I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Doll – A Review

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“You really are an automaton - a calculating machine” [SIGN]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3T7IRasS47yRMrtfLX3a3gRDHu2ZmIUMdWaVBiMQGTGp1GAnwOdiREWwI_UJlUSzaEigMpnl65E345XjzNvQgFw2m1yDwu8gG7veOoOgRBtNbx3W-QLYYlzPzBt30cWH3NvbkToJPcTs/s1600/science+of+deduction+curious-case+-+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3T7IRasS47yRMrtfLX3a3gRDHu2ZmIUMdWaVBiMQGTGp1GAnwOdiREWwI_UJlUSzaEigMpnl65E345XjzNvQgFw2m1yDwu8gG7veOoOgRBtNbx3W-QLYYlzPzBt30cWH3NvbkToJPcTs/s640/science+of+deduction+curious-case+-+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Science of
Deduction</i> is a year-long Sherlock Holmes collection that will include
twelve original novellas by author Heidi Hewett, with a new story released to
Kindle each month.  “<a href="http://18thwall.com/product/the-science-of-deduction-the-curious-case-of-the-clockwork-doll/">TheCurious Case of the Clockwork Doll</a>” is the first story in this collection.  <o:p></o:p></div>
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A lady comes to call in Baker Street, but something feels  off when she is requesting Holmes’ help.  That is because this is no ordinary lady, but
an automaton sent by her maker, Judith Haviland, to uncover the source of curious
disturbances in their house .  Many
readers would expect “The Curious Case of the Clockwork Doll” to devolve into a
steampunk story from this moment, but the use of this automaton and her
inventor’s other works are handled in a much more believable manner than many
other pastiches have done.  Holmes is
intrigued by this invention and agrees to travel by train to the country.  And after a run in with a jewel thief on the
train, they arrive at the family manor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The author’s love for the canon is evident from the
beginning.  The first half of the opening
chapter has an almost déjà vu feel to it because so many snippets of Doyle’s
stories are used again here.  Holmes seems
to read Watson’s mind by using the reflection in a teapot just as he does with
the coffee pot in the beginning of <i>The
Hound of the Baskervilles,</i> and his line about the most winning woman he has
ever known from <i>The Sign of Four</i> is
used almost verbatim in this story. 
Hewett does a fine job imitating the Watsonian voice of the original,
but the first chapter can be disconcerting with so many very familiar moments
popping up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once Holmes and Watson arrive at Haviland manor though,
Hewett shows her strength as an author. 
The first few chapters of this book consist of exposition and mood setting,
which seem to have her at a disadvantage as a storyteller.  So many of Holmes’ cases begin in Baker
Street and include a train car conversation. 
This pastiche uses those old standbys as well, but it feels forced at
some points.  Once Holmes and Watson reach
Haviland manor, the author is free to take the story in any direction she
chooses, and does so at a very nice pace. 
The story twists and turns with many nods to the canon that are able to
be spread out enough so that they don’t overshadow the mystery at the heart of
the story.  <o:p></o:p></div>
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The inhabitants of the Haviland household create a classic
manor mystery feel: Judith, the driven matron of the house, her lazy brother,
Lionel, their young charge, Mary, her tutor, Miss Berends, and a house full of
automatons.  Other characters appear
later, and some are familiar names to those of us who know the canon well.  There is, of course, more to this case than a
few disturbances in the house, and the imaginative plot leads up to a very
exciting climactic scene in the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlaiqzbCuHqr7EUmyX8qI1EEhbA7mTLkYZHaV9oiPMLvC-BFk2BP5sL8SAvxEPm5PdC6M5h2bWqPK8DQB1EfcH2ZIFXe5uULWKfX0Iy8LyH4kh2AqxYbJs8DJHpU5d2vo3NG3Q8FXaV7K/s1600/science+of+deduction+curious-case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlaiqzbCuHqr7EUmyX8qI1EEhbA7mTLkYZHaV9oiPMLvC-BFk2BP5sL8SAvxEPm5PdC6M5h2bWqPK8DQB1EfcH2ZIFXe5uULWKfX0Iy8LyH4kh2AqxYbJs8DJHpU5d2vo3NG3Q8FXaV7K/s640/science+of+deduction+curious-case.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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Many pastiches that introduce robots into a Sherlock Holmes
story end up being a Victorian version of Iron Man, but The Curious Case of the
Clockwork Doll is able to keep the correct feel of the era while Holmes and
Watson stay true to the characters we are all so familiar with.  After a rocky beginning, this story settles
into an inventive tale that is worth checking out.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The second story in this series, "<a href="http://18thwall.com/product/the-science-of-deduction-volume-2-the-door-of-eternal-night/">The Door of Eternal Night</a>" by Josh Reynolds, is also available from <a href="http://18thwall.com/">18th Wall Productions</a>.</div>
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<i>18<sup>th</sup> Wall Productions provided a complimentary
copy of this eBook for review</i>.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The Curious Case of the Clockwork Doll – A Review

“You really are an automaton - a calculating machine” [SIGN] The Science of Deduction is a year-long Sherlock Holmes collection th...

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by Rob Nunn

Conan Doyle Manuscripts at Auction Today

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"now as excited as myself, took out his manuscript" [MUSG] </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sea2SOa6YHozsvDOMdNN_Y1_WXwFmKg7psdg7Ej4oNqd7yXjAArW3uhoNxpZhvYHviLcZcb7YnG-gv7Hke9E91QZ3vS8q3ocWehrPez0cL4aImIO3cgE4pm1yFwD5gPMbuSSnyk4VomJ/s1600/ACD+Auction+-+Bonhams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sea2SOa6YHozsvDOMdNN_Y1_WXwFmKg7psdg7Ej4oNqd7yXjAArW3uhoNxpZhvYHviLcZcb7YnG-gv7Hke9E91QZ3vS8q3ocWehrPez0cL4aImIO3cgE4pm1yFwD5gPMbuSSnyk4VomJ/s640/ACD+Auction+-+Bonhams.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's always a rare treat when an original manuscript by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle goes on the auction block. But when more than one hits the street on one day, it's really a cause for celebration.</div>
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Today at 10:00 a.m. EDT, <a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23644/">Bonhams will be holding a fine literature auction</a> in New York City that includes not one, not two, but three, autographed Conan Doyle manuscripts of Sherlock Holmes stories. Also included are one historical novel (<i>Rodney Stone</i>) and a short story about World War I ("The Prisoner's Defense").</div>
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The Holmes Manuscripts</h3>
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Two of the manuscripts are complete, while one is just a single sheet. </div>
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"<b>The Greek Interpreter</b>" is unique in that it is t<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;">he only known complete manuscript from </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;">. This is, of course, the story in which we learn of Holmes's ancestry and how that may have influenced him:</span><br />
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"My ancestors were country squires, who appear to have led much the same life as is natural to their class. But, none the less, my turn that way is in my veins, and may have come with my grandmother, who was the sister of Vernet, the French artist. Art in the blood is liable to take the strangest forms."</blockquote>
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According to the auction site, the MS is 34 pp, 4to, South Norwood, London, c.1893, in sepia ink on ruled paper removed from a composition book, with revisions in ink and pencil, publisher's page count in blue crayon, pp 22 & 33 versos with pencil scribbling by a child, tears and creases along edges with some slight loss not affecting text, some light spotting throughout. Housed in a custom-made red cloth portfolio with gilt labelled spine, some light fingermarks.Provenance: Christies London, December 18, 1964 (bought by Lew Feldman on behalf of the author's son Adrian Conan Doyle); Sold Christie's, May 5, 1982, lot 102.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnNTmBsFa1qn8meKE8jFu5Fq4zbxNsun8tuyQERRFNoewBX-8vQTw0N9zQLWDmq_WvL-Ybh99akJKKqN32rFixHhgtq20HdZxhpG-iXx7vUP1lXz9JIptsUY8k1TGOQOgS0XzQ_bMSMOu/s1600/ACD+Auction+-+GREE+large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnNTmBsFa1qn8meKE8jFu5Fq4zbxNsun8tuyQERRFNoewBX-8vQTw0N9zQLWDmq_WvL-Ybh99akJKKqN32rFixHhgtq20HdZxhpG-iXx7vUP1lXz9JIptsUY8k1TGOQOgS0XzQ_bMSMOu/s640/ACD+Auction+-+GREE+large.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The manuscript for "The Greek Interpreter" is expected to fetch $380,000 - $420,000. The market for such an item is quite limited (and we know most of the major likely bidders). We'll see whether the winning bidder is an individual or an institution.<br />
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If you would like more details about this item, including a large image of the first page and the full history of it, please see <a href="http://www.bestofsherlock.com/mss/greek-interpreter.htm">the Greek Interpreter page on the Best of Sherlock Holmes site</a>.</div>
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The second complete manuscript is that of "<b>The Problem of Thor Bridge</b>." As you can see from the image below, Conan Doyle had other ideas in mind for the title of the story. Originally "The Adventure of the Second Chip" and then "The Problem of Rushmere Bridge," it finally achieved its familiar title (albeit with an apostrophe 'S').</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqvq_YeDbTqCxple5VNFgA25TgK5FAEK71mb49DFygBDc7mlaOrGZW0zBV98gjeDcgoWXLOmdBStuBEp4q1GB-jOiNnYJJv3YVvzFpbxV02nn-wT2BsNuTrVNxHud-hHom1x2jYK-OlRl/s1600/ACD+Auction+-+THOR+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqvq_YeDbTqCxple5VNFgA25TgK5FAEK71mb49DFygBDc7mlaOrGZW0zBV98gjeDcgoWXLOmdBStuBEp4q1GB-jOiNnYJJv3YVvzFpbxV02nn-wT2BsNuTrVNxHud-hHom1x2jYK-OlRl/s640/ACD+Auction+-+THOR+large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you'll note from reading the introductory paragraph, this story from The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes provides us with some valuable nuggets that are part of the Sherlockian lore: Dr. Watson's tin dispatch-box being located in the vaults of Cox & Co.; some of the more legendary untold tales, such as Isadora Persano and the remarkable worm unknown to science, and the strange disappearance of James Phillimore, who went inside to retrieve his umbrella and was never seen again.</div>
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According to Bonhams, this is an Autograph Manuscript Signed ("A Conan Doyle"), entitled "The Problem of Thor's Bridge" and "Continuation of 'The Problem of Thor's Bridge'," 48 pp in two parts, 8vo and 4to, Crowborough, East Sussex, c.1922, in various colored inks with revisions in ink or pencil on yellow-ruled paper, some pages clipped, some soiling, folds and marginal tears, hole in upper left corner of second part from removal of metal clasp. First part bound in near contemporary white cloth lettered in gilt, bound for Doyle or his son; second part loose in custom red cloth portfolio and box. Provenance: offered by Lew Feldman as part of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Archives in 1971; Christie's London, Valuable Autograph Letters, April 29, 1981, Lot 174.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnRvXC9Neptob-wNN3GU1uQq6v3eWd_8FKx1Ib-0uD9AlaPMnTCysl0nCswUVG39ZNSkGBqzePtwO_b6Q2L5gLf6NI5nuBK0Ptz2E-IwjhoZSr_JQela_qZ3q0L_sOAI0abYOeiSsjruj/s1600/ACD+Auction+-+THOR+multiple.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnRvXC9Neptob-wNN3GU1uQq6v3eWd_8FKx1Ib-0uD9AlaPMnTCysl0nCswUVG39ZNSkGBqzePtwO_b6Q2L5gLf6NI5nuBK0Ptz2E-IwjhoZSr_JQela_qZ3q0L_sOAI0abYOeiSsjruj/s640/ACD+Auction+-+THOR+multiple.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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This specimen is expected to fetch between $250,000 - $350,000. Additional information and large scale images can be found on the Best of Sherlock Holmes <a href="http://www.bestofsherlock.com/mss/thor-bridge.htm">"The Problem of Thor Bridge" page</a>.</div>
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The last Holmesian item for sale today is a single page from <i><b>The Hound of the Baskervilles</b></i>. A bit of history about this one from the auction site:<br />
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"Unfortunately no complete manuscript of <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> survives: to promote the novel in America, McClure asked Conan Doyle for the manuscript of between 185 and 190 pp., to be used as a marketing ploy, distributing single pages to bookstore owners to display in their windows, along with the American edition. Most of these leaves were either lost or destroyed. The only known complete manuscript chapter of the novel (Chapter XI, "The Man on the Tor") is now in the Berg Collection, The New York Public Library."</blockquote>
According to Randall Stock on his Best of Sherlock site, this is "a<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> rarity among rarities—only 36 leaves still exist from the most famous Holmes story, and institutions hold 24 of those."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjr9cO8aDLuw5A0g3ISPDL3t-BJKnNDmNwhl1iAud_iR6xTJkrSWJuSnsHUzpmYn3O3BtBt06gLODm_auZlanLy6qNxzpuG9o6WYLVzqZYiZ5WVtQBfk1yyQI8Knj_RrTi3iDhNI16UAw/s1600/ACD+Auction+-+HOUN+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjr9cO8aDLuw5A0g3ISPDL3t-BJKnNDmNwhl1iAud_iR6xTJkrSWJuSnsHUzpmYn3O3BtBt06gLODm_auZlanLy6qNxzpuG9o6WYLVzqZYiZ5WVtQBfk1yyQI8Knj_RrTi3iDhNI16UAw/s640/ACD+Auction+-+HOUN+large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Autograph Manuscript, a single leaf from <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, 1 p, 4to, n.p., c.1902, being the first page of "Chapter XIII. Fixing the Nets," one line crossed through, old tears along folds expertly reinforced. Housed in a custom gray cloth portfolio, gilt-lettered black morocco-backed marbled cloth box.<br />
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This ultra-rare item is expected to fetch between $100,000 - $150,000 at auction. For full detail about this item, as well as a large scan of the page, please see the <a href="http://www.bestofsherlock.com/mss/hound-baskervilles-h31.htm">Best of Sherlock page for <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> Manuscript Leaf H31</a>.<br />
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We wish we could say that we're in the running for one of these, but we'd prefer to keep a roof over our head. If you're bidding, good luck!<br />
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Update (1:00 pm EDT)</h4>
The auction has closed, and only the manuscript for "<a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23644/lot/17/">The Problem of Thor Bridge</a>" was sold. It sold for $269,000, including the buyer's premium.<br />
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<i>All images courtesy of Bonhams</i>.</div>
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Conan Doyle Manuscripts at Auction Today

"now as excited as myself, took out his manuscript" [MUSG] It's always a rare treat when an original manuscript by Sir...

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by Scott Monty

Qualify for the Quiz on IHOSE #94

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"what puzzled the New Yorkers" [STUD] </h4>
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We're preparing to record Episode 94 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, which will air on April 15. On that show, we'll be giving you an update of the news, which includes a discussion of the BSI excursion to the Chatauqua Institute in upstate New York.<br />
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So, for our Mental Exaltation quiz on Episode 94, you'll need to be in a New York state of mind, as you will for the qualifying question below.<br />
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Here's how Mental Exaltation works:</h4>
Each month, we'll post a qualifying question to determine a listener who'll play / be played for on the program. Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries.<br />
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If you'd like to enter, you <b>must</b> subscribe to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere by email.<br />
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We'll either have a guest play on your behalf or we'll patch you into the show to have you play over the phone or Skype.<br />
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If you or your player succeed in passing the test, you'll win a random item from our I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Grab-Bag of Goodies (that's the IHOSE GBG).<br />
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Qualify Now</h3>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="1000" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ariO74aZzwiOcIC1lm4d1ljcTTZFZAExc_N85YcjmWY/viewform?embedded=true" width="660">Loading...</iframe><br />
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Good luck!<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VQyQP7y4so">YouTube</a></i><br />
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Qualify for the Quiz on IHOSE #94

"what puzzled the New Yorkers" [STUD] We're preparing to record Episode 94 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, which will ...

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by Scott Monty

Sherlock Series Four Is Filming — What to Expect

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"I scrawled down the sign of the four" [SIGN]</h4>
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As the world exploded yesterday — not like Vincent Starrett intimated in '221B' — but with <i>Sherlock</i> as a trending topic on various websites, you probably saw the news that the <i>Sherlock</i> team is hard at work filming Series 4.<br />
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In typical fan-baiting fashion, the official social media channels of the show carried this message:<br />
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We're back! The game is on.</div>
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It begins... Filming for series 4 is underway! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/221Back?src=hash">#221Back</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Markgatiss">@markgatiss</a><a href="https://t.co/QeAiD1nza0">https://t.co/QeAiD1nza0</a></div>
— Sherlock (@Sherlock221B) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sherlock221B/status/717683640902164480">April 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Fans of the show have become accustomed to waiting two years between series, although this year's special <i><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2016/01/everything-you-need-to-know-roundup-of.html#.VwZS56QrLb1" rel="nofollow">The Abominable Bride</a></i> offered a bit of a respite from the typical lag between shows. So the news that filming has begun was welcome news indeed.<br />
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But what can we expect from the show runners this time around? Previously, some have said they've been a bit too self-aware when it comes to making references and satisfying fans. You may recall that we interviewed Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue on <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose86" rel="nofollow">Episode 86</a>, where we tried to get a bit more out of them and they weren't having it.<br />
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At this point, we don't know what the episode titles are, or which stories they might be based on. The creators have been quite secretive about that. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/bbc-one/the-game-is-on-filming-underway-for-sherlock-series-four/1118283861525364">The statement</a> they issued was fairly generalized:<br />
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“Sherlock series four - here we go again! Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street - and it always feels like coming home. Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson bringing adventure, romance and terror in their wake. This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning. A story about to reach its climax...”</blockquote>
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We know that Sherlock Holmes is back on British soil (as indicated in ABOM) and that the spectre of Moriarty is looming. It seems highly unlikely that Moriarty himself will make a return, but our estimation is that his forces will be at work to avow the legacy of the late, lamented Moriarty.<br />
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Expect all of your favorite cast members to be there: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively; Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes; Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan Watson; Una Stubbs as Mrs. Hudson; Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper; and Rupert Graves as Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade. Arwel Jones returns as the talented production designer.<br />
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One interesting twist this time around is that the series will have its first female director. Rachel Talalay has worked as a director, producer, and professor in film and television for more than 25 years will take the helm for the first of the three episodes. Her previous directing experience includes <i>Doctor Who</i>, <i>The Flash</i> and <i>The Wind In The Willows</i>.<br />
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But the lack of hard evidence has been driving some fans mad. So mad that one of them took it upon himself to create <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD6FUmNSle0">a truly extraordinary trailer for Series 4</a>:<br />
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No, this wasn't created from stock footage. This particular video was painstakingly created over 14 months using digital technology and nothing else. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94LIYbJqn5M&nohtml5=False">Go behind the scenes</a> to see how it was done. Now <i>that</i> is a dedicated fan.<br />
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It's almost as nutty as starting <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/">your own quarterly publication</a> about the topic.<br />
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What do you think is in store for us in this series? Leave us a comment below.<br />
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</i> <i>Image credit: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD6FUmNSle0">YouTube</a></i><br />
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