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Bernice Summerfield: Virgin New Adventures #3
Beyond the Sun
Bernice Summerfield's no-good ex-husband claims to be in deadly danger. Unfortunately, Benny does not believe him until he is kidnapped. Feeling guilty she sets off to rescue him. Her only clue is a dusty artifact that Jason claimed was part of an ancient weapon, rumored to have powers beyond the sun.
295 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
1 person is currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Jones
9 books1 followerSee also: Matt Jones
Matthew David Jones is a British television writer and producer. He got his start writing articles for Doctor Who Magazine in the 1990s, and went on to write Doctor Who fiction for Virgin Books and Big Finish Productions.
Matthew David Jones is a British television writer and producer. He got his start writing articles for Doctor Who Magazine in the 1990s, and went on to write Doctor Who fiction for Virgin Books and Big Finish Productions.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 9, 2024
Completely surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel of Beyond the Sun as well as the audio. It was so easy to dive into and the Sunless are absolutely terrifying, certainly, one of my favourite villains in the world of Bernice Summerfield and Matthew Jones knows how to write a gripping, dystopian science fiction world.
Absolutely brilliant and completely blown away by it.
Absolutely brilliant and completely blown away by it.
June 6, 2021
Beyond the Sun is a loaded title. To Doctor Who fans it is a small reference to the second serial, The Daleks, which used the title on certain paperwork in the early stage as well as being associated with The Edge of Destruction in some circles. For the first story that goes outside of the planet Earth and into a fictional solar system beyond the sun, it is a fitting title, but Matthew Jones using it for the third Bernice Summerfield New Adventure is an interesting trick. It makes the reader think this is going to be something about going light years away, but beyond here is used more closely to having power more than a sun. Power and the power of people is essentially the theme of the book here, as Jones crafts an alien civilization built around living as a family unit of eight. The Eights make for an interesting society and Jones includes a commentary on capitalism and consumerism, as the planet Ursu is under the thumb of the Sunless and profiteers. Jason Kane has found himself kidnapped by someone, initially thought to be Dr. Kitzinger who has been experimenting on the native population, as he became too close to stopping the finding of an ultimate weapon. Benny has to go and rescue him, taking two students along for the ride as they were on a makeup course at the time. The plot itself is relatively simple, and that’s where Matthew Jones’ work actually succeeds, in providing a framework for interesting character exploration and dynamics.
Benny and Jason’s relationship as it stands post-Eternity Weeps is first explored here. They were divorced by editors who believed that in becoming the lead to her own series, Benny shouldn’t have been tied down to a husband. This is clearly seen as a mistake by Jones as he, along with Paul Cornell and Justin Richards when bringing up Jason in previous books, shows Benny still longing for Jason. She drops everything once she hears that he has gotten himself into trouble and is ready to save his life. He becomes her motivation for doing everything, but Benny also finds caring and tries to do the right thing. She understands the importance of preserving culture and teaching history through archeology. Once she meets the person who is built up as the big bad villain, her own skepticism is confirmed when Dr. Kitzinger is revealed to being a woman who is just trying to help. Kitzinger may not be the best person, but she is trying her best and that’s really all anyone can ask for. Her interludes are excellent, Jones giving us several pieces of ambiguity building up the mystery of the Blooms, the Sunless, and the Eight. The first third or so sets up the two major supporting characters, Emile Mars-Smith and Tameka Vito.
Tameka is an interesting look at a teenage girl: choosing archeology because she finds it interesting, but finding herself out of her own depth and disliking the process of learning. She believes in the uselessness of being taught to discover knowledge, even if that knowledge is already known by the greater scientific community. It allows the childishness to be brought out while still making her a realistic university student. Emile, on the other hand, doesn’t have a formed identity at the start of the book, which isn’t a bad thing, as he is the son of a higher up in one of the corporations and is taking archeology for similar reasons. He is also deep in the closet, and Beyond the Sun chronicles him as he discovers his sexuality. There is denial throughout most of the book, before he finally sees the love between the Eight, especially Scott and Leon. This is a familial love, but as it is an untraditional form of love and not the traditional sort, it gives Emile the strength and first steps to understanding himself. The Eight, with Scott in particular, are never stated to be pansexual, but that is what Jones is getting at and are comfortable enough to use sex as a connection. The sex itself is also not actually included in any gratuitous manner, it is simply described in terms of the emotions the characters are feeling which is an introspective viewpoint to take. There are a few points where the fear becomes Jones creating a love triangle, however, that really doesn’t come to pass. Scott, Leon, Michael, and Iranda are the members of the particular Eight that Beyond the Sun is following and they each have their own characterization with their own goals. This Eight is technically a Ten, though the other six members aren’t ever shown, but are named as being important.
Overall, Beyond the Sun is actually a beautiful little tale which examines what Benny and Jason’s relationship actually means, how it feels to come to terms with oneself and one’s place, and how to adapt to change without losing sight of one’s principles. Sure there is one large reference to the earlier VNAs but really it continues a streak showing just how well Benny works without the Doctor. 9/10.
Benny and Jason’s relationship as it stands post-Eternity Weeps is first explored here. They were divorced by editors who believed that in becoming the lead to her own series, Benny shouldn’t have been tied down to a husband. This is clearly seen as a mistake by Jones as he, along with Paul Cornell and Justin Richards when bringing up Jason in previous books, shows Benny still longing for Jason. She drops everything once she hears that he has gotten himself into trouble and is ready to save his life. He becomes her motivation for doing everything, but Benny also finds caring and tries to do the right thing. She understands the importance of preserving culture and teaching history through archeology. Once she meets the person who is built up as the big bad villain, her own skepticism is confirmed when Dr. Kitzinger is revealed to being a woman who is just trying to help. Kitzinger may not be the best person, but she is trying her best and that’s really all anyone can ask for. Her interludes are excellent, Jones giving us several pieces of ambiguity building up the mystery of the Blooms, the Sunless, and the Eight. The first third or so sets up the two major supporting characters, Emile Mars-Smith and Tameka Vito.
Tameka is an interesting look at a teenage girl: choosing archeology because she finds it interesting, but finding herself out of her own depth and disliking the process of learning. She believes in the uselessness of being taught to discover knowledge, even if that knowledge is already known by the greater scientific community. It allows the childishness to be brought out while still making her a realistic university student. Emile, on the other hand, doesn’t have a formed identity at the start of the book, which isn’t a bad thing, as he is the son of a higher up in one of the corporations and is taking archeology for similar reasons. He is also deep in the closet, and Beyond the Sun chronicles him as he discovers his sexuality. There is denial throughout most of the book, before he finally sees the love between the Eight, especially Scott and Leon. This is a familial love, but as it is an untraditional form of love and not the traditional sort, it gives Emile the strength and first steps to understanding himself. The Eight, with Scott in particular, are never stated to be pansexual, but that is what Jones is getting at and are comfortable enough to use sex as a connection. The sex itself is also not actually included in any gratuitous manner, it is simply described in terms of the emotions the characters are feeling which is an introspective viewpoint to take. There are a few points where the fear becomes Jones creating a love triangle, however, that really doesn’t come to pass. Scott, Leon, Michael, and Iranda are the members of the particular Eight that Beyond the Sun is following and they each have their own characterization with their own goals. This Eight is technically a Ten, though the other six members aren’t ever shown, but are named as being important.
Overall, Beyond the Sun is actually a beautiful little tale which examines what Benny and Jason’s relationship actually means, how it feels to come to terms with oneself and one’s place, and how to adapt to change without losing sight of one’s principles. Sure there is one large reference to the earlier VNAs but really it continues a streak showing just how well Benny works without the Doctor. 9/10.
July 8, 2018
It's been a *long* time since I read a Benny book.
Indeed, this is the third of the Doctor-less New Adventures and, even though I bought it when it was published (in 1997), this is the first time I have read it!
I happened upon my box of non-Doctor Who spin-off fiction and thought that it's probably about time!
I remember enjoying the second one, years ago, when I read it and this one was no different. However, whilst it's clearly sci-fi (ex-time travelling archaeologist living far in the fuiture, travels the galaxy on archaeological adventures), it's difficult to pin down what sort of book this is.
We have ex-husbands, students out of their depth, a mysteriously off-limits planet (with invaders, interesting aliens, with even more interesting/unique culture and life-cycle), high speed chases, jealous gays, mysterious crystal icons, etc.
But whilst there is indeed a plot, there also appears to be a lot of time put into people's thoughts, feelings and interactions, which I really quite enjoyed. We have Benny observing her feelings for her ex-husband (very confused), we have two very different students, pretty much discovering their sexualities (one being sassy almost emo girl, who discovers what it is to be infatuated (with someone who is 'just casual' abnout it all, and a young man discovering that he's gay), we have a good deal of exposure to how a different culture thinks and what they think of those (of us) who's culture is alien to them.
So, all in all a good book. There were som exciting scenes, some funny scenes and some sad scenes, but I do think that the end could have been a bit more in depth. Maybe it was me, but it hurtled along, once the end game was in motion.
The other interesting thing was that I was not expecting a reference of the Doctor . An almost-reference to Benny's previous experiences (of adventures in far flung corners of space and time) was touched upon, but it was really only a passing comment, that felt natural and not at all a nod, or a wink.
So, yeah, good stuff. I wonder if the range continues to build on it's characters, new direction & budding mythos...
Indeed, this is the third of the Doctor-less New Adventures and, even though I bought it when it was published (in 1997), this is the first time I have read it!
I happened upon my box of non-Doctor Who spin-off fiction and thought that it's probably about time!
I remember enjoying the second one, years ago, when I read it and this one was no different. However, whilst it's clearly sci-fi (ex-time travelling archaeologist living far in the fuiture, travels the galaxy on archaeological adventures), it's difficult to pin down what sort of book this is.
We have ex-husbands, students out of their depth, a mysteriously off-limits planet (with invaders, interesting aliens, with even more interesting/unique culture and life-cycle), high speed chases, jealous gays, mysterious crystal icons, etc.
But whilst there is indeed a plot, there also appears to be a lot of time put into people's thoughts, feelings and interactions, which I really quite enjoyed. We have Benny observing her feelings for her ex-husband (very confused), we have two very different students, pretty much discovering their sexualities (one being sassy almost emo girl, who discovers what it is to be infatuated (with someone who is 'just casual' abnout it all, and a young man discovering that he's gay), we have a good deal of exposure to how a different culture thinks and what they think of those (of us) who's culture is alien to them.
So, all in all a good book. There were som exciting scenes, some funny scenes and some sad scenes, but I do think that the end could have been a bit more in depth. Maybe it was me, but it hurtled along, once the end game was in motion.
The other interesting thing was that I was not expecting a reference of the Doctor . An almost-reference to Benny's previous experiences (of adventures in far flung corners of space and time) was touched upon, but it was really only a passing comment, that felt natural and not at all a nod, or a wink.
So, yeah, good stuff. I wonder if the range continues to build on it's characters, new direction & budding mythos...
June 1, 2025
It was a decent read. The characters are definitely more interesting than the plot though. Emile and Tameka were gold, and it's great that they both become recurring characters after their introduction here, and I liked the portrayal of Ursuan culture.
The plot was average. A villainous race wants to control a super weapon to dominate the universe - a premise done a thousand times in this franchise already. The ending also left me feeling like "Oh, okay. I guess that's that then."
But overall, I enjoyed following these characters and seeing more of an exploration of Bernice's moral compass. Matt Jones characterized her nearly as well as her creator, Paul Cornell, did.
As far as storytelling is concerned though, Jones' televised two-parter, "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit", was much stronger, and since rumour has it he will novelised that script next year, I have higher hopes for that. But still, overall, a worthwhile read.
The plot was average. A villainous race wants to control a super weapon to dominate the universe - a premise done a thousand times in this franchise already. The ending also left me feeling like "Oh, okay. I guess that's that then."
But overall, I enjoyed following these characters and seeing more of an exploration of Bernice's moral compass. Matt Jones characterized her nearly as well as her creator, Paul Cornell, did.
As far as storytelling is concerned though, Jones' televised two-parter, "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit", was much stronger, and since rumour has it he will novelised that script next year, I have higher hopes for that. But still, overall, a worthwhile read.
May 6, 2017
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyon...
I listened to an audio version of this, it was not very good, but good enough. I liked the story,though it was simplistic. A space faring archaeologist has come across some interesting finds where she is. Then he husband came for a visit. He had something for her care for, an artifact from some other world. But by morning he was gone, kidnapped she assumed. Then the police came, arrested her on some charge, then let her go, as it was really nothing to them. She proceeds to some world, Ursa (Bear?), a proscribed world for some reason, and proceeds to (unwittingly) tear everything apart there.
As it happens there is a bit of misunderstanding in the end, so everyone is safe, and all is well. Ho-hum.
It can be seen by the sexual mores how modern this story is.
I listened to an audio version of this, it was not very good, but good enough. I liked the story,though it was simplistic. A space faring archaeologist has come across some interesting finds where she is. Then he husband came for a visit. He had something for her care for, an artifact from some other world. But by morning he was gone, kidnapped she assumed. Then the police came, arrested her on some charge, then let her go, as it was really nothing to them. She proceeds to some world, Ursa (Bear?), a proscribed world for some reason, and proceeds to (unwittingly) tear everything apart there.
As it happens there is a bit of misunderstanding in the end, so everyone is safe, and all is well. Ho-hum.
It can be seen by the sexual mores how modern this story is.
October 5, 2018
This book is excellent, and not just by the admittedly lower standards I apply to a beloved spin-off series of a beloved TV tie-in series. The characters and setting have tremendous depth, and are used extremely well in service to both the stories and the themes. It's also unapologetically political, in the sense that it is about how communities organize themselves, what obligations individuals owe to each other within a community, how communities resolve internal conflicts, and how they differentiate themselves from outsiders. Real politics, in other words, as opposed to the desiccated reality show that passes for politics on cable news. And for all of that, it also has a very sharp, clear and compelling story.
I usually don't bother writing reviews for "Doctor Who" and "Doctor Who" related novels. I usually don't bother writing reviews at all. But this book is exceptional.
I usually don't bother writing reviews for "Doctor Who" and "Doctor Who" related novels. I usually don't bother writing reviews at all. But this book is exceptional.
July 13, 2017
This was not a good book. Far too many plots that didn't connect, too many characters with too many assumptions and too many missing details. The main character is interesting, but so much else is not.
The basic idea for the plot is good, but very poorly realized.
The basic idea for the plot is good, but very poorly realized.
June 28, 2025
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1346818.html
I only realised after reading this that I had already heard the excellent audio adaptation which includes Sophie Aldred and Anneke Wills. The original book is very good too, and I think would be reasonably penetrable for someone who hadn't previously followed the Bernice Summerfield stories. Nicely observed emotional politics between and among Benny and her students, and the various aliens with whom Benny's ex gets them involved. To a certain extent I felt it was the story that Colony In Space should have been. A good one (only the second Benny novel I have read, the first being the equally enjoyable Walking to Babylon).
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/beyond-the-sun-by-matthew-jones/
I wondered if a return visit will work? And it did; as well as the nicely judged emotional and physical perils of Benny and her students, there’s a particularly wacky alien reproduction process which often results in hot-looking humanoids, and a deceptive Ancient Weapon. One of the good ones.
I only realised after reading this that I had already heard the excellent audio adaptation which includes Sophie Aldred and Anneke Wills. The original book is very good too, and I think would be reasonably penetrable for someone who hadn't previously followed the Bernice Summerfield stories. Nicely observed emotional politics between and among Benny and her students, and the various aliens with whom Benny's ex gets them involved. To a certain extent I felt it was the story that Colony In Space should have been. A good one (only the second Benny novel I have read, the first being the equally enjoyable Walking to Babylon).
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/beyond-the-sun-by-matthew-jones/
I wondered if a return visit will work? And it did; as well as the nicely judged emotional and physical perils of Benny and her students, there’s a particularly wacky alien reproduction process which often results in hot-looking humanoids, and a deceptive Ancient Weapon. One of the good ones.
August 12, 2013
Two very different archaelogy students are sent to study under the famous Bernice Summerfield - and end up digging up fossiled faeces on a deserted planet of mud! Enter Bernice's ex-husband, with a mysterious artefact and a story of woe. He is promptly kidnapped and the unlikely trio head off to find him, crashing on the forbidden planet of Ursu. Here, the Sunless have enslaved the once happy natives and have stolen The Blooms, ancient cloning machines through which the Ursuan's reproduce. Not only has Bernice got find her husband, keep her students safe and find a way back home, but also save the whole universe from a doomsday weapon the Sunless will do anything to build!
A great piece of SF. Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft meets Luke Skywalker! The story just kept on moving and I loved the way it was constructed. The ending was cool - I think I guessed it the first time I read this, but it was still as good on the second read
A great piece of SF. Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft meets Luke Skywalker! The story just kept on moving and I loved the way it was constructed. The ending was cool - I think I guessed it the first time I read this, but it was still as good on the second read
March 19, 2017
I did enjoy this book, although I feel it did Ursula Le Guin a bit of a disservice. The anarchistic society on Ursu was clearly modelled after Le Guin's book 'The Dispossessed' (even using the name 'Ursulan', but didn't really go into any of the qualities that make 'The Dispossessed' such a good book. It was used simply as an exotic backdrop for the story, which is a bit of a shame really.
The story wasn't bad (although Emile and Tomeka have to be two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered) and liked the 'Visionaries' idea, especially how it was put to use. I did feel that the Ursulans were maybe a bit too sanguine about being occupied by the Sunless, but generally it was well executed.
The story wasn't bad (although Emile and Tomeka have to be two of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered) and liked the 'Visionaries' idea, especially how it was put to use. I did feel that the Ursulans were maybe a bit too sanguine about being occupied by the Sunless, but generally it was well executed.
June 19, 2016
A very strong adventure in the Bernice Summerfield catalog. I found the relationship between Benny and her two students very entertaining and enjoyable, and felt that their characters developed significantly over the course of the novel. The overall plot was a bit pedestrian, but one can overlook that when considering the wonderful philosophical and social viewpoints that are regularly discussed or argued by the main characters. Overall: a good, solid read.
August 6, 2011
An absolutely amazing book. One of the best Benny books there is (frankly its a fight between this and Walking to Babylon as too which is the best of the series)
March 15, 2016
An enjoyable read with a strong story, but slightly let down by a few too many coincidences. Nevertheless I love Benny so it was great to 'see' her again.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews