Reviews

"An undistinguished historical story is neither helped nor hindered by the intrusion of the ubiquitous Doctor and his young companions. What makes a rather silly book just a little disturbing is its tone. Barbara is captured by a kinky Emir, who rewards her with a ceremonial flogging, from which she is rescued later than convention in such stories demands. This introduction of an 007 sexual-sadistic element into children's literature, however unimportant and lacking in quality it may be, is disquieting."
- The Times Literary Supplement, 19th May 1966

"One of the advantages of Whitaker's style is his willingness to alter the TV script to make it fit a literary medium, and to tighten up the drama. The former is shown well in the way the book avoids intercutting scenes, preferring to follow the adventures of the travellers individually, the only problem in this is that an important facet of the story as it appeared on TV is lost, this being that no matter how far it went into the realm of historical romance, the history which was the lifeblood of the plot is never lost sight of; because the novel winds up the Richard story before that of El Akir, it appears to begin historically and slowly discard this until it becomes only the background to the fictional plot."
- Martin Wiggins, 'Wheel In Space' (number 10), August 1980

"The second of David Whitaker's novelisations came from one of his own scripts, and it was no accident that it also happened to be his personal favourite. The Crusaders, as it was retitled, is possibly one of the finest historical stories in the Doctor Who heritage and Whitaker's book is of similar excellence... Never once does he talk down to his readership, and never does he do himself the injustice of writing for the lowest commercial denominator. The Crusaders is a book alive with colour, impact and surprise."
- Gary Russell, 'The Official Doctor Who Magazine' (number 98), March 1985

"This novelization shows what can be done when the original author of a story really knows how to write a novel."
- Patrick Daniel O'Neill, 'Doctor Who' (Vol. 1, No. 13), October 1985

"Furthermore, in that second novelisation, Whitaker plunges head-first into a sub-plot (hinted at throughout the Dalek novel, particularly in the closing chapter) which the television series never quite dared to tackle - the sexual relationship between Ian and Barbara. We are now told categorically that they are in love, and the result is to transform Ian's rescue mission into the stuff of a full-blown historical romance, culminating in an irresistably over-the-top moment as Ian and Barbara, on horseback on the crest of a hill above Lydda, kiss before literally riding off into the sunset."
- Philip MacDonald, "Whitaker's World", 'Doctor Who Magazine'
(number 200), June 1993

Miscellaneous

Author

DAVID WHITAKER

David Whitaker was born in Knebworth in 1928.

He was script editor on Doctor Who from the time of its inception. He oversaw the programme into its second season and contributed scripts for the First, Second and Third Doctors. He wrote the 1965 stage play The Curse of the Daleks.

Whitaker also wrote scripts for The Gold Robbers, Mr Rose, Public Eye, and Undermind.

Whitaker adapted two Doctor Who serials, originally published by Frederick Muller as hardbacks in the 1960s.

Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
Doctor Who and the Crusaders

He also wrote the stories for the first Dr Who Annual.

Whitaker met June Barry in 1962 and the couple were married in 1963 (shortly before Doctor Who started). He married again in 1978 in Sydney, Australia.

David Whitaker died on the 4th of February 1980. He was working on another Doctor Who novelisation.

Illustrations

All of the Target editions (and the Star Classics release) featured the 15 black and white illustrations by Henry Fox, used within the original Frederick Muller hardback.

Muller

From unknown Space, the Tardis returns to Earth, but not to the world Ian and Barbara know. The little blue telephone box has wheeled sharply in the cosmos and cut back through the pattern of history to the struggle between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, Crusader v. Saracen.
When Barbara is captured by the Saracens and later kidnapped by the monstrous El Akir, Ian appeals to Richard for help, but despite having achieved a splendid victory over Saladin at Arsuf the English King has his own troubles and cannot assist him. So Ian sets out to rescue Barbara alone, while the Doctor becomes involved in court intrigues.
In a dramatic climax, Ian finds himself fighting for his life in the harsh, cruel world of the twelfth century, where only the cleverest and strongest survive.
Readers of Doctor Who's adventure with the Daleks and Doctor Who and the Zarbi will find here all the excitement that made those books firm favourites with youngsters of all age groups.

Originally released as a hardback by Frederick Muller Ltd in 1965, featuring the Henry Fox illustrations. The dustjacket was illustrated by Fox and carried synopses for Doctor Who In an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks and Doctor Who and the Zarbi on the back. The cost of the book back then was 12 shillings and 6 old pence. Its publication pre-dated the ISBN system.

Cover artist: Henry Fox
1965 Frederick Muller hardback edition

Dragon

Back through time go Dr. Who, Ian and Barbara - back to the twelfth century, to Richard the Lionheart and the Crusades.
Barbara is captured by the Saracens. Adventure piles on adventure as Ian and Dr. Who, in their different ways, attempt to rescue her. This is a book brimful of excitement!

Alongside Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks, the only Who novel released as a paperback before the Target series began. It was released by Dragon Books (Atlantic Book Publishing Co. Ltd.) in 1967. This version featured different illustrations to those in the Target edition. There were six black and white illustrations in all, by an uncredited artist. The price was 2 shillings and 6 pence, ISBN 411 80670 X. The spine read Dr. Who and the Crusaders, but the front and back covers, and within, gave the full title.

Cover artist: unknown
1967 Green Dragon edition

White Lion

After ranging far through future Time and Space, the Tardis lands back on Earth again, and straightway the Doctor and his friends find themselves plunged into the harsh, cruel world of the twelfth century Crusades.
Soon the adventurers are embroiled in the conflict between Richard the Lionheart and the Sultan Saladin, lord of the warlike Saracens. And many exciting adventures await them before they can even try to return to their own times.
Over all hangs the question: will they succeed in getting back to the Time that they know? Or will they be doomed for ever to be wanderers in Time and Space?

In 1975, the rights to the first three hardbacks (The Daleks, The Zarbi and The Crusaders) were bought by White Lion Publishers Ltd and re-released. To boost their appeal, the current Doctor, Tom Baker, was used on the covers despite the illustrations of Hartnell within. Doctor Who and the Crusaders had ISBN 85686 162 6, cost £2.25 and was released in October 1975. Inside it incorrectly gives its publication date as 1965.

Cover artist: unknown
1975 White Lion hardback edition

Star

Doctor Who and the Crusaders was paired with Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth and released as one of Star Books' Doctor Who Classics range in August 1988. The ISBN for this particular combination was 0 352 32264 0 and it cost £2.95. The Classics series stretched over 12 months and saw releases for each of the first four Doctors. The books were made by fixing together two of the Target books with a new front page and wraparound cover.

The Skilleter artwork cover was originally painted for the Dalek Omnibus release in 1983.

Cover artist: Andrew Skilleter
1988 Star Classics edition

Audio

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Countries

Netherlands

Terugkerend op de Aarde in de twaalfde eeuw belandt de Tardis met DOCTOR WHO en zijn vrienden midden in de ruwe, wrede wereld van de Kruistochten. Al gauw zijn de avonturiers verwikkeld in de strijd tussen Richard Leeuwenhart en Sultan Saladin, heerser over de krijgshaftige Saracenen...

Released in The Netherlands by Unieboek B.V. Bussum under their RIV label as Doctor Who en de Kruisvaarders, in 1974. It was translated by J. J. Van Der Hulst-Brander. The ISBN was 90 269 8101 5 and the cost was f 3,95 (3 guilders and 95 cents). Curiously, the back cover features the face of the Fourth Doctor, despite a Dutch translation of The Changing Face of Doctor Who on the inside.

Cover artist: Chris Achilleos
1974 Unieboek B.V. edition

Portugal

Editorial Presença published the novel in Portugal as Doutor Who e os Cruzados, in 1983. It was translated by Eduardo Nogueira and Conceição Jardim. The wraparound cover was by Shanti and it contained the Henry Fox illustrations. Doutor Who e os Cruzados was book number 8 in the Portuguese series - book number nine was the translation of The Abominable Snowmen.

Cover Artist: Shanti
1983 Editorial Presença edition

France

Un milliard d'admirateurs à travers le monde!
Seigneur du Temps, héros de l'Éternité, le Docteur Who connaît aujourd'hui une fantastique popularité. Le succès inégalé de la série télévisée qui lui a donné naissance, la fascination qu'il exerce sur un immense public à travers plus de cent pays contribuent à faire de ce personnage un véritable mythe pour la premiere fois révélé en France.

En débarquant au coeur de la Palestine dévastée par les croisades, le docteur Who vole au secours de Richard Coeur de Lion et de la Belle Barbara captive à la cour du grand Saladin et menacée de mort...

It was book number two in the Igor et Grichka Bogdanoff présentent French Editions Garancière series, with the title Docteur Who - les Croisés, translated by André Ruaud, published in February 1987 (ISBN 2-7340-0202-7). The cover shows an unrecognisable William Hartnell wrapped in Tom Baker's scarf. The third book in the series of eight was Docteur Who - les Daleks.

Cover artist: Jean-François Penichoux
1987 Éditions Garancière