Genius Loci (novel)

Last updated

Genius Loci
Genius Loci (novel).jpg
Author Ben Aaronovitch
Cover artist Adrian Salmon
Series Doctor Who book:
New Worlds
Release number
8
SubjectFeaturing:
Bernice Summerfield
Set inPeriod before Love and War
Publisher Big Finish Productions
Publication date
June 2006
ISBN 1-84435-239-0

Genius Loci is a novel by Ben Aaronovitch, focusing on the early career of Bernice "Benny" Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who . This was the first of Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield novels to be released under the New Worlds format.

The book is set before Benny met the Doctor and was not officially licensed by the BBC (as owners of Doctor Who), but does contain some allusions to Doctor Who, specifically the Silurians as depicted in the television series and in the Virgin New Adventures spin-off novels. The book also references Benny's back-story as explored in the New Adventures.

Plot summary

At the age of 21 years old, Bernice Summerfield finds herself on the run from Spacefleet and needs to have credentials to be an archaeologist. After forging her resume, she lands a job as an assistant field manager on an excavation mission on the planet Jaiwan. Her original plan was to steal information from the chief archaeologist's database, but Professor Mariela Ankola discovers her deception and gives her a chance to prove herself in the excavation. Although Benny regrets her initial plan, the professor soon begins to both trust and support her. Benny is grateful and becomes a loyal and committed Assistant Field Director.


Related Research Articles

<i>Virgin New Adventures</i> Novels based on Doctor Who, 1991 to 1999

The Virgin New Adventures are a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. They continued the story of the Doctor from the point at which the television programme went into hiatus from television in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernice Summerfield</span> Character in the Virgin New Adventures series of books

Professor Bernice Surprise Summerfield, or simply Benny, is a fictional character created by author Paul Cornell as a new companion of the Seventh Doctor in Virgin Publishing's range of original full-length Doctor Who novels, the New Adventures. The New Adventures were authorised novels carrying on from where the Doctor Who television series had left off, and Summerfield was introduced in Cornell's novel Love and War in 1992.

Lance Parkin is a British author. He is best known for writing fiction and reference books for television series, in particular Doctor Who and as a storyliner on Emmerdale.

Jacqueline Rayner is a British author, best known for her work with the licensed fiction based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Mark Michalowski is the editor of Shout!, "Yorkshire's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender paper", as well as being an author best known for his work writing spin-offs based on the BBC Television series Doctor Who. He lives and works in Leeds.

<i>Oh No It Isnt!</i> 1997 novel by Paul Cornell

Oh No It Isn't! is a novel published in 1997 by Paul Cornell from the Virgin New Adventures featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield.

<i>Walking to Babylon</i> 1998 novel by Kate Orman

Walking to Babylon is a 1998 novel by Kate Orman. It is set in the Virgin New Adventures series and features the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield.

<i>Birthright</i> (Robinson novel) 1993 novel by Nigel Robinson

Birthright is a novel by Nigel Robinson from the Virgin New Adventures. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Although part of the main run of New Adventures featuring the Seventh Doctor, the Doctor only appears in the beginning and end of the novel; most of the story involves his companions Bernice Summerfield and Ace. The events in this book occur simultaneously to those in the New Adventure Iceberg, which was written by former Doctor Who actor David Banks. A prelude to this novel was published in Doctor Who Magazine #203, penned by the author.

<i>Just War</i> (novel) 1996 novel by Lance Parkin

Just War is a novel by Lance Parkin from the Virgin New Adventures. The New Adventures were based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The novel featured the characters of the Seventh Doctor, Bernice Summerfield, Chris Cwej and Roz Forrester.

<i>Deadfall</i> (novel) 1997 novel by Gary Russell

Deadfall is an original novel by Gary Russell featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

<i>Dead Romance</i> 1999 novel by Lawrence Miles

Dead Romance is an original novel by Lawrence Miles, originally published as part of the Virgin New Adventures series. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Though part of the sequence of stories that featured the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield, this was released as something of a standalone, and she is not in it. The main character and narrator Christine Summerfield are not connected to her in any way. A former New Adventures Seventh Doctor companion, Chris Cwej, does appear. The Seventh Doctor briefly appears as "the Evil Renegade" in Chris's tampered memories.

<i>The Draconian Rage</i>

The Draconian Rage is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The story is a sequel to the Doctor Who audio adventure The Dark Flame.

<i>The Hearts Desire</i>

The Heart's Desire is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Timeless Passages is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

<i>The Worst Thing in the World</i> 2006 UK Doctor Who audio drama

The Worst Thing in the World is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

The Final Amendment is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

The Wake is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

The Adventures of the Diogenes Damsel is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Resurrecting the Past is a Big Finish Productions audio drama featuring Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, a character from the spin-off media based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.