I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Who Is the World's Greatest Detective?

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"the greatest detective of all time" [HOUN]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleOxwFv_tYHBFSccZIoOrotlJYssyBTc-uStZH42kRp8xiilFK-J2nJuw_EKXwiPnWcugqj48tjwx2NK7hcuwhbnsD1dU41Hcnib9HQFiFOrmU3peQV8Ck9O6wziPWmKpq-F0tcN7BOTC/s1600/World's%2BGreatest%2BDetective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="It's one Caped Crusader against the other in the battle of the great detectives" border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleOxwFv_tYHBFSccZIoOrotlJYssyBTc-uStZH42kRp8xiilFK-J2nJuw_EKXwiPnWcugqj48tjwx2NK7hcuwhbnsD1dU41Hcnib9HQFiFOrmU3peQV8Ck9O6wziPWmKpq-F0tcN7BOTC/s1600/World's%2BGreatest%2BDetective.jpg" title="The World's Greatest Detective" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you've been on the Internet for any amount of time between 2009 and today, you're likely to have come across the famous "<a href="https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/Batman-Slapping-Robin" target="_blank">Batman Slapping Robin</a>" meme. In case you're not familiar, it looks like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrmn9wFfsUgYADdChiCrZ7L72FmhtPYCwwoJiQ7EB03LF9a6Jp0brM8z1FVlE5EJcT77X9mMM0W-Yd8QMjHqeX59Q4_oAT3709Xb2AQYlPZoAnUXnitjcI4urhyphenhypheneDaUUYXTIhEJrWmIaW/s1600/Batman+Slaps+Robin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Batman slapping Robin image" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrmn9wFfsUgYADdChiCrZ7L72FmhtPYCwwoJiQ7EB03LF9a6Jp0brM8z1FVlE5EJcT77X9mMM0W-Yd8QMjHqeX59Q4_oAT3709Xb2AQYlPZoAnUXnitjcI4urhyphenhypheneDaUUYXTIhEJrWmIaW/s1600/Batman+Slaps+Robin.png" title="Batman Slaps Robin meme image" /></a></div>
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Using a <a href="https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/Batman-Slapping-Robin" target="_blank">meme generator site</a>, anyone can add the text they like to an image. The above was originally inspired by this frame from <a href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/01/01/batman-slaps-robin-the-origin-of-the-panel/" target="_blank">World's Finest Comics #153 in 1965</a>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5X910Z3w1wvkH0KF7P2or-HRZ2sT8FEUwN4sr6rZvfuKTKK79ritDY7zzJN4B1If9rURiPkrinfgSG5G8lEMvp3KHALj4OJuxCHSs1R3GTqLHlYonuQaw47JLYH_B30hMGgNCEJE23lu/s1600/Batman+Slaps+Robin+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5X910Z3w1wvkH0KF7P2or-HRZ2sT8FEUwN4sr6rZvfuKTKK79ritDY7zzJN4B1If9rURiPkrinfgSG5G8lEMvp3KHALj4OJuxCHSs1R3GTqLHlYonuQaw47JLYH_B30hMGgNCEJE23lu/s1600/Batman+Slaps+Robin+original.jpg" /></a></div>
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So you can imagine that we were amused to finally see the same concept applied to Batman and Sherlock Holmes via the top image that we shared <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IHearofSherlock/photos/a.10152897835373047.1073741828.6723878046/10153762082308047/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">on our Facebook page</a> recently.</div>
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We seem to recall a number of times when the Batman / Sherlock Holmes superiority was called into question previously:</div>
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<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2011/02/have-seen-those-battle-signals-gold_28.html#.VSX8NfnF-mH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Batman Wasn't the Original Caped Crusader</a> looked at a poll run by ComicBookMovies.com that pitted the (then) most recent movie versions of Holmes and Batman against each other in February 2011.</li>
<li>It was brains vs. brawn in the 8-panel sketch by 9GAG in <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2011/08/concealed-his-own-formidable-identity_19.html#.VSXmoPnF-mE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Batman Hates Sherlock Holmes</a> in August 2011.</li>
<li>The battle took a musical turn in <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/06/sherlock-holmes-is-everywhere-except.html#.VSX28_nF-mE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Is Everywhere Except...</a> in June 2014 as Epic Rap Battles of History pitted the two caped crusaders against each other.</li>
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And while there may be a split decision on who is the greatest detective, we'll defer to Batman himself from "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfqiXPkFRDM" target="_blank">Trials of the Demon</a>" in the <i>Batman Brave and the Bold</i> series:</div>
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So there you have it. Who do you think is the greater of the two and why? Leave us a comment below.<br />
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Who Is the World's Greatest Detective?

"the greatest detective of all time" [HOUN] If you've been on the Internet for any amount of time between 2009 and toda...

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by Scott Monty

The Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge - A Review

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"....an inheritance with a vengeance" [HOUN]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlbV_VtcUxG4grcZvyvBhJUOk_p3jz_C2VkYJGT9GqFU2rFz13UIa5GqUdpnMrMDZKADZffiDIMDofC3CSXddhNxbwda4yEF_8hxdDLJQKf5smCHVuARSaApF3JwZUMUpi5cAmqL2v4Op/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+Cold-Served+Revenge+Macek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Even Sherlock Holmes agrees that revenge is best-served cold" border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlbV_VtcUxG4grcZvyvBhJUOk_p3jz_C2VkYJGT9GqFU2rFz13UIa5GqUdpnMrMDZKADZffiDIMDofC3CSXddhNxbwda4yEF_8hxdDLJQKf5smCHVuARSaApF3JwZUMUpi5cAmqL2v4Op/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+Cold-Served+Revenge+Macek.png" title="Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge" width="640" /></a></div>
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Setting a Sherlock Holmes story in the Victorian era is a natural: after all, we celebrate that Holmes and Watson operate in a world of hansom cabs and gaslight where "it is always 1895." Looking at Holmes and Watson in the Edwardian era in the pre-World War I era can be extremely revelatory. Petr Macek's <i><b>Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold Served Revenge</b></i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>[<a href="http://amzn.to/1aM4q7L" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> | <a href="http://amzn.to/1PlZ2I7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>] is a really brisk, sharp read which taps into this underrepresented period of the canon.<br />
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Available in paperback and Kindle form by <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.com/" target="_blank">MX Publishing</a>, <b><i>Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold Served Revenge</i></b> starts with a portrait of Holmes is his elder years after a heart attack and preceding "His Last Bow."  It also involves his brother, Mycroft, asking for his assistance in solving a murder of a noted arms dealer....<br />
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....which boldly kickstarts a story that reaches from Venice to Scotland. Petr Macek does a really good job, focusing on an elder Holmes and Watson that feels relatively authentic, but never devolves into just another Victorian pastiche. By focusing on a relatively underrepresented era in Holmes' life, the book feels much fresher and more inviting a read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1cE6ZekwPidj1iWI8dAaC80UmnNU8YUHWwnOvR2aVsWbJ6cTfpvVPFC9WvOV4MtNUYlWOEI5xE49mrOf4gkTP_JN_ZiZMI4E59-UGhY_P3thkYnW8wyPBbWGivIOD8CjXU7TUtlzVMy7/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+Cold-Served+Revenge+Macek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge by Petr Macek" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1cE6ZekwPidj1iWI8dAaC80UmnNU8YUHWwnOvR2aVsWbJ6cTfpvVPFC9WvOV4MtNUYlWOEI5xE49mrOf4gkTP_JN_ZiZMI4E59-UGhY_P3thkYnW8wyPBbWGivIOD8CjXU7TUtlzVMy7/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+Cold-Served+Revenge+Macek.jpg" title="Petr Macek's masterful pastiche Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge" width="257" /></a></div>
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It also helps that Macek uses familiar tropes and characters  in unfamiliar ways. When <b><i>The Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge</i></b> reveals the actor and their motivation, it feels less obvious and more of a gentle surprise. Macek shows a strong grasp of the Canon, and his focus on using characters in new and surprising ways really gives this book a freshness and vibrancy that other pastiches may not.<br />
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With the characters of Holmes and Watson now public domain, it means a greater sense of reinvention. Many decry the BBC's <i>Sherlock</i> and CBS' <i>Elementary</i> for some of the more radical creative decisions made in their narratives. Petr Macek's <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Cold Served Revenge</i> contains similar radical creative choices....yet manages to couch it squarely within the canon.<br />
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This sense of reinvention - while maintaining tradition - makes the book a must-read for all Sherlockians.<br />
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The Adventure of the Cold-Served Revenge - A Review

"....an inheritance with a vengeance" [HOUN] Setting a Sherlock Holmes story in the Victorian era is a natural: after all, ...

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by Gordon D

An Entertaining and Brief Look at the History of Sherlock Holmes (VIDEO)

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"he and his papers are all in Portsmouth" [LAST]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEIKSw7B7ziQAh92GH8-BSMTYzDnLEWTLiAlSFXNAq2fhHuWCZjloYU3RGno1At8ESLgdm6wxBbhCr6EuI3lFgTy-WE9r1E7GiSCsLiCMunSCoRZ-E_eB3LOUUwwiGu8oYIR718OX8hyphenhyphenn/s1600/History+of+Sherlock+Holmes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEIKSw7B7ziQAh92GH8-BSMTYzDnLEWTLiAlSFXNAq2fhHuWCZjloYU3RGno1At8ESLgdm6wxBbhCr6EuI3lFgTy-WE9r1E7GiSCsLiCMunSCoRZ-E_eB3LOUUwwiGu8oYIR718OX8hyphenhyphenn/s1600/History+of+Sherlock+Holmes.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We recently discovered a fun little video that's well worth watching - perhaps more than once.<br />
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A group called <a href="http://www.historybombs.com/" target="_blank">History Bombs</a> has created this rather usual video about Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. History Bombs bills itself as "a young, fresh and innovative creative team based in Hampshire, England [that] works with broadcast, commercial and cultural partners to deliver award winning videos, live performances and educational workshops."<br />
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In this case, they worked with the Portsmouth City Council to celebrate the <a href="http://www.conandoylecollection.co.uk/" target="_blank">Arthur Conan Doyle Collection</a>. In case you're not familiar with this collection and why it's so important to Portsmouth, the collection was bequeathed to the city by Richard Lancelyn Green, BSI (""), one of the leading Doyle scholars and collectors in the world. The archival research center at the city's Central Library gives access to this amazing collection; you can see it by appointment.<br />
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We invite you to watch this entertaining video - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-KFJHYsLgY" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes (in One Take)</a> - for the story behind Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes - even if this version of Holmes looks like he misplaced his pomade.<br />
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Were you able to catch the clues that the conclusion hinted at?<br />
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Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/historybombs" target="_blank">@HistoryBombs</a> on Twitter.<br />
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<b>UPDATE</b> (4/9/2015, 12:59 a.m.):<br />
A companion video from History Bombs, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-uKrydQkw0&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Exploring the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection</a>, takes you to the library itself:<br />
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An Entertaining and Brief Look at the History of Sherlock Holmes (VIDEO)

"he and his papers are all in Portsmouth" [LAST] We recently discovered a fun little video that's well worth watching - ...

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by Scott Monty

Submissions Sought for 12-part Sherlock Holmes Novella Series

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"series of small mysteries which had succeeded each other so rapidly" [HOUN] </h4>
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<br />While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle left this earthly realm on July 7, 1930, his character of Sherlock Holmes has never been more alive.  Through the current films and TV shows starring the great detective, his popularity only increases.  Publishers such as <a href="http://wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Gasogene Books</a> and <a href="http://mxpublishing.com/" target="_blank">MX Publishing</a> focus mainly on new books about the great detective, and many more presses have at least one new Sherlock Holmes book in their catalogues.  Now another publisher has an opportunity for pastiche writers to compose new tales for the Sherlock Holmes canon. <br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.7199993133545px; font-weight: bold;">Authors Needed</span></h3>
18thWall Publishing <a href="http://18thwall.com/2015/03/10/submissions-spotlight-the-science-of-detection-twelve-cases-of-sherlock-holmes/" target="_blank">is creating a 12 part Sherlock Holmes novella series</a> called <i>The Science of Deduction</i> that will be released in 2016.  One title will be released each month that year, and then in December, all 12 novellas will be bundled into a complete anthology. The stories themselves must be novellas of 15,000 - 30,000 words in length, with the author's voice and narrative style coming through.<br />
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"People rarely realize how short the Sherlock Holmes novels are," explained James Bojaciuk,  CEO Duobus of 18thWall.<br />
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"<i>A Study in Scarlet</i> and <i>The Valley of Fear</i> are short novellas (padded out by long memories of the United States), and <i>The Sign of the Four</i> is a longish one. Only <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> is, as they say, feature length -- but even then it is very short indeed. Yet when I look at my Sherlock Holmes shelves, it is overwhelmed with three-, four-hundred page novels and dozens of short story collections. I'd like to reclaim the novella form for Sherlock Holmes, which, personally, I think is the best length for his adventures."</blockquote>
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Authors seeking to submit a story for the series should note that submissions may be traditional or can feature a Holmes of an alternative universe. "We're especially keen on well-researched alternate history," said Mr. Bojaciuk. "All the more so if this alternate history is in the vein of Kelly Hale's "Black Alice" (which reimagines Holmes and Watson as Enlightenment Era gentlemen modeled on Samuel Johnson and his own Boswell), or Michael Kurland's "Four Hundred Slaves" (which examines what Holmes and his biographer would have been like if they were Roman citizens)."<br />
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Some Rules Apply</h3>
While writers have freedom to explore a unique take on Sherlock Holmes, there are some strict ground rules.  There can be no erotica, no parodies, and no tales which disrespect the great detective in anyway.  As stated on the 18thWall website, "please keep the characters as close to their canonical counterparts as possible. Sherlock Holmes is not a werewolf; Watson did not murder his wife; Mycroft is not Moriarty’s lieutenant; Professor Moriarty is not a tulpa. This stance on canonicity extends through political opinions, sexuality, biography, and characterization. You can work outside these bounds, but do note that this may or may not be a harder sell to the editor."</div>
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Submissions are due to 18thWall Publishing by <b>November 1st, 2015</b>.  For more information, please see <a href="http://18thwall.com/2015/03/10/submissions-spotlight-the-science-of-detection-twelve-cases-of-sherlock-holmes/" target="_blank">the 18thWall website</a>.  Authors retain full rights to their characters and stories. And for those of you stuck on where to start a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, Mr. Bojaciuk  did say, "While not outré at all, I'd love to see war stories (particularly in the First World War) with Holmes and Watson."  </div>
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Story submissions can be sent to <a href="mailto:submissions@18thwall.com" target="_blank">submissions@18thwall.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">.  </span>Happy writing!</div>
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