Mareike’s Reviews > Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets > Status Update

“The ship‘s Chief Medical Officer, Doctor John Watson, knocked out another, freeing the pirate‘s hastily-grabbed hostages—two young endings in red shirts—and easing the girls‘ unconscious bodies safely to the floor.“

Ensigns in red shirts, huh? XD

A story featuring Sherlock AU fanfiction in an anthology that‘s all about Sherlock AUs??? That‘s my kind of meta. XD

James Lovegrove's "The Innocent Icarus" might have worked better as a novella with more space to set up and explore this Victorian London where most people have superpowers.

But also....maybe not? I think this story (and especially the reveal of the culprit) could have benefited from a sensitivity reader....

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “The Final Conjuration” is a pleasant read, but not my favorite of these stories.

Ian Edginton’s “The Small World of 221b” is a very enjoyable little story, but with a somewhat sad-yet-hopeful twist.

“‘Best be warned, Mrs. Bennet’s married off al but one of her five daughters. If she catches wind you’re in the market, she’ll tray and pair you up as well.’”

Mrs. Bennet, huh? Why did I wait so long to read this? XD
(Ah, yes, because short story collections always take me a long time to get through.)

“My name is Doctor John Watson, and I am a fictional character.”

The editor’s note certainly wasn’t over-promising when it said this one by Ian Edginton was a postmodern story. I’m sold.