ISBN:0-426-10110-3
Format: paperback
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Note:  Same ISBN as 2nd UK paperback edition.

Cover blurb:
Same as 2nd UK paperback edition.

Cover image for Jikuu Daikettou!
Edition: Japan (paperback)
Title:  Jikuu Daikettou!
Released:  March 1980
Publisher:  Hayakawa Bunko
ISBN:4-15-010381-X
Format: paperback
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Note:  The Japanese title roughly translates to “The Big Bloody Space-Time Battle!” One of 5 Japanese novelisations, all published in 1980 — the others were: The Auton Invasion, The Cave-Monsters, The Doomsday Weapon and The Day of the Daleks.

Cover blurb:
None.

Cover image for Doutor Who e os Daleks
Edition: Portugal (paperback)
Title:  Doutor Who e os Daleks
Released:  January 1983
Publisher:  Editorial Presença
ISBN:None
Format: paperback
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Note:  One of 10 Portuguese novelisations, all published in 1983 — the others were: The Auton Invasion, The Cave-Monsters, The Daemons, The Doomsday Weapon, The Sea-Devils, The Day of the Daleks, The Crusaders, The Abominable Snowmen and The Zarbi.

Cover blurb:
As extraordinárias aventuras de Doutor Who, Senhor do Tempo, viajando no seu veículo espácio-temporal, o TARDIS, através de toda a galáxia, da imensa variedade dos seus mundos. Histórias plenas de imaginação, suspense e acção. Um grande êxito mundial.

Dr. Who viaja no seu veículo espácial Tardis para o planeta Skaro, onde so desenrola uma luta para salvar os pacificos Thals so domino dos Daleks. Conseguirá o Doutor Who os seus intenios? Ou, o que e mais importante, conseguirá elo regressar ao seu planeta nativo, a Terra?

Cover image for Docteur Who: Les Daleks
Edition: France (paperback)
Title:  Docteur Who: Les Daleks
Released:  January 1987
Publisher:  Éditions Garancière
ISBN:2-7340-0204-3
Format: paperback
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Note:  One of 8 French novelisations, all published in 1987 — the others were: An Unearthly Child, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Crusaders, The Masque of Mandragora, The Brain of Morbius, The Abominable Snowmen and Meglos.

Cover blurb:
Un milliard d’admirateurs à travers le monde!

Seigneur du Temps, héros de l’Éternité, le Docteur Who connaît aujourd’hui une fantastique popularité. Le succès inégalé de la série télévisée qui lui a donné naissance, la fascination qu’il exerce sur un immense public à travers plus de cent pays contribuent à faire de ce personnage un véritable mythe pour la premiere fois révélé en France.

En débarquent sur la planète Skaro, le docteur Who s’allie aux pacifiques Thals pour combattre le plan diabolique des hideux Daleks. N’est-il déjà pas trop tard?

Cover image for Doctor Who und die Invasion der Daleks
Edition: Germany (paperback)
Title:  Doctor Who und die Invasion der Daleks
Released:  July 1989
Publisher:  Goldmann
ISBN:3-442-23611-8
Format: paperback
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Note:  The German title obviously translates to “Invasion of the Daleks” — not to be confused with The Dalek Invasion of Earth, which was titled “Conspiracy of the Daleks” in German.
And yes, that really is Tom Baker on the cover — the same publishers also released a translation of Destiny of the Daleks at the same time, but inexplicably switched the cover artwork between the two books.
In total, 6 TV novelisations were translated into German — the others were An Unearthly Child, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Planet of the Daleks, Death to the Daleks and Destiny of the Daleks.

Cover blurb:
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Cover image for Doctor Who: The Daleks
Edition: UK (5th paperback)
Title:  Doctor Who: The Daleks
Released:  January 1992
Publisher:  Target
ISBN:0-426-10110-3
Format: paperback
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Note:  Same ISBN as 2nd UK paperback edition.

Cover blurb:
The Doctor looked at us all gravely. ‘Why should these Daleks share what they have with anyone else? Can any one of you show me even a small hint that they possess compassion or mercy or friendship? Are they even interested?’

The Doctor and Susan, along with Ian and Barbara, land on the planet Skaro, where they must attempt to save the peace-loving Thals from destruction at the hands of a new and unfamiliar threat — the hideous Daleks.

Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (6th paperback)
Released:  July 2011
Publisher:  BBC Books
ISBN:978-1-84990-195-6
Format: paperback
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Note:  One of a batch of six reprints by Random House/BBC Books as part of a new “Doctor Who Classics” range, released in both paperback and e-book form. The other reprints in this batch were: The Abominable Snowmen, The Auton Invasion, The Cave-Monsters, The Crusaders and The Cybermen.

Cover blurb:
‘The voice was all on one level, without any expression at all, a dull monotone that still managed to convey a terrible sense of evil...’

The mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan are joined by unwilling adventurers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright in an epic struggle for survival on an alien planet.

In a vast metal city they discover the survivors of a terrible nuclear war — the Daleks. Held captive in the deepest levels of the city, can the Doctor and his new companions stop the Daleks’ plan to totally exterminate their mortal enemies, the peace-loving Thals? More importantly, even if they can escape from the Daleks, will Ian and Barbara ever see their home planet Earth again?

THIS NOVEL IS BASED ON THE SECOND DOCTOR WHO STORY WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY BROADCAST FROM 21 DECEMBER 1963 — 1 FEBRUARY 1964. THIS WAS THE FIRST EVER DOCTOR WHO NOVEL, ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1964.

Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara

Cover image for Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Edition: UK (4th hardback)
Title:  Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Released:  November 2016
Publisher:  BBC Books
ISBN:978-1-78594-055-2
Format: hardback
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Note:  One of a trio of “retro” hardback reprints of the first three Doctor Who novelisations, replicating the original design of the first 1960s editions. The other two were Doctor Who and the Crusaders and Doctor and the Zarbi.

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Cover image for Doctor Who and the Daleks
Edition: UK (illustrated hardback)
Released:  3 November 2022
Publisher:  BBC Books
ISBN:978-1-78594-801-5
Format: hardback
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Note:  Illustrated edition, featuring all-new art by Robert Hack and an introduction by Neil Gaiman.

Cover blurb:
‘THE VOICE WAS ALL ON ONE LEVEL, WITHOUT ANY EXPRESSION AT ALL, A DULL MONOTONE THAT STILL MANAGED TO CONVEY A TERRIBLE SENSE OF EVIL...’


Inside cover flaps read as follows:

The mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan are joined by unwilling adventurers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright in an epic struggle for survival on an alien planet.

In a vast metal city they discover the survivors of a terrible nuclear war — the Daleks. Held captive in the deepest levels of the city, can the Doctor and his new companions stop the Daleks’ plan to totally exterminate their mortal enemies, the peace-loving Thals?

Even if they can escape from the Daleks, will Ian and Barbara ever see their home planet Earth again?


This novel is based on the second Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 21 December 1963 - 1 February 1964.

This was the first ever Doctor Who novel, originally published in 1964.

This beautifully illustrated new edition brings the story to life as it has never been seen before.

Featuring the First Doctor as played by WILLIAM HARTNELL, and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara.


DAVID WHITAKER was the first Story Editor for Doctor Who, and was responsible for finding and commissioning writers. It was Whitaker as much as anyone who defined the narrative shape of Doctor Who. He wrote for the Doctor Who annuals, novelised TV stories and worked with Dalek creator Terry Nation on various Dalek-related material. David Whitaker died in 1980.

ROBERT HACK has been drawing Doctor Who art since he was 5 years old and professionally since 2008, when he began creating cover art for Doctor Who comics. Robert is also the artist of the hit horror comic Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and painted the opening titles for the Netflix adaptation of the same name. His modern pulp aesthetic has been applied to Archie Comics, Star Wars, X-Files, Army of Darkness, Elvira, James Bond, Dirk Gently, Mars Attacks, Sherlock, Goosebumps, Blade Runner, Stranger Things and more.

NEIL GAIMAN is the author of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel American Gods, as well as Neverwhere, Stardust and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett). He wrote the Doctor Who episode ‘The Doctor’s Wife’ and the TV series Good Omens.


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