Bernice Summerfield first appeared in Paul Cornell's Love and War, a novel in Virgin Publishing's New Adventures range of original Doctor Who books. When the company lost the licence to produce Doctor Who fiction in 1997, it was decided that Benny would be made the lead character.
The New Adventures ceased publication in December 1999, but Benny was revived the following year in a series of original novel and audio dramas from Big Finish Productions.
A number of anthologies and collections of original novellas have also been released by the company.
The New Adventures ceased publication in December 1999, but Benny was revived the following year in a series of original novel and audio dramas from Big Finish Productions.
A number of anthologies and collections of original novellas have also been released by the company.
Oh No it Isn't!
by Paul Cornell
Audio Adaptation
Oh No it Isn't!
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Nicholas Briggs
What could possibly go wrong on Professor Bernice Summerfield's investigation into the lost civilisation of Perfecton? Nothing, it seems — until they leave the planet and spot a dirty great missile heading towards their ship. But instead of oblivion, Benny finds herself plunged into the strange world of — panto.
Characters / Cast
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- May 1997
Back Cover Blurb
'The King's balls get bigger every year!'
Bernice Surprise Summerfield is settling into her new job as Professor of Archaeology at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah — one of the most prestigious centres of learning in the Milky Way. She wants to put the past, especially her failed marriage, behind her.
So she's glad when she gets the chance to take her tutorial group to investigate the lost civilisation of Perfecton. Three whole weeks of archaeological research in the field. The perfect way to forget your worries.
She doesn't bank on three things.
That Menlove Stokes, Professor of Applied Art, and various other academics would be along for the ride. That vicious alien marauders would decide to explore the planet at the same time. And that a reactivated Perfecton device would plunge her into a situation that can only be described as — panto.
'The King's balls get bigger every year!'
Bernice Surprise Summerfield is settling into her new job as Professor of Archaeology at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah — one of the most prestigious centres of learning in the Milky Way. She wants to put the past, especially her failed marriage, behind her.
So she's glad when she gets the chance to take her tutorial group to investigate the lost civilisation of Perfecton. Three whole weeks of archaeological research in the field. The perfect way to forget your worries.
She doesn't bank on three things.
That Menlove Stokes, Professor of Applied Art, and various other academics would be along for the ride. That vicious alien marauders would decide to explore the planet at the same time. And that a reactivated Perfecton device would plunge her into a situation that can only be described as — panto.
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Menlove Stokes
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Menlove Stokes
Audio AdaptationOh No it Isn't!
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Nicholas Briggs
- UK
- Big Finish Productions
- 2 × CD / 2 × Cassette
- 110 Minutes
- September 1998
- Audio Number: 1
CD
Back Cover Blurb
What could possibly go wrong on Professor Bernice Summerfield's investigation into the lost civilisation of Perfecton? Nothing, it seems — until they leave the planet and spot a dirty great missile heading towards their ship. But instead of oblivion, Benny finds herself plunged into the strange world of — panto.
Characters / Cast
| Professor Bernice Summerfield | Lisa Bowerman |
| Wolsey the Cat | Nicholas Courtney |
| Jayne Waspo / Bitchy | Jo Castleton |
| Michael Doran / Cute | Jonathan Brüün |
| Captain Balsam / King Rupert | Colin McIntyre |
| Lt Prince / Prince Charming | Nicholas Briggs |
| Professor Candy / Dame Candy | James Campbell |
| The Grand Vizier | Mark Gatiss |
| The Grel Master | Alistair Lock |
Notes
- Oh No It Isn't! was the first book in Virgin Publishing's New Aventures range after the loss of the Doctor Who licence in May 1997 — the final book having been Lance Parkin's Eighth Doctor story The Dying Days. The range finally came to an end in December 1999 with the publication of the twenty-third Benny novel, Twilight of the Gods.
- Oh No It Isn't! was the first of six novels from the New Adventures series to be adapted as audio plays, and their popularity was such that Big Finish went on to produce a series of original dramas featuring Benny as well as a range of novels and anthologies after Virgin dropped the New Adventures. Two of the adaptations, Birthright and Just War, were actually based on Doctor Who novels so it was necessary to re-write the stories in such a way as to avoid any copyright complications.
The high quality of the audio adaptations persuaded BBC Worldwide that Big Finish could be trusted to produce a series of original Doctor Who dramas. The first release in that series would be The Sirens of Time in July 1999. - The character of Menlove Stokes was originally created by Gareth Roberts for the 1995 Doctor Who novel The Romance of Crime, published as part of the Missing Adventures series. The very final book in that series, The Well-Mannered War — again by Roberts, saw a return for the character, at the end of which he was left on Dellah.
Dragons' Wrath
by Justin Richards
Audio Adaptation
Dragons' Wrath
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Ed Salt
Click here to see the original cover.
Professor Bernice Summerfield: 26th century archaeology professor, and tutor at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah. Prone to getting involved in adventures, scrapes and general derring-do armed only with her wits, cunning and a flask of brandy! Aged about 35ish, but frequently says she's younger. Odd that...
Romolo Nusek: 26th century overlord of Thaan, claiming to be a direct descendant of the famous Imperator, Hugo Gamalial. He needs confirmation of Gamalial's power-base and so finances an archaeological expedition to Stranturus III. If it finds the proof he requires, Nusek's power-base throughout the galaxy will be assurred...
The Gamelian Dragon: 24th century jewel-encrusted statuette captured by Gamalial from the legendary Knights of Jeneve during a skirmish that has gone down in history as the Imperator's greatest victory — the battle of Bocaro. Possession of the Dragon would appear to be important. To lose it would be an accident. To loose two would be happenstance. Somehow Benny manages to lose three — and no one is terribly impressed by that...
Characters / Cast
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- June 1997
Back Cover Blurb
'Trouble?'
'What makes you say that?'
'Oh, you know, the usual. Cordoned-off area, security guards swapping war stories,' Benny said smiling. 'The fact that you're here.'
The Gamalian Dragon — a jewel-encrusted statuette captured by the Imperator Gameliel from the Knights of Jeneve at the legendary Battle of Bocaro.
When Bernice Summerfield gets asked on an expedition by Gameliel's descendent, Romolo Nusek, it is an offer her department can't afford to let her refuse. But, as usual, there are a few problems.
For one thing, Nusek is an evil warlord out to consolidate his power by any means necessary. For another, there's a body in the Theatrology building — and the dead man has an appointment with Benny's old friend Irving Braxiatel. Most worrying of all, the Gamelian Dragon, one of the best guarded and most valuable archaeological relics in known space, seems to be lying in a battered Gladstone bag of Benny's room.
Aided only by Braxiatel and Nicholas Clyde, Benny must unravel the dragon's ancient mystery before the warlord's plans reach completion — and an assassin moves in for the kill.
'Trouble?'
'What makes you say that?'
'Oh, you know, the usual. Cordoned-off area, security guards swapping war stories,' Benny said smiling. 'The fact that you're here.'
The Gamalian Dragon — a jewel-encrusted statuette captured by the Imperator Gameliel from the Knights of Jeneve at the legendary Battle of Bocaro.
When Bernice Summerfield gets asked on an expedition by Gameliel's descendent, Romolo Nusek, it is an offer her department can't afford to let her refuse. But, as usual, there are a few problems.
For one thing, Nusek is an evil warlord out to consolidate his power by any means necessary. For another, there's a body in the Theatrology building — and the dead man has an appointment with Benny's old friend Irving Braxiatel. Most worrying of all, the Gamelian Dragon, one of the best guarded and most valuable archaeological relics in known space, seems to be lying in a battered Gladstone bag of Benny's room.
Aided only by Braxiatel and Nicholas Clyde, Benny must unravel the dragon's ancient mystery before the warlord's plans reach completion — and an assassin moves in for the kill.
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Irving Braxiatel
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Irving Braxiatel
Audio AdaptationDragons' Wrath
Adaptor: Jacqueline Rayner
Director: Ed Salt
- UK
- Big Finish Productions
- 1 × CD
- 73 Minutes
- September 2000
- Audio Number: 6
Click here to see the original cover.
CD
Back Cover Blurb
Professor Bernice Summerfield: 26th century archaeology professor, and tutor at St Oscar's University on the planet Dellah. Prone to getting involved in adventures, scrapes and general derring-do armed only with her wits, cunning and a flask of brandy! Aged about 35ish, but frequently says she's younger. Odd that...
Romolo Nusek: 26th century overlord of Thaan, claiming to be a direct descendant of the famous Imperator, Hugo Gamalial. He needs confirmation of Gamalial's power-base and so finances an archaeological expedition to Stranturus III. If it finds the proof he requires, Nusek's power-base throughout the galaxy will be assurred...
The Gamelian Dragon: 24th century jewel-encrusted statuette captured by Gamalial from the legendary Knights of Jeneve during a skirmish that has gone down in history as the Imperator's greatest victory — the battle of Bocaro. Possession of the Dragon would appear to be important. To lose it would be an accident. To loose two would be happenstance. Somehow Benny manages to lose three — and no one is terribly impressed by that...
Characters / Cast
| Professor Bernice Summerfield | Lisa Bowerman |
| Romolo Nusek | Richard Franklin |
| Nicholas Clyde | Nigel Fairs |
| Trudy Kamadrich | Jane Burke |
| Mappin Gilder | Gary Russell |
| Reddick | Jez Fielder |
Notes
- Dragon' Wrath was the sixth and final audio drama to be based on one of Virgin Publishing's New Aventures range. All further releases would be original scripts and, with a number of exceptions, would be be on one CD only.
Beyond the Sun
by Matthew Jones
Audio Adaptation
Beyond the Sun
Adaptor: Matthew Jones
Director: Gary Russell
Bernice Summerfield has drawn the short straw. Forced to take two freshers on their very first dig, her no-good ex-husband Jason turns up, claiming that he is in deadly danger and is promptly kidnapped. Bernice's only clue to his whereabouts is a dusty female-shaped statuette — reportedly part of an ancient and powerful weapon. But Bernice knows that's just silly nonsense. Lost alien civilisations do not leave their most powerful weapons lying around for any nutter to find. Or do they?
Characters / Cast
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- July 1997
Back Cover Blurb
'You're on your own, Bernice.'
Bernice Summerfield has drawn the short straw. Not for her the plaesures of intergalactic conferences and highbrow lecture tours. Oh No. She's forced to take two overlooked freshers on their very first dig. And just when it seems things can't get any worse, her no-good ex-husband Jason turns up, claiming he is in deadly danger. Benny finally begins to believe his wild claims, but unfortunately only after he has been kidnapped from his hotel room.
Feeling guilty, she sets out to rescue him. Well, lets face it, no one else is going to. Her only clue is a dusty artefact that Jason claimed was part of an ancient and powerful weapon. But Professor Bernice Summerfield PhD knows that's just silly nonsense. She's been an archaeologist long enough to know that lost alien civilisations do not leave their most powerful weapons laying around for any nutter to find. Do they?
Once again Benny is all that stands between Jason and his own mistakes, as she tries to prevent the wrong people acquiring this terrible and somewhat unlikely weapon — a weapon rumoured to have powers beyond the sun.
'You're on your own, Bernice.'
Bernice Summerfield has drawn the short straw. Not for her the plaesures of intergalactic conferences and highbrow lecture tours. Oh No. She's forced to take two overlooked freshers on their very first dig. And just when it seems things can't get any worse, her no-good ex-husband Jason turns up, claiming he is in deadly danger. Benny finally begins to believe his wild claims, but unfortunately only after he has been kidnapped from his hotel room.
Feeling guilty, she sets out to rescue him. Well, lets face it, no one else is going to. Her only clue is a dusty artefact that Jason claimed was part of an ancient and powerful weapon. But Professor Bernice Summerfield PhD knows that's just silly nonsense. She's been an archaeologist long enough to know that lost alien civilisations do not leave their most powerful weapons laying around for any nutter to find. Do they?
Once again Benny is all that stands between Jason and his own mistakes, as she tries to prevent the wrong people acquiring this terrible and somewhat unlikely weapon — a weapon rumoured to have powers beyond the sun.
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane / Emile Mars-Smith
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane / Emile Mars-Smith
Audio AdaptationBeyond the Sun
Adaptor: Matthew Jones
Director: Gary Russell
- UK
- Big Finish Productions
- 2 × CD / 2 × Cassette
- 101 Minutes
- September 1998
- Audio Number: 2
CD
Back Cover Blurb
Bernice Summerfield has drawn the short straw. Forced to take two freshers on their very first dig, her no-good ex-husband Jason turns up, claiming that he is in deadly danger and is promptly kidnapped. Bernice's only clue to his whereabouts is a dusty female-shaped statuette — reportedly part of an ancient and powerful weapon. But Bernice knows that's just silly nonsense. Lost alien civilisations do not leave their most powerful weapons lying around for any nutter to find. Or do they?
Characters / Cast
| Professor Bernice Summerfield | Lisa Bowerman |
| Miranda | Sophie Aldred |
| Doctor Kitzinger | Anneke Wills |
| Jason Kane | Stephen Fewell |
| Tameka Vito | Jane Burke |
| Emile Mars-Smith | Lewis Davis |
| Scott | Nicholas Pegg |
| Leon | Barnaby Edwards |
Notes
- Beyond the Sun was the only Benny novel to be written by Matthew Jones for the New Adventures series, although the previous year he had penned Bad Therapy, for the Doctor Who range. He later went on to write the two-part story The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit for the television series in 2006.
- Beyond the Sun saw the first appearance of Emile Mars-Smith, one of Benny's archaeology students. He would later turn up in several other titles including Deadfall, Where Angels Fear and Twilight of the Gods.
Ship of Fools
by Dave Stone
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- August 1997
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane
Back Cover Blurb
'So who do I have to kill to get off this cruise?'
When Krytell industries offered Benny a small, slightly dubious job aboard the majestic space cruise-liner, the Titanian Queen, she jumped at the chance. After all, with an unlimited expense account, an entire new wardrobe and more stings of pearls and other jewels than you could shake an Art Deco stick at, what more could a poor girl want?
That was then.
Now, the luckless if remarkably deserving passengers of the Titanian Queen are dropping like flies. Are the deaths the work of the mysterious criminal known as the Cat's Paw? Or is the super-rich Krytell himself somehow involved? And will the great detective, Emil Dupont, finally stop getting things completely and utterly wrong and solve it all in time for tea and muffins?
Whatever's happening, Benny had better discover the truth for herself, and discover it soon. Before she suddenly finds herself another highly deplorable crime statistic.
'So who do I have to kill to get off this cruise?'
When Krytell industries offered Benny a small, slightly dubious job aboard the majestic space cruise-liner, the Titanian Queen, she jumped at the chance. After all, with an unlimited expense account, an entire new wardrobe and more stings of pearls and other jewels than you could shake an Art Deco stick at, what more could a poor girl want?
That was then.
Now, the luckless if remarkably deserving passengers of the Titanian Queen are dropping like flies. Are the deaths the work of the mysterious criminal known as the Cat's Paw? Or is the super-rich Krytell himself somehow involved? And will the great detective, Emil Dupont, finally stop getting things completely and utterly wrong and solve it all in time for tea and muffins?
Whatever's happening, Benny had better discover the truth for herself, and discover it soon. Before she suddenly finds herself another highly deplorable crime statistic.
Down
by Lawrence Miles
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- September 1997
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
The People
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
The People
Back Cover Blurb
'Mankind expects pain. However it seems to outsiders.'
Tyler's Folly: a colony world on the unnatractive side of Earthspace, a planet wracked by earthquakes and plagued by off-world bodysnatchers. When the local authorities pull a bedraggled Professor Bernice Summerfield out of the ocean in an off-limits 'quake zone, they naturally want to know what she is doing there...but the professor can only mumble something about wooly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers.
According to Bernice, the planet is hollow, its interior inhabited by warring tribes of cavemen and strangely unconvincing prehistoric monsters. Some dark and ancient god rules this underground kingdom — albeit a dark and ancient god with a penchant for thirties pulp adventures and Saturday morning action serials.
Can Bernice's claims be true? Is Tyler's Folly really under threat from an ageless subterranean horror? And why does so much of her story revolve around the utterly amoral alien known as !X...?
'Mankind expects pain. However it seems to outsiders.'
Tyler's Folly: a colony world on the unnatractive side of Earthspace, a planet wracked by earthquakes and plagued by off-world bodysnatchers. When the local authorities pull a bedraggled Professor Bernice Summerfield out of the ocean in an off-limits 'quake zone, they naturally want to know what she is doing there...but the professor can only mumble something about wooly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers.
According to Bernice, the planet is hollow, its interior inhabited by warring tribes of cavemen and strangely unconvincing prehistoric monsters. Some dark and ancient god rules this underground kingdom — albeit a dark and ancient god with a penchant for thirties pulp adventures and Saturday morning action serials.
Can Bernice's claims be true? Is Tyler's Folly really under threat from an ageless subterranean horror? And why does so much of her story revolve around the utterly amoral alien known as !X...?
Notes
- Down was the first of two books for the Benny range of New Adventures to be written by Lawrence Miles. He had previously written Christmas on a Rational Planet for the Doctor Who series, and in November 1999 his Eighth Doctor Adventure novel Alien Bodies would be the creative spark that ultimately set the course of that book range until its conclusion in 2005.
Deadfall
by Gary Russell
Original Audio Story
Deadfall
Writer: Warren Martyn (Gary Russell)
Director: Nick Briggs
Insert Blurb
PENAL REFORM PROVISIONS:
SCAVENGER PROGRAMME
(EXTRACT)
"... obligation to the Galactic community and to replace the economically non-viable scrap-ships (as typified in the Garazone system), convicted criminals deemed suitable for such service shall, with a large degree of autonomy (linked to Central via the MT2X computer network), operate Scavenger ships to clear spaceways and retrieve valuable metals for the profit of the community and the financing of the penal system... The projection of a self-supporting, even profit making, penal system should be realised within three years.."
CONNOR (CHARLENE): Conv. under sect. 1&2 of the Galactic Charter Against Drug Abuse. 3 conv. for theft of company property.
GRIERSON (JENNIFER): Conv. under Special Provision 5, Galactic Public Order Charter. Also conv. for petty theft/assault.
HALLET (JAY): Conv. under Special Economic Measures Act, Conglomerate Charter, for grand fraud and theft of company property. Conv. for assault on numerous company personnel.
LLOYD (SIOBHAN): Conv. under sect. 7 of Kastor Major Social Behaviour Act. 3 prior conv. of political subversion.
TOLLAND (OLIVER): ...Ex-colonial education officer... service reactivated under Penal Reform Provisions Charter...
TOWNSEND (MARIANNE): Conv. under sect. 1&2 of Galactic Charter Against Drug Abuse. Conv. of grievous bodily harm. Charges on 7 counts of murder dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Characters / Cast
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- October 1997
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane / Chris Cwej / Emile Mars-Smith / Irving Braxiatel
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Jason Kane / Chris Cwej / Emile Mars-Smith / Irving Braxiatel
Back Cover Blurb
'We've a killer brain-eater on board, half of us are dead, and all you want to do is discuss your wretched fish. Do you sense a problem with your priorities?'
Jason Kane is out to impress his ex-wife Bernice, and he has found the perfect way of doing it. He's convinced she knows the location of the legendary planet of Ardethe — a site of untold riches and forbidden knowledge. So, after rifling through her bag for information, he sets off with his trusty crewman Emile to a barren and isolated rock.
As usual, Jason's plans go awry. Very soon people begin to die — and die quite horribly. They have awakened something beneath the planet's surface that's feasting on human brains. And when a ship full of hard-bitten female convicts arrives in the skies above the desolate world, the situation becomes even more complicated.
Someone is pulling the strings and watching the carnage. It could be any of the desperate prisoners, the reclusive crew, or the suspicious governor. Not knowing who the true foe is, Jason calls for help. Assistance arrives in the form of his old companion Christopher Cwej — just the man you'd want by your side in a tricky situation. But something terrible has happened to Chris and he can't even remember his own name.
'We've a killer brain-eater on board, half of us are dead, and all you want to do is discuss your wretched fish. Do you sense a problem with your priorities?'
Jason Kane is out to impress his ex-wife Bernice, and he has found the perfect way of doing it. He's convinced she knows the location of the legendary planet of Ardethe — a site of untold riches and forbidden knowledge. So, after rifling through her bag for information, he sets off with his trusty crewman Emile to a barren and isolated rock.
As usual, Jason's plans go awry. Very soon people begin to die — and die quite horribly. They have awakened something beneath the planet's surface that's feasting on human brains. And when a ship full of hard-bitten female convicts arrives in the skies above the desolate world, the situation becomes even more complicated.
Someone is pulling the strings and watching the carnage. It could be any of the desperate prisoners, the reclusive crew, or the suspicious governor. Not knowing who the true foe is, Jason calls for help. Assistance arrives in the form of his old companion Christopher Cwej — just the man you'd want by your side in a tricky situation. But something terrible has happened to Chris and he can't even remember his own name.
Original Audio StoryDeadfall
Writer: Warren Martyn (Gary Russell)
Director: Nick Briggs
- UK
- 2 × Cassette
- Audio Number: 20
Insert Blurb
PENAL REFORM PROVISIONS:
SCAVENGER PROGRAMME
(EXTRACT)
"... obligation to the Galactic community and to replace the economically non-viable scrap-ships (as typified in the Garazone system), convicted criminals deemed suitable for such service shall, with a large degree of autonomy (linked to Central via the MT2X computer network), operate Scavenger ships to clear spaceways and retrieve valuable metals for the profit of the community and the financing of the penal system... The projection of a self-supporting, even profit making, penal system should be realised within three years.."
CONNOR (CHARLENE): Conv. under sect. 1&2 of the Galactic Charter Against Drug Abuse. 3 conv. for theft of company property.
GRIERSON (JENNIFER): Conv. under Special Provision 5, Galactic Public Order Charter. Also conv. for petty theft/assault.
HALLET (JAY): Conv. under Special Economic Measures Act, Conglomerate Charter, for grand fraud and theft of company property. Conv. for assault on numerous company personnel.
LLOYD (SIOBHAN): Conv. under sect. 7 of Kastor Major Social Behaviour Act. 3 prior conv. of political subversion.
TOLLAND (OLIVER): ...Ex-colonial education officer... service reactivated under Penal Reform Provisions Charter...
TOWNSEND (MARIANNE): Conv. under sect. 1&2 of Galactic Charter Against Drug Abuse. Conv. of grievous bodily harm. Charges on 7 counts of murder dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Characters / Cast
| Ria | Heather Barker |
| Truman Crouch | Nigel Fairs |
| The Doctor | Nicholas Briggs |
| Tolland | Julian Harries |
| Lloyd | Amada Hurwitz |
| Townsend | Lorraine Croft |
| Connor | Helen Miller |
| Crierson | Bernadette Harper |
| Hallet | Tracy Sharpe |
| Computer | Heather Barker |
| Others | David Sax, Bill French, John Ainsworth and Julian Harries |
Notes
- Deadfall was Gary Russell's only Benny novel for the New Adventures range, although he had previously contributed Legacy to the Doctor Who series, as well as several other titles to the Missing Adventures range.
- Like Timewyrm: Revelation and Shakedown, Deadfall started life in an entirely different form entirely.
The mid-1980s saw Doctor Who fans starting to organize on a larger scale, and one group in particular saw the possibilities of creating their own stories for fans. But whereas the likes of Paul Cornell focused their energies of fan fiction, this particular group were more interested in writing their own stories to be performed — something which eventually led to no less than four seasons of unofficial audio adventures being produced, all of them being made available on cassette, and starring Nicholas Briggs as the Doctor.
The first three seasons were produced by Bill Baggs, who went on set up BBV who, in the 1990s, started to release spin-off Doctor Who dramas such as Auton, as well a range of audio dramas featuring appearances of monsters from Doctor Who (all licensed from their creators), and the rather more legally dubious adventures of The Professor and Ace...
The producer of the fourth and final season was one Gary Russell, and the opening story from that season was Deadfall, which Russell wrote himself under the name Warren Martyn — a pseudonym he would later re-use on I Can't Believe It's an Unofficial Simpsons Guide (Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com) and The Torchwood Archives (Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com).
But Deadfall wasn't the only one of the Adventures in Time and Space series that was to re-appear, although it was the only one that would eventually end up in print.
Conglomerate and More Than a Messiah were eventually produced on video as part of the Stranger series of dramas by Bill Baggs — the former being re-titled In Memory Alone.
The Mutant Phase, Minuet in Hell and Sword of Orion eventually found themselves being produced (and extensively re-written) as part of the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio plays — produced by Gary Russell, and now officially licensed.
Vilgreth became Last of the Titans, a Big Finish produced story given away on CD with issue #300 of Doctor Who Magazine in December 2001, while a new version of Nigel Fairs' Cuddlesome was given away free with issue #393 of Doctor Who Magazine in March 2008.
The Judgement of Solomon
October 1997. Bernice Summerfield short story written by Lawrence Miles. See Decalog 5: Wonders for further details.
Ghost Devices
by Simon Bucher-Jones
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- November 1997
Back Cover Blurb
In the evening when the sky was the colour of burnt umber, the factories crawled down the continental shelf to drink.
The Spire is an inhuman artefact, a constuction almost three hundred miles high. But it is more than just a big dumb object. Those close to it can look into the future — a future which is going to be arriving sooner than they think, and which is as bad as it can be.
In the here and now, Professor Bernice Summerfield, doyenne of twenty-sixth century archaeology and seedy space-port bars, is used to seeing strange objects in her rooms. So it takes the unexpected arrival of an angel to get her away from increasingly desperate deadlines and off to investigate one of the seventy-six wonders of the galaxy.
However, Benny is not the only one interested in the Spire. A mysterious race of weaponsmiths, a mutogenis assassin and a sect of fanatically anti-religious reptiles all have their reasons for learning — or concealing — the structure's secrets. And, as she struggles to unlock this ancient mystery, it soon becomes clear that the life of an eccentric professor is of very little consequence indeed.
In the evening when the sky was the colour of burnt umber, the factories crawled down the continental shelf to drink.
The Spire is an inhuman artefact, a constuction almost three hundred miles high. But it is more than just a big dumb object. Those close to it can look into the future — a future which is going to be arriving sooner than they think, and which is as bad as it can be.
In the here and now, Professor Bernice Summerfield, doyenne of twenty-sixth century archaeology and seedy space-port bars, is used to seeing strange objects in her rooms. So it takes the unexpected arrival of an angel to get her away from increasingly desperate deadlines and off to investigate one of the seventy-six wonders of the galaxy.
However, Benny is not the only one interested in the Spire. A mysterious race of weaponsmiths, a mutogenis assassin and a sect of fanatically anti-religious reptiles all have their reasons for learning — or concealing — the structure's secrets. And, as she struggles to unlock this ancient mystery, it soon becomes clear that the life of an eccentric professor is of very little consequence indeed.
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Clarence
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Clarence
Notes
- Ghost Devices was the only Benny novel to be penned by Simon Bucher-Jones, although he had previously written The Death of Art for the Doctor Who range of New Adventures in 1996. He later co-wrote The Taking of Planet 5 and Grimm Reality for the Eighth Doctor Adventures with Mark Clapham and Kelly Hale respectively.
- Ghost Devices introduces the character of Clarence, a representative of The People, who has been sent by God (see The Also People), and who is in the form of an angel. He would later re-appear in Walking to Babylon, and Where Angels Fear, and played an important part in Tears of the Oracle, The Joy Device and Twilight of the Gods, during the final set of six Benny books from Virgin.
Mean Streets
by Terrance Dicks
- UK
- Paperback
- Virgin Publishing
- December 1997
Back Cover Blurb
'It's got to be stopped; it's an abomination, a crime against humanity.'
The Project: a criminal scheme so grand in scale that it casts a shadow across a hundred worlds. So secret that none but an elusive inner circle know its nature or its purpose. It could involve drugs, computer crime or a brilliant new con. Everyone has a theory; no one really knows.
On a trip to the sprawling den of iniquity that is Megacity, an ex-Adjudicator called Roz Forrester heard of this elaborate scheme. Her interest piqued, she asked her squire to return one day with her. After all, a crime against humanity is everyone's business.
Chris Cwej is not a man to forget such a promise. His old partner may be dead, but the project will be one for her memory — a way to say goodbye. All he needs is a new confederate: someone ready to risk all for old time's sake. Fortunately it's the end of term and Professor Bernice Summerfield is looking for excitement. So, a new crime-fighting duo is forged in the bars of Dellah — one prepared to take on a faceless foe and expose the ultimate crime.
'It's got to be stopped; it's an abomination, a crime against humanity.'
The Project: a criminal scheme so grand in scale that it casts a shadow across a hundred worlds. So secret that none but an elusive inner circle know its nature or its purpose. It could involve drugs, computer crime or a brilliant new con. Everyone has a theory; no one really knows.
On a trip to the sprawling den of iniquity that is Megacity, an ex-Adjudicator called Roz Forrester heard of this elaborate scheme. Her interest piqued, she asked her squire to return one day with her. After all, a crime against humanity is everyone's business.
Chris Cwej is not a man to forget such a promise. His old partner may be dead, but the project will be one for her memory — a way to say goodbye. All he needs is a new confederate: someone ready to risk all for old time's sake. Fortunately it's the end of term and Professor Bernice Summerfield is looking for excitement. So, a new crime-fighting duo is forged in the bars of Dellah — one prepared to take on a faceless foe and expose the ultimate crime.
Regular Characters
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Chris Cwej / Garshak
Bernice Summerfield
Familiar Faces
Chris Cwej / Garshak
Notes
- Mean Streets was the only book to be written for the Bernice Summerfield range of New Adventures by Terrance Dicks.
- Mean Streets is a sequel to Dicks' earlier Doctor Who novel Shakedown, which was also set on Megarra and which had first introduced the character of Garshak, an augmented Ogron — see Day of the Daleks, Frontier in Space and the original novel The Romance of Crime.
