Books: Doctor Who: The Murder Game (1997)

 

“It is the year 2146 (actually, 2136. The early BBC Books were notorious for their typos, so this clearly one of them). Answering a distress call from the dilapidated Hotel Galaxian, the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But then it seems that someone is taking the games too seriously -and then there is a sinister force waiting out in space.”

One of the treats of The Murder Game is seeing Ben Jackson and Polly Wright (though never given a surname in the TV series, but writer Gary Russell is credited with giving her that last name in an earlier book) together. The War Machines is the only serial that still exists with them in it, and it’s their introductory one at that. So it was great to explore more of their characters, sort of expand them beyond what we’ve only read on the novelizations of those missing episodes.  Here they also show some stronger feelings for each other, which seems to be something added for the more modern audience of 1997.

The tale is alright, the murder mystery game becomes less important as the book goes along. It could be a tale made during the mid-1960s, as well, but with more action and more violence. There are a few funny bits, mostly dealing with the Doctor dressing up in drag (if only because it’s so unexpected), but overall the book is just fine entertainment. 

This book also introduced the Selachians, aquatic creatures who mutilate themselves to fit into suits that have shark faces painted on them for intimidation. They look a bit like pink dolphins inside and collect advanced weapons to wage war against air-breathers (or the "planktons"). They would only appear one more time in these original books, in Lyons The Final Sanction (though he mentioned them in passing when the Sixth Doctor faced the Cybermen in Killing Ground). The author gives them a complex background that certainly does not justify their murderous ways, but gives them more dimensions than most villains on the TV series are depicted or even in these original novels.