[Susan Foreman]

TARGET Book releases #3 - The Crusaders

'Doctor Who and the Crusaders' by David Whittaker, was the third (and last) of the original trilogy of Doctor Who novelisations published in the mid-1960s, years prior to the launch of the Target novelisation range. It was based on the 1965 television serial 'The Crusade'. The 1965 first edition was the first Doctor Who novel to include an image of the TARDIS on the cover. It was also the first novelisation cover to not depict the Doctor. It would be more than a decade before this would happen again



Back cover summation (original 1965 edition)

"From unknown Space, the Tardis returns to Earth, but not to the world Ian and Barbara know. The little blue telephone box has wheeled sharply in the cosmos and cut back through the pattern of history to the struggle between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, Crusader v. Saracen.

When Barbara is captured by the Saracens and later kidnapped by the monstrous El Akir, Ian appeals to Richard for help, but despite having achieved a splendid victory over Saladin at Arsuf the English King has his own troubles and cannot assist him. So Ian sets out to rescue Barbara alone, while the Doctor becomes involved in court intrigues.

In a dramatic climax, Ian finds himself fighting for his life in the harsh, cruel world of the twelfth century, where only the cleverest and strongest survive.

Readers of Doctor Who's adventure with the Daleks and Doctor Who and the Zarbi will find here all the excitement that made those books firm favourites with youngsters of all age groups."

The book was republished by Target Books in 1973



Back cover summation (1973 Target version)

"Back on Earth again, Tardis lands DOCTOR WHO and his friends into the midst of the harsh, cruel world of the twelfth-century Crusades. Soon the adventurers are embroiled in the conflict between Richard the Lionheart and the Sultan Saladin, ruler of the warlike Saracens.

`They're well-written books-adventure stories, of course, but with some thought...the creation of the character of the Doctor had a touch of genius about it.' Westminster Press "

Chapter titles

* Prologue

1. Death in the Forest
2. The Knight of Jaffa
3. A New Scheherazade
4. The Wheel of Fortune
5. The Doctor in Discrace
6. The Triumph of El Akir
7. The Will of Allah
8. Demons and Sorcerers

Differences from the televised story

• Mention is made of a trip to Tyron.
• Barbara and Vicki play Martian Chess in the TARDIS at the start of the novel.
• The Doctor has a lengthy discussion with Ian about altering time and the rights and wrongs in the universe.
• David Campbell, whom Susan Foreman left the TARDIS in The Dalek Invasion of Earth to marry, is referred to in the opening chapter of this novelisation as "David Cameron"
• Ferrigo is killed by Saladin's soldiers while trying to flee the palace.
• The Doctor flees the court after Richard accuses him of giving away his plan to Joanna, rather than Richard realising the Doctor is innocent as in the television version.
• El Akir manages to inflict several strokes of his lash on Barbara before Ian rescues her.
• El Akir is strangled and then thrown against a wall so a blow on the head kills him, rather than stabbed, by Haroun

Writing and publishing notes

• In 1973, this novel, along with the two preceding Frederick Muller books, was reprinted by Target Books, launching its long-running line of novelisations.
• The hardback edition illustrations were retained.
• Quickly sold out of the first 20,000 copies and was reprinted.
• Title page of the Target edition includes: “THE CHANGING FACE OF DOCTOR WHO. The cover illustration and others contained within this book portray the first DOCTOR WHO whose physical appearance was later transformed when he discarded his worn-out body in favour of a new one.”
• The 2011 edition features an introduction by Charlie Higson, best known for writing the Young Bond novel series, focusing on the adventures of a teenaged James Bond. He later wrote the Ninth Doctor eshort The Beast of Babylon.