From TARDIS Index File, the free Doctor Who reference.

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil
Series:	Doctor Who- Target Novelisation
Release Number:	47 (given to later editions)
Doctor:	Fourth Doctor
Companions:	Sarah Jane Smith,
Enemy:	Anti Matter, Morestran
Setting:	Zeta Minor, 37,166
Author:	Terrance Dicks
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen & Co
Publication:	July 1977 (hardcover) August 1977 (paperback)
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions, 126 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-11682-8
Previous Story:	Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster
Following Story:	Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars

Novelisation

• This novelisation is based on the original television serial (DW): Planet of Evil which was shown from 27th September 1975 and written by Louis Marks.
• First edition is titled Doctor Who - The Planet of Evil; subsequent paperback editions are titled Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil.
• The cover and information shown on the right is for the original Target novel and featured the artwork of Mike Little. (See below for information on other UK and international editions which published with a different cover).

Publisher's Cover Blurb

1977 edition

The expedition to Zeta Minor began with eight men. Seven were murdered. One survived – but he was not the murderer.
DOCTOR WHO lands on the planet at the same time as the expedition’s rescue team, and is immediately taken prisoner – the suspected murderer. But even stranger things soon begin to happen …
What terrible creature inhabits this wild, desolate planet, killing mercilessly, lurking in the murky depths of the Black Pool? Will anyone ever be allowed to leave – alive?

1982 edition

A survey team of eight men from the mighty Morestran Empire lands on Zeta Minor, a remote planet on the fringes of the universe. Before their expedition is over, seven of the men are mysteriously and horrifically murdered.

A distress signal brings the Doctor to the planet - but his good intentions are not appreciated. The commander of a Morestran rescue party, sent to investigate the disappearance of the survey team, is convinced the Doctor is the killer.

And while the Doctor is kept prisoner and powerless to act, the merciless hell-planet claims even more victims...

Illustrations

• None

Deviations from the Televised Story

To be added

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

• The inside page includes the comment: "THE CHANGING FACE OF DOCTOR WHO. The cover illustration of this book portrays the fourth DOCTOR WHO."

Associated Images

1982 edition; Cover by Andrew Skilleter

Publishing History (UK)

To be added

First Publication:

• Hardback

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues: 1982, with slightly revised cover design; title changed to Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil

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