Target Books' Doctor Who output in 1986 totaled eleven new novelisations. At the time, it was the greatest number printed in a single year. As had become the custom over the previous couple of years, a generous supply of 1960s adventures were provided. In fact, the First Doctor had the plurality of novelisations in 1986.
The year was perhaps most significant, however, for introducing the concept of the "original novel" to Doctor Who publishing. With The Companions of Doctor Who imprint, Target would publish two novels about former companions, in the time after they had travelled with the Doctor. Nothing like them had ever been published, and they paved the way for Doctor Who novels that would come in the next decade.
Novelisation covers
Reprints and other title covers
Publishing history
| Month | Title | Writer | Cover Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | The Gunfighters | Donald Cotton | Andrew Skilleter |
| February | The Time Monster | Terrance Dicks | Andrew Skilleter |
| March | The Twin Dilemma | Eric Saward | Andrew Skilleter |
| April | Galaxy 4 | William Emms | Andrew Skilleter |
| May | Timelash | Glen McCoy | David McAllister |
| May | The Companions of Doctor Who: Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma |
Tony Attwood | Tony Masero |
| June | The Mark of the Rani | Pip and Jane Baker | Andrew Skilleter |
| July | The King's Demons | Terence Dudley | David McAllister |
| July | Travel Without the TARDIS | Jean Airy and Laurie Haldeman | Photographic cover |
| August | Slipback | Eric Saward | Paul Mark Tams |
| September | The Savages | Ian Stuart Black | David McAllister |
| September | The Companions of Doctor Who: Harry Sullivan's War |
Ian Marter | Tony Masero |
| October | Fury from the Deep | Victor Pemberton | David McAllister |
| November | The Celestial Toymaker | Gerry Davis and Alison Bingeman | Graham Potts |
| December | The Seeds of Death | Terrance Dicks | Tony Masero |
Publishing notes
- to be added