Robot, Caves of Androzani & Time Meddler Target Reprints Available

Three further Target reprints are available this month, Robot (renamed from Doctor Who and the Giant Robot) and The Caves of Androzani, both by Terrance Dicks, plus The Time Meddler by Nigel Robinson.

The Time Meddler

‘How do you think it would affect galactic history? Think of the tyrants of the Middle Ages; imagine them roaming the Universe!’

The TARDIS materializes on a deserted Northumbrian beach. The Doctor says that he and his two new companions have arrived in the eleventh century — but Steven finds a modern wristwatch in the nearby forest.

However, the year is AD 1066 and the Doctor’s arrival has been noticed by a mysterious monk who recognizes the TARDIS as a time machine and its owner as a threat to his carefully laid plans.

The Time Meddler was first broadcast in 1965 and starred William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the Doctor; it has recently been shown again on BBC2. This novelization is by Nigel Robinson, who has written a number of Doctor Who books including Timewyrm: Apocalypse, one of the New Adventures series.

Robot

‘Brigadier! It’s growing!’ screamed Sarah.

Still weakened by his third regeneration, the Doctor, along with Sarah, the Brigadier and Harry Sullivan, faces the threats made by a group of dissident scientists, including the icy Miss Winters, to enslave the world — or perhaps to destroy the planet entirely.

Written by Terrance Dicks and broadcast in 1974, this story was first published under the title The Giant Robot. It was the first television story ever to feature the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker — regarded by many as the definitive Doctor. Robot also introduced Harry Sullivan to the TARDIS crew.

The Caves of Androzani

Peri looked at the Doctor. ‘Now what do we do?’ The Doctor sighed. ‘Surrender,’ he said wearily and raised his hands.

From the moment they land on the planet Androzani Minor, everything goes wrong for the Doctor and Peri. They become involved in the struggle between brutal gun-runners, ruthless Federation troops and the hideously mutilated Sharaz Jek, who lurks in the depths of the caves with his android army.

The key to the struggle is spectrox, the most valuable substance in the Universe. Suitably processed, spectrox is an elixir of life, but in its raw state it kills.

Based on a television story written by Robert Holmes, The Caves of Androzani was the last adventure to feature the fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison.

All three books are available now from WH Smith and all other good book stockists.