Deadfall (novel)

Deadfall is the sixth Virgin Bernice Summerfield New Adventures novel. It is the first novel to not feature Bernice Summerfield in the main character role; rather this novel's story focuses on Jason Kane. This also features the reappearance of Emile Mars-Smith, who acts as Jason's "companion" and who was first introduced in Beyond the Sun. This novel also reintroduces Chris Cwej, who last appeared in Lungbarrow.

Publisher's summary
"We've a killer brain-eater on board, half of us are dead, and all you want to do is discuss your wretched fish. Do you sense a problem with your priorities?"

Jason Kane is out to impress his ex-wife, Bernice, and he has found the perfect way of doing it. He's convinced she knows the location of the legendary planet of Ardethe — a site of untold riches and forbidden knowledge So, after riffling through her bag for information, he sets off with his trusty crewman Emile to a barren and isolated rock.

As usual, Jason's plans go awry. Very soon people begin to die — and die quite horribly. They have awakened something beneath the planet's surface that's feasting on human brains. And when a ship full of hard-bitten female convicts arrives in the skies above the desolate world, the situation becomes even more complicated.

Someone is pulling the strings and watching the carnage. It could be any of the desperate prisoners, the reclusive crew, or the suspicious governor. Not knowing who the true foe is, Jason calls for help. Assistance arrives in the form of his old companion Christopher Cwej — just the man you'd want by your side in a tricky situation. But something terrible has happened to Chris, and now he can't even remember his own name.

Chapter titles

 * 1) So Important
 * 2) Propaganda
 * 3) At Home, at Work, at Play
 * 4) Tryouts for the Human Race
 * 5) A Fun Bunch of Guys From Outer Space
 * 6) Throw Her Away (and Get a New One)
 * 7) I Married a Martian
 * 8) Happy Hunting Ground
 * 9) A Big Surprise
 * 10) Beat the Clock
 * 11) How Are You Getting Home?
 * 12) This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us

Plot
to be added

Characters

 * Bernice Summerfield
 * Jason Kane
 * Emile Mars-Smith
 * Chris Cwej
 * Irving Braxiatel
 * Marianne Townsend
 * Charlene Connor

Bars and pubs

 * Bernice spends most of this adventure in the Witch and Whirlwind drinking beer. Jason orders a "scotch, neat. Double."

Books

 * Bernice's sequel to Down Among the Dead Men is now called Down Among the Dead Men – Slight Return.

Conflicts

 * The Orion War is mentioned.

Places

 * Some of the cave system on Ardethe is designed like Emmanuel College.
 * The River Cam was turned into a monorail track.

Psychology

 * Prison camps sometimes use the Keller Principle which buries personality and emotions.

Species

 * The Grutcha are a canine species.
 * Jy'mli'n, the attendant of the snail mail room, is a Pakhar.

Religion

 * Emile's father is a follower of the Natural Path.

Spacecraft

 * Gossamer Wing and Mister Kiss-Kiss Bang Bang (also known as the KayBee 2) is the female prison ship.
 * Jason Kane owns a ship called the Mother Fist which he won in a game of Twister.

Continuity

 * Emile Mars-Smith mentions meeting Benny, Jason, Scott and Tameka while fighting the sunless. (PROSE: Beyond the Sun)
 * Benny and Jason haven't seen Chris Cwej since they were all on Earth's moon in PROSE: Eternity Weeps.
 * Chris last appeared in PROSE: Lungbarrow.
 * Emile has a Professor Nightshade figure. (PROSE: Nightshade)
 * Braxiatel still hasn't attended Benny and Jason's wedding, which is in Benny's past but Braxiatel's future. (PROSE: Happy Endings)
 * Ardethe is a long-dead Homeworld during the War in Heaven. (PROSE: The Story So Far...)
 * Chris doesn't remember Jason, Benny, or being an adjudicator with Roz. (PROSE: Original Sin)
 * Chris' DNA is complicated due to his bepple. (PROSE: Original Sin)
 * Mind wiping criminals was originally called the Keller principle. (TV: The Mind of Evil)
 * Baygent set up the Knights of Jeneve. (PROSE: Dragon's Wrath)
 * Roz was killed on Valhalla. (PROSE: So Vile a Sin)