Doctor Who and the Zarbi ( novelisation ) Doctor Who and the Zarbi was the second " Doctor Who " novelisation ever published . It was based on the 1965 television serial " The Web Planet " . This was the first " Doctor Who " novelisation to be written by the original teleplay writer . It became an on - and - off practice for the original writer to be commissioned to write the novelisation when possible ( though during the Target Books era other authors such as Terrance Dicks would often be brought in to do so when this wasn ' t possible ) . As the second " Doctor Who " novelisation , this book established the title format " Doctor Who and the . . . " which would be followed by the Target Books novelisations into the early 1980s . Publisher ' s summary . Target Books 1973 edition . DOCTOR WHO lands his space - time machine Tardis on the cold , craggy planet of Vortis . The Doctor and his companions , Ian and Vicki , are soon captured by the ZARBI , huge ant - like creatures with metallic bodies and pincer claws ; meanwhile Barbara falls into the hands of the friendly MENOPTERA who have come to rid Vortis of the malevolent power of the ZARBI . . . ' They ' re well - written books - adventure stories , of course , but with some thought . . . the creation of the character of the Doctor had a touch of genius about it . ' Westminster Press 1991 Edition . The Doctor stared about him and passed a trembling hand over his brow . " The ship ! " He muttered . " It ' s . . . gone ! " Drawn to the planet Vortis by some unknown force , the Doctor and his companions find themselves in a barren , cold world dominated by the Zarbi , monstrois metallic ant - like creatures at war with delicate Menoptra . Searching for the lost TARDIS , the Doctor must struggle with the Animus - seemingly a creature of evil and light . . . " The Web Planet " was first broadcast in 1965 and featured William Hartnell in the role of the Doctor . This novel , adapted by Bill Strutton from his own script , is a example of the early style of Doctor Who novelistions and was originally published under the title of " Doctor Who and the Zarbi . " " Doctor Who - The Web Planet " is available on BBC video and has recently been broadcast on BSB television . April 2016 BBC paperback edition . Doctor Who stared about him and passed a trembling hand over his brow . " The ship ! " he muttered . " It ' s . . . gone ! " Affected by a strange force , the TARDIS is dragged down to the desolate planet of Vortis . Until they can discover what is holding them there , the Doctor and his friends are trapped on the planet . . . The Doctor , Ian and Vicki are soon captured by the Zarbi - huge , ant - like creatures controlled by the parasitic alien Animus . Meanwhile , Barbara runs into a group of Menoptera , butterfly - like creatures that have been driven from their home planet by the Animus , and plan to return with an invasion force . But the Zarbi know their plans and are waiting for the Menoptera . . . " This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 13 February - 20 March 1965 . " " Featuring the First Doctor as played by Willam Hartnell with his companions Barbara , Ian , and Vicki . " November 2016 BBC hardcover edition . The Zarbi , huge ant - like creatures with metallic bodies and pincer claws , are waiting for " Tardis " when it ’ s police - box shape materialises on the cold and craggy planet Vortis . They capture Doctor Who , Ian and Vicki and take them to their weird headquarters , a city of web - like organic matter . But the Zarbi are not the only being in Vortis . Barbara has fallen into the hands of the butterfly - creatures with soft voices and iridescent wings , whose civilisation has been destroyed by the Zarbi . She learns that her captors are only the advance party of Menoptera in exile who plan to win back their planet by and invasion form outerspace . For the Zarbi “ have brought the dark age to Vortis ” . In the final thrilling chapters , Doctor Who and the crew of tardis encounter the power which controls both the Zarbi and the living Web City . How can they defeat this strange bladder of dazzling light which draws in and absorbs all who come into its presence ? Audio release . This story was released in a five - CD format . It was read by William Russell ( Ian ) . It was later released in the limited edition in Travels in Time and Space alongside the audio releases of " Doctor Who and the Crusaders " and " Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks " . British publication history . First publication : Re - issues : Editions published outside Britain . " to be added " External links . " to be added "