Hey guys, how you’re doing? I’ve been reading Doctor Who books since 2014, but I focus on brand new stories. Have been aware of some things that were added in the tv stories novellisations but my question is: are they really worth it?
Are the additions enough to give a new perspective, offer a deepening of the context and original ideas from the story that not always are fully developt? Does the novellisations make the stories better?
Really depends on the story. I’m not a fan of Terrance Dicks’ five hundred novelizations, they usually don’t add much, but I very much enjoyed warriors gate and the day of the doctor one for example
I haven’t read many, but I know that a lot of novelisations, especially older ones, are pretty much the episode as a book, because it was the only way or experiencing the episode again. however, many novelisations do add on to the story. I would recommend the city of death novelisation for example, it really captures the tone of the story
Some of them yes. Ones like the Massacre tell a story that’s the episode but a bit to the left. Others like Delta and the Bannermen or Remembrance of the Daleks are faithful retellings but give extras scenes or deeper backgrounds on various characters. Ones like Day of the Doctor are experimental and fun.
Some of them are very much the TV script hut now it’s a book. Those are the worst ones.
By and large, if it’s an Ian Marter one, it’s good. If it looks like it adds stuff, it’s good. But even the slower or simpler ones can still hit the spot - Horror of Fang Rock for instance was beat for beat the same but I still had fun
Yeah, most are very faithful to the TV story (especially for the Classic era). Occasionally you’ll get one that expands on the story. Curse of Fenric is good Classic example. The experimental ones of the modern era are great. The Giggle was a highlight for me. It’s a bonkers book told from the Toymaker’s perspective with games included.
Like everyone else said, it depends. The Terrance Dicks ones are fine, but you’d probably have a better experience just rewatching the episode. I like Ian Marter’s, and the ones for the Douglas Adams stories are good.
I’ve nothing to add other than the ones that truly do something different with the source material - The Myth Makers, The Day of the Doctor, and The Giggle - are the best ones and absolutely worth it.
It depends on the story. Some are better than others. The Day of the Doctor is great and from what I’ve heard the Giggle novelization is also great.
The only novelization I’ve read is Rogue, and I loved that one since it adapted the story well and it gave Rogue more backstory.
I find the older Target novelisations are a lot more hit and miss. I haven’t read a tonne but, as @Jae said, Terrance Dicks’ large body of novelisations tend to be… skip-able, let’s say. As for those from revival Who, they tend to be good in terms of adding a lot more content and fleshing out perspectives and characterisation.
(ETA: sorry if how I tagged you was bad form, Jae! I’m not familiar with this forum platform yet)
I know that, personally, I don’t really read novelisations because I’m a slow reader and would rather prioritise new stories, but I did read The Church on Ruby Road novelisation last year and enjoyed it more than the TV story so I’d say give one (of a story you either really like or really hate) a crack if you have the time.
I also haven’t read that many, I’ve just had a good handful while I’m trying to complete all of Romana’s stories. That’s where I came upon a good handful of Terrance Dicks.
That does remind me though, all of the novelizations that are adapted from Douglas Adams stories (Shada, City of Death I’ve read, others I’ve heard great stuff of) I’d really,really recommend. For those the audiobooks are also a personal favourite, because I just love Lalla Ward’s voice.
(And how you tagged me is perfectly fine btw 
)
Depends on the Time period, a lot of the older Novels from the classic Era were more one to one Adaptions, especially some Dicks ones. The Marter ones less so but I am not particularly sure about that. The newer ones usually tell you often a very different Story in some cases and/or make plenty of changes Day of the doctor, The Giggle, and Rogue are good Examples for that.
Even the straight to the Note Adaptions can be fun, if it isn’t written like The Visitation one that is..
It really depends on the story and the author. I can only speak for some nuwho ones, but I find that some of them add unique aspects and even improve upon the original stories, while others are more “shot for shot remakes” so to speak. I still enjoyed those though, just because I enjoy hearing the characters’ internal monologue. I’d definitely recommend The Day of the Doctor. I thought the book version was ten times better (and I already liked the TV version). The Fires of Pompeii wasn’t quite as unique, but I also thought it added a good deal to an already great story. Waters of Mars and The Christmas Invasion didn’t have quite as much new stuff to offer in my opinion, but I still enjoyed them.
I love Targets, a really fun way to relieve episodes, I definitely recommend the range 
The novelisation of The Daleks (Dr Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks) is a book I’d recommend just for interest’s sake - it is completely different from the TV serial in just so many ways (told from Ian’s perspective! He doesn’t know Barbara or Susan! whether you agree with these choices is a different question )
I’m reading through them as I go in the release marathon I’m doing in about 50 or so in now there are honestly some banger ones like the giggle is probs the best of the novels I’ve read
I’m currently reading this, it’s so strange!
/pos