I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes - A Review

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"I have even heard that you go to the length of boxing" [LAST]</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVawbpHwni7M8u7SwzotIdXuTgqDT4YzZ-5IV0G6rpq-YLCIAWGP6n8mjsCH6XdzqxN5pVr47RzXqsXGJvJyLRCtSyYo8Sf1gJz4NtqaRO-vG4NgiZmZFWwvZ1lcpZTQE4NpFAc3JINEc/s1600/Sherlock+Paperback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVawbpHwni7M8u7SwzotIdXuTgqDT4YzZ-5IV0G6rpq-YLCIAWGP6n8mjsCH6XdzqxN5pVr47RzXqsXGJvJyLRCtSyYo8Sf1gJz4NtqaRO-vG4NgiZmZFWwvZ1lcpZTQE4NpFAc3JINEc/s1600/Sherlock+Paperback.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Many Sherlockians enjoy portrayals of Sherlock Holmes's deduction and intellectual skills, and tend to avoid his lesser-known expertise in fighting and hand-to-hand combat. However, as part of the <a href="http://fightcardbooks.com/"><b>Fight Card</b> series of novels</a> focusing on boxing, Andrew Salmon's <b><i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i></b> (<a href="http://amzn.to/1cOGC2u" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> | A<a href="http://amzn.to/1dcZ0Nx" target="_blank">mazon UK</a>) focuses on both in equal measure, providing an entertaining read focusing on Holmes' ability to handle both physical and intellectual combat.<br />
<br />
Like its more contemporary books in the series, <i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i> focuses on boxing, but with a Victorian-era Holmes, it's bare knuckle, barely legal, and rife with storytelling possibilities. (This is one of the most well-researched books I've read - Salmon not only provides a glossary, but manages to integrate his research into Victorian boxing practices into the story without calling undue attention). <br />
<br />
<i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i> is one of the most gripping Holmes stories to be published, moving beyond pastiche into more full-blooded territory (and the pun is <i>fully</i> intentional). Imagine the scene: it's shortly before Christmas, 1884, and Holmes is engaging in a bout with an old friend. Shortly after the bout ends, someone enters the hall screaming "Murder!"<br />
<br />
The game, as Holmes would announce, is <i>definitely</i> afoot after that.<br />
<br />
Salmon's tale rips along at a breakneck pace as Holmes and Watson make their way through the seamier side of Victorian London. All manner of criminals abound, including a new classic Holmes villain in former fighter Tanner. <i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i> balances both the brutality of bare-knuckle fighting and the raw intellectual power of Holmes' deductions, coming to a climax that is well-earned and well-deserved.<br />
<br />
Plenty of pastiches mix Holmes and a variety of contexts and genres, but <i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i> accomplishes something far greater: expanding the context of Holmes' world, providing a much richer, deeper read that...well, let's just say that we now have a great Holmes boxing story as well as a great Holmes Christmas story.<br />
<br />
<i>Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes</i> is available both in print and electronic form. Either way, this is a definite must-read.<br />
<br />
<i>(Disclosure: a complimentary electronic copy was provided for review purposes)</i><br />
--<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&Operation=GetAdHtml&ID=OneJS&OneJS=1&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=gordondymow-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00GYHEPMW&asins=B00GYHEPMW&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&MarketPlace=US" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>      <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakstrblo-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00GYHEPMW&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>

Fight Card: Sherlock Holmes - A Review

"I have even heard that you go to the length of boxing" [LAST] Many Sherlockians enjoy portrayals of Sherlock Holmes's de...

+ Read more »

by Gordon D

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the Connection to Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"I am accustomed to have mystery" [ILLU] </h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbiYol6niafmqGu_u_JiuhyV6FtgxB1WspuDo57pPB8JStDsgvamQJUQ9dflb5oerr-Q9jEr7kPq6Ntj4ehE70BwZ2xjIsX5aubeHZf0CWLWXyAmIHvkn3xu3wOlIue11RPr9YhgU5cEb/s1600/Andaman_Islands.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Andaman Islands have been included as a possible destination for Malaysian Airlines flight 370. They also contain a connection to Sherlock Holmes." border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbiYol6niafmqGu_u_JiuhyV6FtgxB1WspuDo57pPB8JStDsgvamQJUQ9dflb5oerr-Q9jEr7kPq6Ntj4ehE70BwZ2xjIsX5aubeHZf0CWLWXyAmIHvkn3xu3wOlIue11RPr9YhgU5cEb/s1600/Andaman_Islands.PNG" title="The Andaman Islands" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Unless you've been completely cut off from the news cycle over the past week, you know about the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 somewhere in the southern coastal areas of Asia. Of course the reason we use so broad a term is because there's very little clarity at this point exactly where the plane is, let alone what happened to it.<br />
<h4>
"mere surmise and conjecture" [STUD]</h4>
We know that the plane took off from Malaysia - a red-eye destined for Beijing - but that two hours after taking off, ceased communications with air traffic control. There has been some evidence of "pings" to satellites, but there is no definitive evidence of the plane's direction, who was responsible for the sudden disappearance, or whether those on board met a violent end. We've heard of conspiracy theories and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/satellite-locates-malaysian-flight-370-still-flying-seven-hours-after-takeoff/2014/03/15/96627a24-ac86-11e3-a06a-e3230a43d6cb_graphic.html" target="_blank">searches that are far-flung across a number of seas</a>. But at this point, there's nothing solid to go on.<br />
<br />
One of the places that was mentioned in connection with the plane was none other than the Andaman Islands. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/index.html?" target="_blank">According to CNN</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The suggestion -- and it's only that at this point -- is based on analysis of radar data revealed Friday by Reuters suggesting that the plane wasn't just blindly flying northwest from Malaysia. Reuters, citing unidentified sources familiar with the investigation, reported that whoever was piloting the vanished jet was following navigational waypoints that would have taken the plane over the Andaman Islands.</blockquote>
<div>
Sherlockians everywhere should recognize that geographic reference. Of course, it was on the Andaman Islands are where Major Sholto and Captain Morstan had been stationed and came into contact with Jonathan Small. And Small had Andaman Islander Tonga as his companion. We wrote about the islands previously in <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2013/04/isolated-phenomenon-gree_29.html#.UyUA5PldWSo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"An Isolated Phenomenon" [GREE]</a>. All very specialty in nature to the Sherlock Holmes fans among us. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But the general public has CNN's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/travel/andaman-islands-india-five-things/" target="_blank">Five things to know about the Andaman Islands</a>, which include that the islands contained a penal colony and were a setting for <i>The Sign of Four</i>. Another is that they contain a landing strip large enough to accommodate a Boeing 777. Remote islands, a plane off course and incommunicado, a secret runway - one couldn't be blamed in thinking it's enough to qualify for a plot from a James Bond movie.<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">
"when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" [SIGN]</h4>
As investigators continue to dig into the scant data, <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/03/13/how-mh370-could-have-disappeared-and-why-investigators-have-few-clues-on-where-it-went/" target="_blank">they're following the most famous mantra of Sherlock Holmes</a>. They're ruling out theories that are beyond the realm of possibility and focusing their efforts on what's probable given the facts. At this point, it looks like the pilots themselves were involved in the plot. As far-fetched as that may sound, it's certainly possible. But the entire thing is beginning to s<br />
<br />
We'll continue to follow the Mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with great interest and pray that the passengers are found safe and unharmed.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br /></div>

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the Connection to Sherlock Holmes

"I am accustomed to have mystery" [ILLU] Unless you've been completely cut off from the news cycle over the past week, y...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Sherlockian History: 29 Years Ago Today

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKNcoGkMc-3YukAQ8rUMNWJqdBwOva_Qu7fkHxc0GYF2E58llMKZVsfKg6Rhm-wDEZ6CvTAXSTPoSvPktSpyfpK_7I0CAuUEdMgwfdzqZlEpb-lNWYYlavqljDB-gifVBnNgS_6CVXXDa/s1600/Granada+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A press still from Granada's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke." border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKNcoGkMc-3YukAQ8rUMNWJqdBwOva_Qu7fkHxc0GYF2E58llMKZVsfKg6Rhm-wDEZ6CvTAXSTPoSvPktSpyfpK_7I0CAuUEdMgwfdzqZlEpb-lNWYYlavqljDB-gifVBnNgS_6CVXXDa/s1600/Granada+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" title="Granada's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Without a doubt, one of the most influential and memorable portayals of Sherlock Holmes in recent years was that of Jeremy Brett in the Granada production.<br />
<br />
Nearly 30 years ago today - on March 14, 1985 - <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1imscXc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</a></i> made its premiere on American television via PBS.<br />
<br />
Michael Cox was the brainchild behind the production, and with the assistance of John Hawkesworth and a number of other writers, brought the series to life in an authentic Victorian era setting. It was lavishly produced and is remembered (at least in the first two or three series) as being very faithful to the original Canon.<br />
<br />
Starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke as a level-headed, intelligent and ready-for-action Watson, the series burned an image of Sherlock Holmes into the minds of an entire generation. The series brought us guest stars that included such notables as Eric Porter, Roger Hammond, Jeremy Kemp, Joss Ackland, Gayle Hunnicut and more. <a href="http://amzn.to/1fxrpgV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The soundtrack to the Granada Sherlock Holmes</a> series is another reason that it rates highly to us.<br />
<br />
For a behind the scenes look at how the series came together and the challenges associated with mounting such a serious production, <i><a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/studyincelluloid.html" target="_blank">A Study in Celluloid</a></i> by Michael Cox himself does a wonderful job of getting into the details. [Disclosure: the book is published by <a href="http://wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a>, one of our sponsors. Please support them.]<br />
<br />
And while you're at it, we'd also suggest that you kick back this evening and celebrate three decades of Granada by watching one of those early episodes.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/studyincelluloid.html"><img alt="A Study in Celluloid - Michael Cox, producer of the Granada Sherlock Holmes series, takes readers behind the scenes with Jeremy Brett." border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQculGPSH9NlP6E-OGueAgqPyhYx63uOn1lN1zV4VnJ6OG-UtIms8O0b07DPWXmhoEPymZfMiIVoglU94utYUnYcPXvhLrJ3G7qbK56Faq4kXpuPb3J6u0RqNjR5XcXbXtWSsd2HHwSESp/s1600/celluloid350.jpg" title="A Study in Celluloid" width="128" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />

Sherlockian History: 29 Years Ago Today

Without a doubt, one of the most influential and memorable portayals of Sherlock Holmes in recent years was that of Jeremy Brett in the G...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Episode 62: Inside the BSI Weekend

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"those weekend parties" [SOLI] </h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVF4zqaQGz-GBqRdclrrgA8WLrtw2YviEO16ewqkfL1ivBukvPlH5zmRGYGSxt9OPLa_zmwxpP6NX0GuYL58l2RIUdiUvEpMWNZ3owCMEqXkpnKt9AiYZzwxbj6QbpEY59iW7kCU0pqsu/s1600/2014+BSI+Dinner+-+Gruber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The #bsiweekend is comprised of a number of activities to celebrate the life of Sherlock Holmes." border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVF4zqaQGz-GBqRdclrrgA8WLrtw2YviEO16ewqkfL1ivBukvPlH5zmRGYGSxt9OPLa_zmwxpP6NX0GuYL58l2RIUdiUvEpMWNZ3owCMEqXkpnKt9AiYZzwxbj6QbpEY59iW7kCU0pqsu/s1600/2014+BSI+Dinner+-+Gruber.jpg" title="2014 BSI Weekend" width="640" /></a></div>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<br /></center>
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/2728491/height/90/width/600/theme/custom/autoplay/yes/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/no-cache/true/render-playlist/no/custom-color/8912ba/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe></center>
<br />
While our last episode was recorded during the BSI Weekend in New York, we thought we'd cover some of the happenings in and around the <a href="http://bsiweekend.com/" target="_blank">BSI Weekend</a> itself.<br />
<br />
Our opening comments center around collecting and what makes a collector, but then we quickly launch into actual audio clips with individuals we met during the weekend. Our audio files open with an interview with  Art Levine, who has been attending BSI dinners since 1954. He knew and associated with the likes of Edgar Smith, Christopher Morley, Rex Stout, Basil Davenport and more.<br />
<br />
We then flit from one newly minted BSI to another. You'll hear the excitement and energy in their voices that testify to the thrilling nature of receiving an investiture in this literary society.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We reach deep into the mail (voice and e) for our listener comments. And this episode's Gas-Lamp from the March 1995 Baker Street Journal (Vol. 45, No. 1) harkens back to our previous episode and looks at the serendipity of collecting - particularly acquiring new books during the BSI Weekend - and touches upon the collection of one Mr. Vincent Starrett.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Links:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Gruber Photographers have been taking the BSI dinner photos for some years, using equipment that is over 100 years old. <a href="http://www.gruberphotographers.com/blog/baker-street-irregulars-banquet-2014/" target="_blank">Take a look at their setup and some photos from the dinner</a>. </li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.torontobootmakers.com/canadian-holmes/canadian-holmes-current-publication/" target="_blank">Canadian Holmes</a></i> - electronic edition</li>
<li><a href="http://www.christophermorley.org/knothole/knothole.html" target="_blank">The Christopher Morley Knothole Association</a></li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" target="_blank">The Baker Street Journal</a></i> spring edition will contain the BSI Weekend recap - be sure to subscribe.</li>
<li>Our <a href="http://flip.it/oxPOZ">Flipboard magazine</a> and <a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/sherlock-holmes">Scoop.it!</a> site aggregate lots of content for your enjoyment.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock062.mp3" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TL5jgdrUh_nM_zlDgxql-jKOFGUVFqhoV6A2JtYklXOu4qmVDyRVbwGV6XrwXZgnG9awSwJ7td-txL1_4KGrpSf4igJLILOim4yJmX5pGTPIdMhCBYLyImSI5gs1MOMUZPAlpAgvtPdb/s1600/podcastIcon.gif" style="border-width: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a> Download this episode by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Save As..." or simply click on the file to listen, or on the player above. (File size: 50.4 MB, 1:13:14)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/149776707&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
Please <a href="http://bit.ly/ihearofsherlock">subscribe to us on iTunes</a> and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.<br />
<br />
Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email, call us at (774) 221-READ (7323) or use the Speakpipe app right here on the site. Connect with us and other interested Sherlockians on <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/114565123495685504221">The Sherlock Holmes Community</a> on Google+, <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://ihearofsherlock.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>. And of course, our <a href="http://flip.it/oxPOZ">web- and app-based Flipboard magazine</a> is a nice collection of links, articles and images.<br />
<br />
And above all, please let our sponsors know that you heard us rant and rave about their excellence during the programme: <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press</a> and <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">The Baker Street Journal</a>.<br />
<br />
--