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The 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!

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.

It is bonkers. And contains loads of facts for DALEK fans:

There are also some pretty good stories - most of which don't feature Doctor Who, but do contain some brilliant future-gazing.

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:

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:

There are also some quite baffling claims:

A year after publication, Doctor Who had a full colour movie which featured this - presumably invisible - DALEK.

The artwork is gorgeous - albeit with a rather limited colour palette:

What else do we know about the DALEKs? Well, for a start, they're communists!

Blimey! Luckily, the best way to defeat the DALEKs is... to implement planetary communism.

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.

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/05/the-dalek-world-1965/

Terence Eden’s BlogThe DALEK World (1965)
Kristoffer Lawson

@blog I have wonder if calling it canonical is a bit of a stretch, though. Many instances have given their brand to authorised merchandise without necessarily implying it is canonical (I’m thinking of the Star Wars books, but also the BBC themselves and even Doctor Who).

An interesting find nonetheless!