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The Target Book: A History Of The Target Doctor Who Books by David Howe
01/12/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Telos. 169 page illustrated softcover. Price: £19.99 (UK), $39.95 (US), $49.95 (CAN). $49.95 (Australia/New Zealand). ISBN: 978-1-84583-021-2. Buy A History Of The Target Doctor Who Books in the USA - or Buy A History Of The Target Doctor Who Books in the UK  check out website: www.telos.co.uk
Frankly, I wasn't sure want to expect when I put my name down for a review copy of a book about the Target run of 'Doctor Who' novelisations. I mean, what would it cover outside of production releases and book covers. Yes, it does have these but in many respects this is two books in one with a lot more content than you would think.
The main section charters the rise of Target Books and how they published all that they could from the BBC1 TV series. Like all publishing ventures, the novelisations started off slow and tentatively until the market was established and built from it. In many respects, it also looked like a lucky accident of being there at the right time and getting the right people involved, like Terrance Dicks who wrote so many of them. There is also a lot given about the publishing system itself. The editing staff certainly knew what they were about, but successive generations of management also reflect that they knew less about what they were doing which no doubt contributed to them being bought out by other companies. If you ever thought publishing houses, especially in the old days, had grandiose offices would have been very disappointed where they were stashed a lot of the time.
The other aspect of the book covers biographical details of all those who novelised and all the artists who painted the covers, together with photographs to show you what they looked like. I found this the most fun cos it finally put faces to names. I think this is part of the fan element. You look at these people to see what makes them tick beyond the written word.
Where the covers of the books are concerned, this is done in both large and small formats. At the back of the book there are several pages showing all the covers together. The main body of the book has many of them at a larger scale, occasionally with alternatives versions and pre-production sketches. Combining this with reasons why photographs were rarely used - fees to actors being too expensive for the budget, although no explanation why Fraser Hines didn't want one - and why only the current Doctor's likeness was used on books during each of their tenure.
In the days before video and DVD and repeats infrequent, novelisations, were the only way to re-live the adventures or researtch. I had a few of these books myself. Still do in the attic. When I was researching for an article for 'Dr. Who Magazine', I ended up adding many of them looking for a particular reference. They are a major asset even today, especially as so many of the stories have still to be released on DVD, not to mention many of the early Troughton stories lost.
If you own the Target books then you will find this book informative and a useful reference and I heartily recommend you get a first edition.
GF Willmetts
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