Doctor Who Tech Manual

by Mark Harris and Mark Harris

Book Overview

A guide to the technological fantasies, including advanced tools, weapons, computers, spaceships, robots, and lifelike human clones, introduced on the long-running British science fiction television... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394862147
• ISBN13: 9780394862149
• Release Date: September 1983
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 62 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Free SF Reader

The Doctor Who Technical Manual is one of those fictional encyclopedia type of publications, giving details of an array of aliens and machines, including Cybermen, K-9 and others from the show. Also Daleks and the Sonic Screwdriver, of course. You couldn't do a book like this and not have some Sonic Screwdriver details without a lot of protests. There are also blueprints to build your own TARDIS model for a bit of variety. 3.5 out of 5

Good, but sparse, resource

This is a pretty handy book in regards to some details on some of the major technologies shown in the Dr. Who series up to about the mid-80's. You get some great detail on items like the TARDIS, Daleks, and even a comprehensive bio of the Doctor himself. However much of the information featured on the book doesn't give you much more than dimensions and if you're lucky some detail on the diagram. For the stuff they are comprehensive on you get a good amount of historic information as well as some technical. The history of the Time Lords is pretty well rounded for two pages of text, as is the history of the Doctor. K9 gets some exposure too, but it's hardly anything more than you would already know if you have been watching Tom Baker's Who anyway. If you want to know about Daleks this book cover a lot. Not only the history and capabilities of the Daleks, but also illustrations of all the major Dalek models to the date of printing (including the Dalek Emperor). This includes a simple, yet effective illustration of what's inside a Dalek as well. There is also a healthy entry for the Dalek nemesis race the Movellans. The Cybermen get a sizeable piece of the manual but all you really get is their history and illustrations of all the iterations of the Cybermen from the beginning up to the ones from the 80's (Tom Baker era). While it would be nice to get more info than what was provided (inner workings, weapons, ships they used, etc) on them I did like what they had. Of course the main attraction is the TARDIS and you get some good detail on it in this book from the history, details on the Doctor's, basic control panel descriptions, capabilities, and more. You even get a silly cut out exercise in the back section of the book on how to make your own paper TARDIS. Another interesting tibit you get in the book is the Doctor's tools, including the sonic screwdriver. Unfortunately you only get a brief description of that handy tool. They do mention all of the other tools in the TARDIS tool kit, but you get no description on their use. Some things that are in the book like space ships give you nothing more than just a simple blueprint-styled illustrations with dimensions. On the offset you can glean some information like where the radar is placed, but that info is sparse at best. All in all the Doctor Who Technical Manual is a mixed bag. In some instances you get some great information. Other you get hardly nothing at all. It's a rather thin paperback so don't expect a world of information. From what I can tell all the information on the book is indeed canon (for example the book refers to being an official guide and gives credit to scrip writers for resources). If it's just the basics you are looking for then this is a good start.

Great Book for all Doctor Who Fans

Have owned for years. Book is full of great information about the show and most of the important characters in the series. Has information on everything from the Tardis, K9 the Doctors Car and the Cybermen. Includes several colour photos from the show.A must have for any Doctor Who fan.

Great book for Doctor Who enthusiasts.

Great technical drawings of most of the technology found in Doctor Who series. Included diagrams, workings etc of Tardis and K9. A must have reference book for Doctor Who enthusiasts :)

Build me a TARDIS, please!!!

This book gives you details and measurements for all Dr Who related objects like the Sonic Screwdriver, the TARDIS and its console. Also detailed layouts, history and measurements of Davros and his DALEKS, all makes and models of the Cybermen, The Giant Robot, K-9 and spaceships featured in the show. There is also a colour photo section showing some of the creatures featured in the manual. Many people have claimed to have built their own TARDIS's and consoles based on the information given in this manual. RECOMMENDED to the fans with a technical mind.