Gregory's ServerThe DALEK World (1965)
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/05/the-dalek-world-1965/
You're a big Doctor Who fan, right? If I asked you what the world DALEK meant, you'd probably tell me that it is an anagram of KALED - the original name of their species.
You'd be wrong.
In 1965, it was clearly established by a canonical source, that the world DALEK stands for:
- Destroy without pity
- Attack without fear
- Live without conscience
- Eliminate without worry
- Kill, kill, kill, kill!
I ain't even lying!
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Dalekreed.jpeg
WTAF?
A few years ago, I picked up a copy of this - The DALEK World. A 1965 tie-in book published by the BBC. I've taken the liberty of scanning it and sharing a few images.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Dalek-World.jpeg
It is bonkers. And contains loads of facts for DALEK fans:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Measles-fs8.png
There are also some pretty good stories - most of which don't feature Doctor Who, but do contain some brilliant future-gazing.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sensor-fs8.png
I love the fact that someone in 1965 predicted pirating movies and home projectors!
But, back to DALEKs. There's this brilliant bit of continuity busting:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Yeti-fs8.png
Doctor Who wouldn't meet the Yeti for another two years - where it was established they were controlled by The Great Intelligence. Although, as the story is missing perhaps there is some retcon that we're missing?
Of course, there's no metric system in the future:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pounds-fs8.png
There are also some quite baffling claims:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Invisible-fs8.png
A year after publication, Doctor Who had a full colour movie which featured this - presumably invisible - DALEK.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Dalek-Red.jpeg
The artwork is gorgeous - albeit with a rather limited colour palette:
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Secret-Struggle.jpeg
What else do we know about the DALEKs? Well, for a start, they're communists!
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Communist.jpeg
Blimey! Luckily, the best way to defeat the DALEKs is... to implement planetary communism.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Defeat.jpeg
You think some of today's stories and tie-ins are a bit weird? The DALEK World is a wonderful little time capsule which shows what kids were devouring just a couple of years after Doctor Who first aired. If you can find a copy, I thoroughly recommend having a ruffle through it.