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The Martian Simulacra: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
The year is 1907, the setting is Baker Street, London. When the Martian Ambassador arrives at Holmes’ door seeking the Great Detective’s help in solving a grisly murder, how can he refuse? The case will involve a trip to the Red Planet, where few humans have been privileged enough to visit. Ever since the second wave of Martians arrived on Earth, inoculated against the germs that had halted their tripods the first time around, and humanity accepted the aliens as their overlords, Holmes has been curious... Soon he and Watson are boarding one of the great Martian spaceships, where they discover their old friend Professor Challenger has been invited along for the ride. What awaits them at their destination is a plot more dastardly than any of them could have imagined. In The Martian Simulacra, award-winning author Eric Brown delivers a glorious mash-up of Sherlock Holmes and The War of the Worlds, seasoned with a dash of Conan Doyle’s The Lost World for good measure. Part of NewCon Press' Novella Set 3: The Martian Quartet.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2017
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About the author
Eric Brown
375 books186 followersEric Brown was a British science fiction author and Guardian critic.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 25, 2018
Author Eric Brown has written a mash-up of “Sherlock Holmes” and “The War of the Worlds” seasoned with an injection of Conan Doyle's “The Lost World’s” Professor Challenger for good measure. The book is titled “The Martian Simulacra”.
The story takes place a few years after the original “War of the Worlds”. If you recall that story the invading Martians died due to (Spoiler) bacteria in the earth’s atmosphere (end spoiler). In Brown’s tale we learn that the Martians developed inoculations for this problem and successfully re-invaded earth a few years later with total success. They are now Earths overlords.
Holmes and Watson are summoned to the red planet by the Martians to solve a questionable murder, so far pretty much so good. When I began reading I had the hint of thinking that Brown was writing this with tongue-in-cheek overtones, Then as the story built up and evolved, for me, it turned into an almost cartoon.
Watson soon falls in love with the first woman he sees, Holmes is completely two dimensional and Professor Challenger is treated quite unfairly. Political intrigue takes place. Our heroes are moved about the stage, and the story resolves - I felt totally cheated by Mr. Brown. He drops a few rungs down my reading ladder.
Cover Artist: Jim Burns
The book forms part of a slipcase set, featuring signed hardbacks of all four titles in Novella Set 3, with Jim Burns' combined artwork as a wraparound.
The story takes place a few years after the original “War of the Worlds”. If you recall that story the invading Martians died due to (Spoiler) bacteria in the earth’s atmosphere (end spoiler). In Brown’s tale we learn that the Martians developed inoculations for this problem and successfully re-invaded earth a few years later with total success. They are now Earths overlords.
Holmes and Watson are summoned to the red planet by the Martians to solve a questionable murder, so far pretty much so good. When I began reading I had the hint of thinking that Brown was writing this with tongue-in-cheek overtones, Then as the story built up and evolved, for me, it turned into an almost cartoon.
Watson soon falls in love with the first woman he sees, Holmes is completely two dimensional and Professor Challenger is treated quite unfairly. Political intrigue takes place. Our heroes are moved about the stage, and the story resolves - I felt totally cheated by Mr. Brown. He drops a few rungs down my reading ladder.
Cover Artist: Jim Burns
The book forms part of a slipcase set, featuring signed hardbacks of all four titles in Novella Set 3, with Jim Burns' combined artwork as a wraparound.
December 29, 2020
And now on to the third of the Martian series from NewCon press. Now this is quite a challange of a book to me - you see although there are many Sherlock Holmes pastiche's out there (and not I am not giving away any spoilers) some of which I have read and really enjoyed I am always wary of them.
I guess it is the suspicion of an author trying to sell their story off the back of a greater work - we all can think of an example and I know that the publishing world is rife of "me too" books (its been going on pretty much since the age of mass produced books) and the greater the name the greater the possibility of it happening.
However that is not the case here - instead you have a master storyteller weaving together stranges from not just one but two classics and not only turning it in to a ripping tale but one you hope leads to more stories of in the future.
Without giving anything of the storyline away the fact that you have two such instantly recognisable characters is almost superfluous in that quality of writing moves the storyline along so well. True there is a reason for their presence which you discover as the story progresses but as a result it feels so natural that it would be a surprise to think any other way. This is a great read and another quality addition to the series.
I guess it is the suspicion of an author trying to sell their story off the back of a greater work - we all can think of an example and I know that the publishing world is rife of "me too" books (its been going on pretty much since the age of mass produced books) and the greater the name the greater the possibility of it happening.
However that is not the case here - instead you have a master storyteller weaving together stranges from not just one but two classics and not only turning it in to a ripping tale but one you hope leads to more stories of in the future.
Without giving anything of the storyline away the fact that you have two such instantly recognisable characters is almost superfluous in that quality of writing moves the storyline along so well. True there is a reason for their presence which you discover as the story progresses but as a result it feels so natural that it would be a surprise to think any other way. This is a great read and another quality addition to the series.
February 4, 2022
Simulacres martiens est un pastiche réjouissant qui respecte les oeuvres de Wells et de Conan Doyle tout en leur offrant une intrigue palpitante et divertissante réussie. C’est plein d’action et on en redemanderait volontiers une fois la dernière page tournée. Alors certes, la fin ouverte peut décevoir, mais pour le reste, je passe volontiers sur les failles et ne conserve que le souvenir du plaisir ressenti à la lecture!
Critique complète sur yuyine.be!
Critique complète sur yuyine.be!
April 9, 2022
3.5/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Un texte pastiche qui reprend le personnage de Sherlock Holmes en l’intégrant dans l’univers de la Guerre des mondes ? Le principe même m’a intéressé dés le départ. Résultat : si ce texte est un vrai hommage réussi au pulp du début de la science-fiction, avec plein de retournements de situations et d’aventures rocambolesques, il manquait à mon avis la force du personnage de Sherlock Holmes qui se réduit à l’état de témoin des événements.
Début du 20ième siècle, quelques années après la reddition des humains face aux extra-terrestres, une fois que ceux ci sont revenus en force après avoir réussi à se soigner. Cette reddition a été fait de façon pacifiste car la faction qui avait attaqué à l’origine est morte et ceux qui sont revenus après n’avaient pas l’intention de tuer tout le monde.
Depuis les humains vivent plus ou moins leur vie comme avant, ils sont juste supervisés de loin par les tripodes des martiens.
Un jour, Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schmee, l’ambassadeur martien au Royaume Uni, vient sonner à la porte du 221b, Baker Street. Il annonce à Watson et Sherlock qu’il a une affaire importante à leur confier. En effet, un des plus grands poètes martiens a été assassiné et les autorités martiennes n’arrivent pas à résoudre le crime.
Mais Sherlock est méfiant. Déjà il n’a jamais entendu parler du poète en question, alors qu’il s’est prit de passion pour la culture martienne, au point d’être l’un des rares humains capable d’en parler la langue couramment. Et ensuite ce crime a été commis sur Mars, du coup pour résoudre l’affaire les deux hommes vont devoir faire le grand trajet en direction de la planète rouge …
Le premier point vraiment positif de ce récit a été pour moi la voix de Watson. Elle est vraiment réussie et elle met tout de suite le lecteur dans l’ambiance d’époque. J’ai vraiment été agréablement surprise et j’avais le sourire aux lèvres dés le début de ma lecture.
Le second a été le coté aventure de l’ensemble. Sans que ça soit un concentré d’action, le rythme est très calqué sur le pulp et du coup on n’a vraiment pas le temps de s’ennuyer. Sans compter le coté mystère qui donne vraiment envie de lire la suite.
Si vous cherchez ce genre d’atmosphère et de récit nostalgique, vous serez satisfait parce que c’est totalement ça du début à la fin. Par contre j’avoue que je suis un chouilla déçu de la non-utilisation du personnage de Sherlock. En dehors du début et de ses doutes sur l’ensemble, rien dans le reste ne se fait sur ses célèbres déductions ou fait une quelconque utilisation du fait qu’il s’agit de Sherlock Holmes. Au final je me suis fait la réflexion qu’on aurait pu le remplacer par n’importe qui sans que ça changer quoi que ce soit à l’ensemble, ce qui est dommage.
En dehors de ce point sur lequel j’en attendais plus, il s’agit dans l’ensemble d’un texte très plaisant et divertissant dans un ton nostalgique et pulp. Je ne regrette pas de l’avoir lu.
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Un texte pastiche qui reprend le personnage de Sherlock Holmes en l’intégrant dans l’univers de la Guerre des mondes ? Le principe même m’a intéressé dés le départ. Résultat : si ce texte est un vrai hommage réussi au pulp du début de la science-fiction, avec plein de retournements de situations et d’aventures rocambolesques, il manquait à mon avis la force du personnage de Sherlock Holmes qui se réduit à l’état de témoin des événements.
Début du 20ième siècle, quelques années après la reddition des humains face aux extra-terrestres, une fois que ceux ci sont revenus en force après avoir réussi à se soigner. Cette reddition a été fait de façon pacifiste car la faction qui avait attaqué à l’origine est morte et ceux qui sont revenus après n’avaient pas l’intention de tuer tout le monde.
Depuis les humains vivent plus ou moins leur vie comme avant, ils sont juste supervisés de loin par les tripodes des martiens.
Un jour, Gruvlax-Xenxa-Schmee, l’ambassadeur martien au Royaume Uni, vient sonner à la porte du 221b, Baker Street. Il annonce à Watson et Sherlock qu’il a une affaire importante à leur confier. En effet, un des plus grands poètes martiens a été assassiné et les autorités martiennes n’arrivent pas à résoudre le crime.
Mais Sherlock est méfiant. Déjà il n’a jamais entendu parler du poète en question, alors qu’il s’est prit de passion pour la culture martienne, au point d’être l’un des rares humains capable d’en parler la langue couramment. Et ensuite ce crime a été commis sur Mars, du coup pour résoudre l’affaire les deux hommes vont devoir faire le grand trajet en direction de la planète rouge …
Le premier point vraiment positif de ce récit a été pour moi la voix de Watson. Elle est vraiment réussie et elle met tout de suite le lecteur dans l’ambiance d’époque. J’ai vraiment été agréablement surprise et j’avais le sourire aux lèvres dés le début de ma lecture.
Le second a été le coté aventure de l’ensemble. Sans que ça soit un concentré d’action, le rythme est très calqué sur le pulp et du coup on n’a vraiment pas le temps de s’ennuyer. Sans compter le coté mystère qui donne vraiment envie de lire la suite.
Si vous cherchez ce genre d’atmosphère et de récit nostalgique, vous serez satisfait parce que c’est totalement ça du début à la fin. Par contre j’avoue que je suis un chouilla déçu de la non-utilisation du personnage de Sherlock. En dehors du début et de ses doutes sur l’ensemble, rien dans le reste ne se fait sur ses célèbres déductions ou fait une quelconque utilisation du fait qu’il s’agit de Sherlock Holmes. Au final je me suis fait la réflexion qu’on aurait pu le remplacer par n’importe qui sans que ça changer quoi que ce soit à l’ensemble, ce qui est dommage.
En dehors de ce point sur lequel j’en attendais plus, il s’agit dans l’ensemble d’un texte très plaisant et divertissant dans un ton nostalgique et pulp. Je ne regrette pas de l’avoir lu.
April 23, 2022
Quand Sherlock Holmes rencontre les martiens !
J'ai absolument adoré ma lecture, c'est devenue ma nouvelle préférée de cette collection 😊
Le ton du récit est humoristique et malgré une intrigue policière qui tient la route, j'ai ri du début à la fin 😂
J'espère tellement que l'auteur continuera à écrire dans cet univers ! Il a parachuté le personnage de Sir Conan Doyle dans celui de la Guerre des mondes de H. G. Wells. Mais même si on a pas lu ce dernier, il n'y a aucun souci de compréhension.
J'ai absolument adoré ma lecture, c'est devenue ma nouvelle préférée de cette collection 😊
Le ton du récit est humoristique et malgré une intrigue policière qui tient la route, j'ai ri du début à la fin 😂
J'espère tellement que l'auteur continuera à écrire dans cet univers ! Il a parachuté le personnage de Sir Conan Doyle dans celui de la Guerre des mondes de H. G. Wells. Mais même si on a pas lu ce dernier, il n'y a aucun souci de compréhension.
June 1, 2018
3.5/5.0
February 19, 2023
Agréable novella, rendant hommage à la fois à HG Wells et à Conan Doyle, soit une aventure de Holmes chez les martiens !
C'est drôle et bien écrit, franchement loufoque.
C'est drôle et bien écrit, franchement loufoque.
August 23, 2020
At the opening of ‘The Martian Simulacra: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,’ it’s 1907 and Doctor Watson is having breakfast with his old friend Sherlock. Ten years earlier, the Martians returned to Earth, vaccinated against those microbes which had killed them the first time. But they were nice! It turned out that the first invasion was by a nasty faction that had temporarily taken over the government. Now they have set up peaceful embassies and share some of their wondrous science with humanity. Bless!
Suddenly a tripod looms over Baker Street! The Martian ambassador Gravlax-Xenxa-Schmee is coming to consult Holmes, who helped them out years ago on another case. Holmes has learned Martian and spends a lot of time studying the Encyclopaedia Martiannica to expand his knowledge. The ambassador manages to squeeze his tentacled, slimy form into the sitting room and enjoys a cup of Earl Grey while he explains his problem. Back on Mars, someone has murdered esteemed philosopher Delph-Smanx-Arapna, perhaps because of his controversial views. Gravlax-Xenxa-Schmee wants Holmes and Watson to come to Mars and solve the mystery. So begins another great adventure.
The narrator is Doctor Watson, a widower now and Holmes teases him about finding another woman. As it happens, he meets an attractive blonde in Hyde Park while listening to a pair of famous writers broadcasting their anti-Martian opinions at Speaker’s Corner. Then she turns up as a stewardess on the rocket to Mars. Is there more to Freya Hadfield-Bell than meets the eye? Yes.
‘The Martian Simulacra’ is a planetary romance, an old-fashioned tale of derring-do with tentacled aliens set on the lovely Mars we used to have before NASA spoiled it all with facts. Author Eric Brown gets the tone and vocabulary of Doctor Watson’s narration just right. Guest appearances by other luminaries of the day, both real and fictional, give the story added verisimilitude and the fast pace is suitable for a ripping yarn of this type. Cleverly, passengers are sedated for the week-long journey to Mars so they conk out just after take-off and wake on arrival, saving both them and the reader a tedious interlude. Verily, there’s not a tedious page in the book which is a real page-turner. My only tiny, teeny-weeny quibble is that Holmes doesn’t do a lot to help himself in the story and is instead carried along by events but I guess even the most masterful can get out of their depth in a strange new world.
‘The Martian Simulacra’ is part of a four-novella set from Newcon Press but can be read independently. Only the most solemn stuffed shirt churl would not enjoy it for the bit of fun it’s meant to be.
Suddenly a tripod looms over Baker Street! The Martian ambassador Gravlax-Xenxa-Schmee is coming to consult Holmes, who helped them out years ago on another case. Holmes has learned Martian and spends a lot of time studying the Encyclopaedia Martiannica to expand his knowledge. The ambassador manages to squeeze his tentacled, slimy form into the sitting room and enjoys a cup of Earl Grey while he explains his problem. Back on Mars, someone has murdered esteemed philosopher Delph-Smanx-Arapna, perhaps because of his controversial views. Gravlax-Xenxa-Schmee wants Holmes and Watson to come to Mars and solve the mystery. So begins another great adventure.
The narrator is Doctor Watson, a widower now and Holmes teases him about finding another woman. As it happens, he meets an attractive blonde in Hyde Park while listening to a pair of famous writers broadcasting their anti-Martian opinions at Speaker’s Corner. Then she turns up as a stewardess on the rocket to Mars. Is there more to Freya Hadfield-Bell than meets the eye? Yes.
‘The Martian Simulacra’ is a planetary romance, an old-fashioned tale of derring-do with tentacled aliens set on the lovely Mars we used to have before NASA spoiled it all with facts. Author Eric Brown gets the tone and vocabulary of Doctor Watson’s narration just right. Guest appearances by other luminaries of the day, both real and fictional, give the story added verisimilitude and the fast pace is suitable for a ripping yarn of this type. Cleverly, passengers are sedated for the week-long journey to Mars so they conk out just after take-off and wake on arrival, saving both them and the reader a tedious interlude. Verily, there’s not a tedious page in the book which is a real page-turner. My only tiny, teeny-weeny quibble is that Holmes doesn’t do a lot to help himself in the story and is instead carried along by events but I guess even the most masterful can get out of their depth in a strange new world.
‘The Martian Simulacra’ is part of a four-novella set from Newcon Press but can be read independently. Only the most solemn stuffed shirt churl would not enjoy it for the bit of fun it’s meant to be.
January 26, 2018
What if the Martians from H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds returned and took over Earth? Sherlock Holmes is called on by these aliens to solve a murder, but everything is not as it seems in this Sci-Fi novella.
This is not the first time I've experienced Holmes in a science fiction atmosphere, but it is one of the more interesting premises. In a previous story, one which I have not read, Holmes assisted the Martian ambassador and he has studied the language, culture, whatever he could find about the Martians.
The characterization of Holmes was very close to what I've come to love from the original story, save for one detail. I'm not entirely certain Holmes would encourage Watson to have an affair, regardless of his age.
All in all, this was an intriguing story. It was fast-paced and full of sci-fi details.
I would recommend this for any Holmes fans who enjoy seeing the great detective in unusual circumstances. I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
This is not the first time I've experienced Holmes in a science fiction atmosphere, but it is one of the more interesting premises. In a previous story, one which I have not read, Holmes assisted the Martian ambassador and he has studied the language, culture, whatever he could find about the Martians.
The characterization of Holmes was very close to what I've come to love from the original story, save for one detail. I'm not entirely certain Holmes would encourage Watson to have an affair, regardless of his age.
All in all, this was an intriguing story. It was fast-paced and full of sci-fi details.
I would recommend this for any Holmes fans who enjoy seeing the great detective in unusual circumstances. I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
December 1, 2022
This is a fun short pastiche (less than 100 pages) of Sherlock Holmes, Professor Challenger (of Conan Doyle's “The Lost World”), and “The War of the Worlds”.
The Martians have returned after vaccinating themselves against the germs that infected them in “War of the Worlds” and are controlling Earth now, although relatively benignly. A Martian ambassador approaches Holmes with a request to journey to Mars to solve a crime. But all is not as it seems...
At one point Challenger accuses Holmes of making it all sound like a penny dreadful, and that is indeed the style in which it is written, with short, punchy chapters, usually ending in a cliffhanger or some new revelation. The story is narrated by Dr. Watson as the Holmes stories all are, and the author captures the voice of Watson admirably.
A fun romp. It can be read in an hour or two. The plot is hogwash, of course, but the homage to the old style adventure story is worth the time.
The Martians have returned after vaccinating themselves against the germs that infected them in “War of the Worlds” and are controlling Earth now, although relatively benignly. A Martian ambassador approaches Holmes with a request to journey to Mars to solve a crime. But all is not as it seems...
At one point Challenger accuses Holmes of making it all sound like a penny dreadful, and that is indeed the style in which it is written, with short, punchy chapters, usually ending in a cliffhanger or some new revelation. The story is narrated by Dr. Watson as the Holmes stories all are, and the author captures the voice of Watson admirably.
A fun romp. It can be read in an hour or two. The plot is hogwash, of course, but the homage to the old style adventure story is worth the time.
February 17, 2018
(I got this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers program)
Part of NewCon Press quartet of novelettes set on Mars. In this case Eric Brown writes a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, set in 1907: it's ten years since Martians reached the Earth for the second time, this time allegedly in peace - remember War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells? - and Holmes is asked to go to the Red Planet to investigate about a murder of a philosopher for whom no trace can be found. The prose reminds me enough of the style of Conan Doyle, and the touch of adding professor Challenger as a character is nice; I read the book with pleasure. But I found the plot really thin, and I cannot stand reading Watson solving a crossword puzzle; they were only created in 1913. Overall, I have mixed feelings about it.
Part of NewCon Press quartet of novelettes set on Mars. In this case Eric Brown writes a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, set in 1907: it's ten years since Martians reached the Earth for the second time, this time allegedly in peace - remember War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells? - and Holmes is asked to go to the Red Planet to investigate about a murder of a philosopher for whom no trace can be found. The prose reminds me enough of the style of Conan Doyle, and the touch of adding professor Challenger as a character is nice; I read the book with pleasure. But I found the plot really thin, and I cannot stand reading Watson solving a crossword puzzle; they were only created in 1913. Overall, I have mixed feelings about it.
October 15, 2018
I rather fond of this subgenre of Victorian mashups (technically this is Edwardian, but who's counting), but this Holmes-meets-Wells version is just a bit by-the-numbers and basically just has Watson narrate a whistlestop tour through a clever setting idea where neither he nor Holmes actually affect much or have much agency.
May 18, 2018
3,5/5
August 14, 2022
Sur une idée a priori jouissive - Sherlock Holmes sur Mars - une déception de (science) fiction à l'intrigue légère et au dénouement bâclé.
July 7, 2025
Drôle, captivant et accessible aux personnes pour qui la science-fiction n'est pas leur genre de prédilection.
February 19, 2018
** Full disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review**
What happens when the Martians ask Sherlock Holmes to help them investigate a murder?
This is the second book in a series of novelettes, which I did not realize when I requested it as an early review book and I have not read the first one. This did not keep me from being able to easily follow the story, though I am assuming there were at least a few spoilers for the first one. And since I haven’t read the first one, I can only review this as a standalone at this time.
The tone of the writing, the voice of Dr. Watson and the representation of Sherlock Holmes felt very era-appropriate and to fit what I remember of Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing style and for me worked very well. The main female character…a little less so, though that may be because we only know of and experience her through our POV character of Dr. Watson so she felt a bit flatter and unbelievable to me.
The main story, the mystery, was interesting and well paced. The revelations didn’t feel forced and felt supported by the rest of the story, I do wonder how I would have reacted to them had I read the first story in the series (which I intend to do as soon as I can). The ending was a bit abrupt, felt a bit rushed but I have noticed that with a lot of novelettes and shorter stores and since this is the second in what looks to be a trilogy I’m sure certain plot points had to be achieved by the end to set up the next one.
Overall I enjoyed this story and want to keep reading all of it, the author did a great job of using the original sources and writing styles but still managed to make this story feel fresh and current instead of old-fashioned.
Editing to add, I just found out that I was wrong, this is not the second book in a single series. It is the second book of three set on Mars, each one stand alone. 2/19/18
What happens when the Martians ask Sherlock Holmes to help them investigate a murder?
This is the second book in a series of novelettes, which I did not realize when I requested it as an early review book and I have not read the first one. This did not keep me from being able to easily follow the story, though I am assuming there were at least a few spoilers for the first one. And since I haven’t read the first one, I can only review this as a standalone at this time.
The tone of the writing, the voice of Dr. Watson and the representation of Sherlock Holmes felt very era-appropriate and to fit what I remember of Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing style and for me worked very well. The main female character…a little less so, though that may be because we only know of and experience her through our POV character of Dr. Watson so she felt a bit flatter and unbelievable to me.
The main story, the mystery, was interesting and well paced. The revelations didn’t feel forced and felt supported by the rest of the story, I do wonder how I would have reacted to them had I read the first story in the series (which I intend to do as soon as I can). The ending was a bit abrupt, felt a bit rushed but I have noticed that with a lot of novelettes and shorter stores and since this is the second in what looks to be a trilogy I’m sure certain plot points had to be achieved by the end to set up the next one.
Overall I enjoyed this story and want to keep reading all of it, the author did a great job of using the original sources and writing styles but still managed to make this story feel fresh and current instead of old-fashioned.
Editing to add, I just found out that I was wrong, this is not the second book in a single series. It is the second book of three set on Mars, each one stand alone. 2/19/18
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews