Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil

"The planet was alive – and it was a killer."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: August 1977

Series: Target 47

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah

Synopsis

A survey team of eight men from the mighty Morestran Empire lands on Zeta Minor, a remote planet on the fringes of the universe. Before their expedition is over, seven of the men are mysteriously and horrifically murdered. 

A distress signal brings the Doctor to the planet – but his good intentions are not appreciated. The commander of a Morestran rescue party, sent to investigate the disappearance of the survey team, is convinced the Doctor is the killer.

And while the Doctor is kept prisoner and powerless to act, the merciless hell-planet claims even more victims...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil was a great novelisation of the Fourth Doctor serial (almost) baring the same name! I must admit my memory of this serial on screen was not exactly strong so I was looking forward to reading the novelisation as a way of taking me back. I love the pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane and I think it's been an awfully long time since blogging any of their adventures as a sole pairing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Harry but there's just something special about this pairing. I don't think their chemistry was wholly exploited in this book, but it's still a delight to read them together. Sarah's frustration at the Doctor always changing the subject or avoiding questions was marvellous and you could just feel that Tom Baker grin in the writing. That aspect was certainly exciting! I thought the way Terrance Dicks opened the book was just brilliant and really set the tone. It captured exactly what it said on the tin in terms of the planet being evil, although I'm not entirely convinced that was the case. I wouldn't argue that the planet was evil in the slightest and with it existing on the edge of the known universe, the pathway to the world of anti-matter was logical. Sorenson was the one who I would deem the villain of the piece, even more so than the anti-man which was a fun dubbing by the Doctor. I know they were essential a hybrid but it was Sorenson's choice to consume the liquid and for him to not have a care in the world that seven of his fellow scientists had perished in the work to find an alternative energy source for the Morestran Empire as their sun was dying. He thought he'd found it with the veins of anti-matter, but the planet wasn't having any of it. They couldn't leave. Literally. I thought that was a fascinating concept and the Doctor having deduced it pretty early on put him in a powerful position of knowledge. I could certainly see why he and Sarah were being blamed for the deaths that had occurred given they were recent arrivals, and that was a fact that the companion was not too thrilled about. The continuity with Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster was lovely as Sarah hoped to just avoid a train journey back to London but instead found herself over 30,000 years into the future and at the edge of the universe! It's a shame we never get a reference to Omega as this story seems perfect for him, but I do enjoy more delving into the world of anti-matter. It's a fascinating concept and trying to comprehend something that is the opposite to matter messes with my head. The power source there is incredible and even I was impressed by the prospect of six pounds resulting in centuries' worth of solar power equivalent to a sun. No wonder Sorenson was so desperate to maintain his studies and findings. These kind of riches weren't to be sniffed at! I thought the pace of the book was really strong and whilst it did go a little quickly, the excitement was there. Maybe a little more room for development beyond what we saw on screen would have improved things, but that not being there didn't take anything away from the story. It was a terrific novelisation. I thought the dark atmosphere was very well captured and I must say you really do feel how many times the hatchways are opened and closed when reading! I thought the ending was pretty frantic with the Doctor chaining the multiplied anti-matter creatures, and the predictability of Sorenson leaving the anti-matter from within him behind was still good. I like the idea of a Time Lord promise holding sway with the anti-matter creature, although it's a missed opportunity to have not dived below the Black Pool. Overall, still a terrific read! 

Rating: 8/10