I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Places — An Interview

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"challenged his ingenuity" [BLAC]</h4>
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Sherlock Holmes is undoubtedly Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation, yet as I argued in my anthology, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1koub2q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Study in Terror</a></i>, there is so much more to the literary work of the man.  Probably Doyle's most famous non- Sherlockian creation was the character of Professor Challenger, the pompous, irritable blowhard with a tender side who traveled to discover a prehistoric lost world, survived an attic of interstellar poisonous gas, and made the Earth scream. While there has been the occasional novel or story which included the Challenger character over the last century, no grand collection of new tales, such as has consistently been occurring with Sherlock Holmes, has ever been released...until now. <br />
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Enter Charles Prepolec and J.R.Campbell, the gentlemen behind the new anthology <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1M7aQPr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Places</a></i>.  This is a wonderful collection of tales which combines elements of H.G. Wells, H.P. Lovecraft, Fritz Leiber, and Jules Verne as well as the creations of Doyle.  In my own <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/9013214-new-adventures-of-sherlock-holmes-s-cousin-prove-to-be-the-best-science" target="_blank">review</a> of the anthology, I predicted that this book would be the greatest golden age science fiction collection of the year. <br />
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I had the honor of interviewing both Charles Prepolec (CP) and J.R. Campbell (JC) about their astounding anthology, future projects, and of course their favorite Sherlock Holmes story.<br />
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[<b><i>Editor's note:</i></b> we last spoke with Charles Prepolec on <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose57" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 57</a>.]<br />
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<b>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: You've edited and assembled a number of Sherlock Holmes anthologies, what inspired you to create a collection of new Professor Challenger stories?</b></h4>
<b>Charles Prepolec:</b> Well, it isn’t all just about Sherlock Holmes for me, as I have a near equally strong appreciation for Arthur Conan Doyle’s other writings. He was a dab hand in any number of genres, with a particular aptitude for ghostly or weird tales. Having produced three volumes in our Gaslight Sherlock Holmes series, in which we’ve pitted the master of the rational against the irrational, it seemed a natural progression to develop a project where we could dive wholeheartedly into fantasy, science fiction, and horror, yet still play in Arthur Conan Doyle’s sandbox. Professor Challenger gave us the perfect means to do so.<br />
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Of course, this isn’t the first time Challenger has made an appearance in one of our anthologies. He turned up in our first Gaslight anthology — <a href="http://amzn.to/1PFIdbY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes</i> </a>— courtesy of Martin Powell’s contribution "Sherlock Holmes in the Lost World," so he’s been with us from the start. That being said, I think the real catalyst that tipped us over into moving ahead with a Professor Challenger anthology came up in 2011 during an online interactive author promotion at Bitten By Books for <a href="http://amzn.to/1M7cIHW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Gaslight Arcanum: Uncanny Tales of Sherlock Holmes</i></a>. Someone posted a question asking if we’d consider doing something with Challenger. We hadn’t, but the idea light bulb lit up with a palpable ‘ping’ at that moment, particularly when I realized <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/139"><i>The Lost World</i></a>, which introduced the character, would be celebrating a centenary in 2012. Plus, you know, everyone loves dinosaurs! We pitched a Challenger anthology to our publisher, Brian Hades, at <a href="http://www.edgewebsite.com/">EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing</a>, and the rest, as they say, is history.<br />
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<b>J.R. Campbell:</b> A couple of reasons really, the first being that the Professor is just so damn fun. As a science fiction fan I’ve grown up with kindly old, slightly eccentric scientists (often with a hot daughter who will grab the hero’s attention), mad scientists threatening everything, insanely competent scientists whose only apparent ambition is to supply exposition and, if necessary, to provide the protagonist with the necessary heroic angst by sacrificing themselves for the sake of all mankind. Professor Challenger fits none of these standard scientist tropes, he is nothing if not extraordinary.<br />
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Secondly, it’s a chance to right a wrong. The Professor hasn’t racked the film and television credits Sherlock has but he has quite a number. And when he appears on screen it’s invariably a watered-down version of Challenger’s remarkable personality. With all due respect to the dinosaurs, our feeling has always been that it’s Challenger who makes the Challenger stories extraordinary. If we have managed to recapture the essence of The Professor then this book will be a success. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc_UXlvM5MM/VicRNKG19OI/AAAAAAAAi2A/KkYSxnP7Msk/s1600/ChallengerSigningWWC2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc_UXlvM5MM/VicRNKG19OI/AAAAAAAAi2A/KkYSxnP7Msk/s640/ChallengerSigningWWC2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Prepolec (L) and J.R. Campbell (R) signing copies of their book</td></tr>
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<b>IHOSE:   Without giving too much away, tell us about some of the stories in <i>Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Place</i>s.  Which ones are the most traditional?  Which ones are the most fantastical?</b></h4>
<b>CP:</b> I’m extremely proud of this book. We’ve assembled an amazing roster of writers, some of whom we’ve worked with previously on our Sherlock Holmes books, as well as some that are new to our "family," and each has risen to the "Challenger Challenge" and delivered truly top-notch short fiction. There’s a hell of a variety in terms of style and tone in this volume, which pleasantly echoes the variety to be found in Doyle’s five Professor Challenger stories, although I’m happy to say that unlike ACD, none of our authors used the opportunity to pen a spiritualist tract. Instead we have some science fiction, some fantasy, a bit of horror, a thread of mystery and even some straight up humour, all of which makes for some great adventure tales.<br />
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As for "most traditional" I’d have to say that in my mind John Takis comes closest with <b>"The Crystal Minders,"</b> in so much that it pits Challenger against a loathsome fellow scientist along the lines of ACD’s <b>"The Disintegration Machine."</b> At the other end of the spectrum, I suppose Larry Connolly’s delightful Wellsian romp <b>“King of the Moon”</b> probably deserves the tag "most fantastical" since Challenger literally goes to the moon, but I’d opt for <b>“Professor Challenger and the Crimson Wonder”</b> by Guy Adams and James Goss largely due to the structure, since the story is conveyed as a series of letters between Challenger and his wife, although the screwball storyline that often feels like an over-the-top episode of <i>The Avengers</i> adds to the effect.<br />
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Between those extremes we’ve also got stories that riff on Lovecraftian themes (Joshua M. Reynolds <b>“Time’s Black Gulf"</b> and Simon K. Unsworth’s <b>“The Fool’s Sea,”</b> the latter with a dash of William Hope Hodgson and John Wyndham), folklore and crypto-zoology (Wendy Wagner’s <b>“Hind and Horn,”</b> Steve Volk’s <b>“The Shug Monkey”</b> and Mark Morris's <b>“The Eye of the Devil,”</b> with a bit of Nigel Kneale thrown in for good measure) as well as rollicking, broad, Indiana Jones style adventure (Andrew J. Wilson’s <b>“Out of the Depths”</b>) so variety is the name of the game. Overall, if classic science fiction and fantasy along the lines of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs appeals to you, or if you’re big on X-Files, Quatermass and Doctor Who, we’ve got you covered in this book.<br />
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<b>JC:</b> I suppose it goes without saying that we love each of these stories, that’s why we picked them! Still, if forced to pick from among the beloved, I’d pick Mark Morris’s <b>"The Eye of the Devil"</b> as the most traditional. The setup is classic Challenger and I think Mark hits all the right notes in terms of tone and narrative voice.<br />
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The most fantastical? Again, there are a lot of stories to choose from here but I’d settle on <b>"Professor Challenger and the Crimson Wonder"</b> by Guy Adams and James Goss. It’s one of the stories where the sum is greater than its parts but it’s a wild ride packed with weird science, conspiracies and excellent portrayals of Professor and Mrs. Challenger.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  You also have a series of Gaslight Sherlock Holmes books which have the Great Detective dealing with elements of horror and the supernatural.  Why did you create a series of Sherlock Holmes books where spooks can apply?</b></h4>
<b>JC:</b> For the best reason there is to create any book: It’s what we wanted to read and we couldn’t find a book on the shelf that scratched that particular itch we both felt. So we made one. In <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1koA5k7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Grimoire</a></i> we pitted Holmes against the fantasy genre, in <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1koA7IH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Grotesque</a></i> we were going for horror genre stories and in <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1M7dm8y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Arcanum</a></i> we were looking for ‘weird fiction’ tales. What ties them together is that, whatever the situation, it is always Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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<b>CP:</b> Honestly? It’s a ridiculously simple thing. I enjoy Sherlock Holmes and I enjoy horror fiction. The notion of the two combined appeals to me on a basic level and I’m vain enough to think that if I enjoy reading that combination, so will other readers. Given that we began our Gaslight Sherlock Holmes series in a decade where Harry Potter was all the rage (and really, Harry Potter is simply young Sherlock Holmes with magic added) it seemed a viable combo. Besides, that whole "No ghosts need apply" thing was really just a blind on Watson’s part to cover what Holmes was really up to in some of those referenced tales. Giant rats, a worm unknown to science, monkey glands, etc. C’mon, you can’t seriously buy that "No ghosts need apply" business?<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  Challenger has been called Doyle's Science Fiction Detective, yet he really is not much of a detective. Do you see some comparisons between Challenger and Holmes?  </b></h4>
<b>CP:</b> Yes and no. Both had an insatiable curiosity for uncovering the truth and both used science to further their respective ends. I suppose a case could be made for considering Challenger’s endeavours to be a form of detection, but quite frankly, the truths he chose to uncover are on a much larger scale. Holmes, as his brother Mycroft would likely suggest, spent his considerable skills uncovering crime, often on a tawdry and largely inconsequential level, but Challenger’s quest for ‘truth’ often had, in one case quite literally, Earth-shattering repercussions. While Holmes will always be the "Master Detective," I like to think of Challenger as a "Scientific Adventurer" archetype. Often imitated, but never equaled.<br />
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<b>JC:</b> I think it would be more accurate to call Holmes the Scientist of Crime. There are obvious and amusing differences between Doyle’s two geniuses, but they share a great deal more than just their creator. Both are very much ‘in the field’ investigators. Both are passionate about getting out there and seeing things for themselves. Both possess keen intellects, but where Holmes is sharp and always focused on the problem at hand, Challenger is a cannon, blasting away at whatever aspect of science he happens to be facing. Both have their Boswells, but where Holmes’ biographer tends to make Holmes more human, Malone takes a less forgiving, more honest view of his genius. Both are adventurers at least as much as they are intellectuals, and both share a love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GNaqzlGLFw/VicQzWmpbYI/AAAAAAAAi1o/H35hxD8oWew/s1600/ChallengerSigningChapters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GNaqzlGLFw/VicQzWmpbYI/AAAAAAAAi1o/H35hxD8oWew/s640/ChallengerSigningChapters.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>IHOSE: Our standard question for all Sherlockians: If you were stranded on a desert island with one Sherlock Holmes story, which would it be and why?</b></h4>
<b>CP:</b> Easy. <i>The Sign of Four</i> is my favourite Sherlock Holmes story. It has high adventure, exotic settings, grotesque characters, brilliant deductions, and in the end Watson gets the girl. There is no other Canonical tale that hits all those marks. It is the perfect "Victorian romance" in the classic sense.<br />
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<b>JC:</b> That’s a hard one. I’ve always considered "Silver Blaze" the best example of what makes a Sherlock Holmes story great, so I’d likely pick that one. Ideally, I’d pick that mythical Holmes story that Doyle forgot to tell anyone about or publish because it was so good that every other story would pale by comparison.<br />
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If I got to bring a Professor Challenger story, it would be <i>The Poison Belt</i>.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  What are some of your upcoming projects?</b></h4>
<b>CP:</b> I have a couple concepts bubbling for new anthologies, neither of which has anything to do with Holmes, Challenger, or Doyle, but until I’ve found a home for them, there’s not a lot I can say on the subject. What I can say is that it has been four years since <i>Gaslight Arcanum</i> was released and recently Jeff and I have batted around the possibility of returning to Sherlock Holmes, but until we decide on an angle, or hook for the project, it remains just a possibility for now.<br />
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On a non-publishing, but Sherlock Holmes related front, I’ve been invited to speak in Minneapolis next year at The Norwegian Explorers 2016 Tri-Annual Conference: The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes. My topic will be related to the ‘misadventures’ of Sherlock Holmes on film and television, which should be a good bit of fun.<br />
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<b>JC:</b> I need to even the editorial score with Charles. Imagine him doing a book with me! Much as I enjoyed <a href="http://amzn.to/1PFIYl3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Beyond Rue Morgue: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective</i></a>, I knew it meant work for me. I’m working with a new co-editor, the very talented Shannon Allen, and Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing on an all-new anthology of Arthurian fantasy. I’m also sharing the pages with the interviewer (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Derrick-Belanger/e/B00LG13FY0">Derrick Belanger</a>) in the newly-released <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1koB8Rc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories</a></i>. As for Charles and I working together again, we’re still talking about projects over a pint or two, but we’re not ready to make any announcements just yet.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  Any last thoughts?</b></h4>
<b>JC:</b> Just a note to say how much I’ve enjoyed working with the contributors to this book. We read so many excellent stories and were unable to include them all. Saying no is the unfortunate part of being an editor. I’d also like to give kudos to Dave Elsey for the amazing cover he provided. Working with such talented people is what makes these works so addictive.<br />
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</b> <b>CP:</b> One of the truly wonderful things about putting together our anthologies was the realization that Arthur Conan Doyle’s creations - his words - resonate with so many professional writers and artists working today. When we started putting together lists of writers for our first ‘Gaslight’ anthology we often wondered if Author XYZ had any interest in writing a Sherlock Holmes piece? We learned fairly quickly that just about every writer we approached for a story had at least read some Sherlock Holmes, or was on some level influenced in their work by Sherlock Holmes, or were closet Holmes fans, and many had long wanted to contribute to the wealth of literature that has sprung up around the character. It was an even bigger eye-opener to find a similar level of esteem for Professor Challenger. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tremendous talent and skill that we were able to work with so many exceptional writers and artists in our anthologies.  These books have been a labour of love for all of us, a chance to give something back, or as ACD put it in his dedication for THE LOST WORLD:<br />
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I have wrought my simple plan<br />
If I give one hour of joy<br />
To the boy who's half a man,<br />
Or the man who's half a boy.<br />
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Thank you!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Prepolec/e/B002BO801O/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_2">Charles V. Prepolec</a></b>  is a freelance editor, writer, artist and reviewer with published contributions in a variety of books and magazines. He is co-editor of five Sherlock Holmes anthologies (with J. R. Campbell) - Curious Incidents Vols. 1 & 2; <a href="http://amzn.to/1PFIdbY" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes</a> (2008); <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1koA7IH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Grotesque: Nightmare Tales of Sherlock Holmes</a> </i>(2009<i>) </i> <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1M7cIHW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Arcanum: Uncanny Tales of Sherlock Holmes</a> </i>(2011<i>)</i>; as well as co-editor (with Paul Kane) of <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PFIYl3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beyond Rue Morgue: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective</a></i> (2013) for Titan Books. His most recent anthology (with J. R. Campbell) is Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Places (2015) EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy. An active Sherlockian with The Singular Society of the Baker Street Dozen for more than 25 years, he is also a member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London, The Sydney Passengers of Australia, and was designated a Master Bootmaker (MBt) in 2006 by The Bootmakers of Toronto – the Sherlock Holmes society of Canada. He resides in Calgary, AB, Canada with his wife, Kristen, and their cat, Karma.<br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cprepolec">https://www.facebook.com/cprepolec</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/sherlockeditor">https://twitter.com/sherlockeditor</a><br />
Amazon author page: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Prepolec/e/B002BO801O/">http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Prepolec/e/B002BO801O/</a><br />
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<b>Jeff R. Campbell</b> is a writer and editor living in his hometown of Calgary. His fiction has appeared in the anthologies Challenger Unbound, Rigor Amortis, A Study in Lavender and most recently in <i>The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories</i>. In audio form his work has been transmitted to unsuspecting audiences by Jim French’s  Imagination Theater. With his friend and co-editor he has edited the anthologies <i>Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes</i>, <i>Gaslight Grotesque: Nightmare Tales of Sherlock Holmes</i> and <i>Gaslight Arcanum: Uncanny Tales of Sherlock Holmes</i>.<br />
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Professor Challenger: New Worlds, Lost Places — An Interview

"challenged his ingenuity" [BLAC] Sherlock Holmes is undoubtedly Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation, yet as I ...

+ Read more »

by Belanger Books

OTD: Without a Clue

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[an uncommon drunk sort o' man" [STUD]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6-1XCzuQ3wT1R7eYFfpfkflA09NWNa2QHCJC5TdSZli7u_0vaAr2BcPE5lCXU0Wyc7W0K0AvNwOnbGAJREzUlK1VmEzf4S90deJB8bgq6E9VG273clP5Yjl3hiEYABnaabScntDeBRP8/s1600/gamesafoot+Caine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Michael Caine as Reginald Kincaid, aka Sherlock Holmes" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6-1XCzuQ3wT1R7eYFfpfkflA09NWNa2QHCJC5TdSZli7u_0vaAr2BcPE5lCXU0Wyc7W0K0AvNwOnbGAJREzUlK1VmEzf4S90deJB8bgq6E9VG273clP5Yjl3hiEYABnaabScntDeBRP8/s640/gamesafoot+Caine.jpg" title="Michael Caine as Sherlock Holmes" width="325" /></a></div>
One of the more unlikely Sherlock Holmes movies to come along in recent memory is <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00RYZFOKA" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="85f7c0d7df02f5109cd473d4b71688e7" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Without a Clue" href="https://amzn.to/3lbck4f" id="amznPsBmLink_2077826" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Without a Clue</a> (1988), starring Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley.<br />
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Well, we should clarify. When we say "recent memory," we of course refer to anything within the last generation or so. And with today marking the 27th anniversary of the release of Without a Clue, that still manages to keep us within striking range of a generation, according to our calculations.<br />
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In case you're not familiar with the plot of the film — and we highly recommend that you watch it — our hero, Sherlock Holmes, is nothing more than a profligate drunkard of an actor, hired by Dr. Watson (known to himself as "John Watson, the Crime Doctor!") to mask his (Watson's) true identity as a successful detective while he applies for a position in an exclusive hospital.<br />
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Much to his chagrin, the character actor becomes popular and the public (and later Watson) can't seem to do without him. It was a case of art imitating life, as another doctor — one A. Conan Doyle — was resigned to the same fate as the Crime Doctor.<br /><br />It's a fun film, and with a PG rating, it's family-friendly as well.</div>
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Let's raise a glass to Caine, Kingsley and <i>Without a Clue</i>, 27 years on!<br />  <br /></div>
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--<br />
<br />
<br /></div>

OTD: Without a Clue

[an uncommon drunk sort o' man" [STUD] One of the more unlikely Sherlock Holmes movies to come along in recent memory is Witho...

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by Scott Monty

My First Night Among the Sherlockians

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"Saturday night is our meeting” [VALL]</h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last month, I ventured from the safety of Internet
Sherlockian discussion to meeting real-life Sherlockians when I attended my
first-ever Sherlock Holmes Society meeting. <a href="http://sherlockholmesofstcharles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Harpooners of the Sea Unicorn</a> met in St. Charles, Missouri to
discuss “The Adventure of the Stockbroker’s Clerk.” So I pushed myself out of
my comfort zone and made the 45 minute drive to attend my first society
meeting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember <a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Sherlock_Hemlock" target="_blank">Sherlock Hemlock</a> and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PqDlIo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Mouse Detective</a></i>
fondly from my early years and can tell you I ordered <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PqDagl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Revenge of the Hound</a></i> by Michael Harrison from a Scholastic book order when I was in sixth
grade, but my first interaction with the Great Detective is gone from my
memory.  Twelve years ago, I received a
copy of the Canon for Christmas, and I can pinpoint my obsession taking off from
there.  Exhaustively reading the original
60 stories led to reading pastiche and eventually scholarly writings. Along the way, I wanted to find others whom I
could discuss ideas and questions with, so like most people these days, I took
to the Internet.  <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And why would I ever need to meet people in real life when I
had <a href="http://twitter.com/Rob_Nunn" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, <a href="http://sherlockpeoria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sherlock Peoria</a>, <a href="http://sherlockian.net/">Sherlockian.net</a>
and so many other great resources available whenever I wanted and from the
comfort of my own couch? Not to mention
DVDs of Jeremy Brett and Benedict Cumberbatch to watch on the weekends?  Pfft, who needs to go to a meeting?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Turns out, I did.  <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sure, listening to <a href="http://ihose.co/ihoseshows" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IHOSE</a> every month is almost like having
a conversation about Sherlockian topics, and tweets thrown out to the wind can
lead to some great discussions, but I still wanted more. My wife humors me for a while, my six year old daughter is only interested if I can make Holmes relevant to Peppa Pig,
and my friends just stare at me blankly when I start to ramble. I needed some other Sherlockians that would
know who I’m talking about when I mention Jefferson Hope or Thorneycroft
Huxtable.  <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I had no idea what to expect with my first meeting. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. I sat down to an informal dinner with four
other Sherlockians ranging from high school aged to retirement. Dinner conversation drifted all over the
place, from news of the Pope to the books of John Green. But once it was time to start, we delved into
the problem of Hall Pycroft’s gullibility. 
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As I reread the story in preparation for the meeting, I kept
thinking about Pycroft and Jabez Wilson from "The Red-Headed League."  I was feeling pretty superior about our
modern day society.<br />
"Victorians were so
gullible," I thought.  “We wouldn’t fall
for such a ruse. We’re much more
advanced."<br />
<br />
And then the meeting’s paper
was presented, showing all of the parallels between the scam in "The
Stockbroker’s Clerk" and Ponzi schemes and the Bernie Madoff scandal. Well, that made me rethink my superior
attitude, and led to a very insightful discussion about confidence schemes
and how prevalent they have been throughout history.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My other question about this story was why Holmes made it a
point to bring Watson along. There was
no expected need for his medical expertise, and since Holmes didn’t ask Watson
to pack his revolver, one can presume he didn’t expect things to turn too
rough, so why did he hunt down the good doctor at the beginning of the story? I brought this up as part of our discussion, and everyone seemed to
agree that it was because of their friendship. At the beginning of this story, Holmes and Watson have not seen each
other for a while, and the general consensus was that Holmes just wanted to
have someone to share his adventure with.<br />
<br />
After going to my first (and definitely far from my last) Sherockian
meeting, I know how Holmes felt. 
Sometimes you just need some like-minded folks around in real life.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Editor's note:</b> this is Rob's first post for I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.</i><br />
<br />
--<br />
<br /></div>

My First Night Among the Sherlockians

"Saturday night is our meeting” [VALL] Last month, I ventured from the safety of Internet Sherlockian discussion to meeting re...

+ Read more »

by Rob Nunn

Episode 82: The Sincerest Form of Flattery

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"Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery" [REDC]</h4>
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We all know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Sherlock Holmes is no stranger to either, and with a growing database that includes some tens of thousands of work, it's easy to think that Sherlock Holmes is probably the most imitated literary character in history.</div>
<br />
We take the time in this show to explore some of the motivations behind pastiches — as well as the cliched ingredients in so many pastiches (Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft Holmes, Professor Moriarty, cocaine, the Baker Street Irregulars, Jack the Ripper, real historical figures, etc.) and what makes them work — or in many cases, not.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But more than that, we announce a new format to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere episodes. Beginning with Episode 82, we're going to be <b>splitting the show into two episodes per month</b>. One show will be a featured interview and Gas-Lamp, while the other will be a show with the news, the quiz, and commentary related to the interview show that it precedes. In this case, our pastiche commentary is a prelude to one of the most exciting and anticipated pastiches of the year, Bonnie Macbird's <b><i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0008130833" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="b35d3b308d2f0dca5ea392cf0bb7bbc1" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Art in the Blood" href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Blood-Sherlock-Adventure-Adventures/dp/0008130833/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=b35d3b308d2f0dca5ea392cf0bb7bbc1&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_9603088" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art in the Blood</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9603088" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=b35d3b308d2f0dca5ea392cf0bb7bbc1&_cb=1444871799186" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i></b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
This is our first show with a musical guest, and we're pleased to introduce <a href="http://jessicalmusic.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Lisette</a> to the Sherlockian world. She performs her new hit single "Elementary," which makes its debut today. You can see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2DpEEDuMDs" target="_blank">her video</a> embedded below.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A8Pct9bD_hk?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
Our "Mental Exaltation" quiz, so adeptly written by Nick Martorelli, challenges listener Jenn Zuko to win a copy of Bonnie Macbird's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0008130833" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="4615f8aaf567d25067c4bb335959ed29" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Art in the Blood" href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Blood-Sherlock-Adventure-Adventures/dp/0008130833/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=4615f8aaf567d25067c4bb335959ed29&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1540503" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art in the Blood</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1540503" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4615f8aaf567d25067c4bb335959ed29&_cb=1444872174855" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. Will she manage to pull it off?<br />
<br />
As a reminder, consider supporting our show through <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon</a>, for as little as $1 per episode.<br />
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We've been enjoying your photos and plan to post a number of them soon, so if you want to be part of this effort, please purchase as many of of our <a href="http://ihose.co/221Bstickers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">221B or 1895 oval stickers</a> as you like and then <a href="mailto:comment@ihearofsherlock.com" target="_blank">send us a picture</a> of where you've put it.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Notes:</h3>
</div>
<div>
3:36 How to find our past episodes: the ihose DOT co code.<br />
4:50 Supporting the show — just like Mary Miller<br />
7:00 Announcing the new IHOSE format<br />
10:02 The Sherlock Holmes news<br />
21:45 The Pope makes news while in the United States<br />
24:21 Jessica Lisette joins us to sing "Elementary"<br />
38:30 Our sponsors — including the latest Sherlock Holmes brand ad<br />
43:40 Commentary: pastiches<br />
55:41 Mental Exaltation<br />
1:02:22 Wrap up comments<br />
<br />
And as usual, you might want to be sure you pay attention for a special <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_(interaction_design)" target="_blank">Easter egg</a> somewhere in the show...<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock082.mp3" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 31.3 MB, 1:05:31</h4>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/228483505&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h3>
Links:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://jessicalmusic.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Lisette Music</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shsl/albums/72157658287560039" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Society of London remembers Jeremy Brett</a> (photo album)</li>
<li>Is it really possible to have <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/09/what-to-do-with-too-many-sherlock.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">too many Sherlock Holmes books?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/09/interview-with-secretary-general-of.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An interview</a> with the Sherlock Holmes Society of India's Secretary General</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/09/interview-with-secretary-general-of.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A review</a> of Dan Andriacco and Kieran McMullen's <i>The Egyptian Curse</i></li>
<li>Otto Penzler's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1101870893" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="e176da2770d14d0a0cedfa6c9d606faa" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Sherlock-Holmes-Stories/dp/1101870893/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=e176da2770d14d0a0cedfa6c9d606faa&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_210727" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_210727" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=e176da2770d14d0a0cedfa6c9d606faa&_cb=1444871123132" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i></li>
<li><a href="http://ihose.co/ihose17" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 17 with Otto Penzler</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/10/the-new-sherlock-trailer-is-here-and.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The new trailer</a> to the <i>Sherlock</i> special</li>
<li>The <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Patreon</a> page</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
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</div>
<br />
<br />
Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard and Scoop.it sites at <a href="http://ihose.co/flipsherlock" target="_blank">ihose.co/flipsherlock</a> and <a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/sherlock-holmes" target="_blank">ihose.co/scoopsherlock</a>, as well as on the <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/114565123495685504221" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Community</a> on Google+ (now over 2,800 members), as well as through our accounts on <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://ihearofsherlock.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>.<br />
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<h3>
Sponsors</h3>
This episode includes our two longtime sponsors that deserve your attention:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a> (check out the <i><a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/vatican.html" target="_blank">Murder in the Vatican: the Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes</a></i>)<br />
<a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Baker Street Journal</i></a>, where you should get <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/subscriptions.html" target="_blank">your annual subscription</a> in now to secure all four issues and a very special Christmas Annual about <i>The Seven Per-Cent Solution</i>.<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<i>Image credit:  <a href="https://flic.kr/p/85ueNP" target="_blank">horslip5 (Flickr)</a> </i><br />
<i><br />
</i> --<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>

Episode 82: The Sincerest Form of Flattery

"Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery" [REDC] We all know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

One Area in Which Dr. Watson Excelled

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"this competition between them" [STUD]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UVvYVDvQ0s2IALEVqOBRTJoGR0LdJBPAJEsaxJ7OvYcaXYOOS1Zo1XWMAPANNZ4_CCDLKRY36-k0UTGPKUFF1twXVN6VFagD_mykRhEJnw5F8Ee72inXJf3XskczhqRV3yUHamqwlJxu/s1600/The+Stockbrokers+Clerk+-+Sidney+Paget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UVvYVDvQ0s2IALEVqOBRTJoGR0LdJBPAJEsaxJ7OvYcaXYOOS1Zo1XWMAPANNZ4_CCDLKRY36-k0UTGPKUFF1twXVN6VFagD_mykRhEJnw5F8Ee72inXJf3XskczhqRV3yUHamqwlJxu/s640/The+Stockbrokers+Clerk+-+Sidney+Paget.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We're accustomed to seeing Sherlock Holmes triumphant. Whether it's in his cases (except the rare times he finds himself <a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/scan.htm" target="_blank">on the losing end</a>) or in his demonstration of his superior intellect, the detective is ascendant over clients, over the police force and even over Watson ("It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">.</span>" [HOUN]).<br />
<br />
And while Watson enumerated "Sherlock Holmes — his limits" in <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, there were other areas in which the good doctor was better equipped than his flatmate. There were areas that Holmes clearly recognized:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Watson's medical expertise</b>: "Do you imagine that I have no respect for your medical talents?" [DYIN]</li>
<li><b>Watson's way with women</b>: "Now, Watson, the fair sex is your department." [SECO]</li>
</ul>
<br />
But someone analyzed the Sherlock Holmes stories in their totality and realized that Watson came out on top in another way:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5JEJiiSZCM?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
We were reminded of the clip above when we saw the news today that <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34528586" target="_blank">Stephen Fry will step down as the host of <i>QI</i></a> on BBC Two, a position he's held for 13 years.<br />
<br />
Of course, Fry's <i>bona fides</i> in the Sherlockian world are many. <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2010/09/one-of-queerest-men-gree_27.html#.Vh5Q3HpViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We enumerated quite a few</a> when he first announced that he was to play Mycroft Holmes in <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B007L5KT76" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="4fc2949f9b04ae10ecede1a8d976a295" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Game-Of-Shadows/dp/B007L5KT76/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=4fc2949f9b04ae10ecede1a8d976a295&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6537576" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6537576" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4fc2949f9b04ae10ecede1a8d976a295&_cb=1444841025069" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. He is also <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2011/03/effort-to-preserve-it-iden_7.html#.Vh5Q4XpViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an avid supporter of the Undershaw Preservation Trust</a>. And as it should be clear from the clip, he is quite familiar with the Canon. We wish him well in his continuing adventures outside of <i>QI</i>.<br />
<br />
Finally, we'll make a note of <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2013/09/the-top-10-most-suggestive-lines-from.html#.Vh5R8npViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Top 10 Most Suggestive Lines from the Canon</a>, which is always worth a share.<br />
<br />
--

One Area in Which Dr. Watson Excelled

"this competition between them" [STUD] We're accustomed to seeing Sherlock Holmes triumphant. Whether it's in his cas...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

The Gillette Luncheon Has a New Home

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"willing to fill a vacancy" [REDH]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5k1pUZhcmuJ0m3wNfrTxrDDgcEzpxg9ltr25_Qd0E5RX2E3mlIelHJF_5x6et4gYXmaCF8OgXDBcbBNj8hSwqHHEJFoFMPful2jbSy3iPApxyQCImjp1W_2EwRmx4d6j0cH5ydc73cW8/s1600/Moran%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5k1pUZhcmuJ0m3wNfrTxrDDgcEzpxg9ltr25_Qd0E5RX2E3mlIelHJF_5x6et4gYXmaCF8OgXDBcbBNj8hSwqHHEJFoFMPful2jbSy3iPApxyQCImjp1W_2EwRmx4d6j0cH5ydc73cW8/s640/Moran%2527s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you've ever attended a <a href="http://bsiweekend.com/" target="_blank">BSI Weekend</a> in New York (or paid attention to the updates that emanate from the Weekend that you can follow online in early January), you'll note that one of the events is the William Gillette Memorial Luncheon.<br />
<br />
In recent memory, the event has been held at Moran's Chelsea, a restaurant that had its origin in the Civil War era, when Irish immigrants dominated work on the Hudson River piers that lined the nearby waterfront. Inside Moran's, the era is still held close, as cozy wood-burning fireplaces are topped with glowing brass fixtures and Irish touches like the display cases filled with Waterford crystal, and a single lace curtain covering the back window.<br />
<br />
But that two decade span of BSI Weekend history changed suddenly earlier this year, as the restaurant's owner <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/22/goodbye-morans-when-a-neighborhood-joint-closes.html" target="_blank">sold the building and the new owner closed Moran's</a>.<br />
<br />
Considering this historic change — one that affects many attendees of the BSI Weekend — we thought it an appropriate time to reflect on the history of the Gillette Luncheon and its previous venues. Accordingly, we asked current host Susan Rice, BSI, ("Beeswing") ASH ("A Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with Some Observations  upon the Segregation of the Queen") for a summary of how the William Gillette Luncheon came to be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkSO8PWtV7E-STZQex4svDtTBpPGSnRDzY7Y4nNSHksNoXdcTd-lv_lLpXbs-dTB_xbGmHUeth_vgKG2cF59hkOItj323IrNX7RsvtmipkrhZ3Xljh-9jz_Ja392Le-iLbFbCp4cNr2CG/s1600/dividing+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="25" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkSO8PWtV7E-STZQex4svDtTBpPGSnRDzY7Y4nNSHksNoXdcTd-lv_lLpXbs-dTB_xbGmHUeth_vgKG2cF59hkOItj323IrNX7RsvtmipkrhZ3Xljh-9jz_Ja392Le-iLbFbCp4cNr2CG/s320/dividing+line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Susan Rice: </b>The custom of a luncheon on the same day as the BSI Dinner wafted into being in 1945. Clifton Andrew was an exceptionally convivial Sherlockian from Akron, Ohio, who traveled to New York each January on an overnight train from Cleveland. It arrived in the city mid-morning and Clif was too eager for Irregular companionship to wait until dinner. His technique was straightforward: he lurked in the lobby of the <a href="http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-lost-1884-murray-hill-hotel-park.html" target="_blank">Murray Hill Hotel</a>, accosted anyone he recognized or suspected of being an enthusiast and invited them to join him for lunch.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgUKMEr22nJyUNKJQLMOyyiMSUNobeINEeJNLN7MYSZZfi4yJdkMN-uDpvAO-muf7eXcfU6_UJHo7hwPg_bFbgr8yLVlZPcwnSGUBACXD2i7p3xwCPsohZS-AA30-uzodfYXh525EPRS6/s1600/murray+hill+hotel+foyer+lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The lobby of the Murray Hill Hotel" border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgUKMEr22nJyUNKJQLMOyyiMSUNobeINEeJNLN7MYSZZfi4yJdkMN-uDpvAO-muf7eXcfU6_UJHo7hwPg_bFbgr8yLVlZPcwnSGUBACXD2i7p3xwCPsohZS-AA30-uzodfYXh525EPRS6/s640/murray+hill+hotel+foyer+lounge.jpg" title="Murray Hill Hotel lounge" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foyer lounge of the Murray Hill Hotel (Library of Congress)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A photograph of the 1948 participants reveals that he attracted eleven diners, Edith Meiser among them. From these early unceremonial occasions, Clif conceived of a luncheon, “with no particular theme in mind except Sherlockian fellowship, good food, and for those so inclined, liquid refreshment of various designs and potencies.” He dubbed it the "Scion Societies Lunch."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifu_KgNQ8qBc5LxrWiRWh6Wu5LABqsu4G9pJIZnEgmRLcS_qzE-lZ7tdCGWb8CwwVOdk0qNlYuvW-qLbuIRymAavx_arJDCs3ejR3AEceZxlYcwEPNkPMLFBPEguTLhD9yTQZV18fmrmp/s1600/1945+Gillette+Lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifu_KgNQ8qBc5LxrWiRWh6Wu5LABqsu4G9pJIZnEgmRLcS_qzE-lZ7tdCGWb8CwwVOdk0qNlYuvW-qLbuIRymAavx_arJDCs3ejR3AEceZxlYcwEPNkPMLFBPEguTLhD9yTQZV18fmrmp/s640/1945+Gillette+Lunch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Attendees of an early version of what would become the William Gillette Memorial Luncheon, in 1948.<br />
Front row: Dick Van Fossen, Ben Feingold, Clifton Andrew, J. Hyslop, Leslie Marshall<br />
Back row: Roland Hammond, Doyle Beckmeyer, L. H. Denton, Edith Meiser, Allen Robertson, Harold Clemens, Laurence P. Dodge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The luncheons of the 'Forties were irregular and depended on happenstance rather than planning, but starting in 1946, Clif Andrew walked the group to <a href="http://www.keens.com/" target="_blank">Keen’s Steakhouse</a>. In 1953 a poster of William Gillette in his most famous role caught their eyes. The luncheon was immediately dubbed the William Gillette Memorial Luncheon, and we number the luncheon from that year.<br />
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A young New York editor named <a href="http://www.ash-nyc.com/LMcGaw.htm" target="_blank">Lisa McGaw</a> began attending the luncheon regularly in the early 'Fifties, and just before the 1962 birthday weekend she received a call from Clif to say he would not attend, and asking her to assume the responsibility of collecting the money and settling the bill. Clifton Andrew never again attended the birthday festivities. Later that year, he sent Lisa his mailing list, seventeen names in all, and asked her to take care of future arrangements. He died in December, 1963.<br />
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Lisa, a shy, private person, hosted the luncheon for 25 years. She continued to set the luncheon at Keen’s until it closed for some years, when she moved it to <a href="http://www.theoldhomesteadsteakhouse.com/" target="_blank">The Old Homestead</a>, another Victorian steakhouse, where it remained throughout her tenure. She maintained Clif Andrew’s emphasis on companionship and conversation, inviting a speaker only rarely.<br />
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Clearly remembered, however was the year in the late 'Seventies when <i>The New Yorker</i>’s Brendan Gill spoke of his memories of William Gillette during Gill’s childhood in Hartford, Connecticut. In the summer of 1989 Lisa called me from her retirement in North Carolina to say that her health was failing and it was time to transfer the responsibility for the Gillette Luncheon. By that date, the mailing list she sent me numbered nearly 200. In 1994 we had grown too large to be accommodated in a single room at the Old Homestead, so at the suggestion of ASH Patricia Moran I relocated it to <b>Moran’s Chelsea</b>. We now attract roughly 140 participants.<br />
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Those are the facts behind the storied history of this happy little gathering. As you might imagine, the closing of the restaurant this spring and the weeks of radio silence that followed were of great concern to those who attended the luncheon in recent years. The good news is that <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150428/chelsea/morans-restaurant-reopens-as-fillmore-room" target="_blank">Moran's has reopened</a> and is now known as <a href="http://www.fillmoreroom.com/" target="_blank">The Fillmore Room</a>.<br />
<br />
Susan had been in close contact with the new owners during that time and provided an update, along with a short summary of the lunch's history:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A brief recap: the luncheon is now more than 70 years old. In those seven decades it has had only three hosts, and except for the founding luncheon, only three dining venues. That record was challenged this year when Moran’s Chelsea was sold and closed for renovation. I am delighted to announce that this change will not affect our remarkable fidelity in an ever changing world: the new owner is intrigued by our history and <b><i>the Gillette Luncheon on January 15, 2016 will take place in the same venue, now called The Fillmore Room</i></b>. However, there is no truth to the rumor that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fillmore_(Unity_Church)" target="_blank">Charles Sherlock Fillmore</a> is its namesake.</blockquote>
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Have you attended the Gillette Luncheon on the past? Do you have particular memories from your time there? Please consider telling us about it in our comment section below.<br />
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Watch the <a href="http://bsiweekend.com/" target="_blank">BSI Weekend website</a> for more updates about the 2016 BSI Weekend in the coming weeks.<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="https://instagram.com/p/jRyiMSApNg/" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere (Instagram)</a></i><br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />

The Gillette Luncheon Has a New Home

"willing to fill a vacancy" [REDH] If you've ever attended a BSI Weekend in New York (or paid attention to the updates ...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Hamlet: Or, Sherlock Holmes and the Great Dane

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"the stage upon which tragedy has been played" [HOUN]</h4>
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<br />
The Sherlockian world doesn't always pay close attention to who's starring in what at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbican_Centre" target="_blank">Barbican Theatre</a> in the City of London, even though it is just a short stroll from St. Bartholomew's Hospital and even closer to the Museum of London, which hosted a major Sherlock Holmes exhibition earlier this year.<br />
<br />
But when Benedict Cumberbatch, known to the world as the star of BBC television's <i>Sherlock</i>, is playing the lead at the Barbican, that's different. Sherlockian blogs and tumblrs are full of the news, and <i>Sherlock</i> fans are certainly among the sellout audiences that the Barbican has been enjoying even before the play has its official opening on August 25.<br />
<br />
The enthusiasm has spilled well beyond the Sherlockian world, of course, and controversy has been loud after <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/aug/19/benedict-cumberbatchs-hamlet-media-accused-of-contempt-and-hysteria" target="_blank">some newspaper reviewers couldn't wait</a> until opening night to publish reviews of the still-unpolished production and especially the performance of Cumberbatch himself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8f2J8CHz23B-m4KrixEBa3tBszCpJtFUIR4WTKoh9G46F5hgmnYyrjBwAICWLBxwp_SmnbaUSueUFDJnTWmpHIJF5ZR4W4PH6xJYhk8oP2TQeLUSNhQ-cfUX7Wfx__l4uE6bIriMIMMk/s1600/Hamlet+-+Cumberbatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8f2J8CHz23B-m4KrixEBa3tBszCpJtFUIR4WTKoh9G46F5hgmnYyrjBwAICWLBxwp_SmnbaUSueUFDJnTWmpHIJF5ZR4W4PH6xJYhk8oP2TQeLUSNhQ-cfUX7Wfx__l4uE6bIriMIMMk/s640/Hamlet+-+Cumberbatch.jpg" width="441" /></a></div>
<br />
The play, by the way, is William Shakespeare's <i>Hamlet</i>, which on the face of it has no Sherlockian significance except that, come to think of it, "Shakespeare's <i>Hamlet</i>" has quite a lot of the same letters as "Sherlock Holmes" — the sort of coincidence certain pastiche authors would use as a major plot point. William D. Goodrich in his <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0938501208" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="4a8f69e818d736e1573f8c7c8e885ba4" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="New Good Old Index" href="https://amzn.to/2NFhCSu" id="amznPsBmLink_5575007" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Good Old Index</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5575007" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4a8f69e818d736e1573f8c7c8e885ba4&_cb=1444532346115" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> manages to find several resemblances between phrases in the play and phrases in the Canon, such as Holmes's use of the words "stale and unprofitable" in "A Case of Identity" and Inspector Forrester's reference to "madness in his method" in "The Reigate Squires."<br />
<br />
But there is more to be said. I suspect I am the only person in the world who was first exposed to <i>Hamlet</i> not by reading it, not by seeing it, not by listening to a teacher talk about it, but by reading <i><a href="https://ihose.co/BSJ" target="_blank">The Baker Street Journal</a></i>. That was in the summer of 1964, when I was a brand-new subscriber and in fact a brand-new Sherlockian, having worlds opened to me practically every day through the lens of Sherlock Holmes. <br />
<br />
The lead article in the June 1964 BSJ was "Her Death Was Doubtful," by long-time Irregular Russell McLauchlin. It imagines "a Norwegian named Sigerson" stopping by the court at Elsinore, shortly after the crowning of Fortinbras has restored order to Denmark, and raising some awkward questions about why Ophelia had time to chant "snatches of old tunes" before going under the water, but nobody bothered to pull her out. "However improbable," the investigator tells the king, "murder is the truth."<br />
<br />
I read this stuff with fascination, never having read Shakespeare's less suspicious version of the incident. When I was finally called upon to experience the original text — it was in my last year of high school — the curious incident of the explorer Sigerson continued to colour my understanding of Ophelia's death and the deep-dyed villainy of King Claudius. <br />
<br />
And that is the sort of unexpected effect that being a Sherlockian can have on the non-Sherlockian parts of your life. (It was also through Sherlock Holmes that I first encountered Carlyle and Goethe and miracle plays, by the way; but Benedict Cumberbatch hasn't undertaken to bring any of those to the masses. At least not yet.)<br />
<br />
--<br />
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<br /></div>

Hamlet: Or, Sherlock Holmes and the Great Dane

"the stage upon which tragedy has been played" [HOUN] The Sherlockian world doesn't always pay close attention to who...

+ Read more »

by Chris Redmond

The Murder of Sherlock Holmes — A Review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain" - [3GAR]</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0990852903" class="amzn_ps_bm_il" data-amzn-link-id="2554eca518fec949b1c2e8bd6565ca61" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="murder of sherlock holmes" href="http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-David-Fable/dp/0990852903/ref=as_li_bk_ia/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=2554eca518fec949b1c2e8bd6565ca61&linkCode=kia" id="amznPsBmLink_6498459" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWrzpA53yRfAmfz8o1KI7W4chyphenhyphenRiv-XK-RuOof8AtkrX5K3B-N52lvfaGiM8FaQsY1CUN6zq_XnuAZ5gppghulrEk_AoRkHDiBxa-S4tcV5kE8vxFXLLiZCh9_4fXOJenG1ceYmXBR3bA/s640/The+Murder+of+Sherlock+Holmes.PNG" width="640" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6498459" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=kia&linkId=2554eca518fec949b1c2e8bd6565ca61&_cb=1444497429300" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></div>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
With <i>Mr. Holmes</i> providing a great example of Sherlock Holmes in his later years, many recent pastiches (including Michael Chabon's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00OX8BER8" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="4c8956291d7651ae7cb10711752d4ca0" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="the final solution chabon" href="http://www.amazon.com/Final-Solution-Chabon-Michael-Hardcover/dp/B00OX8BER8/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=4c8956291d7651ae7cb10711752d4ca0&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_5875929" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Final Solution</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5875929" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4c8956291d7651ae7cb10711752d4ca0&_cb=1444496204154" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>) have used an elder Holmes as a way to explore deeper issues.<br />
<br />
David Fable's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0990852903" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="6bad360e2c470bf4f9c771771fc96544" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" href="http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-David-Fable/dp/0990852903/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=6bad360e2c470bf4f9c771771fc96544&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4293675" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Murder of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4293675" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=6bad360e2c470bf4f9c771771fc96544&_cb=1444496221243" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> is a great mystery that does what many writers might not make an effort to do - use Holmes' death to launch into an exploration about how an individual leads his life in his later years.<br />
<br />
Fable does an admirable job in providing the kind of mystery that would intrigue Holmes himself: what happens when the Great Detective is found dead? Dr. John Watson decides to lead the case, accompanied by Christopher Hudson (Mrs. Hudson's son), and together, their efforts explore the world of Holmes (including some characters) post-"His Last Bow."<br />
<b><br /></b>
In many ways, this is a book that reflects and builds upon the Canon, yet takes some great narrative chances. One of those chances is splitting the narration between Watson and Christopher Hudson. For this particular story, that split perspective allows for a much broader interpretation and confirmation of events. (It also helps that Fable's constructed a <i>very</i> solid mystery - one worthy of Holmes himself).<br />
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There is, however, one revelation about Holmes (and we will avoid spoilers) that comes close to the end of the novel. Although this revelation makes sense within the confines of the book, it may be a bit surprising (or perhaps even rather left-field). However, it does not derail the book's overall narrative structure, and at the end, David Fable provides an excellent quote that rivals Watson's best quotes about Holmes.<br />
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<i>The Murder of Sherlock Holmes</i> is a surprising novel in more ways that one. It manages to take a step beyond pastiche, and serves as a crackling good read in its own right. Worth checking out.<br />
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(A complimentary copy was provided for review)<br />
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The Murder of Sherlock Holmes — A Review

"a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain" - [3GAR] With Mr. Holmes providing a great example of Sherlock Ho...

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by Gordon D

The New Sherlock Trailer Is Here and It's Amazing

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"which called for special attention" [BLAC]</h4>
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Fasten your Victorian seatbelts! The latest official trailer for BBC One's <i>Sherlock</i> special is 90 seconds long and is filled with settings and period costumes to make your traditional Sherlockian fingers tremble with excitement.<br />
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We've previously covered the announcement of <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/04/sherlock-christmas-special-will-be-set.html#.VharnHpViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the time period of the special</a> and its <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/07/new-sherlock-trailer-strikes.html#.VharlHpViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">early trailer</a>. But this version is a more detailed glimpse of what the special will feel like, from locations to co-stars to the overall richness of the cinematography. While we don't have any more information about the plot, the trailer certainly makes it seem as if we're awaiting the release of a major motion picture — for that's what these 90-minute long <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B004132HZS" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="fce8f4d4e8d7b9442293d56572d747b1" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sherlock" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Season-1-Benedict-Cumberbatch/dp/B004132HZS/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=fce8f4d4e8d7b9442293d56572d747b1&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_9535327" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9535327" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=fce8f4d4e8d7b9442293d56572d747b1&_cb=1444326586702" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> episodes really are, aren't they? Stories that, while related to the other episodes, firmly stand on their own as televised movies.<br />
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With the release of the latest trailer, neither the BBC nor PBS Masterpiece has made it clear when we should expect the special to air. Rumors have long indicated that it might be around Christmastime, but we have yet to receive any word from the showrunners what we should expect.<br />
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Meanwhile, pray pull up your armchair to the fire, settle in and enjoy the latest <i>Sherlock </i>trailer...<br />
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Are there any points you'd make about this video? Share them below with a comment.<br />
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The New Sherlock Trailer Is Here and It's Amazing

"which called for special attention" [BLAC] Fasten your Victorian seatbelts! The latest official trailer for BBC One's Sh...

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by Scott Monty

Qualify for the Quiz on Our Next Show

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"a French artist who flourished" [VALL] </h4>
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Thank you for your continued interest in "Mental Exaltation," the quiz segment of the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere internet radio show. You can listen to <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 80</a>, in which our guest Zach Dundas played on behalf of a contestant (annotated below at 1:20:00).<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">If you've listened to NPR shows like </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Weekend Edition Sunday</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, you'll know that there are opportunities for listeners to participate in quizzes. In the former, a guest typically plays on behalf of a listener; on the latter, the listener plays live on the air.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Here's how "</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Mental Exaltation</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">" works:</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">
<li>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.</li>
<li>If you'd like to enter, you must <a href="http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub&publisher=445106&sitescope=45933" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">subscribe to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere by email</a>.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>If your player or you succeeds 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).</li>
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The next interview episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere will feature author and screenwriter Bonnie Macbird who has written <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ro0g5h" target="_blank">Art in the Blood</a></i><img border="0" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=14994121cab4f07ffad031d2608939d7&_cb=1443928534489" /><img border="0" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=socialmediama-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=cd2980ee10ef76e1a4780d5f01a7e206&_cb=1441721306537" />. Our quiz and the qualifying question are directly related to the book, so stay tuned and you may have a chance to win a copy of the book!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0008130833/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0008130833&linkCode=as2&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=KDZOT4VBLRQIVIZ4"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0008130833&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thebakerstree-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0008130833" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<b style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18.2px;">Qualify now</b><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="880" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I8-xK6eZZKpSl_9zPgZn9FvErlHKA0PnW9UcNu2L0g8/viewform?embedded=true" width="760">Loading...</iframe><br />
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Good luck!</div>
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Qualify for the Quiz on Our Next Show

"a French artist who flourished" [VALL] Thank you for your continued interest in "Mental Exaltation," the quiz...

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by Scott Monty

The Egyptian Curse: A Review

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"deeply impressed with the curse" [HOUN] </h4>
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<i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1780927762" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="423a05fc3164db431c2a72d84c8bf8e4" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Egyptian Curse" href="http://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Curse-Sherlock-Holmes-Enoch/dp/1780927762/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=423a05fc3164db431c2a72d84c8bf8e4&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1927843" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Egyptian Curse</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1927843" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=423a05fc3164db431c2a72d84c8bf8e4&_cb=1443725600760" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> is the third novel in the Enoch Hale-Sherlock Holmes trilogy co-authored by <a href="http://bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dan Andriacco</a> and Kieran McMullen. Though it is the third in a trilogy, enough background is provided for it to function as a stand-alone story. It’s a historical novel full of references to famous figures, both real and literary, and a curse of the sort anyone who’s ever heard of King Tut is familiar with.</div>
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Hale is an American journalist working in London for the Central Press Syndicate. When his ex-sweetheart’s husband is murdered, and his alibi disappears, he launches his own investigation through Egyptology, literary circles, and golf courses, meeting some of the most famous figures of 1920s London, including archaeologists, authors and a priest with particular significance to the Sherlockian reader.<br />
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The novel’s not "action-packed," but the case itself is intriguing and the plot is well-paced. Much of the enjoyment of the book comes from the way it references the mystery genre, making a bit of light fun at itself while at the same time providing an engaging mystery. Agatha Christie herself even discusses at length what exactly makes a good mystery, the very same question Ronald Knox would answer with his “<a href="http://www.thrillingdetective.com/trivia/triv186.html" target="_blank">Decalogue of Detective Fiction</a>” in 1929 (and thoughtfully supplied in the back of the book.)<br />
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For the record, <i>The Egyptian Curse</i> follows Knox’s guidelines, except perhaps for “no accident must ever help the detective.” Hale is the detective throughout. This is his investigation, and his friend Sherlock Holmes is only mentioned in passing for almost the entire case. It isn’t until we near the end that Holmes’ involvement is made clear, and the ultimate impression borders just a touch on <i>deus ex machina</i>. If Holmes had not earlier refused to get involved, or if there had been just a small scene of him making the decision to investigate on his own, it wouldn’t have bothered me so much.<br />
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That being said, Hale is excellent at assembling facts and piecing together a logical story from them, a task in which any good journalist would have to be skilled. Where he ultimately fails, and where a great detective excels, is the ability to select the essential facts from the onslaught of information. Holmes has all the same information Hale does, but he is able to distinguish the important facts from the rest, leading him to an entirely different (and entirely correct) conclusion.<br />
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The book ends with plenty of potential for further adventures to follow, and I hope to read more of Hale’s adventures, whether they be with or without Mr. Holmes.<br />
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The Enoch Hale-Sherlock Holmes trilogy, <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="SEARCH" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="2d120960cda8df5f56f4f202e37aeee4" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="enoch hale " href="http://amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=enoch%20hale%20&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=2d120960cda8df5f56f4f202e37aeee4&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2218343" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">available on Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2218343" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=2d120960cda8df5f56f4f202e37aeee4&_cb=1443725849277" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />:</div>
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The Egyptian Curse: A Review

"deeply impressed with the curse" [HOUN] The Egyptian Curse is the third novel in the Enoch Hale-Sherlock Holmes trilo...

+ Read more »

by Katie Magnusson

What to Do with Too Many Sherlock Holmes Books?

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"littered with books" [BRUC] </h4>
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Three new Sherlockian books arrived in the mail last week. A fourth, Elinor Gray's eagerly-awaited <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00ZAX43SM" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="a72c0325518c85c89191375277923b3d" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Compound a Felony" href="http://www.amazon.com/Compound-Felony-Affair-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B00ZAX43SM/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=a72c0325518c85c89191375277923b3d&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_8168492" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Compound a Felony</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_8168492" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=a72c0325518c85c89191375277923b3d&_cb=1442763600060" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, popped up in my Kindle last night. I've just finished reading a pre-publication copy of a pastiche from a major publisher. This afternoon my e-mail includes a friendly note from the author of a volume just published by MX, the British-based Sherlockian specialists: "I hope you will be able to review my book soon."<br />
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I hope the same thing, my friend.<br />
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In general I try to review every Sherlockian book I read. I've been doing it for several years now, and there are <a href="http://sherlockian.net/books/reviews/" target="_blank">sixty-some reviews available on my website</a>, Sherlockian.Net. <br />
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I don't generally go into the kind of perceptive detail more discriminating reviewers do (check out Leah Guinn's <a href="http://wellreadsherlockian.com/" target="_blank">The Well-Read Sherlockian</a> for extraordinary book reviews), but I give a general description and evaluation of each book. It's hard to know whether potential readers find such reviews useful — or find them at all — but I like to think so.<br />
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Well, I'm starting to dread this whole process. I've known for a while that I wasn't keeping up with the volume of material, and I've noticed that the top shelf of my 10-foot-wide bookcase, which houses stuff I acquired with every intention of reading it, is getting more tightly packed. Some books have been there quite a while now, including some that I really don't look forward to and others, such as Denis O. Smith's <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JiSxyU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mammoth Book of the Lost Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes</a></i>, that I am really quite excited about. And I know from comments I've seen online that some of these books, notably Zach Dundas's <i><a href="http://ihose.co/ihose80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Detective</a></i>, are seriously important in our field. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci-h5xIFexKW6B22LCOFzqSPA7ihes3hWT9-anqOBdo-O__ScalXOzscC9YFMKqdRXsv2qG2C_3hjsSYFtnFYfwNvG4bNQe-0cB5U9NSarr9I1RXa90yoOq3QSCMmzBSCPginXOytnvAm/s1600/sherlock_holmes+-+ads+of+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci-h5xIFexKW6B22LCOFzqSPA7ihes3hWT9-anqOBdo-O__ScalXOzscC9YFMKqdRXsv2qG2C_3hjsSYFtnFYfwNvG4bNQe-0cB5U9NSarr9I1RXa90yoOq3QSCMmzBSCPginXOytnvAm/s640/sherlock_holmes+-+ads+of+the+world.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Sherlock Holmes took a break from reading every now and then.</td></tr>
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But I have to reserve some of my waking hours for family, and baseball, and my health; and for Sherlockian activities that don't involve book reviewing, such as, oh, talking to other Sherlockians online or, when possible, in person; and for books — yes, there are some in the world — that aren't even Sherlockian. Did I mention how far behind I am in watching Sherlockian movies? Nope, haven't seen Ian McKellen yet. Haven't seen Gillette's 1916 wonder. Haven't seen the Petrenko series. Haven't even seen <i>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i>.<br />
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Something went click in my head when I ambled into the dealers' area at <a href="http://scintillation.org/" target="_blank">Scintillation of Scions</a> in Baltimore earlier this summer. There were tables and tables displaying things people wanted me to buy, and they weren't all keychains and candles. Many of them were (and I know this will astonish you) books. The most heavily laden table was that of Maryland's mystery bookstore, <a href="http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/" target="_blank">Mystery Loves Company</a>, and I'm sure they are fine people performing a valuable community service, but when I saw the dozens of lovely unread books spread across their sales space, with appealing cover illustrations and titles designed to whet the Sherlockian appetite for blood, all I could think was: I am never in my lifetime going to be able to read all this stuff, or even find shelf room for it, and I don't know where I would even start.<br />
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I didn't buy any books at Scintillation. I came home to find more books that had chased me down on their own. And I've just checked the web and learned that <a href="http://mxpublishing.com/" target="_blank">MX Publishing</a> alone is promising 32 new Sherlockian titles (at least) in 2015. That's not even counting the three-volume anthology, due this fall, that may be the most important, as well as the biggest, pastiche project anybody has ever attempted.<br />
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Do you know how many new Sherlockian books were published in 1977? Twelve, total, including a Nate the Great title for beginning readers.<br />
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We are in the middle of a boom, a renaissance, a flowering, a flood, an avalanche of books. Some of them are wonderful, some are dumb and tedious, some will be classics, some are cynical attempts to part collectors from their money, some are quietly witty gems, some will change my life if I ever get around to reading them. I just wish I knew which were which.<br />
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<i>Photo credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/epjq3" target="_blank">Bryan Costin (Flickr)</a></i><br />
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What to Do with Too Many Sherlock Holmes Books?

"littered with books" [BRUC] Three new Sherlockian books arrived in the mail last week. A fourth, Elinor Gray's eagerly-...

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by Chris Redmond

Interview with the Secretary General of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India

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"Some of the inhabitants of theIndian Peninsula"[SIGN]</h4>
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It is astounding that like the Norwegian named Sigerson, Sherlock Holmes societies have crossed the four corners of the Earth.  There are societies in Japan, the Czech Republic, Australia, Switzerland, and Uruguay, to name just a few.  For this blog post, we interviewed Jayantika (Jay) Ganguly, the Secretary General of the <a href="http://www.sherlockholmessociety.in/" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Society of India</a>.  We discussed how she became interested in the world's first consulting detective, her book, and of course, her favorite story from the canon.<br />
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<b>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere:  You have been a Sherlock Holmes fan since you were twelve.  How did you discover the World's First Consulting Detective?</b></h4>
<b>Jay Ganguly:</b> Ah, well – pretty much the usual way. My father gave me a battered old copy, and one story down, I was hopelessly in love. Sherlock Holmes does tend to have that effect, doesn’t he?<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  You are the Secretary General and Editor of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India, a scion of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetirregulars.com/" target="_blank">Baker Street Irregulars</a>.  Tell us a little bit about the Society. How was it created? How do you hold your meetings?  Any fun events?</b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SherlockHolmesSocietyOfIndia" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Society of India</a> was founded on May 28, 2001 by Mr. Sumal Surendranath, who is also the President of SHSI. We are primarily an online platform, brought together by our mutual love for Sherlock. Our members are spread across the country and in several cases, the world, so in-person meetings are not really the norm. Most of our discussions/debates and the like are held online. We do have an annual meet, though, and we have it in a different city each year, usually decided by a vote. It’s always the fourth weekend of August.<br />
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This year, we are hosting our annual meet in Kolkata (Calcutta) on August 24 – so if anyone’s planning an India trip around that period, we are always happy to welcome any Sherlockian to our meeting! The only other schedule we follow is our bi-annual release of our e-magazine, “<a href="http://www.sherlockholmessociety.in/2015/05/proceedings-of-pondicherry-lodge-volume.html" target="_blank">Proceedings of the Pondicherry Lodge</a>” – the summer issue is out on June 1 and the winter issue on December 1. Other than that, we don’t really have any specified or pre-scheduled events…but we are a nice, friendly bunch, and we do try to meet up when we are visiting a city where a fellow Sherlockian resides. And we are friends with many (many, many!) absolutely wonderful Sherlockians all over the world.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  You published a book in honor of Sherlock Holmes' 160th birthday called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Holmes-Sutra-Sherlock-Birthday/dp/1780925352" target="_blank">The Holmes Sutra</a></i>.  The book contains two parts, the Mantras and the Mania Quotient Test.  Let's start with the mantras.  How did you devise 160 different sayings and in some cases, rules, about Sherlock Holmes?  Have any of the mantras proven controversial, such as #31 Sherlock Holmes can perform magic. Literally?</b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> Oh, I just picked up Sherlockian things I really liked – the Canon, other books, online fanfiction, films, TV, pretty much everything Sherlockian I’ve laid my eyes on – and, of course, some of my pet theories on him. Controversial? I don’t really think so, but I’m always happy to listen to counter-arguments. Also, I’m a lawyer, so I have back-ups and ready arguments for everything I write.<br />
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Mantra #31 is a reference to that excellent piece of work by Jamyang Norbu – <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mandala-Sherlock-Holmes-Jamyang-Norbu/dp/1582343284" target="_blank">The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes</a></i>. It was one of the earliest pastiches I read – the second one, in fact – and definitely one of my favourites. I’d hate to give out spoilers, but let’s just say that the climax is dramatic, set in mystical Tibet, and witnesses Sherlock Holmes cradling (and using) magic in his long-fingered hands.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: The second part of your book, The Mania Quotient Test is a lot of fun.  I ended up with StockHolmes Syndrome. How did you devise the test?  </b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> I’m not surprised to hear of your StockHolmes Syndrome. I devised the test based on the Sherlockians I knew of by then. (It’s another matter I’d not met any of them by that time; we’d just exchanged emails, and in some cases, it was just hearsay.) So, StockHolmes Syndrome was based on people like <a href="http://www.redcircledc.org/" target="_blank">Peter Blau</a>, <a href="http://rogerjohnsonsreviews.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Roger Johnson</a> and, of course, our own Sumal ji. The next category, Holmesick (which is where I fall) is mostly calibrated to me and Sherlockians at a similar level. Similarly, Holmesaddicted, Sherlocked and Holmesfree came into being. It’s rather arbitrary and based solely on my judgement, if you come to think of it…but I like to imagine that Sherlock helped it along, hence it isn’t too bad a gauge.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: Here is the question we ask all Sherlockians.  If you were stranded on a desert island with one Sherlock holmes story, which would it be and why?</b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> That depends on whether “story” refers to (a) just the Canonical tale, or (b) all known adaptations of the tale.<br />
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If it’s (a), then I’d take <i>The Sign of Four</i>, I think. It is one of my favourites. It is long, so it will keep me entertained for a while. Besides, Sholto’s account might be of some use in giving me ideas on how to escape from the island if I get too bored! Of course, being stuck on an island with only Sherlock Holmes for company…*sigh* (Though I do wish Petr (Kopl) had adapted The Sign of Four into his astounding <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Petr-Kopl/e/B00OBE11BS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" target="_blank">graphic novel series</a>…)<br />
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If it’s (b), I’d go for <i>The Hound of Baskervilles</i> – many more adaptations to go through! There’s even a Hindi movie based on it.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: What are your future projects?</b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> There is a giant book of pastiches in three volumes being compiled by the lovely <a href="http://www.amazon.com/David-Marcum/e/B00K1IKA92/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1434800807&sr=1-1" target="_blank">David Marcum</a> and <a href="http://www.mxpublishing.com/index.html" target="_blank">MX</a>; I’ve got a small Holmesian tale in that. The e-magazine is always at hand, I’d proudly call it my baby. I’ve been thinking about <i>The Holmes Shastra</i> (“Shastra” being “scripture”) – I’d thought to make it a set of syllogisms and stories, but nothing has been penned yet. And now David (Marcum) has put the idea of a set of short stories in my head and it has taken root. Let’s see. I go where Holmes takes me.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  Any last thoughts?</b></h4>
<b>JG:</b> Nothing significant, really – just some random, simpering, fan-girlish thoughts on our beloved detective.<br />
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Many thanks for the brilliant questions, though; I really enjoyed answering them!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jayantika.ganguly?fref=ts" target="_blank">Jayantika Ganguly</a></b> is the Secretary General and Editor of the Sherlock Holmes Society of India.  Her book, <i>The Holmes Sutra</i>, was released from MX publishing in 2014.  Ms. Ganguly is also a corporate lawyer working with one of the top law firms of India, and is based out of Kolkata. She likes to refer to herself as Holmesick, wanderlust-ridden and a bibliophile.<br />
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<i>For more of Derrick Belanger's I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere articles, click <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/Derrick%20Belanger#.VWHEBU9VhBc">here</a>.  To learn more about Derrick Belanger's Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books, click <a href="http://amzn.to/1ct0qc6">here</a>.</i><div>
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