Sherlockian Musings

Is Sherlock Holmes really as rational as he seems? He talks about the importance of reasoning and logic, but why then does he sometimes seem like a "strange Buddha"? On the other hand, why in The Sign of the Four does Watson smash a Buddha? What is going on in The Sign of the Four, that strange tale of Empire? What is going on in all the original sixty stories in "the canon"? In this study of the stories, Sheldon Goldfarb explores questions like these, from the significance of the eggs in "Thor Bridge" to the reason Watson keeps leaving Holmes for an insubstantial wife. What meanings lurk beneath the surface of these detective stories? Why is there an obsession with Napoleon in this story or an article on free trade in this other? Can we find answers to these questions? Perhaps. In any case, in this collection of essays (or "Musings") on each of the 60 stories, Dr. Goldfarb, an award-nominated mystery writer himself and the holder of a PhD in English literature, light-heartedly tries out a variety of perspectives, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions about such matters as the nature of the angel in "A Case of Identity" or the reason Holmes abandons his magnifying glass for binoculars in "Silver Blaze." Who brings binoculars to a horse race? Indeed.

Is Sherlock Holmes really as rational as he seems? He talks about the importance of reasoning and logic, but why then does he sometimes seem like a "strange Buddha"? On the other hand, why in The Sign of the Four does Watson smash a Buddha? What is going on in The Sign of the Four, that strange tale of Empire? What is going on in all the original sixty stories in "the canon"? In this study of the stories, Sheldon Goldfarb explores questions like these, from the significance of the eggs in "Thor Bridge" to the reason Watson keeps leaving Holmes for an insubstantial wife. What meanings lurk beneath the surface of these detective stories? Why is there an obsession with Napoleon in this story or an article on free trade in this other? Can we find answers to these questions? Perhaps. In any case, in this collection of essays (or "Musings") on each of the 60 stories, Dr. Goldfarb, an award-nominated mystery writer himself and the holder of a PhD in English literature, light-heartedly tries out a variety of perspectives, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions about such matters as the nature of the angel in "A Case of Identity" or the reason Holmes abandons his magnifying glass for binoculars in "Silver Blaze." Who brings binoculars to a horse race? Indeed.

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most important fictional characters in all of literature, the world around. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a giant of thought whose intellectual range extended well beyond his role as a detective. As a member for thirty years of the Diogenes Club of Carmel-by-the-Sea, a Sherlockian society, I have contributed a number of papers to our bi-monthly black tie dinner meetings. (I have also created the brilliant new consulting detective, Francie LeVillard, and have published seven volumes of her cases.) But back to the "Musings on Sherlock Holmes." Included in these pages are four essays and two performances, all of which were delivered before the Diogenes Club. There is a lot of Holmesian detail to satisfy the obsessive afficionado, but much that does not require familiarity with what Doyle wrote.

For over two decades, Clues has included the best scholarship on mystery and detective fiction. With a combination of academic essays and nonfiction book reviews, it covers all aspects of mystery and detective fiction material in print, television and movies. As the only American scholarly journal on mystery fiction, Clues is essential reading for literature and film students and researchers; popular culture aficionados; librarians; and mystery authors, fans and critics around the globe.

The Reichenbach Irregulars of Switzerland, an international group of Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle enthusiasts, publish their reflections and thoughts in what is the first ever Reichenbach Irregulars book, profusely illustrated! Each essay is based on a paper delivered at a Reichenbach Irregulars conference over the past 30 years, sometimes held in rather remote parts of the Swiss Alps. Introduction by Peter E. Blau Afterword by Akane Higashiyama and Mitch Higurashi

Featuring Contributions by: Ian Ableson, Gordon Linzner, Craig Janacek, I.A. Watson, Margaret Walsh, Tracy J. Revels, David Marcum, David MacGregor, Arthur Hall, Sonya Kudei, Jen Matteis, Geri Schear, Charles Veley and Anna Elliott, Peter Coe Verbica, Michael Mallory, Carlos Orsi, Susan Knight, and Tim Newton Anderson, with a poem by Joseph W. Svec III, and forewords by Michael Sims, Roger Johnson, Emma West, Steve Emecz, and David Marcum 59 New Traditional Canonical Holmes Adventures Collected in Three Companion Volumes In 2015, the first three volumes of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories arrived, containing over 60 stories in the true traditional Canonical manner, revisiting Holmes and Watson in those days where it is "always 1895" . . . or a few decades on either side of that. That was the largest collection of new Holmes stories ever assembled, and originally planned to be a one-time event. But readers wanted more, and the contributors had more stories from Watson's Tin Dispatch Box, so the fun continued. Now, with the release of Parts XXXVII, XXXVIII, and XXXIX, the series has grown to over 800 new Holmes adventures by over 200 contributors from around with world. Since the beginning, all contributor royalties go to the Undershaw school for special needs children, located at one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's former homes, and to date the project has raised over $110,000 for the school. This new collection of 59 adventures features Holmes and Watson carrying out their masterful investigations from the early days of their friendship in Baker Street to the post-War years during Holmes's retirement. Along the way, Our Heroes are involved in dozens of fascinating mysteries - some relating Untold Cases, sequels to Canonical adventures, and a number or others that progress along completely unexpected lines. Join us as we return to Baker Street and discover more authentic adventures of Sherlock Holmes, described by the estimable Dr. Watson as "the best and wisest . . . whom I have ever known."

The influence of Sherlock Holmes can be found throughout the cultural landscape. From the Three Little Pigs to the ancient poetry of Horace, from John Wayne to Macbeth, from the sultry moves of Madonna to the theories of Sigmund Freud, the stories about the greatest of detectives link to just about any subject or situation. In Pursuing Sherlock Holmes, Bill Mason uncovers seething sex in The Hound of the Baskervilles, observes Professor Moriarty through the eyes of Generation X, reveals a hidden formula of death, explains the mystic effect of colors on the mind of Sherlock Holmes, exposes Conan Doyles theft of the plot of Dracula, resurrects ten compelling characters from their graves, and visits the mind of Sherlock Holmes to find his true thoughts about romantic love. This collection of innovative essays, stories and even poetry approaches Sherlock Holmes from a thoroughly unique perspective that combines humor with literature and classic tales with familiar aspects of modern culture.

Classic short stories of Sherlock Holmes now available in a separate, attractively priced individual volume. The publication of Leslie S. Klinger's brilliant new annotations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Holmes short stories in 2004 created a Holmes sensation. Available again in an attractively-priced edition identical to the first, except this edition has no outer slipcase (Volume One is available separately). Inside, readers will find all the short stories from The Return of Sherlock Holmes, His Last Bow and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, with a cornucopia of insights: beginners will benefit from Klinger's insightful biographies of Holmes, Watson, and Conan Doyle; history lovers will revel in the wealth of Victorian literary and cultural details; Sherlockian fanatics will puzzle over tantalizing new theories; art lovers will thrill to the 450-plus illustrations, which make this the most lavishly illustrated edition of the Holmes tales ever produced. The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes illuminates the timeless genius of Arthur Conan Doyle for an entirely new generation of readers.