Dicks gives Holmes added bite

'The Doctor and Jo land on a cargo ship crossing the Indian Ocean in the year 1926.

Or so they think.

Far away on a planet called Inter Minor, a travelling showman is setting up his live peepshow, watched by an eager audience of space officials.

On board ship, a giant hand suddenly appears, grasps the Tardis and withdraws. Without warning, a prehistoric monster rises from the sea to attack.

What is happening? Where are they? Only the Doctor realises, with horror, that they might be trapped ...'

tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Doctor_Who_and_the_Carnival_of_Monsters_(novelisation)

First up, it's nice how this ticks off the first four chapter titles (see my underlining above and the titles below):

1. Dangerous Arrivals

2. The Monster from the Sea

3. The Giant Hand

4. Trapped

tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Doctor_Who_and_the_Carnival_of_Monsters_(novelisation)

Secondly, it's really running with the mystery the story opens with. It plays with the idea that the Doctor and Jo are 'Far away' from Inter Minor (even though they're not), that 'they think' they're no Earth in 1926 (even though the Doctor doesn't) and that they're mistaken (even though the Doctor...) and closes with a magnificently frantic 'What is happening?'.

This is fantastic. I mean, obviously, since 'Carnival of Monsters' is fantastic. But I'd argue Dicks has a good go at making it even better.

For a look at how, click here...