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The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #3
Sherlock Holmes a Strašidelný baron
Jednoho podzimního rána vystoupí doktor Watson z vlaku na nádraží Waterloo, a náhle se stane svědkem obrovské exploze, několikáté v řadě, která po sobě zanechá tucty mrtvých a raněných.
Stojí za tímto zločinem irští separatisté, jak se domnívá většina lidí? Nebo nějaký šílenec? Anebo se jedná o plán geniálního, ale nenapravitelně chorého mozku? To neví ani Sherlock Holmes – a ani ho to příliš nezajímá. Snaží se totiž rozluštit jinou záhadu; záhadu obrněného muže, který začal brát v londýnských uličkách zákon do vlastních plechových rukou.
Kdo je tajemný Baron Cauchemar? Je pouze náhoda, že se objevil právě nyní, nebo má s výbuchy v Londýně nějakou spojitost? Sherlock Holmes a doktor Watson musejí zjistit, zda je tento strašidelný baron přítel, či nepřítel – a zda s jeho dovednostmi dokážou zastavit ďábelský plán, který by mohl ohrozit celou Velkou Británii...
Stojí za tímto zločinem irští separatisté, jak se domnívá většina lidí? Nebo nějaký šílenec? Anebo se jedná o plán geniálního, ale nenapravitelně chorého mozku? To neví ani Sherlock Holmes – a ani ho to příliš nezajímá. Snaží se totiž rozluštit jinou záhadu; záhadu obrněného muže, který začal brát v londýnských uličkách zákon do vlastních plechových rukou.
Kdo je tajemný Baron Cauchemar? Je pouze náhoda, že se objevil právě nyní, nebo má s výbuchy v Londýně nějakou spojitost? Sherlock Holmes a doktor Watson musejí zjistit, zda je tento strašidelný baron přítel, či nepřítel – a zda s jeho dovednostmi dokážou zastavit ďábelský plán, který by mohl ohrozit celou Velkou Británii...
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
90 people are currently reading
1134 people want to read
About the author
James Lovegrove
152 books659 followersJames Lovegrove is the author of several acclaimed novels and books for children.
James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career.
Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey.
James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners.
Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time.
Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago.
Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010.
He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres.
Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest.
James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career.
Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey.
James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners.
Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time.
Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago.
Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010.
He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres.
Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 2, 2018
Starts with a bang a bomb goes of Waterloo station & Watson nearly goes with it.
When gets to 221b Baker St he is hardly in a chair with glass of Brandy before Mycroft summons arrives.
Meanwhile a strange super hero straight out of pages of Marvel a Stan Lee style creation is Baron Cauhemar dressed like Captain Britain & on huge legs, jumping about London like Robin Hood.
Holmes is not interested in his brother 's case he is more interested in the mythical Spring-Heeled Jack of the Baron Who he thinks is real but The police don't. His brother thinks Sherlock Is mad as a Hatter.
But then Holmes sees the Baron in action right in front of him. Thus proving The Myth is real. But who is he & why does Holmes think 60 bodies from the bombings may lie at the Baron's feet?
Here we have the 'anti Semitic & lets Blame the Irish 'bashing a very common place in Victorian Era. But have Holmes brawling in the streets with a pedio Frenchman too
The Baron Is Iron man, Batman, Doc Savage, Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, The Vulture,Captain Nemo, & Mr Fantastic all rolled into one.
Oh there is also a certain Professor hiding in the shadows .TOP SHERLOCK HOLMES 2018
When gets to 221b Baker St he is hardly in a chair with glass of Brandy before Mycroft summons arrives.
Meanwhile a strange super hero straight out of pages of Marvel a Stan Lee style creation is Baron Cauhemar dressed like Captain Britain & on huge legs, jumping about London like Robin Hood.
Holmes is not interested in his brother 's case he is more interested in the mythical Spring-Heeled Jack of the Baron Who he thinks is real but The police don't. His brother thinks Sherlock Is mad as a Hatter.
But then Holmes sees the Baron in action right in front of him. Thus proving The Myth is real. But who is he & why does Holmes think 60 bodies from the bombings may lie at the Baron's feet?
Here we have the 'anti Semitic & lets Blame the Irish 'bashing a very common place in Victorian Era. But have Holmes brawling in the streets with a pedio Frenchman too
The Baron Is Iron man, Batman, Doc Savage, Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, The Vulture,Captain Nemo, & Mr Fantastic all rolled into one.
Oh there is also a certain Professor hiding in the shadows .TOP SHERLOCK HOLMES 2018
June 12, 2015
Much like Sherlock Holmes, Batman is often hailed as the World’s Greatest Detective. Now I freely admit that I primarily know The Bat through film and TV, so I’m not entirely sure how he’s gained this title. You don’t see many Batman locked-room mysteries; The Joker and The Riddler are normally very blasé about their crimes, and don’t hide behind a series of red herrings; while you don’t often see Batman get all the suspects together at the end of tell them whodunit. I can vaguely remember seeing an old comic book image of Batman with his cowl still on, sitting behind a microscope examining evidence (an odd image, as the cowl would be really impractical for the task, don’t you think?) Beyond that though, I can’t think why Batman has that title and yet he does.
Here then in literature is the coming together of the two Great Detectives: ‘Sherlock Holmes v. Batman: Dawn of Steampunk’.
Well, actually no, the appearance of Batman in a novel like this would lead to three dozen IP lawyers having excited palpitations. Instead we have a Batman-esque hero, one with the resources and the gadgets and a name which strikes supernatural terror into the criminal underworld. Only this one is based in the East End rather than Gotham City.
A series of explosions rocks London, and whereas Mycroft Holmes is desperate for his brother to investigate, Sherlock himself is anxious to pursue the so called Baron Cauchemar. Some say this Baron is but a myth, some think the tales of him are nothing but the exaggerations of frightened criminals, but without a doubt he is the scourge of the East End and Holmes is convinced that his appearance is not unconnected to the wave of bombings.
It’s a diverting tale, although one which is so excited by the possibilities of its steampunk superhero, that it sometimes feels like Holmes and Watson are passengers in their own story – a distinct feat when Watson is narrating him. Still it’s a hell of a lot of fun, and that’s more that can be said for a lot of faux Holmes stories.
Here then in literature is the coming together of the two Great Detectives: ‘Sherlock Holmes v. Batman: Dawn of Steampunk’.
Well, actually no, the appearance of Batman in a novel like this would lead to three dozen IP lawyers having excited palpitations. Instead we have a Batman-esque hero, one with the resources and the gadgets and a name which strikes supernatural terror into the criminal underworld. Only this one is based in the East End rather than Gotham City.
A series of explosions rocks London, and whereas Mycroft Holmes is desperate for his brother to investigate, Sherlock himself is anxious to pursue the so called Baron Cauchemar. Some say this Baron is but a myth, some think the tales of him are nothing but the exaggerations of frightened criminals, but without a doubt he is the scourge of the East End and Holmes is convinced that his appearance is not unconnected to the wave of bombings.
It’s a diverting tale, although one which is so excited by the possibilities of its steampunk superhero, that it sometimes feels like Holmes and Watson are passengers in their own story – a distinct feat when Watson is narrating him. Still it’s a hell of a lot of fun, and that’s more that can be said for a lot of faux Holmes stories.
July 18, 2014
This was a steampunk novel (not a very good one) that merely used the names (and supposedly characters) of Sherlock Holmes, Dr John Watson, Professor Moriarty, Inspector Lestrade et.al. It had not a single redeeming feature that might make this novel re-readable. Although Titan Books have provided us with enormously pleasing reprints and new pastiches dealing with the great detective, unfortunately this one was a rather sad miss: a drab, boring, long-winded affair which would have incurred the wrath not only of ACD but of any storyteller. AVOID IT.
August 30, 2013
originally posted at:http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-stuff-of-nightmares.html
Titan Books has been a steadily releasing new Sherlock Holmes fiction over the last couple of years. Sherlock Holmes with his witty remarks and his remarkable sense of observations has always been of interest of me. I read The Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams which has the same type of cover art, there isn't a mentioning of a series that I can find. But what I did discover is that both the books: The Army of Dr. Moreau and The Stuff of Nightmares have a lot of supernatural influences. The Stuff of Nightmares is written by James Lovegrove, who is well known for his Pantheon and Redlaw series.
It's hard to say whether Sherlock and Watson really go through a development from book to book. There has been many stories written that feature Sherlock and his assistant Dr. Watson, but when I think of this enigmatic duo, I think classic Victorian London, walking sticks, bowler and top type hats and pipes. And yes, each writer has its own writing style and I was wondering how James Lovegrove would voice and let show Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. He did it in the way that most fans will like it, the classic Victorian take, with Sherlock taking the lead, being his typical "dare-devilish" nature and his keen eye of observation and Watson taking the more “let’s think it over before we act” side. Because they themselves are already well established, they can be readily used and allowed James Lovegrove to write up a detailed case study for Sherlock and Dr. Watson. The narration in the way that Watson is writing a book, partly reflecting back on the adventures themselves this allowed a unique way of showing the story as there was one part when Sherlock could have died but the reflection that Watson does with: “Well I could prolong the assumption that Sherlock was dead” but he jumps right back into the story.
For the story of The Stuff of Nightmares, think steampunk, a lot. The story starts off with a the mentioning of recent bombings that have been plaguing the city of London and the perpetrator or perpetrators haven’t been caught so far. Now Sherlock is drawn in to this mystery by his ever-present curiosity to find out who is behind these attacks and why. In the initial set-up of the story you are introduced to several storylines; the first is the case with the bombings that present a threat and the second one is the masked man known as Baron Cauchemar. As you can make up from the synopsis and cover of the book, the steampunk influence I mentioned above is heavily proven by the character of Baron Cauchemar with his various nifty gadgets. But I will get to him in a bit. The first 2/3 of The Stuff of Nightmares is all about showing exposure to current events, what is happening and introducing you to a lot of characters, some to be trusted more than others. You, or I at least, started to make my mind up who the bomber would be and could, in the beginning only make up one character, but by the intervention at the church I was proven wrong. From this point onwards, James Lovegrove, carefully start to release more and more information about one specific character and later Sherlock, as clever as he is, connects the dots. We are still only 2/3 into the story so far and you learn who the bad guy is, now this can break a book, by revealing the culprit to soon it could climax its plot to soon as well. Well that's not the case at all. As you now also learn what the intentions are of the ultimate bad guy of the book and does produce a mad rush for our duo to save the country! I really liked how all of a sudden, by just a few hints, a lot of the earlier proposed things feel into place and how the story in the end was broadened to a whole other level. Well I just have to say this of the plot, the mad race in the end, with Sherlock and Watson in an airship chasing a train, in Victorian steampunk London, that just gives some cool graphic images in the back of my mind.
Next to the bombings, which proof to be the major part of the storyline there was also the introduction of Baron Cauchemar, first as a myth then as a real person. He is the proposed scourge for the villains of the dark streets of London, only shows himself at night to mete out justice. When I first read about him, I just couldn't trust him, like there has to be more to his character. Baron Cauchemar is a piece of engineering and making bombs also requires a certain finesse and skill... However soon along the lines of the book you learn more about his intentions and in the end his whole story of how it came to be is told, which made it all even that more understandable to what happened earlier. The part that I liked most about his character was his whole set of gear. Yes, he is the guy on the cover. When he "undresses" his armor its told in such a way that I saw this red and yellow suite hovering in the back of my mind! All the gadgets from steamblasters, gas emmisions and his springheels is just awesome to read about, especially taken into consideration his vigilante role and the day and age this story take place.
Now as for the ultimate bad guy of the story, I won't reveal who it is, it's some you have to find out for yourself. But the ending of this book, it something that even the sharpest investigator won't be able to pick out of how as the story starts to unravel. In those last few chapters! brilliant right there. I had this big ear to ear smile on my face when I read Chapter 40 and was making a particular sound, that undoubtedly many other readers will do as well when they read these scenes. This is really talking about lets introduce something totally different.
The whole story of The Stuff of Nightmares managed to grab me from the start but the ending in particular really made this story much more enjoyable super to read. Because on one hand you have the classic Victorian Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and on the other hand you have the influences of something supernatural that makes the whole story just come to life. The Stuff of Nightmares is a great read, which a lot a fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy, it’s has the good point of both worlds, the crime investigation that show a more darker side to the story combined with a lot of cool steampunk and other fantasy elements. If you are looking for a transformed story of your favorite investigative duo, you really have to pick the new Sherlock Holmes books of Titan, they have a fine set of authors steadily turning out more and more books, the next Sherlock Holmes adventure The Will of the Dead by George Mann is out the 8th of November
Titan Books has been a steadily releasing new Sherlock Holmes fiction over the last couple of years. Sherlock Holmes with his witty remarks and his remarkable sense of observations has always been of interest of me. I read The Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams which has the same type of cover art, there isn't a mentioning of a series that I can find. But what I did discover is that both the books: The Army of Dr. Moreau and The Stuff of Nightmares have a lot of supernatural influences. The Stuff of Nightmares is written by James Lovegrove, who is well known for his Pantheon and Redlaw series.
It's hard to say whether Sherlock and Watson really go through a development from book to book. There has been many stories written that feature Sherlock and his assistant Dr. Watson, but when I think of this enigmatic duo, I think classic Victorian London, walking sticks, bowler and top type hats and pipes. And yes, each writer has its own writing style and I was wondering how James Lovegrove would voice and let show Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. He did it in the way that most fans will like it, the classic Victorian take, with Sherlock taking the lead, being his typical "dare-devilish" nature and his keen eye of observation and Watson taking the more “let’s think it over before we act” side. Because they themselves are already well established, they can be readily used and allowed James Lovegrove to write up a detailed case study for Sherlock and Dr. Watson. The narration in the way that Watson is writing a book, partly reflecting back on the adventures themselves this allowed a unique way of showing the story as there was one part when Sherlock could have died but the reflection that Watson does with: “Well I could prolong the assumption that Sherlock was dead” but he jumps right back into the story.
For the story of The Stuff of Nightmares, think steampunk, a lot. The story starts off with a the mentioning of recent bombings that have been plaguing the city of London and the perpetrator or perpetrators haven’t been caught so far. Now Sherlock is drawn in to this mystery by his ever-present curiosity to find out who is behind these attacks and why. In the initial set-up of the story you are introduced to several storylines; the first is the case with the bombings that present a threat and the second one is the masked man known as Baron Cauchemar. As you can make up from the synopsis and cover of the book, the steampunk influence I mentioned above is heavily proven by the character of Baron Cauchemar with his various nifty gadgets. But I will get to him in a bit. The first 2/3 of The Stuff of Nightmares is all about showing exposure to current events, what is happening and introducing you to a lot of characters, some to be trusted more than others. You, or I at least, started to make my mind up who the bomber would be and could, in the beginning only make up one character, but by the intervention at the church I was proven wrong. From this point onwards, James Lovegrove, carefully start to release more and more information about one specific character and later Sherlock, as clever as he is, connects the dots. We are still only 2/3 into the story so far and you learn who the bad guy is, now this can break a book, by revealing the culprit to soon it could climax its plot to soon as well. Well that's not the case at all. As you now also learn what the intentions are of the ultimate bad guy of the book and does produce a mad rush for our duo to save the country! I really liked how all of a sudden, by just a few hints, a lot of the earlier proposed things feel into place and how the story in the end was broadened to a whole other level. Well I just have to say this of the plot, the mad race in the end, with Sherlock and Watson in an airship chasing a train, in Victorian steampunk London, that just gives some cool graphic images in the back of my mind.
Next to the bombings, which proof to be the major part of the storyline there was also the introduction of Baron Cauchemar, first as a myth then as a real person. He is the proposed scourge for the villains of the dark streets of London, only shows himself at night to mete out justice. When I first read about him, I just couldn't trust him, like there has to be more to his character. Baron Cauchemar is a piece of engineering and making bombs also requires a certain finesse and skill... However soon along the lines of the book you learn more about his intentions and in the end his whole story of how it came to be is told, which made it all even that more understandable to what happened earlier. The part that I liked most about his character was his whole set of gear. Yes, he is the guy on the cover. When he "undresses" his armor its told in such a way that I saw this red and yellow suite hovering in the back of my mind! All the gadgets from steamblasters, gas emmisions and his springheels is just awesome to read about, especially taken into consideration his vigilante role and the day and age this story take place.
Now as for the ultimate bad guy of the story, I won't reveal who it is, it's some you have to find out for yourself. But the ending of this book, it something that even the sharpest investigator won't be able to pick out of how as the story starts to unravel. In those last few chapters! brilliant right there. I had this big ear to ear smile on my face when I read Chapter 40 and was making a particular sound, that undoubtedly many other readers will do as well when they read these scenes. This is really talking about lets introduce something totally different.
The whole story of The Stuff of Nightmares managed to grab me from the start but the ending in particular really made this story much more enjoyable super to read. Because on one hand you have the classic Victorian Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and on the other hand you have the influences of something supernatural that makes the whole story just come to life. The Stuff of Nightmares is a great read, which a lot a fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy, it’s has the good point of both worlds, the crime investigation that show a more darker side to the story combined with a lot of cool steampunk and other fantasy elements. If you are looking for a transformed story of your favorite investigative duo, you really have to pick the new Sherlock Holmes books of Titan, they have a fine set of authors steadily turning out more and more books, the next Sherlock Holmes adventure The Will of the Dead by George Mann is out the 8th of November
August 30, 2015
Sherlock Holmes and John Watson slightly out of character. Mycroft so badly out of character that it is disgusting that he even CALLED the character Mycroft.
Only thing that makes this a 3 star read is the fast paced plot.
Only thing that makes this a 3 star read is the fast paced plot.
March 27, 2021
This was a real romp! A really enjoyable rollercoaster of a read. James Lovegrove has an enviable imagination, including a talent for building imaginary Rube Goldbergesque steampunk machines of war or adventure, with a big dash of dash of Jules Verne in there, too. Holmes and Watson are up against a villain whose goal is world domination, and that, of course, means the elimination of Queen Victoria and her entire family! So, let's see .. how to get them all together in one place for assassination .. This novel gives us a good dose of brother Mycroft and a bit of an ever-darker Moriarty, too. Great fun!
January 30, 2021
The Stuff of Nightmares (Sherlock Holmes by James Lovegrove was such a fun steampunk read. Honestly, it had just about everything I was looking for. If you like, Benedict Cumberbatch's take on the detective plus Iron Man and Batman, I have a feeling you'll get a kick out of this too. I need to read more of James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes books.
September 3, 2013
When Dr. Watson returns to London by train he finds himself caught up in a bombing at Waterloo station. After giving what attention he can to those injured in the attack he wastes no time in getting to 221B Baker Street and his friend Sherlock Holmes.
This is the third in a series of bombings which hold London and its inhabitants in a scary hold, with theories about the bombers and their reasons getting more hysterical by the day.
But the bombings are not the only strange phenomena in London at the time. A strange creature, about eight feet tall, with enormous strength and a scary arsenal of weapons has taken on London’s underworld. He interrupts misdeeds and incapacitates the villains although he never kills his opponents. Only known by the name Baron Cauchemar, many consider this man a myth, yet Sherlock Holmes is convinced that the Baron may be the key that will lead to unlocking the identity of those behind the bombings. And although both his brother, Mycroft and Dr. Watson have their doubts, he is determined to conduct his investigation along those lines.
What follows is an investigation that will bring our two heroes face to face with pure evil. Confronting mortal danger more than once Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have not only men’s evil to contend with, but also technological advances beyond their wildest imaginations. With the future of the British Empire at stake, Holmes and Watson have to embrace an unlikely ally if there are going to prevent disaster.
I have to say that I’m greatly enjoying this series of newly written Sherlock Holmes adventures. While the stories in this series are close enough to the originals to keep fans of Arthur Conan Doyle happy, they also provide us with story lines that go beyond what he might have been able to conceive of in his days.
The Stuff of Nightmares is an intriguing, well plotted and fast paced mystery, just as you would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story. What makes this book that little bit more special is the fact that it also contains elements that strongly remind me of Steam-Punk. It was fun to see Watson immediately think of the supernatural whenever he encounters something he doesn’t understand while Holmes, even when he has no better idea what exactly he is dealing with than his partner does, insists that there has to be a logical explanation.
Apart from the steam-punkish elements, this is exactly what you would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story. We are given a dire threat, no obvious clues, quite a bit of misdirection and Holmes talking in riddles, just as he would in one of the traditional stories. We encounter familiar names from the Sherlock Holmes stories: the Baker Street Irregulars, Professor Moriarty, Mycroft Holmes, Inspector Lestrade, they all make an appearance and live up to their established reputation. While Sherlock Holmes purists may well find one or more things to object to in this book, I found great pleasure in the non-traditional elements of this story.
James Lovegrove is an established and successful author of Science Fiction books and his writing experience shines through in this book. The story is smooth, the plot well developed and the mystery intriguing enough to keep the reader guessing until the author, or Sherlock Holmes, is ready to enlighten them. The author’s background is clear though when you read the technological descriptions in this book; the machines and contraptions are described in such detail that it is easy to visualise them.
Overall I would call this a very welcome addition to the Sherlock Holmes stories that we know and love. Filled with danger, action and mystery, this is a book that is hard to put down once started. If Mr. Lovegrove ever decides to write another Sherlock Holmes story I will definitely read it.
This is the third in a series of bombings which hold London and its inhabitants in a scary hold, with theories about the bombers and their reasons getting more hysterical by the day.
But the bombings are not the only strange phenomena in London at the time. A strange creature, about eight feet tall, with enormous strength and a scary arsenal of weapons has taken on London’s underworld. He interrupts misdeeds and incapacitates the villains although he never kills his opponents. Only known by the name Baron Cauchemar, many consider this man a myth, yet Sherlock Holmes is convinced that the Baron may be the key that will lead to unlocking the identity of those behind the bombings. And although both his brother, Mycroft and Dr. Watson have their doubts, he is determined to conduct his investigation along those lines.
What follows is an investigation that will bring our two heroes face to face with pure evil. Confronting mortal danger more than once Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have not only men’s evil to contend with, but also technological advances beyond their wildest imaginations. With the future of the British Empire at stake, Holmes and Watson have to embrace an unlikely ally if there are going to prevent disaster.
I have to say that I’m greatly enjoying this series of newly written Sherlock Holmes adventures. While the stories in this series are close enough to the originals to keep fans of Arthur Conan Doyle happy, they also provide us with story lines that go beyond what he might have been able to conceive of in his days.
The Stuff of Nightmares is an intriguing, well plotted and fast paced mystery, just as you would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story. What makes this book that little bit more special is the fact that it also contains elements that strongly remind me of Steam-Punk. It was fun to see Watson immediately think of the supernatural whenever he encounters something he doesn’t understand while Holmes, even when he has no better idea what exactly he is dealing with than his partner does, insists that there has to be a logical explanation.
Apart from the steam-punkish elements, this is exactly what you would expect from a Sherlock Holmes story. We are given a dire threat, no obvious clues, quite a bit of misdirection and Holmes talking in riddles, just as he would in one of the traditional stories. We encounter familiar names from the Sherlock Holmes stories: the Baker Street Irregulars, Professor Moriarty, Mycroft Holmes, Inspector Lestrade, they all make an appearance and live up to their established reputation. While Sherlock Holmes purists may well find one or more things to object to in this book, I found great pleasure in the non-traditional elements of this story.
James Lovegrove is an established and successful author of Science Fiction books and his writing experience shines through in this book. The story is smooth, the plot well developed and the mystery intriguing enough to keep the reader guessing until the author, or Sherlock Holmes, is ready to enlighten them. The author’s background is clear though when you read the technological descriptions in this book; the machines and contraptions are described in such detail that it is easy to visualise them.
Overall I would call this a very welcome addition to the Sherlock Holmes stories that we know and love. Filled with danger, action and mystery, this is a book that is hard to put down once started. If Mr. Lovegrove ever decides to write another Sherlock Holmes story I will definitely read it.
June 11, 2021
This was an excellent book. The writing was strong, and Lovegrove knows his Sherlock Holmes. The premise of the book is that it's written by Watson much later in life and there are shed loads of references to Doyle's other Sherlock stories. In fact, Lovegrove even takes it upon himself to rectify a few earlier inconsistencies. Some people might find this a bit pretentious as it didn't really add anything to the story but I found it a fun nod to the Holmes cannonites who might be reading.
The writing is not for from Doyle's but I don't think Lovegrove was trying to mimic him and I tend to like it better when authors of pastiches don't. Besides the steampunk nature of the story there are some modern themes that Doyle would not likely address, like various sexual predilections.
A note on the steampunk, it's not over the top (except the end) but it's not bashful either. There's a 19th century Iron Man and vigilante, there's a lighter than air flying machine, and there's a train that transforms into a steampunk mech robot. Yeah that's the one over the top part and I could have lived without it. In fact if it wasn't for that part of the ending, I probably would have given this a 4 star rating.
The writing is not for from Doyle's but I don't think Lovegrove was trying to mimic him and I tend to like it better when authors of pastiches don't. Besides the steampunk nature of the story there are some modern themes that Doyle would not likely address, like various sexual predilections.
A note on the steampunk, it's not over the top (except the end) but it's not bashful either. There's a 19th century Iron Man and vigilante, there's a lighter than air flying machine, and there's a train that transforms into a steampunk mech robot. Yeah that's the one over the top part and I could have lived without it. In fact if it wasn't for that part of the ending, I probably would have given this a 4 star rating.
May 29, 2022
Basic Plot: A series of bombings threatens London and the royal family, an armored hero fights crime in the east end, and Sherlock Holmes has to piece together how they are connected.
Overall, a fun romp. The steam punk Batman-esque Baron Cauchemar made for an interesting twist on a traditional Holmes tale. Lovegrove definitely captures the voice of a Holmes novel, even if he puts a spin on it. It was a bit bogged down at times, though, and sometimes Holmes and Watson felt like add-ons instead of main characters. I'm not sure if this took me so long to read because of the style or because my attention span is shot lately.
I picked up a handful of these Titan Publishing Holmes books, so I'll see what some of the other authors have done with the character.
Overall, a fun romp. The steam punk Batman-esque Baron Cauchemar made for an interesting twist on a traditional Holmes tale. Lovegrove definitely captures the voice of a Holmes novel, even if he puts a spin on it. It was a bit bogged down at times, though, and sometimes Holmes and Watson felt like add-ons instead of main characters. I'm not sure if this took me so long to read because of the style or because my attention span is shot lately.
I picked up a handful of these Titan Publishing Holmes books, so I'll see what some of the other authors have done with the character.
August 27, 2013
It's a shame that this site doesn't do half stars because neither is this book bad enough to warrant a three but neither is it good enough to warrant a four so I feel kind of bad down rating it.
Neither way the one flaw of the story is the fact that every thing grinds to a halt whenever a explanation by Watson is given or a long diatribe by the Baron. It kind of felt like it was being used to pad out the book.
However take that flaw out and you have a cracking Sherlock Holmes yarn. There are quite a few twists and turns as well as some shocking moments that make this worth picking up.
For the full review by all means click the link to be site to my review site Curiosity of a Social Misfit.
http://curiosityofasocialmisfit.blogs...
Neither way the one flaw of the story is the fact that every thing grinds to a halt whenever a explanation by Watson is given or a long diatribe by the Baron. It kind of felt like it was being used to pad out the book.
However take that flaw out and you have a cracking Sherlock Holmes yarn. There are quite a few twists and turns as well as some shocking moments that make this worth picking up.
For the full review by all means click the link to be site to my review site Curiosity of a Social Misfit.
http://curiosityofasocialmisfit.blogs...
January 15, 2014
Hm, the idea was good, very steam-punk-ish - especially the steam-powered suits at the end, the battle - but a) the book seemed way too long and b) I didn't really like the man hiding behind the Baron Cauchemar moniker, his story didn't really move me because his very own stupidity led to the downfall and death of innocent people. So, overall, I was rather disappointed.
What I did like a lot was the very beginning, Watson thinking of his wife, Mary, who was recuperating from yet another failed pregnancy that hit her really hard, his need to hide the reason behind her failing health from Holmes, the explosion at the railway station, Watson helping the wounded... that was really great and I wish the whole book was like that, deeply emotional and close to heart. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
What I did like a lot was the very beginning, Watson thinking of his wife, Mary, who was recuperating from yet another failed pregnancy that hit her really hard, his need to hide the reason behind her failing health from Holmes, the explosion at the railway station, Watson helping the wounded... that was really great and I wish the whole book was like that, deeply emotional and close to heart. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
October 21, 2013
Characterization of Holmes, Watson and Mycroft was rather wobbly, but it was a fun, fast moving, comicbook-like, steampunk sort of romp. An enjoyable breezy read.
April 6, 2018
Good read
Really enjoyed this book. I think Arthur Conan Doyle would have too. Recommend for SH fans everywhere. Downloading the next one now.
Really enjoyed this book. I think Arthur Conan Doyle would have too. Recommend for SH fans everywhere. Downloading the next one now.
September 5, 2023
It’s 1890 & the game’s afoot!
We have Holmes, Watson, Mycroft, Lestrade & Arch nemesis Moriarty!
Who is behind the bombings that are terrorizing the country? And to what end?
What more do you need to know? Another fun Sherlock book.
I’m reading 2 more this month …
We have Holmes, Watson, Mycroft, Lestrade & Arch nemesis Moriarty!
Who is behind the bombings that are terrorizing the country? And to what end?
What more do you need to know? Another fun Sherlock book.
I’m reading 2 more this month …
September 28, 2022
Another fantastic Holmes novel from Lovegrove. This thrilling novel has all the thrill and suspense of a classic Holmes novel with a bit of a steampunk twist. Thoroughly enjoyable.
December 30, 2022
Cyberpunk, transformers and sexual assault are the last things I expected in a Holmesian novel. It was bizarre and killed the cosy mystery mood I was in for 🫠
August 12, 2014
I have to say, I enjoyed this book in the Titan Books Sherlock series more than The Breath of God.
Maybe it's not true of all Sherlock fans, but I definitely prefer the more canon characterization (nothing against other series, but I couldn't stomach reading about a married Sherlock), and I believe Lovegrove did a fantastic job staying true to canon.
Included are boatloads of references and (perhaps cheeky) corrections to the inconsistencies in the original series. But I loved that those were in there, making me feel the narrative was all the more connected to the on-going legacy of Sherlock Holmes.
Double-score for me was the steampunk aspect of the mystery. The mystery itself was decent, up until 2/3 of the way in when I had pretty much guessed the "solution" but which wasn't revealed until the very end, so the ending did drag a tiny bit for me.
And one teensy weensy additional issue: Sherlock admitted to making more than one error in judgment during the case - while it has been shown thatmy perfect Sherlock does make mistakes from time to time, I don't find it believable that he would make more than one error in a case.
All in all, a cracking good addition to the Sherlock legacy.
Maybe it's not true of all Sherlock fans, but I definitely prefer the more canon characterization (nothing against other series, but I couldn't stomach reading about a married Sherlock), and I believe Lovegrove did a fantastic job staying true to canon.
Included are boatloads of references and (perhaps cheeky) corrections to the inconsistencies in the original series. But I loved that those were in there, making me feel the narrative was all the more connected to the on-going legacy of Sherlock Holmes.
Double-score for me was the steampunk aspect of the mystery. The mystery itself was decent, up until 2/3 of the way in when I had pretty much guessed the "solution" but which wasn't revealed until the very end, so the ending did drag a tiny bit for me.
And one teensy weensy additional issue: Sherlock admitted to making more than one error in judgment during the case - while it has been shown that
All in all, a cracking good addition to the Sherlock legacy.
August 22, 2013
I was looking forward to this mash-up of steampunk and everybody’s favourite Baker Street investigator. Titan has a whole series of Sherlock Holmes novels that demonstrate his lasting appeal (in case two recent television series and the schlock films haven’t already done so). It’s a frustrating read in some ways: there’s good ideas here and some excellent action. The is-he-a-hero-or-villain Baron Cauchemar is a fun idea and the chance to bring together a heady mix of political maneuvering and popular prejudice around the bombings offers an opportunity for oblique commentary on the present. But the narrative frequently comes to a complete halt in the midst of action whether it’s for Watson to explain the history of baritsu or for the Baron to give an elaborate backstory. I was ready to scream several times, when the story gets to the action, it moves along at a good clip with good detail (though I did not for a moment believe the key Transformer-like moment). Like a lot of faux historical texts, it uses its time period as an excuse to reduce female characters to nothing more than servants of men whether angels who keep the house (Mrs Hudson and Mrs Watson) or prostitutes. How refreshing it would be to have Holmes stories that recognised the genuine history of the New Woman.
Read
August 28, 2013... Even as tightly placed as The Stuff of Nightmares is, Lovegrove has been able to put his own spin on the mythos. He does so with such apparent elan that it’s easy to dismiss the fact that for all intents and purposes Lovegrove has managed to include the steampunk equivalent of the Transformers and Batman. ...
Full review at: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
Full review at: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
November 15, 2014
If Arthur Conan Doyle had teamed up with H.G. Wells and Jules Verne to write his Sherlock Holmes stories, I am sure the result would have been something like James Lovegrove's "The Stuff of Nightmares".
I enjoyed the book and its steampunk-ish ideas. One leap in logic that did not land on a firm footing early on in the novel did not settle well with me and stuck in my craw enough to outweigh what was a generally well written Holmes pastiche.
3 STARS
I enjoyed the book and its steampunk-ish ideas. One leap in logic that did not land on a firm footing early on in the novel did not settle well with me and stuck in my craw enough to outweigh what was a generally well written Holmes pastiche.
3 STARS
January 8, 2017
Same sad old story. A promising beginning of bombs set off in a crowded London spot soon degenerates into a particularly bad episode of Transformers.
Nice cover art, though.
Nice cover art, though.
October 2, 2013
See my Fantasy Matters review here.
May 3, 2017
An in-character pastiche of Holmes and Watson that features Mycroft (who's possibly sleeping with Queen Victoria...??) and a cameo by Moriarty.
Recommended 14+ for sexual elements (never graphic) and lots of violence.
Recommended 14+ for sexual elements (never graphic) and lots of violence.
May 9, 2020
No. Outlandish not at all like a Holmes tale.
December 8, 2023
Beautifully captured the style of Conan Doyle.
Exciting adventure.
Ludicrous plot.
Ever since I can remember, Sherlock Holmes has been my literary companion. Conan Doyle's portrayal of the exceptional detective was my benchmark. But, as it happens with avid readers, I craved more.
This hunger led me to the world of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. It's a mixed bag out there—some are painfully off the mark, but others, oh, they nail it. James Lovegrove? He's in the latter camp. Capturing the essence of Holmes and Watson isn't child's play, but Lovegrove seems to have cracked the code.
For me, the charm of Sherlock lies in his almost supernatural knack for picking up on the tiniest details and weaving them into a coherent, often brilliant solution. That's the heart and soul of any Sherlock story worth its salt. I am drawn to authors who can show off Holmes’s observational powers.
Enter Lovegrove. The man has a flair for crafting intricate details and subtle hints, which Sherlock then pieces together in a manner that leaves you thinking, "How on earth did he figure that out?"
Over the years, exploring variations on the classic Sherlock theme has been a delightful journey. For instance, Sherry Thomas's "Lady Sherlock" series is a refreshing take, flipping all those familiar characters into a female-led narrative. Some authors stick close to Conan Doyle's original blueprint, while others boldly reinvent the wheel, introducing supernatural elements or meshing Sherlock with other literary classics.
"The Stuff of Nightmares" falls into the latter category. It is a wild departure from the original: a steampunk world colliding with a Transformers-esque scenario. It has giant steam-powered robots in the 19th century, sort of like a bizarre fusion of Iron Man and Queen Victoria, or "The Matrix" meets Versailles. That's a lot to take in.
Honestly, this radical departure from the traditional Sherlock narrative didn't quite sit with me. My love for Sherlock is rooted in his role as the paragon of logical reasoning. In this book, Holmes will be amazingly analytical in discerning small clues, but then will conveniently overlook the ludicrousness of a 50-foot-tall, super robot operating on steam power.
If Sherlock can tell a man’s entire history from looking at a button on his coat, then surely he would notice the ludicrousness of flying fortresses and underground tunneling machines. It's hard to reconcile Holmes's acute analytical prowess with his apparent obliviousness to the absurdity of these anachronisms.
Maybe it's my inner Sherlock purist speaking, but I find myself wishing Lovegrove would dial back his experimental tendencies just a notch. He's a stellar Sherlock writer, no doubt. I just yearn for a little more restraint in his creative liberties.
Exciting adventure.
Ludicrous plot.
Ever since I can remember, Sherlock Holmes has been my literary companion. Conan Doyle's portrayal of the exceptional detective was my benchmark. But, as it happens with avid readers, I craved more.
This hunger led me to the world of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. It's a mixed bag out there—some are painfully off the mark, but others, oh, they nail it. James Lovegrove? He's in the latter camp. Capturing the essence of Holmes and Watson isn't child's play, but Lovegrove seems to have cracked the code.
For me, the charm of Sherlock lies in his almost supernatural knack for picking up on the tiniest details and weaving them into a coherent, often brilliant solution. That's the heart and soul of any Sherlock story worth its salt. I am drawn to authors who can show off Holmes’s observational powers.
Enter Lovegrove. The man has a flair for crafting intricate details and subtle hints, which Sherlock then pieces together in a manner that leaves you thinking, "How on earth did he figure that out?"
Over the years, exploring variations on the classic Sherlock theme has been a delightful journey. For instance, Sherry Thomas's "Lady Sherlock" series is a refreshing take, flipping all those familiar characters into a female-led narrative. Some authors stick close to Conan Doyle's original blueprint, while others boldly reinvent the wheel, introducing supernatural elements or meshing Sherlock with other literary classics.
"The Stuff of Nightmares" falls into the latter category. It is a wild departure from the original: a steampunk world colliding with a Transformers-esque scenario. It has giant steam-powered robots in the 19th century, sort of like a bizarre fusion of Iron Man and Queen Victoria, or "The Matrix" meets Versailles. That's a lot to take in.
Honestly, this radical departure from the traditional Sherlock narrative didn't quite sit with me. My love for Sherlock is rooted in his role as the paragon of logical reasoning. In this book, Holmes will be amazingly analytical in discerning small clues, but then will conveniently overlook the ludicrousness of a 50-foot-tall, super robot operating on steam power.
If Sherlock can tell a man’s entire history from looking at a button on his coat, then surely he would notice the ludicrousness of flying fortresses and underground tunneling machines. It's hard to reconcile Holmes's acute analytical prowess with his apparent obliviousness to the absurdity of these anachronisms.
Maybe it's my inner Sherlock purist speaking, but I find myself wishing Lovegrove would dial back his experimental tendencies just a notch. He's a stellar Sherlock writer, no doubt. I just yearn for a little more restraint in his creative liberties.
December 19, 2024
"Sherlock Holmes Meets Steam Punk Batman"
Are you old enough to remember the "Hidden Pilot" episodes of successful TV series, in which the protagonist 'Meets' a new character to gauge the audience's interest in them and their potential, stand-alone series?...
Well, even if you're not, that's precisely what this book is from start to finish. A chance for Lovegrove to show off his new "Steam Punk Batman" in the hopes of writing a whole series, which also happens to have Sherlock Holmes in it.
Of course, that's not entirely true. Because while Lovegrove is showing off his new "Original Character, Do Not Steal," he also includes Mycroft for pure fan service. (Repainting him as an impulsive idiot who plays into the villain's hands in order to set up the finale.) As well as including Moriarty for no reason (beyond fanservice,) other than to retcon the fact that Conan-Doyle pulled him out of thin air in "The Final Problem" as an arch nemesis who Holmes would give his own life to defeat. With Watson explaining that "Well Actually, I knew all about Moriarty, but chose not to write about him, because reasons."
On top of which, there are a couple of deeply problematic references to homosexuality in this novel, with Lovegrove showing off his pub-quiz trivia knowledge of the fact that a green carnation in Victorian London was a signal to other Gay & Bi/Pansexual men that you were open to hooking up. A fact which, in a disgusting display of petty, vindictive spite, Holmes uses to blackmail and emotionally attack a man who he'd already exposed as an embezzler, thus merely adding homophobic insult to injury.
However, that is all ultimately incidental to the fact that the 'Steam Punk' angle of this book is utterly absurd, with the 'Steam Punk Batman' literally wearing a steam powered mecha-suit. And if you think that's ridiculous, then what can only be described as the 'Final Boss Fight' at the end, coupled with the narrator of this audiobook's "Outrageous French Accent" (Monty Python) left me laughing my head off and incapable of taking this book seriously.
In short then, this novel commits the cardinal sin of all bad Sherlock Holmes fanfic and adaptations of forgetting that Holmes is a detective, not a superhero. That the stories should revolve around the mystery which Holmes is solving. And that the mystery at hand needs to have a solution which Holmes deduces (or rather, 'Induces.') Not merely be the question of "Who Is This Mecha-Suited Vigilante, & What Is His Connection To The Villain?" A question which the character then answers with three chapters of exposition.
Are you old enough to remember the "Hidden Pilot" episodes of successful TV series, in which the protagonist 'Meets' a new character to gauge the audience's interest in them and their potential, stand-alone series?...
Well, even if you're not, that's precisely what this book is from start to finish. A chance for Lovegrove to show off his new "Steam Punk Batman" in the hopes of writing a whole series, which also happens to have Sherlock Holmes in it.
Of course, that's not entirely true. Because while Lovegrove is showing off his new "Original Character, Do Not Steal," he also includes Mycroft for pure fan service. (Repainting him as an impulsive idiot who plays into the villain's hands in order to set up the finale.) As well as including Moriarty for no reason (beyond fanservice,) other than to retcon the fact that Conan-Doyle pulled him out of thin air in "The Final Problem" as an arch nemesis who Holmes would give his own life to defeat. With Watson explaining that "Well Actually, I knew all about Moriarty, but chose not to write about him, because reasons."
On top of which, there are a couple of deeply problematic references to homosexuality in this novel, with Lovegrove showing off his pub-quiz trivia knowledge of the fact that a green carnation in Victorian London was a signal to other Gay & Bi/Pansexual men that you were open to hooking up. A fact which, in a disgusting display of petty, vindictive spite, Holmes uses to blackmail and emotionally attack a man who he'd already exposed as an embezzler, thus merely adding homophobic insult to injury.
However, that is all ultimately incidental to the fact that the 'Steam Punk' angle of this book is utterly absurd, with the 'Steam Punk Batman' literally wearing a steam powered mecha-suit. And if you think that's ridiculous, then what can only be described as the 'Final Boss Fight' at the end, coupled with the narrator of this audiobook's "Outrageous French Accent" (Monty Python) left me laughing my head off and incapable of taking this book seriously.
In short then, this novel commits the cardinal sin of all bad Sherlock Holmes fanfic and adaptations of forgetting that Holmes is a detective, not a superhero. That the stories should revolve around the mystery which Holmes is solving. And that the mystery at hand needs to have a solution which Holmes deduces (or rather, 'Induces.') Not merely be the question of "Who Is This Mecha-Suited Vigilante, & What Is His Connection To The Villain?" A question which the character then answers with three chapters of exposition.
January 17, 2018
This was a fun read. Perfect Watson style=5*, One key scene= -2*, Great fun adventure=+1*
I've been reading a lot of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, so it was interesting to try this "pastiche" story. I had reached 1890 in the "real" Sherlock stories, so I thought that I would step sideways into Mr Lovegrove's version to see how it went.
The result was interesting. Coming fresh from the originals I can say with authority that James Lovegrove has the characters and tone spot on. Absolute bulls-eye. There are many scenes that I could easily believe were lost papers from Sir Arthur himself (if not from Dr Watson).
While most of the book was not quite as far fetched as the blurb/cover implies, the scenes with the "Baron" were often a little far fetched for a Holmes novel, with the very notable exception of a key scene which was Holmes gold. That said, all characters stayed perfectly in character throughout, which to me allowed James Lovegrove to somehow pull it off.
There was just one moment at the very end (coming hot on the heels of a brilliant Sir Arthur style showdown) where I did feel it had overstepped the mark and I was knocked out of the book for a moment. That was too far fetched and not needed. I did press on however and was very glad I did because within a few moments we were back in the swing again and Holmes was dealing with things with his usual mixture of insight and quick reflexes.
So overall, if you are a Holmes purist, probably stay away. If you love the characters of Holmes and Watson and want a rip-roaring adventure/mystery with a Conan Doyle style romance backstory, then give this a go.
I've been reading a lot of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, so it was interesting to try this "pastiche" story. I had reached 1890 in the "real" Sherlock stories, so I thought that I would step sideways into Mr Lovegrove's version to see how it went.
The result was interesting. Coming fresh from the originals I can say with authority that James Lovegrove has the characters and tone spot on. Absolute bulls-eye. There are many scenes that I could easily believe were lost papers from Sir Arthur himself (if not from Dr Watson).
While most of the book was not quite as far fetched as the blurb/cover implies, the scenes with the "Baron" were often a little far fetched for a Holmes novel, with the very notable exception of a key scene which was Holmes gold. That said, all characters stayed perfectly in character throughout, which to me allowed James Lovegrove to somehow pull it off.
There was just one moment at the very end (coming hot on the heels of a brilliant Sir Arthur style showdown) where I did feel it had overstepped the mark and I was knocked out of the book for a moment. That was too far fetched and not needed. I did press on however and was very glad I did because within a few moments we were back in the swing again and Holmes was dealing with things with his usual mixture of insight and quick reflexes.
So overall, if you are a Holmes purist, probably stay away. If you love the characters of Holmes and Watson and want a rip-roaring adventure/mystery with a Conan Doyle style romance backstory, then give this a go.
January 19, 2024
Sherlock Holmes: The Stuff of Nightmares by James Lovegrove
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
hopeful, mysterious, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25 Stars
This was a GREAT steampunk mystery...with the illustrius duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.
Really enjoyed the elements of the mystery. I called a number of the reveals (which made me proud of myself), but others were well hidden.
The idea of a group of people coming to overthrow the government of England...was interesting (to me), for being Scotch/Irish...I've had a tenuous relationship with England/Great Britain...from BOTH sides of my ancestry.
Being cohorts with Holmes and Watson, I didn't want anything to happen to the Queen of England (which was hard for me to type), but the worst of it...was that the Irish were the fall guys (at the beginning).
In true fashion, with stories like these...the greater intrigue was revealed later in the story...and it made SO much more sense.
I loved how personal it got, though it saddened me by WHO got hurt by the deceit and reversal. It THEN became ALL against them...and really didn't matter where you were from...right was right.
I also love how Dr. Watson writes many times throughout this narrative that this will never come to be published (which I'm glad to hear...it has...book in hand).
I think these stories in the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by all these various authors has so far been wonderful. The series is, at the moment, 20 novels long...but hope it continues to grow. Now that I've finished the THIRD novel...will soon pick up the fourth.
Also, many thanks to my wife Marie...for buying this series for me.
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
hopeful, mysterious, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25 Stars
This was a GREAT steampunk mystery...with the illustrius duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.
Really enjoyed the elements of the mystery. I called a number of the reveals (which made me proud of myself), but others were well hidden.
The idea of a group of people coming to overthrow the government of England...was interesting (to me), for being Scotch/Irish...I've had a tenuous relationship with England/Great Britain...from BOTH sides of my ancestry.
Being cohorts with Holmes and Watson, I didn't want anything to happen to the Queen of England (which was hard for me to type), but the worst of it...was that the Irish were the fall guys (at the beginning).
In true fashion, with stories like these...the greater intrigue was revealed later in the story...and it made SO much more sense.
I loved how personal it got, though it saddened me by WHO got hurt by the deceit and reversal. It THEN became ALL against them...and really didn't matter where you were from...right was right.
I also love how Dr. Watson writes many times throughout this narrative that this will never come to be published (which I'm glad to hear...it has...book in hand).
I think these stories in the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by all these various authors has so far been wonderful. The series is, at the moment, 20 novels long...but hope it continues to grow. Now that I've finished the THIRD novel...will soon pick up the fourth.
Also, many thanks to my wife Marie...for buying this series for me.
October 5, 2024
I was pretty sure of it already, but I've officially decided I'm a fan of James Lovegrove. I read two of his Cthulhu casebooks with Holmes and Watson, and I was expecting this to be similar, since the description mentioned Spring-Heeled Jack.
Instead, its more of a steam punk adventure, which is pretty great. Lovegrove's Watson is just the way I want him to be...grumpy and a bit thick but competent and brilliant in flashes. He makes some silly comments, but also some great observations about life.
The story was an entertaining one about a series of bombings in England in 1890, which lead into a throwaway line in 'the Final Problem'. Love it when a pastiche writer does that sort of thing.
I was particularly tickled when Watson was talking to the readers about inconsistencies in his stories (he mentions he lies about knowing Moriarty on purpose)... especially since this story is definitely not consisted with Lovegrove's Cthulhu books. You could, of course, chalk that up to those being 'secret'... but Watson says several times in this one he's writing it for himself, not for publication, so that doesn't make sense. I don't always like it when authors go meta, but this was unintentional I think (those other books are a couple years away, which makes it very funny.
The ending here was surprising and wonderfully ridiculous... while it would have made an amazing cover, I get why they didn't go there.
The cover, in fact, does no justice to Baron Couchemar... definitely the worst part of the book. I would love to see him again sometimes (if he survived). I had forgotten Lovegrove had written so many Holmes books ,I'll have to find those at some point... perhaps after his soon to be release Conan book that I'm pretty excited about.
Instead, its more of a steam punk adventure, which is pretty great. Lovegrove's Watson is just the way I want him to be...grumpy and a bit thick but competent and brilliant in flashes. He makes some silly comments, but also some great observations about life.
The story was an entertaining one about a series of bombings in England in 1890, which lead into a throwaway line in 'the Final Problem'. Love it when a pastiche writer does that sort of thing.
I was particularly tickled when Watson was talking to the readers about inconsistencies in his stories (he mentions he lies about knowing Moriarty on purpose)... especially since this story is definitely not consisted with Lovegrove's Cthulhu books. You could, of course, chalk that up to those being 'secret'... but Watson says several times in this one he's writing it for himself, not for publication, so that doesn't make sense. I don't always like it when authors go meta, but this was unintentional I think (those other books are a couple years away, which makes it very funny.
The ending here was surprising and wonderfully ridiculous... while it would have made an amazing cover, I get why they didn't go there.
The cover, in fact, does no justice to Baron Couchemar... definitely the worst part of the book. I would love to see him again sometimes (if he survived). I had forgotten Lovegrove had written so many Holmes books ,I'll have to find those at some point... perhaps after his soon to be release Conan book that I'm pretty excited about.
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