From TARDIS Index File, the free Doctor Who reference.

Doctor Who and the Talons of Weng-Chiang
Series:	Doctor Who- Target Novelisation
Release Number:	61 (given to later editions)
Doctor:	Fourth Doctor
Companions:	Leela
Enemy:	Magnus Greel, Peking Homonculus
Setting:	London, Earth, 1892 ?
Author:	Terrance Dicks
Publisher:	Target Books, W.H. Allen & Co
Publication:	November 1977 (paperback) December 1977 (hardcover)
Format:	Hardcover and paperback editions, 140 Pages
ISBN:	ISBN 0-426-11973-8
Previous Story:	Doctor Who and the Robots of Death
Following Story:	Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock

Novelisation

• This novelisation is based on the original television serial (DW): The Talons of Weng-Chiang which was shown from 26th February 1977 and written by Robert Holmes
• 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

1977 edition

Stepping out of the TARDIS into Victorian London, Leela and the Doctor are confronted by menacing, diabolical horrors shrouded within the swirling London fog – a man's death cry, an attack by Chinese Tong hatchet men, giant rats roaming the sewers, young women mysteriously disappearing ...
The hideously deformed Magnus Greel, conducting a desperate search for the lost Time Cabinet, is the instigator of all this evil. Posing as the Chinese god, Weng-Chiang, Greel uses the crafty Li H'sen Chang, and the midget Manikin, Mr Sin, to achieve his terrifying objectives. The Doctor must use all his skill, energy and intelligence to escape the talons of Weng-Chiang.

Illustrations

• None

Deviations from the Televised Story

To be added

Author, Writing and Publishing Notes

• This was the first cover illustrated by Jeff Cummins who replaced Chris Archilleos. Jeff was also asked to supply covers for Doctor Who and the Mutants and Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen but his submission for Doctor Who and the Mutants fell through at short notice.
• This was the last title to be reprinted by Target Books in March 1994, and the last book to carry the Target Books logo on the cover.

Associated Images

1994 edition; Cover by Alister Pearson

Publishing History (UK)

To be added

First Publication:

• Hardback

W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. UK

• Paperback

Target

Re-issues:

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