The Celestial Toymaker

"I think it's time to play a few games."

Writers: Gerry Davis & Alison Bingeman

Format: Novel

Released: November 1986

Series: Target 111

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

Somewhere outside space and time there waits the Toymaker, an enigmatic being who ensnares unwary travellers in his domain to play out his dark and deadly games.

Separated from the security of the TARDIS, the Doctor is forced to play the complex trilogy game with the evil magician. Meanwhile, Dodo and Steven must enter into a series of tests with, among others, the schoolboy Cyril and the King and Queen of Hearts.

If they lose, they are condemned to become the Toymaker's playthings for all eternity. For in the malevolent wonderland that is the Celestial Toyroom, nothing is just for fun...

Verdict

The Celestial Toymaker was a pretty average novelisation of the televised story of the same name. I think it’s a bit of a shame really as I was very excited to read this book in what is absolutely preparation for the Toymaker’s return in the coming weeks as part of the sixtieth anniversary specials! It really is incredible that the villain from a First Doctor serial is making a comeback and I thought it would be a good chance to familiarise myself with the character once again before an emphatic comeback. But I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed by just how little he featured! Now, I think this blog entry will naturally lean towards the negatives but I do like most of the story. It’s a fine concept and there’s definitely so much to play with when it comes to the Toymaker and the Celestial Toyroom. Returns in other formats like Solitaire and The Nightmare Fair have proven that. But I think this story absolutely works better on screen, and that’s me saying that when only part four survives in the archive! It’s a massive shame that 75% of the story is missing so to read it here in a complete form was something I adored, but crikey it was repetitive. I thought without the limitations of filming in 1965, this book would be a blast but it didn’t really do much to expand the adventure in prose. I just felt like that it was a lot of explaining for the games that Steven and Dodo were taking part in. By the fourth one, it was difficult to care. We knew none of the middle games would provide the actual TARDIS and it wasn’t just because I’ve watched the story in its most complete form, it was just so obvious. I really did enjoy Steven’s take on the games though and he wasn’t taking any prisoners when it came to the characters that the Toymaker had devised as their opponents. From playing cards and dolls to Cyril, Steven was in it for Dodo and himself to get the TARDIS just in time for the Doctor to complete the trilogic game. That in itself is an intriguing game and certainly one suited to the Doctor with the accuracy and delicacies required to complete it perfectly in 1,023 moves. Very specific! Where I think the book could have benefitted was by actually having the Doctor feature more here. We didn’t have the limitations and absence of William Hartnell that required the Doctor to be rendered invisible and then mute. There could have been more conversation between the Doctor and the Toymaker which would have been spectacular as when we did get that it was rather tremendous! They clearly had a history and I’ll be intrigued to see if that gets expanded upon with the Fourteenth Doctor. The Toymakers (yes plural!) would be a formidable force in unison and then being immortal is something I enjoy. How do you defeat an immortal? That’s fun to play with. Dodo was a bit dumb dumb in this story as she fell for so many tricks which didn’t really shine a kind light on her too well as a companion. Describing how just the Doctor’s hand was visible seemed a little unnecessary given the potential and room to play with in a novelisation, but this really did just seem like a quick rehash of what happened on screen. Whilst that’s not a hugely bad thing, it does leave a little to be desired because the potential is there with the story. I wanted more. I think a lack of consistent characters also hurts in a prose format as those Steven and Dodo were playing against changes quickly between a couple of chapters. The ending is not something I’m a huge fan of but it didn’t seem as ridiculous here with the absence of the vocals and it being described as the tone of the Toymaker. The way things are left with the Doctor knowing that the Toymaker wasn’t truly defeated was wonderful to set things up for the future, and it’s been a long time coming! The warning that the Toymaker destroys those who destroy his worlds is some wrath. Overall a decent read but certainly room for improvement. 

Rating: 6/10