I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes Opens in Denver

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"travelled from town to town through the United States" [STUD]</h4>
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On October 23, the <a href="http://sherlockholmesexhibition.com/" target="_blank">International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes</a> opened at the <a href="http://www.dmns.org/the-international-exhibition-of-sherlock-holmes/" target="_blank">Denver Museum of Nature and Science</a>.  The exhibit is an exceptional recreation of life in Victorian England which includes a recreation of 221B Baker Street, a mystery which you have to solve, a recreation of a crime scene, plus an interesting study of the forensics of the late 19th century. <br />
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We had an opportunity to ask Jodi Schoemer, director of exhibits and digital media, about the display. She said:<br />
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"The techniques the Sherlock Holmes character uses are exactly what scientists use:  observation, knowledge of different science disciplines (chemistry, forensics, medicine, etc.), deductive and inductive reasoning, rigorous experimentation, and drawing conclusions based on observation, objects, and data. This exhibition not only celebrates those techniques, but gives our guests the chance to practice all those skills themselves while in the exhibition.  Sherlock Holmes is one of the greatest popularizer of science techniques of all times, and as a science and nature museum, we think that is a great fit."</blockquote>
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One begins the exhibit in The World of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  When you enter this first room, you are greeted by a video message from Richard Doyle, the grand nephew of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, welcoming you to the exhibit and explaining  the exhibit features.  In this room, you learn about the influences on Doyle's life that led to the creation of Sherlock Holmes.  Artifacts in this room include an original Beecher's Christmas Annual which contains the first publication of a Sherlock Holmes story in <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1599866749" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="67b5fb1af2818bb9f51830a592eb4e81" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="A Study in Scarlet" href="http://www.amazon.com/Study-Scarlet-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1599866749/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=67b5fb1af2818bb9f51830a592eb4e81&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1140397" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Study in Scarlet</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1140397" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=67b5fb1af2818bb9f51830a592eb4e81&_cb=1446912232524" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>.  It is interesting to note that only 11 copies of this magazine exist in the world.  There are also original pages from Doyle's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0486282147" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="7fed9885d3c59fc06c35dbb8f19a1122" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Hound of the Baskervilles" href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486282147/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=7fed9885d3c59fc06c35dbb8f19a1122&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_236223" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_236223" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=7fed9885d3c59fc06c35dbb8f19a1122&_cb=1446912260900" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> manuscript including handwritten notes from the author in the margins.  You also get to know Dr. Joseph Bell, the model for Holmes's deductive reasoning skills, Edgar Allan Poe and his detective Dupin, and some of the crime literature of the time period such as <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1484095960" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="3e0c402fc82c4296e8571d32b3692dc9" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Mystery of the Hansom Cab" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mystery-Hansom-Fergus-Hume/dp/1484095960/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=3e0c402fc82c4296e8571d32b3692dc9&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_9109033" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mystery of a Hansom Cab</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9109033" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=3e0c402fc82c4296e8571d32b3692dc9&_cb=1446912287349" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> which Doyle derisively called, "a swindle."<br />
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The second room of the exhibition is where the science of Sherlock Holmes becomes front and center. This room is a recreation of a Victorian train station and contains various "shops" where you can learn about the ballistics, entomology, photography, optics, and cosmetics of the time period.  Here is where each museum guest receives their detective's notebook, and one uses that notebook for the remainder of the exhibit to help solve a mystery. In this room, one gets to track the trajectory of a bullet, discover that perfume in the time period often contained highly toxic substances, and discover the strict requirements to become a constable at Scotland Yard.<br />
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Once you leave the train station you enter the gem of the show, a recreation of 221B Baker Street. This is a wonderful recreation of Holmes's sitting room, and I probably would have spent hours just going through every piece of the display if I wasn't moving along with the flow of the crowd to the remainder of the exhibit.  In my brief time in the room, I noticed the wax bust of Holmes with the bullet hole in the forehead, the bearskin rug upon the floor, the whaling harpoon, the riding crop, the photograph of "<i>the</i> woman," and even an open container of syringes.  Any Holmes fan <b>must</b> see this room! <br />
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At the very end of the 221B room is the beginning of the mystery.  Holmes requires your assistance, you learn via a Victrola recording. There has been a disturbance at the home of  American newspaperman Izzy Persano. When the police arrived at Persano's home, they found a scene of chaos. A bullet hole was in the wall, a destroyed bust of Napoleon on the floor, drag marks in the sand outside the home as if a body (or bodies) were dragged away. Persano's wife and daughter were nowhere to be found, and Persano himself was found with a head wound, raving incoherently about a worm. There was a seedpod discovered that was in the shape of a worm, but Persano could not indicate if he was referring to the seedpod or something else. It is up to you to go through the crime scene and solve this baffling case. Of course, readers of Sherlock Holmes will note that this is one of the untold tales from the canon, the case of Isadora Persano "<i>the well-known journalist and duellist, who was found stark staring mad with a matchbox in front of him which contained a remarkable worm, said to be unknown to science</i>," as mentioned in the "The Problem of Thor Bridge." <br />
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Next up is the actual crime scene.  Here, one gets to study the the Persano home, check the bullet's trajectory, check the worm-shaped seed pod, and note the pattern of the blood splatter upon the painting on the wall. This then leads to one of the most enjoyable parts of the exhibit, the solving of the mystery by going to another set of shops and stations. In the butcher shop, for example, you study various types of blood splatters to discover what led to the pattern of blood discovered on the wall.  In "The Bank of the Thames" evidence checking station, you use a wheel device with different types of shoes to discover how the tracks were made in the sand.  There is also a penny arcade and a conservatory where one tests evidence. Visitors collect data in their notebooks, draw conclusions, then test their theories at the room's exit. <br />
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After exiting, one comes to the shed where an actor in Victorian costume tells you his theory of what happened at Persano's home. This actor was playing a medicine salesman and his answer had to do with poison. I won't give away the actual reveal, but I will say that it is tough to figure out — near impossible actually — and I found the answer one of the few letdowns of the exhibit. I suppose if Watson's voice were explaining the revelation, it probably would have been much more satisfying. On an interesting note, the mystery was created with the collaboration of Sherlockian scholar <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose13" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daniel Stahower, BSI ("Thurston")</a>.<br />
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The very last part of the exhibit makes up for the reveal.  This is the Sherlock Pop Culture room, with artifacts from advertisements, films, games, shows, and other types of pop culture all featuring Sherlock Holmes.  There are some wonderful artifacts from Sherlock, the two recent Sherlock Holmes films, and the show <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00CL151G4" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="7132eff55a8a32b0d072047741644383" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Elementary" href="http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Season-Jonny-Lee-Miller/dp/B00CL151G4/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=7132eff55a8a32b0d072047741644383&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3292454" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elementary</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3292454" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=7132eff55a8a32b0d072047741644383&_cb=1446912815121" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>.  I enjoyed seeing the Woodstock (from Peanuts) Sherlock Holmes stuffed animal as well as some of the funny advertisements from the 1960s and 70s. <br />
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Overall, this exhibit is a dream come true for any fan of Sherlock Holmes, science, and Victorian culture. Don't miss it!<br />
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The exhibit runs in Denver from October, 23rd, 2015 - January, 31, 2016.  For more information visit the <a href="http://www.dmns.org/the-international-exhibition-of-sherlock-holmes/" target="_blank">Denver Museum of Nature and Science</a> website. <br />
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The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes Opens in Denver

"travelled from town to town through the United States" [STUD] On October 23, the International Exhibition of Sherlock Ho...

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by Belanger Books

His Last Bow — The Power of Women

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"he used to make merry over the cleverness of women" [SCAN]</h4>
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Name two things mentioned in the story "His Last Bow" that wouldn't be there without the achievements of a couple of women most people have never heard of.<br />
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Both back-stories emerge from some research I've been doing (for which, as they say, the world is not yet prepared) about interesting figures of Holmes's era. And let no one think that all the women of that period were either quiet wives, bland royalty, or greedy courtesans. Here, based on that one short story, are two remarkable examples. Both, interestingly, date from the year 1886.<br />
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"the sounds of a distant car" [LAST]</h3>
First, then, the "huge 100-horse-power Benz car" belonging to Baron Von Herling, the secretary of the German legation in London. This vehicle, in 1914, might have been one of the new six-cylinder models, or one of almost two dozen four-cylinder cars the Benz company had produced by that time. Karl Benz (1844-1929) is generally recognized as the inventor of the petroleum-powered automobile, receiving a patent in 1886 for a workable three-wheeled design. <br />
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But the prototype might never have become a marketable car if it were not for the woman. In this case the woman is Bertha Ringer (1849-1944), who had saved Benz's machine shop from bankruptcy with the help of money from her family while she was still his fiancée. They married in 1872, and she continued to be a loyal supporter of his work over the years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bertha Benz on the Patent-Motorwagen, c. 1886 (via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/the.vintage.everyday/photos/a.470957502943384.100739.263420163697120/750586894980442/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Timeless Photos</a>)</td></tr>
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When Karl Benz completed and patented his car in 1886, he had given no thought to publicity and sales. It was Bertha who realized that buyers would not come unless they had a chance to hear about the car and see that it worked. So one morning, without telling her husband, she bundled her teenage sons into the one-and-only Benz car and took off to visit her mother. She sent a telegram to Karl to let him know of her safe arrival at Pforzheim, 65 miles from home in Mannheim. On the way she had to buy fuel from a pharmacy, get a chain mended by a blacksmith, and have leather pads fastened in place to smooth the action of the brakes — in other words, she invented brake linings. And 28 years later, Baron Von Herling was a satisfied customer of Benz thanks to her pioneering effort at marketing.<br />
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"I live and keep bees upon the South Downs" [LAST]</h3>
The other item in "His Last Bow" that could hardly exist without a woman's work is Sherlock Holmes's own alleged book, the fruit of pensive nights and laborious days: <i>Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with Some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen</i>. Perhaps Holmes really did write a volume on beekeeping — perhaps. Or perhaps what he jestingly showed off to Watson was the definitive book on that topic, published in 1886 under the catchy title <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-About-Bees-Principles-Bee-Keeping/dp/1330730836/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=32433db049441b050a7e19ca157b5578&linkCode=ktl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>A Book about Bees:</i> </a><i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1330730836" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="32433db049441b050a7e19ca157b5578" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Their History, Habits, and Instincts; Together with the First Principles of Modern Bee-Keeping" href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-About-Bees-Principles-Bee-Keeping/dp/1330730836/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=32433db049441b050a7e19ca157b5578&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_404992" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Their History, Habits, and Instincts; Together with the First Principles of Modern Bee-Keeping</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_404992" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=32433db049441b050a7e19ca157b5578&_cb=1446786029409" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>.<br />
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If Holmes did keep bees, he surely had this volume near at hand. Written by the Rev. F. G. Jenyns, it was "published at the request, and under the sanction, of the British Bee-Keepers' Association", and came with an introduction written by the long-time president of that association, Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906).<br />
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She was a granddaughter of Thomas Coutts, the millionaire banker, and spent her life giving much of her inherited wealth to charity, including a home for women escaping "a life of immorality", church schools, projects to relieve suffering in Africa and Borneo, and social housing. The Bee-Keepers' Association was only one of her enthusiasms; she also served as president of the British Goat Society and was a founder of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She also paid for Edinburgh's landmark fountain and statue of the dog Greyfriars Bobby. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I like goats as well as bees. You have a problem with that?"</td></tr>
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In 1871 she was made a baroness, becoming the first woman in modern times to receive a peerage in her own right, becoming  Baroness Burdett-Coutts. And at age 67 she married William Bartlett, her American-born secretary, who was 29.<br />
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Two women with remarkable achievements, both of them reflected in a single tale of Sherlock Holmes. Who knew?<br />
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His Last Bow — The Power of Women

"he used to make merry over the cleverness of women" [SCAN] Name two things mentioned in the story "His Last Bow" t...

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by Chris Redmond

Remembering Our Very First Time

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"You will excuse me, however, if I speak frankly to you." [DANC]</h4>
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Early November marks an exciting time in our own Sherlockian calendar. This is historically the time of year that we find out about the specifics of the Baker Street Irregulars Weekend.</div>
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The annual gathering in New York City happens every January (as it has for over 70 years), with Sherlock Holmes devotees assembling from all over the world. The Weekend — and really, it's more than a weekend, with events starting as early as Wednesday — is open to all interested Sherlockians and is something of a movable feast as attendees east and drink their way through New York. We'll be updating <a href="http://bsiweekend.com/" target="_blank">the BSI Weekend website</a> soon with all of the official information and reservation forms, so stay tuned for that.</div>
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While the BSI Dinner is still an invitation-only affair, the rest of the weekend is as inclusive an event as anyone can imagine. Whether you're attending for the first time or the 51st time, you're greeted with open arms and plentiful introductions to other like-minded individuals. </div>
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We've heard many fellow Sherlockians say that to them, the BSI Weekend is something of a second Christmas. The prospect of connecting and reconnecting with so many friends from cities and years past, as well as from online interactions, is really what our little hobby is all about.</div>
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So we hope you'll indulge us this personal memory of the very first BSI Dinner invitation we received from Tom Stix, "Wiggins" of the BSI at the time. It arrived exactly 20 years ago today and our excitement is still just as strong today as it was then.</div>
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But you don't need an invitation to attend the Weekend events overall. We hope you'll make your own plans to descend on New York and join your fellow revelers at the oldest and most expansive annual Sherlockian event.</div>
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<div>
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere will be covering the BSI Weekend, capturing images, sounds and impressions that we'll be sharing in January and February of 2016. Perhaps we'll see you there!</div>
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--</div>
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<br /></div>

Remembering Our Very First Time

"You will excuse me, however, if I speak frankly to you." [DANC] Early November marks an exciting time in our own Sherlocki...

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by Scott Monty

Help Us Create the Ultimate Sherlockian Gift Guide

<h4 style="text-align: center;">"I think that I could be of assistance to you." [BLUE]</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyEWQjnFPNlUHhp88YrdWrKaRlp8EI5gAd2kNW7Z2XKHC-s6QfGDk0TwTyMIf_ygBCiNRnRPOj6pa88_APmsCFnCnOd7QIDQZpXL_WhiUzzcZH3ufGS263dYoGk03IsmYS-PXoyUUTvc6/s1600/BLUE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyEWQjnFPNlUHhp88YrdWrKaRlp8EI5gAd2kNW7Z2XKHC-s6QfGDk0TwTyMIf_ygBCiNRnRPOj6pa88_APmsCFnCnOd7QIDQZpXL_WhiUzzcZH3ufGS263dYoGk03IsmYS-PXoyUUTvc6/s640/BLUE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
In the next audio episode of <a href="http://ihose.co/ihoseshows" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a>, we'll be discussing the best holiday gifts of the season for Sherlockians.<br />
<br />
Rather than relying on the limited knowledge and taste of Burt and Scott, we thought we'd throw the doors open to you, dear reader, and get your suggestions for Sherlockian gifts this year. Embedded below you'll find a form to submit your ideas for books, videos, ephemera, etc. of what you'd like to see appear in your Persian slipper.<br />
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On the show, we'll compile the results and have a great discussion about the suggestions. And who knows? We might even invite you on if we want to hear more about your gift idea.<br />
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Help Us Create the Ultimate Sherlockian Gift Guide

"I think that I could be of assistance to you." [BLUE] In the next audio episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere , we'll be ...

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by Scott Monty

Stan Lee of Marvel Fame and Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"Compound of the Busy Bee and Excelsior" [CREE]</h4>
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<br />
You're probably familiar with Stan Lee's work, as the Marvel universe continues to have its day in the sun. Lee is probably most famous for creating Spider-Man, but he's behind other Marvel wonders such as the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, X-Men and more.<br />
<br />
In a recent article in the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>, "<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwj3xOX4zObIAhVIcj4KHRFHBpI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fstan-lee-comic-superhero-1445612633&usg=AFQjCNE8HKCLa1Rvua4pvEx_QgETT7lmrg&sig2=fJYISzt-_4K-F-9Epv5nPg" target="_blank">Stan Lee, Comic Superhero</a>" (possible paywall), Lee talked about his life as part of a promotional tour for his latest comic book <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1501107720" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="1ec8eec6ff6ae4a0a30f09cac3b17a7b" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Amazing Fantastic Incredible" href="https://amzn.to/36kyxW1" id="amznPsBmLink_120630" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazing Fantastic Incredible</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_120630" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=1ec8eec6ff6ae4a0a30f09cac3b17a7b&_cb=1446084849279" style="border: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 0px;" width="0" /></i> — which is actually his biography.<br />
<br />
He talked about his childhood, in which he loved to read. This excerpt particularly struck us:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>
"One of his favorite presents was a bookstand he could keep on the table so that he could read during dinner. He was especially inspired by Sherlock Holmes."</b></blockquote>
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<br />
How fascinating! It made us want to dig a little deeper and determine where there might have been some overlap between the Marvel universe and Sherlock Holmes. We're not comic book experts, so we may need your help on this one, dear readers.<br />
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The first obvious stop was the Marvel Preview two-part feature of <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, published in 1976.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WKsQqEhp9gXxLhY0JyPKrR0jCo_GvTRiZ_MYsv35X3Si5MAgLyqiy-Q8AcRDoA3pBalqma_UR2wBse-qv_AcgQW5B6ZsJTLTLyt7ddlPOSfBJQWed966_bCCAy8R9QDAXfdw9puDK_hS/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+-+Marvel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WKsQqEhp9gXxLhY0JyPKrR0jCo_GvTRiZ_MYsv35X3Si5MAgLyqiy-Q8AcRDoA3pBalqma_UR2wBse-qv_AcgQW5B6ZsJTLTLyt7ddlPOSfBJQWed966_bCCAy8R9QDAXfdw9puDK_hS/s320/Sherlock+Holmes+-+Marvel.jpg" width="236" /></a>     <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuyJ_IrABrOeJjPhGITWDVmXq6m4qxoA_vz1BGHV6-i3lbf2_EPCXF4k1u7ef8gFmVInyayr-KUSljmnSDhwh_10XqJoCsEDVGVRdTDCKxRm3aopnSNAMxYHvwZSxHF2f0IyztUgZ9ow1/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+-+Marvel+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuyJ_IrABrOeJjPhGITWDVmXq6m4qxoA_vz1BGHV6-i3lbf2_EPCXF4k1u7ef8gFmVInyayr-KUSljmnSDhwh_10XqJoCsEDVGVRdTDCKxRm3aopnSNAMxYHvwZSxHF2f0IyztUgZ9ow1/s320/Sherlock+Holmes+-+Marvel+2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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Then, of course, we turned to our old friend Jerry Margolin, the sine qua non of Sherlockian art collectors, has some original Sherlockian artwork of Will Eisner. Stan Lee was the 1994 recipient of the Will Eisner award. But more importantly, Jerry (who was our guest on <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose16" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 16</a>) has this image of Spider-Man in a deerstalker and Inverness cape:<br />
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Now we turn to Sherlock Holmes impersonators. In doing so we find that Robert Downey, Jr. has played Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) in a number of Marvel films and Benedict Cumberbatch is playing Dr. Strange in an upcoming movie.<br />
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And our final connection is a trifling one, but as Sherlock Holmes said, "there is nothing so important as <a href="http://sherlockholmespodcast.com">trifles</a>." [TWIS]  In his monthly column in the 1960s, Lee would sign off with his trademark motto, "Excelsior!" While it is also the New York State motto, we can't deny that the phrase also made its way into the Canon in "The Adventure of the Creeping Man," with this exchange between Holmes and Watson, respectively:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Have you the effrontery necessary to put it through?"<br />
"We can but try."<br />
"Excellent, Watson! Compound of the Busy Bee and Excelsior. We can but try - the motto of the firm. A friendly native will surely guide us."</blockquote>
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Coincidence?<br />
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Have we missed any Marvel references that may provide more clues to Stan Lee's early inspiration? Do let us know in the comments section.<br />
<br /><br />Also see:</div><div><a href="https://ihose.co/2Q1715W" target="_blank">Remembering Stan Lee</a><br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/9NgD6b" target="_blank">Gage Skidmore (Flickr)</a></i><br />
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Stan Lee of Marvel Fame and Sherlock Holmes

"Compound of the Busy Bee and Excelsior" [CREE] You're probably familiar with Stan Lee's work, as the Marvel universe...

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by Scott Monty

The Horror of Holmes: The House of Pain

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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"a story for which the world is not yet prepared" [SUSS] </h4>
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With the Halloween season upon us, it is a perfect time for reading horror stories. Some people forget that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had a rich voice in tales of terror ( I have my own collection of them in <a href="http://amzn.to/1Hhq9xK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural</i></a>),but he tended to leave that voice out of his Sherlock Holmes stories. The great detective did have horror elements in some of his adventures, but Doyle, with the exception of "The Creeping Man," always grounded Holmes in reality. Of course, some authors have ignored Holmes rule of "no ghosts nee apply," and have created Sherlock Holmes / horror crossover stories. These are great reads for the month of October, and if you are looking for a fun, new crossover tale of Holmes terror, I highly recommend the new book <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P1Ta8C" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the House of Pain</a></i> from author Stephen Seitz.<br />
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I had the opportunity to interview Stephen via email about his new Holmes novel, his other works, and his favorite Holmes tale.<br />
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<h4>
<b>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P1Ta8C" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the The House of Pain</a></i> is a rip snorting page turner of a book, part mystery and part gothic horror that blends two of Doyle's creations (Holmes and Challenger) along with one of Wells (Moreau).  How did you devise and create this genre crossover story? </b></h4>
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<b>Stephen Sietz:</b> You can blame my wife. She teaches English at Landmark College (the only college in the U.S. devoted to helping learning disabled students), and she sometimes uses <i>The Island of Dr. Moreau</i> in her science fiction classes. That led me to reading it again for the first time since high school, and I saw its potential right away.</div>
<br />
Several things struck me about Wells’ story. First and foremost, it fits nicely into Sherlockian chronology. Obviously, you can’t date a story when Holmes and Watson are clearly doing something else. The other thing, of course, is that Moreau’s experiments and progress developed over time. Moreau said he’d been betrayed by a lab assistant, and the subject of a sensational pamphlet. Immediately, I realized that Holmes must have been that assistant, and the pamphlet written by Holmes’ sleazeball journalist friend, Langdale Pike. Thus, Holmes encounters Moreau at different stages of his research.<br />
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The young Challenger came into the picture because I needed a worthy conflict. Dr. Moreau may have been a monster, but how different were his goals from those of modern medicine? Challenger sees the possibilities in Moreau’s work, whereas Holmes only remembers the evil. Moreau simply didn’t have the patience for the usual protocols, because they were getting in his way. I also needed to explain how Moreau could even have his own island and all that specialized equipment. Thus, the Moreau family financial empire.<br />
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Finally, everyone likes a good, solid chase, and I’ve never seen one using cargo ships before. What’s the point of writing if you can’t have some fun?<br />
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<h4>
<b>IHOSE:  You have also made two other Holmes crossover novels. <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1irbEB0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula</a></i> puts Holmes in Stoker's world. Your novella <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1XFw60K" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Never Meant to Be</a></i> crosses aspects of Wells <i>Time Machine</i> with the Sherlockian universe. What is it that appeals to you about blending Holmes with other characters from Sci-fi and horror literature?</b></h4>
<b>SS:</b> I suppose because I have been reading those genres since high school. I discovered Holmes and Dracula as a high school freshman, and have been hooked on Victorian literature ever since, especially tales of the fantastic. (Thanks for your Conan Doyle <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=conan%20doyle%20supernatural&linkCode=ur2&tag=derrickbelanger-20&linkId=MFZQ2AWD26QZ7PD6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">supernatural books</a>, by the way. The shadow of Sherlock Holmes often obscures too much of ACD's other work. As far as I'm concerned, you've done a great public service.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeFUFi2-FOSYIdUH6Opy4TV_BRejWwlRjM0MQXZmiJUyX5tzHIqz6JpuGUdFbwMmph2Y1C6rq-XJ_vg8mMvwQC1xaSIbxAQcBEV52jCrUWZranFAGkGkRpLK7uPh_2f6L4l8ZAn_9IuOp/s1600/Seitz+-+Draculua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeFUFi2-FOSYIdUH6Opy4TV_BRejWwlRjM0MQXZmiJUyX5tzHIqz6JpuGUdFbwMmph2Y1C6rq-XJ_vg8mMvwQC1xaSIbxAQcBEV52jCrUWZranFAGkGkRpLK7uPh_2f6L4l8ZAn_9IuOp/s320/Seitz+-+Draculua.jpg" width="206" /></a>I like to think that putting Holmes in a different environment challenges him more as a detective.<br />
<br />
There is also the choice of which universe. <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula</i> is in the Sherlockian universe. <i>Sherlock Holmes and the The House of Pain</i> in is Wells'.<br />
<br />
My first, <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula</i>, evolved over 20 years. I first had the idea back in either high school or college (that’s how far back this goes), but then I read Loren Estleman’s and Fred Saberhagen’s takes on the Holmes-Dracula idea, and figured nobody would bother publishing mine. But working on it was a pleasant hobby, and after 250 pages or so piled up, I had it professionally edited.<br />
<br />
The beauty of that story is that Stoker lays the chronology out down to the minute, and all I had to do was fill the gaps in. After nearly 10 years in print, I can say I’ve been successful.<br />
<br />
<i>Never Meant to Be</i> just sort of happened. I love time travel stories, and Cynthia Kenyon showed up and wanted her story to be told. Again, the obvious gateway to the Victorian era was through H.G. Wells’ time machine, and, since we all know that Professor Moriarty was one of the great mathematicians of the Victorian age, why not give him a little more academic credibility and have him develop time theory? I knocked that book off in six weeks. I never do that.<br />
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<h4>
<b>IHOSE: Out of curiosity, have you ever written a traditional Holmes pastiche?  </b></h4>
<b>SS: </b>The problem with the traditional pastiche is that there’s little room for originality. How many times can Holmes chase Jack the Ripper? How many royal conspiracies can readers stand?<br />
<br />
The only way I know around it is to bring Holmes and Watson into actual historical events. I have a couple of stories I put aside because they just weren’t working. There was an assassination in Ireland in the 1880s, for instance, that should have been ideal, but had there really been a Sherlock Holmes, the outcome might have been far different, and I can’t rewrite history.<br />
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<br />
There is also the question of which Holmes do we want to use? The young detective on the rise? The beekeeper called from retirement? (Remember “His Last Bow.”) Or the old man in the twilight of life, his powers fading, but maybe up to one more challenge? (Kudos, incidentally, to<i> Mr. Holmes</i>. Ian McKellan may well be the first actor to be nominated for an Oscar for playing Sherlock Holmes.)<br />
<br />
Were I a better known author, I could get permission from the Dashiell Hammett estate for <i>The Adventure of the Maltese Falcon</i>, which would be terrific, and the James Bond-Holmes novel I outlined long ago will never see the light of day for the same reason.<br />
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What can I say? I love crossovers.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: You have another detective series, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P1VcWf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ace Herron Mysteries</a></i>.  Tell us a little about that contemporary series?  Does Doyle have any influence on your modern detective writing?</b></h4>
<b>SS:</b> Ace came about for several reasons. One thing I can’t stand is that modern writers don’t know how news organizations work. They don’t do the first thing to get the authenticity right, and I am heartily sick of female reporters sleeping with people just to get information for a story. That is one cliche which simply has to be squashed. My colleagues are not rapacious sluts. It is instructive that, in over 100 years of cinema, only two films I know of got it right: <i>All the President’s Men</i>, and Jack Webb’s <i>-30-</i>.<br />
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<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00LI9EZK8" class="amzn_ps_bm_il" data-amzn-link-id="5828092ebb29e454c2cc63db43e36793" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="terror strikes downtown" href="http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Strikes-Downtown-Herron-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00LI9EZK8/ref=as_li_bk_ia/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=5828092ebb29e454c2cc63db43e36793&linkCode=kia" id="amznPsBmLink_6223705" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_hNb-O_3-vYAMZ_RRK8UieCS-D7-a0JSuL_8-RLUBEe9W-nvvH9K_8nm9hZnwCsfh017Vg4GEijv9ZuwltPtqynwARFUwcErV3MZlphCF2uf6CYpFANbSLZWJq0CRpZFIixpHOM6QwGE/s320/Seitz+-+Terror.jpg" width="213" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6223705" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=kia&linkId=5828092ebb29e454c2cc63db43e36793&_cb=1446237945236" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></div>
I've been a journalist for nearly 20 years, and a lot of that is crime reporting. Add that to the fact that newspapers today are being run as profit centers rather than public service organizations, and what you have is the perfect setting for conflict: the reporters want to do their jobs properly, but the only thing management ever cares about is how much something costs. They sure as hell don’t care about their employees, and no one’s job is safe. Thus, The Valentinian combines the worst aspects of every paper where I've worked. I have used real office incidents in the Ace Herron books.<br />
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I decided to write the stories as they would likely play out in real life, so that doesn’t leave much room for Holmes-like deductions. When I follow criminal cases in real life, I do pretty much what the cops do: talk to as many people as I can to get to know the nature of the event and the people involved. I recall one missing persons case (which became a murder case) where the cops actually left the victim’s car unlocked in her garage. I tossed it  for evidence. The difference between fiction and real life is that in fiction, Ace would have found something. I have, in real life, assisted law enforcement and even put a rapist in jail.<br />
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Due to the fact that book publishers put more and more of the burden of sales and promotion on the author, I publish these myself through CreateSpace. That way, I know who to blame for slow sales.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one Sherlock Holmes story, which would it be and why?</b></h4>
<b>SS:</b> <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, of course. It's my introduction to the Sherlockian universe.<br />
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I was a freshman in high school, and doing homework in the library until I got bored, and so I checked out <i>Hound</i>. I didn’t put it down until 2 a.m. After that I was hooked on Holmes, and then Victorian literature, for life.<br />
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One thing I didn’t know at the time was that Hound represented Holmes’ return from the dead. There is a certain energy and descriptive quality in that novel which makes it stand out. I wonder how Conan Doyle felt as he wrote the story. Did he feel defeat at the fact that he couldn’t keep Holmes dead? Did he feel some elation at being able to write Holmes one more time? Also, 1902, I recall is the year that Conan Doyle became Sir Arthur. I realize the official reason was his writings on the potential of submarines for warfare, but was that the real reason? Could King Edward VII have been a Holmes fan? We’ll probably never know.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: What are your upcoming projects?</b></h4>
<b>SS:</b> I have completed the third Ace Herron book, titled <i>Presumed Dead</i>. This story intertwines the lives of the Valentinian’s reporters with those of the missing persons cases we all have to cover from time to time. I think it’s got my best twist ending, but the manuscript hasn’t been edited yet.<br />
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I hope I will have successfully conveyed the agony of a missing person’s loved ones; these stories are heartbreakers, because as long as someone is missing, there is always an iota of hope that he might come back alive, the war between what the heart wants and what the head knows is probable.<br />
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There are those who will ask if I based the story on the disappearance of Tina and Bethany Sinclair, a mother and daughter who vanished in 2001. I have not. One thing which sets this case apart is that everyone knows the name of the person likely responsible, but there is just no solid evidence tying him to the crime. But there is also no one else who could have done it.<br />
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I am currently writing a time travel tale centered around the Civil War, one of my lifelong fascinations. In it, we ponder what might have happened had the South won the war, and how my protagonist tries to reset the timeline.<br />
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In my dystopia, the Confederate states have evolved into something like South Africa under apartheid; sooner or later, they’d have had to give up slavery just to be able to participate in international commerce. But the South winning was not the way the timeline was supposed to be, and this leads to ruptures in the space time continuum, which leads to many other problems. I am toying with a love triangle across 150 years, but I don’t know how that will go just yet.<br />
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I am also brewing a Sherlock Holmes-themed Ace Herron story, mainly for the purpose of bringing Ace to a wider audience. But that doesn’t mean I’ll do less than my best.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: Any last thoughts?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>SS:</b> Just some advice to aspiring writers: you have to keep putting one word in front of the other until things start making sense. Don’t say “I want to become a writer,” as if all there is to it is soaking your hands in warm water for a while and the words will magically appear. Writing is discipline, writing is hard work, it takes some basic native talent to begin with.<br />
<br />
The two books you need are Stephen King’s <i>On Writing</i>, and the <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B000F73XSY" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="dbb547c3ad70bed32c18ad947a7b9bdf" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="strunk and white elements of style third" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Style-Third-Edition/dp/B000F73XSY/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=dbb547c3ad70bed32c18ad947a7b9bdf&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_5786397" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strunk and White Elements of Style</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5786397" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=dbb547c3ad70bed32c18ad947a7b9bdf&_cb=1446238165417" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />,</i> third edition. (There is one edition that imposes politically correct gender-free thinking on language, a book best left forgotten.)<br />
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Also, read, read, and then read some more. Especially if my name is on the cover.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1XFyXqG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Stephen Seitz</b></a> is an author, journalist, and talk show host based in Vermont. He has covered news in the upper Connecticut River Valley for nearly 20 years; his journalism and cinema commentary have appeared in a number of northern New England newspapers, including the <i>New Hampshire Union Leader</i>. The better-known people Steve has interviewed include James Earl Jones, Jerry Lewis, an original cast member of every <i>Star Trek</i> series, former presidential candidates Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman and Wesley Clark, Sen. George McGovern, and authors Jodi Picoult and Dennis Lehane, among many others. <br />
<br />
A lifelong Sherlock Holmes enthusiast, <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula</i>, evolved over a period of more than 20 years and is Steve's first novel. Steve's next Sherlock-themed effort, published by MX Publishing in London, is <i>Never Meant to Be</i>, the story of a 21st century woman who travels to London in the year 1882 and becomes entangled in the world of Sherlock Holmes, not to mention catching the eye of Dr. John Watson. Steve just published <i>Sherlock Holmes and the House of Pain,</i> updating the world on the Giant Rat of Sumatra.<br />
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As a collaborator, Steve worked with the late Oliver Douglas on his posthumous memoir, <i>God Made Me Rich</i>.<br />
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--<br />
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The Horror of Holmes: The House of Pain

"a story for which the world is not yet prepared" [SUSS] With the Halloween season upon us, it is a perfect time for readi...

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by Belanger Books

Episode 83: Art in the Blood

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"the sister of Vernet, the French artist" [GREE]</h4>
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Did you ever have a chance to talk with someone with whom you immediately felt a connection? That's exactly how Bonnie MacBird impressed us when we chatted with her about her new book <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> in this latest interview episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.</div>
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From her most amazing experience on her recent book tour to her first meeting with Sherlock Holmes (at a remarkable age!), to how she found her inspiration for the novel, Bonnie shares her very considered and unique perspective on the immortal detective. Listen in to hear about an artist's temperament and how it affects the craft, including her other mediums, and how she intended to bring Sherlock Holmes to her readers through her own personal Sherlockian inspirations.</div>
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Our Gas Lamp is inspired by a comment from Nick Martorelli and is taken from <i>The Baker Street Journal</i> Vol. 6, No. 3 (1956), in which Edgar Smith wrote "On Canonicity."</div>
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Listen closely and you may hear who our next interview guest is. And remain on the lookout for our regular Easter Egg feature.<br />
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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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And thank you to Mary Miller and Christian Mongaard for your extraordinary support!<br />
<br />
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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Notes:</h3>
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1:33 Hi!<br />
2:32 Revisiting the new show format<br />
3:30 An introduction to Bonnie MacBird<br />
4:37 Beginning our conversation with Bonnie<br />
6:00 Bonnie's favorite moment from the tour<br />
26:35 An important message<br />
37:01 Bonnie's annotations and artwork<br />
46.02 What it means to be a "professional enthusiast"<br />
49:30 Bonnie's next signing at Stanford<br />
51:25 The Editor's Gas Lamp<br />
58:15 A sincere thank you<br />
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<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock083.mp3" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 30.4 MB, 1:05:00</h4>
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Links:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://macbird.com/" target="_blank">Bonnie MacBird's website</a></li>
<li>Follow Bonnie MacBird on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/macbird" target="_blank">@macbird</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/10/one-area-in-which-dr-watson-excelled.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The post about Stephen Fry's retirement from QI</a></li>
<li><a href="http://aitbnotes.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bonnie's "Klingeresque" annotations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/products/bonnie-macbird-art-in-the-blood-limited-edition" target="_blank">The limited edition from Otto Penzler</a>, including artwork by Bonnie MacBird </li>
<li>The <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Patreon</a> page</li>
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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 />
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<a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a> (check out the <i><a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/dreams.html" target="_blank">Dreams of Future Past: The Science Fiction Worlds of Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells</a></i>) and <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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Episode 83: Art in the Blood

"the sister of Vernet, the French artist" [GREE] Did you ever have a chance to talk with someone with whom you immedi...

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by Scott Monty

ComicFlix Creates a New Take On Old Sherlock Holmes Stories

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"They were converted to this idea" - [VALL]</h4>
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Sherlock Holmes is no stranger to the world of comics, but <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-39-world-s-first-video-to-comic-book#/" target="_blank">ComicFlix’s Project 39 on Indiegogo</a> has a new take on the old stories. ComicFlix’s team has developed the technology to take the <a href="http://amzn.to/1MOV6ey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1954 Sherlock Holmes series starring Ronald Howard</a> and convert it to 39 separate graphic novels, one for each episode of the classic show. This isn’t just a simple retelling of the old stories, but the world’s first conversion of film into comics.<br />
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Olyvia Rakshit grew up with a set of 25 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin" target="_blank">Tintin</a> comic books as her most prized possession. Many years later, her seven year-old daughter imagined a way to convert books into movies. Being an engineer, Rakshit’s wheels began to turn, and she imagined doing the opposite of her daughter’s idea: turning movies into books. As an ardent Sherlock Holmes fan, she knew just what she wanted to adapt first.<br />
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She quit her job at a large tech company and created <a href="http://www.comicflix.com/" target="_blank">ComicFlix</a>, a company that now employs engineers in the U.S., India, Canada and throughout Europe. Her team has developed software that creates images that look hand drawn from video frames and puts 100% of the dialog from a film or television show into the appropriate frames with the characters.  A team of editors and illustrators then validate and edit the art and text as needed to put a finishing touch on the pages of the graphic novel.<br />
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ComicFlix named its inaugural endeavor <b>Project 39</b> for the number of episodes there were in the 1954 Sherlock Holmes series with Ronald Howard and Marion Crawford. They plan to convert all 39 episodes into the comic format, each issue running around 50 pages, and have them available for purchase digitally or in book format. Rakshit says that if there are enough orders, they hope to have all 39 issues available within the next 3-4 months, an unheard of feat in the comics industry. <br />
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You can back this project on <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-39-world-s-first-video-to-comic-book#/" target="_blank">their Indiegogo page</a> as well as pre-order 1, 5, 10 or even all 39 issues of the new series. Rakshit and her team plan have plans past Sherlock Holmes, with licenses to create video-to-comics for Zorro titles as well as The Three Stooges in the future. But she has a special place in her heart for the great detective.  She wants Sherlock Holmes fans to know that they are onto something big.<br />
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<b>With enough backers, their hero could be the world’s first video-to-comics hero. </b><br />
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What do you say, fellow Sherlockian? Are you in?<br />
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ComicFlix Creates a New Take On Old Sherlock Holmes Stories

"They were converted to this idea" - [VALL] Sherlock Holmes is no stranger to the world of comics, but ComicFlix’s Project 39...

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by Rob Nunn

Elementary Season 4 Is Coming

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"I call him father, though it sounds funny" [IDEN]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDJRJQ32lnb51KAryggqBA6P8R1bm4tRU4kOJHFIWXdK3fXcexhBHSfMzGTxFPp979YV60KQNqJJpSBHLNmSLdQ1N-S2ZYJi3cza7Bsz-JrE1XWfEwiBrIXuCXeGCnNXGVp8O5wcNdVy8/s1600/Elementary-S4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDJRJQ32lnb51KAryggqBA6P8R1bm4tRU4kOJHFIWXdK3fXcexhBHSfMzGTxFPp979YV60KQNqJJpSBHLNmSLdQ1N-S2ZYJi3cza7Bsz-JrE1XWfEwiBrIXuCXeGCnNXGVp8O5wcNdVy8/s640/Elementary-S4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On November 5, CBS will air the first episode of Season 4 of <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00CL151G4" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="24977c896f88c8ebcbbc3e195a23b61f" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Elementary" href="http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Season-Jonny-Lee-Miller/dp/B00CL151G4/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=24977c896f88c8ebcbbc3e195a23b61f&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_594977" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elementary</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_594977" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=24977c896f88c8ebcbbc3e195a23b61f&_cb=1445955567983" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, titled "The Past Is Parent." Fans have been awaiting this episode since the conclusion of Season 3 ("A Controlled Descent") in which Holmes's friend and former recovery sponsor disappeared and Joan told Holmes that his father would be coming to town to help him patch up his life.<br />
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Of course there's great intrigue over <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/elementary/news/1004309/john-noble-to-play-sherlock-holmes-father-on-elementary/" target="_blank">John Noble joining the cast as patriarch Morland Holmes</a>. The elder Holmes arrives in New York to help with the criminal charges in the aftermath of his son's violent behavior and relapse. It will be intriguing to see how much we learn about Holmes Sr. and his relationship with Sherlock. Season 4 opens with "The Past Is Parent," but it isn't clear how many episodes beyond the opener will feature Noble.<br />
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While many characters such as Mycroft, Lestrade, Moriarty and more, are taken from the Canon, we never had the opportunity to meet Sherlock Holmes's parents. We've seen interpretations or glimpses of them in such productions as <i>Sherlock</i> or <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B009INAE3I" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="052afff40993ae1f16a91135ce8a0d70" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Seven Per-Cent Solution" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Seven-Per-Cent-Solution-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B009INAE3I/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=052afff40993ae1f16a91135ce8a0d70&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3463558" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Seven Per-Cent Solution</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3463558" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=052afff40993ae1f16a91135ce8a0d70&_cb=1445956456800" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, and a spinning of them from whole cloth in William Baring-Gould's <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B0014YL4WY" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="a2e4ee6a4efdd29f0bc910c834527ee7" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street" href="http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Caldecott-Greenaway-Historical-Baring-Gould/dp/B0014YL4WY/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=a2e4ee6a4efdd29f0bc910c834527ee7&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7506600" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_7506600" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=a2e4ee6a4efdd29f0bc910c834527ee7&_cb=1445956442937" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, but we know absolutely nothing of them in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.<br />
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What do you think? Are you looking forward to another season of one of CBS's most popular shows? How do you think the father/son relationship will play out?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EMt1g4qmBR8dVnRZYsJ6lPhnm9nvvGpRJvAEPnjgyN2lZoJNp_fT63we4GLhRi-ov3QNAj8kCPBBgRD1kpLPFcXhVpUuRQiGwGcktaTXfdnk-SvT32jZb_OCP0yH2KQITRTkSJUrlXkl/s1600/Elementary-S4+promo+Joan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EMt1g4qmBR8dVnRZYsJ6lPhnm9nvvGpRJvAEPnjgyN2lZoJNp_fT63we4GLhRi-ov3QNAj8kCPBBgRD1kpLPFcXhVpUuRQiGwGcktaTXfdnk-SvT32jZb_OCP0yH2KQITRTkSJUrlXkl/s320/Elementary-S4+promo+Joan.jpg" width="206" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk8ViJTkdfcD4MJ3LR8zfNnOeHkxxdLe3h_0Lh_FLQgKa5reMAUQcbbEaqOxFPaQ2_UbMZ0ucM7RegZ4K_U5vDPeRoMqykbVrTLROBKretM4_JX0HPTPBx2iJFZKvOzDakXEc2gxg4wpC/s1600/Elementary-S4+promo+Sherlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk8ViJTkdfcD4MJ3LR8zfNnOeHkxxdLe3h_0Lh_FLQgKa5reMAUQcbbEaqOxFPaQ2_UbMZ0ucM7RegZ4K_U5vDPeRoMqykbVrTLROBKretM4_JX0HPTPBx2iJFZKvOzDakXEc2gxg4wpC/s320/Elementary-S4+promo+Sherlock.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click images to enlarge</span></i></div>
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<b>Shop for <i>Elementary</i> on Amazon and support our site:</b><br />
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<br />

Elementary Season 4 Is Coming

"I call him father, though it sounds funny" [IDEN] On November 5, CBS will air the first episode of Season 4 of Elementary , ...

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by Scott Monty

Extended Sherlock Special Trailer and Theatrical Screening

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"an investigation which had extended" [REIG]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTRJ91AU5QGU00cOiUmP0OO0jJjIF3w6KEdsUhyphenhyphenBEneMFKHn27JyqR2dCYs94Gs3uKlT-dyeH50mJnRQRKG_wm4bRCw15S5Y_dRTFhoXOuvyvRP7cogrtj03S7mdyn6rfTDp18wWr1xr6/s1600/sherlock-special-hires-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTRJ91AU5QGU00cOiUmP0OO0jJjIF3w6KEdsUhyphenhyphenBEneMFKHn27JyqR2dCYs94Gs3uKlT-dyeH50mJnRQRKG_wm4bRCw15S5Y_dRTFhoXOuvyvRP7cogrtj03S7mdyn6rfTDp18wWr1xr6/s640/sherlock-special-hires-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Over the weekend, <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/10/breaking-sherlock-special-air-date.html#.Vi73jPmrTb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we shared the announcement</a> that the upcoming <i>Sherlock</i> special would air on the same date in the US and the UK — something fans have been clamoring for since the very first series. (Because who among us on the western side of the pond hasn't tried a VPN or other IP address workaround to log into streaming British video services?)<br />
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The trailer included with that announcement was ostensibly the same as the one released earlier in the month, but with the air date and the title of the episode included. "The Abominable Bride" is reminiscent of one of Watson's unpublished cases, "Ricoletti of the club foot and his abominable wife," as mentioned in "The Musgrave Ritual." We have yet to see just how much of the Canon is included in this special, aside from "The game is afoot" and a purple dressing gown.<br />
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An updated  and extended trailer as been released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hjPxUfV32Q" target="_blank">on the BBC YouTube channel</a>,<br />
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One twist in this simulcast event: <i>Sherlock: The Abominable Bride</i> will be shown in 500 movie theaters across North America on January 5 and 6 at 7:30 pm local time. And in the UK, the film will be shown on 100 screens on January 1. <a href="http://www.sherlockology.com/news/2015/10/25/sherlock-special-cinema-listing-251015" target="_blank">Sherlockology has a full listing of the theaters</a>. Based on the quality of the brief clips seen in the trailer, it seems like it would lend itself to the big screen. </div>
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As a bonus, the theatrical version of the special will include 20 minutes of additional footage, including a guided set tour of 221B Baker Street with executive producer Steven Moffat, plus a short documentary of the making of the episode with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. <br />
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Those interested in ordering tickets online can go to the <a href="http://www.fathomevents.com/event/sherlock" target="_blank">Fathom Events website</a> beginning November 6.</div>
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Extended Sherlock Special Trailer and Theatrical Screening

"an investigation which had extended" [REIG] Over the weekend, we shared the announcement that the upcoming Sherlock specia...

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by Scott Monty

A Visit to the Amateur Mendicant Society

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<span style="text-align: start;">"…who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse." [FIVE]</span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.amateurmendicantsociety.org/" target="_blank">The Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit</a> let me have dinner with them on a recent Saturday night, so the least I can do is list ten things I really liked about the experience:<br />
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1. The chance to see a few old friends and make some new ones. John Sherwood, who sometimes is the British sleuth, hailed me before I ever got past the parking lot, invited me to sit at his table, and introduced me to a parade of good folks. At the same table was Regina Stinson, BSI ("A Little Ribston-Pippin"), and it was great to get to know her a little more. <br />
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2. A Sherlockian environment that was as old-fashioned as you could find anywhere. The AMS has been in existence since 1946 (with, I gather, a hiatus or two) and so have practically all the people who showed up for this meeting, one of three being held this year. Even the Baker Street Irregulars have given up using the titles of Gasogene and Tantalus for their officers, but the AMS sticks to tradition.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A history of the Amateur Mendicant Society</td></tr>
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3. The hospitality of John Kramb, the current Gasogene, who welcomed me generously, and Christopher Music, BSI ("Wagner Night at the Opera"), whose title is the similarly traditional Commissionaire, and who helped me make my reservation despite the complications of the international border.<br />
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4. The merry participation of both sexes, particularly when it came to hollering out answers to the questions about "The Creeping Man" posed to the congregation by the Gasogene. I liked this way of tackling the story of the evening, too, providing much more participation than somebody's brief remarks, and more speed and action than a written quiz.<br />
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5. The cozy, panelled environment of <a href="http://www.commonwealthclubmi.com/" target="_blank">The Commonwealth Club</a>, incongruously located on Dequindre Road in the remote northern suburbs of the city, and the fact that you have to approach it by skulking around to the back of Kenny's Wine Shop, skirting the dumpsters, opening an inconspicuous little door and making your way down a hallway past the store-rooms, whereupon the glory of the Club with its Union Jack and heraldic decorations opens up before you. The whole experience was a lot like entering Camden House from the rear.<br />
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6. The food, served as a buffet by a culinary crew who might well have been the colleagues of Mrs. Hudson (Canon) and Mr. Hudson ("Upstairs, Downstairs"). It was, something one can't always expect in such a context, excellent.<br />
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7. The remarkable, informal talk given, as the highlight of the evening's program, by Roy Pilot, BSI, long-time collector and scholar. What he doesn't know about books and ephemera associated with Arthur Conan Doyle is not worth knowing. He told a little about how he became a collector, and offered a glimpse of three of his greatest treasures along with the stories of how he just happened to come upon them. Not every Sherlockian talk passes so blithely that the listeners wish it had gone on for longer, but this one certainly did.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy Pilot, BSI ("Chemical Laboratory of St. Bart's") gives his talk</td></tr>
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8. John Sherwood's toast to Watson's Second Wife, one of the traditional moments at every AMS gathering. Apparently he was going to St. Ives, and, well… I must have a word with him to see whether it's available for publication somewhere.<br />
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9. The opportunity to sing "God Save the Queen". For all I know, most of the crowd was singing ironically, or solely in memory of Victoria Regina, but I grew up with this hymn as the national anthem, and although it is hardly ever heard in Canada nowadays, it still means a lot to me. <i>Vive la Reine</i>!<br />
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10. The closing recitation of Vincent Starrett's sonnet "221B," read by the Tantalus, Rob Musial. Apparently it's an AMS custom to stand up for these spine-tingling lines; I wish other Sherlockian societies did the same.<br />
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So, a good time was had by all. I should add, just for the record, that the evening was pretty much lacking in what I have learned to call shenanigans — the sort of Sherlockian behavior, often fueled by something a little choice in white wines, that involves uproarious laughter, impromptu costumes, and embarrassing photographs. Well, somebody did present the Gasogene with a stuffed monkey, intended to represent Lowenstein's black-faced langur. Otherwise, respectability reigned.<br />
[<i><b>Editor's note:</b> such was the case because your humble editor was otherwise occupied in Michigan that evening.</i>]<br />
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I can hardly wait for my next opportunity to visit the Amateur Mendicant Society.<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.amateurmendicantsociety.org/2015/10/fall-meeting-report.html" target="_blank">The Amateur Mendicant Society</a></i></div>
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A Visit to the Amateur Mendicant Society

"…who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse." [FIVE] The Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit...

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by Chris Redmond

New Sherlock Holmes Game — The Devil's Daughter

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"Some devilry is intended" [VALL]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPcJ3XtqwfsxZEz391hjIlgfhGGExWXRRpQvYtOikj5RqeOQwEh3BHxvEBaj67kG3PBTRqPwsfLh-_GAJFAj8T-qM_8GQ-1HI-YeWeskG-C6zDtXbhVxTjbrg5RLV3unkiBW0kDkeZD6g/s1600/Sherlock+Devil%2527s+Daughter+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter for Xbox, PS3 and Windows gaming" border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPcJ3XtqwfsxZEz391hjIlgfhGGExWXRRpQvYtOikj5RqeOQwEh3BHxvEBaj67kG3PBTRqPwsfLh-_GAJFAj8T-qM_8GQ-1HI-YeWeskG-C6zDtXbhVxTjbrg5RLV3unkiBW0kDkeZD6g/s640/Sherlock+Devil%2527s+Daughter+header.jpg" title="Frogwares Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sherlockian gamers, delight! <a href="http://www.frogwares.com/">Frogwares</a> have announced the eighth installment of its <a href="http://amzn.to/1LVkF19" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes series</a>, <i>Sherlock Holmes:The Devil’s Daughter</i>, published through <a href="http://www.bigben-interactive.co.uk/">Bigben Interactive</a>.</div>
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From the <a href="http://www.bigben-interactive.co.uk/bigben-interactive-and-frogwares-reveal-the-new-sherlock-holmes-game/" target="_blank">press release</a>:<br />
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"Featuring taut action and investigative work, <i>Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter</i>, the eighth and latest entry in the franchise, will push your abilities to the limit in a one-of-a-kind interactive experience."</blockquote>
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The game will feature five new cases, fast-paced action sequences, and an expansive landscape for players to roam around. The current installment, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1MddIUV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments</a></i>, featured four unique cases (plus two from Canon) and moments where the speed of the player’s action was vital to success. The idea of playing Holmes or Watson through a whole action sequence is exciting, especially when combined with the series’ unique game mechanics.<br />
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In <i>Crimes and Punishments</i>, Frogwares managed to create a logic game that permitted the player to rely on their own deductions and make their own choices, instead of railroading them onto the single correct path (though the game is good enough to let players know when their logic is contradictory.) Combining this with more action and more freedom of movement gives this installment great potential to be the most immersive of the series. </div>
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<i>Crimes and Punishments</i> also let players get inside the character of Sherlock Holmes, choosing at the end of each case whether to condemn or absolve the criminals. Was he simply a logic machine, or was there really a great heart to go along with that great mind? It looks like players can expect to explore and/or influence even more of Holmes’ psyche in <i>The Devil’s Daughter</i>:<br />
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"For the first time in his storied career, Sherlock Holmes’ ruthless logic is overwhelmed by family stories, irresistible emotions and an occult revenge."</blockquote>
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Frogwares has pitted Sherlock Holmes against a variety of opponents from <a href="http://amzn.to/1GAFRc8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arsène Lupin</a> to <a href="http://amzn.to/1N0XqUg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jack the Ripper</a>, even a <a href="http://amzn.to/1GAGfaG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lovecraftian cult</a>, but "irresistible emotions" is bound to be his greatest challenge yet.<br />
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<i>Sherlock Holmes:The Devil’s Daughter</i> will be released in Spring, 2016 for PS4, Xbox One, and Windows PC. It will be shown exclusively to the press October 28 - November 1, 2015 at Paris Games Week.<br />
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Stay tuned for more updates!</div>
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New Sherlock Holmes Game — The Devil's Daughter

"Some devilry is intended" [VALL] Sherlockian gamers, delight! Frogwares have announced the eighth installment of its ...

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by Katie Magnusson

BREAKING: Sherlock Special Air Date & Title Confirmed

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"results all pointed to an abominable crime" [TWIS]</h4>
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It's finally here! The news that many have been waiting for - the airdate of the <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B004132HZS" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="8dd4f6d957d965a47b33a99cd82d0bd1" 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=8dd4f6d957d965a47b33a99cd82d0bd1&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3378312" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3378312" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=8dd4f6d957d965a47b33a99cd82d0bd1&_cb=1445697223763" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> special.</div>
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This morning, MASTERPIECE and PBS announced that <i>Sherlock: The Abominable Bride</i>, a 90-minute special, will premiere <b>Friday, January 1, 2016</b>, on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS at <b>9:00 pm ET</b>, and simultaneously online at <a href="http://pbs.org/masterpiece">pbs.org/masterpiece</a>. The special will have an encore broadcast on Sunday, January 10, at 10:00pm ET. This is the first time that Sherlock has premiered in the US and the UK on the same day.</div>
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We know that the special will take place in the 1890s and takes Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and John Watson (Martin Freeman) from London to the countryside in a rather dark and sinister adventure. Mrs. Hudson and Mary Morstan will certainly be part of the tale as well - the first in the series to not be set in modern times. Our previous coverage of the series <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/BBC%20Sherlock#.ViuXjPmrTb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.</div>
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<b>See also: </b></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/10/the-new-sherlock-trailer-is-here-and.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Sherlock Trailer Is Here and It's Amazing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/04/sherlock-christmas-special-will-be-set.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Christmas Special Will Be Set in 1895</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/10/the-sherlock-limited-edition-dvd-blu.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sherlock Limited Edition DVD / Blu-ray Gift Set</a></li>
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PBS also announced that <i>Sherlock</i> Season 4 will go into production in Spring, 2016, with no airdate yet determined.</div>
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We can't think of a better way to recover from your New Year's Eve hangover than to tune in to watch this highly anticipated special.</div>
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<i>Images courtesy of <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/features/news/sherlock-special-premiere-january-2016/" target="_blank">PBS</a></i></div>
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BREAKING: Sherlock Special Air Date & Title Confirmed

"results all pointed to an abominable crime" [TWIS] It's finally here! The news that many have been waiting for - the a...

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by Scott Monty

Sherlock + Sharknado = Sherlocknado

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"such a wind as never blew on England yet" [LAST]</h4>
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Earlier this year, the world had <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00DCLTA6Y" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="da9c85c3d59f15ce7bc69f589b5b2a8a" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sharknado" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharknado-Reid/dp/B00DCLTA6Y/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=da9c85c3d59f15ce7bc69f589b5b2a8a&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2876909" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sharknado</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2876909" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=da9c85c3d59f15ce7bc69f589b5b2a8a&_cb=1445489966192" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> fever. The campy series was commissioned in 2013 by Syfy and produced by The Asylum — the production company responsible for mockbuster films. [You may recall they produced such a film called <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B002VJ0576" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="f77dc1a20283683f830f6a8a50d5158f" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="sherlock holmes asylum" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Dominic-Keating/dp/B002VJ0576/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=f77dc1a20283683f830f6a8a50d5158f&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_962667" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes</a><span style="border-color: initial !important; border-image-outset: initial !important; border-image-repeat: initial !important; border-image-slice: initial !important; border-image-source: initial !important; border-image-width: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><i><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_962667" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f77dc1a20283683f830f6a8a50d5158f&_cb=1445490309707" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i></span>, which we <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2009/12/to-drive-patient-into-asylum-dyin_24.html#.VihuM_mrTb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">covered here previously</a>.] The series spawned two sequels, the third of which aired in July, 2015.<br />
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Enter the folks at <a href="http://bit.ly/SubscribeUnionPool" target="_blank">UnionPool</a>, who produce a weekly YouTube video series called TVOOVIES, a pop culture animated mash-up where hit TV series collide with blockbuster films. (You can see where this is going, right?)<br />
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Having previously produced such videos as "Toys of Anarchy" (<i>Toy Story</i> meets <i>Sons of Anarchy</i>), "50 Shades of Dr. Who" (we'll let you figure it out) and others, it was really only a matter of time before <i>Sherlock</i> was the target.<br />
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And when you're dealing with something that <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sharknado_2013/" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes calls</a> so "proudly, shamelessly, and gloriously brainless," who better to match it with than the ultimate manifestation of reasoning and logic than Sherlock Holmes? Ladies and gentleman, we give you, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9y1v287-_s" target="_blank">Sherlocknado</a>."</div>
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The voice actor for Sherlock did a fairly good job; it sounded like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnbN3Pya_AM" target="_blank">Alan Rickman impersonating Benedict Cumberbatch</a>. And Jim Moriarty as the tornado was an inspired choice.<br />
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