Sherlock Holme: Usew

I enoyed this novel and found it to be entertaining enough to provide a reasonable alternative to prime time TV. For a short sci-fi novel it's quite well written, with a light poetic touch that enhances the narrative. Holmes fans may find it particulary interesting that the story references several Holmes adventures and characters from them. Characterization of the Challenger character is true to the original model of a rough-and-tumble egotistical genius. Good fun for fans of both.

Since plot descriptions are already provided by others, I simply want to say that this is an excellent and thoughtful book totally in the tradition of any good Holmes pastiche, and I am very grateful that Titan is reissuing several Sherlock Holmes books that have been out of print. So far, I am very happy with their chosen titles and look forward to many more! I highly recommend these to everyone and hope that you enjoy them as much as I do! I am sorry for some die hard Sherlockian fundamentalists who constantly criticize books that offer even a slightly different view of Holmes. They need to remember that this is FICTION after all, and they might be much happier if they learn to enjoy each work on its own merits, as Doyle himself would have done.

Put on your CD (or vinyl copy) of The War Of The Worlds and crank up the volume. The Jeff Wayne/Rick Wakeman classic makes a great accompaniment to reading a well-done pastiche by a father-son writing team wherein H.G. Wells most famous story, The War Of The Worlds, is addressed through the eyes of two of Conan Doyle's great heroes: Sherlock Holmes and Professor Challenger ( The Lost World being the best account of the egotistic, rugged man of science). Wells' story is tweaked a bit to accommodate this shift of viewpoint, but is expanded upon in a Victorian England as seen by a warmly human Holmes and a brilliantly analytic George Challenger. Holmes and Challenger are more scientific than Wells' narrator, and bring a more coherent theory about the Martians to bear in the struggle against the extraterrestrial invaders. Dr. Watson's contributions are not shortchanged here as they were in too many works in the original Canon. The thrills, suspense, and romantic angles are true to the period's style. This is a pleasantly entertaining read by one of the best of the United States early science fiction writers. Check out John the Balladeer for some of his other work.

Before the term "steampunk" was even coined, this wonderful book by the Wellmans was published in 1975. And it's a wonderful example of the genre. I have an old paperback first edition, which I've carefully read and re-read since college, and it delights me every time. Holmes and Doyle's not-quite-as-famous Professor George Challenger join forces during the Martian invasion of London, as first reported by H.G. Wells. It was a brilliant idea 34 years ago, and it seems every bit as brilliant today. This book may not make old fogey Sherlockians happy, but it's a pleasure to finally have this "lost treasure" back in print for, I believe, the first time since its original publication.

It's been many years since I read this book, but I do remember that I really enjoyed it. The original title was Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds. This was published in 1975. You can read further about it on Wikipedia. I always thought this would make a fun movie, and who know? Maybe if the Robert Downey, Jr., movie is successful, and with the reissuing of this book, it could be possible.