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Holmes and Challenger
Professor Challenger: The Kew Growths and Other Stories
Professor Challenger has mostly played second fiddle to Holmes in the Conan Doyle canon, but in THE KEW GROWTHS AND OTHER STORIES the larger-than-life adventurer takes center stage. In these tales you'll find him investigating lost worlds, delving into deep and dangerous places, and facing creatures long thought lost in legend.
Follow Challenger as, with the help of his long-time companion, journalist Edward Malone, and some aid from Carnacki and John Logie Baird, he saves London from menace, tracks down ape-men, and visits a high plateau in Montana where time has stood still.
Follow Challenger as, with the help of his long-time companion, journalist Edward Malone, and some aid from Carnacki and John Logie Baird, he saves London from menace, tracks down ape-men, and visits a high plateau in Montana where time has stood still.
- GenresHorror
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
408 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 22, 2025
Not So Great.
These stories are not so great. Most of them are blah! Just don’t excite me. It’s surprising because many of the short stories that I’ve read by him are delicious. I could just eat ‘em up.
Professor Challenger is not a boring character. He seems interesting. And he reminds me of the Dr. Watson character from the Basil Rathbone, Sherlock Holmes, movies. I see his face whenever I read about Professor Challenger.
The stories are all satisfying, though. In a way.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
These stories are not so great. Most of them are blah! Just don’t excite me. It’s surprising because many of the short stories that I’ve read by him are delicious. I could just eat ‘em up.
Professor Challenger is not a boring character. He seems interesting. And he reminds me of the Dr. Watson character from the Basil Rathbone, Sherlock Holmes, movies. I see his face whenever I read about Professor Challenger.
The stories are all satisfying, though. In a way.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Want to read
December 11, 2018This is D of 26 signed, lettered, limited edition copies.
The deluxe edition is signed by author William Meikle and artist M. Wayne Miller.
The deluxe edition contains the novella, The Island of Terror, and two extra stories not found in the signed and numbered edition. The deluxe edition also includes a beautiful slip case for this leather bound edition.
The deluxe edition is signed by author William Meikle and artist M. Wayne Miller.
The deluxe edition contains the novella, The Island of Terror, and two extra stories not found in the signed and numbered edition. The deluxe edition also includes a beautiful slip case for this leather bound edition.
Want to read
September 3, 2014A collection. This edition limited to 100 numbered copies signed by the author.
The second in Dark Renaissance’s line of Victorian-flavored genre fiction. The first one, a Daniel Mills collection sold out in the hardcover editions in a very short time. “Professor Challenger has mostly played second fiddle to Holmes in the Conan Doyle canon, but in THE KEW GROWTHS AND OTHER STORIES the larger-than life adventurer takes center stage. In these tales you’ll find him investigating lost worlds, delving into deep and dangerous places, and facing creatures long thought lost in legend. Follow Challenger as, with the help of his long-time companion, journalist Edward Malone, and some aid from Carnacki and John Logie Baird, he saves London from menace, tracks down ape-men, and visits a high plateau in Montana where time has stood still.”
The second in Dark Renaissance’s line of Victorian-flavored genre fiction. The first one, a Daniel Mills collection sold out in the hardcover editions in a very short time. “Professor Challenger has mostly played second fiddle to Holmes in the Conan Doyle canon, but in THE KEW GROWTHS AND OTHER STORIES the larger-than life adventurer takes center stage. In these tales you’ll find him investigating lost worlds, delving into deep and dangerous places, and facing creatures long thought lost in legend. Follow Challenger as, with the help of his long-time companion, journalist Edward Malone, and some aid from Carnacki and John Logie Baird, he saves London from menace, tracks down ape-men, and visits a high plateau in Montana where time has stood still.”
June 16, 2023
Meikle is the Master of Mayhem and Mysteries
A wonderful anthology of short stories all about the inestimable Professor Challenger, the arrogant and heroic zoologist from Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World’.
Meikle crafts a riveting collection of stories which effectively build upon the Challenger mythology. Whilst some are short and some are longer, all of the stories in this collection are thrilling and unputdownable. Meikle’s interest in cryptozoology is put to perfect use here as Challenger embarks on expeditions to find Thunderbirds, Owl-Men, and a veritable who’s who of mythological creatures. In crafting these, Meikle wisely plays up Challenger’s heroic side and his lust for knowledge and adventure whilst throwing some of his outdated characteristics and personality traits in the bin.
A lovely addition to these stories is the occasion drop in from other characters in fiction or real life. As a result of this book, I have decided to look further in the adventures of Thomas Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder.
The stand-out story is the Kew Growths. This is such a brilliant idea and helps set the standard for the rest of the anthology and cement the feeling that Meikle is more than a worthy successor to Doyle.
I would definitely recommend this book to all fans of science-fiction in general and Professor Challenger in particular. I shall most definitely be reading more William Meikle stories in the future.
A wonderful anthology of short stories all about the inestimable Professor Challenger, the arrogant and heroic zoologist from Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World’.
Meikle crafts a riveting collection of stories which effectively build upon the Challenger mythology. Whilst some are short and some are longer, all of the stories in this collection are thrilling and unputdownable. Meikle’s interest in cryptozoology is put to perfect use here as Challenger embarks on expeditions to find Thunderbirds, Owl-Men, and a veritable who’s who of mythological creatures. In crafting these, Meikle wisely plays up Challenger’s heroic side and his lust for knowledge and adventure whilst throwing some of his outdated characteristics and personality traits in the bin.
A lovely addition to these stories is the occasion drop in from other characters in fiction or real life. As a result of this book, I have decided to look further in the adventures of Thomas Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder.
The stand-out story is the Kew Growths. This is such a brilliant idea and helps set the standard for the rest of the anthology and cement the feeling that Meikle is more than a worthy successor to Doyle.
I would definitely recommend this book to all fans of science-fiction in general and Professor Challenger in particular. I shall most definitely be reading more William Meikle stories in the future.
May 5, 2017
In rainswept & windy evenings, when one longs for good company and warmth, I fall back on a Scotsman’s innate ability to entertain others with his tales.
Usually Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suffices.
Occasionally, I need stronger potions. Then I pick up stuff from William Meikle.
Over a period of many years, I have been enamoured by a lot of his creations, especially the PI in Midnight Files.
I have enjoyed his new tales of Carnacki and Sherlock Holmes.
But I have always wanted to read his tales involving Professor George Edward Challenger.
Dark Renaissance, while it was going, had brought out an absolutely beautiful collection of those stories, lavishly illustrated by the one & only M. Wayne Miller. The collection had remained in my shelves for a long time. Fortunately, in these suddenly stormy surroundings, when I went to read them, they didn’t feel dated. Instead, like good Scotch, they tasted better.
The stories that I encountered in this collection were:
1. “The Kew Growths”: Despite involving Carnacki the Ghost-Finder, this was one of the weaker stories in the collection, rather more Lovecraftian than Doylesque.
2. “The Petrified Forest”: Still Lovecraftian, but the action & suspense was more in sync with the character of Professor Challenger.
3. “The Monster of the Ness”: A haunting story.
4. “The Auld Grey Man”: One of the best stories in this collection, with a lyrical pain spread across its spooky narrative that tasted quite exquisite.
5. “The Ape-Man”: A brilliant new pulp story.
6. “The Penge Terror”: Despite creating the setting neatly, the story ended abruptly. Also, since the timelines didn’t match with Wells’ classic, it felt rather pushed.
7. “Drums in the Deep”: Another suspenseful story, which eventually spoke of loneliness & pain, and death.
8. “The Cornish Owlman”: Another tale involving Carnacki, but this one was brilliant.
9. “Ripples in the Ether”: Another Lovecraftian tale, but more science fiction than horror. Enjoyed it, and its possibilities.
10. “The Valley of the Lost”: Montana houses the tepui in this case, with adventures, action, death, and faith all mixing seamlessly.
11. “Parting the Veil”: Although it involved a lot of action & grim horror, somewhere the story was all about pain, loss, and the wake of devastation left by death.
12. “The Island of Terror”: This is the ABSOLUTE BEST piece in this book, and does a Crichton with Challenger in the centre, better than many other authors. Hence, a word of caution: please read this novella last.
Overall, I would strongly urge you to get hold of this collection, to enjoy another ‘take’ on Professor Challenger, while the days become colder & darker.
Recommended, obviously.
Usually Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suffices.
Occasionally, I need stronger potions. Then I pick up stuff from William Meikle.
Over a period of many years, I have been enamoured by a lot of his creations, especially the PI in Midnight Files.
I have enjoyed his new tales of Carnacki and Sherlock Holmes.
But I have always wanted to read his tales involving Professor George Edward Challenger.
Dark Renaissance, while it was going, had brought out an absolutely beautiful collection of those stories, lavishly illustrated by the one & only M. Wayne Miller. The collection had remained in my shelves for a long time. Fortunately, in these suddenly stormy surroundings, when I went to read them, they didn’t feel dated. Instead, like good Scotch, they tasted better.
The stories that I encountered in this collection were:
1. “The Kew Growths”: Despite involving Carnacki the Ghost-Finder, this was one of the weaker stories in the collection, rather more Lovecraftian than Doylesque.
2. “The Petrified Forest”: Still Lovecraftian, but the action & suspense was more in sync with the character of Professor Challenger.
3. “The Monster of the Ness”: A haunting story.
4. “The Auld Grey Man”: One of the best stories in this collection, with a lyrical pain spread across its spooky narrative that tasted quite exquisite.
5. “The Ape-Man”: A brilliant new pulp story.
6. “The Penge Terror”: Despite creating the setting neatly, the story ended abruptly. Also, since the timelines didn’t match with Wells’ classic, it felt rather pushed.
7. “Drums in the Deep”: Another suspenseful story, which eventually spoke of loneliness & pain, and death.
8. “The Cornish Owlman”: Another tale involving Carnacki, but this one was brilliant.
9. “Ripples in the Ether”: Another Lovecraftian tale, but more science fiction than horror. Enjoyed it, and its possibilities.
10. “The Valley of the Lost”: Montana houses the tepui in this case, with adventures, action, death, and faith all mixing seamlessly.
11. “Parting the Veil”: Although it involved a lot of action & grim horror, somewhere the story was all about pain, loss, and the wake of devastation left by death.
12. “The Island of Terror”: This is the ABSOLUTE BEST piece in this book, and does a Crichton with Challenger in the centre, better than many other authors. Hence, a word of caution: please read this novella last.
Overall, I would strongly urge you to get hold of this collection, to enjoy another ‘take’ on Professor Challenger, while the days become colder & darker.
Recommended, obviously.
March 10, 2024
LONG AGO, as a 12 year old, I was given the Complete Professor Challenger stories as a present. I read all five and was heartbroken that there were no more and would never be any more Professor Challenger stories.
This book has 13 new short stories. But though all the ingredients are there, the stories are not written by Arthur Conan Doyle and I think they may have benefited had there been just 4 stories, all much longer, so not giving the impression that the impossible was common place in the early 1910's.
Stories here are told by Ed Malone and feature various creatures and monsters, the undead, a thing from space, a new Lost World, a new Ice Age and so on. There are some good stories and I almost gave it four stars, but the early stories dragged down the later ones.
Also there was too much drinking of ale and smoking of cheroots. Why?
This book has 13 new short stories. But though all the ingredients are there, the stories are not written by Arthur Conan Doyle and I think they may have benefited had there been just 4 stories, all much longer, so not giving the impression that the impossible was common place in the early 1910's.
Stories here are told by Ed Malone and feature various creatures and monsters, the undead, a thing from space, a new Lost World, a new Ice Age and so on. There are some good stories and I almost gave it four stars, but the early stories dragged down the later ones.
Also there was too much drinking of ale and smoking of cheroots. Why?
September 17, 2024
Entertaining mystery horror listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account
Eleven different stories involving Professor Challenger. Each story is different with interesting characters lots of action, misdirection, and violence leading to each conclusion.
I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of fantasy world 🌎 horror mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account
Eleven different stories involving Professor Challenger. Each story is different with interesting characters lots of action, misdirection, and violence leading to each conclusion.
I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of fantasy world 🌎 horror mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews