Stories Book Target Collection Doctor Who: The Savages 1 image Overview Characters How to Read Reviews 1 Statistics Related Stories Quotes Overview Released Thursday, September 11, 1986 Written by Ian Stuart Black Pages 126 Story Type Companion Exit Time Travel Future Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Life force Synopsis Landing on a distant planet, the Doctor confidently announces to his companions that the TARDIS has brought them to an age of great advancement, peace and prosperity. The Doctor's calculations seem to be confirmed when the travellers are greeted by Jano and the Elders who take them on a tour of their city - a haven of beauty, harmony and friendship, set in a wilderness inhabited by tribes of savages. But the security of the city is founded on one deadly and appalling secret. Soon the Doctor and his friends discover that it is not only outside the city walls that savages dwell... Read Read Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save Characters First Doctor Steven Taylor Dodo Chaplet Show All Characters (3) How to read Doctor Who: The Savages: Books The Savages Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 1 review 25 February 2025 · 566 words Review by MrColdStream Spoilers 1 This review contains spoilers! Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! “THE SAVAGES: A SOLID NOVELISATION WITH DIMINISHED ATMOSPHERE” This review is based on the 2021 audiobook version narrated by Peter Purves. Ian Stuart Black does a fine job adapting his own TV script into prose, remaining faithful to the original while enhancing certain aspects. His descriptions of tense and atmospheric moments, such as the Doctor’s transfer process in Chapter 6 or the smoke attack sequence in Chapter 8, are particularly vivid. The novelisation allows for deeper insight into the characters' emotions, adding subtle touches that let us understand their motivations better. One notable improvement is Dodo, who comes across with more energy and enthusiasm than in the TV version. Strengthened by Peter Purves’ narration, she feels more proactive and engaging. However, some of the other characters, particularly Jano and Chal, don’t translate as effectively to the page without the performances of Frederick Jaeger and Ewen Solon to bring them to life. ATMOSPHERE AND PACING – NOT AS STRONG AS THE TV VERSION While Black’s prose is effective, the novelisation struggles to fully capture the eerie and oppressive atmosphere of the original serial. The loss of the performances, visual elements, and music makes the tension slightly less palpable. Although the book retains the same story beats, some of the dramatic weight is diminished, particularly in moments that relied on the interplay between the actors. The middle portion of the story retains the same pacing issues as the televised version, with a noticeable slowdown before the final confrontation. The action is well described, but without the energy of the visuals and sound design, some sequences don’t land as powerfully as they did on screen. UNUSUAL CHAPTER TITLES One oddity in this novelisation is the choice of chapter titles. Instead of conventional headings, each chapter is named after a line of dialogue that encapsulates its events. While this approach is distinctive, it doesn’t always work effectively, sometimes feeling vague or out of place. A SATISFYING FINAL CHAPTER AND THEMATIC CLOSURE Despite some of its shortcomings, the novelisation retains the story’s strongest elements, particularly the final chapter. Steven’s decision to stay behind is given weight, emphasising his leadership qualities and the responsibility he accepts in uniting the warring factions. The resolution, in which the villains are not killed but given a chance to redeem themselves, remains a satisfying conclusion. Jano’s arc, in which he learns from his mistakes and vows to rebuild a fairer society, is well handled. PETER PURVES’ NARRATION – A PERFECT FIT Peter Purves is an excellent choice for the audiobook. His portrayal of the Doctor is particularly strong, capturing Hartnell’s speech patterns and mannerisms effectively. Naturally, his performance as Steven is also spot on, bringing his own character to life with ease. The inclusion of simple sound effects, such as the firing of light guns, helps reinforce the action sequences and adds an extra layer of immersion. 📝VERDICT: 7/10 The The Savages novelisation is a solid and faithful adaptation of the serial, with strong prose and added character depth. However, it doesn’t quite match the atmosphere and tension of the original due to the loss of the performances, visuals, and music. Peter Purves’ narration is a major highlight, making the audiobook version particularly enjoyable. While it may not surpass the TV version, it remains a worthwhile addition for fans of the story. MrColdStream View profile Like Liked 1 Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating239 members 3.33 / 5 GoodReads AVG. Rating239 votes 3.33 / 5 Member Statistics Read 21 Favourited 1 Reviewed 1 Saved 1 Skipped 3 Related Stories Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Classic Who S3 • Serial 9 · (0/4 episodes intact) The Savages Rating: 3.13 Story Skipped Television Reviews(9) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Doctor Who Season 3 Set of Stories: First Doctor Set of Stories: Doctor Who (1963-1996) Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Animated Reconstructions The Savages (Animated Reconstruction) Rating: 3.40 Story Skipped Television More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Animated Reconstructions Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Submit a Quote