BOOK DETAILS

SYNOPSIS

1983 Target Books edition

When The Doctor returns to Gallifrey, he learns that his bio data extract has been stolen from The Time Lords’ master computer known as the Matrix.

The bio data extract is a detailed description of the Doctor’s molecular structure – and this information, in the wrong hands, could be exploited with disastrous effect.

The Gallifreyan High Council believe that anti-matter will be infiltrated into the universe as a result of the theft. In order to render the information useless, they decide The Doctor must die…

1992 Target Books edition
‘HELLO, ‘ SIAD THE DOCTOR CHEERFULLY. ‘I’M THE DOCTOR.’ MAXIL RAISED HIS STASER PISTOL AND SHOT HIM DOWN

On his return to Gallifrey, The Doctor learns that his bio data extract has been stolen from The Time Lords’ master computer, the Matrix. The Gallifreyan High Council believe that anti-matter will be infiltrated into the universe as a result of the theft. The information must be rendered useless – The Doctor must die.

First broadcast in 1983, this is the first story since The Three Doctors to feature Omega, a bitter Gallifreyan exiled forever from this universe. This novelisation by Terrance Dicks was adapted from the original script by Johnny Byrne.

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NOTES

CHAPTER TITLES

1. Deadly Meeting
   
2. The Horror in the Crypt
   
3. Recall
   
4. Death Sentence
   
5. The Prisoner
   
6. Termination
   
7. The Matrix
   
8. The Traitor
   
9. Unmasked
   
10. Hunt for Omega
    
11. Transference
    
12. Omega’s Freedom

DEVIATIONS FROM THE TELEVISED STORY

• Many of the story’s scenes have been truncated together, including The Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan’s final pursuit of Omega through the streets of Amsterdam.
  
• The Ergon is described as a “giant walking lizard”.
  
• The Matrix Crown on Gallifrey is explained as only to be used in strict emergencies as direct consultation with the “strange combination of group-mind and race-memory” is extremely dangerous and stressful to the wearer.
  
• The High Council’s intention to execute The Doctor are made clear farearlier than in the televised story.
  
• On The Doctor’s first encounter with Maxil, he remains unconscious after shot until he’s returned to the TARDIS for recuperation.
  
• It’s clarified that Nyssa uses her staser to stun the guards outside the Place of Termination. However, she resets the weapon to kill before challenging the High Council. Later, she again uses non-lethal force against an attacking guard en route to the Presidential Chambers.
  
• When attacked by the Ergon, rather than dodging on his own, as per the televised story, Nyssa shoves The Doctorout of the way. Omega’s convulsive cry is clarified to be the result of his servant’s disintegration, rather than a side-effect of the ongoing transformation.
  
• During The Doctor’s escape from Gallifrey, he and Borusa communicate via the TARDIS scanner.