The Book Report #120
Episode #119
Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster by Terrance Dicks
The Book
First published in Great Britain by Target Books, an imprint of Tandem Publishing Ltd, and, at the same time, Allan Wingate Ltd in 1976.
My copy is a first-print paperback from 1976 with 128 pages and a page to send off for a catalogue of more books in the collection.
I also used a digital copy when not at home.
What Did I Think?
This book is a novelisation from the series of the same title, starring Tom Baker as the Doctor. Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan, as the companions of the Doctor.
They were on their way to another adventure, in the Tardis. When Brigadier Leftbridge Stewart called them back for help with dealing with a problem in Scotland, near Loch Ness.
Oil platforms are being destroyed, with many lives lost. They don’t know how or why it is happening or how to deal with it.
U.N.I.T (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce), the people who help stop threats foreign, domestic, and beyond. Want to deal with this as quickly as possible, and they are hoping the Doctor can help them find a solution.
Of course, the Doctor will help, but he will do it his way and not worry about what the Brigadier wants.
The Zygons are involved. Morphing themselves into key people around the area and taking control of their beast, the Loch Ness Monster.
It turns out, Nessy is an alien as well. An alien pet that has been groomed to cause destruction.
Harry is captured by the Zygons, but doesn’t give in to the fear or the boasts from the Zygon leader. This does frustrate the leader to no end.
Even with the casualness of the Doctor, this is still very much a British stiff-upper-lip era TV Show. And I love it.
The story was a nice experience, as it is with most Doctor Who novels. There is a difference in style between the classic and the modern eras. And for the most part, I do prefer the classic era books.
Mr Dicks brings the show together in this book. Reading this book after years of watching the episodes brings it all back as if I were watching it again.
Would I Recommend?
If you are a fan of the show, you want to read some original works. Or just in need of some classic sci-fi. Then yes, I would recommend it.
The modern era could take some cues from the classic show.
Please give this book a go.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
