Evil of the Daleks

When the TARDIS is stolen from Gatwick Airport, the Doctor and Jamie must sleuth out who took it and where. However, the TARDIS is merely bait, to draw the Doctor and Jamie into a trap. Transported back to the 1860s, the intrepid duo finds themselves prisoners of the Daleks. The Daleks have grown tired of being defeated by the detestable humans, and they want the Doctor to give them the "human factor" that will allow them to finally triumph. What will the Doctor do, and what will be the result? "The Evil of the Daleks," starring Patrick Troughton, was first aired in 1967. Shortly thereafter, the original video recordings were wiped, destroying this program for all time. However, when it was first aired, some fans had made audio recordings of the episodes, and in 1993 this novel was produced from the soundtrack. This story introduces Victoria Waterfield to the Doctor, and is an excellent addition to the canon. It has great action in it, with the Daleks being excellently done, made even scarier than they are in the television show. Even having heard the audiobook version of the soundtrack, this book is a great addition, adding some detail and depth to the story. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

This is a masterful work of novelization. This story was supposed to be the last appearance of the Daleks on Doctor Who, because the creator of the Daleks, Terry Nation, wanted to start a series with them in America. The series didn't pan out, so the Docter's arch-enemies returned to where they became famous. This is also the story that Patrick Troughton ( the second Doctor)said he would return to play in a movie. John Peel used is great resources as a fan and historian of the program to get the most out of the retelling of this seven episode story of which only one episode survives. The story travels from London of 1960s to the English Coast of the 1860s to the Daleks home planet of Skaro to reach the final destruction of the Docter's greatest foes. It would not be the last Docter would see of the Daleks however, being a time traveler would meet the wicked creatures several times in wanderings through time and space.

Like its cousin, The Power Of The Daleks, the novelization for Evil Of The Daleks was also written by John Peel and is a story that's incomplete in TV form (except Episode 2). However, this is a very significant story in the Doctor Who canon, as this sees the very end of the Daleks. At least that's what it was meant, as Dalek creator Terry Nation was looking to market his creations in America, hence this story. Like the Power novel, is written so that it gives depth into the characters. This book is more effective, as there aren't many supporting characters that there were in Power.Following their adventures at Gatwick Airport, the Doctor and his companion Jamie are shocked to see someone steal the TARDIS. The Doctor is suspicious. Who would want to steal a time machine that has the outward appearance of an outdated British telephone box? "...whoever took it must have known exactly what they were stealing. Which means they must know who I am." he says.His suspicions prove right, as he and Jamie are whisked off to Victorian England, 2 July 1866. They meet Edward Waterfield, a professor, who with his financial backer and benefactor, the leonine bearded Theodore Maxtible, are under the thrall of the Daleks, who have kidnapped Waterfield's daughter Victoria."The conquest of humanity has eluded us. The Daleks must know why." The Doctor's task is to discover the human factor. To that end, he works at a series of instruments recording Jamie's thoughts on a capsule, as he sets out to rescue Victoria. "It is for you... to select the major emotions and thought processes to make up the human factor," he is told. Once finished, the factor will be transferred to the Daleks so they will become unbeatable, something the Doctor would rather die than do, but the Daleks have his time machine, plus he doesn't want to endanger Victoria's life, despite not having met her. The Doctor seems to sum up the kind of enlightened person he is when he tells the fiance of Maxtible's daughter, "I am not a student of human nature. I am a professor of a much wider academy, of which the human being is merely a part." His cleverness comes in at times when it looks like he's at a disadvantage, which makes the Second Doctor, with his dark Beatles mop-top, and impish smile, come alive.Jamie's nobility and bravery is one of the highlights Examples of the human factor are given by Jamie's rescue of Kemel, the muscular 6 and a half foot mute Turkish strongman initially told that Jamie is a murderer and to stop him. Kemel realizes his being deceived and aids Jamie in his quest.The reason I wish this story were available in TV form is that Daleks are seen acting human, calling the Doctor "friend" and playing trains with him. Another is the image of seeing the Daleks respond not with "I obey" but "Why?" That is what differentiates Daleks from humans, blind obedience versus questioning authority.Two things are in variance. The other is the timing of this story to other D

There is no doubt that the Daleks are the most popular and in some ways frightening enemy that the Doctor has ever encountered in his very long career. This story surpasses the original episodes in some ways, as it is not hamstrung by the budget limitations and technology of a BBC production of the 1960s but can take advantage of our "theatre of the mind", so to speak, and the author has taken the time to delve fairly deeply into the characters as well. Here we actually get to see what made the Daleks truly dangerous, both in technology and in their intelligence. The Emperor Dalek devises a truly terrifying plan to simultaneously rid itself of both the Doctor and the interference of humanity, while at the same time making use of the Doctor himself to advance the plan. Multiple layers of deception even trick the Doctor into very nearly outsmarting himself. This is one of the earlier adventures featuring Jamie, the longest-running and most popular male companion ever. The young Scotsman is well portrayed in this novel, unlike others that often make him out to be stupid, overly clueless, or sometimes even incompetent. Jamie is not stupid, and is within his limitations an exceedingly capable young man. He demonstrates this -- and in fact, his demonstration is critical to the plots on both sides. The writing is well paced, the characters clearly drawn, and the adventure proceeds with smooth and increasingly powerful pacing. This is one Doctor Who novel which belongs on any fan's shelf, and which can in fact stand on its own in any science-fiction collection. HIGHLY recommended. "EXTERMINATE!"

After reading POTD , found another Dalek book called EOTD. After finishing this book ,i found that this was even better then Power. Peel is great at Novelizions and this is his best. The Doctor is looking for his Tardis with has been stolen. In the end he finds that the daleks have taken it and he must obey them or die. The Plot of this book is full of suspense and is one of the best Patrick Troughton stores there was but only the 2nd episode out of 7 is left.Well done mr.Peel.