Book Review David Whitaker Doctor Who And The Crusaders

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1965 – spoiler alerts – Tandem Press Tandem Books published novelizations of all the classic Dr Who TV adventures, though this book and just two others were reprints of the series started and discontinued by The Frederick Muller Press, which Tandem re-issued on the launch of their continuation of the series. The ones I enjoy reading are those of the episodes I never saw on first airing, and which were erased by the BBC and therefore never repeated or released on DVD. That applies to this William Hartnell 1st Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki adventure, which was a monster free purely historic drama. The story title promises more than it delivers as a full on adventure with chivalrous Knights and Islamic Moors would be beyond the programme’s slender budgets. Barely having landed the TARDIS on Earth, the time travellers end up foiling an attempt to kidnap King Richard 1st of England as he enjoys himself in the art of falconry. However, Barbara and one of Richard’s knights are abducted by the Saracens. The rest of the landing party are invited to Richard’s court for saving his life, and The Doctor steals some clothes from a wealthy trader so they can all blend in to the period. Ian is knighted and sent as a peaceful envoy to negotiate the release of Barbara and Richard’s knight, oblivious that the teacher he loves has been abducted again, his time by a vile slave trader called El Akir, a ruthless killer who despises women. He is a horribly realistic villain, and one of the most impressive evil characters in any Doctor Who Story. Much of the story focuses on Ian’s efforts to rescue Barbara and other ladies from Akir’s harem. On the way he finds himself attacked by a hapless bandit who initially tries to feed him to soldier ants but befriends him over their mutual contempt for Al Akir. The Doctor and Vicki get little to do or much of the story, though they Witness Richard’s failed attempt to talk his own sister into marriage with Saladin, as she feels it would be a betrayal of the Catholic cause for taking back the Holy Land by blood. Her threat to have Richard excommunicated leads the Doctor, who has played a part in the negotiations for Richard) to be blamed for her refusal. He and Vicky flee and the various heroes soon get back to the TARDIS to escape to their next adventure. We see too little of Richard and Saladin too. Richard is indecisive, naïve and indifferent to events in the UK where his brother John is ruining the country. Saladin is portrayed with greater depth and sympathy, as a man noted for courtesy to prisoners of war and eager to negotiate for a peace he can never have. After Barbara is stolen from him we never see or hear from him again though. The book captures the feel of the adventure and makes me wish I had been able to see it in its entirety. Arthur Chappell