The Second Doctor Who Monster Book

The Second Doctor Who Monster Book

"Here in the second DR WHO MONSTER BOOK is the story of the new Doctor in his fourth most exciting incarnation" claims the blurb on the back cover.

Which if you read it in a hurry, seems to imply that the first three incarnations were more exciting that the one that's on the telly now...

This one will cost you a whole 70p (mine still has the price sticker from Woolco) on it, but fans in Australia are asked to cough up a whole $2.55* for something that is noticeably dinkier than the previous volume.

Still, at least you can hold it in your hand in the bath this time.

Chris Achilleos provides the cover, featuring some of the main baddies you're going to meet in the next 60 or so pages, but it's only this morning that I've noticed how much make-up that Dalek seems to be wearing...

Its plunger is a cheery blue, contrasting with its gunstick which is yellower on the inside than we're used to. The one light you can see is orangey, which is fair enough, but the eyestalk is a vision in pink and yellow. There's a second Dalek opposite Tom Baker which is averting its gaze, staring intently at the logo above it, clearly not quite able to ask its chum whether maybe this paint job is a just little too colourful for someone who is meant to be subjugating the universe.

At least in the 1970s.

Season 12 still suffers from a very odd running order if you believe the way it's been presented here with 'Terror Of The Zygons (Loch Ness Monster)' as they call it, jammed ahead of 'The Revenge Of The Cybermen' and 'The Genesis Of The Daleks'. Apart from the annoying extra 'The's, poor old Harry really wouldn't have known whether he was coming or going if they'd used this as a tranmission order!

This one covers 'Robot' to 'The Talons Of Weng-Chiang' with Terrance Dicks providing the usual efficient and engaging text. Although Tom has now clocked up three seasons, it's interesting to note that we still spend a decent chunk at the start explaining about The New Doctor Who. But I suppose the word New makes it seem more exciting and there were lots of New things around this time from 'The New Avengers' to Barbara New.

This is still mostly a black-and-white affair, though fans of the Doctor, the TARDIS, Sarah, Harry and 'The Brain Of Morbius' at least get a few pages of colour as a treat.

Some of the photos stick in the mind for the detail that they reveal, even if by accident. When Professor Sorenson has regressed to his Anti-Man state, at least his teeth were all nicely brushed.

Amusingly, the back pages of credits states that Louis Marks invented Anti-Matter, which might be news to some physicists. But then, apparently Chris Boucher invented Robots - if that were me, I'd be straight down the Patent Office lodging a claim.

Styggron has only got one eye (a popular song down Oseidon way) due to the way the shadow falls from his brow ridges. Maybe Crayford's eye-patch was borrowed from his boss, who had ordered a nice new glittery one for when his invasion plans came to fruition?

I still can't work out why all the pictures of the Cybermen seem to come from 'Tomb', though...

You can rattle through this one quite quickly and it signs off with  promise that "even more monstrous enemies are waiting" in the forthcoming Season 15.

The back page plugs 'The Doctor Who Discovery Series' which is coming in November 1977 which promises such titles as 'Space Travel', ' Mysterious Creatures', 'Early Man' and many more.

There's optimism for you...

This was a series of books that I wasn't too fussed about at the time, but even to this day you can still get a laugh about them with made-up additions to the range such as 'Doctor Who Discovers Crisps'.

Which, frankly, I'd probably have snapped up like a shot.

*Recommended Price, who in no relation to Vincent Price, we presume.

(Written by Andrew Trowbridge)