Customer Reviews

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death (Doctor Who Library)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When the latest Mars Probe (number 7), returns to Earth in radio silence, Recovery 7 is sent up to collect it. But, the (third) Doctor soon realizes that something is wrong, and he and Liz Shaw and the Brigadier set off to find out just what is happening. However, it soon becomes clear that someone with a lot of power in the British government is playing a game of their own, stealing the astronauts, and beginning a wave of crime for unknown purposes. Now the Doctor must foil the machinations of his unseen foes, and find out just what is going on in outer space.

This is a very good novelization the Doctor Who serial of the same name that originally aired from March 21 to May 2, 1970. Author Terrance Dicks did a good job of novelizing the show, making it quite readable and enjoyable. As a Doctor Who fan, I was quite pleased with this book and highly recommend it!

Don't be fooled. This is one of the best novilizations of an unbearably long (7 episodes!) story. Dicks is at his best, writing action that keeps the page turning enterspaced with very quick back stories of charecters that have you thirsting for more. Problems abound in this plot, and Dicks sorts them out as best could be done (why is a general with hundreds of soldiers under him using ruffians to do his dirty work?). The best part is everything builds until the last 2 pages, it's all resolved, and the Doctor leaves, letting someone else to untangle the alien invasion on national tv problem. Rock on!

Given that the Target Doctor Who adaptations began at around the time Jon Pertwee took over the role as the Doctor, it seems odd that this early third Doctor story was not immediately adapted.

When Mars Probe 7 goes astray, a rescue ship is sent up to try to find the missing astronauts. It returns, but when recovered has no crew whatsoever, and is highly radioactive. UNIT is called in to try to discover what has happened.

It turns out that someone has kidnapped the ambassadors of an alien race. If they are not returned, Earth faces destruction...

'The Ambassadors of Death' was overly-long as a TV serial. Terrance Dicks takes the opportunity to present us with a slimmer version of the story - not necessarily lacking in detail, but seemingly faster-paced. This is probably an illusion, but one which readers should take graciously.

This story explores Doctor Who's new 'exiled on Earth' format, and does so quite sensibly by reversing the usual roles of humans and aliens.