short story, 7,300 words A Sherlock Holmes short story of 7,300 words, narrated by Dr. Watson. Holmes and Watson are in San Francisco, and find themselves defending a Chinese magician accused of kidnapping a little girl. Someone obviously intends for the magician to be lynched, and Holmes calls upon the aid of another magician, renowned prestidigitator and aeronaut Oscar Zoroaster Diggs - otherwise known as the Great and Powerful Oz.
Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.
"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts." -Barbara Hambly
Short story from one of the Sherlock anthologies Hambly wrote for. Holmes and Watson venture overseas to the Bay Area and, in the process, meet The Wizard of Oz. It's not an outre crossover, but it does add a fun whimsy to the story which is about a collection of more mundane magic users (illusionists) and the disappearance of a child.