Doctor Who Cuttings Archive

Difference between revisions of "The Doctor Who Story"

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The earliest survey is The Making of Doctor Who by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, which was published as a small-format paperback by Piccolo in April 1972. Its authors were certainly well-qualified for the job: both had done some writing for the series and, at the time, Dicks held the post of script editor. The book contained a lot of interesting background information about the Doctor and his travels and included an early, if crude, episode guide, ending with the Pertwee escapade, 'The Sea Devils'.
 
The earliest survey is The Making of Doctor Who by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, which was published as a small-format paperback by Piccolo in April 1972. Its authors were certainly well-qualified for the job: both had done some writing for the series and, at the time, Dicks held the post of script editor. The book contained a lot of interesting background information about the Doctor and his travels and included an early, if crude, episode guide, ending with the Pertwee escapade, 'The Sea Devils'.
  
Wyndham/Target acquired the rights to this book four years later, and had it updated so as to include the new Doctor, Tom Baker. The guide in this revised edition — published in paperback in December 1976 — now went up to the adventure, 'The Hand of Fear'. Most of the new material was culled from the Radio Times 10th Anniversary Special (1973) and the Doctor Who Monster Book. Terrance Dicks did the lion's share of the rewriting, which explains why his name is printed before Hulke's on the spine of the second edition. The original John Pertwee photographic cover was replaced by one featuring an artwork picture of Tom Baker.
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Wyndham/Target acquired the rights to this book four years later, and had it updated so as to include the new Doctor, Tom Baker. The guide in this revised edition — published in paperback in December 1976 — now went up to the adventure, 'The Hand of Fear'. Most of the new material was culled from the [[Radio Times]] 10th Anniversary Special (1973) and the Doctor Who Monster Book. Terrance Dicks did the lion's share of the rewriting, which explains why his name is printed before Hulke's on the spine of the second edition. The original John Pertwee photographic cover was replaced by one featuring an artwork picture of Tom Baker.
  
 
The Radio Times Doctor Who 10th Anniversary Special (simply entitled Doctor Who on the cover) appeared, not surprisingly, in November 1973. This lavishly-produced chronicle of the Doctor's adventures included interviews with several of his companions, a guide on how to build your own Dalek, and even previews of the coming year's adventures. Twenty years later, Mint copies are scarce and can command up to £50.
 
The Radio Times Doctor Who 10th Anniversary Special (simply entitled Doctor Who on the cover) appeared, not surprisingly, in November 1973. This lavishly-produced chronicle of the Doctor's adventures included interviews with several of his companions, a guide on how to build your own Dalek, and even previews of the coming year's adventures. Twenty years later, Mint copies are scarce and can command up to £50.
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Also published at this time was David J. Howe's colourful Doctor Who: Timeframe —An Illustrated History. This 240-page, large-format book looks at the Target novelizations — which celebrate their 20th anniversary this year — as well as the television series and, among the 60 full-page paintings included in this volume, are many early Target covers. All in all, Timeframe is another 'must' for true 'Doctor Who' fans.
 
Also published at this time was David J. Howe's colourful Doctor Who: Timeframe —An Illustrated History. This 240-page, large-format book looks at the Target novelizations — which celebrate their 20th anniversary this year — as well as the television series and, among the 60 full-page paintings included in this volume, are many early Target covers. All in all, Timeframe is another 'must' for true 'Doctor Who' fans.
  
Sadly, [[The Radio Times|Radio Times]] has no plans to mark the series' 30th birthday (although the BBC is currently [[broadwcast:BBC Repeats|re-showing]] the Jon Pertwee story, '[[broadwcast:Planet of the Daleks|Planet of the Daleks]]', and has promised further repeats). However, Marvel will be issuing a 68-page Doctor Who 30th Anniversary Special on 25th November (price £3.25) which should offer some comfort to collectors.
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Sadly, The Radio Times has no plans to mark the series' 30th birthday (although the BBC is currently [[broadwcast:BBC Repeats|re-showing]] the Jon Pertwee story, '[[broadwcast:Planet of the Daleks|Planet of the Daleks]]', and has promised further repeats). However, Marvel will be issuing a 68-page Doctor Who 30th Anniversary Special on 25th November (price £3.25) which should offer some comfort to collectors.
  
 
Since the early Eighties, Doctor Who has been more analysed and written about — and, for that matter, cashed in on — than any other British television series of any period. It's extraordinary to think that almost forty different books have been written about it, on top of all the novelizations, annuals and magazine specials which it has inspired over the years. Very few programmes last for one — let alone three — decades, but then Doctor Who is a truly unique institution. I have no doubt that the 'Doctor Who Story' will be running for many years yet.
 
Since the early Eighties, Doctor Who has been more analysed and written about — and, for that matter, cashed in on — than any other British television series of any period. It's extraordinary to think that almost forty different books have been written about it, on top of all the novelizations, annuals and magazine specials which it has inspired over the years. Very few programmes last for one — let alone three — decades, but then Doctor Who is a truly unique institution. I have no doubt that the 'Doctor Who Story' will be running for many years yet.

Latest revision as of 22:55, 17 August 2022


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