Doctor Who and the Time Warrior

"It does not surprise me that one so evil seeks the aid of devils and magicians."

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Novel
Released: June 1978
Series: Target 65

Featuring: Third Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

His spaceship crippled in an inter-stellar battle, the Sontaran warrior, Linx, is forced to crash-land on Earth. He arrives in the Middle Ages, a time too primitive to provide the technology he needs to repair his ship. Allying himself with the local robber chief, Linx uses his powers to 'borrow' scientists and equipment from twentieth-century Earth.

Doctor Who tracks down the missing scientists and journeys into the past to save them. But can he defeat the ruthless Linx and his savage human allies before the course of human history is changed forever?

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Time Warrior was a wonderful novelisation of what is my favourite Third Doctor televised story! It was the first serial I ever watched featuring Jon Pertwee's third incarnation so it has a big place in my heart on a personal level, whilst also introducing the Sontarans and Sarah Jane Smith! The Sontarans are one of my very favourite enemies and I think it's terrific how they debut with just a singular of the species in the form of Linx. Sarah Jane's introduction is also really good and she would of course go on to be a monumentally important companion in Doctor Who history before having her own spinoff series! I knew I was going to enjoy this read and I was delighted to find that Terrance Dicks was writing as his style just works so well. I loved how things started with a prologue that we didn't get on television that depicted how Linx actually ended up on Earth after escaping Rutan capture. That was a very entertaining ten pages and certainly added a great deal to the adventure which was really impressive. This is of course the first story after The Green Death and the impact of Jo departing was clearly still having an effect on the Doctor which was both sad and nice to see because it was clear how much she meant to him. It was also something the Brigadier noticed which was good. The way Sarah Jane was introduced in much the same way as the Doctor in not really being who he said he was at the research centre was a lot of fun and it was nice to see from the start that he liked her. The humour that came from the Brigadier at the start was also excellent as he would have to explain how there had been more scientific equipment and scientists themselves going missing, along with his investigator in the form of the Doctor! I loved how there was no messing around in establishing what kind of companion Sarah would be as she stood up to the Middle Ages take on women and how their role was to serve men. She wanted equality and stood up for it on a number of occasions which was just brilliant. The setting itself worked really well and it was a very good place for Linx to crash land. His patience would be tried by the likes of Irongron and Bloodaxe and the conversing between them was wonderful. There was something similar between a man of power in this time and the natural nature of a Sontaran. The setting was also very well utilised in the possibility of the Doctor being a wizard getting explored. The TARDIS departing at the end not being a surprise because how else would a wizard travel was very fun. I liked the battle and looming war that was going on between Irongron and Sir Edward and Linx having an interest in the war to come was true to his nature as a Sontaran. The way the story panned out was just as fantastic in prose as it was on screen with not too many noticeable differences, other than perhaps the pace which probably did feel a bit more exciting in this novelisation. The ending in particular felt more pacy and I enjoyed how the Doctor was determined on getting to the probic vent of the Sontaran. The arrow shot that got Linx at the end and killed him instantly was very sudden and impactful. Rubeish was also a fun character and I enjoyed his relationship with the Doctor and I also found it fascinating how accepting he was of time travel! The other scientists being hypnotised was good and I loved the idea of Linx going forward in time to get the resources he needed to repair his ship. Overall, a superb novelisation!

Rating: 10/10