Doctor Who: Target audiobooks – Why they’re worth listening to

Since 2005, BBC Audio has been releasing unabridged audiobook versions of Doctor Who novelizations from Target Books. We cover why now is the perfect time to check these audiobooks out.

I’ll be honest: generally speaking, I’m not usually too keen on audiobooks. Despite the heavy focus on Big Finish’s many audios that we provide at Doctor Who Watch, it’s easier to be drawn into the world of an audio drama than an audiobook. The former usually features full casts, strong acting, plus excellent sound design, while the latter is usually just one person reading the story. Personally speaking, the latter is usually harder for me to concentrate on.

This is one key reason why I haven’t properly checked out BBC Audio’s huge back catalogue of Target novelizations. Another is nostalgia, or rather, a lack of it. The audiobooks – usually read by a key member of the cast from the original TV story – had a clear appeal for those who grew up with the Target novelizations.

For many who grew up in the 70s and even 80s, the novelizations were the only way to experience the original stories. As a child of the Wilderness Years, however – one who was able to catch up on a great deal of Who via VHS and later DVD – I wasn’t as interested in the novelizations. It also didn’t help that, by this point, most of them had already been out of print for quite a few years already. So that key nostalgic aspect was missing for me when it came to BBC’s audiobooks.

BBC Audio’s range of Target audiobooks includes many classic Doctor Who stories, including The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

(Photo by Larry Ellis/Express/Getty Images)

What changed my mind

Late last month, BBC Digital Audio released Doctor Who: The Dalek Collection. Honestly, this was instantly enough to grab my attention. As a huge Dalek fan, a collection of stories focused on them – even those that I had already enjoyed in their original TV form – had a huge amount of instant appeal for me.

Having recently finished listening to the first novelization in the collection, as well as starting to make my way through the second, it’s easy to see why this is such a strong range. It’s partly because the stories are so well written. It’s also because great narrators were picked for these audio readings of these much-loved novels.

But what’s particularly appealing to someone like me is that these aren’t simply “pure” audiobooks. It’s not just one person reading the text with nothing else added. Throughout each audiobook, music and sound effects are often included. The original text is used directly, but the extra level of sound design enhances the story considerably. On top of that, for Dalek stories, you also have Nicholas Briggs providing the pepper pots’ voices for these productions.

Obviously, this won’t appeal to everyone. There are certainly those who’d prefer a pure reading of the original text, with nothing else added. This can be especially true when it comes to books as cherished as the Target novels.

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A good time to catch up

But for listeners like me – who can find it difficult to concentrate on one particular voice for too long – the extra sound design helps. They add an extra level of immersion to the story, reminding me greatly of Big Finish’s many great Doctor Who audios, while also keeping the focus on the original text itself. It’s a delicate balance, but these productions get it just right.

Even better is that now’s a fantastic time to check out the vast library of Target audiobooks already available from BBC Digital Audio. Because The Dalek Collection – which contains as many as five audiobooks – isn’t the only one. Indeed, there are a huge amount of collections already, including The History Collection, The Monsters Collection, and The Master Collection. If you’re able to get an Audible subscription, you can get a decent-sized collection of Target books on audio in no time.

Expect reviews for each novelization contained in The Dalek Collection later this week. If they’re all as strong both in terms of writing and production as The Dalek Invasion of Earth, expect me to work my way through the vast back catalogue and review each and every one of the Target audiobooks over the next year, at least.

Were you a fan of the original Target novelizations? Have you listened to BBC Audio’s audiobooks? Do you think they’re as strong as reading the books themselves? Let us know in the comments below.