Beyond Baker Street: A Sherlockian Anthology

On the dedication page, Sherlock Holmes scholar Michael Harrison has honoured Julian Wolff with high Sherlockian praise (giving him the title of 'Sherlockian Herald Extraordinary') - one can see from the start the passion and dedication Sherlockians devote to their subject. This text is a collection from twenty-five writers and an artist (hence, two Baker's dozens) of essays and ideas surrounding the canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Notable names include Isaac Asimov and Martin Gardner; other names are less well known publically, but still known to the Sherlockian crowd. This book was put together in the early 1970s, prior to the time when Sherlock Holmes works, studies and anthologies of extra-canonical writings became more commonplace. Michael Harrison, author of several Holmes-related books and articles, writes in the introduction, 'This is not the first Sherlock-oriented anthology to have been collected and published. It is, however, the first to have been put together with a larger public in view than the dedicated membership - however large - of the various Sherlock Holmes societies now scattered throughout the world.' These are essays analysing elements in the Holmes stories, or the characters themselves. David Pearson asks the theological question - did Holmes believe in God? A worthwhile question, given the general philosophical and theological tone of the time. Some look at biographical anomalies, or psychological quirks. A few investigate the science behind the stories - remember that Conan Doyle had medical training, but still was prone to making mistakes in the details. Then, there are those such as Isaac Asimov, who take the smallest detail and spin an entire case out of it, in true Holmes fashion. 'The Dynamics of an Asteroid' is both Asimov's and Moriarty's title - 'The Dynamics of AN Asteroid', not '...of Asteroids' generally, but of one, and to what sinister purpose? Every Holmes fan will have his or her favourite stories - S. Tupper Bigelow gives reasons for his top ten, but also explores the idea of listing the top ten (this is long before David Letterman made 'top ten' a regular feature). Bigelow states that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the first to do this kind of list - in this case, the twelve best. These are wonderful articles, which serve to demonstrate 'the unifying quality of the Holmes fellowship - bringing persons of every faith, profession, occupation, race and social standing together in harmony.' There are biographical notes on each of the contributors that help demonstrate this diversity of the appeal of Holmes. The evidence is clear - this is a great collection.