Let’s discuss the second of the Fifteenth Doctor’s Target Novelisations - Space Babies!
You don’t have to finish the book before you write. Please use spoiler tags!
Just for fun please rate it below you are done.
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I just bought this on my Kindle and am going to read it on a long journey today. I’m excited to see how it is adapted, and if it improves upon a story that not many people enjoyed much.
(For the record, after a second viewing, I really like the TV episode!)
8 Likes
I like the TV ep from the get-go and actually quite surprised that my friend didn’t like it and that seems to be the consensus. Well, except for when the babies are talking, which is just off. And when the Doctor corrects himself and says “SPACE babies” too much, which gets annoying too quickly.
I’m not sure if I’d read the novel though. Maybe if TG Forum thinks it’s worth it. The ep is not that good and since an EDA takes me 14h, Space Babies would be like… an 8-hour read? That is Crazy.
8 Likes
I am excited by these three target books (especially 73 Yards). Just bought the audiobook of Space Babies. I am as @shauny interested in how I will view this story after the book. I thought that the episode was okay. I was not put off by the Buggyman reveal and thought that it was fun.
8 Likes
I’m on chapter 10 now. It’s a quick read. So far not so different from the episode, except a few things explained more.
I actually really like that now, I find it adorable 
8 Likes
You’re going on a long journey - a very long journey…
Prize to the first person who can identify the quote 
6 Likes
“And I don’t expect to come back. In fact I mean not to”
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I had a chance encounter with Alison Rumfitt on Trans Pride and got talking to her about this novelisation, excited to read it now!
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No idea, sorry 
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Just finished the book!
It was sweet, and it did flesh out a few little things, but ultimately it was exactly the same as the episode.
It explained the use of the phrase Push the Button, as the Doctor played that song by the Sugababes using his jukebox, which led into the TARDIS taking off, and then became a recurring theme.
Not sure why that was cut from the episode?
It expanded a bit on the ending too. The Doctor had a (unseen) conversation with the Bogeyman and found out it was friendly, although best kept separate from the babies.
It explained that the Doctor didn’t really know why he kept repeating Space Babies, just that it was fun to say.
I was quite surprised that the Susan Twist cameo in this episode wasn’t commented upon. It was said that her message played while the Doctor was looking away, but made no mention of that it was a familiar face at all.
I quite liked it, it was fun and quick to read. Probably a little overpriced for how short it was. I give it 7/10!
13 Likes
Finished the audiobook now. As @shauny said it is a pretty straight telling of the episode. It is fun but nothing spectacular. I liked the narrator a lot she made it feel a bit scary sometimes. 7/10
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Who reads the audiobook?
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Clare Corbett
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Got the audiobook and four chapters in now. It’s quite enjoyable. Love the prologue.
Ruby regrets that she skipped that P.E. test 
Gotta be a good runner to travel with the Doctor. (Unless you are Evelyn of course. Heard that she never did one of those running down the corridor thing?)
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I loved the little insights into the Bogeymans mind, probably the highlight of this as it is a straightforward novelisation but from my conversation with Alison I understand she couldnt change much or put as much of her own style into it as she would have liked however it’s still a lovely little read. I love that it explains that the Doctor keeps saying space babies just because. No real reason. Just a bit of fun and joy!
9 Likes
By now I think I made my Thoughts on the TV Episode clear: Flawed and not a favorite but by no means one of the worst like many others would say.
Having now read this Novelization, I do think I like this one more than the actual TV Episode, does it more than say the Target for Rogue? No. It doesn’t expand much, mostly fleshing out a few Things that were otherwise a bit clunky in the TV Episode. But really it didn’t have to in my Eyes, because a big Bonus of this Novelization is the Fact it’s Prose. Now some might disagree with it, but I think for me the actual Visuals of Space Babies are a bit uncanny. The Mouth Movements of the Babies feel very odd and I simply don’t like them. Now, I do think they did the best with what they were able to do, but it’s not a perfect Story for being live action. So the lack of any Visuals honestly helped me much more to enjoy the Story. Again, it’s not as of a major Step-Up to other Novelizations such as Rogue or Day of the Doctor, but it doesn’t really have to. It does a solid Job and I enjoyed my quick read throughout!
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Are the NSAs shorter? Page minimum looks a bit shorter but only about 30 pages.
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This story is definitely better than it’s televised counterpart, for what that’s worth. It’s not something I’d go out of my way to reread though. The cover’s quite nice, I must say.
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Some of them are. But the reading time difference is largely due to me as a non-native speaker. NSAs are more targeted to children so it’s easier to get through
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Have you tried the Quick Reads? They were supposed to be an easier to read Doctor Who book range that was still for adults. They also made Quick Reads for other things, too, I think.
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I don’t think so. I’ll chek them out!
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