#Bookhaul #NoPlaceLikeHolmes
In 1928, an exasperated American teenager wrote to his literary hero to ask when more Holmes stories would be written, & that if Doyle really intended to write no more, then he, Derleth, would happily do so. Doyle declined this generous offer with avuncular good humour, waggishly suggesting that Derleth write his own stories if he wanted them so much. The game being afoot, Derleth did just that & Solar Pons, aided ⬇️
My rather foxed second hand copy came with this clipped review of the book back in 1999. The review is by Ashok Malik in India Today.
pickAll the stories have a suitable Holmesian atmosphere, the first two of the twelve being somewhat ridiculous, but then they tend to get better with each one. There's a degree of trope-dumping to be expected of a pastiche, and some recycling/redressing of plots, but Doyle Snr. did that himself.
No telling of the Giant Rat of Sumatra case, the most evocative title for me of all the Untold Tales, but otherwise a pretty strong offering. 4🔎
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"I find recorded in my notebook that it was on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 16th of November, 1887, when the attention of my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes was first drawn to the singular affair of the man who hated clocks."
- The Adventure of the Seven Clocks
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📔 The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes? ✅ Check!
🔖 Sherlock Holmes bookmark? ✅ Check!
🧦 Sherlock Holmes socks? ✅ Check!
🔎 The game's afoot! 😁
Having read the full Canon last year, I'd decided I would read my TBR Holmes pastiche books, and as we're halfway through the year it's time I got started!
This one is almost canonical as it was co/written by Doyle Jr. (some dispute between him and Carr as to who wrote what).
pick67/150 I've read my fair share of non-Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories and they vary in quality because either the writer is slavish to Doyle's style and adds nothing to the character, or they vear too far away and it seems like Holmes in name only. Most of these stories lean towards the former, which doesn't mean they aren't still enjoyable to Sherlock fans, just nothing ground breaking. 3.75/5
bailedI decided to bail on this one- I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it just didn't hold my attention.
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My friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, while possessed of one of the most vigorous minds of our generation, and while capable of displaying tremendous feats of physical activity when the situation required it, could nevertheless remain in his armchair perfectly motionless longer than any human being I have ever encountered.
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pickHolmes and Watson are trying to find out who the Black Baron is. Meanwhile bombings happen across London and draw ever closer to Buckingham Palace, the Queen might be their intended target, naturally Mycroft engages Sherlock to investigate.
Spoilers⬇️
pickLiked Vol 2 more than Vol 1. Getting to know the characters. We‘ve got some more familiar faces. I like loose cannon Moran. I do NOT like Cockney Sherlock. Will def read Vol 3. I want to know where this is going.
The stories are generally well regarded and Pons has his own literary society, The Praed Street Irregulars.
Of those pictured I already owned three books and have enjoyed them. I've been looking for ⬇️ (edited) 4mo
Given he was already playing in somebody else's sandbox, Derleth allowed himself the pleasure of the occasional crossover with other literary characters, including Fu Manchu, Hercule Poirot, and some suggestions of Lovecraftian entities, though never definitely going into the supernatural. Holmes and Watson are historical figures in the stories so it's all nicely interconnected. (edited) 4mo