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The Essential Terrance Dicks Volume 1
The Essential Terrance Dicks Volume 1
Aug 25, 2025 6:45 AM

Author:Terrance Dicks

The Essential Terrance Dicks Volume 1

"I think if you can get a kid reading for pleasure, not because it's work, but actually reading for pleasure, it's a great step forward. It can start with me, you know, start with Dicks and work its way up to Dickens - as long as you get them reading."- Terrance Dicks

For over 50 years, Terrance Dicks was the secret beating heart(s) of Doctor Who - from joining production of The Invasion in 1968 to his final short story in 2019. As the undisputed master of Doctor Who fiction, Terrance wrote 64 Target novels from his first commission in 1973 to his last, published in 1990. He helped introduce an entire generation to the pleasures of reading and writing, and his fans include Neil Gaiman, Sarah Waters, Mark Gatiss, Alastair Reynolds, Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Frank-Cottrell Boyce, and Robert Webb, among many others.

This two-volume collection, features the very best of his Doctor Who novels as chosen by fans - from his first book, The Auton Invasion, to his masterwork, the 20th anniversary celebration story The Five Doctors, voted all-time favourite.

This volume contains, complete and unabridged:

DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH

DOCTOR WHO AND THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN

DOCTOR WHO AND THE WHEEL IN SPACE

DOCTOR WHO AND THE AUTON INVASION

DOCTOR WHO AND THE DAY OF THE DALEKS

Reviews

Mesmerising . . . I became completely immersed in this emotional, intimate read

—— Good Housekeeping

[An] uplifting debut novel . . . joy is a vital ingredient in Ruth & Pen

—— The Observer

The debut novel from the author of the personal essay collection Notes to Self is a poignant, raw exploration of the courage needed to find your space in the world

—— i

Impressive . . . Pine explores with great acuity and tenderness the restorative, capacious nature of love. A wise and lovely book

—— Daily Mail

Pine makes her chapters playful, writing with a friendly curiousness that brings to mind Ali Smith . . . Pine's measured yet tender juxtaposition of the women's days doesn't draw overly neat parallels so much as prove that one needs the other - younger needs older, optimist needs pessimist, introvert needs extrovert. And our opposites might help us find clarity

—— i

[Ruth & Pen] finds heartbreaking beauty in our everyday lives . . . There is a real tenderness in the way in which Pine writes about the teenage girls in the novel

—— The Irish Times

Pine reinforces her reputation as one of the most empathetic writers in the country

—— The Irish Examiner

There's no doubting the novel's basic integrity; its warmth, its undogmatic interest in ordinary lives, and the impressive range of its imaginative sympathies

—— Kevin Power , The Irish Times

Moving and raw . . . Pine's ability to enter the heads of two such different characters is a sure sign of literary promise

—— The Sunday Times (Ireland)

This book is an intimate portrait of love and grief, and the tender, fragile courage required just to live each day

—— Irish Country Magazine

A confident walk through the lives of others, two women seeking their place in the world and a peace in themselves

—— RTE Guide

Black is a master at world-building.

—— The New York Times

The many mysteries keep the suspense sizzling as Charlie guides readers through this slippery world. Black's adult fans and readers looking for dark urban fantasy will be thrilled.

—— Publishers Weekly

Book of Night delivers hot sex, a breathless plot, perfect characters, and some of the most gorgeous writing I've read in years, sharp as a razor blade, clear as a one-way glass.

—— Ellen Kushner, award-winning author of Swordspoint

...[T]he story builds to an exciting climax that will certainly leave you crossing your fingers for a sequel.

—— Paste Magazine

Book of Night is both wickedly clever and dangerously entertaining.

—— Grimdark Magazine

Black is a veteran fantasy writer, which shows in the opening pages as she neatly and easily guides the reader through the engrossing world of gloamists, magical shadows, and Charlie's brand of criminality... The mystery elements are well executed, as is Charlie's characterization, and the big twist at the end packs a satisfying punch... Hits the marks for spooky thrills and mysterious chills.

—— Kirkus

Mesmerising . . . A promising debut from a talent to watch

—— Good Housekeeping

A deliciously lyrical novel . . . weaving between the dangerous yet excitable now and the years of ungodly traumas passed, this masterful tale of childhood love will wash over you like the refreshing, cold waters of The Paper Palace's nearby lake

—— BUZZ magazine

[Cowley Heller] brings to fiction an understanding of how to layer storylines, as well as an assured feel for dialogue and visual description . . . a skilful portrait

—— The Oldie, Book of the Month

The Paper Palace paints a vivid picture of family secrets and tensions, against the backdrop of a sun-soaked summer

—— Take A Break

Miranda Cowley Heller's debut The Paper Palace . . . finds Elle on the point of leaving her near-perfect family life for the visceral thrill of Jonas, green-eyed soul mate of her youthful vacations. With its atmospheric setting and rich backstory, the denouement is set to be an August talking point and a mini-series is already slated.'

—— Country and Townhouse

A stirring and sensual story

—— Woman's Weekly

This accomplished family saga is gripping and poetic, capturing the complexity of the human heart

—— Daily Mirror

A richly detailed family saga that nods to tales by Johns Cheever and Updike . . . this immersive novel makes for a lushly satisfying read

—— The Times

A feel-good read, with great characters to care about, it takes current issues seriously but adds plenty of humour

—— Choice

[It leaves] the reader with that fuzzy feeling you want from a feel-good book. Fans of her previous hit, The Authenticity Project, will not be disappointed

—— Woman's Weekly

A feel-good tale about the power of real-life connections

—— Sun

You can always rely on Pooley to deliver not just wonderful, lively characters but a story that leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful

—— CultureFly

Batuman has taken what made The Idiot so brilliant, distilled it, and created an equally brilliant new work. Either/Or is unbridled joy.

—— Big Issue

Funny... Unforgettable... Batuman is particularly good on sex and sexual politics... The star feature is the narration... garrulous, rambunctious... full of baroque riffs and digressions.

—— Claire Lowdown , Spectator

A fresh voice is a rare thing, and Elif Batuman is one such.

—— Times Literary Supplement, *Books of the Year*

Either/Or is extremely funny and delightfully ludic, as it probes the very act of reading from the point of view of confused university student Selin.

—— Anakana Schofield, Irish Times, Books of the Year 2022

I was desperately looking forward to Elif Batuman's Either/Or, and it more than lived up to it.

—— Samir Chadha , White Review, *Books of the Year*

Re-encountering Selin...felt like being reunited with an old friend.

—— Helen Charman , White Review, *Books of the Year*

Hilarious.

—— Alice Hattrick , White Review, *Books of the Year*

I greatly enjoyed the comic zing of Elif Batuman's delightful Either/Or

—— Megan Hunter , White Review, *Books of the Year*

Witty, intelligent and funny... [Selin's] inner monologue is addictive enough to read a thousand more pages of, and I can only cross my fingers that this isn't the last instalment of the series.

—— Crack

Just as funny and self-aware and clever as The Idiot.

—— Jessica Zhan Mei Yu , White Review, *Books of the Year*

Funny, wry and insightful

—— The Times, *Summer Reads of 2023*

Laugh out loud…hilarious and thoughtful

—— Times Literary Supplement, *Books of the Year*
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