From TARDIS Index File, the free Doctor Who reference.

Doctor Who and the Mutants
Series:	Doctor Who- Target Novelisation
Release Number:	44 (given to later editions)
Doctor:	Third Doctor
Companions:	Jo Grant
Enemy:	The Marshal
Setting:	Solos
Author:	Terrance Dicks
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen & Co
Publication:	September 1977 (paperback) October 1977 (hardcover)
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions, --- Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-11068-4
Previous Story:	Doctor Who and the Sea Devils
Following Story:	Doctor Who - The Time Monster

Novelisation

• This novelisation is based on the original television serial DW: The Mutants which was shown from 8th April 1972 and written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin.
• The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Jeff Cummins. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

Publisher's Cover Blurb

A massive shape scuttles out of the darkness and strikes the earth Overlord down. It is a Mutant – a huge insectoid creature. It moves in a crouch, its back arched and scaly, with huge knobbly vertebrae. The controlling Overlord, the Marshal, has ordered all such Mutants killed instantly.
What was happening to the people of Solos? Why are they gradually turning into Monsters? Hands that become claws, flesh that turns scale-like…
When DOCTOR WHO meets the Marshal and Jaegar, he realizes that all is not as it appears to be. The Marshal has a sinister plan to gain control of this planet, and DOCTOR WHO must save Solos from this mad earthman, as well as save the Solonians themselves.
DOCTOR WHO scripts – awarded the Writer’s Guild Award for the best British children’s original drama script.

Illustrations

• None

Deviations from the Televised Story

• Solos is described as more jungle-like than it appeared onscreen.
• The Doctor describes the use of message pods as a system used for a "real emergency" and that the "Time Lords' code" compels him to deliver it.
• Varan's son is given a name, Vorn.
• The assassination weapon Vorn uses is described as metallic; onscreen, it appeared to be disguised as carved wood.
• Jaeger is given some backstory as being disgraced on Earth for stealing data from an academic colleague.
• In addition to the stone tablets seen onscreen, the message pod also contains parchment scrolls.
• The Marshal discovers that Stubbs and Cotton are working with the Doctor by monitoring them in the caves with a directional microphone.

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

• The Solonian picture on the cover is almost a perfect recreation of the televised creature.

Associated Images

To be added

Publishing History (UK)

First Publication:

• Hardback

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

None

International Editions

To be added

External Sources

• The Target Book by David J Howe (Telos Publishing 2007)
• On Target a comprehensive guide to the Target novelisations by Tim Neal