I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

The Adventure of the Incognita Countess — A Review

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“the vampire was not necessarily a dead man” [SUSS]</h4>
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On the periphery of Sherlockiana, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X3T8DWB" target="_blank">The Adventure of the Incognita Countess</a></i> by Cynthia Ward comes from the world of literary mash-up. If you are not the sort of person who enjoys hypothetical scenarios like “what if Mina Harker’s daughter met Tarzan, and Carmilla of vampiric fame, on the RMS <i>Titanic</i>,” then this delightful short novel will not be your cup of tea. If such a scenario, peppered with figures historical as well as literary, piques your interest, then you won't be disappointed. <br /><br />The Sherlockian connection is slight, but important. The main character is Lucy Harker, daughter of Mina and the product of Dracula’s attentions before he was staked. Mina and Jonathan Harker are now divorced. Mycroft Holmes, of all people, becomes Lucy’s stepfather. Ms. Ward briefly acknowledges the apparent absurdity of this with a recalled comment by Lucy’s unnamed but instantly recognizable step uncle. He disparages Mycroft's falling in love, to a divorced victim of a vampire no less, but later appears to harbor some affection of his own for his new niece. The Holmes men are, after all, still human. And, if you are the less than charitable type, you can always assume Mycroft married Mina Harker just to mold her half-vampire daughter into an ideal secret agent.<br /><br />The story starts in London, 1912. The events described in H.G. Wells’s <i>War of the Worlds</i> are historical fact, and Britain has benefitted greatly from its appropriation of Martian technology. An officer carrying plans for the fabled <i>Nautilus</i> is on his way back to America aboard the new steamer <i>Titanic</i>, and the British government wants to make sure the plans arrive safely. Lucy Harker is chosen for the job, as she is a capable spy and her half-vampiric heritage gives her advantages over mere mortals. Naturally, things go somewhat awry.<div>
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<br /><br />Also on board are a thinly veiled version of Lord Greystoke, a.k.a Tarzan, who is more than happy to voice his opinions on the hypocrisies of “civilized” society, and the Countess Karnstein, who is clearly based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire, Carmilla. There are also a pair of German soldiers, whose conversations foreshadow the ‘pure race’ sentiments of the future Nazi party. The mystery itself is basic, and the conclusion dramatic. Much of the story centers around Lucy’s inner reflections on herself, her country and society, to a point where the mission is almost just background scenery. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's different from what I expected. When the climax of the case happened, it was almost a surprise reminder that there was a mission involved in the first place. Predictably, history runs its course. As <i>War of the Worlds</i> taught us, Earth doesn’t like aliens. They aren’t a match for our microbes, and their technology won’t stop an iceberg. <br /><br />Ultimately, this is a love story between a female secret agent and a suicidal vampire, and a character study in feminism and being a woman in a patriarchal society. Though she constantly chafes under the condescension she must endure from men she could literally tear apart, Lucy is so convinced of the men who control her life being right that she never questions the evidence before her eyes until an ‘unrefined’ woman (none other than the unsinkable Molly Brown) who isn’t afraid of bucking societal conventions and speaking her mind tells her what’s what. There's a wonderful moment where Lucy remembers her step uncle’s lesson never to theorize before the facts, which ultimately leads to the realization that most of her life has been based on non-factual theories that women are the weaker sex, and that vampires are by necessity evil.<br /><br /><div>
The book’s ending is wide open for a sequel, with plenty of potential for more figures of legend to meet. Ms. Ward has done a wonderful job setting up her world, and the future challenges her characters will have to face. Of course, if a concerned step uncle were to make more of an appearance, that'd be excellent, but just knowing he's there along with the whole literary universe in the background is good fun too.<br /><br /><i>The Adventure of the Incognita Countess</i> is available<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X3T8DWB" target="_blank"> on Kindle and in print</a>.</div>
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The Adventure of the Incognita Countess — A Review

“the vampire was not necessarily a dead man” [SUSS] On the periphery of Sherlockiana, The Adventure of the Incognita Countess by Cynt...

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by Katie Magnusson

Celebrate World Rat Day with Sherlock Holmes

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"the world is not yet prepared" [SUSS] </h4>
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As you probably know, April 4 is <a href="http://www.worldratday.com/" target="_blank">World Rat Day</a>.<br />
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Oh, you weren't aware? Well, we can't fault you. You're probably still hung over from celebrating <a href="https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ferret-day/" target="_blank">Ferret Day</a> on April 2. Now, please put <a href="https://youtu.be/lxKYxHkMPqE?t=19m4s" target="_blank">Teddy</a> down and give us your full attention.<br />
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The most famous of rodents from the Sherlock Holmes story never actually appeared as an adventure. As one of the most mysterious and tantalizing of the untold tales, the mere mention of the giant rat of Sumatra leaves readers on the edge of their seats, wondering exactly what the case might have concerned.<br />
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You'll recall from "<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/suss.htm" target="_blank">The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire</a>":<br />
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“Matilda Briggs was not the name of a young woman, Watson,” said Holmes in a reminiscent voice. “It was a ship which is associated with the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared. </blockquote>
As such, it has become one of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Rat_of_Sumatra#In_Sherlockiana" target="_blank">the most popular topics of pastiche and parody</a>.<br />
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And while the very topic might seem to be a flight of fancy — a literary device or invention out of thin air — giant rats actually do exist.<br />
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Dr. Karl Shuker informs us that giant rats are a <a href="http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-giant-rat-of-sumatra-zoological.html" target="_blank">zoological fact, not fiction</a>. They were first identified in the 1880s by a mammalogist at London's Natural History Museum. But it wasn't until 1983 that researchers determined that the species actually belongs to the genus <i>Sundamys</i>, not the previously assumed <i>Rattus </i>genus.<br />
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And in these remote areas of Indonesia (which isn't all that distant from Sumatra), there are still giant rats roaming today. We even <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/12/giant-rat-of-sumatra-suss_17.html#.WOOtCPkrLb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reported on one found in the "lost world"</a> of these islands.<br />
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Perhaps one way to celebrate World Rat Day is by listening to The Firesign Theatre's album <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IXHcSBhfkx8" target="_blank">The Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra</a>. If you're a fan of puns, this is a treasure trove. If you're not, the first five minutes should suffice.<br />
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However you celebrate, try to stay away from eating too much cheese.<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-giant-rat-of-sumatra-zoological.html">Karl Shuker</a></i><br />
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Celebrate World Rat Day with Sherlock Holmes

"the world is not yet prepared" [SUSS] As you probably know, April 4 is World Rat Day . Oh, you weren't aware? Well, w...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 117: Arthur and Sherlock

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"It is the only personal introduction"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: x-small;"> </span> [SUSS] </h4>
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"Just what the world needs," you tell yourself. "Another biography of Arthur Conan Doyle." Full disclosure: we thought the same thing.</div>
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Until we read <i>Arthur and Sherlock</i> by Michael Sims. </div>
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And then our attitudes changed. And then even more so after having a conversation with the author. Fortunately, we recorded that conversation and we're sharing it with you here.</div>
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Michael shared with us the impact of books on his young mind, his journey to writing, and how his earlier works on E.B. White and Henry David Thoreau inspired his style for this book. From Baring-Gould to Joseph Bell, we touch on many familiar names and go deep into this exploration of the elements that inspired Conan Doyle to create his master detective.</div>
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And, if you listen carefully, you'll discover how a certain intestinal discomfort prevented Doyle from killing himself.</div>
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Information on sponsors, links, timing notes and transcript available below.</div>
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And please consider joining our <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon community</a>. Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and this year, transcription services.</div>
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Sponsors</h3>
This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a>, where you can find <i><a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/speckledband.html">The Illustrated Speckled Band: The Original 1910 Stage Production in Script and Photographs</a></i>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Baker Street Journal</a>, which includes the written transcripts of the annual Baker Street Irregulars Distinguished Lecture series. </li>
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<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock117.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 35.1 MB, 1:17:27</h4>
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<b>Notes</b></h3>
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2:21 Welcome<br />
5:53 Sponsor: Wessex Press<br />
7:37 Welcome Michael Sims<br />
11:47 Michael's uncanny ability to time the market<br />
17:00 Michael's first meeting with Sherlock Holmes<br />
22:31 Beginning a writing career<br />
28:39 Bringing Joseph Bell to life<br />
38:07 Sponsor: Baker Street Journal<br />
39:42 Bell's own mentor<br />
47:40 Doyle and Teddy Roosevelt<br />
51:25 The origin of "Sherringford Hope"<br />
55:09 Why stop now?<br />
57:15 Conan Doyle's fan mail<br />
1:05:47 Interview conclusion<br />
1:12:26 Sherlock Holmes Brand ad<br />
1:13:19 Closing remarks</div>
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Links</h3>
<ul>
<li><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3MlxCWi">Arthur and Sherlock</a></i> (Amazon)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arthur-and-sherlock-michael-sims/1124177794?ean=9781632860392">Arthur and Sherlock</a></i> (Barnes and Noble)</li>
<li>Laurie R. King and Leslie Klinger on IHOSE - <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose105">Episode 105: Echoes of Sherlock Holmes</a>.</li>
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Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  <a href="http://ihose.co/flipsherlock" target="_blank">ihose.co/flipsherlock</a>, as well as on the <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/114565123495685504221" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Community</a> on Google+ (with over 4,100 members), as well as through our accounts on  <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/ihearofsherlock">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</div>
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<b>Transcript</b></h3>
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Episode 117: Arthur and Sherlock

"It is the only personal introduction" [SUSS] "Just what the world needs," you tell yourself. "Ano...

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by Scott Monty

Plan Your Stay at Wisteria Lodge

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"inviting me out to spend a few days at his house" [WIST] </h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Please, no room service."</i></td></tr>
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Have you ever wanted to stay at one of the homes mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories? You have your chance with Wisteria Lodge. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle disguised the names of a number of stately homes (Holmes?), many of which have been identified by scholars. David Hammer's <i><a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=David+hammer&tn=for+the+sake+of+the+game&kn=&isbn=">For the Sake of the Game</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=David+hammer&tn=The+Game+is+Afoot&kn=&isbn=">The Game Is Afoot</a></i> are two fine examples, and James Montgomery made a go of things in his 1955 <i><a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=james+montgomery&tn=christmas+annual&kn=&isbn=">Montgomery's Christmas Annual: A Case of Identity</a></i>. Not to mention the multitude of efforts by various members of the <a href="http://sherlock-holmes.org.uk/">Sherlock Holmes Society of London</a> over the years.</div>
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But what about Wisteria Lodge? As usual, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was up to no good with "<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/wist-1.htm">The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge</a>," beginning the story under false pretenses. Watson wrote that it was "a bleak and windy day towards the end of March in the year 1892."</div>
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We know that this is an impossibility, as Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty battled at the Reichenbach Falls in April 1891, ending only as it could have: with the evil genius at the bottom of the cauldron and world's greatest detective embarking on what would become a three-year hiatus.</div>
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So we're already off on the wrong foot when Holmes shares a telegram from one John Scott Eccles, who says that he had a "grotesque" experience the night before at <b>Wisteria Lodge</b>, between <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/moqFUww4m4k">Esher and Oxshott</a>. He was invited there by Aloysius Garcia, who we later discover was looking to establish an alibi. </div>
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It's no wonder that the evening was grotesque when we begin with a description of the lodge:</div>
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"The house was a fair-sized one, standing back from the road, with a curving drive which was banked with high evergreen shrubs. It was an old, tumbledown building in a crazy state of disrepair. When the trap pulled up on the grass-grown drive in front of the blotched and weather-stained door, I had doubts as to my wisdom in visiting a man whom I knew so slightly."</blockquote>
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The description didn't improve much when Holmes and Watson arrived on the scene:<br />
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"A cold and melancholy walk of a couple of miles brought us to a high wooden gate which opened into a gloomy avenue of chestnuts. The curved and shadowed drive led us to a low, dark house, pitch-black against a slate-coloured sky."</blockquote>
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Charming venue, eh?</div>
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Well, you may be pleased to note that there is in fact a Wisteria Lodge in England that's available for rent. It's clearly not the same as the one in the story, as it's not nearly as gloomy, nor is it located in Surrey.</div>
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<b>Today's Wisteria Lodge</b></h3>
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In fact, the modern-day <a href="http://www.wisterialodgeuk.co.uk/">Wisteria Lodge</a> can be found further north, in the village of Harlaston, in Staffordshire (seen below in <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/k1DGF4Ebhw72">the interactive map</a> - you can zoom in/out, scroll around). It's a lovely location, just 6 km from the National Memorial Arboretum, 145 km SE of Manchester, and 225 km NW of London.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d58808.34576316901!2d-1.760245295883035!3d52.69706422496162!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x487a00a85ef59567%3A0xf843ba87567544fc!2sHarlaston%2C+Tamworth%2C+UK!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1490762094235" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe><br /></div>
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Yes, it's in the middle of nowhere. But when "nowhere" includes the English countryside, you're in for a treat.<br />
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The site describes the surroundings thus:<br />
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"This quintessential English Village contains a Post Office/shop and also a lovely old Parish Church. The traditional local pub, The White Lion, is renowned for its good food and drink. Also, a laundry service (collection & delivery) is available in the village if required. The River Mease meanders in easy walking distance, for those who wish to enjoy a quiet riverside walk and the peace and tranquility of our English countryside. It is also a popular area for cycling and wildlife enthusiasts."</blockquote>
<br />The accommodations are in the form of a quaint, newly refurbished detached character lodge set within the grounds of a period cottage, Holly Cottage. And as you can see, it lives up to its name:<br />
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Guests can enjoy complete privacy and wake to the sounds of birds singing in the magnificent ancient Wisteria tree which surrounds the building and gives the Lodge its name.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Patio doors open onto mature gardens, in a private setting.  A bird feeder by the windows ensures a view of the amazing array of birds which visit the garden, including a tame blackbird who serenades from the Wisteria tree.</div>
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It is a self-contained unit idyllically set in tranquil gardens away from the main cottage. Inside you'll find a kitchenette where simple meals can be prepared, including a sink, refrigerator, microwave/grill, kettle, toaster, crockery and utensils.<br />
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A king size bed, wardrobe, and bathroom with shower, toilet and sink round out the offering.<br />
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You can book directly on the <a href="http://wisterialodgeuk.co.uk/">Wisteria Lodge website</a>, or through <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12465576">Airbnb</a>.<br />
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Here's hoping your stay isn't interrupted by the Tiger of San Pedro.<br />
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Plan Your Stay at Wisteria Lodge

"inviting me out to spend a few days at his house" [WIST] "Please, no room service." Have you ever wanted to s...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Baker Street Elementary — Electile Dysfunction

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"candidate for Mid-Devon at the next election" [HOUN] </h4>
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We all know that, according to Watson's account of Sherlock Holmes's limits as catalogued in <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, his knowledge of politics was "feeble."</div>
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However, this glimpse into the daily conversations at Baker Street Elementary may indicate otherwise. In this case, young Sherlock Holmes seems to be the most knowledgeable of the schoolyard gaggle when it came to politics. </div>
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Perhaps it raises the question of whether there's a need for more political science, history or civics lessons in schools of all kinds...</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in Victorian London. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at </span><a href="http://www.bakerstreetelementary.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">www.bakerstreetelementary.org</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>

Baker Street Elementary — Electile Dysfunction

"candidate for Mid-Devon at the next election" [HOUN] We all know that, according to Watson's account of Sherlock Holm...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Episode 116: Can't Get Enough Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"not enough to hold her back"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: x-small;"> </span> [YELL]  </h4>
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You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Sherlock Holmes news item these days. Wait — perhaps that's not the best metaphor. How about "you can't turn around without seeing a Sherlock Holmes story." Much better.<br />
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We decided to pick a handful of news (and non-news) stories related to Sherlock Holmes and go to town. From Stephen Fry's recent audio recordings of the stories to using the Canon as a modern-day text for would-be Joseph Bells in training, to British shows available via a new streaming service in the US, to Sherlock Holmes as a model for writers — these stories and more make up our paean to the great detective.<br />
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We freely admit in this episode that we were unable to get Stephen Fry to join us for an interview on IHOSE. Perhaps something can be done?<br />
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Plus, Lyndsay Faye inspired our Gas-Lamp with her piece "Why We Can't Get Enough of Sherlock Holmes."<br />
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And we're beginning to feature full transcripts of each episode. You'll find the transcript for Episode 116 below.</div>
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And please consider joining our <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon community</a>. Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and this year, transcription services.</div>
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<h3>
Sponsors</h3>
This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a>, home of the ever-expanding <i>Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers</i>, now at <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/newspaper3.html">Volume 3</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Baker Street Journal</a>, where we certainly can't get enough of Sherlock Holmes, as the publication continues at the same strong pace since 1946. </li>
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<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock116.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 30.8 MB, 1:06:46</h4>
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<b>Notes</b></h3>
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1:33 Welcome back!</div>
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3:28 The smellier side of Baker Street</div>
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7:04 Listener mail and how we choose our images</div>
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12:03 Wessex Press</div>
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13:38 Stephen Fry has recorded Sherlock Holmes stories on audio</div>
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18:54 An excerpt from Stephen Fry reading <i>The Sign of Four</i></div>
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22:40 Actors reading the Canon</div>
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26:40 Getting Stephen Fry on IHOSE?</div>
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27:45 The case to make Sherlock Holmes required reading</div>
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29:45 Atul Gawande on Watson</div>
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31:58 BritBox: new streaming service</div>
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40:05 Baker Street Journal</div>
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41:56 Holmes and writing: choose, focus, become an idiot</div>
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46:06 Real life myths and mysteries: the Hound Tor</div>
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52:12 Peter Weller's <i>Hunting the Hound</i></div>
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56:10 Gas-Lamp</div>
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1:03:07 Don't forget...</div>
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Links</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2017/03/stephen-fry-reads-complete-sherlock.html#.WMI42PkrLb0">Stephen Fry Reads the Complete Sherlock Holmes on Audible</a> (ihearofsherlock.com)</li>
<li><i><a href="http://adbl.co/Holmes">Sherlock Holmes: Read by Stephen Fry</a></i> (Audible)</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ode-Less-Travelled-Unlocking-Within/dp/1592403115/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489543045&sr=8-1&keywords=ode+less+travelled">The Ode Less Travelled</a></i> (Amazon)</li>
<li><a href="http://ihose.co/ihose40">Episode 40: One Voice of Sherlock Holmes</a> (IHOSE)</li>
<li><a href="http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2017/03/06/case-make-sherlock-holmes-required-reading/">The Case to Make Sherlock Holmes Required Reading</a> (Daily Utah Chronicle)</li>
<li><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2017/03/08/britbox-brings-u-k-tv-shows-to-the-u-s-with-a-7-monthly-subscription/">BritBox comes to the U.S.</a> (VentureBeat)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/sherlock-holmes/">Sherlock Holmes and Mastery of the Craft of Writing</a> (Copyblogger)</li>
<li><a href="http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2017/03/hounds-of-the-baskervilles-real-life-myths-and-mysteries-of-dartmoors-famous-hound-tor/">Hounds of the Baskervilles: Real Life Myths and Mysteries of Dartmoor’s Famous “Hound Tor”</a> (Mysterious Universe)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetdozen.com/weller.html">The Hound of the Baskervilles: Hunting the Dartmoor Legend - Reviewed</a> (Baker Street Dozen)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bookish.com/articles/why-the-world-cant-get-enough-of-sherlock-holmes/">Why the World Can't Get Enough Sherlock Holmes</a> (Bookish)</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Art-Detection-Mysteries-Sherlock/dp/0802125921/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489547224&sr=8-1&keywords=lyndsay+faye">The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes</a></i> by Lyndsay Faye (Amazon)</li>
<li>The eventual appearance of Lee Shackleford on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose152">Episode 152: Holmes and Watson</a>.</li>
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Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  <a href="http://ihose.co/flipsherlock" target="_blank">ihose.co/flipsherlock</a>, as well as on the <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/114565123495685504221" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Community</a> on Google+ (with over 4,100 members), as well as through our accounts on  <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/ihearofsherlock">Instagram</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</div>
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<b>TRANSCRIPT</b></h3>
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Episode 116: Can't Get Enough Sherlock Holmes

"not enough to hold her back" [YELL] You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Sherlock Holmes ne...

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by Scott Monty

The Curse of Doone — The Sincerest form of Flattery?

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<b>"A fraudulent imitation, Watson." [RESI]</b></div>
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I have just been reading a thrilling novel set on Dartmoor, about mysterious doings in a lonely house with only candles and lamps to illuminate it, a house where the butler and his weeping wife are secretly providing food to a criminal on the run who happens to be a family member, a house that is the subject of many local legends about a monster, a curse.</div>
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<br />And it isn't <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>.<br /><br />It's <i><a href="https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?kn=The+Curse+of+Doone&sts=t" target="_blank">The Curse of Doone</a></i>, by Sydney Horler, one of four novels he wrote in 1928 (and more than 150 that he churned out over a career of more than 30 years). I stumbled onto it by chance at a used-book sale a while back, and I would have guessed that it was utterly forgotten 90 years after its publication, but in fact it has two reviews on Goodreads, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17236490-the-curse-of-doone" target="_blank">one of which warns</a> that it's "a more laid back mystery with slower pacing than you may be used to."<br /><br />Well, that's as may be. I'd say in fact that it is implausibly full of incident: fistfights, kidnappings, attacks by a vampire bat (which of course turns out to be bogus), car crashes, druggings, hypnotizings, disguises, break-ins, heart attacks, and cameo appearances by dullish police officers. There is also, as one might expect, a love affair, in which the heroic hero falls for the feminine female, kissing her only after she turns out to be the rightful owner of a golden treasure trove found in a deserted attic.<br /><br />If it seems that the treasure business is reminiscent of <i>The Sign of the Four</i>, and the bat of "The Sussex Vampire," while pretty much everything else in the book suggests <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, that's only because I don't have the space to enumerate the book's other features, including the secret invention which will, rather like the Bruce-Partington submarine, render future warfare impossible within its operating radius. No wonder, then, that the German spies are frantic to gain possession of it (see also "His Last Bow"). It would be an understatement to say that the book was clearly heavily influenced by the tales of Sherlock Holmes.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Horler</td></tr>
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<br /><i>The Curse of Doone</i>, and I suspect most of Horler's other books, are firmly in a genre that is probably best known now for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog_Drummond" target="_blank">Bulldog Drummond</a> books by "Sapper." The central figures are upper-class young men who are rather at loose ends following their life-changing experiences in the First World War, and who join the secret service as Ian Heath does here, or dabble in espionage, or solve crimes that just happen to come their way. They are strikingly clean-cut and clean-living, they have no use for Germans (or, probably, Jews), they can find their way across country in pitch darkness, and their only vulnerability is to petite blonde girls in distress. One may see some of these traits, though not all of them, in the exploits of Dorothy Sayers' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Peter_Wimsey" target="_blank">Lord Peter Wimsey</a>, who is widely thought to have similarities to Sherlock Holmes a generation earlier.<br /></div>
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Arthur Conan Doyle famously wrote fast — knocking off <i>The Hound</i> in a couple of months in 1901 — and is known for inconsistencies and plot holes, from Watson's wound to the impossible dates in "The Red-Headed League." One likes to think, however, that he would not have his heroine bound hand and foot at a climactic moment (like Beryl Stapleton) and nevertheless allow her to "stretch out her hands" to her tormentor, as Horler does. The best way to read this kind of material is fast — very fast. </div>
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"Slower pace," my eye.</div>
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The Curse of Doone — The Sincerest form of Flattery?

"A fraudulent imitation, Watson." [RESI] I have just been reading a thrilling novel set on Dartmoor, about mysterious doi...

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by Chris Redmond

Baker Street Elementary — Happy 100th

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<b>"one of a hundred" [GLOR]</b></h4>
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Today is a banner day for our friends behind <b>Baker Street Elementary</b>. This marks their 100th strip since beginning the project two years ago.<br />
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To celebrate the occasion, along with posting the 100th strip, we have a brief history from Joe Fay and Steve Mason, two of the creators of Baker Street Elementary.<br />
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Three Sheets to Baker Street and Straight on 'Til Morning</h3>
<i>by Joe Fay and Steve Mason</i><br />
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Deep into the night, on a Thursday morning about 4:00 a.m., during the Baker Street Irregulars Weekend 2014, the grade school world of Holmes and Watson came to life inside a cramped room at the Roosevelt Hotel. Joe was slightly inebriated. OK, he was feeling no pain. He had just thrown down about a dozen pints at O’Lunney’s with Don Hobbs and that crew. Steve was impressed Joe was still functioning and alert. For those who’ve been there, we salute you.<br />
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And we had just inhaled two outsized slices of corner-shop pizza (open 24 hours). We were rooming together because New York City is expensive for two regular ol' Texas boys.<br />
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Joe had been thinking about a certain concept for a while. He knew Holmes and Watson could present well as a three-panel comic strip arranged basically like this: intro / punchline / smartass remark. Joe had played around on Strip Creator for years, and had much more fun with creating comic strips than he ever thought possible before.<br />
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Joe had also always wanted to explore the lives of Holmes and Watson as kids. Growing up, both of us had an unusual attachment to <i>Young Sherlock Holmes</i>. The idea of the boy-genius-becomes-eccentric-genius-detective was always intriguing. He also knew the bully had to be Moriarty. And Mrs. Hudson to be the lunch lady.<br />
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But Joe was stuck. That’s really all he had. “I wanted to start a simple comic strip with Holmes and Watson in elementary school.Elementary school,” I thought. “Holmes, Watson, ELEMENTARY school! It was just too good to be true, right?”<br />
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So Joe gave the idea a moniker: <b>Elementary Elementary</b>.<br />
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“I thought it was clever at the time. But it turned out to be one of those titles that seemed like a good idea at the time, and ultimately just wasn’t.”<br />
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But as far as we knew, and still know, there hadn’t been a comic strip to explore the Deductive Duo in grade school (and if we’re wrong,we expect to hear about it any minute now).<br />
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Joe decided to bring the idea up to Steve that night while we lay in separate beds (just thought that should be clarified, not that there is anything wrong…) And as soon as the words were out of Joe’s mouth, Steve, jumped on the idea like Holmes on a coke vial. Steve suggested characters, scenarios, compositions, and so on. Lestrade and Gregson would be the hall monitors. Irene would be the red-headed girl on the playground with whom the great boy detective was smitten, Conan Doyle would be included, and of course, Stamford would be the loveable character that never quite gets it straight. And so on.<br />
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Steve suggested “It’s Elementary, Sherlock,” as a working title, but once Joe came up with “Baker Street Elementary,” we both agreed that was the perfect title.<br />
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We quickly realized neither of us could draw, though. And drawing is kind of important for a comic strip.<br />
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“Not to fear,” Steve said, “I have a son for that.” His name is Rusty. And Rusty Mason became the artist, and now creative partner in the strip.<br />
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We all decided against detailed backgrounds and long narratives. Instead, we would focus on the dialogue and expressions of the characters, following the example set by the great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz" target="_blank">Charles Schultz</a>.<br />
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So we volleyed ideas back and forth (almost all of the strips would be set at an outdoor stone wall overlooking the playground, or in the classroom), until we both passed out that night, and Baker Street Elementary was born. Now, we’re 100 installments into the game,with Rusty doing the illustrations, and all of us writing the scripts.<br />
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So many good ideas come to lubricated Sherlockians during BSI Weekend. Thank goodness that Joe had the wonderful original idea, that Steve is a teetotaler, that Joe mentioned the little idea to Steve, and that Baker Street Elementary made it home.</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in Victorian London. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at </span><a href="http://www.bakerstreetelementary.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">www.bakerstreetelementary.org</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></div>
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Baker Street Elementary — Happy 100th

"one of a hundred" [GLOR] Today is a banner day for our friends behind Baker Street Elementary . This marks their 100th str...

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by Scott Monty

Review — An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"It seems most improbable" [BRUC] </h4>
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Holmes and the paranormal may at first seem a bridge too far. The rational detective always found a solution to his mysteries grounded in the real world, and as he famously stated in "The Sussex Vampire" when faced with a possible case of vampirism, "No ghosts need apply."<br />
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Yet below the surface of some of Doyle's work, one can see some cases with not so logical conclusions. Take, for example, these unfinished tales mentioned in "The Problem of Thor Bridge":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Among these unfinished tales is that of Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world. No less remarkable is that of the cutter Alicia, which sailed one spring morning into a small patch of mist from where she never again emerged, nor was anything further ever heard of herself and her crew. A third case worthy of note is that of Isadora Persano, the well-known journalist and duellist, who was found stark staring mad with a match box in front of him which contained a remarkable worm said to be unknown to science." </blockquote>
Men and women disappearing into thin air may have some logical explanation...or not. And a worm which drives people insane seems to come straight from science fiction.<br />
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I mention the above to give credit to A.C. Thompson, the editor of  <a href="http://mochamemoirspress.com/spookylock/" target="_blank"><i>An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i></a> for finding an excellent balance of paranormal stories which range from those with logical conclusions to those with monsters from other worlds, and most which fall somewhere in the middle. Take for example Lucy Blue's "The Fairy Pool," a story in which a girl goes missing in the Lake District. What starts out as a straightforward case delves into the realm of magic, or does it? This author does an excellent job keeping the reader guessing.<br />
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Then there is "Sherlock Holmes and the Hungry Ghost," written by the wonderfully talented young Sherlock Holmes author Katie Magnusson. Ms. Magnusson, even when she delves into Holmes cyberpunk, always stays close to the Canon in her approach to Holmes. This tale is the most traditional story in the collection, and I believe strict canonical Holmesians will find it to be the best.<br />
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The story I personally found to be the best in the collection was "The Arendall Horror," by Thomas Olbert. This story involves a young Miss Corbett who seeks Holmes help in fending off a demonic attacker. The story grows in its complexity, and by the end I found it to be downright terrifying. This story does the best job of balancing the traditional Holmes mysteries with the horrors of paranormal monstrosities. Both Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft would be proud.<br />
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Other standout stories in the collection include the humorous "The Diamond Carter Ghost" by Matthew Wilson. In this story Holmes uses his boxing skills to take on an opponent with supernatural powers. In "The Canaries of Clee Hill Mines" by Robert Perret, Holmes and Watson investigate the disappearance of three men. Holmes believes it will be fun to identify an underground murderer, but the case does not develop in the way he predicts. Finally, we cannot have a paranormal collection today without having at least one story involving zombies, and we get tat from Trenton Mabey's "The Case of the Rising Dead."<br />
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Overall, this is a fun and exciting collection of stories perfect for the Halloween season. I do have to add one disclaimer. The editor does start her introduction by stating "I am NOT a devout Sherlockian." Beyond the fact that this book involves the paranormal, it also has many stories in which Watson calls Holmes "Sherlock" and Holmes calls Watson "John." For some purists, that will be hard to swallow. If you are open to different takes on the Holmes and Watson relationship and certainly, if you are a fan of the BBC Sherlock series, you should be able to see past the disclaimer and enjoy these stories. Just make sure you don't read them in the dark!<br />
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<b><i>An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i></b> is available from <a href="http://mochamemoirspress.com/spookylock/" target="_blank">Mocha Memoir Press</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Improbable-Truth-Paranormal-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/0984004262" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "times new roman";">Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book in its category <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1519511957" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="1519511957" data-amzn-link-id="9e2003200f68f2fe44eb4bcdd1a73f6d" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Adventure-Peculiar-Provenance/dp/1519511957/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=9e2003200f68f2fe44eb4bcdd1a73f6d&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3292728" rel="nofollow" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance</a><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3292728" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9e2003200f68f2fe44eb4bcdd1a73f6d&_cb=1451973203084" style="border: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 0px;" width="0" /></span>, which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B017862MVS" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="B017862MVS" data-amzn-link-id="5293cce6e7483fecbc2d08a80a6fd7fa" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Curse of the Deadly Dinosaur" href="http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Dinosaur-MacDougall-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B017862MVS/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=5293cce6e7483fecbc2d08a80a6fd7fa&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7842789" rel="nofollow" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Curse of the Deadly Dinosaur</a><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_7842789" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=5293cce6e7483fecbc2d08a80a6fd7fa&_cb=1451973247482" style="border: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 0px;" width="0" /></span>, and he edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00P4E8AVI" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="B00P4E8AVI" data-amzn-link-id="a71c0c4edf6b4a9c56848bf35d8b468a" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural" href="http://www.amazon.com/Study-Terror-Revolutionary-Stories-Supernatural-ebook/dp/B00P4E8AVI/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=a71c0c4edf6b4a9c56848bf35d8b468a&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_5010397" rel="nofollow" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural</a><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5010397" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=a71c0c4edf6b4a9c56848bf35d8b468a&_cb=1451973259426" style="border: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; width: 0px;" width="0" /></span>. Mr. Belanger has recently started the publishing company <a href="http://www.belangerbooks.com/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Belanger Books</a> which released the Sherlock Holmes anthology <a data-amzn-asin="1533202273" href="https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Watson-Sherlock-Anthology-Stories/dp/1533202273/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Beyond Watson</a>. He resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.</i><br />
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Review — An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

"It seems most improbable" [BRUC] Holmes and the paranormal may at first seem a bridge too far. The rational detective alway...

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by Belanger Books

Smart Women Don't Have To Be Evil

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>"</b>She was as good as she was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good.<b>" [MISS]</b> </h4>
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One of the things I love most about BBC's <i>Sherlock</i> is Benedict Cumberbatch. Sorry, I meant, Benedict Cumberbatch. Darn it all. I need to fix this auto-correct. Let me start again.<br />
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One of the things I love most about BBC's <i>Sherlock </i>is that it has featured some of the most fascinating female characters I have seen on television. You have Mrs. Hudson, the matron of Baker Street, you have Mary, you have Molly, whom I featured <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2017/01/molly-hooper-and-romanticizing-of.html">in my last post</a>, Eurus, who came on the scene rather suddenly, and of course you have, well, <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose41" target="_blank"><i>the</i> Woman</a>. There is a problem, though. The smarter the woman on <i>Sherlock</i>, the more likely it is that she has, at best, a checkered past. Maybe more like a crazy quilt past and a checkered present.<br />
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<h3>
<b>"You see, but you do not observe." [SCAN]</b></h3>
Irene Adler is a fascinating female character because she uniquely combines femininity and sexuality with power. This is something many writers, of books and of visual drama, tend to avoid, because, well, that's just too much! Given her uniqueness, the writers could have framed Irene Adler to be a force for good, and it would not have weakened her character in the slightest. With the royal family and other top names at her beck and call, Irene Adler could have used her power to bring warring factions to a peace summit if she had wanted.<br />
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Instead, the writers made the Woman manipulative, weak, devious, and generally a sour character. While I suppose her infatuation with Sherlock is meant to show her complexity, the fact remains that she is one of the few characters in the show who is able to match wits with Sherlock, and she even beats him. Why must she come across as a villain rather than a hero?<br />
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The same sad truth applies to Eurus. The idea of a Holmes sibling even smarter than Sherlock and Mycroft was exciting, but it seems that in this world, the more brilliant a woman is, the more psychotic she must be. In fairness, Sherlock certainly represents a parallel between genius and psychosis, but John is his foil, and as such is very smart but not as manipulative and devilish. Eurus is supposed to be the most brilliant character in the Sherlock universe, but she also proves to be the most disruptive and evil. The writers easily could have had her cast away in a convent instead of a top secret asylum. She could have used her mind control powers for good, or she could have separated herself from her brothers in the interest of being kinder to humanity.<br />
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Finally, there is Mary. While I would not say that she is a genius in the same way as the Woman, and certainly not in the same way as Eurus, she is another woman who can meet Sherlock where he is on his mental plane. She can also confidently call John and Sherlock on their crap. Yet when push comes to shove, even Mary proves to have a dark and shadowy past, complete with a fake identity and mad ninja skills. She is smart, powerful, clever, and more, but in the end she just proves to be another woman with personality issues.<br />
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<b>"I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule." [SIGN]</b></h3>
In fact, there are two notable exceptions to this theme of smart women having no choice but to be evil. Molly Hooper must be smart since she works as a medical scientist, but she is presented as being slightly flighty, awkward, unsure of herself, and naive. This is as disappointing as the smart women who must be evil in order to show off their knowledge. It would be wonderful to see Molly rattle off some of her knowledge to shut up John or Sherlock. You get the feeling that she is brilliant, but for some reason the writers do not let her present that way.<br />
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The other exception is Mrs. Hudson, who seems likewise to be somewhat flighty and perhaps ignorant of her surroundings, yet she falls more into the miscreant category with her gangster husband and her sordid history. The car introduced at the end of the last series seemed unnecessary, and I am still not really sure what the writers were trying to prove or suggest with that scene. Does Mrs. Hudson need to be "racy" in order to be an interesting female character?<br />
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I would love for the writers of <i>Sherlock </i>to give us a female character who is smart, clever, maybe a little weird, but who is able to match John and Sherlock's wits without being a murderous lunatic. Is that so much to ask?<br />
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Smart Women Don't Have To Be Evil

" She was as good as she was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good. " [MISS] One of the things I love most about BB...

+ Read more »

by Margie Clayman

Baker Street Elementary — An East Wind Coming

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<b>"a horrible, poisonous exhalation" [GREE]</b></h4>
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Sunday arrives, and with it, our bi-weekly installment of Baker Street Elementary. In this instance, we share a strip that is Rusty Mason's top pick. We're not sure what that says about Rusty, but we think you'll enjoy it nearly as much as he.</div>
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And here, in honor of your inner 12 year-old, is Baker Street Elementary.</div>
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No doubt inspired by <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>:</div>
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As I entered, however, my fears were set at rest, for it was the acrid fumes... which took me by the throat and set me coughing.<br />   "Caught cold, Watson?" said he.<br />   "No, it's this poisonous atmosphere."<br />   "I suppose it is pretty thick, now that you mention it."<br />   "Thick! It is intolerable."<br />   "Open the window, then!</blockquote>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in Victorian London. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at </span><a href="http://www.bakerstreetelementary.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">www.bakerstreetelementary.org</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></div>
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Baker Street Elementary — An East Wind Coming

"a horrible, poisonous exhalation" [GREE] Sunday arrives, and with it, our bi-weekly installment of Baker Street Elementary...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

Stephen Fry Reads the Complete Sherlock Holmes Stories on Audible

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"There are numerous small fry, but few who would handle so big an affair" [BRUC] </h4>
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Stephen Fry is the new voice of the Sherlock Holmes stories.<br />
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Audible Studios, the parent company of Audible.com, contracted the actor, author and life-long Sherlock Holmes fan to read all 60 of the Sherlock Holmes stories in an audio format it is simply calling <b><i><a href="http://adbl.co/Holmes" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes</a></i></b>. The collection was released by Audible on March 1 and is available at <a href="http://adbl.co/Holmes">adbl.co/Holmes</a> See the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audible/videos/10154228136765812/" target="_blank">trailer below</a>, from their Facebook page:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Faudible%2Fvideos%2F10154228136765812%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<b>“I really do owe Holmes everything"</b></h4>
As a portrayer of Jeeves in the inimitable <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098833/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Jeeves and Wooster</a></i> series from the early 1990s and of <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2011/07/much-larger-and-stouter-man-gree_18.html#.WLmRrvkrLb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mycroft Holmes</a> in <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1515091/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_41" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows</a>, </i>Fry has a keen understanding of the cerebral approach that these characters require. And he is clear that Conan Doyle's stories were an essential part of his own development as an author, screenwriter and storyteller:<br />
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“I think it was reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as a boy that first turned me on to the power of writing and storytelling. I felt myself inside the world of Baker Street, sitting alongside Holmes and Watson in their snug quarters, listening to a new case being told them by a new client. Now to be able to read those stories again, but this time out loud, is giving me more pleasure than ought to be allowed. A job of work really shouldn’t be so delightful.”</blockquote>
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In addition to the actual stories themselves, Fry has written and narrated eight insightful, intimate and deeply personal introductions to the story collections. In fact, the introduction to the <i>Memoirs</i> taps into the current craze of superheroes in popular culture:<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Heroes with remarkable gifts are as in vogue now as they have been since they first appeared, perhaps even more in vogue. But although the very first one was launched in serial published form just like his masked and body-suited successors, it was not in DC or Marvel comic books that he made his appearance, rather it was in the sedate and respectable pages of <i>Mrs Beeton’s Christmas Annual</i> in the mid-Victorian year 1887."</blockquote>
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"This caped crusader’s cape was made of finest British tweed. His magical gifts were not the ability to fly or X-ray vision – his superpower was that he had trained his mind into a uniquely powerful weapon which could solve mysteries, unmask the guilty and right wrongs."</blockquote>
Stephen Fry is no stranger to the Holmesian world, either. We chronicled <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2010/09/one-of-queerest-men-gree_27.html#.WLmRsPkrLb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">his many qualifications</a>, which included his support of the bequest of Richard Lancelyn Green to the city of Portsmouth and his narration of the BBC documentary "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6127518/" target="_blank">The Man Who Loved Sherlock Holmes</a>." In fact, he has been a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London since his teenage years and presided over the Society's 2005 dinner.<br />
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Below are two excerpts from the stories, to give you a flavor of his narrative style:</div>
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<b><i>The Sign of Four</i></b><br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/307524908&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<b>"The Final Problem"</b><br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/307527052&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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The collection is priced at $82.77, or $14.95 with an Audible membership.<br />
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