Doctor Who and the Keeper of Traken

"Keeper of Traken, your task is done. Go swiftly, with our gratitude for all you have accomplished. She who is to succeed you is present and waiting. Relinquish the Source, and die!"

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: May 1982

Series: Target 37

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa

Synopsis 

For ages past, the Union of Traken has lived in peace and harmony thanks to the power of the Source, controlled by generations of Keepers. 

But the current Keeper, his powers waning, senses some all-pervading evil about to invade his world. He summons the Doctor to his aid. 

To save Traken the Doctor fights the terrifying Melkur - only to find that this new enemy conceals an older and even deadlier foe - one the Doctor has encountered before...

Verdict 

Doctor Who and the Keeper of Traken was an absolute pleasure to read. It didn't take long to read this on my usual twice-monthly train ride which consists of around four hours and usually it's rare that I finish a novel during that journey. Granted that this was a Target novel so it's naturally smaller in length than most original novels from any range, but I just couldn't put this down. From start to finish I just loved it. The Keeper of Traken was the first ever Classic story I watched and I instantly fell in love with it. Every time I watch I know I'm going to enjoy and give it the highest of ratings. I was thrilled around a month ago to find the original Target for sale in my local town hall for a mere £1 so of course I purchased! I love the cover and despite Nyssa not officially becoming companion during this story, it's a wonderful introduction for her. The novel itself started off well with a quick recap of Warriors' Gate and the Doctor showing a smile when thinking of what Romana and K9 were up to in E-Space. The pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Adric seems a strange one because I would normally associate the latter as a companion of the Fifth Doctor but it's easy to forget that he actually had five on screen stories with the fourth incarnation! Despite my loathing of Adric on screen, he was actually presented to be quite likeable in this novel. Remarkable work from Terrance Dicks in achieving that. I love how the Doctor liked the fact that Adric pointed out that a lot of what the Doctor says doesn't make much sense. I could just see that famous smile of Tom Baker when reading those lines. The scene with the Keeper entering the TARDIS is fantastic and I like the fact that he was nearing his dissolution. He sensed evil was coming to Traken, the most harmonious place in the universe. The idea of Traken maintaining its power and society based on people being nice to each other was lovely. It's a much simpler way of life. The Grove was described much as I remember it from the TV story and Dicks did very well to capture the sanctum in print as well. Tremas, of course a clever anagram of Master, was a terrific character and prior to reading I thought I might be put off by the obvious reference to the Master's return every time his name would be mentioned. Thankfully that didn't prove to be the case at all! His relationship with the Doctor was excellent and I liked the trust he showed in the TARDIS pairing by taking them under his custody after what would have been the episode one cliffhanger. The Melkur proved to be a fantastic enemy and despite my knowing all along who it really was, I adored the moment of the reveal. It just shows how effective the Melkur was in its own right given that the Master didn't actually appear, knowing who he was, until the final chapter and was only present for no more than 10 pages. I loved how we were shown Kassia admiring and tendering for the Melkur as a child but once the Doctor and Adric arrived on Traken she was grown up and had just married the new Keeper Nominate, Tremas. But she was hypnotised and was acting under the instructions of the Melkur. He was after the position of Keeper and wanted to harness the powers of the mighty Source. I found it really intriguing how far she went to obey even prior to wearing the immovable collar brace that brought complete obedience. She covered up death and was even prepared to carry out just so her husband wouldn't become Keeper. She didn't want to lose him. The other Consuls, particularly Katura and Luvic, were favourable characters of mine. The plot twists were very good throughout and I liked how Kassia's attempts to prevent Tremas from becoming the next Keeper kept on failing. Eventually she got her way. I loved the climax after the Melkur had taken the throne and claimed to be Keeper of Traken. It accessed the Source and it seemed all was lost for the Doctor and the Trakenites. I liked how Adric and Nyssa had other plans though in plotting to destroy the Source. Nyssa's reaction to that was superb. But the Doctor also hoped to prevent the Melkur's access to the Source by working out the impossible code that would equate to essentially a vote of no confidence for the current Keeper. The moment the Doctor stepped into the TARDIS that wasn't his own was fantastic. All was revealed. The Master was the one controlling the Melkur. Following on nicely from The Deadly Assassin, which was nicely referenced, the renegade Time Lord was nearing the end of his twelfth regeneration. I found the reference to Roger Delgado's appearance intriguing and it certainly implied that he was basically the Thirteenth Master to coin a comparison. The Doctor claiming that he supposed he knew along was brilliant and it does seem that's the case for quite a lot of Master stories! The emaciated form though would ultimately lose out to Adric and Nyssa's meddling which was cancelled out by the Doctor entering the code that would ultimately eradicate the Master's control of the Source. Luvic took over as new Keeper but the Master had learned a lot from the Source. With his TARDIS disguised as a grandfather clock, Tremas taking an interest ultimately cost him his life as his body was merged with the "walking corpse" that was the Master. He had a new body at last. These events would obviously lead into Logopolis which would be the Fourth Doctor's swansong, but I think this story is absolutely wonderful in its own right. An outstanding novel.

Rating: 10/10