The Daleks

Review: The MP3-CD audiobook of the first Doctor Who novel.

What's the best thing you could release on the eve of Doctor Who being reborn on television? Why, the first three stories in a DVD boxset, of course. As that's not happening, BBC Audiobooks have offered us something that may be even more magical.

David Whitaker's novelisation of the first Dalek story is simply the definitive Doctor Who book, taking the best of early Doctor Who and polishing it until it gleams. Out goes all that caveman nonsense, and we leap straight from a magnificently eerie Barnes Common car crash to the radiation wastes of Skaro.

Ian and Barbara become even stronger on the page – both wasted on their middling little lives, challenged for the first time by the Doctor and Susan. Significantly, it is Susan who vanishes into the background, the story having little need of her after the first chilling pages. It's a brave children's book that ignores its only childå and a brave TV show.

William Russell's narration is a thing of wonder. The unfamiliar voice takes a little getting used to (Ian, is that really you?) but age allows Russell to not only tell the story of Chesterton, but also to bring Whitaker's crabby old genius Doctor to malevolent life.

It's the perfect companion for a long winter afternoon, unfolding at a steady, thoughtful pace, as Whitaker takes every opportunity to fill in bits of Doctor Who lore that you'd have to be brave to contradict. His fascination with ûThe Shipú especially resonates, as he spends as much time as he dares in its wondrous corridors, filled with food machines, fault locators and power showers (charmingly, Ian worries about the Doctor's electricity bill).

When we eventually emerge onto Skaro, Whitaker's retelling of the first Dalek story is clever, taking every opportunity to elaborate and magnify – an almost fairytale Dalek City is surrounded by proper sea monsters, and contains endless corridors, breathtaking sculpture and a glass Dalek.

Whitaker's settling of scores with the TV version neatly removes almost every trace of Richard Martin (the limescale deposit of Doctor Who directors) – the struggle through the caves is gripping, and the ending makes sense. A lot of sense. Well, apart from the Glass Dalek turning the fluid link into jewelleryå but who's to quibble with a neat image?

This is a wonderful reading of an unbeatable book, iced with charming reminiscences from Russell, and a classic cover by Chris Achilleos (a timely reminder for those of us still reeling from his recent SFX Who stipple horror that the man was great). The only thing lacking is Tristram Cary's music, replaced with random floor sweepings from the Look Around You studio, that do actually grow on you.

Anyway – marvel at this release, and pray for others. Technology may not be quite ready for the MP3-CD (an unportable fiddle if you don't have an iPOD), but do make this the first one you buy.

lawrence
I was there to watch it all at the start as a 9 year old and it remains as possibly the finest piece of television drama ever made for it's time .Time travel 10 years forward and I picked up the Armada paperback for 10p at a local jumble sale.It was a winter night and I could not stop reading David Whitakers'superb tale. It was a winter dawn when I left Skaro. It is fantastic,all these years later,at 48,to think of William Russell telling it from his point of view.Buy it,you will love it.

dr who crazy
I can't believe it is coming out on cd! I've seen the film, but not read the book.This will be a good addition to my slowly growing dr who collection.

James Dowling
Wow... takes me right back to when I first read this book aged 7. Do The Crusaders next!!!! Off to the spare room to dig out my old books....

James Dean
Its brilliant I loved it Doctor Who never fails to impress me, DOCTOR WHO RULES

Andy Moore
Does no one else think that, at £19.99 RRP, this is just a little steep for a re-packaging of some forty-year-old content?

Tim Gebbels
Having just gone out and bought my copy of The Daleks as an audio MP3 release, I'd like to say how wonderful it is the novelisations of the original TV scripts are getting a fresh commercial outing. More please very soon. What about The Crusaders or The Cybermen or The Deadly Assassin, in fact, any of the original Target novelisations. As a blind fan, I particularly welcome an audio, UNABRIDGED format.

Jay
I have ben a huge Docotor Who fan for ages, as well as a very huge DALEK fan. I can't wait till this is avaialble for purchase here in the states. I have the MP# version of DAELK MASTER PALN, and this one sounds just as awesome. I aslo have the cd version of GENESIS OF THE DALEKS. One can only hope that Planet of the Daleks which I have on audio cassette, will soon follow on audio cd or mp3 audio. May the Daleks continue to Exterminate in our dreams.

Cavan Scott
And there was I promising not to spend any money on Who this month. Ah well, can't wait to hear it!

Steve Thrower
The short extract I've heard confirms that this disc is an essential purchase. Thank-you everyone who made it happen, and a special, heartfelt thank-you to William Russell - Ian was a marvellous character on screen and now, with a new series just around the corner, Mr Russell effortlessly recaptures the spell of those early days. His reading of David Whitaker's vivid prose has reached back into my memories and reminds me just how thrilling and magical those old Target books could be...

Derek J. Kettlety
Just played the sample and I cannot wait for my copy to arrive. This promises to be great listening. Any chance of getting William Russell to start another recording?

Michael Sky
William Russell really adds something with his voice.

Ryan
Great release. Long overdue. I had given up hope it would ever happen but finally it is! Bring on the Whitaker sequel Doctor Who and The Crusaders.

Paul Morgan
Wow! Heard the extract and was captivated. Always loved this book and really looking forward to hearing the whole story from Ian himself

Glen Allen
My first thought on hearing the clip was "good grief he sounds ever so old" but as I listened some more and he got quite excited in bits I was taken back to the fog of 63! (Err even though I wasn't born then, thank you!) I'd love some more like this

Tony Clark
Alister, I'm so pleased the BBC didn't use your cover, the Chris Achilleos cover is so much a part of the history of the book. I is a fantastic idea to get William to read the book. Let us have a 3rd Doctor/Brigadier story read by Nick Courtney next !

Jonathan Witchell
Its brilliant that this first Dalek story is being released on audio from the point of view of Ian. This adds a bit of flavour to the releases, giving the story's narration from the first person. The extract kindly provided by the BBC is excellent, with William Russell performing different accents with excellence, to distinguish each character, and the incidental music betwen each scene sounds great! I can't wait to listen to the full story, and I hope more like this are released soon!

dalek dude
I am only 12 years old and am captivated by doctor who, the ideas it brought, the advetures it gave and the pure tingle of excitment i get when i hear the theme tune rolling up. After listening to those small 3 minutes of magic i am desperate to get a copy, i have ths story ( like most) on video but really want to hear the rest of the story from Ians view point. I agree totally with INSLI forget Harry Potter and Lord of the rings, Doctor Who has and still does beat them every day (p.s I cant wait till the new series!!!)

Gareth Stafford
It's a grate idea to have Russ read this novel, but why oh why exclusively on mp3?? Some of us have only got ordinary CD players!

Graeme Burk
Aside from that TV show thingie, this has been the Doctor Who thing I've most looked forward to since I heard of its release. Hearing the excerpt, I was instantly transported back to reading it for the first time in my friend's apartment in 1984. It was the first Doctor Who book I ever read and I still think it's one of the finest. To actually be able to hear Ian's narration now is thrilling. And the excerpt has not disappointed-- William Russell is older, but he's still delightful and the sound effects/treatment are well done.

Paul Kinnear
VERY evocative - THE DALEKS is one of the few times Terry Nation produced a decent story & script yet David Whitaker still managed to improved on it immensely - Reading it was an experience in itself and to listen to this reading on a dark Winter's night will give me goosebumps. Can't wait...

Philip Frey
I think it's too bad they aren't using the original title, "Doctor Who In An Exciting Adventure With The Daleks" as originally announced. But I quess they think the title is too cumbersome. I have the 'Tales from the TARDIS' collections and enjoy them immensely. I hope this does well and more classic Who audiobooks are in the offing. (I'm not that interested in the NA/EDA/PDA stuff. A lot of it has language and situations inappropriate for Doctor Who's target audience.)

Alister Pearson
Chris Achilleos's book cover is, of course, a classic - but mine ( the 90s reprint edition ) did, at least, feature Ian. I'd have been very flattered if they had chosen mine instead!! Next time, guys...

Peter Harness
Michael Stevens and the BBC Audio teams are stars! Thanks for so many great releases!

Will Thompson
Looking forward to hearing this. Using Chris Achilleos's artwork is a nice touch and really takes me back to when I first read it as a kid.

Kenny Trubshaw
A great actor reading a great book - what could be better? Thank you BBC Worldwide for making it happen!

Colin John Francis
If Tom Baker can be persuaded, Louise Jameson and a new actor could be found to take the part of the third role, I suggest the BBC's own book, "Eye of Heaven" be issued as an unabridged MP3-CD reading too. After all, this too is told in first person narrative (from three charcters different viewpoints). As for the Target range, the only other first person novelisations to make this exercise worthwhile (as all the other stories will be out on DVD or BBC Audio in their original form) are The Gunfighters, The Romans and The Myth Makers. Ideally I'd like to hear readings of the past Virgin and BBC Books on the MP3 range (or if BBC Audio poushes the budget, full cast dramatisations of some of the past Virgin/BBC Books). My first candidate would be Paul McGann reading "Vampire Science".

Paul Davidson
I love spoken word, and this is my favouite Doctor Who novel, so being able to hear it in it's entirety will be fantastic. And I have just recently bought a personal CD player that plays MP3 discs, so I shall be able to fall asleep whilst listening to it at night (and not because it's boring).

time lord one
its good to see that old doctor who is still out there for the kids of today weather its on c.d dvd or videos thanks bbc keep up the good work.

johnny
good im glad that they can manage to piece together these lost classics as someone who wasnt here the last time around to appreciate them! I will be interested to seet the finished result

Roxy
I've been impression by stuff that William Russell has done before (both on "Lost in Time" and audio narrations). Looking forward to this release.

Steve Corke
Cant wait to hear William Russell bringing to life this classic adventure!

Alan R. Dobbie
Given that the original book was seen from Ian's point of view, this will be intertesting to hear him telling us the story from his viewpoint. After his introduction to 'The Crusade', this bodes well for potential future releases!

INSLI
The first Who novel I read (The Armada version, back in '73) and still my favourite. From the spooky start in the mist on the common, through to Ian lamping the glass dalek with the crowbar, it rattles along at a fair old pace and stands head and shoulders above both the film and TV versions. Give a copy to an 10 year old Harry Potter fan and they'll be lost for the rest of the day... Can't wait to hear it.

• Listen to the extract
  
• Doctor Who and the Daleks at the BBC Shop
  

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