The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel (audio story)

The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel
Main character(s):	Bernice Summerfield
Featuring:	Mycroft Holmes, Straxus
Main enemy:	Septimus
Main setting:	London, 1893
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Jim Smith
Director:	Nigel Fairs
Producer:	Eddie Robson
Music:	David Darlington
Sound:	David Darlington
Cover by:	Adrian Salmon
Release details
Story number:	43
Number of parts:	1
Release number:	3
Release date:	September 2008
Format:	1 CD
Production code:	BFPCD43
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-84435-328-6
Bernice Summerfield
← Previous	The Adolescence of Time
Next →	The Diet of Worms

The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel was the forty-third Bernice Summerfield audio story released by Big Finish Productions. It was the third story of the ninth season and featured Straxus, a Time Lord who appeared in several Doctor Who audio adventures. It was also notable for incorporating elements original to the Faction Paradox series, principally the Cwejen, introduced in The Book of the War.

Publisher's summary

Diverted to Victorian London by persons or powers unknown, twenty seventh century archaeologist, adventuress and inadvertent absent mother Bernice Summerfield finds herself beset with problems of a kind that those unused to time-travel could barely even imagine.

What are the plans of the mysterious Lord Straxus? Who is Ludvig Cooray and what has the number seven to do with all this? Can Bernice acquire the help of Mycroft Holmes, the cleverest man of the age, and more importantly how is she going to get home?

Plot

to be added

Cast

• Bernice Summerfield - Lisa Bowerman
• Mycroft Holmes - David Warner
• Straxus - Peter Miles
• Septimus - Simon Kingsley

References

• Bernice's time ring deposits her in the London Zoo. Not knowing anyone else in London, she seeks out Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. When that fails, she goes to the Diogenes Club, looking for Mycroft.
• Three Cwejen appear. They are clones of Chris Cwej created by the Time Lords.
• The Cwejen argue that Mycroft Holmes and Bernice have made their abstract plan to summon "Mister Seven" more concrete and real, via quantum mnemonics.
• Straxus regenerates.
• Straxus ponders if Bernice is "a Factional" or "a Transuranic".

Notes

• This story was recorded on 25 February 2008 at the Moat Studios.
• This marked the first appearance of the Time Lord Straxus.
• A download version of this story was released on 23 May 2022.

Continuity

• Benny previously met Sherringford Holmes, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson whilst aiding the Doctor in defeating an alien posing as the Old One Azathoth. (PROSE: All-Consuming Fire, AUDIO: All-Consuming Fire) She later met Holmes and Watson once more at her wedding to Jason Kane. (PROSE: Happy Endings)
• Bernice mentions the planet Menaxus. (PROSE: Theatre of War, AUDIO: Theatre of War)
• Bernice last encountered Chris Cwej in PROSE: Twilight of the Gods.
• Bernice was given her time ring in PROSE: Happy Endings.
• Bernice travelled to 1893 from prehistoric Earth. (AUDIO: The Adolescence of Time)
• Another incarnation of Straxus met the Eighth Doctor and his companion Lucie Miller on two occasions. (AUDIO: Human Resources, AUDIO: Sisters of the Flame / The Vengeance of Morbius) His next incarnation sent the Eighth Doctor to No Man's Land in France during World War I at the behest of the Lord President of Gallifrey. (AUDIO: The Great War)
• Straxus knows that Benny has met the Cybermen before. (AUDIO: Silver Lining)
• Bernice and Mycroft later deal with repercussions of Straxus' activity on Earth in PROSE: A Gallery of Pigeons.
• Oscar Wilde, another resident of the hotel, met the Doctor on several occasions (COMIC: Bat Attack!, Dead Man's Hand, PROSE: The Scarlet Empress, The Gallifrey Chronicles, AUDIO: The Sword of the Chevalier)

External links

• Official The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel page at bigfinish.com
• The Adventure of the Diogenes Damsel at the Doctor Who Reference Guide