Logopolis by: Christopher H. Bidmead

 

Logopolis was written by Christopher H. Bidmead, based on his story of the same name.  It was the 72^nd story to be novelized by Target Books.

 

Tom Baker’s final television story is kind of an interesting one.  Season 18 was from a completely new production team and the entire season essentially dealt with the idea of entropy increasing somehow.  Logopolis was the conclusion and directly dealt with the Master taking control of the titular planet which has kept entropy at bay which destroys a large part of the universe including the home planet (and solar system) of new companion Nyssa of Traken.  It’s also a very slow story, intentionally taking its time to drape itself in an atmosphere of dread with some brilliant imagery even if the plot doesn’t quite explain itself.  Some of these problems are still present in the novel, especially since the events are the same and the sequence of the Doctor flooding the TARDIS in particular goes on for far too long here.  Novelizing it Christopher H. Bidmead actually has a really good opportunity to go back to the script and make some of the things just explored in the script without really making it onto television.  The novel itself doesn’t diverge from the television serial, but like many of the best novelizations it is one where things are expanded upon especially in terms of characters.

 

Tegan Jovanka was certainly not a 1980s companion without character, but her appearance in the novelization of Logopolis goes a long way to explore her desire to become an air stewardess, with subtle hints that she will eventually wish to become a pilot due to her life as a child on a farm in Australia where her father instilled a love of flying.  She also knows how to fly a plane, which is something that is exclusive here and I don’t think has even been used in Big Finish Productions, but here it allows insight into why she would stay on the TARDIS.  This also implies that the continuing drive to get back to Heathrow in Season 19 is more to do with being unable to cope with the regeneration or just being an act to throw the Doctor off which I actually really like.  Bidmead also does an excellent job of making the Watcher more than just the mysterious looming figure, there are actual scenes making explicit the character as this transitory thing that’s appearing outside of time itself.  Adric gets an extra scene where he talks to the Watcher and can’t quite recall just how that conversation ended up happening, though there is this certainty that information was relayed, but not by whom.  It’s a really interesting idea to explore that also makes the Watcher a more active participant in the plot while not taking away the nature of this spectre.

 

Overall, Logopolis may be a slightly better version of the television story in novel form since Christopher H. Bidmead’s clinical and scientific prose help retain the feeling of dread while there are genuinely excellent character additions that make things feel more well rounded.  8/10.