I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: Matt Laffey

Showing posts with label Matt Laffey. Show all posts

Weekly Sherlock Links Compendium (March 1 - March 14, 2014)

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<b>"...the fellow must be some poor bibliophile who, either as a trade or as a hobby, was a collector of obscure volumes." [EMPT]</b></h4>
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<b>* <i>Update</i>:</b> This post is dedicated to the recently departed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ruber"><b>Peter Ruber</b></a> (1940 - 2014) who passed away on Thursday March 6, 2014. Mr Ruber was best known in Sherlockian circles for his work as a Vincent Starrett scholar, having edited the remarkable tribute volume <a href="http://www.batteredbox.com/VincentStarrett/03-Starrett.htm"><i>The Last Bookman: A Journey Into the Life & Times of Vincent Starrett (Author-Journalist-Bibliophile)</i></a> (1968) with an introduction by Christopher Morley and contributions from over 20 friends and admirers ranging from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Derleth">August Derleth</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sandburg">Carl Sandburg</a>, as well as being the first editor of <a href="http://www.batteredbox.com/PDFs/The%20Vincent%20Starrett%20Memorial%20Library.pdf"><i>The Vincent Starrett Memorial Library Series</i></a>, the collected works of Starrett published over the years by <a href="http://www.batteredbox.com/VincentStarrett/">The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box</a>. Next week I'll have a more comprehensive entry dedicated to Peter Ruber, but for now I plan on pouring a stiff drink and spending the evening re-exploring <i>The Last Bookman</i> in memory of a late, great Starrettian scholar.<br />
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The Sherlockian world never sleeps, hence the growing length of these Weekly Links posts....<br />
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In the first half of March 2014, the great Starrettian scholar Peter Ruber passed away, the BSI Dinner 2014 group photo, Sherlockian.net added a dedicated fanfic section, Portsmouth announced a Sherlockian theme park in the works, Sherlock items on Etsy, the Beacon Society teams up with 221B Con, the domestic side of 221B Baker Street, an interview with MX Publishing's Steve Emecz, a list of essential Starrettian works, breaking news: BBC's Sherlock Holmes totally acts like a jerk sometimes, the Sisyphean task that is collecting Sherlock Holmes works, Snoopy as Sherlock, common Sherlock misconceptions in video, Doyle and the Olympics, a rare illustration uncovered, events galore and much more in the latest Weekly Sherlock Links Compendium by Matt Laffey.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Baker Street Irregulars Dinner 2014 at the Yale Club - January 17, 2014. Picture by </span><a href="http://www.gruberphotographers.com/blog/baker-street-irregulars-banquet-2014/" style="text-align: start;">Gruber Photographers</a><span style="text-align: start;">. Be sure to read my review of the BSI Weekend 2014 in the upcoming Spring 2014 issue of the Baker Street Journal - and if you don't subscribe, </span><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/subscriptions.html" style="text-align: start;">now is the time</a><span style="text-align: start;">!]</span></span></td></tr>
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Sherlockian.net announced a recent collaboration with <a href="https://twitter.com/mistyzeo">Elinor Gray</a> consisting of a new feature called "<a href="http://sherlockian.net/pastiches/fanfic.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Fanfic List and Commentary</a>". As a companion to the new fanfic page on <b><a href="https://twitter.com/darkgreendesk" target="_blank">Chris Redmond</a></b>'s perennially relevant Sherlock website, Ms Gray compiled an extensive database of Sherlockian-centric fanfic available for download as a spreadsheet titled <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aqq83J52pRS1dE0tYzZKbEEtOUtNWjY4TDdSWnhldEE&usp=sharing#gid=0"><i>Sherlock Fandom Classics</i></a> which can be sorted by title, author or even by sub-fandom category. The list is made up of Gray's own preferences as well as those of her fandom comrades on Twitter, LiveJournal and Tumblr. (Click <a href="http://www.mistyzeo.net/category/sherlock-holmes-acd/">here</a> to read some of Elinor Gray's own fanfiction.) For those new to the wide and wonderful world of Sherlock fanfic, a good starting point is AO3's "<a href="http://archiveofourown.org/tags/Sherlock%20Holmes%20*a*%20Related%20Fandoms/works">Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms</a>" which contains 54,317 (and counting) fanworks all of which can be sorted and filtered using criteria such as Categories (M/M, F/M, F/F, etc.), Fandom Type (Sherlock TV, ACD, Elementary, and crossovers such as Sherlock/Doctor Who, Sherlock/Harry Potter, etc.), Characters, Relationships (Holmes/Watson, Mycroft/Lestrade, Moran/Moriarty, etc.) plus additional tags such as Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe, Post-Reichenbach, etc. I even found a story inspired by Vincent Starrett's <i>221B</i> entitled "<a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/382597">Always 1895</a>" by <b>Aurora_Kira</b> that's Rated: Mature; Relationship: M/M; Fandoms: Sherlock (TV), Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms; Relationship: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson; additionally tagged: 'Angsty Goodness but Wait There’s More,' 'John and Sherlock Heart Each Other,' '“Who Never Lived and So Can Never Die,”' 'Old Poetry Kicks Ass.' (Even if you strongly dislike fanfic you have to admit they're extremely meticulous and precise.) Here's a sample from the text of the "Always 1895" fanfic for those new to the genre:<br />
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"John adores these moments of quiet, just the two of them. He’ll always love the cases, always love running after Sherlock, fantastic deductions, the danger, the insanity, the hard brilliance that makes up the majority of their life together. Still, it takes the one to make him appreciate the other. It’s the contrast that gives these times of softness their meaning...Sometimes John thinks about what the distant future might hold for them both. He has hopes he hasn’t yet discussed with Sherlock involving country cottages, beehives, the occasional case, maybe even non-homicide-related travel...He snuggles closer to Sherlock, nuzzling gently at the lapel of his dressing gown." ("Always 1895" by <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/Aurora_Kira/pseuds/Aurora_Kira">Aurora_Kira</a>)</blockquote>
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My only real complaint is that the author doesn't mention the color of Holmes' dressing gown which, based on the tone of the piece, I presume to be mouse-colored. To give you some perspective: remember when you thought Philip K. Jones' <a href="http://sherlock-holmes.es/database.php">database of Sherlockian pastiches</a>, clocking in at over 10K entries, was mind-boggling insane? Well, that's not even a drop in the fanfic bucket. (On a personal note, I admit that for the briefest of moments I considered writing a Sherlock/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fringe_(TV_series)"><i>Fringe</i></a> crossover story but alas I fear the world is not yet prepared - not to mention there already exists, I kid you not, <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Fringe/works">1,536 entries for <i>Fringe</i> + Sherlock crossover fanfic</a> (!) on AO3.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[The above image includes a quote by </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/70402125" style="text-align: start;">Cumberbatch from an episode of BBC's Top Gear</a><span style="text-align: start;"> (for non-British readers, </span><a href="http://www.topgear.com/uk/" style="text-align: start;">Top Gear</a><span style="text-align: start;"> is a wildly popular talk show about cars and driving which features celebrity guests) in response to a question about 'Johnlock' fanfic to which this Sherlockcares blogger responded with a fanfic piece called "</span><a href="http://sherlockcares.com/sherlock-is-lost-in-space/" style="text-align: start;">Sherlock Is Lost In Space</a><span style="text-align: start;">"- by now you can probably guess where this one is heading.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-26917-sherlock-holmes-theme-park-to-open-in-england/" target="_blank">Construction Week Online reported</a> that "A $40 million theme park celebrating the life of the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is set to be built in Portsmouth, England, where author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - who created the character in 1887 - used to live." [<i>Editor's note</i>: <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/02/what-would-sherlock-holmes-theme-park.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we covered that here</a>.]<br />
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I was rather dubious upon first hearing about the proposed Portsmouth-based Sherlockian amusement park, but recent articles in places as diverse as <a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2014/02/portsmouth-announces-25m-sherlock-holmes-theme-park/"><i>BBC America</i></a>, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2561719/Sherlock-theme-park-Detective-set-25m-attraction-plot-enactments-holograms-bringing-characters-life.html"><i>Daily Mail</i></a> and <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/02/26/sherlock-holmes-theme-park-set-to-open-in-england/"><i>Fox News</i></a> all point to the truth of this rather bizarre undertaking. So what can we expect from a Holmes theme park? According to the Portsmouth Cultural Partnership's Steve Pitt: "What we are talking about is a world class, Sherlock Holmes experience." Most of the reports allude to the park containing rides and hi-tech holograms of Holmes, Watson and friends solving crimes and living the Baker Street lifestyle.<br />
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If I were called upon to design aspects of the park, you could be sure Sherlock Land (or whatever) would be packed with Canonical references and themes at every turn. One ride would mimic Disneyland's <a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mad_Tea_Party">Mad Hatter Tea Party</a> but instead of oversized teacups, riders would sit inside giant spinning deerstalkers. 'Watson's Guide to the Turf' - based on SILV and SHOS - would give riders the chance to sit atop Silver Blaze or Shoscombe Prince (or Desborough, Pugilist, etc.) in a mock race. For those looking for a little more excitement, 'The Reichenbach Fall' would strap riders into a box that ascends to a height of 221 feet on a faux waterfall, pausing just long enough to hear a pre-recording of Moriarty's dialogue from FINA, then plunge straight down into artificial mist. The 'Mind Palace' house of mirrors would be fun for the whole family where as the 'Valley of Fear Coaster' would feature a roller coaster made to look like a harrowing coal mining car run amuck as animatronic Scowrers attempt to behead riders at every turn.<br />
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Games such as 'The Six Napoleon Smash-Up,' 'Black Peter's Harpoon-o-rama', 'Find the Missing Carbuncle,' 'Col. Moran's Big Game Hunt and Air-Gun Shooting Gallery', etc. would entertain those uninterested in rides. I'll end my speculation (for now - but <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/02/what-would-sherlock-holmes-theme-park.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">other readers have contributed numerous options here</a>) and leave you with a quote from <i>Fox News</i> that most likely sums up what we're all really thinking: "<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/02/26/sherlock-holmes-theme-park-set-to-open-in-england/" target="_blank">From the sound of it, the park is going to be anything but elementary</a>." (Ha! I see what they did there.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Fanart from </span><a href="http://art-blog-of-madwomanlexie.tumblr.com/" style="text-align: start;">Madwomanlexie</a><span style="text-align: start;"> featuring Sherlock and John riding a roller coaster; one can hope that Sherlock Land will contain at least one Canonically-inspired roller coaster - perhaps based on the <i>Aurora</i> chase on the Thames in SIGN?]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b>Buzzfeed's</b> "<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kimberleydadds/33-fabulously-geeky-sherlock-items-you-can-buy-right-now" target="_blank"><b>33 Fabulously Geeky Sherlock Items You Can Buy Right Now</b></a>" lists a unique set of Holmes/BBC-centric items - some of rather dubious taste, others remarkable for their originality and creativity - that range from pillows to plates and everything in between, all of which can be purchased on Etsy. My favorite items include #31 <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/154398139/embroidered-sherlock-bib">221B Baker Street baby bib</a>, #26 <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/110141823/sherlock-triple-panty-set">Sherlockian pantaloons</a> for the ladies (pictured below), #25 <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/160164688/sherlock-pill-bottle-necklace-or?ref=sr_gallery_31&ga_search_query=benedict+cumberbatch">Sherlock arm gloves</a>, #20 <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/177011030/sherlock-holmes-cookie-cutter">Cumberbatch cookie cutters</a>, #19 221B-inspired <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/175255887/sherlock-bbc-bored-smiley-wallpaper">wallpaper leggings</a>, #9 rapturous <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/179653573/mini-matte-art-print-benedict">renderings of Benedict Cumberbatch</a> (in this case BC is depicted as <a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-03-04/neverwhere-launch-benedict-cumberbatch-was-always-the-angel-islington">the Angel Islington</a>), #7 <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/162777817/bbc-sherlock-sherlock-holmes-plush-doll">Cumberbatch plush dolls</a> and #1 handmade hypoallergenic <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/112979379/sherlock-holmes-pillow-watson-plush">Sherlock/Watson/Moriarty pillows</a> (though I'm partial to the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/150268535/grumpy-cat-pillow-plush-throw-pillow">'Grumpy Cat' pillow</a> style made by the same person). This list sh<span style="font-family: inherit;">ould give you the means to satisfy any Sherlock fan who has a birthday coming up or just needs some cheering up</span>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[I was torn over whether to include an image of these slightly recherché delicates or an image of a painting of Cumberbatch/Sherlock depicted as the Angel Islington from <b>Neil Gaiman</b>'s short lived TV series and highly successful novel </span><a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-03-04/neverwhere-launch-benedict-cumberbatch-was-always-the-angel-islington" style="text-align: start;"><i>Neverwhere</i></a><span style="text-align: start;"> - which was adapted for radio in 2013 featuring BC as Islington, along with <b>Christopher Lee</b> as The Earl of Earl’s Court, <b>Bernard Cribbins </b>(Yay!) as Old Bailey and <b>Anthony Steward Head</b> (Yay! x 2) as Croup.] </span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://teachsherlock.tumblr.com/post/78509309766/the-official-charity-of-221b-con"><b>The Beacon Society</b></a> announced that it is the official charity of <a href="http://www.221bcon.com/">221B Con</a> happening April 4 - 6, 2014 in Atlanta, GA. For those unfamiliar with what exactly the <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/AboutTheBeacons.html">Beacon Society</a> does, it's a non-profit Sherlockian organization that provides grants (2014 application <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/JanStauberGrant.html">here</a>) as well as rewarding creative/exemplary educational experiences that introduce impressionable young minds to the world and stories of Sherlock Holmes. At 221B Con they'll have "a “Teaching Sherlock” panel with Beacon Award winners <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/BeaconWinner2013.html">Shannon Carlisle</a> (2013) and <a href="http://beaconsociety.com/BeaconWinner2014.html">Tim Greer</a> (2014) along with cartoonist Chris Schweizer and Beacons <a href="https://twitter.com/always1895/status/259720809134825472">Marilynne McKay</a> and <a href="http://mxpublishing.com/product/9781780921204">Marino Alvarez</a>." <br />
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If you're lucky enough to be in Atlanta for the conference, make sure to check out one of Beacon's panels and/or speak to Ms. McKay or Prof. Alvarez, particularly if you're interested in education and keeping the memory green. At last count I heard over 3 kazillion Sherlockian enthusiasts were registered for 221B Con, which I hope translates into significant exposure for the Beacon Society who continue to do fantastic work helping to corrupt enlighten the youth of today who will become the Holmesians of tomorrow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">["Light-houses, my boy! Beacons of the future! Capsules with hundreds of bright little seeds in each, out of which will spring the wiser, better England of the future." (</span><a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/nava.htm" style="text-align: start;">NAVA</a><span style="text-align: start;">)]</span></span></td></tr>
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Doyleockian considers the interest Sherlockians have for the home life of Holmes in "<a href="http://alistaird221b.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-study-in-domesticity.html" target="_blank"><b>A Study In Domesticity</b></a>", suggesting that due to the relatively sparse, though tantalizing, tidbits of information revealed throughout the Canon, readers' imaginations are given free reign to speculate as much as their heart's desire. Though hard data concerning the domestic lives of Holmes and Watson is scarce, descriptions of the contents of 221B can certainly be found among the 60 stories. It should be no surprise that Sherlockian scholars have made multiple attempts to systematically and exhaustively enumerate the contents of 221B Baker Street, two of the most successful being <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1233496.The_Baker_Street_File"><i>The Baker Street File</i></a> (1982/2002) and Clarkson's <a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/5821375"><i>The Canonical Compendium</i></a> (1999).<br />
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The former is Granada's bible/guide to the appearance and habits of Holmes and Watson whose chapter "Inside 221B" offers 96 separate entries pertaining to the minutia of Holmes' domestic life including: #1054 <i>The Standard</i> was one of the regular papers found in the sitting room (SIGN), #1071 Ice crystals formed thickly on the windows on a frosty day (BLUE), #1104 Holmes had a velvet-lined armchair (SIGN), etc. Clarkson's volume is made up of 444 pages consisting of a Topical Index showing Canonical references that fall into one or more of 80 categories and 144 subcategories, a percentage of which are items relevant to Holmes' domestic life, e.g. Contents of 221B, Holmes Room, Watson's Room (documenting over 180 items in these categories alone) which include everything from the trusty gasogene (surprisingly, mentioned in only two stories) to Holmes' Stradivarius (mentioned in seven stories). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-SYp0mig5eIYXWxMlglRDcF_hyb3ihl-8P9cAU7SQRAGhzogouTsu414rlRufdacOWLoAMvn1EZqCc5AW9AIA-FA7lFBdKlQOpkhySJOcwynvQ7lj7CziXn76vIXLPE1kYmgZuUv1No/s1600/GasogeneYELL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-SYp0mig5eIYXWxMlglRDcF_hyb3ihl-8P9cAU7SQRAGhzogouTsu414rlRufdacOWLoAMvn1EZqCc5AW9AIA-FA7lFBdKlQOpkhySJOcwynvQ7lj7CziXn76vIXLPE1kYmgZuUv1No/s1600/GasogeneYELL.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[<b>Sydney Paget</b>'s depiction of Holmes and a distraught Grant Munro in </span><a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/yell.htm" style="text-align: start;">YELL</a><span style="text-align: start;">. Note the gasogene in the upper, center portion of the illustration sitting on the mantel, presumably next to Holmes' unopened letters held in place by the legendary jackknife. Paget uses the exact location/angle in an illustration for </span><a href="http://168.144.50.205/221bcollection/canon/scan.htm" style="text-align: start;">SCAN</a><span style="text-align: start;">, except Holmes and Watson appear instead of a client.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com/2014/02/meet-my-publisher-steve-emecz.html" target="_blank">Dan Andriacco interviewed the owner of MX Publishing <b>Steve Emecz</b></a> who has also published a variety of <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/brand/Dan+Andriacco">Andriacco's own books</a> including the McCabe/Cody cycle, his collection of essays <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baker-Street-Beat-Sherlockian-Scribblings/dp/1908218924/"><i>Baker Street Beat</i></a> (2011), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Amateur-Executioner-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/1780924011"><i>The Amateur Executioner: Enoch Hale Meets Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (2013), etc. To date Mr Emecz has published an impressive 150+ Sherlock-centric books on a variety Sherlockian topics, some of my personal favorites being: <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/product/9781780922850/A+Chronology+of+Arthur+Conan+Doyle+Revised+and+Expanded+Edition"><i>A Chronology of Arthur Conan Doyle Revised and Expanded Edition</i></a> (2012) by Brian Pugh, <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/product/9781780924045/The+Lighter+Side+of+Sherlock+Holmes%3A+The+Sherlockian+Artwork+of+Norman+Schatell+Hardback+Edition"><i>The Lighter Side of Sherlock Holmes: The Sherlockian Artwork of Norman Schatell</i></a> (2013) and <a href="http://always1895.net/post/8879677041/wheels-of-anarchy-classic-review"><i>Wheels of Anarchy</i></a> by Max Pemberton and edited by Paul Spiring - in fact, there's just too many fantastic titles to list here so when you have a moment or three make sure to thoroughly peruse the <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/category/Sherlock+Holmes+Books">MX Sherlock Holmes and ACD books catalogue</a>. On a related note, Philip K. Jones <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MNZMBQYNASVD/">reviewed</a> Andriacco's third book in the McCabe/Cody series <i>The 1895 Murder</i> (MX, 2012) on Amazon giving it a well-deserved five stars. Finally, be sure to follow MX Publishing on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksSherlockHolmes">Facebook</a> page for updates and news. In an era that makes independent book publishing almost impossible, your support for MX, a publisher that has dedicated its existence to spreading the Sherlockian word to both novice and experienced Sherlockians the world over, is imperative.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKD-jyF0Euy7_Akk72AsDSJMJySMbofcE6fC8hcIyp2QuU3T_Vrbn8Bj1qkMCp9xS5oBKdC0dAulE3Uv8G1ETYUkyOcV4MDHqoXDXkbbiyRO0o1QQyZ0vIQ_r59Jqnvc7cwXBSywPDGI/s1600/IdiotWatson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKD-jyF0Euy7_Akk72AsDSJMJySMbofcE6fC8hcIyp2QuU3T_Vrbn8Bj1qkMCp9xS5oBKdC0dAulE3Uv8G1ETYUkyOcV4MDHqoXDXkbbiyRO0o1QQyZ0vIQ_r59Jqnvc7cwXBSywPDGI/s1600/IdiotWatson.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Watson-Not-Idiot-Eddy-Webb-ebook/dp/B00ED1SZYU" style="text-align: start;"><i>Watson Is Not An Idiot</i></a><span style="text-align: start;"><i> </i>(2013) is just one of a myriad of new titles - though perhaps the best title of a Sherlockian book ever - from Sherlockian specialists MX Publishing based in the UK but whose releases are available the world over in a variety of languages and formats (paperback, hardcover and e-books). Click </span><a href="http://bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-have-i-been-reading-lately-im-glad.html" style="text-align: start;">here</a><span style="text-align: start;"> for a few more reviews of new MX titles by Mr Andriacco.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.vincentstarrett.com/blog/2014/2/8/so-you-want-to-collect-books-by-vincent-starrett"><b>Studies in Starrett</b></a> posted a list of essential books written and edited by Vincent Starrett, most of which should reside in every respectable Sherlockian's library. First and foremost is Starrett's brilliant <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/html/privatelife.html"><i>The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (1933/1960), a tome unrivaled in historical importance that's just as relevant and fresh today as it was upon it's release in 1933. Wessex Press released a 75-year anniversary facsimile edition, edited by 'Studies in Starrett' proprietor <a href="https://twitter.com/BooksandBipeds">Ray Betzner</a>, which is almost as awesome as owning the first edition (and thanks to a truly generous and remarkable Sherlockian I'm fortunate enough to actually own a first edition) and should be at the top of every burgeoning Sherlockian's want list. Almost as essential is Starrett's edited collection of early Sherlockian papers entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/221-Studies-Sherlock-Penzlers-Library/dp/1883402077"><i>221B, Studies in Sherlock Holmes by Various Hands</i></a> (1940). Collecting some of the greatest minds from the golden age of Sherlockiana, Starrett's collection is still one of the greatest readers in Sherlockian scholarship available - thankfully republished as an affordable paperback by <a href="http://www.librarything.com/topic/122167">Otto Penzler's Sherlock Holmes Library</a>. Read the rest of Betzner's post for further explorations in Starrettian studies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMYNza8jGL6d14As1y0cEQd9RbtltikTjCiXHnlOi6Tax2sJaM-cFEGhQi68lvAEw3M0Q4Jfi76xFFDq1Rifl53xRuzAnnY0JxrhElzy9CVT2ndBiB3F8Qx-wI0KXk6fM6stTUavnXMk/s1600/StarrettBorn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMYNza8jGL6d14As1y0cEQd9RbtltikTjCiXHnlOi6Tax2sJaM-cFEGhQi68lvAEw3M0Q4Jfi76xFFDq1Rifl53xRuzAnnY0JxrhElzy9CVT2ndBiB3F8Qx-wI0KXk6fM6stTUavnXMk/s1600/StarrettBorn.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Also on Betzner's Starrettian book list is </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Born-Bookshop-Chapters-Chicago-Renascence/dp/B000ILI026" style="text-align: start;"><i>Born in a Bookshop: Chapters from the Chicago Renascence</i></a><span style="text-align: start;"> (1965) which among other virtues features one of the single best book covers you will ever come across.] </span></span></td></tr>
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The Island Now, a local Long Island news source, <a href="http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/news/article_e204b96a-a560-11e3-8173-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">ran a lengthy article on Sherlockian <b>Terry Hunt</b></a> and his recent elevation into the ranks of the Baker Street Irregulars this past January, receiving the titular investiture of "The Something Hunt" (a quote from HOUN). Hunt first encountered the Canon in 5th grade though it wasn't until the last decade that he became involved with the BSI: </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"While working as the supervisor of historic sites for the Nassau County Parks Department in 2007, Hunt said he was approached by members of the Baker Street Irregulars who wanted to plan a trip to <a href="https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/parks/wheretogo/active/morley.html">Christopher Morley Park</a> in Roslyn Estates and see the late author’s writing studio, the Knothole. In exchange for helping the organization plan a trip to the park in 2009, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of its founding, Hunt met with other Sherlockians in the New York area and began attending their dinners." </blockquote>
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Terry is also a co-host of the Morley Birthday Lunch happening in Hoboken, NJ on Sunday, May 4, 2014 (cf. 'Events' below for details), an event not to be missed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJom_yrRjaJoz0pzLkFWeGq1PHMSRkdLKZMPe19EHQRvUb-NE0Q79zs45AVz_J2KoNzDgGU2Yk38TwyDxaW8bGgcVhp0B80OQpp1b5J6ZSI8EfgNEOTDwE3G5g0Uma-WKbndkwYgkTdk/s1600/HuntBSI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJom_yrRjaJoz0pzLkFWeGq1PHMSRkdLKZMPe19EHQRvUb-NE0Q79zs45AVz_J2KoNzDgGU2Yk38TwyDxaW8bGgcVhp0B80OQpp1b5J6ZSI8EfgNEOTDwE3G5g0Uma-WKbndkwYgkTdk/s1600/HuntBSI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Harrison Hunt receiving a coveted Irregular Shilling from <b>Mike Whelan</b> aka Wiggins at the BSI Dinner 2014.]</span></span></td></tr>
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What Culture<b> </b>in "<a href="http://whatculture.com/tv/10-moments-sherlock-complete-jerk.php" target="_blank"><b>10 Moments When Sherlock Was A Complete Jerk</b></a>" successfully argues, with images and text, that Sherlock's brilliance is matched only by his utter jerktasticness. My favorites include: 10) missing the emotional context behind cases, 9) terrorizing a hallucinating John, 8) humiliating Sally Donovan (and Anderson) in front of her colleagues, 7) denying he has friends to John, 5) belittling Molly Hooper, 3) failing to tell John they weren't going to die in the Tube, 2) using Janine (<i>à la</i> Escott the plumber in MILV) and 1) failing to understand why John might be upset in the immediate aftermath of presenting himself as definitely not-dead. Fans, in order to deal with BBC Sherlock's overwhelming jerkiness, simply turn to the following line for comfort and vindication: Sherlock: "Oh, I may be on the side of the angels, but don't think for one second that I am one of them." "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1942614/quotes">The Reichenbach Fall</a>" (2x03).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFSXjUj96t1QZ9UWXQ8Ee2d0xFF18axZ_Zvp-9aFNMnelOJMrnCihFVmtfMVeiFm9jJeSTIm-Yv5cJhwa0MdcYCQqJ434oZc1wlkVz1ivA7I2a3lZhCFoWy-Q18fzKj29XxjjRdo3P5A/s1600/JerkSherlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFSXjUj96t1QZ9UWXQ8Ee2d0xFF18axZ_Zvp-9aFNMnelOJMrnCihFVmtfMVeiFm9jJeSTIm-Yv5cJhwa0MdcYCQqJ434oZc1wlkVz1ivA7I2a3lZhCFoWy-Q18fzKj29XxjjRdo3P5A/s1600/JerkSherlock.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Crossing the pond for a moment, here's <b>Jonny Lee Miller</b> aka Mr Elementary: I have no idea what he's doing in this photo but there's an 87% probability that he's being a huge jerk of some sort.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.sherlock-guide.com/b"><b>My Sherlock Books</b></a> is a listing of Sherlockian book recommendations curated by the proprietor of <a href="http://www.sherlock-guide.com/">Guide To Sherlock Holmes & BBC's Sherlock</a>, a site dedicated to how new BBC <i>Sherlock</i> episodes and characters relate to the original Canon. The book recommendations are divided into Sherlockian tomes "For the General Reader" as well as slightly more advanced reading for those looking to delve deeper into Sherlockian scholarship. Also included is an extremely comprehensive 'Want' list that includes titles that every serious Sherlockian book collector would surely enjoy seeing on their shelves. As a point of reference, the author has included prices he paid for various volumes so that collectors and potential collectors know what they're getting into financially once they allow the Sherlockian collector bug into their brain. (But, you know, I can quit whenever I want...)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzMfvUpPjj138byZiQ89hVsU7_3NEmH8ptZsGfX2g-aPcyCpizUbcOv6JiNxBOvXmY9QDLqMdZXYXYWfkcHimwj7oMG2nG0x6KQBEq2TeWUeLtv1OvFXusblS2ILLQJ2sTqKBu-IG5H4/s1600/Standard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzMfvUpPjj138byZiQ89hVsU7_3NEmH8ptZsGfX2g-aPcyCpizUbcOv6JiNxBOvXmY9QDLqMdZXYXYWfkcHimwj7oMG2nG0x6KQBEq2TeWUeLtv1OvFXusblS2ILLQJ2sTqKBu-IG5H4/s1600/Standard.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[The definitive collection of writings by Christopher Morley </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/269692.The_Standard_Doyle_Company" style="text-align: start;"><i>The Standard Doyle Company</i></a><span style="text-align: start;">, edited by Morley expert and current editor of the <i>Baker Street Journal</i> Steve Rothman - just one of the many 'must have' volumes featured on this list.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/JohnHWatsonMD/status/441890196351881216/photo/1"><b>@JohnHWatsonMD</b></a> posted this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanuts"><i>Peanuts</i></a> strip featuring Charlie Brown reading the "they were the footprints of a gigantic hound" scene from <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> to poor Snoopy before bed. If someone knows of a database of <i>Peanuts</i> cartoons that reference Sherlock Holmes please let me know - I absolutely love coming across Peanuts/Sherlock strips, most of which I've never seen. I'm familiar with "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It">It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown</a>" (watch <a href="http://youtu.be/Ghf8WRsWzE4">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://youtu.be/Zj7uNQFaNxQ">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://youtu.be/CAG1A799dxc">Part 3</a>) where Snoopy dons deerstalker, inverness cape and bubble pipe, in order to help Woodstock find his missing bird's nest, but I know there must be so many more Sherlockian references. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzY84AcR3BmvBmbhyMSLIykBFqdVtd4XG34tnaJ46R0uMsolovi0OkNhBJ1zX9t-EHsIog-xNkZqhw_0S_ABbKMLLyjx7MB2gzcbWxqWwtYwtkZuEZiWzKKtQmxUcGP5fiT_PtMaH2kY/s1600/Peanuts-HOUN-FULL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzY84AcR3BmvBmbhyMSLIykBFqdVtd4XG34tnaJ46R0uMsolovi0OkNhBJ1zX9t-EHsIog-xNkZqhw_0S_ABbKMLLyjx7MB2gzcbWxqWwtYwtkZuEZiWzKKtQmxUcGP5fiT_PtMaH2kY/s1600/Peanuts-HOUN-FULL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[I'm sure someone, somewhere has written 'Hound slash Snoopy' fanfic.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b>Quick Sherlock Links:</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVhk2NSY2Qk"><b>"The Mistress of Lord Maulbrey"</b></a> Episode 4 of the new Russian Sherlock is now available with English subtitles, news which will make many a non-Russian speaking Holmes fan happy. For an overview of what to expect from the newest Holmes adaptation, check out the <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/01/new-russian-sherlock-holmes-tv-show.html">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere review</a> by Ms. <a href="https://twitter.com/artemisfowlIII">Anastasia Klimchynskaya</a>, one of the newest contributors to IHOSE as well as the 2013 winner of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/morleymontgomeryaward.html">Morley-Montgomery Award</a> for her Baker Street Journal piece "<i>A Study in Scarlet</i> and the Study of Mankind: Sherlock Holmes and Pope's <i>Essay on Man</i>". (Video posted at <a href="http://221b-bakerst.livejournal.com/613879.html">221b-bakerst</a> by Alexander Sedov.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaxQTym87Q_HTVFqnSRZXmW3Chkkhs5kBVYQlj84XQC-OMFti1tKerLK6dzy9SEAQzCtWxn5FfwPejsBVIxVCYSOPntBk3Xf5M2YK3XTa3EBjODwm8JXdppWAdULkVUIxNwbjsOJeKQo/s1600/RussianHolmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaxQTym87Q_HTVFqnSRZXmW3Chkkhs5kBVYQlj84XQC-OMFti1tKerLK6dzy9SEAQzCtWxn5FfwPejsBVIxVCYSOPntBk3Xf5M2YK3XTa3EBjODwm8JXdppWAdULkVUIxNwbjsOJeKQo/s1600/RussianHolmes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1214581/" style="text-align: start;">Igor Petrenko</a><span style="text-align: start;"> as Sherlock Holmes in the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes_(2013_TV_series)" style="text-align: start;">2013 Russian adaptation</a><span style="text-align: start;"> of the great detective. Fans of Holmes qua 'profound chemist' will delight in Petrenko's frequent use of 221B's acid-stained, deal-topped table.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/7D1CZeH9ncE"><b>Sherlockian-Sherlock</b></a> put together a video documenting the most common misconceptions about Sherlock Holmes, based on their previously mentioned article "<a href="http://www.sherlockian-sherlock.com/common-misconceptions-about-sherlock-holmes.php">The Most Common Misconceptions About Sherlock Holmes</a>". Though I don't agree with every item on here, I would suggest this list to be mandatary reading for any mainstream news outlet planning on running a segment about the recent upsurge in Holmes popularity. ("Quick Watson, the remote!")<br />
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<a href="http://umbookworm.blogspot.com/2014/02/sir-arthur-and-olympic-games.html"><b>Special & Rare on a Stick</b></a>, blog of <a href="https://twitter.com/UMBookworm">Tim Johnson</a>, curator of the <a href="http://umedia.lib.umn.edu/taxonomy/term/740">Sherlock Holmes Collections</a> at the University of Minnesota, reflects on a Preface that ACD wrote in 1914 for <a href="https://archive.org/details/evolutionofolymp00websrich"><i>The Evolution of the Olympic Games, 1829 B.C.—1914 A.D.</i></a> by Frederick Annesley Michael (F. A. M.) Webster. There's quite a bit of ACD Olympics lore out there and this piece by Tim "I have the greatest job in the Universe" Johnson is a great place to start.<br />
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<a href="http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/951397-129/arts-the-sherlockians-assess-benedict-cumberbatch"><b>Seattle Weekly</b></a> sought out John Longenbaugh in order to get the perspective of a hardcore Sherlockian regarding BBC <i>Sherlock</i> and CBS's <i>Elementary</i> and related popular culture 'boomings'. It's a nice article but make sure to read the comments which had me in stitches. Then check out <a href="https://twitter.com/BradKeefauver">Brad Keefauver</a>'s latest post on <a href="http://sherlockpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-less-that-great-wont-do.html"><b>Sherlock Peoria</b></a> which was inspired by the above review of "The One Percent Solution" for the full experience. Mark my words, in a few years when Sherlock Holmes goes back out of style you're going to desperately miss these fun little sparks ignited by mainstream pop culture bumping-up against our little, die-hard Sherlockian world. <br />
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<a href="http://twitpic.com/dxl5wm/full"><b>Steve Doyle</b></a>, proprietor of <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press/Gasogene Books</a>, dug up and scanned this rare illustration from the dust jacket of <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> (Looking Glass Library, 1961), sharing it via his Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/129581877077394/photos/a.131363403565908.11943.129581877077394/646524322049811/"><i>Sherlock Holmes For Dummies</i></a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Click </span><a href="http://twitpic.com/dxl5wm/full" style="text-align: start;">here</a><span style="text-align: start;"> for larger version of this very cool HOUN illustration.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<br />Sherlockian Scion and Event Links:</h4>
<a href="http://www.sherlockology.com/news/2014/2/7/sherlocked-convention-announcement-070214"><b>Sherlockology</b></a> announced an event of (purportedly) epic proportions titled <a href="http://massiveevents.co.uk/sherlocked/">Sherlocked</a> (a reference to Irene Adler's iPhone password in "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Scandal_in_Belgravia">A Scandal In Belgravia</a>") billed as </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"the first ever official <i>Sherlock</i> convention dedicated to our favourite BBC series, will take place in 2014 over 3 days. The event will be run by Massive Events in association with Hartswood Films and Showmasters Ltd - a combination of the talents of specialist producers in dedicated fan conventions and the hugely experienced team behind the renowned London Film & Comic Con, and the <i>Sherlock</i> production team. In addition, it is intended to take place in Europe and in the USA." </blockquote>
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From the press release it even appears that the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> producers are supporting it: "Sherlock's producer Sue Vertue exclusively told [Sherlockology]: </div>
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"We're very excited to be announcing our first official Sherlock convention for later in the year, aptly named 'Sherlocked'. Massive Events have been pestering me for ages to get a date for this in the schedule but we wanted to make sure that we had the time and energy to make it a great, high quality and fun event, and now we have! Watch this space...."</blockquote>
So what do you think? Do we really need 'outsiders' putting together a massive Sherlock-themed event when there are already a wide variety of high quality, intellectually stimulating, homegrown Sherlock gatherings such as <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/bsiweekend.html">BSI Weekend</a>, <a href="http://www.scintillation.org/">Scintillation of Scions</a>, <a href="http://www.221bcon.com/">221B Con</a>, Wessex Press' <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/html/g2b4.html">From Gillette to Brett IV: Basil, Benedict & Beyond</a>, and numerous other Sherlockian events that have taken place around the world for decades prior to a corporate group of "specialist producers"? On the other hand, maybe a professional group would put together an event entirely different than anything we're used to, mustering resources above and beyond what is available to the average Sherlockian? I'm keeping an open mind and will be curious to see how 'Sherlocked' develops - and I'm equally curious to see how the Sherlockian internet reacts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxxjC2405e-9z4aVbUceOBQBdNOAJHf1GA6HxtLJUXzkRhZNSlJHBzn5xwpaXAhyphenhyphentwww3odSbs-TpOil-YCEwBNMoDuYaoIrHGkMC3mCym-5WArQX_TSAdpvuHIZkNCk1_vfczDaz6IU/s1600/sherlocked1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxxjC2405e-9z4aVbUceOBQBdNOAJHf1GA6HxtLJUXzkRhZNSlJHBzn5xwpaXAhyphenhyphentwww3odSbs-TpOil-YCEwBNMoDuYaoIrHGkMC3mCym-5WArQX_TSAdpvuHIZkNCk1_vfczDaz6IU/s1600/sherlocked1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[At the end of the day, I think my 'authenticity-o-meter-spider-sense' tends to tingle whenever I see the word "official" prefixing something I care deeply about (ie. "The Official Sherlock X"). Only time will tell in this case.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=markgatissintroducestheprivatelifeofsherlockholmes"><b>BFI Films</b></a> announced a screening of Billy Wilder's incredibly brilliant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Sherlock_Holmes"><i>The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</i></a> on April 9, 2014 at 8:20 PM at <a href="http://www.bfi.org.uk/">BFI Southbank</a>, London. Wilder's take on Holmes, Watson and the entire Baker Street scene is marvelous, but don't take my word for it because Mark Gatiss (Mycroft on <i>Sherlock</i>, writer for <i>Doctor Who</i>) will be on hand to introduce the film and discuss how Wilder's adaptation inspired and influenced his work on BBC <i>Sherlock</i>. If London was only a little closer I would risk life and limb to ensure that I had a seat for what sounds like a magical evening.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sh-whoswho.com/index.php?refsociety=259"><b>The Epilogues of Sherlock Holmes</b></a> will hold their first gathering of 2014 on March 29 at 6:00 pm in Chatham, NJ at their usual spot, the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/158+Southern+Blvd/@40.729112,-74.409942,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3a57c425937d3:0x4eecbbb143a14a53">Quaker (Friends) Meeting House</a>. For those unfamiliar with these beloved Sherlockian meetings hosted by the newly invested Peter McIntyre, BSI ("Arthur Cadogan West") and Bob Katz, BSI ("Dr. Ainstree"), the evening begins with a sumptuous feast (wild caught shrimp, lump crab cakes, salads, refreshments and home made ice cream for only $10 per person) and then eases into an unparalleled discussion, led by Katz, of two seemingly disparate stories from the Canon (this time it's "<a href="http://168.144.50.205/221bcollection/canon/thor.htm">The Problem of Thor Bridge</a>" and "<a href="http://168.144.50.205/221bcollection/canon/redc.htm">The Red Circle</a>"). Saving the best for last, Katz typically concludes the discussion by proposing a link - sometimes subtle, other times radical - between the two stories which inevitably sparks further debate and discussion up until the moment when the Quakers kick us out and we all must regrettably return to reality. Make sure to contact <a href="mailto:%20pslpete@optonline.net">Peter McIntyre</a> and RSVP by March 22 so an accurate head count can be determined. For those arriving by train, be sure to let Bob or Peter know so arrangements can be made to ferry you from the station to the meeting. If you've never had the Epilogues experience, I highly recommend making the trip as you'll be hard pressed to find a more intellectually and gastronomically satisfying Sherlockian event on the entire east coast. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszreT7wmHJiKvS3g2B220XCk_6OzQ3eFveRCWSVT3y8TaDLo50-eH_JcoilqgbRVuknBsKgH2vS6sEEHX8mlUDrWdOH4dJ-6urCcb_7ilDkpRsnjmFkvGSgLlB2dHqpDvQE__MXt63G4/s1600/KatzAtEpilogues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszreT7wmHJiKvS3g2B220XCk_6OzQ3eFveRCWSVT3y8TaDLo50-eH_JcoilqgbRVuknBsKgH2vS6sEEHX8mlUDrWdOH4dJ-6urCcb_7ilDkpRsnjmFkvGSgLlB2dHqpDvQE__MXt63G4/s1600/KatzAtEpilogues.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Classic Katz! Bob calls the Canonical shots during the discussion portion of an Epilogues meeting.]</span></span></td></tr>
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The Grillparzer Club of the Hoboken Free State will hold its Second Annual Christopher Morley Birthday Celebration in the sacred city of Hoboken this year on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Arthurs/@40.7398525,-74.0300461,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x1e0cc292d6655309">Arthur's Restaurant</a>. "The cost is $50.00 per person, including a house salad; choice of Arthur’s ribeye steak, fish of the day, ribs or surf & turf; soft drinks; and dessert. We will have a private street-level room, and our own bartender. Cash bar." Email the Hunts at Hobokenfreestate [at] mhcable.com for information about payment and reservations and to get on the e-mailing list for the <i>Newsletter of The Grillparzer Club of the Hoboken Free State</i>. On a related note, you can read almost all of Morley's "The Bowling Green" columns from the <i>Saturday Review of Literature</i> online: click to read <a href="http://www.unz.org/Author/MorleyChristopher?View=Article">Morley's SRL columns from January 3, 1925 - February 12, 1955</a> (along with a variety of other magazines in which Morley published, eg. <i>The Bookman</i>, <i>The Harper's Monthly</i>, <i>The New Republic</i>, etc.).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n-rVsBMFEasEAIdIy1NAR1rLWUgHbZX4mqW5rf4m5q6TPL0uOti5Zr3wBNknbbKp7t9mYgw-vfQnTNjZBJNoRU_j5mbjFltLViKAtREc9Rry_NKF1n4pmqbwFqs1n-tR9s8KycW5flk/s1600/MorleyLunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n-rVsBMFEasEAIdIy1NAR1rLWUgHbZX4mqW5rf4m5q6TPL0uOti5Zr3wBNknbbKp7t9mYgw-vfQnTNjZBJNoRU_j5mbjFltLViKAtREc9Rry_NKF1n4pmqbwFqs1n-tR9s8KycW5flk/s1600/MorleyLunch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Fact: “The Bowling Green” was the title of Christopher Morley’s longstanding column, first published in The New York Evening Post from 1920 until 1923, and then in The Saturday Review of Literature from 1924 until 1938." ]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b>* <a href="http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com/">The Sherlockian Calendar</a> </b>is a Holmes-enthusiast’s best friend maintained by Ron Fish - visit and visit often.<br />
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<b>*</b> If you have a Sherlock Holmes-related event or meeting you would like listed, or any news, gossip or announcements that might interest readers of <a href="http://always1895.net/"><b>Always1895.net</b></a>, please email matt [at] always1895.net.<br />
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Weekly Sherlock Links Compendium (March 1 - March 14, 2014)

"...the fellow must be some poor bibliophile who, either as a trade or as a hobby, was a collector of obscure volumes." [EMPT] ...

+ Read more »

by campunity

Weekly Sherlock Links Compendium (February 15 - February 28, 2014)

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"...the gloom of winter evening had thickened into one gray curtain, a dead monotone of colour..." [REDC]</h4>
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This post is dedicated to east coast Sherlockian scion personality and recently departed friend Joe Moran - you will be dearly missed sir.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgNwHJVlJg6l8vwElROcHRwKYeF-isgQSRQ0VI70qo3U4oYrwZHsQdtxoc8MhsnmA-IJyXq2OU9e9MY5H2t3GtcCbiVIj4Np2nIsUjCX9ICfGEr9Ssb_koUX7va1wj2Tcgw_2JxRmF6k/s1600/Joe+Moran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgNwHJVlJg6l8vwElROcHRwKYeF-isgQSRQ0VI70qo3U4oYrwZHsQdtxoc8MhsnmA-IJyXq2OU9e9MY5H2t3GtcCbiVIj4Np2nIsUjCX9ICfGEr9Ssb_koUX7va1wj2Tcgw_2JxRmF6k/s1600/Joe+Moran.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Click the above photo to read Francine Kitts' </span><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/02/remembering-joe-moran-bsi_23.html" style="text-align: start;">I Hear of Sherlock</a><span style="text-align: start;"> remembrance of Sherlockian <b>Joe Moran</b>. Photo taken at the 1991 'Back To Switzerland' event sponsored by the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shsl/12118766945/in/photostream/" style="text-align: start;">Sherlock Holmes Society of London</a><span style="text-align: start;">.]</span></span></td></tr>
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Wondering what happened in the Sherlockian world during the second half of February 2014? Gothic horror literature, a lifelong pursuit of Sherlockian-centric publishing, the minds behind UK Sherlock Con 'Elementary', a look at why someone wanted to exhume the body of Bertram Fletcher Robinson, role playing on <i>Baker Street</i>, Paget illustrations recreated in LEGO, combining five different Holmes adaptations to create one seamless video, Moriarty overload, a whimsical look at the 'rules' for writing a Sherlock pastiche, Keefauver on the Sherlockian brave new world, a discussion of whether or not BBC <i>Sherlock</i> has diminished strong female characters in the Canon and much more in the latest Weekly Sherlock Links Compendium by <a href="http://always1895.net/" target="_blank">Matt Laffey</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://mastersofhorroruk.blogspot.com/2014/03/interview-with-leslie-s-klinger-by.html" target="_blank">Masters of Horror recently interviewed</a> Sherlockian annotator extraordinaire <a href="https://twitter.com/lklinger">Leslie S Klinger</a> about how he first became interested in Sherlock Holmes, Dracula and the scholarly side of gothic horror literature, his work as the official technical advisor for the Warner Bros Guy Ritchie Sherlock Homes films, his favorite horror literature and films, what it is like being a recognized world-renowned expert and award-winning author in the Sherlockian world, and more. My favorite part of the interview is when Klinger discusses his greatest accomplishments as a writer so far: "I was deeply honored to receive the <a href="http://www.theedgars.com/">Edgar</a> for my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Annotated-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/0393059162"><i>New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories</i></a> [Edgar Award for 'Best Critical / Biographical Work', 2005]. I always explain, however, that I stood on the shoulders of <b>[William] Baring-Gould</b>’s work. I had three great advantages over Baring-Gould: (1) The Internet and its amazing depth of Victorian works (in GoogleBooks and elsewhere); (2) the Ronald B. De Waal bibliography of all things Sherlock Holmes (over 25,000 entries), published after Baring-Gould’s death; and (3) I got to start with the work of Baring-Gould! I spent 37 years reading about Holmes, and it was an incredible opportunity to be allowed to distill that reading into 3,000 footnotes! I’m immensely proud of every one of my books. A great highlight of my writing career was the amazing opportunity to study the manuscript of <i>Dracula</i>, owned by Paul Allen and seen (by 2007) by only one other scholar, who wrote nothing about it." Check out the entire interview for more insights into one of my favorite Sherlockians, Mr Leslie Klinger.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOgLK-h_NbHp30SeOO9V_fycjjUHwx9reOpEnFRytTIJSUazJo5z15CKm71psKGrsgs1mkDzR0Iyo6_wvM99uBeE4q9CAQBTObgHhnG6Mm6mFFYCD5C_mjIi-FDgcKCjr0V2JUbSgig/s1600/Klinger-Annotated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOgLK-h_NbHp30SeOO9V_fycjjUHwx9reOpEnFRytTIJSUazJo5z15CKm71psKGrsgs1mkDzR0Iyo6_wvM99uBeE4q9CAQBTObgHhnG6Mm6mFFYCD5C_mjIi-FDgcKCjr0V2JUbSgig/s1600/Klinger-Annotated.jpg" width="527" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Cover of Klinger's New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, an essential tome for any Sherlockian library and serious fans of the mystery genre in general.]</span></span></td></tr>
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Dan Andriacco <a href="http://bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-few-words-with-steven-doyle.html" target="_blank">interviewed Sherlockian publishing powerhouse Steve Doyle, BSI</a> ("The Western Morning News") about his life and work in the Sherlockian world which started at the tender age of 14 when he first received facsimiles of the <i>Adventures</i> and <i>Memoirs</i> to when he began publishing and editing his the legendary <i>Sherlock Holmes Review</i> (at 27 years old), a project that led him to <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press/Gasogene Books</a> and eventually becoming the publisher of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/"><i>Baker Street Journal</i></a> and author of the acclaimed <a href="http://amzn.to/1csv7h8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Sherlock Holmes For Dummies</i></a>. For a sense of just exactly how long Mr Doyle has been in the game, check out this fantastic <a href="http://youtu.be/dLhe4tTl4bU">video interview from 1987</a> featuring a fresh-faced, 27 year old Steven Doyle discussing the <i>Sherlock Holmes Review</i>, the current state (c. mid-1980s) of the Sherlockian world, the ever-growing network of Sherlockian scholars and like-minded fans from around the world and how no detective will ever rival the powers of Sherlock Holmes. My favorite part of Andriacco's interview is the following:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Andriacco</b>: What is the best part of being a Sherlockian?<br />
<b>Doyle</b>: "Being a Sherlockian gives you a key to a community of simply the best people I've been privileged to know. Literate, loyal, amazingly generous, absolutely delighting in the intellectual game of Sherlock Holmes. There's absolutely nothing like it." </blockquote>
I concur. Lastly, make sure to mark your calendars for Steve Doyle's Wessex Press-sponsored event <b><a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/html/g2b4.html">From Gillette to Brett IV</a>: Basil, Benedict and Beyond</b> taking place in Bloomington, IN on September 12-14, 2014. The conference will feature rare Sherlockian films, vendors, and an all-star roster of distinguished speakers, presenters, and events, one major highlight being screenings of the 75th anniversary prints of Basil Rathbone's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031448/"><i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></a> (1939) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031022/"><i>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (1939) at the state-of-the-art <a href="http://www.cinema.indiana.edu/">IU Cinema</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkIoqt2r7LJhYXZFzS2IhC6Ou_LmvYzQoTPGFds5VZ3a9KoomOsVj6EC1phJJ3b_phFuhGXcziJOB5bm94Wqj4N9leLndmEKHFl8FGacwt-QGxyUenIIGM3FvufjQ4xV1dTZZ2w3XOsc/s1600/Doyle-27yearsold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkIoqt2r7LJhYXZFzS2IhC6Ou_LmvYzQoTPGFds5VZ3a9KoomOsVj6EC1phJJ3b_phFuhGXcziJOB5bm94Wqj4N9leLndmEKHFl8FGacwt-QGxyUenIIGM3FvufjQ4xV1dTZZ2w3XOsc/s1600/Doyle-27yearsold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Screenshot of Steve Doyle at 27 years old reading from an issue of his <i>Sherlock Holmes Review</i> during a 1987 interview.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://bakerstreetbabes.com/podcast/episode-53-lars-mikkelsen-jonathan-aris-arwel-wyn-jones/"><b>The Baker Street Babes - Episode 53</b></a> finds Babes <a href="https://twitter.com/kafers">Kafers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/orpheusetude">Taylor</a> making the trip to Birmingham, UK to attend a three day Sherlock Con (February 7 - 9, 2014) called 'Elementary' produced by <a href="http://www.starfury.co.uk/">Starfury Conventions</a> (a professional UK convention organizer) whose main attraction was an appearance by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch. Also on the bill were a number of other BBC <i>Sherlock</i> personalities including actor Lars Mikkelsen who played the late, lamented Charles Augustus Magnussen ("His Last Vow"), <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0034877/"><b>Jonathan Aris</b></a> better known as Anderson (wonder if he had the beard?) and set-designer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1564536/"><b>Arwel Wyn Jones</b></a> - all three of whom appear on Episode 53. Find out what Mikkelsen and Aris think about the tremendous popularity of the show as well as how appearing on one of the most popular UK show's in history has changed their lives. Jones opens up about life behind the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> camera and names some of his favorite sets he's created. As a bonus, the Babes talk to a sampling of Sherlockian cosplay participants capturing the mood and spirit of the conference through the eyes of dedicated fans. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">["The clues and the evidence have all pointed in one direction, that the only solution for the growing army of fans for Sherlock is an unofficial event. Indeed, it's elementary! A three day celebration, featuring guest talks, panel, discussions, and a fantastic opportunity for fans to gather around and share their enthusiasm for one of the best shows on TV today!"]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Conan-Doyle-murder-tale-totally-unreliable/story-11687514-detail/story.html"><b>Western Morning News</b></a> reported on the latest (and perhaps final) development in the controversial debate on whether or not Arthur Conan Doyle murdered author and journalist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Fletcher_Robinson"><b>Bertram Fletcher Robinson</b></a> (who died on January 21, 1907) by purposely administering a fatal overdose of laudanum (via Gladys, Robinson's wife), opposed to Robinson's official cause of death which was typhoid fever and peritonitis following a visit to Paris. For those unfamiliar with this 'controversy', Doyle's alleged motive for murdering BFR was two-fold: the first was an attempt to cover up an adulterous affair [Doyle] had with his wife and the second was to hide the fact that [ACD] stole the plot of the <i>Hound of the Baskervilles</i>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The accusations were the results of research carried out by former driving instructor Rodger Garrick-Steele who wanted to exhume the corpse...and test it for traces of poison....Having examined the evidence, Sir Andrew [McFarlane, the chancellor of the ecclesiastical court] said: "This court has been driven to the conclusion that it cannot place any reliance on as assertion made by RGS which is not backed up by an independent piece of evidence or source. On the basis of the material that he has placed before this court he appears to be a totally unreliable historian." </blockquote>
Robinson expert <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskerville221B"><b>Paul Spiring</b></a> exhaustively explains the details of the controversy in the well-written "<a href="http://www.bfronline.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=251&Itemid=9">Conan Doyle, Fletcher Robinson and the Hound</a>" -  and for further background see "<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1494820/Did-Conan-Doyle-poison-his-friend-to-cheat-him-out-of-The-Hound-of-the-Baskervilles.html">Did Conan Doyle poison his friend to cheat him out of The Hound of the Baskervilles?</a>".<br />
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If you are unfamiliar with the work of Bertram Fletcher Robinson, I highly suggest checking out some of <a href="http://mxpublishing.com/product/BFRCollection/Bertram+Fletcher+Robinson+Collection">Paul Spiring's books published by MX</a> such as <a href="http://always1895.net/post/3333540699/bertram-fletcher-robinson-aside-acd"><i>Aside Arthur Conan Doyle</i></a> which features 20 illustrated short stories (1899-1907) by BFR. Spiring's <a href="http://www.bfronline.biz/images/pdf/BFletcherRobinsonBibliography.pdf">bibliography of BFR</a> is available as a PDF online as are a number of BFR's short stories which are in the public domain. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ380ENO8-RwDXAQ1piC271m_k8K3frXCpVheEyHQzGxVBBw87TJ4DTskt9ckjBCJvgD_SfnACjIT9KV_H8uv3Bo_oHMRz-m8Kiv9yuYHVxz7rsieoJham55IDAUy55hrAqLghIvmh_Q/s1600/HOUN-dedicationtoBFR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ380ENO8-RwDXAQ1piC271m_k8K3frXCpVheEyHQzGxVBBw87TJ4DTskt9ckjBCJvgD_SfnACjIT9KV_H8uv3Bo_oHMRz-m8Kiv9yuYHVxz7rsieoJham55IDAUy55hrAqLghIvmh_Q/s1600/HOUN-dedicationtoBFR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[ACD's dedication to BFR in the published version of </span><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=5l8rUHN9STcC&dq=hound%20of%20the%20baskervilles&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q&f=false" style="text-align: start;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a><span style="text-align: start;"> (1902). Spiring's essay on BFR and HOUN describes earlier and later versions of this dedication plus a variety of references made by ACD in letters to BFR's participation in the creation of HOUN, all of which make for fascinating reading, irregardless of the fantastic claims made by others regarding ACD and BFR.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fearlightgames/baker-street-roleplaying-in-the-world-of-sherlock"><b><i>Baker Street</i>: Roleplaying in the World of Sherlock Holmes</b></a> is a Victorian-era RPG designed for 3 to 5 players where you become an investigator working out of 221B Baker Street solving cases as Dr. Watson during the conspicuous absence of Sherlock Holmes, created by <b>Bryce Whitacre</b> for <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/fearlightgames">Fearlight Games</a>. [<b><i>Editor's note</i></b>: <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/02/a-quick-look-at-baker-street-rpg-on.html#.Ux6fovmwJcQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reviewed here on February 14</a>.]<br />
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"Featuring over 30 careers, 25 unique criminal extras, and rules for making your own nefarious villains, <i>Baker Street</i> features a robust investigation mechanic, easy character generation, and rules for making your own mystery. Some of the unique features of <i>Baker Street</i> are The Sherlock Die, Investigation Scenes, Clue Cards, Social Status, and the Threat Meter." </blockquote>
To date this Kickstarter campaign has 451 backers who have pledged a total of over $25,000 (original goal was $3,500) - and there are still 5 days to go! If you're interested, there's still plenty of Kickstarter reward levels ranging from pledges of $1, $10, $15,....to major pledges of $100 (appear in the game's artwork), $150 (receive limited edition hardcover version of rule book). Personally, I don't know much about RPGs (think <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons"><i>Dungeon & Dragons</i></a> role playing games with a Sherlockian twist) but reading about <i>Baker Street</i> makes me want to find a few Sherlockians who are into RPGs. I'll probably buy this game once it's released regardless, if just to own the special <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/001/667/655/f77ec712f352f2b3294ba3c45a1587cf_large.jpg?1393167323">Sherlockian die</a> (multi-sided dice custom made for playing this game). For an in-depth look at <i>Baker Street</i> check out this dramatic <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fearlightgames/baker-street-roleplaying-in-the-world-of-sherlock/widget/video.html">video trailer</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Rule book for <i>Baker Street</i> - for high level Kickstarter backers there is a special edition hardcover version bound in hunter green vellum with the official seal of the Conan Doyle estate embossed in gold foil on the front. Each book comes in a matching slipcover and will be hand-signed and numbered on the title page by the Baker Street designer, Bryce Whitacre.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://mxpublishing.tumblr.com/post/76752761868/a-scandal-in-bohemia-illustrated-in-lego-all">"A Scandal In Bohemia" Illustrated in LEGOs</a></b> from MX Publishing is an attempt to capture the interest of younger readers by presenting the text of <a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/scan.htm">"A Scandal in Bohemia"</a> with all the traditional Sidney Paget illustrations re-created in LEGO bricks! Available soon from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scandal-Bohemia-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/1780926049">Amazon</a> and other outlets, this paperback release is one of the more creative presentations of a Canonical text I have yet to see. Other MX titles geared towards the younger Sherlockians of the world include: <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.com/product/9781780923161/Sherlock+Holmes+and+The+Missing+Snowman"><i>Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Snowman</i></a> (2012) where "a young girl's snowman has gone missing. Where can it have gone? There is only one man who can help. Sherlock Holmes, the most famous detective in the world."; two other MX titles of possible interest to a younger crowd include <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.com/product/9781780925233/Is+That+My+Holmes"><i>Is That My Holmes?</i></a> (2013) and <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.com/product/9781780925264/Is+That+My+Watson"><i>Is That My Watson?</i></a> (2013) written by Andrew Murray and illustrated by Deakin Brook: "It’s so hard to choose, so spare a thought for poor Sherlock Holmes – faced with so many Watsons old and new, what will he do?  Who’s too techno-garish?  Who’s too teddy-bearish? Who’s maybe too pretty? Who’s in the wrong city? Who’s the right Watson in Holmes’s own view? And is Sherlock’s Watson the Watson for you?"</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JDQgoGFyRCISr3s_3jLsXlIhJVdimKJHWlovLHn4FZLsVS5bXhb9rKf98ATaB3Z3NIxH-33msRahF_uQNP8XcxpFCmyVV7UOmkQKVfZ56Ujz18u_AVESCugQLW-9PTb5BFq5M6WQsGI/s1600/SCAN-legos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JDQgoGFyRCISr3s_3jLsXlIhJVdimKJHWlovLHn4FZLsVS5bXhb9rKf98ATaB3Z3NIxH-33msRahF_uQNP8XcxpFCmyVV7UOmkQKVfZ56Ujz18u_AVESCugQLW-9PTb5BFq5M6WQsGI/s1600/SCAN-legos.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[A Lego-ized <b>Irene Adler</b> bidding goodnight to a bemused Holmes and Watson at the end of SCAN - click </span><a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/images/scan-09.jpg" style="text-align: start;">here</a><span style="text-align: start;"> for the original Paget illustration.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/UCs6hjTwdSo"><b><i>The Sign of Four</i> 'mashup' video</b></a>, created by the talented Sherlockian from Iowa <a href="https://twitter.com/Sweeper887"><b>Monica Schmidt</b></a>, is an extremely clever video that combines dialogue scenes from various Sherlock Holmes adaptations including Jeremy Brett/Granada Series (1984-1994), Ian Richardson's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sign_of_Four_(1983_film)"><i>The Sign of Four</i></a> (1983), Charlton Heston's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101631/"><i>The Crucifer of Blood</i></a> (1991), Peter Cushing's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093971/"><i>The Sign of Four</i></a> (1968), Robert Downey Jr.'s <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/"><i>Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (2009), and Vasily Livanov's "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080263/">The Bloody Signature</a>" (1979). Played in full, Ms Schmidt has managed to re-create most of the dialogue from Chapter 1 "The Science of Deduction" of <a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/sign-01.htm"><i>The Sign of Four</i></a>. Let's hope Ms Schmidt has more video cleverness in store for us in the future.<br />
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<b><a href="http://alistaird221b.blogspot.com/2014/02/keep-moriarty-dead-there-are-other.html">Doyleockian</a></b> makes the case for 'less Moriarty and greater use of non-Moriarty Canonical villains' when constructing new Holmes adaptations and pastiches. Instead of pitting Holmes against the, one again, resurrected (ad nauseum squared) Napoleon of Crime, <a href="https://twitter.com/alistaird221b"><b>Alistair Duncan</b></a> suggests a laundry list drenched in Canonical depravity, avarice and skullduggery made up of villains such as "Baron Gruner, Culverton Smith, Isadora Klein, John Clay and/or Sir George Burnwell." Missing from Duncan's list - though equally capable in the scoundrel department in my opinion - are Josiah Amberley (RETI, gassed his wife and his chess opponent to death), Jack Ferguson (SUSS, assuming Master Jacky's year at sea served only to refine his sociopathic tendencies), James Windibank/Hosmer Angel (IDEN, even Holmes predicted him destined for greater evils) and Parker the Garrotter and Jew's harp virtuoso (EMPT, because I'm pretty sure a garrotter is by definition a bad guy all around). As the above enumerations show, you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy (to paraphrase from Obi Wan Kenobi's description of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mos_Eisley_Cantina">Mos Eisley Cantina</a>) than in the Canon of Sherlock Holmes. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[“<b>John Clay</b>, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He’s a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London. He’s a remarkable man, is young John Clay...His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to find the man himself." (</span><a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/redh.htm" style="text-align: start;">REDH</a><span style="text-align: start;">)]</span></span></td></tr>
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Girl Meets Sherlock's <a href="https://twitter.com/Pickwick12">Amy Thomas</a> posted the whimsically titled "<a href="http://girlmeetssherlock.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/how-to-write-a-pastiche-that-sparkle/" target="_blank"><b>How To Write a Pastiche That Sparkle$!</b></a>" which includes a number of very 'helpful' hints regarding how to compose a successful Holmes pastiche. In light of Duncan's entry above, I think the most important point is tip #1 "Include TONS of historical people. It’s called playing The Game. Who wants to read a pastiche where Holmes interacts in-depth with one historical person or situation? Subtlety is boring. Namecheck at least ten real-life characters, or you don’t deserve to call yourself a pastiche artist." I would go even further and suggest that the greater the number of historical and fictional figures included, the greater chance one has of achieving literary fame and fortune. Whenever I get around to writing my pastiche, it will include all three Moriarty brothers plus a fourth James Moriarty (but unrelated to the Professor, Colonel and Station Master) and a James Moriarty-bot built by none-other-than Thorpe Holmes, the 'other' Holmes brother from that masterpiece of all Sherlockian cinema, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1522835/"><i>Asylum's Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (2010). My only complaint about Ms Thomas' list is that she forgot item #6 which goes something like 'Make sure to establish that your pastiche is truly authentic by mentioning that said manuscript was discovered in your great-grandmother's attic in a box marked "Grandma's Les Liaisons Dangereuses: or Doctor's I've Known and Loved." </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">[Thorpe Holmes, the cybernetic-ized brother of Sherlock Holmes, in </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1522835/" style="text-align: start;"><i>Asylum's Sherlock Holmes</i></a><span style="text-align: start;"> (2010).]</span></span></td></tr>
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On Sherlock Peoria, in "<a href="http://sherlockpeoria.blogspot.com/2014/02/standing-where-you-might-get-finger.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Standing Where You Might Get Finger Slipped</a>,"Brad Keefauver invites Sherlockians, perhaps dubious of the current Kickstarter campaign based around the notion of turning an obscure fan fiction piece into a web series, to pause for a moment and acknowledge the impressiveness of the <i>A Finger Slip</i> project:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We live in an age where a young dreamer can get an idea to adapt an idea based on an idea, with both of the last two ideas based on two other ideas, then raise $13,000 to fulfill that dream, funded by folks who want to see that dream come true..." </blockquote>
Keefauver then takes his argument one step further by suggesting that those critical of the project need to remove their blinders and realize that an important aspect of the brave new Sherlockian world is the multiplicity of perspectives now available to Holmes enthusiasts. Keefauver also successfully addresses a point I raised in <a href="http://always1895.net/post/76517189042/weekly-sherlock-links-compendium-january-25-february">last week's post</a> regarding <i>Sherlock Peoria</i>'s ambiguity toward this brave new world: "I'm less and less sure of where I stand in our modern Sherlockian world for one simple reason: It's a much bigger place than it used to be and there are just so many, many places to stand now." Lastly, a point which should be unequivocally un-ambiguous is Keefauver's descriptive virtuosity as evidenced by the following turn of phrase: "And apparently, <i>A Finger Slip</i> has touched a lot of folks's mental private parts." Indeed it has.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[An artist's rendering of what the Sherlockian world of tomorrow will look like. If you look closely those are flying deerstalker cars.]</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://sherlockcares.com/scandal-baker-street-cam/" target="_blank">Sherlock Cares ran a reaction piece</a> to the recent <a href="http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/sherlock-bbc-moffat-milverton/"><i>Daily Dot</i></a> article "Sherlock Wrote a Female Character Out of a Classic Story, and Fans Aren't Happy" essentially agreeing with the notion that Moffat's adaptation "has modified the ending, and a critical moment, of an original Sherlock Holmes stories in which woman take decisive action and ultimately beat Sherlock Holmes in solving the problem." In the case of Irene Adler, instead of "beating" Holmes as occurs in the Canon, she must ultimately be saved from a beheading. With Mary Morstan, instead of shooting CAM Devil, she instead turns to Sherlock to 'save her' from CAM's blackmailing ways.<br />
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The crux of both articles comes down to this:<br />
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"In the original canon, there are many women whom even Sherlock Holmes admires for their strength of character, bravery, beauty, charm, and, yes, even their relative intelligence. But in BBC <i>Sherlock</i> it seems the women are there to serve “the boys.” And if the women are very, very lucky, “the boys” might rescue them and bestow a kiss...The moral in Sherlock is that women should not be smart, or if they are smart, they should not be ambitious for anything except love and marriage." </blockquote>
Is this evidence of Moffat and Gatiss' inherent sexism? Does BBC <i>Sherlock</i> systematically morph independent female characters into helpless victims while simultaneously re-asserting the patriarchal status quo? After teasing out the facts (i.e. the specific ways in which Moffat altered the Canon and portrayed various female characters) from the interpretation (i.e. are Moffat's alterations clear cut examples of sexism and/or a systematic strategy to put women 'back in their place'?), do the claims of either essay hold up under close scrutiny or are there alternate, gender-neutral interpretations of either adaptation? Whatever your stance on these issues, the points raised are worth thinking about and discussing. <br />
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The Consulting Detective <a href="http://sherlockcares.com/scandal-baker-street-cam/" target="_blank">wonders whether or not Steven Moffat is actually an Evil Genius</a>...or just a genius...or just evil. Actually, it only takes blog author Nick Cardillo half a paragraph to decide Moffat is "the world's most formidable evil genius", though later Cardillo defines 'genius' as knowing "how to tell a good story" and 'evil' as "showmanship and flair". Hmm, I was hoping for definitive proof that Moffat's ideas on relationships were cribbed from an ancient book bound and written on human skin or that he drinks the blood of virgin fanboys for inspiration, but no such luck this time. This post does make a good point regarding the somewhat ambiguous role of Mark Gatiss at the BBC and in relation to Moffat. Is it the case that Mycroft is to the British Government what Mark Gatiss is to Sherlock? Perhaps Gatiss is the true, bonafide super evil puppet master pulling and manipulating the millions of delicate threads controlling so-called 'feels', that as of yet undiscovered component to the autonomic nervous system no doubt produced in the medulla oblongata and responsible for pretty much anything on Tumblr similar to the sentiment "<a href="http://nerdfighters.ning.com/forum/topics/reichenbach-feels">I just finished re-watching "The Reichenbach Fall" and I had no idea I could feel so horrifyingly dead inside.... Anyone else?</a>" with a #feels tag - oh wait, <i>Sherlock</i> Season 3 has come and gone and I guess Sherlock coming back wasn't that big of a deal after all - certainly not as big of a deal as Sherlock shooting a dude in cold blood (but come on, he deserved it) and then sent off on a suicide mission only to be immediately recalled because of an animated GIF inexplicably appearing on everyone's screens. Now that's evil.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Is Mark Gatiss the real evil genius behind BBC <i>Sherlock</i>?]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b>Sherlockian Event Links:</b><br />
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<a href="http://prioryscholarsnyc.com/"><b>The Priory Scholars of NYC</b></a> will hold their next event on Saturday April 12, 2014 from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. at The Churchill Tavern (45 East 28th Street, New York, NY 10016). Please confirm your enrollment via email to Headmistress <a href="mailto:judith-freeman@hotmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Judith Freeman</a> no later than March 29, 2014. The discussion, led by Matt Laffey, will focus on "<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/spec.htm">The Adventure of the Speckled Band</a>." Quizmaster Nick Martorelli will moderate a SPEC quiz, where the highest scoring attendees will receive a selection of prizes including books, Sherlockian artifacts, comics, etc. All Sherlockian enthusiasts are welcome, from the hardcore Prioryists to the curious newcomers. Make sure to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/PrioryNYC">Twitter</a> and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrioryNYC">Facebook</a> for updated info and pre-game discussion. This event is dedicated to the memory of Joe Moran who, for a time, was the reigning headmaster of the Priory Scholars of NYC, circa 1994.<br />
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<a href="http://3garridebs.homestead.com/"><b>The Three Garridebs</b></a> of Westchester will hold their next meeting at 1:00 p.m. on March 22, 2014 at the <a href="http://www.hastingslibrary.org/">Hastings-on-Hudson Public Library</a>, NY. The discussion and quiz will be on "The Empty House" and attendees can expect the usual edifying lectures and always entertaining Sherlockian show-and-tell. Check out the <a href="http://3garridebs.homestead.com/">3Garridebs website</a> for more information. On a related check, check out the latest edition of the <a href="http://3garridebs.homestead.com/foolscapdocument.html"><i>Foolscap Document</i></a>, the newsletter of the Three Garridebs.<br />
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<a href="http://chatham.patch.com/groups/chatham-playhouse-news/p/sherlock-holmes-the-final-adventure_43b3e460"><b>Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure</b></a> a theater production put together by the Chatham Players opens on March 7th and runs through March 22nd, 2014 at the <a href="http://www.chathamplayers.org/">Chatham Playhouse</a> (23 North Passaic Ave, Chatham, NJ 07928). Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for youth/senior. "Join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they face off against arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty, in the Stephen Dietz story inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The case takes Holmes on a final adventure, which includes kidnapping, numerous disguises, underhand plotting twists and turns and a whole series of clues which even has the super sleuth’s sidekick scratching his head..." According to the synopsis, the play combines elements of "The Final Problem," "A Scandal in Bohemia," and <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> with further inspiration drawn from William Gillette's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes_(play)"><i>Sherlock Holmes</i></a> (1899). Available dates and times can be found <a href="http://ccp.ticketleap.com/sherlock-holmes/">here</a>. (Thanks to Peter McIntyre and Bea Makara for the tip.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-directions-in-sherlock-tickets-6900426361"><b>New Directions in Sherlock</b></a> is a free one day conference sponsored by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SherlockHolmesPastAndPresent">Sherlock Holmes Past & Present</a> happening on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (BST) London, United Kingdom. "In this one-day symposium, we will screen "His Last Vow", attend presentations, and discuss Sherlock Holmes, the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> and aspects of neo-Victorian detective writing. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Benjamin Poore of University of York." </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Spend the day discussing all things BBC Sherlock, focusing primarily on "His Last Vow".]</span></span></td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://www.amateurmendicantsociety.org/2014/02/winter-meeting-report.html">The Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit</a></b> convened for their annual Winter luncheon - populated by 44 brave Sherlockian souls who braved a harsh Midwestern winter - on February 1, 2014 in Birmingham, Michigan. Tantalus of the AMS, Robert Musial, reports on the various goings on including toasts by Gloria Longueil saluting The Woman, Mike Smith toasting Watson’s Second Wife, Rob Musial raising a glass to Mrs. Hudson, <a href="https://twitter.com/ReginaStinson"><b>Regina Stinson</b></a> saluting Mycroft Holmes and Jerry Alvin commemorating the mysterious Ezekiah Hopkins; a silent auction where a bottle of one of the <a href="http://221bcellars.com/">221B Cellars</a> wines (limited to 200 bottles total) went for $90; announcement of the winner of the highly coveted AMS Beggar's Cup, commemorating the best presentation given at an AMS event in the previous year, which went to both Jerry Alvin and Regina Stinson who both shared in the glory due to a tie; Chris Jeryan's “A Holmesian Menagerie” exploring the Canon's alphabetical bestiary (“adder” and “bee,” winding through “jellyfish,” “kipper,” “leech” and others and on to “petrel,” “venomous lizard” and “whale”); the outcome of the All-Canon Quiz; and finally concluding the luncheon with Anne Musial and David Mohan leading the group in the standard singing of “God Save the Queen” and Lascar Richard Jeryan with the traditional reading of Starrett's poem <a href="http://always1895.net/post/11857862603/starrett1-birthday-week-2011"><i>221B</i></a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Sherlock Holmes, 160 years young!]</span></span></td></tr>
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