The Target Book Line: Doctor Who & The Crusaders

Release number 12
Writer David Whitaker
Publisher Target Books
Cover artist Chris Achilleos
ISBN ISBN 0 426 10137 5
Release date 2 May 1973

This serial was the third and final story to be novelised by Frederick Muller publishers. Written by David Whitaker as Doctor Who and the Crusaders, it was first published in 1965 and was the last novelisation published until 1973 when Target Books launched its long-running line of episode adaptations, beginning with reprints of this and the preceding two novels (The Crusaders was reissued by Target in May 1973). There have been French, Dutch and Portuguese editions.

As with Whitaker's first novelisation, the story is converted into a stand alone novel with a lengthy prologue in the TARDIS where the travellers discuss the paradoxes of their journeys and time travel. The pointlessness of a religious war is also emphasised more. Once again, Whitaker plays up the romantic potential of Ian and Barbara and includes a graphic passage of Barbara being scourged. For some reason the name of Susan's husband has changed from David Campbell to David Cameron.

In 2005 the novel was also issued by BBC Audio as part of the Doctor Who: Travels in Time and Space audio book collectors tin, read by William Russell.

source: wikipedia