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The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield #7

Doctor Who: The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, Vol. 7: Blood and Steel

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Bernice Summerfield is back in four new adventures with a Time Lord from another universe.
1930s Berlin — the party before the end of the world. A city that laughs at the gathering storm. The location of a mysterious alien signal. Bernice Summerfield and the Doctor investigate. What are the Cybermen doing in Berlin? Who are the Ancient Vril? And what horrors lurk beneath the city’s most infamous nightclub?

7.1 Wilkommen by James Goss
Why do the Cybermen wish to save the people of Berlin?

7.2 Wulf by Aaron Lamont
A young man returns home – will he save his village or will it save him?

7.3 Ubermensch by Rochana Patel
Why does the Doctor want Bernice to join a German archaeological expedition?

7.4 Auf Wiedersehen by Victoria Saxton
Can Bernice Summerfield stop an alien invasion after it has happened?

Audio CD

First published September 20, 2022

19 people want to read

About the author

James Goss

231 books181 followers
James Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for April Mccaffrey.
569 reviews48 followers
December 15, 2022
"I will always come for you Summerfield, just as you always comes for me."
-The Unbound Doctor, in the Wilkomen.

I've been putting off this boxset for some time, not quite ready yet to say goodbye to one of my favourite versions of the Doctor, or one of my favourite actors. As someone who has met David Warner and had the wonderful privilege of working with him, this boxset in many ways was quite emotional for me. Especially in the last story: Auf Weidersehen.

This boxset was better than the last Benny boxset which I was disappointed in. Overall, the Cybermen are my favourite monsters out of the Cybermen vs Daleks. I think with Cybermen stories, there is something tragically and beautifully human about them, when done right.

I love how all the titles in this were in German. EG, Auf Weidersehen literally means Goodbye in German. And I love how they had actual actors who are german as well. It does make a difference.

I don't think Benny has quite gotten over her trauma in Crystal of Cantus, so to see her relieving her horrors and suffering PTSD in here when forced to be in a cyberconversion is a nice touch. I really want to give Benny a hug and some marshmellows.

I also love The Compère. Andrew Pepper did a great job! I also love the Tomb of the Cybermen feel we get from Übermensch. I loved the parallels.

Overall, I shall miss the Unbound Doctor. He really helped me a lot through the years, and I will never forget David Warners warmth or kindness.

I truly hope this isn't the end of Benny. Benny deserves more love and appreciation.

Thank you, David Warner. For everything.
Profile Image for Rick.
3,123 reviews
October 14, 2023
7.1 Willkommen by James Goss - Bernice and the (Unbound) Doctor encounter Cybermen in a prewar Nazi Berlin. Okay. That’s terrifying. Absolutely fascinating, and Warner and Bowerman knock it out of the park yet again (4/5).

7.2 Wulf by Aaron Lamont - There’s something about episodes of Doctor Who in which the focus isn’t the Doctor, the ones when their barely even in the episode. Well, Summerfield is not the focus of this story, Aden hill she does get a nice emotional journey and growth as a character, the real focus is completely elsewhere. Beautifully written. Absolutely top notch Big Finish stuff here (5/5).

7.3 Übermensch by Rochana Patel - Another home run hit! Excellent narrative and full of absolutely fascinating observations on the Cybermen. And that ENDING?! What the heck? I wasn’t expecting that. Not at all! But it slowly became increasingly inevitable (5/5).

7.4 Auf Wiedersehen by Victoria Saxton - Oh … oh my … this is dark. This one is very, very dark. And this one leaves no doubt that the late David Warner would have been one of the best Doctors on film, because he’s definitely one of the best actors who’ve ever portrayed the Doctor on audio. And on top of such a performance for the Doctor, we have Lisa Bowerman as the incomparable Bernice Summerfield. Remember, I said this one is dark. And … please … don’t forget the title of this story. (5/5)
Profile Image for Danny Welch.
1,385 reviews
April 6, 2023
So here we are at the end of these adventures. I kind of hope they do more of these with 7 or 8 maybe but I feel after David Warner's incredible presence in this range, it might be best if it comes to an end and Bernice Summerfield can go on completely new adventures without The Timelord. It's sad to realize this is David Warner's last full-on set as The Doctor because he's been absolutely brilliant and I already miss him so much. Thank you David for everything.

Willkommen:
The Doctor and Bernice Summerfield following a signal, find themselves in 1930s Berlin just before World War 2. Bernice Summerfield doesn't want to be here, but The Doctor has a mystery to solve. Something from beyond the stars is interfering at a delicate point in human history and not only that but the poor have gone missing. However, the answers they find may leave them with devastating consequences.

James Goss has written an incredible opening chapter to this set, it's a terrifying, heartbreaking opener that actually horrified me in places. I was constantly in shock by this story and I loved the ending so much. This is Warner's Doctor at his most intense and I really feel sorry for Bernice Summerfield after this adventure, but all the same, I know it's only going to get worse for our favorite time travelers, for the story has only just begun. 10/10

Wulf:
Wulf has returned home from Berlin, but after what The Cybermen did for him his life is going to change for the worst and only Bernice Summerfield can stop him.

Aaron Lamont has written a heartbreaking story of a man slowly losing his humanity from what The Cybermen did to him. Seeing the Nazis slowly take over Germany and affect the lives of smaller people in this story, particularly Wulf was devastating to me. The ending to this left me heartbroken. This set really is taking no prisoners so far and I'm all here for it! 10/10

Übermensch:
The Doctor and Bernice Summerfield going on an archaeological mission to discover an ancient temple in Germany, soon find out that The Cybermen aren't yet finished with their ultimate takeover of this time period.

Rochana Patel has written a really eerie script that not only highlights just how evil humanity can be, but how that weakness can be exploited by enemies from beyond the stars. This is an intense, bleak, and atmospheric script with a brilliant but shocking cliffhanger! 9/10

Auf Wiedersehen:
The Doctor has been captured. Bernice Summerfield must rescue him and help save the day. But this time will the time travelers be able to defeat The Cybermen as they storm through Berlin or will they reign supreme once and for all?

Victoria Saxon has written an incredible but bleak finale where we finally get to see The Cybermen not only at their worst but they're most manipulative. I feel so bad for Warner's Doctor in this, he goes through hell and back. The ending to this is very doom and gloom with the Nazis in total power and their lust for conquest beginning. 10/10

Overall: It's an incredible box set. I kind of hope there will be more of these in the future but since David Warner's death, I can understand and respect why the range may come to an end here. I and many other miss David so much, he was an incredible actor and from what I've heard a very kind man. 39/40
Profile Image for Ellen Schoener.
826 reviews43 followers
November 14, 2022
Disclaimer- I am German. So at the very beginning of this review, I have to express my UTTER DELIGHT of the fact that Big Finish again used German speaking actors as the German characters.
It is like day and night compared to some of their absolutely ludicrous releases where some people who never had any contact with the German language make valiant attempts of totally butchering it.
I am sorry, but stuff like this completely throws me out of my listening bubble every time- it is worst when some actors say supposedly German words and I as a native speaker have not a clue what they are trying to say (I think some American fans have a similar reaction to some of the false American accents).
NOT SO HERE!
When BF makes an effort, they are actually doing a really good job. Please keep this up for any other releases featuring Germans! I beg you!
I myself speak English with a heavy German accent, so I have a bit of an idea what it sounds like, I might add.

As for the voice of David Warner...
This was recorded just a few months before his death. And he does sound strained here.
I admire him all the more, and I am grateful, he battled through this and gave us one last hurrah.
I think it might even fit the atmosphere and tone of the story.
Plus, I just love the sarcastic and irreverent attitude of the Unbound Doctor in this. Spot on.

This is a box set of 4 connected stories, featuring, as the cover reveals, the Cybermen as the villains. The stories are set in 1930s Germany.

1. Willkommen- awesome.
This must be the best Cyberman body horror since "Space Parts" and "World enough and time".
And the acting is stunning.
The cold fury of the Unbound Doctor, and the pure vengeful sadism he shows here, absolutely amazing.
This is someone nobody messes with.
This is someone who will make Cybermen scream.

2. Wulf
Very raw and emotional take on the "Frankenstein" story.
Purely heartbreaking.
And again, LOVE the authentic German accents.

3. Übermensch
This continues to be one of the darkest and more twisted releases BF did this year.
The writing is to the point, the historic aspects are well researched, the villains are believable and show shades of grey.
The acting is near perfect.
There even is some space for some humor in all the darkness.
And the Cybermen really are the most vicious since Spare Parts and World enough and Time, taking full advantage of their body horror.
And that cliffhanger!
Chilling. Goosebumps.
One of the best Who cliffhangers we had in a long time.

4. Auf Wiedersehen
OMG.
Those performances. Not only the leads are going above and beyond anything they did before, but also the side characters.
The story is raw, brutal and mercilessly cruel.
These might be the most drastic torture scenes the Doctor has ever faced, and we had quite a few of those with BF. I might speak heresy here, but this comes close to the torment of the Doctor in Jubilee.

Not more to be said, really.
Apart from the fact that it was also haunting for a German to hear the banned first verse of our national anthem. Not sure how this will go down with other German fans, to be honest.

This release is a tour de force.
It might not be something that one can listen to very often, and nothing one might want to listen to when in a dark mood.

But this is, without any doubt, the best release I have heard from Big Finish in a long time.
And I take a bow to David Warner.
This is the very best performance he has ever done for Big Finish, in any of his many roles.
Profile Image for Ethan.
47 reviews
July 18, 2025
Combining the Cybermen and Nazis may not be the most obvious monster pairing for a Doctor Who story, yet there are a lot of scary parallels between the two. Both want everyone to be the same and comply, and these stories bring those horrific parallels to the forefront.

A very strong audio boxset, which certainly doesn't pull its punches when it comes to the horror of its setting and story.
Profile Image for Nick Cox.
30 reviews29 followers
January 31, 2023
First of all I would like to say that this is a very good set of stories indeed, especially the second one. And I also like David Warner's Unbound Doctor very much and am as sad as any listener that we won't be hearing him any more.
However...ever since Bernice has met him the stories, while Benny centred, seem to have lost the characteristics that distinguish Bernice Summerfield audios from Doctor Who ones. Change her for another companion and while the dynamic between them and the Doctor would be different, the general tone would be Doctor Who rather than The Adventures of Bernice Summerfield.
I would very much like to hear stories that place Benny in her own style and context again - working for the Braxiatel Collection or some other institute alongside her own cast of supporting characters (Peter, Jack, Ruth, Adrian), with the old Benny humour and unique quirkiness. Somewhere along the way she's lost the humour and fun (remember her getting drunk with Iris or meeting actual Book Worms?) and like Romana II (in both 4th Doctor adventures and Gallifrey) has gone from witty to almost permanently annoyed.
As I say, I've enjoyed the Benny and Unbound Doctor stories, but can we get back to Benny as protagonist, accepting assignments, doing archaeology, interacting with her friends and family, rather than tagging along with the Doctor wherever he wants to go?
Profile Image for Josh.
454 reviews5 followers
November 30, 2022
Doctor Who The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield: Volume 7: Blood and Steel - 5/5 Stars
"Berlin where the city never sleeps."A must-listen boxset. Dark, gritty, hopeless and depressingly heartbreaking. My new favourite group of Cyberman stories and my new favourite Big Finish set ever.

7.1 Wilkommen by James Goss - 5/5 Stars
Shockingly amazing, dark, and depressing. The Cybermen are terrifying, the Doctor is fun and horrifying all at once. The 1930s Berlin Germany setting is great. The side characters are really fun. I think this has become my favourite Cyberman story.

7.2 Wulf by Aaron Lamont - 5/5 Stars
We find out what happened to Wulf after his partial conversion into a Cyberman. His hometown grows to accept him as he is especially after dealing with a rising Nazi Soldier.

7.3 Übermensch by Rochanna Patel - 5/5 Stars
Bernice, still recovering mentally from almost becoming a Cyberman, the Doctor decides to help her by getting her involved in a 1930s German archeology expedition. Unfortunately, it's all a trap by the Cybermen. I loved this one for the mystery and the puzzle box design of character interactions and setting.

7.4 Auf Wiedersehen by Victoria Saxton - 5/5 Stars
The Doctor has lost and must watch as the Cybermen convert 1930s Berlin. Bernice is trying to save the Doctor. The hopelessness of this one is overbearing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Billy Martel.
379 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2024
Review by story…

Wilkommen: Absolutely devastating. I love how much the writers have dedicated themselves to making sure that any Unbound Doctor story they tell is going to be measurably darker than anything in the regular ranges. After the recent American election, this story is extremely topical and uncomfortable to listen to. Thou must not suffer a Nazi to live. 5/5

Wulf: God Damn. 5/5

Ubermensch: Fuck, I can’t believe this is almost over, this has been one of the best runs of any Doctor companion team and I’m almost all the way through it. 5/5

Auf Wiedersehen: One of the best Doctors, and one of the best companions, in the conclusion to one of the greatest Cybermen stories in all of Who. 5/5

If I could give this 10/5 I would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Josh.
112 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2022
What can I say? It's raw, it's emotional. This may just be my favorite outing for Bernice Summerfield and the Unbound Doctor.

Blood & Steel finds Bernice and The Doctor in a place you'd never want to find them. As if that wasn't bad enough, early and haphazard Cybermen. It's nothing we haven't seen before but it just hits different.
Knowing this is the last we'll hear of the late David Warner, it was a bittersweet ending. Whatever they have planned for Vol 8, I know it will be amazing.
53 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2022
This set of audios is a brilliant showcase for the Cybermen and for David Warner’s Doctor. The historical setting is well-utilised and Benny as ever is a dependable anchor character for this range. The second story, Wulf, might be one of Big Finish’s best pieces of standalone drama.

This set was obviously never intended to be the final outing for David Warner’s Doctor, but at least this Doctor has gone out on a creative high. He’ll be missed.
Profile Image for Lucy.
73 reviews
August 3, 2023
Wilkommen ***
Wulf **
Übermensch *****
Auf Wiedersehn ***

I can see why people like this one. But I just really do not care about cybermen and therefore found it mostly boring. I miss Benny stories about Benny. Heartbreaking that we won't get any more Warner!Doctor though :(
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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