A review by lokster71
Doctor Who: Revelation of the Daleks by Eric Saward
3.0
So, Revelation of the Daleks.
Firstly, a passing chat about the television story. It's one of my favourites and one of the Colin Baker era's best. Even as it becomes obvious that Eric Saward doesn't seem to like The Doctor much and pushes him to the periphery of the story. But overall it is a delightful story, with an odd tone: 'Soylent Green' meets 'The Loved One'. The sort of fusion that only Doctor Who really does.
However, what of the book? Well, it's OK. Saward's novelization of 'Resurrection of the Daleks' was a disappointment and perhaps because of that, I had lower expectations of this book, which helped. There are changes to the televised version, particularly one extra character and a whole Dalek army who I suspect a mid-80s budget couldn't stretch to.
And, sadly, the oddity of some of the characters is lost without the performances. Jobel's sex pest creepiness isn't quite as uncomfortable on the page for example. Nor is Tasambeker quite the same without Jenny Tomasin's strange line readings. You can't help but see scenes from the book through your memories of the television series, which I've watched far too many times.
I do like the ending AFTER the TV story's ending [SPOILER], with its suggestion that the Doctor and Peri don't just go back to the TARDIS in the immediate aftermath of the events and stay for a little while to help the people of Tranquil Repose re-build. I always think the speed the Doctor does a runner after over-throwing a civilization is not an endearing habit.
So, not a bad novelization of a story I like, but not up to the standards of some of the recent Target novelizations of 'New' Doctor Who stories.
Firstly, a passing chat about the television story. It's one of my favourites and one of the Colin Baker era's best. Even as it becomes obvious that Eric Saward doesn't seem to like The Doctor much and pushes him to the periphery of the story. But overall it is a delightful story, with an odd tone: 'Soylent Green' meets 'The Loved One'. The sort of fusion that only Doctor Who really does.
However, what of the book? Well, it's OK. Saward's novelization of 'Resurrection of the Daleks' was a disappointment and perhaps because of that, I had lower expectations of this book, which helped. There are changes to the televised version, particularly one extra character and a whole Dalek army who I suspect a mid-80s budget couldn't stretch to.
And, sadly, the oddity of some of the characters is lost without the performances. Jobel's sex pest creepiness isn't quite as uncomfortable on the page for example. Nor is Tasambeker quite the same without Jenny Tomasin's strange line readings. You can't help but see scenes from the book through your memories of the television series, which I've watched far too many times.
I do like the ending AFTER the TV story's ending [SPOILER], with its suggestion that the Doctor and Peri don't just go back to the TARDIS in the immediate aftermath of the events and stay for a little while to help the people of Tranquil Repose re-build. I always think the speed the Doctor does a runner after over-throwing a civilization is not an endearing habit.
So, not a bad novelization of a story I like, but not up to the standards of some of the recent Target novelizations of 'New' Doctor Who stories.