Doctor Who: Final two novelizations of the Classic Series coming this year!

Later this year, two gaps in the novelizations of Classic Doctor Who stories will finally be filled with both Resurrection and Revelation of the Daleks!

The Target novelizations have always been popular with Doctor Who fans. This was due to two crucial reasons. The first was that, long before the age of digital, DVD or even home video, these books were the only way to experience classic stories that you might have missed on television.

The second reason, however, and why these novelizations have continued to endure, are the unique takes they give us on stories we already know. These novelizations did tell the original TV stories. But they could also add so much more. They could add more characters, more depth – even more violence!

These are core reasons why Target books have seen a revival in the past few years. In fact, even a few New Series stories have been adapted, including Rose and The Day of the Doctor. Both of these provided fresh takes on episodes we knew inside and out.

However, while most of the Classic Series has been adapted by this point, there are still two gaps left in the collection of novelizations. Both of them are Eighties Dalek stories: Resurrection of the Daleks with the Fifth Doctor, and Revelation of the Daleks with the Sixth. Neither of these stories have ever been adapted into books.

Until now.

Revelation of the Daleks, one of Colin Baker’s strongest stories on television, is finally being adapted as a novel.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/BBC. Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

Resurrecting two classics

Later this year, hardback editions of both Resurrection and Revelation of the Daleks will finally be released. And they’re going to be handled by the writer of the original stories: Eric Saward.

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I’m not sure which novelization I’m looking forward to more. Revelation is one of my favorite Dalek stories. It’s darker and bleaker than your standard Doctor Who serial. But it is also incredibly hilarious and quotable at times, too. Orcini in particular has one of my favorite quotes in Doctor Who history:

"Only fools would take the risks I do!"

However, while I’m not as keen on the original television story, I can’t help but wonder if Resurrection will benefit more from the novelization. The best thing about these books is that writers can – and often have – gone in their own direction, rather than sticking too closely to the transmitted version of the story.

Enriching the stories

This is especially true of writers who’ve adapted their own work. Remembrance of the Daleks is an absolutely brilliant story on television, and one of my all-time favorites.

But when Ben Aaronovitch adapted his own story, he was able to add so much more detail and flesh it out so much more. He included brand new scenes and stronger hints of the Doctor’s past. If you’ve seen the original television story but haven’t read the novel, do so, because it’s brilliant.

Will Eric Saward take the same approach with adapting Resurrection? Will he add core details to the story and its characters so that it flows better? It’ll be exciting to find out.

Resurrection of the Daleks will be published in hardcover on July 18th, 2019. Revelation of the Daleks will later follow on November 14th, 2019. Paperback copies will eventually be published in 2020.

Are you a fan of either of these stories? Which adaptation are you looking forward to more? Are you pleased that these two classics are finally being novelized? Let us know in the comments below.