After the successful reprinting of three novelisations dating back to 1964 and 1965, the Target Books novelisations line began in earnest with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion, the first original Target novelisation to be published.

Contents 1 Novelisation 2 Publisher's summary 2.1 1974 Target edition 2.2 1991 Target edition 2.3 2011 BBC edition 3 Chapter Titles 4 Deviations from televised story 5 Writing and publishing notes 6 Associated illustrations 6.1 Interior 6.2 Covers 7 British publication history 8 Editions published outside Britain 9 Audiobook 10 See also 11 External links

Novelisation Edit

• This novelisation is based on the original television serial TV: Spearhead from Space, written by Robert Holmes and shown from 3 January 1970. With this book, Target continued the practice, introduced with Doctor Who and the Crusaders, of using titles different from the original TV serial. This practice would continue off-and-on before being mostly abandoned by the mid-1970s, although the title format Doctor Who and the ... and variations therefore would continue to be used until the early 1980s.
• The cover and information on the right are for the original Target edition. It featured the artwork of Chris Achilleos. (See below for information on other editions with different covers).
• The opening chapter of the book also partially adapts Episode 10 of the preceding story, TV: The War Games.

Publisher's summary Edit

1974 Target edition Edit

In this, the first adventure of his third `incarnation’, DOCTOR WHO, Liz Shaw, and the Brigadier grapple with the nightmarish invasion of the AUTONS — living, giant-sized, plastic-modelled `humans’ with no hair and sightless eyes; waxwork replicas and tailor’s dummies whose murderous behaviour is directed by the NESTENE CONSCIOUSNESS — a malignant, squid-like monster of cosmic proportions and indescribably hideous appearance.
“This DOCTOR WHO adventure (televised as 'Spearhead from Space’) wins my vote as the best in the lifetime of this series so far.’ Mathew Coady, The Daily Mirror
“DOCTOR WHO, the children’s own programme which adults adore…” Gerard Garrett, The Daily Sketch

1991 Target edition Edit

"You will be exiled to Earth in the Twentieth Century Time Zone. You will remain there for as long as we think proper. And for that time the secret of the TARDIS will be taken from you."
Found guilty by his fellow Time Lords of interference in the affairs of other planets, the Doctor is forced to undergo his second regeneration and is exiled to Earth.
But strange meteorites are landing in Essex and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT has reason to believe that they were deliberately aimed at the Earth's surface. In order to avert a possible catastrophie the Doctor joins forces with UNIT and battles with the sinister Autons - creatures whose murderous behaviour is directed by the Nestene Consciousness, a hideous entity of cosmic proportions.
This story was written by Robert Holmes and broadcast under the title The Spearhead from Space (sic.). It was the first programme to feature Jon Pertwee in the role of the Doctor and marks the beginning of his Earth-bound adventures.
Doctor Who - The Spearhead from Space has recently been broadcast on BSB television.

2011 BBC edition Edit

"Here at UNIT we deal with the odd-the unexplained. We're prepared to tackle anything on Earth. Or even from beyond the Earth, if necessary."

Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower. But these are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has began its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and Deadly window shop dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack. But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn't even recognise him. Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT's trust before the invasion begins?

This novel is based on "Spearhead From Space", a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3 January-24 January 1970.

Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

Chapter Titles Edit

1. Prologue: Exiled to Earth
2. The Mystery of the Meteorites
3. The Man from Space
4. The Faceless Kidnappers
5. The Hunting Auton
6. The Doctor Disappears
7. The Horror in the Factory
8. The Auton Attacks
9. The Creatures in the Waxworks
10. The Final Battle

Deviations from televised story Edit

• When the Third Doctor stumbles out of the TARDIS in the episode, he is still wearing the Second Doctor's clothes. However, the illustration of the scene below shows him wearing the Second Doctor's trousers, but the First Doctor's coat, waistcoat and cravat.

Writing and publishing notes Edit

• Terrance Dicks' first novelisation for the Doctor Who series was among the first commissioned new titles and arrived one week late. Dicks, who at the time was a member of the TV series production team, would be the most prolific author of the Target Novelisation line, writing dozens of works that would be published between 1974 and the publication of The Space Pirates in 1990, after which Dicks would write a original novels for virtually every continuation series of original fiction. He would also write two more novelisations: Shakedown, based upon an independent spin-off film, and the premiere episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Invasion of the Bane.
• The first edition cover includes the face of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, making him the first recurring character other than the Doctor to appear on the cover of a Target novelisation.
• The novel was republished in July 2011 by BBC Books. For this edition, an introduction by producer Russell T Davies was added and the title of the book reverted to Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion.

Associated illustrations Edit

Interior Edit

• This title contain eleven illustrated pages by Chris Achilleos

Covers Edit

British publication history Edit

To be added

First Publication:

• Hardback

Initial hardcover release in 1974 was for libraries only; mass-market hardcover issued in 1981.

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

30p (UK)

1982 Target Books with a new cover by Andrew Skilleter

1991 Virgin Publishing with a new cover by Alistair Pearson priced £2.50 (UK)

Editions published outside Britain Edit

To be added

Audiobook Edit

This Target Book was released complete and unabridged by BBC Audio and read by Caroline John who played Liz Shaw.
The audio set of 4 CD's with an ISBN 1-405-? was released in June 2008 priced £13.99 (UK)
The cover blurb and thumbnail illustrations were retained in the accompanying booklet with sleevenotes by David J. Howe. Music and sound effects by Simon Power

See also Edit

• The Target Book by David J Howe (Telos Publishing 2007)

External links Edit

• On Target - A comprehensive guide to Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion

v • e Doctor Who novelisations   Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell Season 1 1963 1964 Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child • Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks • The Edge of Destruction • Marco Polo • Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus • The Aztecs • The Sensorites • The Reign of Terror Season 2 1964 1965 Planet of Giants • Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth • The Rescue • The Romans • Doctor Who and the Zarbi • Doctor Who and the Crusaders • The Space Museum • The Chase • The Time Meddler Season 3 1965 1966 Galaxy Four • The Myth Makers • The Daleks' Master Plan Part 1: Mission to the Unknown • The Daleks' Master Plan Part 2: The Mutation of Time • The Massacre • The Ark • The Celestial Toymaker • The Gunfighters • The Savages • The War Machines Season 4 1966 The Smugglers • Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet   Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton Season 4 1966 1967 The Power of the Daleks • The Highlanders • The Underwater Menace • Doctor Who and the Cybermen • The Macra Terror • The Faceless Ones • The Evil of the Daleks Season 5 1967 1968 Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen • Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen • Doctor Who and the Ice Warriors • Doctor Who and the Enemy of the World • Doctor Who and the Web of Fear • Fury from the Deep • The Wheel in Space Season 6 1968 1969 The Dominators • The Mind Robber • The Invasion • The Krotons • The Seeds of Death • The Space Pirates • Doctor Who and the War Games   Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee Season 7 1970 Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion • Doctor Who and the Cave-Monsters • The Ambassadors of Death • Inferno Season 8 1971 Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons • The Mind of Evil • Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos • Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon • Doctor Who and the Dæmons Season 9 1972 Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks • Doctor Who and the Curse of Peladon • Doctor Who and the Sea Devils • Doctor Who and the Mutants • The Time Monster Season 10 1972 1973 The Three Doctors • Doctor Who and the Carnival of Monsters • Doctor Who and the Space War • Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks • Doctor Who and the Green Death Season 11 1973 1974 Doctor Who and the Time Warrior • Doctor Who and the Dinosaur Invasion • Death to the Daleks • Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon • Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders   Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker Season 12 1974 1975 Doctor Who and the Giant Robot • Doctor Who and the Ark in Space • Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment • Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks • The Revenge of the Cybermen Season 13 1975 1976 Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster • Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil • Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars • Doctor Who and the Android Invasion • Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius • Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom Season 14 1976 1977 Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora • Doctor Who and the Hand of Fear • Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin • Doctor Who and the Face of Evil • Doctor Who and the Robots of Death • Doctor Who and the Talons of Weng-Chiang Season 15 1977 1978 Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock • Doctor Who and the Invisible Enemy • Doctor Who and the Image of the Fendahl • Doctor Who and the Sunmakers • Doctor Who and the Underworld • Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time Season 16 1978 1979 Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation • Doctor Who and the Stones of Blood • Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara • Doctor Who and the Power of Kroll • Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor Season 17 1979 1980 Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks • Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden • Doctor Who and the Horns of Nimon Season 18 1980 1981 Doctor Who and the Leisure Hive • Meglos • Full Circle • State of Decay • Doctor Who and Warriors' Gate • Doctor Who and the Keeper of Traken • Logopolis   Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison Season 19 1982 Castrovalva • Four to Doomsday • Kinda • Doctor Who and the Visitation • Black Orchid • Earthshock • Time-Flight Season 20 1983 Arc of Infinity • Snakedance • Mawdryn Undead • Terminus • Enlightenment • The King's Demons • The Five Doctors Season 21 1984 Warriors of the Deep • The Awakening • Frontios • Planet of Fire • The Caves of Androzani   Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker Season 21 1984 The Twin Dilemma Season 22 1985 Attack of the Cybermen • Vengeance on Varos • The Mark of the Rani • The Two Doctors • Timelash Season 23 1986 The Mysterious Planet • Mindwarp • Terror of the Vervoids • The Ultimate Foe   Seasons 24-26: Sylvester McCoy Season 24 1987 Time and the Rani • Paradise Towers • Delta and the Bannermen • Dragonfire Season 25 1988 1989 Remembrance of the Daleks • The Happiness Patrol • Silver Nemesis • The Greatest Show in the Galaxy Season 26 1989 Battlefield • Ghost Light • The Curse of Fenric • Survival   1996: Paul McGann 1996 Doctor Who - The Novel of the Film   Other Shalka Doctor Scream of the Shalka

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