Doctor Who and the Face of Evil [Paperback]

Terrance Dicks (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Carol Pub Group (May 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0426200063
• ISBN-13: 978-0426200062
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, But Fantastic & Fills In The Continuity Gaps Perfectly!, January 31, 2012

By 

Anathaniel Wallace "Nosidino" (Wash, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Who and the Face of Evil (Paperback)

This is the first Doctor Who novelization that I ever read. I've been viewing the show for years and have always loved this episode as it was broadcast. When I saw the book being sold at a used book store in Williamsburg, Virginia, I could not keep myself from buying the book. I'm glad I did.

Screenwriter and author Terrance Dicks did a remarkable job of integrating the screenplay into a nice novelization by keeping every important scene from the broadcast while expanding and embellishing the motivations and point of views of the central characters as well as some tertiary ones. He thus succesfuly filled in the continuity gaps that had everyone wondering just when the Doctor had gone to the Sevateem planet (The Name Of Which Is Never Directly Mentioned, Although I Have An Idea But Will Not Divulge It To You. Read The Book To Find Out For Yourself).

SPOILER ALERT

It was great to get a name for Leela's Father, Sole. On page 11 it is explained that not one in 100 people survive the test of the Horda. That had only been intimated in the broadcast. There is also a discussion on page 26 where Andor and Tomas are speaking which intimates that Andor may in fact be his Father-- or is the use "son" a figure of speech? We'll never know for certain. On page 46, chapter three, we get the opportunity to hear Andor mull to himself how the Sevateem tribe is close to extinction thru hunting accidents, famine, disease and the relentless attacks on the Wall. One would think the tribe would realize the futility of such suicidal attacks and just ignore the Wall altogether. Too, according to Leela on page 121 the Sevateem had been struggling for existence for all her life (25 Years?) and for generations before she was born. Just how many generations had it been since the Doctor first visited? Seven or eight? That would make it 200 years or more; and who set up the field generators to keep the invisible Xoanon phantoms at bay? These are questions the book fails to answer, but overalll it is still a top-notch novel. I highly recommend it! Read and see it on DVD or tape if you have not done so already.

A. Nathaniel Wallace, Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pulp and Leela, October 24, 2005

By 

Bill Huebsch (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who and the Face of Evil (Paperback)

The Doctor makes a return visit to a planet of Xoanan the computer. What, don't remember his first visit? Neither does he for most of the book, apparently it was never documented as a story. However, the computer is quite insane and is killing off the small groups of people living on the planet. The Doctor stumbles across a banished Leela early on and saves her life. She stays on with him and helps him out.

This is another great story by Dicks with that pulp fiction feel to it. Not a great amount of character development, buts lots of action and adventure. Yet another quick fun read.

Enjoy!

3.0 out of 5 stars Leela's first story, December 3, 2000

By 

"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who and the Face of Evil (Paperback)

The Doctor is still travelling alone after 'The Deadly Assassin' when he arrives in a jungle. The primitives he meets there treat him strangely, calling him "the Evil One". It appears the Doctor has been here before, but he doesn't recognise the place. And what did he do to get such a reputation?

Introducing Leela, one of the more popular companions in the history of Doctor Who, this story is a strong start for her.

While there is a sizable hole in the plot in the TV serial (exactly when did the Doctor visit this planet and why doesn't he remember it?), Terrance Dicks takes the opportunity to neatly close this hole.