Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower. But these are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has begun its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and deadly shop window dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack. But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn't even recognise him. Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT's trust before the invasion begins?

This novel is based on 'Spearhead from Space', a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3-24 January 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Terrance Dicksworked together with Malcolm Hulke on scripts forThe Avengersas well as other series before becoming Assistant, and later full Script Editor ofDoctor Whofrom 1968. Dicks worked on the entirety of the Jon Pertwee Third Doctor era of the programme, and returned as a writer - scripting Tom Baker's first story as the Fourth Doctor:Robot. His later script writing credits onDoctor Whoincluded the 20th anniversary storyThe Five Doctors. Terrance Dicks novelised many of the originalDoctor Whostories for Target books, and has written originalDoctor Whonovels for BBC Books.

Robert Holmesserved with distinction in the army and also in the police before becoming a journalist and television writer. Holmes went on to become one of theDoctor Who's most prolific writers. He took over as Script Editor ofDoctor Whoin 1974 during one of the programme's most successful periods at the start of the Fourth Doctor's era, and established a background and society for the Time Lords that has endured to this day. Robert Holmes wrote for many other series includingDoomwatch,Spy Trap,Dixon of Dock Green,Blake's 7and many others. Holmes died in 1986, while working on the final episodes of theDoctor WhostoryThe Trial of a Time Lord.