I often wonder what Doyle would think of the Sherlock-Watson slash sensation...of course, being that he grew up in a homophobic time period he'd probably be pissed but it's funny to consider. Is there any actual homosexual tone or content to the original Holmes stuff? Haven't read any in years and years and probably would have missed it.

I didn't notice any when I read the Complete SH, but then again I wasn't looking for it. And I think SACD was sick of Sherlock and tired of writing stories about him, so maybe he'd care less than you'd think, Nay-Nay.

Nate, I don't think he would have been upset by it. He was a good friend of Oscar Wilde's for one, and his brother-in-law created the most definitely homosexual character of Raffles, the gentleman thief. :D

When you go back and read the original stories now, there is a homoerotic undertone to some of the stories. Mostly because the English language has changed over time.

My favourite story is the Three Garridebs in which you see just how much Holmes cares for Watson:

“You’re not hurt, Watson? For God’s sake, say
that you are not hurt!”
It was worth a wound—it was worth many
wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love
which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard
eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips
were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a
glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain."

The Sherlock slash stories I like are not because of the slash. These are ones where you see the strength of the friendship. I am not interested in the sex, but the friendship is, to me, the greatest in literature.

Carmen: Interesting. I didn't know Doyle was sick of his creation by the time he finished. He killed him off, right?

Margaret: Fascinating stuff! I had no idea he was friends with Wilde. That quote is really something, considering how cold Holmes can come off in some of the stories. Not even a LITTLE bit interested in the sex? I think I would be...who pitches? Who catches? It's a very interesting dynamic :D

Nay-Nay - Yes. He killed him off. Swore he was done with him. But constant, relentless badgering from the public, friends, family (even Doyle's own mother) forced him to write Sherlock stories again. People were even wearing black armbands to mourn Sherlock's death (is the rumor). Doyle felt like Sherlock was holding him back from better, more literary stuff he could be writing if only he didn't have to write that Holmes drivel. But his non-Holmes works are barely read, and people still love and talk about Sherlock today.

The Sherlock Holmes fans have always been intense. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was attacked in the street by an irate lady after he killed off Holmes. She bashed him with her umbrella.

Carmen, the black armbands aren't just a rumour. Strand Magazine reported people in black armbands outside there premises the day the last installment of "The Final Problem" was printed.