"the dialogue and the story ... one of the best we have had in this series". Conversely, Television Mail wrote that "the appallingly flat dialogue of Dr Who could hardly be heard ... above the creaking of the plot", noting that the show should only be viewed "by people who have a profound contempt for children". Retrospective reviews were positive. In The Discontinuity Guide (1995), writers Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping praised the ambition, imagination, and maturity of the storyline, noting that it "manages to avoid racism" but not misogyny. In The Television Companion (1998), David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker called The Crusade a "magnificent story", praising Hartnell's performance in the third episode as "one of his best and most intense performances as the Doctor"; they also applauded Barry Newbery's set design work and Simpson's incidental music. In A Critical History of Doctor Who (1999), John Kenneth Muir wrote that The Crusade "lacks the suspense of The Aztecs, the humor of The Romans and even the complexity of The Reign of Terror", calling it "the beginning of Doctor Who loss of interest in the 'purely' historical adventures", though wrote that he enjoyed the performances of Glover and Marsh. In 2008, Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times said that The Crusade was "arguably the first story where every aspect of the production works to perfection". He praised the decision to split up the TARDIS crew and allow the viewer to see both sides of the Crusades, and lauded the guest cast, noting that "Walter Randall's El Akir is the most sinister character in the series to date". Commercial releases In print A novelisation of this serial, Dr Who and the Crusaders, was written by Whitaker, who added an extensive prologue and action. It was published by Frederick Muller Ltd in 1966, with illustrations by Henry Fox. The novel was republished by Green Dragon/Atlantic in 1967 with new illustrations by an uncredited artist. It was later reprinted by Target Books in 1973 with a cover by Chris Achilleos, by White Lion in 1975, and by W. H. Allen & Co. in 1982; the first two featured Fox's original illustrations, while the third had a new cover by Andrew Skilleter. An updated version of the novel was released in July 2011 by BBC Books, featuring a cover by Achilleos and an introduction by Charlie Higson. An audiobook of the novelisation,