The entire Doctor Who community was shocked earlier this year by Elisabeth Sladen’s death. The autobiography of arguably the most popular Doctor Who companion has finally been given a release date.

According to the Doctor Who News Page, “Aurum Press have announced that the autobiography of Elisabeth Sladen will be published on 7th November 2011”.

The book is available on Amazon.com (both the US and UK sites). The official description from the publisher reads, “When Elisabeth Sladen first appeared as plucky journalist Sarah Jane Smith in 1973 Doctor Who story “The Time Warrior,” little did she know the character would become one of the most enduring and fondly remembered in the series’ history. Here she shares the story of her years as Sarah Jane—traversing time and space alongside classic Doctors Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, while a generation of children crouched behind the sofa, terrified but transfixed as their heroine found herself menaced by Daleks, dinosaurs, Cybermen, man-eating alien flora, Egyptian mummies, extras in Bubble Wrap, and even the Loch Ness Monster. By the time she quit the Tardis in 1976, making front page news, Elisabeth had become one of the most familiar faces of a TV golden age. But that wasn’t the end of Sarah Jane. Elisabeth discusses the many times she has reprised her role—anniversary specials, a 1981 spin-off pilot with robotic sidekick K-9, and radio plays. She discusses touring the weird, wide, and wonderful world of Doctor Who fandom. And lastly, she shares details of Sarah Jane’s most recent incarnation—when TV wunderkind Russell T. Davies approached her to come back again, this time to a Doctor Who backed by lavish budgets and garlanded with critical plaudits, how could she possibly say no? Funny, ridiculous, insightful, and entertaining, hers is the story of another girl, another planet.”

The BBC wisely decided not to replace Sladen, and to end the Sarah Jane Adventures with the six episodes that had been shot before her death.

Matt Smith also paid tribute to Liz in this newly released video from BBC America.

Where do you think Sarah Jane Smith ranks as a Doctor Who companion? What was your favorite Sarah Jane episode?