The Companions of Doctor Who
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The first full-length original Doctor Who-related novels appeared in 1986 when Target launched a series of books titled The Companions of Doctor Who which were original works focusing on the Doctor's former assistants. The first two books were Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma by Tony Attwood, published in July 1986 based upon the character played by Mark Strickson in the early 1980s and Harry Sullivan's War written by Ian Marter, who had actually played Harry Sullivan on the series a decade earlier, published in October 1986. These books sold well, but after a third attempt (a 1987 novelisation of the 1981 Doctor Who spin-off, K-9 and Company) the series ended due to rights disputes between the publishers and the BBC.[citation needed] Other novels would have featured Tegan, the Brigadier, Victoria and Mike Yates.
Contents |
[edit] The Companions of Doctor Who
[edit] Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma
| Doctor Who book | |
|---|---|
| Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma | |
| Series | The Companions of Doctor Who |
| Release number | 1 |
| Featuring | Vislor Turlough |
| Writer | Tony Attwood |
| Publisher | Target Books |
| ISBN | 0426202244 |
| Set between | after Planet of Fire |
| Followed by | 'Harry Sullivan's War' |
"My Companions novel Turlough and The Earthlink Dilemma got a very similar reaction to that of Blake's 7: Afterlife. The committed fans did not like it at all. Some of the people who just watched the series and who took the trouble to write, were more complimentary. But I began to think maybe the fans were right, and I just shouldn't be trying to write in this little niche of TV continuation that I had carved out for myself." Tony Attwood, The Official Dr Who Website, May 2002
[edit] Harry Sullivan's War
| Doctor Who book | |
|---|---|
| Harry Sullivan's War | |
| Series | The Companions of Doctor Who |
| Release number | 2 |
| Featuring | Harry Sullivan |
| Writer | Ian Marter |
| Publisher | Target Books |
| ISBN | 0426202503 |
| Set between | ten years after Terror of the Zygons |
| Preceded by | 'Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma' |
| Followed by | 'K-9 and Company' |
"Writing Harry Sullivan's War was something Ian had wanted to do for a long time. It's great fun novelising other people's material but it can also be extremely frustrating. I never ceased to be amazed by the wealth of original and intelligent ideas Ian would come up with... Ian had a very good sense of what makes a rattling good yarn and for him the Harry book was a godsend, giving him the chance to create original characters and plotlines while at the same time producing a highly entertaining story." Target editor Nigel Robinson in "A Tribute to Ian Marter", 'TARDIS' (volume 11, number 4), Winter 1987
[edit] K-9 and Company
| Doctor Who book | |
|---|---|
| K-9 and Company | |
| Series | The Companions of Doctor Who |
| Release number | 3 |
| Featuring | K-9 Sarah Jane Smith |
| Writer | Terence Dudley |
| Publisher | Target Books |
| ISBN | 0426203097 |
| Set between | after The Hand of Fear |
| Preceded by | 'Harry Sullivan's War' |
