The Shape of the Hole (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|featuring      =  
|featuring      = [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]], [[Jason Kane|Jason]], [[Peter Summerfield|Peter]], [[Keith Branigan Kane-Summerfield|Keith]]
|writer        = [[Paul Cornell]]
|writer        = Paul Cornell
|anthology      = ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''
|anthology      = A Life of Surprises (anthology)
|release date  = [[4 October (releases)|4 October]] [[2002 (releases)|2002]]
|release date  = 4 October 2002
|series        = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories
|series        = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories
|prev          = The Dead Men Diaries (short story)
|prev          = The Dead Men Diaries (short story)
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|next2          = Kill the Mouse! (short story)
|next2          = Kill the Mouse! (short story)
}}
}}
'''''The Shape of the Hole''''' was the first story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[Paul Cornell]].
'''''The Shape of the Hole''''' was the first story in the ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises (anthology)|A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[Paul Cornell]].


== Summary ==
== Plot ==
Leaving her children behind with Jason, Bernice searches for the [[grave]] of an old friend throughout the universe. She lands on planets where there are stories of him. She finds Irving Braxiatel on [[Earth|Old Earth]] in a [[wine cellar]], who says he doesn't have a brother. On every planet she searches she finds his grave, always empty. She accepts that she will always find an empty grave.
A year after deciding that she would try to find [[the Doctor|"him"]], [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] again leaves [[Peter Summerfield|Peter]], [[Keith Branigan Kane-Summerfield|Keith]] and [[Rebecca Kane-Summerfield|Rebecca]] with [[Jason Kane|Jason]], whom she has [[marriage|remarried]], although she feels guilty for doing so. She has thus far had no luck locating him, with [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]], in the [[wine cellar]]s of an [[Earth|Old Earth]] [[monastery]], telling her that he had no brother nor did he currently employ anybody.
 
Because of her failed attempts, Benny came to search for his [[grave]] instead. She found graves reportedly belonging to him on Earth, [[Olleril]], [[Artaris]], [[Kyrol]] and [[Quiescia]], but all of them were empty. This time, she has heard a story about how he came to a planet and helped establish a [[world government]], returning over the years to help with various crises before his visits came to an end. The people of the planet cannot agree when the visits stopped, nor where his grave is. Benny finds a [[tumulus]] without an [[inscription]] and finds it empty. His grave will, she realises, always be empty.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
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* [[Rebecca Kane-Summerfield]]
* [[Rebecca Kane-Summerfield]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
* Benny has searched on [[Earth|Old Earth]], [[Olleril]], [[Artaris]], [[Kyrol]] and [[Quiescia]]
* Benny uses a [[gravity beam]] to move the [[stone]] placed in front of the entrance to the [[tumulus]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* One of the ways Benny thinks the Doctor might appear is being found in a [[safe]]. He once did exactly that, though not to her. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Thin Ice (audio story)|Thin Ice]]'')
* One of the ways Benny thinks the Doctor might appear is being found in a [[safe]]. He once did exactly that, though not to her. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Thin Ice (audio story)|Thin Ice]]'')
* This Benny has remarried Jason and has three children: Peter, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Glass Prison (novel)|The Glass Prison]]'') Keith and Rebecca. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Return of the Living Dad (novel)|Return of the Living Dad]]'' et al.)
* This Benny has remarried Jason and has three children: Peter, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Glass Prison (novel)|The Glass Prison]]'') Keith and Rebecca. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Return of the Living Dad (novel)|Return of the Living Dad]]'' etc.)
* Benny finds the Doctor's grave on [[Earth]], [[Olleril]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Tragedy Day (novel)|Tragedy Day]]'') [[Artaris]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Excelis Dawns (audio story)|Excelis Dawns]]'', ''[[The Plague Herds of Excelis (audio story)|The Plague Herds of Excelis]]'') [[Kyrol]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Children of the Revolution (comic story)|Children of the Revolution]]'') and [[Quiescia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'')
* Benny finds the Doctor's grave on [[Earth]], [[Olleril]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Tragedy Day (novel)|Tragedy Day]]'') [[Artaris]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Excelis Dawns (audio story)|Excelis Dawns]]'', ''[[The Plague Herds of Excelis (audio story)|The Plague Herds of Excelis]]'') [[Kyrol]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Children of the Revolution (comic story)|Children of the Revolution]]'') and [[Quiescia]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'')


{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield stories]]
 
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]
[[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]]
[[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 27th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 27th century]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]
[[Category:Short stories set on Earth]]
[[Category:Short stories set on Earth]]

Latest revision as of 21:02, 20 March 2024

RealWorld.png

The Shape of the Hole was the first story in the Bernice Summerfield anthology A Life of Surprises. It was written by Paul Cornell.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

A year after deciding that she would try to find "him", Benny again leaves Peter, Keith and Rebecca with Jason, whom she has remarried, although she feels guilty for doing so. She has thus far had no luck locating him, with Braxiatel, in the wine cellars of an Old Earth monastery, telling her that he had no brother nor did he currently employ anybody.

Because of her failed attempts, Benny came to search for his grave instead. She found graves reportedly belonging to him on Earth, Olleril, Artaris, Kyrol and Quiescia, but all of them were empty. This time, she has heard a story about how he came to a planet and helped establish a world government, returning over the years to help with various crises before his visits came to an end. The people of the planet cannot agree when the visits stopped, nor where his grave is. Benny finds a tumulus without an inscription and finds it empty. His grave will, she realises, always be empty.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]