Benny - where should I start?

So...start with Love and War? Are there any VNAs I need to read beforehand?

All of the Novel Adaptations can be listened to on their own. Any necessary backstory and arc material has either been altered to work stand-alone or adapted out. As the range has concluded you can now listen to the New Adventure adaptations in novel release order.

For the Benny solo range I'm only really familiar with the last couple of CD only seasons and the box sets. 11.03 Year Zero is an ideal jumping on point, jettisoning the complicated story arc and bringing Benny back to basics (I'm sounding like Jago now!). All you need to know is in the story itself, with the loose arc continuing into Dead Man's Switch. That and Year Zero are the final two CD only releases (before you ask why they aren't on download, there are legal complications that are taking a while to sort out regardless of anything other users say to the contrary). This leads into the Epoch box set. The box sets after that (Road Trip, Legion and New Frontiers) work well as stand-alone until the Missing Persons box set, which is a finale to the box set era. From Road Trip onward there's a novel accompanying each box set. The only one I'd say is essential is Adorable Illusion, although it does need context from Missing Persons.

The three New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield box sets all stand on their own continuity-wise.

There are a couple of New Adventures with Benny that have been reprinted. Human Nature was re-released as part of the History Collection, and the audiobook is read by Lisa Bowerman. Shakedown was re-released for the Monster Collection, but to be honest if you read it for Benny you'll be disappointed.

The first season of Benny audios is made up of adaptations of Virgin novels she featured prominently in. There are alterations made to give other characters like Jason the role filled in the original novel by the Doctor, Ace, Roz and Chris, as Big Finish didn't have the Doctor Who licence at this point. Guest stars in these stories include Colin Baker, Maggie Stables and Liz Sladen.

And Benny first series has arrived....my education into her early years begins

Beyond the Sun, enjoyed Bernie and Jason in it but beyond that it had all the charm of a TORCHWOOD episode for me,irritated me no end 🤭It was the audio equivalent of the torture involved in watching an episode of the soap Hollyoaks...too much sexual angst.Beyond the negative the production is great.No wonder BF got the Doctor Who if It was on the strength of these and at least all the cast had good distinctive voices.What else did Matt Jones write?The Impossible Planet and The SATAN PIT Probably a favourite of mines,boy did he improve...

One day yep.

 A vast improvement.

Interestingly, the original Birthright novel was with Ace and the Seventh Doctor. But they were written out for the audio adaptation, as BF did not have the rights to Doctor Who yet.

That’s true for at least one other of the early Benny audio dramas.

Just War is another one that was adapted to take out Doctor Who characters. And it’s Just War, not A Just War.

Dinner is on-Just War is on-and it is JUST WAR not A just war for those of you not in the know😝😂

And it is rather good-the story-the dinner is debatable