A Question of Identity (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|name=A Question of Identity
|featuring      = [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]]
|series=[[Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series]]
|enemy          = [[Leader (A Question of Identity)|Leader]]
|main character=[[Bernice Summerfield]]
|setting       = [[Braxiatel Collection]], [[2599]]<ref>In ''[[Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Doomsday Manuscript (novel)|Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Doomsday Manuscript]]'', Benny says that the business with the Delvians (i.e. the events of ''A Question of Identity'') was a few weeks ago.</ref>
|featuring= [[Irving Braxiatel]]
|writer         = Caroline Symcox
|setting=[[Braxiatel Collection]], late [[2599]]
|anthology      = The Dead Men Diaries (anthology)
|writer=[[Caroline Symcox]]
|release date  = September 2000
|publication=''[[The Dead Men Diaries]]''
|series        = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories
|prev= none
|next          = Steal from the World (short story)
|next=Steal from the World (short story)
|series2        = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]''
}}'''''A Question of Identity''''' was the first story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[The Dead Men Diaries]]''. It was written by [[Caroline Symcox]].
|prev2          = Dragons' Wrath (audio story)
== Summary ==
|next2          = Steal from the World (short story)
Benny, newly settled as the [[Braxiatel Collection]]'s staff archaeologist, is trying very very hard to put her adventuring days behind her and be a Serious Academic. Yet when an unexpected mystery surfaces at a party Brax has thrown for some visiting academics, it tests not only Benny's resolve to forswear adventures but also the fabric of her gorgeous new frock...
}}
'''''A Question of Identity''''' was a [[2000 (releases)|2000]] short story written by [[Caroline Symcox]] and released as the first story in the ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' anthology ''[[The Dead Men Diaries (anthology)|The Dead Men Diaries]]''.
 
== Synopsis ==
''To be added''
 
== Plot ==
[[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]], newly settled as the [[Braxiatel Collection]]'s staff [[archaeologist]], dedicates herself to research and study in an attempt to become a serious academic and put her adventuring days behind her. She accepts [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]]'s invitation to [[dinner]] with [[professor]]s from the [[Delvian Academy]], being bored of paperwork, and buys an expensive [[dress]] for the occasion to ensure that she looks elegant.
 
At the dinner, Benny drinks only [[mineral water]] until [[Hayes (A Question of Identity)|Professor Hayes]] criticises her book, after which she takes to drinking several glasses of [[white wine]] and drunkenly talks to [[Erich Fromm]] about her own attempts to find a link between [[Traxis Four]] and [[Traxis Six]]. He abruptly excuses himself and, embarrassed, Benny leaves and is accosted by [[Guy Chisholm]], an enthusiastic student of [[archaeology]] who idolises her and explains that she was his inspiration. The two come across an unconscious guard and Guy drags Benny towards the [[library]] to investigate despite her arguing that they should contact security.
 
Realising that she is unhappy in her life as a serious academic, Benny sends Guy to get security and goes to the library herself. She finds the intruder taking a [[book]] on Traxis Four and Traxis Six from her work station and knocks him out after he tears her dress, after which she sees that it is Fromm. Braxiatel arrives with his guards and explains that he was aware that the Delvian Academy has been stealing from other researchers to delay their progress and ensure that they can publish their findings first, but the trap he laid was almost unsuccessful because of Benny moving the book.
 
Benny comes to terms with the fact that she will always be an adventurer and returns to dinner, where she insults Professor Hayes and [[kiss]]es Guy on the way out.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
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* [[Erich Fromm]]
* [[Erich Fromm]]
* [[Guy Chisholm]]
* [[Guy Chisholm]]
* Professor [[Hayes (A Question of Identity)|Hayes]]
* [[Hayes (A Question of Identity)|Professor Hayes]]
* [[Mason (A Question of Identity)|Mason]]
* [[Leader (A Question of Identity)|Leader]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Ten artefacts from the expedition to [[Traxis Six]] in [[2205]] now reside in the [[Braxiatel Collection]].
* Ten artefacts from the expedition to [[Traxis Six]] in [[2205]] now reside in the [[Braxiatel Collection]].
* Benny drinks [[mineral water]] and [[white wine]].
* Mason, Fromm and the leader are members of the [[Comparative Religion Society]] at the [[Delvian Academy]].
* Benny's first academic publication was ''[[The Traxian Paradox: A New Perspective]]''.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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''to be added''
''to be added''


{{prose stub}}
== Footnotes ==
{{TitleSort}}
{{reflist}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Bernice Summerfield stories]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 26th century]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the Braxiatel Collection]]
[[Category:Short stories set on the Braxiatel Collection]]
[[Category:2000 short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2599]]
[[Category:The Dead Men Diaries short stories]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]

Latest revision as of 19:50, 2 March 2024

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A Question of Identity was a 2000 short story written by Caroline Symcox and released as the first story in the Bernice Summerfield anthology The Dead Men Diaries.

Synopsis[[edit]]

To be added

Plot[[edit]]

Benny, newly settled as the Braxiatel Collection's staff archaeologist, dedicates herself to research and study in an attempt to become a serious academic and put her adventuring days behind her. She accepts Braxiatel's invitation to dinner with professors from the Delvian Academy, being bored of paperwork, and buys an expensive dress for the occasion to ensure that she looks elegant.

At the dinner, Benny drinks only mineral water until Professor Hayes criticises her book, after which she takes to drinking several glasses of white wine and drunkenly talks to Erich Fromm about her own attempts to find a link between Traxis Four and Traxis Six. He abruptly excuses himself and, embarrassed, Benny leaves and is accosted by Guy Chisholm, an enthusiastic student of archaeology who idolises her and explains that she was his inspiration. The two come across an unconscious guard and Guy drags Benny towards the library to investigate despite her arguing that they should contact security.

Realising that she is unhappy in her life as a serious academic, Benny sends Guy to get security and goes to the library herself. She finds the intruder taking a book on Traxis Four and Traxis Six from her work station and knocks him out after he tears her dress, after which she sees that it is Fromm. Braxiatel arrives with his guards and explains that he was aware that the Delvian Academy has been stealing from other researchers to delay their progress and ensure that they can publish their findings first, but the trap he laid was almost unsuccessful because of Benny moving the book.

Benny comes to terms with the fact that she will always be an adventurer and returns to dinner, where she insults Professor Hayes and kisses Guy on the way out.

Characters[[edit]]

Worldbuilding[[edit]]

Notes[[edit]]

to be added

Continuity[[edit]]

to be added

Footnotes[[edit]]

  1. In Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Doomsday Manuscript, Benny says that the business with the Delvians (i.e. the events of A Question of Identity) was a few weeks ago.