Gosh, the Giant Robot made a bit of an impact.
Despite just the one appearance, it's commemorated in toy form two years later (as part of a collection alongside the Doctor, Leela, a Dalek and a Cyberman (squarebluebox.wordpress.com/tag/giant-robot-toy)) and in a jigsaw three years later (doctorwhotoybox.co.uk/index.php/page/item/sec/16056304711/sub/12862635725/ino/11844862860/title/Enemies_of_Doctor_Who_Jigsaws__set_of_four_). The toy announces the Giant Robot as one of the Doctor's 'DEADLIEST ENEMIES' and describes it as 'The Robot that controls the World' while the jigsaw depicts multiple Robots defending what looks like a post-apocalyptic world from a fleet of flying saucers. What's clear here, in true Who tradition, is that the design is rather more important than the concept.
As far as the toy manufacturer seems to be concerned, the Giant Robot trumps the Sontarans (two appearances, one more recent that 'Robot') and the Ice Warriors (four appearances), monsters that didn't need such ambitious reimagining, and more recent design successes/concept failures like the Kraals or the Fendahleens.
At this point, I'd love to offer a theory as to why the Giant Robot made such an impression but I've got nothing. It's so at odds with what I made of the actual story I can only suggest the toymakers feared the Fendahleen (effectively a ribbed green tube with little handles) would lead to a plastic rendition even less recognisable than their Tom Baker or might be too tempting to use for purposes other than as a children's toy (think Harry Potter's vibrating broomstick).
Anyway, for a sneering pretense at analysis of the actual novelisation, click here.
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