The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part II Page 2

  The contributors to these anthologies come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are professional best-selling authors. Others, like me, write for fun, but have day jobs elsewhere. A few are noted fan-fiction authors, taking this opportunity to write for a wider and different kind of audience. (I’ve always felt that some of the best Holmes writing has appeared as fan-fiction, and that a great Holmes story doesn’t have to be found in a published book.)

  There are several here who are writing a Holmes story for the first time. In the case of a few of these, I specifically invited noted Sherlockians who have worked long and hard to promote the World of Holmes but haven’t written a pastiche before, with the idea that someone - and I can’t think of who - once said that every Sherlockian should write at least one pastiche in their lives. This was their chance, and they did a great job with it.

  A number of our authors have not been previously associated with MX. Welcome to the MX family! I’m aware that a few of these authors have already caught the Holmes-adventure-writing bug and are working on additional stories for future MX books of their own. I can’t wait to read them!

  Early on, I decided to arrange the stories chronologically, extending from 1881, when Holmes and Watson first met, to 1929, the year of Watson’s death. This allowed for a logical arrangement of the stories, covering the entire period of Holmes and Watson’s friendship and professional partnership. I was greatly influenced by that wonderful volume edited by Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures (1997). He also arranged the stories within by date, and as a hard-core chronologist, I have a great appreciation for that method.

  My conditions for participation in the project were very basic. First and most important, as the editor of this collection I was very firm that Holmes and Watson had to be treated with respect and sincerity, and as if all involved were playing that fine old Sherlockian tradition, The Game. For those unfamiliar with this idea, Holmes and Watson are treated as if they were living, breathing, historical figures, and as such they cannot be transplanted to other eras, or forced to do something that is completely ridiculous for the time period in which they existed, such as battling space aliens. The stories had to be set in the correct time periods, ideally from 1881 to 1929. There could be no parody, nothing where Holmes was being used as a vampire-fighting Van Helsing, and nothing where he was incorrectly modernized, as if he is some version of Doctor Who to be reincarnated as whatever version of hero the current generation needs him to be.

  Additionally, the stories had to be approximately the same length as the original short stories, with no novellas, and no fragments, such as something along the lines of “The Return of the Field Bazaar” or “How Watson Learned Another Trick”. Also, I initially stated that the submitted tales all had to be narrated by Watson. However, there were a few that showed up in my email (t)in-box that stepped away from the Watsonian viewpoint - specifically, a case narrated by Wiggins, a couple by Professor Moriarty, one by a passing acquaintance of Holmes during The Great Hiatus, and two about the Professor told in third person. These provided valuable insight, they were set within the correct Holmesian world, and they were simply too good to miss.

  Another goal that I set was to make use of completely new stories for the collection, in one format or another. With this in mind, I was almost completely successful... but not quite, if you wish to be technical about it. I must admit that, by way of a tiny bit of Watsonian Obfuscation, a few of the items herein have appeared in other locations or in other mediums, although they have never been published in this format before. One story was previously in a rather obscure local publication, and I believe that it is almost completely unknown to the larger audience, and might not be read by a lot of people otherwise. (In fact, with all my pastiche collecting, this was one that I didn’t know about until it was submitted for this anthology.) A couple of the submissions have previously been on the internet for a short time, and two of the submissions are in the form of scripts that were previously used for radio broadcasts in the U.S. and the U.K. This their first appearance as text in book form.

  As a side note, mentioning the scripts reminds me to acknowledge this volume’s unintended but happy association with Imagination Theatre, which broadcasts traditional radio dramas weekly throughout the U.S., and has recently passed 1,000 broadcasts. As part of their rotating line-up, they feature a series of original tales, The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - as of this writing numbering 117 episodes - and they are also in the process of broadcasting adaptations of the original Holmes Canon as The Classic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Currently, they are close to completing radio dramatizations of all sixty original Holmes stories featuring the same actors as Holmes and Watson throughout, John Patrick Lowrie and Lawrence Albert respectively, and with all adaptations by the same scriptwriter, Matthew J. Elliott. One of the scripts in this collection, never before in print, is by Imagination Theatre founder Jim French. A number of other Imagination Theatre writers besides Mr. French have contributed to this collection, including Matthew Elliott, Matthew Booth, John Hall, Daniel McGachey, Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett, Jeremy Holstein, J.R. Campbell, and me (David Marcum) - that’s a sizeable chunk our authors!

  Part III: With many sincere thanks...

  Throughout the process, everyone that I’ve contacted about writing a story has been more than gracious, either by immediately stepping up and offering to provide one, or - when he or she couldn’t join the party due to other obligations - continuing to offer support in numerous other ways. As the editor, being able to read these new adventures straight out of the Tin Dispatch Box is an experience not to be missed. Having never before tried to put together such a diverse Sherlock Holmes anthology, I must say that the whole thing has quickly become addictive, and I cannot promise not to do another one, although one of this size and scope, which was truly jumping into the deep water and then learning to swim, is unlikely.

  Of all the people I’d like to thank, I must first express my gratitude as a whole to the authors - or “editors”, if you will - of these new adventures from the Great Watsonian Oversoul. You stepped up and provided some really great stories that didn’t previously exist. You also put up with my reminders, nudges, and story suggestions when I had to don my Editing Deerstalker. Along the way, as I was able to read these fine stories, I also met some really nice new people.

  More specifically, I’d like to thank the following:

  My wife Rebecca and my son Dan, who mean everything - and I mean everything! - to me. They constantly put up with my Sherlockian interest, my ever-increasing pastiche collection, and my tendency to wear a deerstalker as my only hat for three-quarters of the year.

  Steve Emecz, publisher extraordinaire and the hardest working man in show-biz. Thanks for the constant support and for always listening!

  Bob Gibson of staunch.com - an amazing graphic artist, who let me keep tinkering with the cover, which became two covers, and then three...

  Joel and Carolyn Senter. Years ago, my family knew to start my birthday and Christmas shopping with Joel and Carolyn’s “Classic Specialties” catalogs. Later, when the original version of my first Holmes book was published, they enthusiastically got behind it and were responsible for selling almost every copy that was sold. They’ve encouraged me at every step, and I’m so glad that they could be a part of this anthology.

  Roger Johnson, who is so gracious when my random emails arrive with Holmesian ideas and questions. Visiting with him and his wife, Jean, during my Holmes Pilgrimage to England in 2013 was a high point of my trip. More recently, he located some wonderful pictures of Holmes and Watson for use in these books. In so many ways, I thank you!

  Bob Byrne, whom I first “met” by emailing him a question about Solar Pons - if you don’t know who Solar Pons is, go find out! - and then we ended up becoming friends.

  Derrick Belanger, who hadn’t specifically channeled W
atson before, and is now on his way to becoming one of the best. Thanks for the friendship, the back-and-forth discussions upon occasion, and the support.

  Marcia Wilson, an incredible author and friend who received my first fan letter, long before I ever started thinking about writing anything myself. I’ve always said that, with her complex tales of Lestrade and his associates, she’s found Scotland Yard’s Tin Dispatch Box.

  Denis O. Smith, who was at the top of my pastiche wish list. I’m so glad that I was able to track him down, and I’ve really enjoyed the ongoing e-discussions we’ve had along the way since then;

  Lyndsay Faye, who said yes the very first day that I invited her to submit a story, and who also educated me about contracts.

  Bert Coules, for his advice and contributions, and for helping put together the Holmes and Watson that I hear in my head, Clive Merrison and Michael Williams.

  Carole Nelson Douglas, who - among many things - gave me some invaluable advice about foreign editions.

  Les Klinger, who spent part of a Sunday afternoon in a cross-country phone call, giving me some really valuable advice.

  Otto Penzler, who helped me several times when I pestered him for advice, and who wisely told me that “editing anthologies isn’t quite as easy as drawing up a wish list and signing up stories”.

  Chris Redmond, who jumped in early, and for all that he does, and just for having that incredible website, sherlockian.net.

  Kim Krisco, whom I met (by email) along the way, and was a never-ending source of encouragement.

  Tim Symonds, also an email friend with a lot of great ideas and support. I look forward to catching up with you at Birling Gap someday.

  John Hall, whose books - both pastiches and scholarship - I’ve enjoyed for years.

  Andy Lane – Thanks for the clever back-and-forth emails. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to New York when you were over here. I’ll catch you next time!

  James Lovegrove, who corresponded with me way-back-when about the true location of Holmes’s retirement villa on the Sussex Downs. (You know where I mean.) I’m very jealous of where you live.

  Steven Rothman, editor of The Baker Street Journal, for always responding so nicely whenever one of my emails drops in from out of the blue.

  Matthew Elliott, for all that he’s done, and also for helping with the description of what he’s accomplishing at Imagination Theatre.

  Maxim Jakubowski, who introduced me to a great new set of people.

  Mark Gagen, who gave me permission to use that absolutely perfect picture of Holmes on the back cover.

  And last but certainly not least, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Author, doctor, adventurer, and the Founder of the Feast. Present in spirit, and honored by all of us here.

  This collection has been a labor of love by both the participants and myself. Everyone did their sincerest best to produce an anthology that truly represents why Holmes and Watson have been so popular for so long. This is just another tiny piece of the Great Holmes Tapestry, which will continue to grow and grow, for there can never be enough stories about the man whom Watson described as “the best and wisest... whom I have ever known.”

  David Marcum

  August 7th, 2015

  163rd Birthday of Dr. John H. Watson

  Questions or comments may be addressed to David Marcum at thepapersofsherlockholmes@gmail.com

  Study and Natural Talent

  by Roger Johnson

  Greenhough Smith, editor of The Strand Magazine, hailed Arthur Conan Doyle as “the greatest natural storyteller of his age”. Over a century on, Conan Doyle’s genius keeps us reading, and, because many of us feel that sixty adventures of Sherlock Holmes just aren’t enough, we write as well. The original tales are exciting and often ingenious; they’re intelligent without being patronising, and they’re never pretentious. The characters of Holmes and Watson - the apparently contrary forces that actually complement each other like Yin and Yang - stimulate our imaginations. Surely every devotee believes that the world needs more stories of Sherlock Holmes, and as, barring a true miracle, there’ll be no more from his creator’s fondly wielded Parker Duofold pen, we should provide at least one or two ourselves. We know the originals inside-out, or we think we do; we have a grand idea for a plot, and the style seems to be - well - elementary. How hard can it be?

  In fact it’s a sight harder than most of us think. Believe me: I know! To set a story convincingly in late Victorian or Edwardian London can require a fair deal of research just to avoid simple anachronisms and similar errors of fact. There are aspects of personality that may need careful attention - not just Holmes and Watson, but other established characters such as Messrs Lestrade and Gregson, and Mrs. Hudson (who really was the landlady at 221B, and not the housekeeper). Vocabulary and speech-patterns are important...

  Some will say, of course, that it’s impossible to replicate the Doyle-Watson style. Nevertheless, there are writers who have come acceptably close to the real thing. Edgar W. Smith declared that The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr should be re-titled Sherlock Holmes Exploited, but it is actually a remarkably good collection. Nicholas Meyer, L. B. Greenwood, Barrie Roberts, and Michael Hardwick are other names that come to mind, of authors who have, as Holmes himself said in a different context, applied both study and natural talent to the writing of new Sherlock Holmes adventures. For the current monumental collection, conceived and published for the benefit of the house that saw the rebirth of the great detective, David Marcum has coaxed stories from the best of today’s generation of Holmesian chroniclers. Some of the contributors are famous, and some perhaps are destined for fame, but all of them bring intelligence, knowledge, understanding and deep affection to the task - and we are the gainers.

  Roger Johnson, BSI, ASH

  Editor: The Sherlock Holmes Journal

  August 2015

  Foreword

  by Catherine Cooke

  It all depends on your point of view. Fifty-six short stories and four long stories. Sixty cases of Sherlock Holmes spanning forty years. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle thought that was quite enough - probably too many even. While some commentators have opined that not all reach the same high standards, it cannot be denied that for the legions of Holmes’s students, 60 is not nearly enough. They beg, desire, DEMAND more.

  Sir Arthur was a man of action. His wife Touie was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He took her abroad to climes more suited - to Switzerland and Egypt. Hearing from a friend about “Little Switzerland”, an area of Hampshire considered to have a climate as beneficial, he rushed down to Hindhead, bought a plot of land, and had a house built, specially designed for himself and for his ailing wife: shallow stairs, easy to open doors, and a couple of splendid heraldic windows. It is a tragedy of recent years that this house, Undershaw, and its beautiful grounds have been allow to fall into rack and ruin while legal disputes rumbled on.

  But now there is cause for rejoicing on both fronts. A collection in three volumes (count ‘em, three) of new Sherlock Holmes stories from well-practiced, well-known pens, as well as from newer writers - surely here there is something for all tastes. Furthermore, all royalties are to go to projects in the redevelopment of Undershaw by Stepping Stones. Conan Doyle’s house will rise again offering specialist educational facilities to enable its students to achieve their full potential.

  Congratulations are due to the editor, David Marcum, to MX Publishing, and to all those writers and supporters who have given their time, talents, and money to make these volumes possible. Now settle back and enjoy new accounts from the classic years of Holmes and Watson’s partnership, which may shed new light on the mysterious years of the Great Hiatus.

  Catherine Cooke, BSI, ASH

  August 2015

  Undershaw

  Circa 1900 (Source: Wikipedia)

/>   Undershaw: An Ongoing Legacy for Sherlock Holmes

  by Steve Emecz

  The authors involved in this anthology are donating their royalties toward the restoration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former home, Undershaw. This building was initially in terrible disrepair, and was saved from destruction by the Undershaw Preservation Trust (Patron: Mark Gatiss). Today, the building has been bought by Stepping Stones (a school for children with learning difficulties), and is being restored to its former glory.

  Undershaw is where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many of the Sherlock Holmes stories, including The Hound of The Baskervilles. It’s where Conan Doyle brought Sherlock Holmes back to life. This project will contribute to specific projects at the house, such as the restoration of Doyle’s study, and will be opened up to fans outside term time.

  You can find out more information about the new Stepping Stones school at www.steppingstones.org.uk

  Sherlock Holmes (1854-1957) was born in Yorkshire, England, on 6 January, 1854. In the mid-1870’s, he moved to 24 Montague Street, London, where he established himself as the world’s first Consulting Detective. After meeting Dr. John H. Watson in early 1881, he and Watson moved to rooms at 221b Baker Street, where his reputation as the world’s greatest detective grew for several decades. He was presumed to have died battling noted criminal Professor James Moriarty on 4 May, 1891, but he returned to London on 5 April, 1894, resuming his consulting practice in Baker Street. Retiring to the Sussex coast near Beachy Head in October 1903, he continued to be involved in various private and government investigations while giving the impression of being a reclusive apiarist. He was very involved in the events encompassing World War I, and to a lesser degree those of World War II. He passed away peacefully upon the cliffs above his Sussex home on his 103rd birthday, 6 January, 1957.