Shada- Novelised!! Cover revealed!

[SiHart]

Blimey- didn't see this one coming!

BBC Books are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a novelisation of the great ‘lost’ Doctor Who serial Shada.

Shada retells an adventure that never made it to the screen. Production of the planned finale to the 1979-1980 season of Doctor Who was halted part-way through due to industrial action at the BBC, and the story was never completed.

Now, drawing on drafts of the script and production notes as well as original designs and the material that was completed, prolific Doctor Who TV script writer Gareth Roberts tells this unique story, featuring Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, in full for the first time.

Published with the full support of the Estate of Douglas Adams and Adams' agent Ed Victor at Ed Victor Ltd, Shada will be the first ever novelisation of Douglas Adams's work on Doctor Who.

Shada will be released in March 2012 as a hardback, priced £16.99.

So, is this paving the way for City of Death and The Pirate Planet and the 80s Saward Dalek stories?

Si xx

[Simon R]

Shame it's a year away.

I hope they do a retro style paper back so we can stick it in with the Targets.

[Si Hunt]

This story refuses to die!

If the DVD is cannily timed for next year to coincide (the reason for the delay?) and Ian Levine finishes his hilarious 'fake Tom Baker' version we could be treated to no less than three versions of this story next year!

Si.

[Perry Vale]

They could put out the McGann version too...

[Andrew Curnow]

Amazing news, totally unexpected. But hurrah!

[Rob McCow]

Yes, only a writer of the calibre of Gareth Roberts could take on such a task after they turned down every other Target writer in the 80's and 90's...

He'll probably do it quite well! He is very well suited to the late Tom style.

[SiHart]

Poor Steve! He;s very down on Doctor Who merchandise at the moment!

I'm was quite surprised to read this news. It's something I really didn't think woudl ever happen. Shada still has such a mystique around it and it's always going to be difficult to see any version as the definitive version, isn't it?

It should be a good read if nothing else, because Gareth Roberts has always had the knack of capturing what was special about this era in prose form. I can't think of anyone better for the job really, except perhaps Douglas Adams, but that's quite unlikely.

Si xx

[stuartdg]

Gareth Robert's Virgin Missin Adventures featuring the Season 17 TARDIS crew were great,so this should be an awesome read if done properly

[Simon R]

Let's hope he does The Pirate Planet too.

[SiHart]

And that Paris one too.

Si xx

[Si Hunt]

Gareth Roberts is perfect for this. I expect it to be a lavish treat.

Si.

[kevinwho]

£16.99? Are they kidding me?! Having grown up on the Target novelizations, I find it hard to wrap my brain around a price like that. And yet, even though I already have the script book that came with the videotape (which did not come with the video in the U.S., I had to hunt it down separately) and I already have the novelization from the New Zealand fan club (hunted that down too), the completist in me screams "must have, must have." Maybe I can at least hold out till the paperback release.

[Andrew Curnow]

That's the RRP, I feel sure nearer the time there'll be plenty of 30% off pre-order online bargains, or buy 2 get 1 free deals in Waterstones, etc. I can't imagine many people will end up paying the full £16.99 somehow!

[Terry Leptil]

I wonder if they could keep in line with the Target novels and number it 157 in the Target Library? Afterwards, if they do the other unnovelised stories, they could be 158, 159 etc.

[Rob McCow]

Sorry, I was a bit mean about Gareth Roberts. What I should have said was 'Thank F***! They could have chosen Eoin Colfer!!!'

Gareth may not be Douglas Adams, but he understands Douglas Adams and he understands Doctor Who. My only gripe is that he's not a well-recognised author outside of Doctor Who. He probably doesn't want to be; which is fine too.

The only person I can think of better placed to write this is Paul Magrs, but I know not everyone likes him.

[Stuart Wallis]

Sorry, I was a bit mean about Gareth Roberts. What I should have said was 'Thank F***! They could have chosen Eoin Colfer!!!'

A man after my own heart! Whether Gareth does a good job, we shall see...

[Si Hunt]

If the DVD is cannily timed for next year to coincide (the reason for the delay?) and Ian Levine finishes his hilarious 'fake Tom Baker' version we could be treated to no less than three versions of this story next year!

I forgot of course that the current vogue is for audiobook readings. Surely Tom will almost certainly perform an audiobook version of the "Shada" novel (there was even a CD of "Coming Of The Terraphiles" a similar, lavish "proper sci-fi" Who novel). Which means four versions next year!

Plus if Tom "speaks" all the Doctor lines in the audiobook, someone can rip them and edit them into Levine's recordings in the far future and produce the ultimate audio version!

Si.

[SiHart]

It's be typical is Tom decided not to do it and Lalla did it instead!

[SiHart]

Cover!

[Nyder]

Ah Shada! It's like the Doctor Who equivalent of The Beach Boys "SMiLE". At least we all know how to pronounce "Smile" :-)

[Andrew Curnow]

That's the cover? I don't get it?

[Martin Curnow]

That's the cover? I don't get it?

Glad you said that; me neither!

[SiHart]

I think it's supposed to tie in with some kind of Hitch Hikers covers or something.

[Jon Masters]

I think it's supposed to tie in with some kind of Hitch Hikers covers or something.

Hopefully they'll stick with that excuse because that looks crap.

[kevinwho]

Two words. Ug. Ly.

Obviously a HGttG nod hoping to reel in Adams fans that aren't necessarily Who fans, but it'll stick out like a sore thumb on a Who bookshelf.