Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce the hardback illustrated edition of The Grandfather Infestation by John Peel. This limited edition will have 200 copies and will not be reprinted.
Like the illustrated edition of Beast of Fang Rock, this book has been inspired by the illustrated Doctor Who Target books from the early 1970s, combined with the popularity of the Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book, which was made available via Amazon and other retailers earlier in 2023 with four brand new images.
The book has a brand new cover, but the actual look of the Grandfathers has not been changed. Martin Baines opted to keep Colin Howard’s original design. Martin said:
“Colin is a Doctor Who demi-god and I wouldn’t have felt comfortable changing his work. His realisation of the Grandfathers was perfect. Like all his Doctor Who artwork, Colin really understand what makes a good monster.”
(And anyone who wants to revisit Colin’s work can order Timeslides: The Doctor Who Artwork of Colin Howard, also from Candy Jar!)
Martin has provided internal illustrations for the book. He continued:
“Like the Beast of Fang Rock, I read the book and choose my favourite scenes. I was excited to discover that The Grandfather Infestation is a jam-packed full of action, so it made illustrating it very fun indeed.”
The Grandfather Infestation: The Illustrated Edition comes with a free postcard, as well as a brand new Lucy Wilson Mysteries book, The Grandfather Club, similarly written by John Peel.
Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, felt that the time was right for the Grandfathers to return. He said:
“John’s first ever Lethbridge-Stewart book was The Grandfather Infestation. And what a book it is! And, over the years we’ve always tremendous feedback about it, receiving so many requests to release a new edition. But instead of doing a paperback with a new cover, we decided to do something a little more special. Like Beast of Fang Rock, Martin’s artwork really helps to bring this exciting book alive. And the Lucy story is the cherry on the cake, allowing us to introduce the alien Grandfathers to a new audience.”
Here’s the blurb for The Grandfather Infestation:
The late 1960s and pirate radio is at its height. DJ Mary Wilde is second-guessing herself, and her career choice – is she a fool to think she can succeed in a man’s world? But such problems are soon put into sharp relief when something emerges from the depths of the North Sea, and drags Radio Crossbones down.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart has to contend with the politics of running the Fifth Operational Corps, but he’s soon pulledaway from such tedious back-patting when a nuclear submarine is lost with all hands while investigating the strange occurrences in the North Sea.
What are the Ymir, and why is it important for them to collect so many humans for their Grandfathers? And why does their success spell certain doom for Edinburgh? Lethbridge-Stewart, Anne Travers and Mary Wilde are about to learn the shocking truth first hand.
And here’s the blurb for The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Grandfather Club:
All of the school clubs have been cancelled, effective immediately. All except one…
Lucy and Hobo can’t understand why everyone at school has joined the gardening club. They also can’t understand why no one is doing any gardening!
Why are the students constructing a gigantic greenhouse? And why does it need such a powerful heating system? But, more to the point, what sort of plants will this greenhouse be the home to?
Will Lucy and Hobo be able to solve this mystery or have the seeds of destruction already been sown?
The Grandfather Infestation: The Illustrated Edition is available to pre-order now from Candy Jar. And if you want an extra copy of The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Grandfather Club, you can also order one of those from the book publisher!
