The Companions of Doctor Who

The first full-length original "Doctor Who"-related novels appeared in 1986 when Target launched a series of books titled "The Companions of Doctor Who" which were original works focusing on the Doctor's former assistants. The first two books were "Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma" by Tony Attwood, published in July 1986 based upon the character played by Mark Strickson in the early 1980s and "Harry Sullivan's War" written by Ian Marter, who had actually played Harry Sullivan on the series a decade earlier, published in October 1986. These books sold well, but after a third attempt (a 1987 novelisation of the 1981 "Doctor Who" spin-off, "K-9 and Company") the series ended due to rights disputes between the publishers and the BBC.Fact|date=March 2007 Other novels would have featured Tegan, the Brigadier, Victoria and Mike Yates.

The Companions of Doctor Who

Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma

Doctorwhobook
title=Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma
series=The Companions of Doctor Who
number=1
featuring=Vislor Turlough


writer=Tony Attwood
publisher=Target Books
isbn= 0426202244
set_between= after "Planet of Fire"
pages=
date=
preceding=
following="Harry Sullivan's War"|"My Companions novel "Turlough and The Earthlink Dilemma" got a very similar reaction to that of "Blake's 7: Afterlife". The committed fans did not like it at all. Some of the people who just watched the series and who took the trouble to write, were more complimentary. But I began to think maybe the fans were right, and I just shouldn't be trying to write in this little niche of TV continuation that I had carved out for myself."Tony Attwood, The Official Dr Who Website, May 2002

Harry Sullivan's War

Doctorwhobook
title=Harry Sullivan's War
series=The Companions of Doctor Who
number=2
featuring=Harry Sullivan


writer=Ian Marter
publisher=Target Books
isbn= 0426202503
set_between= ten years after "Terror of the Zygons"
pages=
date=
preceding="Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma"
following="K-9 and Company"|"Writing "Harry Sullivan's War" was something Ian had wanted to do for a long time. It's great fun novelising other people's material but it can also be extremely frustrating. I never ceased to be amazed by the wealth of original and intelligent ideas Ian would come up with... Ian had a very good sense of what makes a rattling good yarn and for him the Harry book was a godsend, giving him the chance to create original characters and plotlines while at the same time producing a highly entertaining story."Target editor Nigel Robinson in "A Tribute to Ian Marter", 'TARDIS' (volume 11, number 4), Winter 1987

K-9 and Company

Doctorwhobook
title=K-9 and Company
series=The Companions of Doctor Who
number=3
featuring=K-9
Sarah Jane Smith


writer=Terence Dudley
publisher=Target Books
isbn= 0426203097
set_between= after "The Hand of Fear"
pages=
date=
preceding="Harry Sullivan's War"
following=|