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Associates of Sherlock Holmes #1
Associates of Sherlock Holmes
A brand new Sherlock Holmes anthology to sit alongside George Mann's successful Encounters of Sherlock Holmes anthologies, and Titan's Further Adventures and New Adventures series.
A brand-new collection of Sherlock Holmes stories from a variety of exciting voices in modern horror and steampunk, edited by respected anthologist George Mann. Stories are told from the point of view of famous associates of the great detective, including Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, Sherlock himself, Irene Adler, Langdale Pike, and of course, Professor Moriarty...
A brand-new collection of Sherlock Holmes stories from a variety of exciting voices in modern horror and steampunk, edited by respected anthologist George Mann. Stories are told from the point of view of famous associates of the great detective, including Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, Sherlock himself, Irene Adler, Langdale Pike, and of course, Professor Moriarty...
378 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2016
12 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
George Mann
360 books674 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 13, 2016
"Associates of Sherlock Holmes" edited by George Mann is a very interesting anthology. Each story is about, or from the point of view of, someone who knew Sherlock Holmes.
The calibre of the stories is very high, and I enjoyed all of them. My favourites were by:
Lyndsay Faye (a story about Inspector Stanley Hopkins); and
Jaine Fenn (a story about Violet Hunter).
Excellent anthology and highly recommended to any Sherlock Holmes fan.
The calibre of the stories is very high, and I enjoyed all of them. My favourites were by:
Lyndsay Faye (a story about Inspector Stanley Hopkins); and
Jaine Fenn (a story about Violet Hunter).
Excellent anthology and highly recommended to any Sherlock Holmes fan.
August 22, 2016
In this collection brought together by George Mann, we have stories about, or inspired by, people mentioned in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. I think this is an excellent idea: there are screeds of non-canonical Holmes and Watson stories, so a slightly different angle adds freshness without the need for anything too bizarre.
Inevitably some of these 'associates' (Irene Adler, Lestrade, Mycroft, Col Sebastian Moran) are more memorable than others (Clarence Barker, Billy the Page) so helpfully the authors have written a short introduction to each. That's also useful because some of the stories (not all) riff directly off the canonical ones, and, unless you've lately reread them, the details may be hazy.others. So while it wouldn't do any harm to reread, say, The Adventure of the Creeping Man or The Adventure of the Three Gables before this book, the intros mean that's not necessary.
Most of the stories, while not narrated by Dr Watson, adopt the same straightforward approach (there is a rational solution which is discovered by logical detective work). There are though a few that bend the rules, for example by flirting with the supernatural (or, in one case, even proposing a supernatural explanation), telling a straight adventure narrative (indeed, almost SFF in one case) or simply acting as a framing device to another story with no great element of detection involved.
Stepping outside the normal Holmes-and-Watson setup also allows some games with the Sherlock universe, such as hints in a couple of stories of things that Watson wouldn't have referred to for reasons of Victorian propriety, or of fallibilities that he (as an unreliable narrator) wouldn't have admitted (one of the stories hints at his gambling addiction). It as if all those silenced characters - including a number of women - are finally able to dish the dirt on the good Doctor. There is also scope for or fixing continuity errors (Watson's confused marital history) or outright errors (the Speckled Band itself was not, as Holmes admits, a swamp adder).
Inevitably the stories vary rather in theme and tone. I found them all enjoyable but everyone will have their own favourites:
In The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye, we see Holmes's first meeting with Stanley Hopkins, a young Inspector who turns up in some of the later Conan Doyle stories. Faye convinces with her story told through the voice of Hopkins, and it means she doesn't have to imitate Conan Doyle's style (or, as many have, run the risk of pastiching it). In theme and overall atmosphere, though, the story - opening with a gruesome discovery and proceeding though the fogs of London to a squalid Limehouse - is very much in keeping with the original tales, right down to the vagueness about illness ("fever") and the mental collapse of one character. It's a nice little origin story for Hopkins, a minor Conan Doyle character, which allows Faye plenty of room to develop his personality and backstory.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove picks up the story of Clarence Barker, Sherlock Holmes's 'hated rival on the Surrey shore' who appears in The Adventure of the Retired Colourman. Who is Barker, why are he and Holmes rivals - and where is Barker from? These questions are answered in ways that gives a slightly different and more cynical view of the Great Detective. In the end, you're left with a choice to which is the more reliable narrator - Watson or Barker.
Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest isn't a crime story at all. While it features the brilliant, amoral Colonel Sebastian Moran, he's not up to some sort of caper, nor is he trying to kill Holmes - instead he is again the Great Hunter. It's nice to see this character - who only appears a few times in the canonical stories but who is portrayed so well that he seems to dominate even so - finally step out from behind the curtain.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn picks up the later life of Violet Hunter, the governess from The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, who's now Head of a girls' school. When a mysterious figure begins to haunt the dormitory by night, she remembers Holmes' example and sets out to find the truth. This is a lovely story featuring a determined and independent woman who's not afraid to flout convention.
The Case of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton is a rather fantastical concoction focussed in Inspector Barnes who appears only once (in The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge) but seems to be Holmes's equal. That said I wasn't sure he was really allowed to shine in this rather fantastical tale which seems closer in theme to MR James than Conan Doyle.
Nor Hell a Fury by Cavan Scott is definitely my favourite story but then it features The Woman, Irene Adler, so how could it not be?
The Case of the Haphazard Marksman by Andrew Lane features Lansdale Pike, a gossip columnist(!) who originally appeared in The Adventure of the Three Gables. This story was another favourite of mine, I think it nicely captures something of the atmosphere of the originals, with an ingenious mystery that fully stretches both Holmes and Pike, standing in for Watson.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes is one of those stories where the introduction helps by going over the salient points of its inspiration, The Adventure of the Creeping Man, but which goes beyond that original in implied depravity and danger. It also brings in Mycroft (as does A Family Resemblance by Simon Bucher-Jones).
William Meikle's A Flash in the Pan revives another one-off Conan Doyle character, the bruiser Shinwell Johnson. It's a slightly sulphurous tale set amongst the cheap places of evening entertainment - and shows Holmes accepting methods that he doesn't want Watson to know too much about.
The Vanishing Snake by Jeffrey Thomas continues the story of Helen Stonor from The Speckled Band, taking the chance to correct a couple of glitches with that and also advancing a new theory about what was really going on in the original. It was a rather different Holmes story and great fun.
Page Turners by Kara Dennison is a nice little story - the one featuring Billy the Page, in a thrilling adventure which comes across as just another tricky day for that resourceful lad.
Finally, Peeler by Nick Kyme features my favourite of Scotland Yard's also-rans, Inspector Lestrade himself (Lestrade also plays a supporting role in The River of Silence). The is a properly grisly story to end the book on, perhaps a little more so than feels natural a Sherlock Holmes story but it's definitely an ingenious mystery.
Inevitably some of these 'associates' (Irene Adler, Lestrade, Mycroft, Col Sebastian Moran) are more memorable than others (Clarence Barker, Billy the Page) so helpfully the authors have written a short introduction to each. That's also useful because some of the stories (not all) riff directly off the canonical ones, and, unless you've lately reread them, the details may be hazy.others. So while it wouldn't do any harm to reread, say, The Adventure of the Creeping Man or The Adventure of the Three Gables before this book, the intros mean that's not necessary.
Most of the stories, while not narrated by Dr Watson, adopt the same straightforward approach (there is a rational solution which is discovered by logical detective work). There are though a few that bend the rules, for example by flirting with the supernatural (or, in one case, even proposing a supernatural explanation), telling a straight adventure narrative (indeed, almost SFF in one case) or simply acting as a framing device to another story with no great element of detection involved.
Stepping outside the normal Holmes-and-Watson setup also allows some games with the Sherlock universe, such as hints in a couple of stories of things that Watson wouldn't have referred to for reasons of Victorian propriety, or of fallibilities that he (as an unreliable narrator) wouldn't have admitted (one of the stories hints at his gambling addiction). It as if all those silenced characters - including a number of women - are finally able to dish the dirt on the good Doctor. There is also scope for or fixing continuity errors (Watson's confused marital history) or outright errors (the Speckled Band itself was not, as Holmes admits, a swamp adder).
Inevitably the stories vary rather in theme and tone. I found them all enjoyable but everyone will have their own favourites:
In The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye, we see Holmes's first meeting with Stanley Hopkins, a young Inspector who turns up in some of the later Conan Doyle stories. Faye convinces with her story told through the voice of Hopkins, and it means she doesn't have to imitate Conan Doyle's style (or, as many have, run the risk of pastiching it). In theme and overall atmosphere, though, the story - opening with a gruesome discovery and proceeding though the fogs of London to a squalid Limehouse - is very much in keeping with the original tales, right down to the vagueness about illness ("fever") and the mental collapse of one character. It's a nice little origin story for Hopkins, a minor Conan Doyle character, which allows Faye plenty of room to develop his personality and backstory.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove picks up the story of Clarence Barker, Sherlock Holmes's 'hated rival on the Surrey shore' who appears in The Adventure of the Retired Colourman. Who is Barker, why are he and Holmes rivals - and where is Barker from? These questions are answered in ways that gives a slightly different and more cynical view of the Great Detective. In the end, you're left with a choice to which is the more reliable narrator - Watson or Barker.
Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest isn't a crime story at all. While it features the brilliant, amoral Colonel Sebastian Moran, he's not up to some sort of caper, nor is he trying to kill Holmes - instead he is again the Great Hunter. It's nice to see this character - who only appears a few times in the canonical stories but who is portrayed so well that he seems to dominate even so - finally step out from behind the curtain.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn picks up the later life of Violet Hunter, the governess from The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, who's now Head of a girls' school. When a mysterious figure begins to haunt the dormitory by night, she remembers Holmes' example and sets out to find the truth. This is a lovely story featuring a determined and independent woman who's not afraid to flout convention.
The Case of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton is a rather fantastical concoction focussed in Inspector Barnes who appears only once (in The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge) but seems to be Holmes's equal. That said I wasn't sure he was really allowed to shine in this rather fantastical tale which seems closer in theme to MR James than Conan Doyle.
Nor Hell a Fury by Cavan Scott is definitely my favourite story but then it features The Woman, Irene Adler, so how could it not be?
The Case of the Haphazard Marksman by Andrew Lane features Lansdale Pike, a gossip columnist(!) who originally appeared in The Adventure of the Three Gables. This story was another favourite of mine, I think it nicely captures something of the atmosphere of the originals, with an ingenious mystery that fully stretches both Holmes and Pike, standing in for Watson.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes is one of those stories where the introduction helps by going over the salient points of its inspiration, The Adventure of the Creeping Man, but which goes beyond that original in implied depravity and danger. It also brings in Mycroft (as does A Family Resemblance by Simon Bucher-Jones).
William Meikle's A Flash in the Pan revives another one-off Conan Doyle character, the bruiser Shinwell Johnson. It's a slightly sulphurous tale set amongst the cheap places of evening entertainment - and shows Holmes accepting methods that he doesn't want Watson to know too much about.
The Vanishing Snake by Jeffrey Thomas continues the story of Helen Stonor from The Speckled Band, taking the chance to correct a couple of glitches with that and also advancing a new theory about what was really going on in the original. It was a rather different Holmes story and great fun.
Page Turners by Kara Dennison is a nice little story - the one featuring Billy the Page, in a thrilling adventure which comes across as just another tricky day for that resourceful lad.
Finally, Peeler by Nick Kyme features my favourite of Scotland Yard's also-rans, Inspector Lestrade himself (Lestrade also plays a supporting role in The River of Silence). The is a properly grisly story to end the book on, perhaps a little more so than feels natural a Sherlock Holmes story but it's definitely an ingenious mystery.
November 16, 2016
This collection of Sherlock-Holmes-stories puts the focus on some secondary characters from the Holmes-universe. Several of them like Irene Adler or Inspector Lestrade are quite well-known, others we meet only once.
Titan Books is doing an amazing job churning out new pastiches every year, as well as publishing older “classics”. This might not be their best anthology even though some well-known writers are included.
It starts with The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye. Lyndsay Faye is the author of Dust And Shadow, a novel in which Sherlock Holmes solves the case of the Jack The Ripper Killings. Here she writes about inspector Stanley Hopkins and his first meeting with the great detective. This is a solid character piece, but the mystery is unmemorable.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove deals with Barker a character casual readers are unlikely to remember. He only appears once in “The Adventure of the Retired Colourman”, where he is described as "Holmes’ hated rival on the Surrey shore". Here we are allowed to see the case from Barker’s point of view who is jealous of Holmes and at the end even manages to outsmart the great detective, at least if we can believe him.
Heavy Game Of the Pacific Northwest by Tim Pratt puts the focus on the dastardly adventurer Colonel Sebastian Moran, Professor Moriarty’s right hand man. It is huge fun as Moran gets involved in a hunt for Bigfoot in the American Pacific Northwest, but it is let down by its brevity which keeps the story from realizing its full potential.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn brings back Violet Hunter from “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches”. This was I think my least favourite story. A pupil at a girl’s school is scared by a ghost-like appearance, but there is nothing original about the solution.
The Case Of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton provides an opportunity to catch up with Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary who played an important role in “The Adventure Of Wisteria Lodge”. It also tells us who occupied the rooms in Baker Street 221B before Holmes and Watson moved in.
Nor Hell a Fury by Cavan Scott deals with “the woman”, Irene Adler. I wasn’t particularly taken with Scott’s novel-length Holmes-pastiche The Patchwork Devil, and he didn’t win me over this time either. Irene comes over as petty and smug in this story, and the mystery is so-so.
We move on to The Case Of The Haphazard Marksman by Andrew Lane who is also the author of the Young Sherlock Holmes adventures. This story is an oddity in the sense that Langdale Pike, around whom events revolve here, never appears in the canon, and is only mentioned once in “The Adventure Of The Three Gables”. He is a gossip columnist and as such not a particularly well respected member of society. A sniper is taking out people in London, in public places in broad daylight. It all seems random, but there is of course a pattern to it and Pike assists Holmes to apprehend the criminal.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes reacquaints us with Professor Presbury who played such a memorable role in The Adventure Of The Creeping Man. The professor is still struggling with his libido, however the consequences this time prove to be truly tragic. This would have been great however it ends far too soon and would have been more interesting in longer form as a novella perhaps.
A Flash In The Pan by William Meikle is another middling tale of a not so interesting character. Shinwell “Porky” Johnson a former criminal who appeared in The Adventure Of The Illustrious Client.
The Vanishing Snake sees the return of Miss Helen Stoner, who was almost murdered by her evil stepfather. This is perhaps my favourite story providing an entirely new perspective on the events in “The Speckled Band”. It is also slightly supernatural which might not be to everyone’s taste, but I thought it was fabulous.
A Family Resemblance by Simon Bucher-Jones is narrated by Mycroft Holmes, who is a bit of a cold fish, and perhaps should leave the story-telling to Dr. Watson, since this a dry and only mildly interesting piece.
Page Turners by Kara Dennison is told by Billy The Page, an urchin who only appeared late in the canon, in The Valley Of Fear, but since then has become a bit of a cult figure.
Finally Nick Kyme gives us a story about the long-suffering Inspector Lestrade who is treated with some dignity here. This is a serial-killer tale and it is the goriest in this collection almost verging on horror.It is creepy and atmospheric, but fails to do anything particularly oroginal with the format.
At the end of the book there is the announcement of a sequel: Further Associates Of Sherlock Holmes coming out in 2017, which will include stories told from the point of view of, among others, Mrs. Hudson, Toby the dog, Inspector Gregson and Professor Moriarty. I would be lying, if I said, I can’t wait, but I’m going to buy it anyway, because apparently I have to own everything about Sherlock Holmes.
Titan Books is doing an amazing job churning out new pastiches every year, as well as publishing older “classics”. This might not be their best anthology even though some well-known writers are included.
It starts with The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye. Lyndsay Faye is the author of Dust And Shadow, a novel in which Sherlock Holmes solves the case of the Jack The Ripper Killings. Here she writes about inspector Stanley Hopkins and his first meeting with the great detective. This is a solid character piece, but the mystery is unmemorable.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove deals with Barker a character casual readers are unlikely to remember. He only appears once in “The Adventure of the Retired Colourman”, where he is described as "Holmes’ hated rival on the Surrey shore". Here we are allowed to see the case from Barker’s point of view who is jealous of Holmes and at the end even manages to outsmart the great detective, at least if we can believe him.
Heavy Game Of the Pacific Northwest by Tim Pratt puts the focus on the dastardly adventurer Colonel Sebastian Moran, Professor Moriarty’s right hand man. It is huge fun as Moran gets involved in a hunt for Bigfoot in the American Pacific Northwest, but it is let down by its brevity which keeps the story from realizing its full potential.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn brings back Violet Hunter from “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches”. This was I think my least favourite story. A pupil at a girl’s school is scared by a ghost-like appearance, but there is nothing original about the solution.
The Case Of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton provides an opportunity to catch up with Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary who played an important role in “The Adventure Of Wisteria Lodge”. It also tells us who occupied the rooms in Baker Street 221B before Holmes and Watson moved in.
Nor Hell a Fury by Cavan Scott deals with “the woman”, Irene Adler. I wasn’t particularly taken with Scott’s novel-length Holmes-pastiche The Patchwork Devil, and he didn’t win me over this time either. Irene comes over as petty and smug in this story, and the mystery is so-so.
We move on to The Case Of The Haphazard Marksman by Andrew Lane who is also the author of the Young Sherlock Holmes adventures. This story is an oddity in the sense that Langdale Pike, around whom events revolve here, never appears in the canon, and is only mentioned once in “The Adventure Of The Three Gables”. He is a gossip columnist and as such not a particularly well respected member of society. A sniper is taking out people in London, in public places in broad daylight. It all seems random, but there is of course a pattern to it and Pike assists Holmes to apprehend the criminal.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes reacquaints us with Professor Presbury who played such a memorable role in The Adventure Of The Creeping Man. The professor is still struggling with his libido, however the consequences this time prove to be truly tragic. This would have been great however it ends far too soon and would have been more interesting in longer form as a novella perhaps.
A Flash In The Pan by William Meikle is another middling tale of a not so interesting character. Shinwell “Porky” Johnson a former criminal who appeared in The Adventure Of The Illustrious Client.
The Vanishing Snake sees the return of Miss Helen Stoner, who was almost murdered by her evil stepfather. This is perhaps my favourite story providing an entirely new perspective on the events in “The Speckled Band”. It is also slightly supernatural which might not be to everyone’s taste, but I thought it was fabulous.
A Family Resemblance by Simon Bucher-Jones is narrated by Mycroft Holmes, who is a bit of a cold fish, and perhaps should leave the story-telling to Dr. Watson, since this a dry and only mildly interesting piece.
Page Turners by Kara Dennison is told by Billy The Page, an urchin who only appeared late in the canon, in The Valley Of Fear, but since then has become a bit of a cult figure.
Finally Nick Kyme gives us a story about the long-suffering Inspector Lestrade who is treated with some dignity here. This is a serial-killer tale and it is the goriest in this collection almost verging on horror.It is creepy and atmospheric, but fails to do anything particularly oroginal with the format.
At the end of the book there is the announcement of a sequel: Further Associates Of Sherlock Holmes coming out in 2017, which will include stories told from the point of view of, among others, Mrs. Hudson, Toby the dog, Inspector Gregson and Professor Moriarty. I would be lying, if I said, I can’t wait, but I’m going to buy it anyway, because apparently I have to own everything about Sherlock Holmes.
June 6, 2017
Decent collection of short stories featuring various characters from Arthur Conan Doyle's books of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes, Irene Adler and Colonel Sebastian Moran are the most recognisable names, but other minor characters (including a couple who were barely mentioned in the original stories) feature in this pleasing bunch of mystery tales.
November 13, 2018
While anthologies featuring Sherlock Holmes are too many to count, this collection brought out by the good people at Titan Books, and ably edited by George Mann, follows a slightly different route. It relies upon some of the fringe characters mentioned in the canon to tell 'their' stories. How did they turn out?
1. Lyndsay Faye's "The River of Silence": Detailed, poignant, superlative.
2. James Lovegrove's " Pure Swank": Rubbish! How this guy's atrocious pastiches find favour with Titan Books is a mystery worth investigating.
3. Tim Pratt's "Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest": Brilliant! It was really nice to find someone striding along the path paved by one and only Kim Newman.
4. Jaine Fenn's "A Dormitory Haunting": Stunner. Not only did it pick up a truly admirable character from the canon. The story did her better justice than Sir ACD, I admit.
5. Ian Edginton's "The Case of the Previous Tenant": The way this story pays homage to some of the under-appreciated canonical tales and characters, and then imbues them with a gothic miasma, bears the signature of a master. This story is truly memorable.
6. Cavan Scott's "Nor Hell a Fury": Average and predictable.
7. Andrew Lane's "The Case of the Haphazard Marksman": As a Holmesian case, it's without merit. But seen from the POV of the narrator, it was very good, and thoroughly enjoyable.
8. Jonathan Barnes' "The Presbury Papers": Flat, and rather pointless.
9. William Meikle's "A Flash in the Pan": As a mystery, it didn't have much. As a tale of retribution, it follows the canonical path with some ingenuity. Liked it.
10. Jeffrey Thomas' "The Vanishing Snake": Really bad story. I have no objection towards Holmes taking on the supernatural, but in this collection this story of mumbo-jumbo was bad business.
11. Simon Bucher-Jones' "A Family Resemblance": Brilliant! I won't say anything more. You need to read this.
12. Kara Dennison's "Page Turners": This one leaped out of the Penny Dreadful's, and was a treat with its dry humour. Superb!
13. Nick Kyme's "Peeler": A chilling story of serial killing and grotesquery, this one concluded the collection neatly, with the infamous pea-souper swirling through the reader's mind.
Highly Recommended.
1. Lyndsay Faye's "The River of Silence": Detailed, poignant, superlative.
2. James Lovegrove's " Pure Swank": Rubbish! How this guy's atrocious pastiches find favour with Titan Books is a mystery worth investigating.
3. Tim Pratt's "Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest": Brilliant! It was really nice to find someone striding along the path paved by one and only Kim Newman.
4. Jaine Fenn's "A Dormitory Haunting": Stunner. Not only did it pick up a truly admirable character from the canon. The story did her better justice than Sir ACD, I admit.
5. Ian Edginton's "The Case of the Previous Tenant": The way this story pays homage to some of the under-appreciated canonical tales and characters, and then imbues them with a gothic miasma, bears the signature of a master. This story is truly memorable.
6. Cavan Scott's "Nor Hell a Fury": Average and predictable.
7. Andrew Lane's "The Case of the Haphazard Marksman": As a Holmesian case, it's without merit. But seen from the POV of the narrator, it was very good, and thoroughly enjoyable.
8. Jonathan Barnes' "The Presbury Papers": Flat, and rather pointless.
9. William Meikle's "A Flash in the Pan": As a mystery, it didn't have much. As a tale of retribution, it follows the canonical path with some ingenuity. Liked it.
10. Jeffrey Thomas' "The Vanishing Snake": Really bad story. I have no objection towards Holmes taking on the supernatural, but in this collection this story of mumbo-jumbo was bad business.
11. Simon Bucher-Jones' "A Family Resemblance": Brilliant! I won't say anything more. You need to read this.
12. Kara Dennison's "Page Turners": This one leaped out of the Penny Dreadful's, and was a treat with its dry humour. Superb!
13. Nick Kyme's "Peeler": A chilling story of serial killing and grotesquery, this one concluded the collection neatly, with the infamous pea-souper swirling through the reader's mind.
Highly Recommended.
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November 30, 2016George Mann Edits
...a collection of coolly polished short stories in which Sherlock Holmes is seen through the eyes of other characters in the Holmesian canon. Many of these are former clients; the rest are those who simply have the cause and means to have crossed paths with the Great Detective or know him from their personal circles. Not only do these Associates have their own story to tell with Mr. Holmes involved in it in some way, they are all people who can no longer claim to live outside the limelight: knowing Mr. Holmes has changed their lives forever. A few will tell you their lives were changed for the worse, but the reader can make that call for themselves. This is their chance, and these are the stories they choose to tell us.
I'm reviewing this partially because this book qualifies for the "what ho, geekery" and "poke your librarian" categories. Having lived as a library minion in a previous job incarnation, the search to find actually good tribute fiction for ACD's characters was at times...deeply unsatisfying. My old boss at NRCTC would approve of this, as well as give a few choice passages some satisfied snickers. Are you reading this, Bob Coston?
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Lyndsey Faye’s name is no stranger to readers who love canon-centric stories, and she has given Stanley Hopkins a rare chance to use his voice in River of Silence (word play not intended here, honest). This is a likable young man, on fire with his determination to make a difference and do good in the world as a policeman—which is cross-grained against the hopes of his family. The story starts out cheerily enough but the sunbeams go away almost without warning. Very soon we get a layer of this warmth peeled off. Then another. Then another. Hopkins is not a wide-eyed stripling after all. He worked very hard to get to his proud post, and he did it with his eyes wide open in the face of his generation’s worst crimes. He is determined to succeed, even if it means living with the ghosts of his pasts, the shame of his old division, and accepting gifts of meals from his family in trade for constant reassurance. Holmes observes this young new Associate, with an initial glitter of amusement, but that soon melts into a quiet respect for the Yarder’s determination when he sees this is not just another gushing fan of Watson’s writings. Watson and Lestrade are thoroughly enjoyable voices of support for the case, which opens in a jaw-dropping light: a severed arm in a teakwood box found in the Thames. Faye’s Homes is so many steps ahead of everyone else one must learn to get out of the way, and when it is time to join the race. Hopkins learns quickly, but not quickly enough to suit him.
Pure Swank from James Lovegrove gives us a rare Associate, Barker the rival detective in RETI and one who has known Sherlock Holmes for many years. Lovegrove cleverly ties Barker with EMPT and even STUD and from that point on we truly begin to wonder about the “other” cases and adventures that fell through the cracks of London. There is a lot to like about Barker, for he is clever and competent and willing to work quite hard for his results. But his attitude to Watson is not so likable and it demonstrates an unrecognized jealousy of the good doctor that whispers of the price paid to grow up in the shadow of a greater man. The story revolves around the Retired Colourman, but the relationship of Holmes and Barker are in constant orbit. Barker admires Holmes; he also feels rage at him, jealousy, and constantly wobbles between bitterness and admiration, and as far as crime goes, he gets better than he got--or at least he appears to. At the end the belief that he has tricked Holmes is an open one. Did he or didn’t he? Barker is a good detective and we are not given the answer. We have to decide it for ourselves.
Colonel Moran is no light character, and Big Game Hunting in the Pacific Northwest is a real treat. Tim Pratt’s story begins and ends in his cell and the bulk of the tale is how Moran dealt with the loss of fortune in Moriarty by taking up an incredibly ill-advised hunt in the Pacific Northwest. Being a relative newcomer myself to The Great North-Wet, I was sniggering at the Colonel’s first-hand introduction to the land of 100% humidity and moss-as-roofing-insulation but it wasn’t long before I was muttering, “Oh, bleep, no!” Moran is a royally certified monster who hunts monsters, but some of the things he encounters are quite worse than a tiger in a sewer. He’s relieved to be back in his own wilds of English civilization, and his memoir ends on the optimistic note gauging his chances of finishing the shot on Holmes. That’s the spirit, Moran. Stay positive.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jamie Fenn gives us a Violet Hunter who is truly at a crossroads in her life. This strong, determined woman takes her duties at her girls’ school quite seriously and the small matter of a haunting directed at one particular pupil is affecting the rest of the children. A potential suitor lifts her curiosity despite their different backgrounds. Miss Hunter’s refusal to accept the supernatural leads her to unpleasant twists and turns and answers are really doorways into further, deeper questions. There’s more than a little bit of the classic Victorian ghost-stories in here, where the “ghost” is unimportant compared to what its believed presence does to the living. In real life, we rarely see the source of our troubles, and this certainly happens here. Good stuff and I would buy a book of her further adventures, should they someday materialize.
Inspector Baynes, Surrey’s finest, is not used so much and I’ve always thought that a real pity. He has so much potential as a character—annoying, intelligent, confident and secretive with a sharp eye to the prize behind the short-term goal. Ian Edginton struck gold in The Case of the Previous Tenant with his intelligence, wit and positive talent for obfuscation, Baynes would be well advised to ask Mr. Edginton to write his life’s memoirs, should he ever condescend to retire. Here we get Baynes at his best even though he feels at his worst from a wracking cold, and he gives Holmes a shocking mystery upon his own doorstep: the previous tenant at Baker Street had been a respectable scholar, now incarcerated as a murderous madman. What happened to him? The good news is, Holmes, Watson, and Baynes discover the answer to that. The even better news? They survive their enlightenment to tell the tale. Look for the presence of Mycroft in this story—both real and imagined!
Cavan Scott gave us Nor Hell a Fury, and with it a long overdue view on Irene Adler. Entire books have been written about her, for better or for worse. Cavan Scott reminds us that a story with Ms. Adler in it isn’t nearly as important as how the world reacts around her. She is without apology or question herself, and that honesty has created many situations around her. Her treatment of Watson halfway through the story is chilling, but not nearly as much as Ms. Adler’s introspection as she waits for her future alone.
Langdale Pike is an amazing character for all we never really “see” him in the Canon. Andrew Lane gives us another chance in The Case of the Haphazard Marksman. This is full of little treats—his advice to the common, awkward and guilt-ridden fool to “go and sin in peace” is worth the loss of coffee on the keyboard. Langdale Pike is sharply intelligent, and so rarely wrong that his confidence is strong enough to choke an ox. With Holmes as a foil in the same room it is a wonder there is enough air for anyone to breathe. But Pike observes Holmes in the pursuit of a bizarre crime—murder by bullet in broad daylight with utterly no motive attached to it. Pike is an utter rascal and a pure delight for just those reasons. Working with Holmes in a case means both men will have to keep an eye on themselves and each other. You would look long and hard to find someone more devoted to the sensual than Mr. Pike, and his observations only make us wonder if the ending of the story really is the ending. I truly doubt it.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes is all about the good Professor. Oh, Professor Presbury. Where to start with him? This story moves at a pace few can match. The quiet portions are merely where we pause to draw a breath. With each page I grew more tense. There are forces at work that we never see but are completely aware of them. Presbury’s life turns full circle here, where a man of science and investigation becomes the focal point of another investigation—and not for the pure reasons of intellect either. The story ends on a very icy three words known to everyone who reads the Canon. This is not the end, but a beginning.
I recently wrote “Porky” Shinwell Johnson into a story for MX because I thought he’d make a perfect voice for the people under-served and overlooked by society. William Meikle did one better, launching A Flash in the Pan with Shinwell speaking to us one-on-one with a case that he was brought into, literally, by being in the right place at the right time. Johnson delights in doing in his job that also helps Mr. Holmes, and he likes it even better when he gets to remind the rich and powerful their influence doesn’t stand up to a cosh at close range. At the same time, Johnson is quite human: he is compassionate to a man fallen into drink and knows to ask questions without losing focus—or his wallet to an esteemed pickpocket. Meikle’s Johnson is equal parts “smart cookie” and “cool cat” and he proves exactly why Holmes thought him worth salvaging. His moral code is fixed; crime to survive he tolerates, but those who commit crimes and ruin lives just because they can see no mercy at all. This is one of my favorites in a book filled with competition!
Holmes and snakes. Never a good combination, and this is no exception. Jeffrey Thomas’ The Vanishing Snake gives us another chapter for Helen Stoner—one of my favorites in all the Canon for half a hundred reasons. This story is unlike the others in the collection, and difficult to review without spoiling it for the readers. I’ll say that a lot of research was done here, and a considerate eye to philosophy and spiritual science that is not that of the Western Culture. This tale lifts up the bugbears eternal: snakes that drink milk, train to whistles, and climb down bellropes need some explanation, for heaven’s sake! Thomas plants the seeds for Holmes’ journey to Tibet here, and it is just a wee bit satisfying to know (just for once) what Holmes will be up to before he does. This story is unlike any others in the book; appreciate it for what it is.
Mycroft Holmes is sprinkled throughout this book (often with chilling effect) but he finally gets his own spotlight in Simon Bucher-Jones’ A Family Resemblance. Mycroft opens up his paper with pure bureaucracy—he cites and name-drops with thoughtless grace, adding to the validity of his words. Ever the bureaucrat. Mycroft directs his tale to a specific foe—and one to whom I have developed a distinct loathing even though he was mentioned but never once seen in Canon. Let us but say that Mycroft is a devastating opponent. Do not tickle this sleeping lion. Mycroft is the entire reason why we have the proverb, “Stupidity should be painful.” It is difficult to review this in depth without going into spoilers.
Page Turners from Kara Dennison gives us Billy the Page—a quick, clever and thanks-be- suspicious boy who is trusted to take a highly sensitive document in delivery for Mr. Holmes. Easier said than done, and watching Billy defeat all of these malcontents is better than a roadshow. At the end of it, we’re laughing along with Watson at the stupidities of people who think themselves so important. And yes, Holmes, do double that boy’s salary!
Nick Kyme’s Peeler is one of the chilliest short stories I’ve read in a long time, and for multiple reasons. The sensation of being caught within a problem beyond one’s ability to solve is never nice, and Nick creates a darkly claustrophobic strangulation inside a twisting underground world of London. It is inhabited by those who pay a terrible price for selfishness, and the horror of trusted men who “go bad” lingers afterwards. Lestrade is the Associate in this one and we can be grateful for his limited imagination; this crime could have driven a fanciful man insane. The closest he shows to having speculation is in the closing, poignant lines: “London grinds on in their absence, though it has no shortage of monsters still and horrors to spare, I am sure.” This was the perfect ending to the series, but I was still very sorry to come to the end.
...a collection of coolly polished short stories in which Sherlock Holmes is seen through the eyes of other characters in the Holmesian canon. Many of these are former clients; the rest are those who simply have the cause and means to have crossed paths with the Great Detective or know him from their personal circles. Not only do these Associates have their own story to tell with Mr. Holmes involved in it in some way, they are all people who can no longer claim to live outside the limelight: knowing Mr. Holmes has changed their lives forever. A few will tell you their lives were changed for the worse, but the reader can make that call for themselves. This is their chance, and these are the stories they choose to tell us.
I'm reviewing this partially because this book qualifies for the "what ho, geekery" and "poke your librarian" categories. Having lived as a library minion in a previous job incarnation, the search to find actually good tribute fiction for ACD's characters was at times...deeply unsatisfying. My old boss at NRCTC would approve of this, as well as give a few choice passages some satisfied snickers. Are you reading this, Bob Coston?
Read more…
Lyndsey Faye’s name is no stranger to readers who love canon-centric stories, and she has given Stanley Hopkins a rare chance to use his voice in River of Silence (word play not intended here, honest). This is a likable young man, on fire with his determination to make a difference and do good in the world as a policeman—which is cross-grained against the hopes of his family. The story starts out cheerily enough but the sunbeams go away almost without warning. Very soon we get a layer of this warmth peeled off. Then another. Then another. Hopkins is not a wide-eyed stripling after all. He worked very hard to get to his proud post, and he did it with his eyes wide open in the face of his generation’s worst crimes. He is determined to succeed, even if it means living with the ghosts of his pasts, the shame of his old division, and accepting gifts of meals from his family in trade for constant reassurance. Holmes observes this young new Associate, with an initial glitter of amusement, but that soon melts into a quiet respect for the Yarder’s determination when he sees this is not just another gushing fan of Watson’s writings. Watson and Lestrade are thoroughly enjoyable voices of support for the case, which opens in a jaw-dropping light: a severed arm in a teakwood box found in the Thames. Faye’s Homes is so many steps ahead of everyone else one must learn to get out of the way, and when it is time to join the race. Hopkins learns quickly, but not quickly enough to suit him.
Pure Swank from James Lovegrove gives us a rare Associate, Barker the rival detective in RETI and one who has known Sherlock Holmes for many years. Lovegrove cleverly ties Barker with EMPT and even STUD and from that point on we truly begin to wonder about the “other” cases and adventures that fell through the cracks of London. There is a lot to like about Barker, for he is clever and competent and willing to work quite hard for his results. But his attitude to Watson is not so likable and it demonstrates an unrecognized jealousy of the good doctor that whispers of the price paid to grow up in the shadow of a greater man. The story revolves around the Retired Colourman, but the relationship of Holmes and Barker are in constant orbit. Barker admires Holmes; he also feels rage at him, jealousy, and constantly wobbles between bitterness and admiration, and as far as crime goes, he gets better than he got--or at least he appears to. At the end the belief that he has tricked Holmes is an open one. Did he or didn’t he? Barker is a good detective and we are not given the answer. We have to decide it for ourselves.
Colonel Moran is no light character, and Big Game Hunting in the Pacific Northwest is a real treat. Tim Pratt’s story begins and ends in his cell and the bulk of the tale is how Moran dealt with the loss of fortune in Moriarty by taking up an incredibly ill-advised hunt in the Pacific Northwest. Being a relative newcomer myself to The Great North-Wet, I was sniggering at the Colonel’s first-hand introduction to the land of 100% humidity and moss-as-roofing-insulation but it wasn’t long before I was muttering, “Oh, bleep, no!” Moran is a royally certified monster who hunts monsters, but some of the things he encounters are quite worse than a tiger in a sewer. He’s relieved to be back in his own wilds of English civilization, and his memoir ends on the optimistic note gauging his chances of finishing the shot on Holmes. That’s the spirit, Moran. Stay positive.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jamie Fenn gives us a Violet Hunter who is truly at a crossroads in her life. This strong, determined woman takes her duties at her girls’ school quite seriously and the small matter of a haunting directed at one particular pupil is affecting the rest of the children. A potential suitor lifts her curiosity despite their different backgrounds. Miss Hunter’s refusal to accept the supernatural leads her to unpleasant twists and turns and answers are really doorways into further, deeper questions. There’s more than a little bit of the classic Victorian ghost-stories in here, where the “ghost” is unimportant compared to what its believed presence does to the living. In real life, we rarely see the source of our troubles, and this certainly happens here. Good stuff and I would buy a book of her further adventures, should they someday materialize.
Inspector Baynes, Surrey’s finest, is not used so much and I’ve always thought that a real pity. He has so much potential as a character—annoying, intelligent, confident and secretive with a sharp eye to the prize behind the short-term goal. Ian Edginton struck gold in The Case of the Previous Tenant with his intelligence, wit and positive talent for obfuscation, Baynes would be well advised to ask Mr. Edginton to write his life’s memoirs, should he ever condescend to retire. Here we get Baynes at his best even though he feels at his worst from a wracking cold, and he gives Holmes a shocking mystery upon his own doorstep: the previous tenant at Baker Street had been a respectable scholar, now incarcerated as a murderous madman. What happened to him? The good news is, Holmes, Watson, and Baynes discover the answer to that. The even better news? They survive their enlightenment to tell the tale. Look for the presence of Mycroft in this story—both real and imagined!
Cavan Scott gave us Nor Hell a Fury, and with it a long overdue view on Irene Adler. Entire books have been written about her, for better or for worse. Cavan Scott reminds us that a story with Ms. Adler in it isn’t nearly as important as how the world reacts around her. She is without apology or question herself, and that honesty has created many situations around her. Her treatment of Watson halfway through the story is chilling, but not nearly as much as Ms. Adler’s introspection as she waits for her future alone.
Langdale Pike is an amazing character for all we never really “see” him in the Canon. Andrew Lane gives us another chance in The Case of the Haphazard Marksman. This is full of little treats—his advice to the common, awkward and guilt-ridden fool to “go and sin in peace” is worth the loss of coffee on the keyboard. Langdale Pike is sharply intelligent, and so rarely wrong that his confidence is strong enough to choke an ox. With Holmes as a foil in the same room it is a wonder there is enough air for anyone to breathe. But Pike observes Holmes in the pursuit of a bizarre crime—murder by bullet in broad daylight with utterly no motive attached to it. Pike is an utter rascal and a pure delight for just those reasons. Working with Holmes in a case means both men will have to keep an eye on themselves and each other. You would look long and hard to find someone more devoted to the sensual than Mr. Pike, and his observations only make us wonder if the ending of the story really is the ending. I truly doubt it.
The Presbury Papers by Jonathan Barnes is all about the good Professor. Oh, Professor Presbury. Where to start with him? This story moves at a pace few can match. The quiet portions are merely where we pause to draw a breath. With each page I grew more tense. There are forces at work that we never see but are completely aware of them. Presbury’s life turns full circle here, where a man of science and investigation becomes the focal point of another investigation—and not for the pure reasons of intellect either. The story ends on a very icy three words known to everyone who reads the Canon. This is not the end, but a beginning.
I recently wrote “Porky” Shinwell Johnson into a story for MX because I thought he’d make a perfect voice for the people under-served and overlooked by society. William Meikle did one better, launching A Flash in the Pan with Shinwell speaking to us one-on-one with a case that he was brought into, literally, by being in the right place at the right time. Johnson delights in doing in his job that also helps Mr. Holmes, and he likes it even better when he gets to remind the rich and powerful their influence doesn’t stand up to a cosh at close range. At the same time, Johnson is quite human: he is compassionate to a man fallen into drink and knows to ask questions without losing focus—or his wallet to an esteemed pickpocket. Meikle’s Johnson is equal parts “smart cookie” and “cool cat” and he proves exactly why Holmes thought him worth salvaging. His moral code is fixed; crime to survive he tolerates, but those who commit crimes and ruin lives just because they can see no mercy at all. This is one of my favorites in a book filled with competition!
Holmes and snakes. Never a good combination, and this is no exception. Jeffrey Thomas’ The Vanishing Snake gives us another chapter for Helen Stoner—one of my favorites in all the Canon for half a hundred reasons. This story is unlike the others in the collection, and difficult to review without spoiling it for the readers. I’ll say that a lot of research was done here, and a considerate eye to philosophy and spiritual science that is not that of the Western Culture. This tale lifts up the bugbears eternal: snakes that drink milk, train to whistles, and climb down bellropes need some explanation, for heaven’s sake! Thomas plants the seeds for Holmes’ journey to Tibet here, and it is just a wee bit satisfying to know (just for once) what Holmes will be up to before he does. This story is unlike any others in the book; appreciate it for what it is.
Mycroft Holmes is sprinkled throughout this book (often with chilling effect) but he finally gets his own spotlight in Simon Bucher-Jones’ A Family Resemblance. Mycroft opens up his paper with pure bureaucracy—he cites and name-drops with thoughtless grace, adding to the validity of his words. Ever the bureaucrat. Mycroft directs his tale to a specific foe—and one to whom I have developed a distinct loathing even though he was mentioned but never once seen in Canon. Let us but say that Mycroft is a devastating opponent. Do not tickle this sleeping lion. Mycroft is the entire reason why we have the proverb, “Stupidity should be painful.” It is difficult to review this in depth without going into spoilers.
Page Turners from Kara Dennison gives us Billy the Page—a quick, clever and thanks-be- suspicious boy who is trusted to take a highly sensitive document in delivery for Mr. Holmes. Easier said than done, and watching Billy defeat all of these malcontents is better than a roadshow. At the end of it, we’re laughing along with Watson at the stupidities of people who think themselves so important. And yes, Holmes, do double that boy’s salary!
Nick Kyme’s Peeler is one of the chilliest short stories I’ve read in a long time, and for multiple reasons. The sensation of being caught within a problem beyond one’s ability to solve is never nice, and Nick creates a darkly claustrophobic strangulation inside a twisting underground world of London. It is inhabited by those who pay a terrible price for selfishness, and the horror of trusted men who “go bad” lingers afterwards. Lestrade is the Associate in this one and we can be grateful for his limited imagination; this crime could have driven a fanciful man insane. The closest he shows to having speculation is in the closing, poignant lines: “London grinds on in their absence, though it has no shortage of monsters still and horrors to spare, I am sure.” This was the perfect ending to the series, but I was still very sorry to come to the end.
September 21, 2016
Audience: Those who love Sherlock Holmes and wish to see him from a different perspective.
Summed up in one word: Refreshing
Author Bio: There are many authors involved in the writing of this book (14 in total, as far as I know). George Mann has edited this book and produced the finished article so I will focus on his profile for this bio. George Mann is the author of the Newbury and Hobbes and The Ghost series of novels, as well as quite a few short stories, novellas and audio books. He has also written and edited several other of Titan's Sherlock Holmes series including Encounters of Sherlock Holmes, More Encounters of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: Spirit Box.
First Impression: I was unaware of this series of books until Titan Books offered me a copy to review recently. It was an intriguing experience, reading about Sherlock Holmes from the perspective of his friends and adversaries. Though I don't know much about Sherlock Holmes (I know! We just never crossed paths when I was growing up :/) I was still able to enjoy this book to a great extent.
Featuring events set within the famous Sherlock Holmes books that everyone knows and loves, shown from a completely different view point. And also some original stories
written by authors in the style and mindset of characters featured or mentioned throughout Sherlock Holmes' escapades over the century that he has populated 221B Baker Street.
Summary of the Story:
Some of the friends and enemies of Sherlock Holmes want to set a few things straight, whether it be for an admiral purpose or not. Everyone who has been in contact with the great detective has something to say about him or has experienced his unquestionably accurate ability to deduce almost any scenario or circumstances.
In The Associates of Sherlock Holmes, the reader gets to hear the other side of certain stories surrounding Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, written from the perspective of other key characters such as Irene Adler, Colonel Moran, Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes and many more.
Review
Story/Plot/Narration: In TAOSH we get 13 stories set within the Sherlock Holmes universe. Each story is told from the view point of another significant character present within certain key plot lines. Also we are treated to several original story lines created by authors, written in the tone and style of the characters already published appearances. Every story is written by a different author, so each episode has a unique feel and contribution to the overall effect that this book produces.
Each story is set in the first person perspective and the characters range from close allies like Watson, Inspector Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes, to hardcore enemies like Irene Adler and Colonel Moran. The range of stories told here is impressive, there is a hunt for a mythological creature, a ghost haunting a student, a mad professor and his flute, a house infested with killer animals and other wonderful, horrific and bizarre tales.
Genre/Writing Style: Though this book is not strictly just Mystery/Crime as there are elements of horror and supernatural, I think it fits well into the genre, especially as a contribution to Sherlock Holmes' mythology. Unfortunately I have not read the other books published by Titan concerning Sherlock Holmes, so I cannot offer any comparison to those, but in terms of quality mystery content, I think this book excels. I believe this book will satisfy both long time fans of SH as well as newcomers who want to get an idea of what the detective is all about.
Setting: The time periods and locations used in this book are all over the place as the writing styles differ from author to author. Readers experience locations such as the classic London street settings, as well as more unknown settings like the American woods and the French nightlife. Time periods also differ as flash backs, memoirs and stories take us forward and backward in the SH timeline.
Characters: This book is filled to the brim with characters from all over the SH story arc. Each individual character has their own personal affiliation, vendetta or grievance against our star detective and the authors do a great job of bringing out the frustration or admiration that each of these folks harbour within themselves towards him. I like the fact that each author has their own personal reasons behind choosing the character that they wanted to write about and also stretching the limits of characters they could use. (One character did not feature in the original stories other than a brief mention, but that did not stop an author from bringing him to life within these pages).
Themes: The authors kept to the original idea behind Sherlock Holmes, that not matter how bizarre a scenario can get, there is always a rational explanation hiding out there somewhere and you just have to look hard enough. This idea fuels almost all SH stories and it is captured nicely here as well. There is quite a lot of anger, frustration and jealousy present as SH is a somewhat maddening individual most of the time. But the authors also feature a lot of admiration, respect and compromise within these stories as well because no matter how annoying SH can be, he is usually always looking out for the people surrounding him.
Likes/Dislikes: I am satisfied with this book as it is a solid effort, the authors worked cohesively and managed to create a diverse and interesting chapter in the SH universe. As with many short story books, there are some stories I love, such as the haphazard sniper episode and some I dislike, such as the Mycroft memoir episode that was oddly written and even when I finished it, I was still unclear on the overall idea behind it.
I am impressed with the execution of this book, it could easily have been a choppy, badly written piece, but with the right team and a talented editor at the helm, they brought life to both well known and lesser known people who surround SH.
Overall Opinion/Rating: I recommend this book to both seasoned SH readers and newcomers alike. At best, this book is an impressive contribution to the wider SH universe and at worst it is a Mystery/Crime/Horror book that will entertain you and provide some insight to the characters that surround one of the most iconic individuals in the history of literature.
9/10
Summed up in one word: Refreshing
Author Bio: There are many authors involved in the writing of this book (14 in total, as far as I know). George Mann has edited this book and produced the finished article so I will focus on his profile for this bio. George Mann is the author of the Newbury and Hobbes and The Ghost series of novels, as well as quite a few short stories, novellas and audio books. He has also written and edited several other of Titan's Sherlock Holmes series including Encounters of Sherlock Holmes, More Encounters of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: Spirit Box.
First Impression: I was unaware of this series of books until Titan Books offered me a copy to review recently. It was an intriguing experience, reading about Sherlock Holmes from the perspective of his friends and adversaries. Though I don't know much about Sherlock Holmes (I know! We just never crossed paths when I was growing up :/) I was still able to enjoy this book to a great extent.
Featuring events set within the famous Sherlock Holmes books that everyone knows and loves, shown from a completely different view point. And also some original stories
written by authors in the style and mindset of characters featured or mentioned throughout Sherlock Holmes' escapades over the century that he has populated 221B Baker Street.
Summary of the Story:
Some of the friends and enemies of Sherlock Holmes want to set a few things straight, whether it be for an admiral purpose or not. Everyone who has been in contact with the great detective has something to say about him or has experienced his unquestionably accurate ability to deduce almost any scenario or circumstances.
In The Associates of Sherlock Holmes, the reader gets to hear the other side of certain stories surrounding Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, written from the perspective of other key characters such as Irene Adler, Colonel Moran, Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes and many more.
Review
Story/Plot/Narration: In TAOSH we get 13 stories set within the Sherlock Holmes universe. Each story is told from the view point of another significant character present within certain key plot lines. Also we are treated to several original story lines created by authors, written in the tone and style of the characters already published appearances. Every story is written by a different author, so each episode has a unique feel and contribution to the overall effect that this book produces.
Each story is set in the first person perspective and the characters range from close allies like Watson, Inspector Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes, to hardcore enemies like Irene Adler and Colonel Moran. The range of stories told here is impressive, there is a hunt for a mythological creature, a ghost haunting a student, a mad professor and his flute, a house infested with killer animals and other wonderful, horrific and bizarre tales.
Genre/Writing Style: Though this book is not strictly just Mystery/Crime as there are elements of horror and supernatural, I think it fits well into the genre, especially as a contribution to Sherlock Holmes' mythology. Unfortunately I have not read the other books published by Titan concerning Sherlock Holmes, so I cannot offer any comparison to those, but in terms of quality mystery content, I think this book excels. I believe this book will satisfy both long time fans of SH as well as newcomers who want to get an idea of what the detective is all about.
Setting: The time periods and locations used in this book are all over the place as the writing styles differ from author to author. Readers experience locations such as the classic London street settings, as well as more unknown settings like the American woods and the French nightlife. Time periods also differ as flash backs, memoirs and stories take us forward and backward in the SH timeline.
Characters: This book is filled to the brim with characters from all over the SH story arc. Each individual character has their own personal affiliation, vendetta or grievance against our star detective and the authors do a great job of bringing out the frustration or admiration that each of these folks harbour within themselves towards him. I like the fact that each author has their own personal reasons behind choosing the character that they wanted to write about and also stretching the limits of characters they could use. (One character did not feature in the original stories other than a brief mention, but that did not stop an author from bringing him to life within these pages).
Themes: The authors kept to the original idea behind Sherlock Holmes, that not matter how bizarre a scenario can get, there is always a rational explanation hiding out there somewhere and you just have to look hard enough. This idea fuels almost all SH stories and it is captured nicely here as well. There is quite a lot of anger, frustration and jealousy present as SH is a somewhat maddening individual most of the time. But the authors also feature a lot of admiration, respect and compromise within these stories as well because no matter how annoying SH can be, he is usually always looking out for the people surrounding him.
Likes/Dislikes: I am satisfied with this book as it is a solid effort, the authors worked cohesively and managed to create a diverse and interesting chapter in the SH universe. As with many short story books, there are some stories I love, such as the haphazard sniper episode and some I dislike, such as the Mycroft memoir episode that was oddly written and even when I finished it, I was still unclear on the overall idea behind it.
I am impressed with the execution of this book, it could easily have been a choppy, badly written piece, but with the right team and a talented editor at the helm, they brought life to both well known and lesser known people who surround SH.
Overall Opinion/Rating: I recommend this book to both seasoned SH readers and newcomers alike. At best, this book is an impressive contribution to the wider SH universe and at worst it is a Mystery/Crime/Horror book that will entertain you and provide some insight to the characters that surround one of the most iconic individuals in the history of literature.
9/10
September 12, 2016
Associates of Sherlock Holmes is the third such anthology edited by George Mann, with a fourth volume – The Further Associates of Sherlock Holmes – in the works. I will not, however, treat this review as one of the third in a series, but rather as a stand alone book.
The premise is a simple one – these are short stories told by people who appeared in the canonical adventures of Sherlock Holmes, as such they are character studies which flesh out the sparse detail recounted in Doctor Watson’s narratives, bringing an extra dimension to the world in which the Great Detective resides.
These tales do not always place Holmes as the centre of attention, not should they, but instead they give us to see he and his methods through the eyes of different observers, many of whom will be familiar to the followers of the original Holmes.
There is the one weakness to this volume – that without some knowledge of canon you may not be tempted to read this book. It is a real pity, because not knowing the characters is far from problematic – each tale stands alone and can be enjoyed without any specialist knowledge.
If, however, you do happen to be a Sherlockian, then this volume is one of the best examples of ‘the game’ that I have seen in recent years, with each tale crafted from the clues laid down by Conan Doyle in a manner reminiscent of a Baring-Gould or a Dickson Carr.
For those who are Sherlockians, my reviews makes advance mention of the associates in each story – not to spoiler you but rather to provide an aide memoir that might help you choose this volume over others, because it is very much worthwhile.
The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye starts the game by reintroducing Inspector Stanley Hopkins from The Adventure of the Black Peter, revealing his origins and his place in the great detective’s affections.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove makes some clever deductions concerning Barker, Holmes’ hated rival on the Surrey Shore who appeared in The Adventure of the Retired Colourman.
Tim Pratt’s Heavy Game in the Pacific Northwest sees a Holmes-free hunting trip through the eyes of Colonel Sebastian Moran, henchman to Moriarty and the principal villain of The Empty House.
Jaine Fenn’s A Dormitory Haunting reintroduces The Adventure of the Copper Beeches‘ Miss Violet Hunter in her later years as the head of a private school, proving that Holmes’ faith in her capabilities was well-placed.
Ian Edgington’s The Case of the Previous Tenant sees Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary (from The Adventure of the Wisteria Lodge) come to the rescue.
Set in Paris, Cavan Scott’s Nor Hell a Fury brings A Scandal in Bohemia‘s Irene Adler into a new controversy that might change the way readers look at Holmes and Watson forever.
Andy Lane’s The Case of the Haphazard Marksman is recounted by Langdale Pike (from The Adventure of the Three Gables) who regales us with the details of a new and untold case for Holmes.
Jonathan Barnes brings to life The Adventure of the Creeping Man‘s afflicted scientist, Professor Presbury, in a tale of espionage, obsession, and the deeper consequences of his original appearance in The Presbury Papers.
Willie Meikle chooses Holmes’ undercover assistant, Shinwell Johnson, who gave assistance in The Adventure of the Illustrious Client and other untold tales, as the protagonist of A Flash in the Pan, a story that might involve a little photography along the way.
In The Vanishing Snake, Jeffrey Thomas reacquaints Holmes and Watson with Miss Helen Stoner in a direct sequel to The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
Simon Bucher-Jones’ A Family Resemblance brings us an account of a conversation between the brothers Holmes and Moriarty from the memoirs of Mycroft Holmes himself.
Kara Dennison’s Page Turners provides us with a glimpse into the life of Holmes’ most overlooked of assistants, Billy the Page.
Finally, Nick Kyme’s Peeler tells of a rather gruesome case which may well have been the last time Holmes, Watson and inspector Lestrade worked together.
While there is not a clunker among them, I can honestly say that I enjoyed all but one of these thirteen tales, and I shall not single it out for negative attention, because each story has a different approach and different strengths, each of which will perhaps appeal to a different kind of reader.
My one regret is the list of authors – they feel drawn from a common stable, and I’ve seen some of these writers time and again in books of this kind – I do enjoy their work immensely, but some more names wouldn’t go amiss in future volumes. A mix of fresh blood and of pastiche writers from the past would be ideal – there are plenty of great pastiche writers out there who could do with some acknowledgement in a mainstream publication.
I would, paradoxically, also like to have seen a story by the editor himself. That or at the very least a proper foreword. George Mann is an accomplished writer of Sherlockiana, and I always like the opportunity to see what an editor has in mind when he puts together an anthology. That said, it is good to see a sequel is already in the works. I look forward to it.
The premise is a simple one – these are short stories told by people who appeared in the canonical adventures of Sherlock Holmes, as such they are character studies which flesh out the sparse detail recounted in Doctor Watson’s narratives, bringing an extra dimension to the world in which the Great Detective resides.
These tales do not always place Holmes as the centre of attention, not should they, but instead they give us to see he and his methods through the eyes of different observers, many of whom will be familiar to the followers of the original Holmes.
There is the one weakness to this volume – that without some knowledge of canon you may not be tempted to read this book. It is a real pity, because not knowing the characters is far from problematic – each tale stands alone and can be enjoyed without any specialist knowledge.
If, however, you do happen to be a Sherlockian, then this volume is one of the best examples of ‘the game’ that I have seen in recent years, with each tale crafted from the clues laid down by Conan Doyle in a manner reminiscent of a Baring-Gould or a Dickson Carr.
For those who are Sherlockians, my reviews makes advance mention of the associates in each story – not to spoiler you but rather to provide an aide memoir that might help you choose this volume over others, because it is very much worthwhile.
The River of Silence by Lyndsay Faye starts the game by reintroducing Inspector Stanley Hopkins from The Adventure of the Black Peter, revealing his origins and his place in the great detective’s affections.
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove makes some clever deductions concerning Barker, Holmes’ hated rival on the Surrey Shore who appeared in The Adventure of the Retired Colourman.
Tim Pratt’s Heavy Game in the Pacific Northwest sees a Holmes-free hunting trip through the eyes of Colonel Sebastian Moran, henchman to Moriarty and the principal villain of The Empty House.
Jaine Fenn’s A Dormitory Haunting reintroduces The Adventure of the Copper Beeches‘ Miss Violet Hunter in her later years as the head of a private school, proving that Holmes’ faith in her capabilities was well-placed.
Ian Edgington’s The Case of the Previous Tenant sees Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary (from The Adventure of the Wisteria Lodge) come to the rescue.
Set in Paris, Cavan Scott’s Nor Hell a Fury brings A Scandal in Bohemia‘s Irene Adler into a new controversy that might change the way readers look at Holmes and Watson forever.
Andy Lane’s The Case of the Haphazard Marksman is recounted by Langdale Pike (from The Adventure of the Three Gables) who regales us with the details of a new and untold case for Holmes.
Jonathan Barnes brings to life The Adventure of the Creeping Man‘s afflicted scientist, Professor Presbury, in a tale of espionage, obsession, and the deeper consequences of his original appearance in The Presbury Papers.
Willie Meikle chooses Holmes’ undercover assistant, Shinwell Johnson, who gave assistance in The Adventure of the Illustrious Client and other untold tales, as the protagonist of A Flash in the Pan, a story that might involve a little photography along the way.
In The Vanishing Snake, Jeffrey Thomas reacquaints Holmes and Watson with Miss Helen Stoner in a direct sequel to The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
Simon Bucher-Jones’ A Family Resemblance brings us an account of a conversation between the brothers Holmes and Moriarty from the memoirs of Mycroft Holmes himself.
Kara Dennison’s Page Turners provides us with a glimpse into the life of Holmes’ most overlooked of assistants, Billy the Page.
Finally, Nick Kyme’s Peeler tells of a rather gruesome case which may well have been the last time Holmes, Watson and inspector Lestrade worked together.
While there is not a clunker among them, I can honestly say that I enjoyed all but one of these thirteen tales, and I shall not single it out for negative attention, because each story has a different approach and different strengths, each of which will perhaps appeal to a different kind of reader.
My one regret is the list of authors – they feel drawn from a common stable, and I’ve seen some of these writers time and again in books of this kind – I do enjoy their work immensely, but some more names wouldn’t go amiss in future volumes. A mix of fresh blood and of pastiche writers from the past would be ideal – there are plenty of great pastiche writers out there who could do with some acknowledgement in a mainstream publication.
I would, paradoxically, also like to have seen a story by the editor himself. That or at the very least a proper foreword. George Mann is an accomplished writer of Sherlockiana, and I always like the opportunity to see what an editor has in mind when he puts together an anthology. That said, it is good to see a sequel is already in the works. I look forward to it.
May 2, 2017
A great anthology of Sherlock stories concentrating on some lesser known characters in the canon. Great adventures and of course Sherlock shone his brightest.
Recommended to any Sherlock Holmes fan
Recommended to any Sherlock Holmes fan
November 30, 2016
**This book was reviewed for San Francisco and Seattle Book Reviews**
Associates of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of stories by myriad authors about various people associated with Holmes to some degree or another. Some, such as Barker, show up in only one story. Others such as Lestrade feature more often, though even Moriarty, well known as he is, is only mentioned in two Holmes stories.
Sherlock Holmes is a favourite literary (and film) character, whose stories have become comfort reading for me when stressed or sick. From canon stories, pastiche, and everything in between, I rarely pass up an opportunity to read about the Great Detective. I'm not sure I'd call myself Sherlockian, though my family disagrees. So, of course I had to check this book out!
Being from different authors, these stories were all over the board. Some kept close to Doyle's own writing style, while others relaxed more into the author's own. My favourites include:
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove: Clarence Barker, ostensible rival detective of Holmes and with whom he teamed up on a case with once, is more than he seems. Here, we find that Barker was one of Holmes’ Irregulars who went on to serve in the military, and who returned from service to find that Holmes had 'died’. Unable to apprentice with Holmes, Barker sets out his own shingle as a consulting detective. Upon Holmes’ resurrection some years later, Barker approaches him about a partnership and is rebuffed, turning Barker’s admiration to jealousy. Years later, they would cross paths investigating the same case. However, Holmes would never know how tied to the case Barker already was, nor what he gained from it.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn: Violet Hunter, who appeared in the canon 'Copper Beeches’ case is now the headmistress of a girls’ school. Strange things begin happening, always in the presence of a young reclusive girl named Mary Fraser. Ghostly apparitions are spotted out the attic dorm room window. Books fly off shelves in the library. We learn Mary has had a rough childhood. She lost a brother at a young age, her parents were divorced, and her mother’s health was declining. All three together could be the perfect paranormal storm, whereby Mary could be displaying psychokinetic abilities. Sickbed mutterings gave cause for alarm, though. The ending made me rethink earlier conclusions, about the long ago death of a young boy, and the more immediate events.
The Case of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton: Inspector Baynes was not a fellow I recalled, but I thoroughly loved this story, especially as it dealt with archaeology, a personal love of mine. Throw in a bit of science vs magic, and a cold case is closed. Baynes’ story could do with another proofing. There were a few homophone words mixed up, but easy enough to gloss over, especially since this story had a real Conan Doyle feel to it.
The Vanishing Snake by Jeffrey Thomas: the very first Holmes story I read, eons ago, was ‘The Speckled Band’ and thus was an enduring love born. This story follows up that one, adding a bit of a supernatural twist to it. Helen Stoner has returned to her late step-father’s estate to settle it and retrieve her belongings. An eerie encounter in the deep of night gives a whole new perspective to the snake and its fellow menagerie animals- the cheetah and the baboon. This tale, too, had more of a Doyle feel to it.
A Family Resemblance by Simon Butcher-Jones: Mycroft is one of my most favourite characters in just about any incarnation of Sherlock. Told from Mycroft's point of view, as he plays chess with Moriarty's younger brother, it is a story of an ingenious long-game murder one expects of any Holmesian mystery. This story, of them all, really felt like one of Doyle's tales. This story, too, had a few homophone errors, notably substituting 'metal’ for 'mettle’, though that was the only one to really jar me from the story.
I adored these stories! Clever mysteries, all, worthy of Doyle's legacy. Sherlock is a century and a quarter old, yet he's become an enduring part of British (and American) culture. I have little doubt Sherlock, and so by default his associates, will continue to endure another century, and beyond. I do hope there are more such collections in the future.
Associates of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of stories by myriad authors about various people associated with Holmes to some degree or another. Some, such as Barker, show up in only one story. Others such as Lestrade feature more often, though even Moriarty, well known as he is, is only mentioned in two Holmes stories.
Sherlock Holmes is a favourite literary (and film) character, whose stories have become comfort reading for me when stressed or sick. From canon stories, pastiche, and everything in between, I rarely pass up an opportunity to read about the Great Detective. I'm not sure I'd call myself Sherlockian, though my family disagrees. So, of course I had to check this book out!
Being from different authors, these stories were all over the board. Some kept close to Doyle's own writing style, while others relaxed more into the author's own. My favourites include:
Pure Swank by James Lovegrove: Clarence Barker, ostensible rival detective of Holmes and with whom he teamed up on a case with once, is more than he seems. Here, we find that Barker was one of Holmes’ Irregulars who went on to serve in the military, and who returned from service to find that Holmes had 'died’. Unable to apprentice with Holmes, Barker sets out his own shingle as a consulting detective. Upon Holmes’ resurrection some years later, Barker approaches him about a partnership and is rebuffed, turning Barker’s admiration to jealousy. Years later, they would cross paths investigating the same case. However, Holmes would never know how tied to the case Barker already was, nor what he gained from it.
A Dormitory Haunting by Jaine Fenn: Violet Hunter, who appeared in the canon 'Copper Beeches’ case is now the headmistress of a girls’ school. Strange things begin happening, always in the presence of a young reclusive girl named Mary Fraser. Ghostly apparitions are spotted out the attic dorm room window. Books fly off shelves in the library. We learn Mary has had a rough childhood. She lost a brother at a young age, her parents were divorced, and her mother’s health was declining. All three together could be the perfect paranormal storm, whereby Mary could be displaying psychokinetic abilities. Sickbed mutterings gave cause for alarm, though. The ending made me rethink earlier conclusions, about the long ago death of a young boy, and the more immediate events.
The Case of the Previous Tenant by Ian Edginton: Inspector Baynes was not a fellow I recalled, but I thoroughly loved this story, especially as it dealt with archaeology, a personal love of mine. Throw in a bit of science vs magic, and a cold case is closed. Baynes’ story could do with another proofing. There were a few homophone words mixed up, but easy enough to gloss over, especially since this story had a real Conan Doyle feel to it.
The Vanishing Snake by Jeffrey Thomas: the very first Holmes story I read, eons ago, was ‘The Speckled Band’ and thus was an enduring love born. This story follows up that one, adding a bit of a supernatural twist to it. Helen Stoner has returned to her late step-father’s estate to settle it and retrieve her belongings. An eerie encounter in the deep of night gives a whole new perspective to the snake and its fellow menagerie animals- the cheetah and the baboon. This tale, too, had more of a Doyle feel to it.
A Family Resemblance by Simon Butcher-Jones: Mycroft is one of my most favourite characters in just about any incarnation of Sherlock. Told from Mycroft's point of view, as he plays chess with Moriarty's younger brother, it is a story of an ingenious long-game murder one expects of any Holmesian mystery. This story, of them all, really felt like one of Doyle's tales. This story, too, had a few homophone errors, notably substituting 'metal’ for 'mettle’, though that was the only one to really jar me from the story.
I adored these stories! Clever mysteries, all, worthy of Doyle's legacy. Sherlock is a century and a quarter old, yet he's become an enduring part of British (and American) culture. I have little doubt Sherlock, and so by default his associates, will continue to endure another century, and beyond. I do hope there are more such collections in the future.
October 28, 2019
I loved the concept of this book: Each of the short stories is told by a different associate of Sherlock Holmes. While we have the 'usual suspects' like Lestrade and Irene Adler, this book also features some lesser known characters such as Langdale Pike or Billy the page-boy. There are ups and downs here - as is the case with every collection: Some stories are great, others ridiculous (especially in the second half of the book). But all in all this was a fun read and I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the great detective.
May 27, 2020
Associates of Sherlock Holmes is a book designed for fans of Sherlock Holmes fiction. I now that that could be said about any new Sherlock Holmes book, but this book really appeals to those who've read the original works, with each of the stories being presented here being about, or told by, characters who have appeared in the stories before. Some of these are better known characters such as Inspector Lestrade or Mycroft Holmes, but they also include those smaller one-off characters like Violet Hunter. Thankfully, each of the stories comes with a small introduction from the individual authors, so that readers get a little understanding about the character being featured, and why they've been picked.
George Mann brings together a number of well known Sherlock Holmes writers together to tell a variety of stories, some that vary quite a bit in tone and genre. There are stories that feel like they'd fit easily into the original works, whilst others take on a much darker, even horror feel.
'Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest' by Tim Pratt tells one of the more unusual stories in the collection, following Professor Moriarty's right hand man, Colonel Sebastian Moran, all the way to the United States. Set after the death of Moriarty, and before the return of Holmes, Moran has travelled to the Pacific Northwest at the invitation of a friend in order to hunt. An avid hunter, and a man known for going after big game, Moran is somewhat surprised to learn that his firend has summoned him to help track down and kill a mysterious ape-man said to inhabit the forests of Washington State.
The story certainly plays with your expectations, giving the reader an explanation for the mysterious ape-man; before pulling the rug out and leaving a lingering question of whether or not Moran does in fact encounter a Bigfoot. The story plays out well, slowly teasing the reader in as Moran enters the dense woodland, and has a very creepy air as he spends his time in the forests as both the hunter and the hunted.
'A Dormitory Haunting' by Jaine Fenn is a story that catches up with Violet Hunter, one of the main characters from the Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. Having only recently watched the Jeremy Brett adaptation of this particular story days before reading this book it was a pleasant surprise to see Violet return. Despite being something of a pawn in that story, being used by a vile man in his plots, she was a very clever young woman. She had the knowledge to seek out Sherlock's help even before realising how bad things were, and was quite active in that initial story at finding the truth.
Here we see her as the head of a private school in Walsall, something that Holmes mentions in the original story. We see a slightly older and more confident Violet, one who when confronted with a mystery makes a decision to get to the bottom of it and protect the girls under her care. We get to see how her experiences in the original story have shaped her, and made her a great amateur detective in her own rights.
Cavan Scott's 'Nor Hell A Fury' features one of the most memorable and prominent female characters from the world of Holmes, Irene Adler. Often celebrated as a woman who was able to best Sherlock Holmes, and earning his respect in doing so, we get to see what happened next for her in this story set in France.
One of the most interesting things that Scott does here, however, is allude to the idea that Watson has had to alter some of his stories for publication so as not to embarrass certain public figures. In this case, it appears that Irene Adler is not even her real name, and was a name that Watson gave her in the story, and that it was not the King of Bohemia who was involved in that particular scandal but a member of the Russian royals. It makes complete sense that Watson would need to alter certain facts and events in order for them to be published, but it's an idea that doesn't often come up in Holmes stories. It was also enjoyable to see that whilst Irene didn't win like she wanted here, she was still smart enough to end up with an insurance measure at the end, proving that even if she doesn't win she's smart enough not to lose.
'The Vanishing Snake' by Jefferey Thomas tackles one of the better known Sherlock Holmes stories, The Speckled Band, and takes the opportunity to correct a few things that were factually incorrect with the original story. Thomas points out that there's no such snake as a Swamp Adder, and that snakes don't drink milk, but instead of using these inconsistencies to damage the original story, uses them to take it in a new and interesting direction. The explanation for these mistakes skirts on the supernatural, yet works incredibly well, and offers readers an unusual alternative theory.
My favourite story in the collection, however, would have to be 'peeler' by Nick Kyme. The story centres on Holmes' best known ally, other than Watson of course, Inspector Lestrade. In this story Lestrade begins to investigate a number of attacks across London, where the victims are left killed and large portions of their skin removed.
The story has a very Jack The Ripper feel to it, and cashes in on the creepy horror of Victorian era London well. The plot advances at a pace quick enough to remain exciting throughout, yet also gives you time to slow down and see how the police investigate the kind of crimes that Sherlock and Watson ultimately get called in on. It's great to see how Lestrade teams up with the consulting detective from the opposite side, and how he feels about Holmes. The story is so well done that it's one that I could easily see expanded upon into a much bigger story, one that could easily be a book in itself.
These are just some of the stories on offer in the book, however, and there are a lot of others too. There are stories that feature Billy the Page, Shinwell Jones, Mycroft Holmes, Inspector Barnes, and many others. Each of the writers manages to take these small characters, some even having a single appearance in the original work, and manages to craft engaging and engrossing tales. The stories highlight how interesting and diverse the supporting cast were in Conan Doyle's original stories, and shows how great writers like those on offer here can take these characters and make them leads in their own tales.
Whether you're a fan who knows all of the original stories and can name all the side characters, or someone with only a passing knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes cannon, this book is sure to offer you something. Even if for some reason you don't enjoy every story (which I would be hard pressed to believe as they're all amazing) there will definitely be something here that will entertain.
George Mann brings together a number of well known Sherlock Holmes writers together to tell a variety of stories, some that vary quite a bit in tone and genre. There are stories that feel like they'd fit easily into the original works, whilst others take on a much darker, even horror feel.
'Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest' by Tim Pratt tells one of the more unusual stories in the collection, following Professor Moriarty's right hand man, Colonel Sebastian Moran, all the way to the United States. Set after the death of Moriarty, and before the return of Holmes, Moran has travelled to the Pacific Northwest at the invitation of a friend in order to hunt. An avid hunter, and a man known for going after big game, Moran is somewhat surprised to learn that his firend has summoned him to help track down and kill a mysterious ape-man said to inhabit the forests of Washington State.
The story certainly plays with your expectations, giving the reader an explanation for the mysterious ape-man; before pulling the rug out and leaving a lingering question of whether or not Moran does in fact encounter a Bigfoot. The story plays out well, slowly teasing the reader in as Moran enters the dense woodland, and has a very creepy air as he spends his time in the forests as both the hunter and the hunted.
'A Dormitory Haunting' by Jaine Fenn is a story that catches up with Violet Hunter, one of the main characters from the Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. Having only recently watched the Jeremy Brett adaptation of this particular story days before reading this book it was a pleasant surprise to see Violet return. Despite being something of a pawn in that story, being used by a vile man in his plots, she was a very clever young woman. She had the knowledge to seek out Sherlock's help even before realising how bad things were, and was quite active in that initial story at finding the truth.
Here we see her as the head of a private school in Walsall, something that Holmes mentions in the original story. We see a slightly older and more confident Violet, one who when confronted with a mystery makes a decision to get to the bottom of it and protect the girls under her care. We get to see how her experiences in the original story have shaped her, and made her a great amateur detective in her own rights.
Cavan Scott's 'Nor Hell A Fury' features one of the most memorable and prominent female characters from the world of Holmes, Irene Adler. Often celebrated as a woman who was able to best Sherlock Holmes, and earning his respect in doing so, we get to see what happened next for her in this story set in France.
One of the most interesting things that Scott does here, however, is allude to the idea that Watson has had to alter some of his stories for publication so as not to embarrass certain public figures. In this case, it appears that Irene Adler is not even her real name, and was a name that Watson gave her in the story, and that it was not the King of Bohemia who was involved in that particular scandal but a member of the Russian royals. It makes complete sense that Watson would need to alter certain facts and events in order for them to be published, but it's an idea that doesn't often come up in Holmes stories. It was also enjoyable to see that whilst Irene didn't win like she wanted here, she was still smart enough to end up with an insurance measure at the end, proving that even if she doesn't win she's smart enough not to lose.
'The Vanishing Snake' by Jefferey Thomas tackles one of the better known Sherlock Holmes stories, The Speckled Band, and takes the opportunity to correct a few things that were factually incorrect with the original story. Thomas points out that there's no such snake as a Swamp Adder, and that snakes don't drink milk, but instead of using these inconsistencies to damage the original story, uses them to take it in a new and interesting direction. The explanation for these mistakes skirts on the supernatural, yet works incredibly well, and offers readers an unusual alternative theory.
My favourite story in the collection, however, would have to be 'peeler' by Nick Kyme. The story centres on Holmes' best known ally, other than Watson of course, Inspector Lestrade. In this story Lestrade begins to investigate a number of attacks across London, where the victims are left killed and large portions of their skin removed.
The story has a very Jack The Ripper feel to it, and cashes in on the creepy horror of Victorian era London well. The plot advances at a pace quick enough to remain exciting throughout, yet also gives you time to slow down and see how the police investigate the kind of crimes that Sherlock and Watson ultimately get called in on. It's great to see how Lestrade teams up with the consulting detective from the opposite side, and how he feels about Holmes. The story is so well done that it's one that I could easily see expanded upon into a much bigger story, one that could easily be a book in itself.
These are just some of the stories on offer in the book, however, and there are a lot of others too. There are stories that feature Billy the Page, Shinwell Jones, Mycroft Holmes, Inspector Barnes, and many others. Each of the writers manages to take these small characters, some even having a single appearance in the original work, and manages to craft engaging and engrossing tales. The stories highlight how interesting and diverse the supporting cast were in Conan Doyle's original stories, and shows how great writers like those on offer here can take these characters and make them leads in their own tales.
Whether you're a fan who knows all of the original stories and can name all the side characters, or someone with only a passing knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes cannon, this book is sure to offer you something. Even if for some reason you don't enjoy every story (which I would be hard pressed to believe as they're all amazing) there will definitely be something here that will entertain.
May 19, 2017
I am a glutton for Sherlock Holmes stories and having read all the canonical books (except the Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, which i hear is not that good), I can only satiate myself with the pastiches on the Great Detective. Thankfully there are millions(!) of them out there, and though many of them aren't good, some of them come close to the spirit of the canon.
Thankfully, this collection is one of the better ones (mostly) with some great, some good and some so-so. I think only one of the stories was actually bad, which is a good hit-rate when it comes to this sub-genre.
Though the title says that these are "Associates of Sherlock Holmes", not all were : some were antagonists including Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene "The Woman" Adler. Even among the associates only Lestrade is the one who is best known, and incidentally gets to narrate one of the best stories in this collection. So onwards with a brief description of each of the short stories (no spoilers)...
1. The River of Silence - Narrated by an obscure colleague of Lestrade called Inspector Stanley Hopkins, who appeared in only a few stories, this story recalls his first encounter with Holmes when he newly joins the police force (3/5)
2. Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest - Narrated by Col. Moran, this is one of the top 3 stories in the collection. Moran comes out as a very intriguing character, with shades of gray while the canonical Moran was only black. The ending was surprising and a little fantastical (5/5)
3. A dormitory haunting - Narrated by Miss Violet Hunter, the governess from canonical tale "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches", this is about a spooky episode in a later epoch in her life. Didn't have enough of the macabre for my liking (2/5)
4. The case of the previous tenant - Narrated by Inspector Baynes of the Surrey constabulary, encountered in "The adventure of Wisteria Lodge", he comes off as a force to match wits with Holmes. The story contains horror, but the core mystery came off as a little bit too facile (3/5)
5. Nor Hell a Fury - The best one of the entire lot, this one is narrated by Irene Adler, who seeks the help of Watson to resolve a personal matter. But with Adler, danger and deceit are never far away (5/5)
6. The case of the haphazard marksmen - Narrated by Langdale Pike, the gossip columnist encountered in the "Adventure of the three gables", this story on random, mysterious assassinations of public personalities in broad daylight, starts promisingly but the resolution was unconvincing (3/5)
7. The Presbury Papers - Narrated by Prof Presbury, the infamous villain of the "Adventure of the Creeping Man", the tale follows an epistolary format, and continues in the vein of science fiction as the canonical tale (3/5)
8. A flash in the pan - Narrated by Porky Johnson (who?) this tale is partly humorous but wholly inconsequential (2/5)
9. The vanishing snake - Narrated by Helen Stoner, the heroine from one of mine as well as Conan Doyle's favourite tale, "The Adventure of the Speckled Band", this is a direct sequel to the former. It attempts to correct some of the logical gaps in the canonical tale (What is a swamp adder? What happened to the baboon and the cheetah?). It is 100% horror, but only 50% effective. (2.5/5)
10. A family resemblance - Narrated by Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, this tale is in the form of a letter which he rights to the brother of Moriarty (of all people!) The story is ok, and involves espionage, not surprising as Mycroft is a spook in the canon. (3/5)
11. Page Turners - Narrated by Billy The page (I have literally no memory of this character), the story is amusing ... describing the dread that the criminals of London have 0f Holmes ... when Billy tries to deliver a letter to Watson. Was entertaining by as fantastic as the horror entries (3/5)
12. Peeler - Narrated by Holmes' most well-known associate in the Scotland Yard, G. Lestrade, Peeler is a classic serial killer tale with a distinctive Jack the Ripper vibe. I can easily picture it as a plotline for a movie script for Guy Ritchie for Sherlock 3. (5/5)
Thankfully, this collection is one of the better ones (mostly) with some great, some good and some so-so. I think only one of the stories was actually bad, which is a good hit-rate when it comes to this sub-genre.
Though the title says that these are "Associates of Sherlock Holmes", not all were : some were antagonists including Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene "The Woman" Adler. Even among the associates only Lestrade is the one who is best known, and incidentally gets to narrate one of the best stories in this collection. So onwards with a brief description of each of the short stories (no spoilers)...
1. The River of Silence - Narrated by an obscure colleague of Lestrade called Inspector Stanley Hopkins, who appeared in only a few stories, this story recalls his first encounter with Holmes when he newly joins the police force (3/5)
2. Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest - Narrated by Col. Moran, this is one of the top 3 stories in the collection. Moran comes out as a very intriguing character, with shades of gray while the canonical Moran was only black. The ending was surprising and a little fantastical (5/5)
3. A dormitory haunting - Narrated by Miss Violet Hunter, the governess from canonical tale "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches", this is about a spooky episode in a later epoch in her life. Didn't have enough of the macabre for my liking (2/5)
4. The case of the previous tenant - Narrated by Inspector Baynes of the Surrey constabulary, encountered in "The adventure of Wisteria Lodge", he comes off as a force to match wits with Holmes. The story contains horror, but the core mystery came off as a little bit too facile (3/5)
5. Nor Hell a Fury - The best one of the entire lot, this one is narrated by Irene Adler, who seeks the help of Watson to resolve a personal matter. But with Adler, danger and deceit are never far away (5/5)
6. The case of the haphazard marksmen - Narrated by Langdale Pike, the gossip columnist encountered in the "Adventure of the three gables", this story on random, mysterious assassinations of public personalities in broad daylight, starts promisingly but the resolution was unconvincing (3/5)
7. The Presbury Papers - Narrated by Prof Presbury, the infamous villain of the "Adventure of the Creeping Man", the tale follows an epistolary format, and continues in the vein of science fiction as the canonical tale (3/5)
8. A flash in the pan - Narrated by Porky Johnson (who?) this tale is partly humorous but wholly inconsequential (2/5)
9. The vanishing snake - Narrated by Helen Stoner, the heroine from one of mine as well as Conan Doyle's favourite tale, "The Adventure of the Speckled Band", this is a direct sequel to the former. It attempts to correct some of the logical gaps in the canonical tale (What is a swamp adder? What happened to the baboon and the cheetah?). It is 100% horror, but only 50% effective. (2.5/5)
10. A family resemblance - Narrated by Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, this tale is in the form of a letter which he rights to the brother of Moriarty (of all people!) The story is ok, and involves espionage, not surprising as Mycroft is a spook in the canon. (3/5)
11. Page Turners - Narrated by Billy The page (I have literally no memory of this character), the story is amusing ... describing the dread that the criminals of London have 0f Holmes ... when Billy tries to deliver a letter to Watson. Was entertaining by as fantastic as the horror entries (3/5)
12. Peeler - Narrated by Holmes' most well-known associate in the Scotland Yard, G. Lestrade, Peeler is a classic serial killer tale with a distinctive Jack the Ripper vibe. I can easily picture it as a plotline for a movie script for Guy Ritchie for Sherlock 3. (5/5)
December 31, 2017
“Associates of Sherlock Holmes” is a thoroughly enjoyable collection of pastiches starring the famous literary detective. This is a refreshing new take, telling each tale from the perspective of canonical characters, the plots are engaging, fun and varied.
The tone of the collection is reminiscent of Kim Newman’s “Moriarty and the Hound of the D’Urbervilles” another book that is equally as enjoyable. George Mann’s ability to deliver an even spread of quality throughout is of note, presenting a well-balanced collection.
For me there are three standout stories. Ian Edgington’s “The Case of the Previous Tenant” is very cleverly plotted and stars the only policeman Holmes ever showed any admiration for in all of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales, Inspector Baynes. Fan favourite Irene Adler appears in “Nor Hell a Fury” by Cavan Scott, a story in which Dr. Watson becomes the object of her attention.
Lastly my favourite story was “The Case of the Haphazard Marksman” by Andrew Lane. This is an amusing tale in which our erstwhile detective enlists the help of the mischievous Langdale Pike to catch an assassin bent on revenge. Pike is a character that has always intrigued me. He never actually appears in any of Doyle’s work, but gets a significant mention in “The Adventure of the Three Gables”.
The tone of the collection is reminiscent of Kim Newman’s “Moriarty and the Hound of the D’Urbervilles” another book that is equally as enjoyable. George Mann’s ability to deliver an even spread of quality throughout is of note, presenting a well-balanced collection.
For me there are three standout stories. Ian Edgington’s “The Case of the Previous Tenant” is very cleverly plotted and stars the only policeman Holmes ever showed any admiration for in all of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales, Inspector Baynes. Fan favourite Irene Adler appears in “Nor Hell a Fury” by Cavan Scott, a story in which Dr. Watson becomes the object of her attention.
Lastly my favourite story was “The Case of the Haphazard Marksman” by Andrew Lane. This is an amusing tale in which our erstwhile detective enlists the help of the mischievous Langdale Pike to catch an assassin bent on revenge. Pike is a character that has always intrigued me. He never actually appears in any of Doyle’s work, but gets a significant mention in “The Adventure of the Three Gables”.
June 21, 2021
There were a few hits and misses with this anthology but the overall premise was brilliant.
Basically, this is a look into the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson from an outside perspective. Most of Conan Doyle's work of course had us following the great detective from Watson's Point of View. This Anthology follows from the perspective of someone else (most of the time, there were a few stories told from a narrator's POV but it was one of the great ones still).
Some characters are common but there were a handful who only appeared once in many of the short stories, though the introduction per story by the authors really do help jog the memory.
But again, as I've said, not all stories were right on the mark as others. For me, the story from my favorite Holmes' character didn't live up to expectations, as to other characters as they seemed to be dragging or just too complicated and tarnished the original story from which the character came from.
Still, a good book from those Holmes' fans who would like to continue on reading about the adventures of the great detective and the people he has encountered.
Basically, this is a look into the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson from an outside perspective. Most of Conan Doyle's work of course had us following the great detective from Watson's Point of View. This Anthology follows from the perspective of someone else (most of the time, there were a few stories told from a narrator's POV but it was one of the great ones still).
Some characters are common but there were a handful who only appeared once in many of the short stories, though the introduction per story by the authors really do help jog the memory.
But again, as I've said, not all stories were right on the mark as others. For me, the story from my favorite Holmes' character didn't live up to expectations, as to other characters as they seemed to be dragging or just too complicated and tarnished the original story from which the character came from.
Still, a good book from those Holmes' fans who would like to continue on reading about the adventures of the great detective and the people he has encountered.
June 20, 2018
This was a short story collection that I picked up from the library simply because it was Sherlock Holmes and I saw it was edited by George Mann. These stories are told from the point of view of characters from the Sherlock Holmes stories, some of them well-known (Lestrade, Irene Adler etc), while some are from the point of views of characters who only appeared for a story or had a throwaway line to refer to them. The stories covered many different genres, including paranormal which was a bit of a surprise for me.
Considering a short story collection is not normally on my list of books to reach for, this was an enjoyable read for me. I liked all the various stories, as well as seeing different views of Holmes and Watson, as the stories include those who are their enemies as well as their allies. My favourite stories were ones from the points of view of Violet Hunter, Billy the Page, Irene Adler (ouch!) and Sebastian Moran as nearly all of them gave a different interpretation of the characters themselves.
I definitely want to get out the next book of this series. 4 stars!
Considering a short story collection is not normally on my list of books to reach for, this was an enjoyable read for me. I liked all the various stories, as well as seeing different views of Holmes and Watson, as the stories include those who are their enemies as well as their allies. My favourite stories were ones from the points of view of Violet Hunter, Billy the Page, Irene Adler (ouch!) and Sebastian Moran as nearly all of them gave a different interpretation of the characters themselves.
I definitely want to get out the next book of this series. 4 stars!
March 15, 2018
Following from the two volumes of encounters this gives us Holmes tales narrated by some of his allies , clients and enemies , many of whom it’s nice to see again. Some get new stories, some sidelines on their original tales.
The success varies but the best is very good. Mycroft playing chess with Moriartys brother is a good image , the conventional police seeing Holmes as a necessary evil who walks a tight line and thinks two highly of himself reflects the modern day Sherlock and Billy the page boy’s rivalry with Wiggins ( a voice from the irregulars would have been nice- maybe in vol 2. ) is fun .
A military rationale to the Creeping Man experiment is good context ; more bizarre is an explanation for Specked Band that reinforces my qualms about Holmes and the supernatural . I’m not sure I buy what they did with Irene Adler either, though it’s interesting .....
The success varies but the best is very good. Mycroft playing chess with Moriartys brother is a good image , the conventional police seeing Holmes as a necessary evil who walks a tight line and thinks two highly of himself reflects the modern day Sherlock and Billy the page boy’s rivalry with Wiggins ( a voice from the irregulars would have been nice- maybe in vol 2. ) is fun .
A military rationale to the Creeping Man experiment is good context ; more bizarre is an explanation for Specked Band that reinforces my qualms about Holmes and the supernatural . I’m not sure I buy what they did with Irene Adler either, though it’s interesting .....
July 18, 2018
Like most new Sherlock Holmes books, good idea, ended up not as great as they could be
Trying to show other characters from Sherlock Holmes is a good idea, just needs more to it. Too many Authors of this sort either see Holmes as a complete addicted psychopath or an addicted grouch of which the original srories were neither
Trying to show other characters from Sherlock Holmes is a good idea, just needs more to it. Too many Authors of this sort either see Holmes as a complete addicted psychopath or an addicted grouch of which the original srories were neither
March 16, 2019
It's interesting to read how the fans--and authors are fans too, mind you--see different characters from different perspectives, and from this point of view this one should be read by sherlockians. The stories themselves are not much intriguing though, but who can be compared with Doyle himself anyway?
May 31, 2024
Best collection of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Since we're approaching the mystery from a different side character's POV everytime it doesn't gave repetitive, also it is much easier when everyone is not trying to ape Watson's a.k.a. Conan Doyle's writing styles. It's nice and refreshing.
There's also a second book.
There's also a second book.
July 8, 2017
I liked the concept of taking minor characters from the Holmes stories and letting them take center stage, although I felt that Mycroft and Lestrade should have been off-limits, as they're not exactly minor. Still, the stories were well-imagined and executed, and made for an enjoyable read.
January 27, 2023
Short stories
A very enjoyable book of Sherlock Holmes stories. But.here centre stage is taken by characters who have populated the original stories. In these stories they are allowed to shine at the hands of modern authors who capture the feel of the originals.
A very enjoyable book of Sherlock Holmes stories. But.here centre stage is taken by characters who have populated the original stories. In these stories they are allowed to shine at the hands of modern authors who capture the feel of the originals.
December 31, 2017
Like all short story collections, there were ones I liked better than others. This probably would have been more enjoyable were I a bigger Sherlock Holmes fan.
April 29, 2020
Not all the stories are good or interesting and with some you really have to look for any Sherlock Holmes influence
November 6, 2020
Interesting short stories with Holmes’ supporting characters.
May 19, 2023
2.5
Like many collected books of shorts a mix of very good and very bland so mid road score
Like many collected books of shorts a mix of very good and very bland so mid road score
January 4, 2024
Interesting book of short Stories some raely goood some less so. I think you need to read and know the original Sherlock Holmes before you read this.
June 4, 2024
Nice little read of pocket stories. Well put together but a couple of the stories were a little anticlimactic and difficult to read. However, the best was saved until last.
March 16, 2017
A series of short stories written from the perspective of supportive characters in original Holmes stories. Well done.
March 10, 2017
Оригинал: https://olegeightnine.wordpress.com/2...
Перед тем, как начать, я хочу порекомендовать другой недавний сборник рассказов о Шерлоке Холмсе: Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets про версии Холмса и Ватсона в альтернативных и фантастических сеттингах. Не все авторы успешно справились с выбранными темами, но разнообразие идей и подходов очень богатое, и в итоге хороших рассказов в сборнике больше чем плохих.
(Начать пост с рекомендации книги на ту же тему — нелестный прием, но любая простая рекомендация лучше того, что я пишу в этих постах, вне зависимости от качества сегодняшней жертвы.)
Антология Associates of Sherlock Holmes, как очевидно из названия, должна быть посвящена историям про персонажей канона, которых зовут не Шерлок Холмс, и явно нелегко найти баланс между сохранением ощущения, что они являются частью той же вселенной, и фокусом на выбранных мишенях. И, по-моему, подавляющее большинство авторов сборника с этой задачей не справились. Те, рассказы, в которых Холмс появляется, страдают от общей проблемы (кроме, возможно, «Nor Hell a Fury» Кейвана Скотта про Ирэн Адлер): это просто рассказы про очередные приключения Шерлока Холмса, в которых номинальный протагонист остается второстепенным персонажем, помогающим в пару важных моментов, с разницей только в отличие точки зрения от ватсоновской. Особенно обидно в случае Лейстрейда и двух «одноразовых» инспекторов (один из них даже не является рассказчиком!), уж кто точно заслужил приключения не в тени Холмса. И как бы развлекательно Саймон Бушер-Джонс ни писал саркастично комментирующего методы своего брата Майкрофта, рассказом про Майкрофта оно не становится.
С другой стороны некоторые авторы — чертовы извращенцы прожженные шерлокианцы, и выбрали себе довольно необычных персонажей. У всех нас наверняка есть любимые непопулярные части канона (я читал «Пляшущих человечков» больше раз чем прилично. Чем прилично в этом фандоме), но клиентки из «Медных буков» и «Пестрой ленты»? Серьезно? И одним из главных провалов в плане упомянутого выше баланса является «Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest» Тима Пратта про то, как Себастьян Моран охотился на йети, потому что эта история могла произойти с любым очень несимпатичным и неинтересным охотником в конце девятнадцатого века.
Еще я не уверен, что прятать в следующем томе, скажем, Тоби и миссис Хадсон (она и Мориарти ошибочно упомянуты в некоторых синопсисах этого), является такой уж хорошей идеей. На вторую жену Ватсона даже не надеюсь.
Отдельные выдающиеся рассказы:
Перед тем, как начать, я хочу порекомендовать другой недавний сборник рассказов о Шерлоке Холмсе: Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets про версии Холмса и Ватсона в альтернативных и фантастических сеттингах. Не все авторы успешно справились с выбранными темами, но разнообразие идей и подходов очень богатое, и в итоге хороших рассказов в сборнике больше чем плохих.
(Начать пост с рекомендации книги на ту же тему — нелестный прием, но любая простая рекомендация лучше того, что я пишу в этих постах, вне зависимости от качества сегодняшней жертвы.)
Антология Associates of Sherlock Holmes, как очевидно из названия, должна быть посвящена историям про персонажей канона, которых зовут не Шерлок Холмс, и явно нелегко найти баланс между сохранением ощущения, что они являются частью той же вселенной, и фокусом на выбранных мишенях. И, по-моему, подавляющее большинство авторов сборника с этой задачей не справились. Те, рассказы, в которых Холмс появляется, страдают от общей проблемы (кроме, возможно, «Nor Hell a Fury» Кейвана Скотта про Ирэн Адлер): это просто рассказы про очередные приключения Шерлока Холмса, в которых номинальный протагонист остается второстепенным персонажем, помогающим в пару важных моментов, с разницей только в отличие точки зрения от ватсоновской. Особенно обидно в случае Лейстрейда и двух «одноразовых» инспекторов (один из них даже не является рассказчиком!), уж кто точно заслужил приключения не в тени Холмса. И как бы развлекательно Саймон Бушер-Джонс ни писал саркастично комментирующего методы своего брата Майкрофта, рассказом про Майкрофта оно не становится.
Стоп: ВТОРАЯ ЖЕНА ВАТСОНА, естественно же.
(Интересно, додумался ли кто-нибудь из авторов?)— OLeg89 (@OLeg89) November 3, 2016
С другой стороны некоторые авторы — чертовы извращенцы прожженные шерлокианцы, и выбрали себе довольно необычных персонажей. У всех нас наверняка есть любимые непопулярные части канона (я читал «Пляшущих человечков» больше раз чем прилично. Чем прилично в этом фандоме), но клиентки из «Медных буков» и «Пестрой ленты»? Серьезно? И одним из главных провалов в плане упомянутого выше баланса является «Heavy Game of the Pacific Northwest» Тима Пратта про то, как Себастьян Моран охотился на йети, потому что эта история могла произойти с любым очень несимпатичным и неинтересным охотником в конце девятнадцатого века.
Еще я не уверен, что прятать в следующем томе, скажем, Тоби и миссис Хадсон (она и Мориарти ошибочно упомянуты в некоторых синопсисах этого), является такой уж хорошей идеей. На вторую жену Ватсона даже не надеюсь.
Отдельные выдающиеся рассказы:
«The Vanishing Snake» Джеффри Томаса про Хелен Стоунер из «Пестрой ленты» с попыткой объяснить ошибки Конан Дойла в биологии змей. Кроме того, что объяснение уходит в мистику, весь рассказ Хелен пересказывает практически не перебивающим Холмсу и Ватсону события нескольких недель после «Ленты», так что 90% процентов повествования написаны в пунктуации прямой речи, что очень удобно читать. Худший рассказ.
«Pure Swank» Джеймса Лавгроува про частного детектива из «Москательщик на покое». Изобретательно вплетает протагониста в канон, но основной сюжет — не самостоятельная история, а дополнение исходного рассказа деталями с точки зрения детектива;
«Page Turners» Кары Деннисон про Билли из «Долины ужаса». Лучший рассказ в сборнике, потому что несмотря на присутствие Холмса рассказ именно про Билли и про то, как он самостоятельно справляется с одним из его поручений.
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