Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters

Nov 5, 2025 3:40 AM

Author:Malcolm Hulke

UNIT is called in to investigate security at a secret research centre buried under Wenley Moor. Unknown to the Doctor and his colleagues, the work at the centre has woken a group of Silurians - intelligent reptiles that used to be the dominant life form on Earth in prehistoric times.

Now they have woken, the Silurians are appalled to find 'their' planet populated by upstart apes. The Doctor hopes to negotiate a peace deal, but there are those on both sides who cannot bear the thought of humans and Silurians living together. As UNIT soldiers enter the cave systems, and the Silurians unleash a deadly plague that could wipe out the human race, the battle for planet Earth begins.

This novel is based on 'The Silurians', a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 31 January-14 March 1970.

Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Reviews

A fascinating tale of China just over the horizon

—— The New Yorker

A thought-provoking novel about China's tomorrow, which reveals the truth about China today

—— Xinran, author of The Good Women of China

The Fat Years remains valid because it is not simply a "what might happen" exercise in futurism. Its central conceit - that collective amnesia overtakes the entire country - is an all-encompassing metaphor for today's looming superpower... a triumph

—— Observer

A not-so-veiled satire of the Chinese government's tendency to make dates such as the Tiananmen massacre virtually disappear

—— Financial Times

Chan Koonchung's humorous tale reveals the distorted reality of China, where despite the supersonic development of its economy, political life is steadfastly unchanging

—— Ma Jian

Anyone who wants to understand modern China should read this novel

—— Allan Massie

Bracing, smart and entertaining

—— Independent

The hottest novel to come out of China this year

—— Time Out, Beijing

An inventive and highly topical novel by Chan Koonchung, is among the first to explore a scenario that much of the world is speculating about today

—— Wall Street Journal

Chan’s story is not only absorbing in its own right, it also shines reflected light on the foibles of the West

—— The New York Times

A potent futuristic satire on the re-ordering of not just history by time itself

—— Ind

In Makkai's picaresque first novel, Lucy, a 26-year-old children's librarian, "borrows" her favorite patron, bright, book-loving 10-year-old Ian, after his fundamentalist parents enroll him in a program meant to "cure" his nascent homosexuality.

—— Booklist

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