Doctor Who: The Star Beast (Target Collection): 4 (Doctor Who Target Novels – New Era, 4)

great library addition

The episode was an affectionate tribute to a favourite Doctor Who comic strip, making the point that just because a creature is cute and furry, that does NOT mean it's a good guy. The Doctor has for some reason regenerated into the 10th, i.e. David Tennant. Donna did indeed win the Lottery as he intended...but she gave it away! This is some 15 years after the Metacrisis, and Donna has had Rose, who finds a creature calling itself the Meep. The Meep is being hunted by insectoids...but all is not as it appears. A brilliant intro for UNIT's latest Scientific Adviser - Shirley's in a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her! A faithful adaptation of a terrific episode!

Originating as a comic strip before going on to receive both audio and television adaptions and then this novelisation, ‘The Star Beast’ is possibly the most covered Doctor Who story across multiple media platforms. It is a story that definitely deserves it.Beginning life within the pages of Doctor Who Weekly in 1980, ‘The Star Beast’ was a stupendous comic strip. As one of my personal favourite comic book stories of all time, I was overjoyed to hear that it was to be made into a television episode. Inevitably, though, and as probably expected considering how incredible the original comic was, the television version couldn’t quite live up to it. However, it was still thoroughly enjoyable. And much the same can be said for this novelisation based upon it.There is little here that differs from that seen onscreen and this is a capable and faithful novelisation that adequately captures the feeling and atmosphere of that televised. This, of course, also means it is somewhat subject to much the same criticisms that could be levelled at that episode.Obviously changes to the original story were to be expected, and, more or less, they worked okay. Certainly, David Tennant’s version of the Doctor works almost as well as Tom Baker’s within the context of the story.The main flaw, perhaps, of the televised version is that it felt somewhat rushed. The confines of episode length and the continual hectic pace didn’t quite allow for enough development and subsequently the reveal of the Meep’s true nature wasn’t as impactful.The story is allowed time to breathe a little better in this novelisation, although not particularly in any major way as it is quite loyal to that seen onscreen.There is a little bit more to a couple of characters, mainly Sylvia and Stew Fergusson (the novelisation opening with material from his perspective and returning to it throughout). And, thankfully, like the original comic, there is a touch of the internal musings of the Meep. There is also a slight increase in the presence of Fudge, but unlike in the comic his role still seems somewhat incidental.There are a few added interludes between chapters that appear as such things as letters, documents or text messages. These offer a bit more depth but aren’t greatly relevant or add much to the story. Instead, they are, perhaps, a little distracting.Some little nods to the wider ‘Whoniverse’ are included, such as mentioning ‘Planet of the Dead’s Malcolm. The most notable of these are the brief references to Sharon, the character in the original comic strip that was left out of the televised version in favour of Rose Noble.As a novelisation this does its job well. It is an enjoyable way to relive the episode and the re-imagination of the story, as well as the greatness of Beep the Meep.

Doctor Who - The Star Beast, written by Gary Russell, expands on the original special, broadcast on BBC television, and includes documents like a communication from the Ministry Of Defence, a memo from UNIT's Scientific Adviser's Office and an article from The Shadow Proclamation, to name but a few. The story is divided into 7 chapters, the first six averaging around 20 pages in length, making them the perfect length to read at an easy pace. The cover illustration is by Anthony Dry and his artwork is designed to compliment the original style of artwork covers which adorned all the earlier Target Doctor Who novelisations. The perfect addition to the Doctor Who library.

loved every second just as much as I did on tv if not more cannot wait to read more soon

Brilliant

I got the book for my 27th birthday yesterday (26 /04/24 ) the star beast introduces Donna noble with her memory restored ,ruining the doctors tardis and bits that aren’t in the film will Donna survive ?

Continuing with my reading of the Target novelisations, we come to the first of the 60th anniversary specials to be adapted for the range, The Star Beast. Given that the story is the soapiest of the three celebratory instalments, Gary Russell is an apt choice of author for the tale: kitchen-sink melodrama with aliens and more continuity references than you can poke a stick at is basically his stock in trade when it comes to writing for Doctor Who.This is reflected in his sympathetic take on the regulars: Donna, of course, even the recently regenerated Doctor to an extent; but Sylvia especially, who struggles with having to maintain her role as the resident harridan in her daughter's life lest she stray too close to the truth that could destroy her. Even before that, however, it manifests itself in a sort of everyman character exclusive to the paperback version of the story, one Stewart Ferguson. He enjoys more of the page count and more character insight than just about anybody or anything else in the novel, being on the shorter side as it is.I do wonder whether the slimline nature of the adaptation was a result of the comparatively short time Russell had to write it. (That might also explain why the first chapter, which I suspect may have been the last to be penned, features so many typos. Honestly, I had Resurrection of the Daleks flashbacks.) Then again, the episode as televised lends itself to a compact retelling, and the author provides a pacy take on it which keeps the pages turning. Having said that, he wisely intersperses the main text with asides in the form of UNIT memos and other communiques, one of which is likely to fuel further speculation about a protagonist lurking on the fringes of RTD's new master plan for the series.Overall, The Star Beast is an effective novelisation of the TV episode it's based on. The length and, ahem, target audience mean that Gary Russell's excesses rarely have a chance to manifest, nor does he play too fast or loose with the source material. He doesn't do anything to make more sense of it either, particularly towards the end, but if nothing else that makes it faithful to the original. A good start to this anniversary set of releases.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Doctor Who it's an awesome book to read . David Tennant is my favorite Doctor

It was an enjoyable story. It didn't take long to read. I read it before watching it like I did for most of the original series Doctor Who novelisations. Gary Russell is a good writer. I've read hundreds of Doctor Who novelisations, mostly of the original series. Now I'm getting into the new series, too.

This book is an amazingly accurate adaptation of The Star Beast. It faithfully captures the story while also adding additional tidbits of information. It’s a must read for any fan of the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials.

Great story