Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Glass Prison (novel)

 was the fifth novel published by Big Finish Productions as part of their Bernice Summerfield series. This was the final paperback Bernice Summerfield novel published by Big Finish and also the last full length Bernice Summerfield novel published for some time, until 2004's The Big Hunt. This novel features the birth of Bernice Summerfield's son Peter with the naming ceremony for him featuring cameos of several characters going back to Virgin's Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures range. This is writer Jacqueline Rayner's second original contribution to the Bernice Summerfield range.

Publisher's summary
Don't ever annoy the Fifth Axis. They might throw you into the Glass Prison on Deirbhile — and then throw away the key.

Once you're inside, there's nowhere to hide. They can see your every movement. They control you. You're going to be watched for the rest of your life, wherever you go, whoever you are. Even if you're a professor of archaeology. Even if you're a friend of the famous Irving Braxiatel, and you've written several popular coffee-table books.

Even if you're pregnant. Even if your baby's due any day now.

But, of course, they know all about your baby. And they're planning to take it away.

That is, if the loony cultists you’re locked up with don’t get it first.

Plot
to be added

Characters

 * Bernice Summerfield
 * Claire
 * Sophia
 * Grippa
 * The Wolf
 * Kolonel Daglan Straklant
 * Dr Doom
 * Irving Braxiatel
 * Joseph
 * Jason Kane
 * Adrian Wall
 * Isaac Summerfield
 * Michael Doran
 * Jayne Waspo
 * Emile Mars-Smith
 * Tameka Vito
 * Chris Cwej
 * Starl Stanmore
 * Shell
 * Arko
 * Forno
 * Avril Fenman

Culture

 * Claire weaves a blanket from her fur for Benny's baby (it's a Pakhar tradition).
 * "The Wolf" is head honcho in the women's prison and leader of a cult.

Individuals

 * Claire, as a Pakhar, is shorter than Benny, coming up to her waist.
 * Benny's nickname for Jason is "Mr Rabbit" and not because he's got long floppy ears and a twitchy nose.
 * Grippa is a Fifth Axis plant whom Benny and Claire share a cell with.
 * Daglan Straklant has been in the Glass Prison for ten months or so. He now has long hair and a beard.


 * Benny's father Isaac Summerfield attends the naming of Benny's baby.
 * Former students Michael Doran, Jayne Waspo, Emile Mars-Smith, and Tameka Vito (with her son Scott) also attend.
 * Keri, Benny's Pakhar friend is also present (she was also at Benny's wedding).
 * As do Starl Stanmore, Arko, Forno and Shell, whom Benny met on Venedel.
 * Chris Cwej also appears, looking decidedly older than Benny last saw him.


 * Benny names her baby Peter Guy Summerfield. His middle name is in honour of Guy de Carnac, whom Benny once loved (c.f. PROSE: Sanctuary).
 * Wolsey likes to sunbathe in Mr Croton's greenhouse.

Locations

 * The Fifth Axis hold the planet Deirbhile as a strategic position, and for its Glass Prison made of an impregnable glass (except to a half-human, half Killoran baby's scream).

Medicine

 * Bernice Summerfield gives birth (via C-section in a prison) to her half-Killoran half human baby.
 * Clare is midwife for Bernice and her baby.

Objects

 * Irving Braxiatel was going to build a birthing pool for Benny.

Organisations

 * The Fifth Axis appears to have been defeated.
 * It is standard procedure for the Fifth Axis to torture its prisoners, Claire included.

Species

 * Claire (aka Clar'atol) is a Pakhar.
 * Pakhars generally wash themselves with their tongues.
 * Sophia is a Grel.
 * The Aseks are featureless, colourless humanoids employed by the Fifth Axis as wardens in the Glass Prison.
 * Terpsechians are walrus-sized aliens.

Technology

 * Sophia (a Grel) uses her dataaxe to kill the Fifth Axis Imperarator.

Television series

 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in its 792nd season.

Vehicles

 * Irving Braxiatel has bought himself a space yacht.

Continuity

 * Benny was impregnated by Adrian Wall when Avril body-swapped her in PROSE: The Squire's Crystal.
 * Jason returned to this universe in PROSE: The Infernal Nexus.
 * Benny met and then subsequently made sure Kolonel Daglan Straklant of the Fifth Axis was placed in prison in PROSE: The Doomsday Manuscript.
 * Benny gives her son the middle name Guy after Guy de Carnac, whom she met in PROSE: Sanctuary.
 * Michael Doran, Jayne Waspo first appeared in PROSE: Oh No It Isn't!.
 * Tameka first appeared in PROSE: Beyond the Sun.
 * Emile Mars-Smith also first appeared in Beyond the Sun and last appeared in PROSE: Twilight of the Gods.
 * Jason laments that Peter's naming is like his and Bernice's wedding (PROSE: Happy Endings).
 * Shell, Arko, Forno and Starl Stanmore appeared in PROSE: The Gods of the Underworld.
 * Chris Cwej last appeared in PROSE: Twilight of the Gods, in which he was physically and temporally (though not mentally) regressed to the age of approximately thirteen.
 * The Fifth Axis returns in PROSE: Life During Wartime and AUDIO: Death and the Daleks.
 * Benny mentions the cricket match at her wedding. Jason said that the last time he didn't know half the people in attendance at a formal affair was the his wedding. Their wedding occurs in PROSE: Happy Endings