Doctor Who: The Pirate Planet: 4th Doctor Novelisation Audio CD – Unabridged, 5 January 2017

I'm surprised I liked this one so much, despite James Goss' involvement. I just don't think he's that great of a writer, for the most part, or he tends to add in things that have no busy in the story to begin with because he thinks he's being clever or something. However, this one gets a thumbs up from me. It closely resembled the television story and flowed much better.

Continuing in the trend established in the novelisations of ‘Shada’ and ‘City of Death’, this is another previously non-novelised Fourth Doctor story that admirably captures the wit and approach of Douglas Adams whilst maintaining the essence of the onscreen version. It is another more than admirable effort from James Goss who was also responsible for the superb novelisation of ‘City of Death’.Whereas ‘City of Death’ was fairly loyal to the onscreen version with some extra inclusions, ‘The Pirate Planet’ contains such a considerable bulk of new material that the story is somewhat different. This is all to the better and suggests this is possibly in the area of what Adams might have intended if not constricted by the medium in which the story was originally told. Much of what has been included, or indeed possibly reinserted, actually improves the structure of the story and results in it making more sense.The reasoning and explanations for these alterations and additions are given detailed attention in a whole plethora of extra material (almost special feature like) included in various appendices. They form an informative and interesting enlightenment upon what Adams was intending and various directions he may have possibly taken the story. Likewise, they do the same for Goss’s mindset in approaching the novelisation process. There is a wealth of knowledge here that is as entertaining as the story.One of the most striking elements is the hint that Adams may have at one point considered that the character that eventually became Queen Xanxia would be a female incarnation of the Master.One of the major improvements of the novelisation is in how much more expansive and developed the characters are. Romana and K-9 particularly benefit from this and rarely have all the doctor’s companions had such strong roles in the action and events of a story. Much is made of Romana coming to terms with the eccentricities of the Doctor and how he does things. The story charts how she can’t help but find herself warming to him despite the way he appears to defy everything she has learnt on Gallifrey. It is the early stages of why she decides to stay in E-Space and how her character has later been treated in the Big Finish audios since she parted from the Doctor.The treatment of the Captain also stands out in that there is a lot more pathos created for him. He is given quite a substantial backstory and more is made of his uneasy alliance with/employment under Xanxia. The reader comes to understand him and hi motivations more at the same time as the Doctor does. It is an interesting take on the blustering, brash villain onscreen.This is another great novelisation of one of those stories not covered by the target books, making you glad that it wasn’t so that it could be novelised now.

A very good novelization! James Goss has become my favorite author. He nails the story and all its characters. Even gets into the Doctors head. How he would take Kimus on as a new companion. A shame that didn't happen...Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Doctor Who has had many fine writers Robert Holmes, Terence Dicks, Malcolm Hulke and the writer/script editor of this story Douglas Adams. If ever a writer and actor were made for each other it was Douglas Adams and Tom Baker, this story has all the humour matched with quirky ideas that would bring Adams success with the magnificent Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy it's also part of a series story arc called The Key To Time showing that such series with a continuous theme is not just the Provence of modern Who. As with all of Douglas Adams scripts the story rattles along with humour with the rapport between Romana [played by Mary Tamm in the series] and the Doctor particularly coming to the fore. So a fluent entertaining story that is an enjoyable read with a villain with a wonderful line in insults in the Pirate Captain. Also available is a longer version of the story which James Goss wrote based on Douglas Adams first draft of the script which is equally entertaining even if the story is not as tight as the eventually made version. So one of Tom Bakers most fun stories well worth seeking out.

This was as enjoyable as the last few Adams stories brought to print. Some of the details conflict with the actual episode, but in a book, there are no budgetary restrictions to deal with.The story did seem to go needlessly on at times though. It could have been 50 pages shorter and still been a good read.