Terrance Dicks (1935-2019)

SF writer Terrance Dicks, 84, died August 29, 2019.

Dicks was a prolific and celebrated writer for the British TV program Doctor Who, serving as script editor from 1968-74 and writing various episodes. He also produced more than 50 tie-in novels and non-fiction books about the series, beginning with Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (1974) and ending with Revenge of the Judoon (2008). His final story, “Save Yourself”, will be published by BBC Books later this year. SF writers including Charlie Jane Anders, Paul Cornell, and Neil Gaiman have cited his books as an important influence. Dicks also wrote over 150 titles for children, including the Star Quest trilogy (1979-83), The Baker Street Irregulars series (1978-87), and The Unexplained series (2000-1), plus children’s non-fiction.

Terrance William Dicks was born April 14, 1935 in East Ham, London. He studied at Downing College, Cambridge and joined the Royal Fusiliers after graduation. He worked as an advertising copywriter until his mentor Malcolm Hulke brought him in to write for The Avengers in the ’60s, and he wrote for radio and TV before joining the Doctor Who team in the late ’60s. He also worked as a producer on various BBC programs. He is survived by wife Elsa Germaney (married 1963), three sons, and two granddaughters.