'Who but Professor Bernice Summerfield, interstellar archaeologist, raconteur, boozer and wit, would get other people to write her autobiography -- albeit under threat of death from two bounty hunters sent by a publisher far too concerned about little things like deadlines?
These stories are an ideal introduction to the life of Bernice Summerfield: falling off cliffs, getting sacrificed to orange pygmies, saving the universe and trying to buy a new frock.
Cliffhanging escapes! Adventure on distant planets! Scones for tea!'
Source: drwhoguide.com (http://www.drwhoguide.com/bs_n01.htm). Sighted: 19/5/11.
'Benny finally returns to Capella Four, a small planet where she once suffered a terrible accident while she was still a young archaeologist trying to make a name for herself. She believed Capella Four to be the world where the last of the Aurigans had left their cliff paintings; by locating them she hoped to be the first to find actual proof of the Aurigans' existence, as the species had left only rumours, legends and hearsay of their existence before vanishing from the galaxy. However, while blinded by the planet's double sun she walked over a cliff and fell twenty metres, breaking both of her legs and losing her communications link. Cut off from help, she managed to use her portable medical kit to stave off shock and inflate an auto-splint, but then had to crawl back up the cliff to get back to her ship. Fortunately, the splint apparently reset her legs as she slept, and the native insect life proved to be edible. Although it took her several days, Benny managed to weave a rope from ferns and pull herself up over the edge of the cliff, and although she then passed out, a rescue team arrived in response to a distress call she didn't remember sending. This time, she is far more careful, and is not so reckless and eager to make a name for herself. And this time, the programme which the Aurigans left in the crystalline computers finally interfaces with her, generating a hologram which tells her that the cliff paintings are in fact softward icons. Although the Aurigan programmes set Benny's legs and sent a distress call for her, they were unable to help her over the cliff; fortunately, she was able to do that all by herself. Benny promises to treat their history and legacy with respect, and they allow her to report her findings back to the Braxiatel Collection.'
Source: drwhoguide.com (http://www.drwhoguide.com/bs_n01.htm). Sighted: 19/5/11
