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“THE SMUGGLERS: A DECENT NOVELISATION WITH A SLOW BURN”

Terrance Dicks’ 1988 novelisation of The Smugglers does an admirable job of setting the scene and bridging the gap between this story and its predecessor, The War Machines. Unlike some Target novelisations that rely too heavily on prior knowledge of the TV serial, this one stands well enough on its own, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the original adventure. However, while it benefits from a strong introduction and some solid character work, it struggles to bring its setting to life and ultimately feels somewhat sluggish.

A STRONG OPENING, BUT A SLOW NARRATIVE

The novelisation excels in its opening chapters, particularly in how it introduces Ben and Polly to the world of time travel. Their initial reactions to the TARDIS and their growing bond with the Doctor are well handled, making them feel like proper companions rather than just accidental stowaways. Dicks also ensures that the transition from The War Machines is smooth, adding context that enhances the story for readers unfamiliar with the preceding serial.

However, once the plot gets going, the novelisation struggles to maintain momentum. The narrative moves at a snail’s pace, often bogged down by lengthy conversations between various pirate and smuggler characters. While figures like Captain Pike and Cherub are prominent, they fail to leave a lasting impression, making it difficult to stay engaged.

A STORY THAT NEEDS VISUALS

One of the biggest issues with The Smugglers as a novel is its inability to fully capture the atmosphere of 17th-century Cornwall. The lack of strong descriptive writing makes the setting feel flat, and without the visual aid of costumes, locations, and action sequences, much of the story blends together. The original TV serial, while missing from the archives, at least had some surviving photos and clips to give a sense of place—something the novelisation doesn’t quite replicate.

Additionally, with so many secondary characters introduced throughout the story, it becomes difficult to keep track of who’s who. On screen, distinct costumes and performances might have helped differentiate them, but here, they blur into one another, making it easy to lose interest.

AN ENGAGING AUDIOBOOK PERFORMANCE

For those looking for an alternative way to experience The Smugglers, the 2020 audiobook edition offers a pleasant listen. Anneke Wills, who played Polly in the TV series, narrates with enthusiasm, bringing some much-needed energy to the story. Her rendition of Polly is naturally spot on, her Ben is passable, and her First Doctor is serviceable. Where she truly shines is in voicing the various pirate and smuggler characters, giving them distinct, rugged personalities that add some colour to the tale.

📝 VERDICT: 4/10

While The Smugglers novelisation benefits from a strong opening and a good grasp of its lead characters, it ultimately suffers from a sluggish pace and an uninspired depiction of its historical setting. Without the visual elements that a TV production provides, the story feels flat, and the characters struggle to stand out. The audiobook version, bolstered by Anneke Wills’ performance, helps inject some energy into the tale, but overall, this remains one of the less engaging Target novelisations.

The Smugglers - 4/10

"You're a right couple of nutcases" grumbled Ben.

Before I actually did my run of 60s who, this is exactly what I assumed it would be. Old fashioned tropes with a very basic plot. 60s who is now one of my favourite eras, but this story is certainly a low point.

Positives

Easy reading: So far I have read two Terrance Dicks books. Strangely I found them both really easy reads despite not really enjoying the whole. There MUST be a good flow to the prose because I am always like wow I got through that fast.

Negatives

What is the point?:  I feel slightly mean saying this but it is so simplistic that it feels ultimately pointless. A companion's first trip in the TARDIS should really tell me something new about them.

Man Polly, Jamaica and other old fashioned writing tropes: The writing of these two concepts feel old fashioned. That is because this is an old story so kinda whatever but this novelisation is from the 90s right? Could we not have done something a bit more modern with these ideas? I get the impression this Novelisation doesn't add much that wasn't on-screen.