‘Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils’ – Malcolm Hulke (Target)

Page Count: 139 Pages

Ah… We meet again, that ‘strange time between Christmas and New Year’ :o) Those weird days where if you’re at work, no-one else is and if you’re not at work, you’re starting to grow weary of mince pies. Or if you’re me, you’re looking after the cats while your ex-wife and daughters are away. Luckily, Cat 1 hates Cat 2 more than me, at the moment so the best way to describe things is ‘an uneasy truce’ :o) I do Cat 1 a favour and get out for a couple of hours, each day, which is how I eventually found myself in Marchpane Books (the other day) and when I left, you guessed it… I had my own copy of ‘Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils’. That is what Christmas money is for, collecting old books that I used to read when I was a lot younger :o)

Funnily enough, I can’t actually remember reading ‘The Sea Devils’, as a boy, but the law of averages would suggest that I more than likely did. Either way, I have read Malcolm Hulke’s ‘The Cave Monsters’ (and seen the TV serial, kind of recently) so was interested to see how (and if) this was expanded upon here. Let me tell you about it…

While visiting the Master, who has been exiled to a luxurious castle prison on a small island, the Doctor and Jo Grant learn that a number of ships have vanished in the area. Whilst investigating these mysterious disappearances, Jo and the Doctor are attacked by a Sea-Devil, one of a submarine colony distantly related to the Silurians. Soon they discover that the Sea-Devils plan to conquer the Earth and enslave humanity, aided and abetted by the Master; what can the Doctor do to stop them…?

The problem with stories, where you are either revisiting or expanding upon an old enemy, is that you have to be really careful that you don’t end up just re-telling the original tale. And because the Silurians and Sea-Devils have that strong connection (in terms of their shared origin) this tale follows ‘The Cave Monsters’ a little too strongly for my liking.

It makes sense that there would be more than one set of hibernating reptile people and that the same problems would be encountered when they wake up; the question is though, do we need to be told that again here? I’m not sure that we do…

It is interesting to see how the Doctor has learnt from his encounter with the Silurians; he still wants a peaceful resolution but knows now that this may not be possible and he will have to make that choice (and bear the consequences). It’s also refreshing to have the Master pursuing his own ends at the same time (albeit a gaping plot hole that he could get away with it…) as it adds a little hint of chaos to the proceedings. Essentially though, it just feels like a re-telling of ‘The Cave Monsters’ which isn’t the worst thing (I liked ‘The Cave Monsters’), just a little too clearly signposted to be truly engaging.

Having said all that though, Malcolm Hulke does a very good job of turning ‘The Sea-Devils’ into a book that has the feel of something a little more than just a re-telling of the TV serial. And I know, it’s a bold claim to make given that I haven’t actually seen the TV serial… :o) It’s what he shows us in characters like Governor Trenchard as well as a frightening opening scene, where the Sea-Devils take down a ship, that make this book an enjoyable read. Yes, despite what I said in the last paragraph… Can a book be two things at the same time? I think so, yes :o) And that’s not even counting the Doctor and the Master’s speedboat chase at the end

‘The Sea-Devils’ gives itself an uphill struggle to deal with but remains an enjoyable read despite this. Am I tempted to give the TV serial a shot now? I mean, I’m always up for more ‘Doctor Who’ but I reckon it will be a while before I get to it.