Just something that might interest a few of you, probably the older ones out there...

A discussion on another thread raised the name of Terrance Dicks, and the Target novelisations he produced. That got me wondering...

Most of us have probably read at least one of these, and chances are it was one he wrote. So...

What was your first ever Doctor Who book?

Mine, as you've probably guessed by now, was Web of Fear. I thought it was brilliant!

Brain of Morbius, it was tremendous! My nan's sheltered accomodation ha bd alibrary which had pretty much the whole set of fourth dr and some fifth novelisations, they were great all of them!

Your post got me thinking!

I remember going down to the library quite a lot a getting out hardback Doctor Who's. The first one I remember was the Dalek Invasion of Earth - which I made my poor old Gran read to me about a dozen times - though it has to be said that she did a very passable impression of a dalek!

The cover as well, very distinctive, with the Roboman on the front cover alongside a red dalek as I remember.

Ahh...happy times!

Um, the first one...not sure I remember. Maybe Terror of the Autons. It had an illustration of that horrible little doll in it that scared me to death. I read dozens of them when I was younger. They are often awesome. I remember reading one, a Cyberman story, that made me late for school as I was so gripped by it.

Snap

My brother had 'Dr Who and the Zarbi' but he said it was rubbish so I never read it.

The first one I can remember reading was Doctor Who & the Daleks, the reissue of the first novelisation. The Crusaders and The Zarbi were early ones too, as were The Web of Fear and The Cave Monsters. Then I discovered my local library had a lot of the WH Allen hardbacks and just read and re-read them endlessly. I bought most of them from the library when it shut down in the early eighties and still have them, and a lot of my original paperbacks. Treasured possessions.

My first book was "Doctor Who and the Daleks", borrowed from the school library. It was the hardback, possibly published by White Lion or something like that. Probably be around 1978/1979

Also came across "The Cave Monsters" (Silurians) about the same time.

Later in the same library, I found "The Zarbi", but by then I was a member of the Public Library, which had a decent range of Doctor Who books (mostly hardbacks).

There used to be a school 'Bookworm' book club where you could purchase books. I seem to remember the catalogues had "The Loch Ness Monster", and later on, "Destiny of the Daleks".

Exciting stuff, considering repeats were extremely few and far between.

The kids these days don't know they're born.

I think it was Doctor Who and Giant Robot. The The Daleks, and The Zarbi were next.

I bought nearly all of them over the years and I still have them now

But we had imagination! I used to enjoy the books I read more than the serials themselves as in my imagination there were no crappy actors or dodgy monsters

Showing my age, but my first one was "Dr. Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks" by David Whittaker (The original print). Pity I haven't got it now.

Doctor who and the Daleks. Then I found the Zarbi book and the Crusade. Then a long wait until Auton Invasion and Doctor Who and the Cybermen ( Moonbase ). God those were sweet happy innocent times - Absolutely loved those books.

You guys are massaging my nostalgia glands (if that's not an entirely inappropriate metaphor...)

Yeah, the libraries, the WH Allen hardbacks, being told off by the librarian because apparently I wasn't technically allowed to return The Deadly Assassin on the same day I checked it out, even though I'd read it in one sitting...

Dr. Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks... I have a second print of this in hardback (Muller)

I also have The Crusaders in Green Dragon!

The point about imagination is well made... those books really fired mine, made me want to read, and (more importantly) made me want to read more Doctor Who!

I had to read The Zarbi again as an adult, having failed to get into it as a boy.

And the cover for Dalek Invasion of Earth comes from the Peter Cushing film rather than the actual show, as I think there was a shortage of available images at the time (just to prove what a geek I am...)

My first book was from the latest series with Nine in the story. The Clockwork Man.

My first classic book was Web of Fear though and I also have Terror of the Zygons but think it may have been called something else.

I've just got some Doctor Who annuals, including the first one from 1965 and two Pertwee ones which I'm thrilled about.

The Target version of 'Horns of Nimon' was another favourite of mine as was 'Planet of Evil' (although that had a scary front cover, that thing with long hair and pointy teeth).

The new series books are generally good quality, I think. Established writers who know what they're doing. Aimed at a juvenile audience (or should that be "Whovenile?), but still decent, even if you've got used to the New Adventures/BBC 8th Doctor style that plugged the gap.

Terror of the Zygons was written as The Loch Ness Monster. The Skarasen was alot more convincing on paper...

Yes they are generally good and easy to read. Some better than others. I haven't read any of the New Adventures although I'd like to, just never seen any about. I understand they are more adult versions of DW.

Yes that was it The Loch Ness Monster, one of my only two Target books but I'm working on my collection.

Doctor Who and the Doomsday weapon (AKA Colony in Space) was (I think) the first one I owned, probably had read some others before that.

Destiny of the Daleks, written and novelised by Tezza D

The New Adventures were published by Virgin. They lost the licence when the BBC took it back to produce a new range of 8th Doctor novels, so you'll only find them second hand these days. Some, especially Lungbarrow, had a very limited run at the end of their time, and go for relatively large sums on eBay. I got mine free because I phoned Virgin and the nice lady had a copy lying on her desk that she wasn't allowed to make any money from.

I think my first one was The Auton Invasion but I collected pretty much all of them when I was a kid.

I still have them and was only reading the The Web of Fear last night!

This gallery will bring back memories...

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galler...rwho-all-1.htm

Thanks for the link... brilliant! I own most of these, including the first two. My head says sell them, my heart says mine forever...

No idea which was my first book - it was nearly forty years ago
Web of fear was one of my faves though.

Was it the first time we met the Brigadier?

Yes, but he was a colonel back then, and UNIT didn't exist

Mine was The Keeper of Traken, with Nyssa looking all dramtic on the cover.
I remember my cousin looking at it and saying in disgust 'The Doctor looks all girly!'

I can then remember buying 'Dr Who and the Cybermen' from the exibition in Blackpool, mistakenly thinking it was the book version of Earthshock (that hadn't long been on TV) - imagine my disappointment getting home to find the story not going on about some people called Jamie, Polly and Ben, but that there was about 20 pages missing in the middle!!!