Benny crashlands on a lifeless planet. Lifeless, that is, except for the robotic animals, big game hunters and ruthless corporate administrators.
Benny crashlands on a lifeless planet. Lifeless, that is, except for the robotic animals, big game hunters and ruthless corporate administrators.
Bernice Summerfield and the Big Hunt
Bernice Summerfield and the Big Hunt is a short, side step adventure from Lance Parkin. After the traumatic events of the last book and the fallout from Death and the Daleks, its about time we saw Bernice back doing what she does best; having adventures.
The key word of the Big Hunt is, by and large, refreshment. The story cuts loose from the collection, starting with Bernice naked on a holiday planet, just enjoying being alone for once. With no Braxiatel or Adrian around, Parkin crafts his own arm of the galaxy for Bernice to explore, albeit with ‘slight’ references to some of his older Bernice works for the virgin range. The plot itself is fairly simple, but exceptionally well told throughout with good pacing that throws a new discovery or danger at her every chapter.
Although he initially pulls you in with a fairly sedate proposition, a quest for Bernice to engage upon, the novel really doesn’t kick off until they actually arrive on the planet. Parkin constantly alters the setting, showing how his characters react as the world alters around them. For a few chapters he writes a horror story, with Benny, Flynn and Johansen terrified by something ‘trying’ to get in. Then it becomes a puzzle with their ship mysteriously vanished and them trapped on an alien world. Then Parkin avoids pulling punches by mercilessly killing off one of his characters whilst the others watch.
I’m not sure how much characterisation Parkin gave his cast at this point. He has vary natural and real dialogue, everyone acts and responds to each other in perfectly believable ways. However aside from Benny I don’t think anyone in the story really gets explored properly, there’s no exploration or real significance behind anyone else besides the role they have to play.
With the death of one of the crew the stakes are altered again, with the introduction of the titular hunt. Parkin paints a vivid, imaginative world that keeps reminding me of that scene in the Lost World where the hunters are introduced, speeding onto the island in jeeps, using nets and tranquiliser darts to take down the unsuspecting herbivores.
Parkin keeps his cast mobile throughout, slowly uncovering layer after layer of mystery. The actual answer at the bottom isn’t particularly satisfactory, but the journey is definitely colourful, and if the image of a mechanical crocodile that opens its mouth and there’s just as buzzsaw inside doesn’t freak you out then I don’t know what will.
The book has a flair for imagination, drawing amusing parallels to evolution and applying it mercilessly to a robotic kingdom. At the end there’s also a corrupt businessman and a double cross, followed by a fairly traumatic spider. If I’ve a complaint it’s that there’s no real depth given to the villains here. Parkin applies the same evolutionary rules to his humans as he does his robots, his cast acting as directed by their nature. Of course the corrupt businessman has an underhand scheme to make profit. Of course the hunting crew are being paid to do this. Of course Bernice has to stop them, because she knows better. However, even if there’s nothing deep happening beneath the surface, the text remains brilliantly readable and engaging throughout and the change of pace is welcome after the last few books.
This book reflects the same changes that have been going on in the audio series. It’s much bolder and confident than its predecessors, speaking with a clarity of voice and purpose. It’s not necessary to read to keep up with Bernice’s continuing adventures, but it is a good reminder of why you should.
8 / 10