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Shadows Over Baker Street
Sherlock Holmes enters the nightmare world of H.P. Lovecraft
New Tales of Terror!
What would happen if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's peerless detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his allies were to find themselves faced with Lovecraftian mysteries whose solutions lay not only beyond the grasp of logic, but beyond sanity itself. In this collection of original tales, twenty of today's cutting-edge writers provide answers to that burning question.
Contributors include Neil Gaiman, Brian Stableford, Poppy Z. Bright, Barbara Hambly, Steve Perry, and Caitlin R. Kierman. These and other masters of horror, mystery, fantasy and science fiction spin dark tales within a terrifyingly surreal universe.
Includes the Hugo Award-winning story A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman.
Cover design: David Stevenson
Cover Illustration: John Jude Palencar
New Tales of Terror!
What would happen if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's peerless detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his allies were to find themselves faced with Lovecraftian mysteries whose solutions lay not only beyond the grasp of logic, but beyond sanity itself. In this collection of original tales, twenty of today's cutting-edge writers provide answers to that burning question.
Contributors include Neil Gaiman, Brian Stableford, Poppy Z. Bright, Barbara Hambly, Steve Perry, and Caitlin R. Kierman. These and other masters of horror, mystery, fantasy and science fiction spin dark tales within a terrifyingly surreal universe.
Includes the Hugo Award-winning story A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman.
Cover design: David Stevenson
Cover Illustration: John Jude Palencar
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
328 people are currently reading
4910 people want to read
About the author
Michael Reaves
130 books212 followersMichael Reaves is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and screenwriter whose many credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation, Twilight Zone, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. His novels include the New York Times bestseller STAR WARS: Darth Maul- Shadowhunter and STAR WARS: Death Star. He and Neil Gaiman cowrote Interworld. Reaves has also written short fiction, comic books, and background dialogue for a Megadeth video. He lives in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
November 24, 2009
Doyle's Sherlock Holmes canon and Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos have both long been favorite subjects for pastiches; and given the number of contemporary writers who are fans of both, it's not surprising to find an anthology bringing them together. (The antithetical character of the juxtaposition is more apparent than real: Doyle eschewed the supernatural in his Holmes stories; but as Holmes observes in one of the stories here, we're dealing here with science, not magic --and Doyle's own Holmes stories sometimes find the great detective dealing with matters science-fictional.)
Most of the 18 stories here (by 20 writers --two are joint efforts) utilize Watson as a narrator, and all but one include Holmes as a character. (Irene Adler, Professor Moriarty, and Mycroft Holmes also appear, and some stories also incorporate real-life persons or fictional characters/literary references from Holmes' era, such as H. G. Wells and William Hope Hodgson's Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder.) Some of the stories make a passable imitation of Doyle's narrative style, and some employ a suggestion of Lovecraft's purple prose in describing the Cthulhu-like phenomena; but mostly the similarities are of characterizations and concepts, not actual style. A few stories here draw directly on specific Lovecraft originals, but most do not, and the majority of the writers (though not all of them) refrain from existential pessimist sermonizing --which was not always explicit in Lovecraft's own writings, either. All of the stories are shorter than the typical Lovecraft work, and hence aren't developed to the same degree; and compared to the original Holmes canon, Sherlock is actually not called on to do much deducting here --most of the authors simply conveniently assume a prior acquaintance on his part with the Necronomicon. As is usually the case in multi-author anthologies, the quality of the work is uneven. John Pelan's "The Mystery of the Worm," IMO, is the weakest entry, and the one reflecting the least flavor of the originals.
In the main, though, these stories succeed well on their own terms, as well-written works of horrific sci-fi with a Victorian ambience --best appreciated by Lovecraft and Doyle fans who recognize familiar characters and premises. While Lovecraft concentrated almost entirely on male characters, some of the writers here, happily, do not: Irene Adler is a major figure in Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger! Tiger!" and Barbara Hambly and Steve Perry also create strong female characters who can handle anything the Great Old Ones can throw at them --these stories are some of the best in the collection. My favorite (like that of some of the other reviewers below) is Neil Gaimann's brilliant alternate-world yarn, "A Study in Emerald." But (besides the ones already mentioned) several others are standouts as well, including Brian Stableford's "Art in the Blood," Richard A. Lupoff's "The Adventure of the Voorish Sign," and James Lowder's "The Weeping Masks."
Most of the 18 stories here (by 20 writers --two are joint efforts) utilize Watson as a narrator, and all but one include Holmes as a character. (Irene Adler, Professor Moriarty, and Mycroft Holmes also appear, and some stories also incorporate real-life persons or fictional characters/literary references from Holmes' era, such as H. G. Wells and William Hope Hodgson's Carnacki, the Ghost-Finder.) Some of the stories make a passable imitation of Doyle's narrative style, and some employ a suggestion of Lovecraft's purple prose in describing the Cthulhu-like phenomena; but mostly the similarities are of characterizations and concepts, not actual style. A few stories here draw directly on specific Lovecraft originals, but most do not, and the majority of the writers (though not all of them) refrain from existential pessimist sermonizing --which was not always explicit in Lovecraft's own writings, either. All of the stories are shorter than the typical Lovecraft work, and hence aren't developed to the same degree; and compared to the original Holmes canon, Sherlock is actually not called on to do much deducting here --most of the authors simply conveniently assume a prior acquaintance on his part with the Necronomicon. As is usually the case in multi-author anthologies, the quality of the work is uneven. John Pelan's "The Mystery of the Worm," IMO, is the weakest entry, and the one reflecting the least flavor of the originals.
In the main, though, these stories succeed well on their own terms, as well-written works of horrific sci-fi with a Victorian ambience --best appreciated by Lovecraft and Doyle fans who recognize familiar characters and premises. While Lovecraft concentrated almost entirely on male characters, some of the writers here, happily, do not: Irene Adler is a major figure in Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger! Tiger!" and Barbara Hambly and Steve Perry also create strong female characters who can handle anything the Great Old Ones can throw at them --these stories are some of the best in the collection. My favorite (like that of some of the other reviewers below) is Neil Gaimann's brilliant alternate-world yarn, "A Study in Emerald." But (besides the ones already mentioned) several others are standouts as well, including Brian Stableford's "Art in the Blood," Richard A. Lupoff's "The Adventure of the Voorish Sign," and James Lowder's "The Weeping Masks."
February 4, 2016
In the introduction to one of his 'Best New Horror' guides, Stephen Jones writes that the premise of this book - Sherlock Holmes meets H.P.Lovecraft - is one of the silliest in recent times. I disagree. I think the idea of taking the character who believes "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, nust be the truth" to the world of Cthulhu is one filled with possibilities.
The style of the stories owes more to Conan-Doyle than to Lovecraft, and only some of them are as good as I'd want them to be. Barbara Hambly's 'The Adventure of The Antiquarian's Niece' (which also features Carnacki) and John P. Vourlis's 'A Case of Insomnia' are both gripping tales. But the real star of the show is Neil Gaiman's 'A Study In Emerald'.
Definitely worthwhile getting hold of if you're ever liked Holmes or Lovecraft.
The style of the stories owes more to Conan-Doyle than to Lovecraft, and only some of them are as good as I'd want them to be. Barbara Hambly's 'The Adventure of The Antiquarian's Niece' (which also features Carnacki) and John P. Vourlis's 'A Case of Insomnia' are both gripping tales. But the real star of the show is Neil Gaiman's 'A Study In Emerald'.
Definitely worthwhile getting hold of if you're ever liked Holmes or Lovecraft.
October 31, 2007
How could this book possibly go wrong? Cthulhu is awesome! Sherlock Holmes is awesome! Put them together, and you ought to get double the awesome. And yet, only a few of the stories managed to strike a balance between the two worlds that actually works. A Study In Emerald, by Neil Gaiman, is by far the best story in the collection and reason enough to buy the book all on its own.
Though the other stories tend to pale in comparison, there are a handful more that are worth reading, and a couple that are so horrible that they aren't worth the paper they're printed on. But the good outweigh the bad, and it's a bizarre enough concept that it's worth owning a book devoted to it.
Though the other stories tend to pale in comparison, there are a handful more that are worth reading, and a couple that are so horrible that they aren't worth the paper they're printed on. But the good outweigh the bad, and it's a bizarre enough concept that it's worth owning a book devoted to it.
May 25, 2016
A wondeful anthology filled to the brim with fascinating and creepy tales. Well worth buying!
August 11, 2008
Shadows Over Baker Street presented me with a real dilemma, because I felt as though such a scattershot mix of stories couldn't really be boiled down to one rating. In the end, however, the sheer number of bad stories simply tipped things in favor of a two-star rating.
For the uninitiated, the book is a collection of short stories in which the formulaic "mythos fiction" of H.P. Lovecraft and others collides with the world of Sherlock Holmes. We are, in principle, to expect Holmesian deductive reasoning to be pitted against unfathomable eldrich forces, a face-off that (while hardly literature) promises to at least be good 'popcorn' reading.
To be clear, a handful of the stories are actually excellent. The principle piece ("A Study In Emerald") is very strong, but it can be acquired for free elsewhere in a much classier format, weakening the case for the anthology somewhat. While a number of other stories rise to the occation ("Tiger! Tiger!", "The Weeping Masks", and "Art In The Blood" were all entertaining), most are mediocre or worse.
The crux of the problem is that "The Mythos" and "Holmes Fiction" are two very specific sub-genres that follow well-established patterns. The cliche of Holmes deducing the character of his client at a glance during the opening is well known to fans of the Detective, as is the horror-narrative-told-through-the-lens-of-a-diary trope familiar to Mythos fans. These create expectations on the part of the reader.
It is, for example, easy to tell a Sherlock Holmes story wrong, which a distressing number of stories included do. The Holmes formula requires the story be told by Watson in the first person: failure to do so simply feels wrong. A clever story can dodge this bullet and innovate, but a clumsy story cannot.
At the same time, however, having to satisfy both formulas simultaneously presents a different problem: overly predictable storytelling. If you're familiar with the Deep Ones, you'll know the ending of various stories even as they begin. Indeed, the very approach Lovecraft took in his writing (slowly, through implication, building up to a shocking and otherworldly reveal) has largely been abandoned by writers who make the crucial mistake of re-using the same monsters and gimmicks. Few stories have that element of surprise precisely because the fans who will be drawn to this premise will be the best-equipped to identify the tired old monsters that have been recycled well past the point of horror, into the realm of cartoons and mockery. Or, for more than a couple of stories, the lowest tier of fiction: fanfic.
(As an aside, I feel I should point out that Lovecraft himself relied on a narrative formula rather than a consistent setting. He rarely used the same antagonist more than once. Consequently, most of his imitators in this collection and otherwise have spectacularly missed the point of "cosmic horror.")
The bottom line is that this collection is, for the most part, a team composed of cripples, with the exception of a handful of genuine athletes. Finishing the collection (a requirement I held myself to before reviewing it) was a chore, and not one I would wish upon others. Absolutely, read "A Study In Emerald" (available from the link above, or in the collection Fragile Things), but otherwise give this bundle a pass.
For the uninitiated, the book is a collection of short stories in which the formulaic "mythos fiction" of H.P. Lovecraft and others collides with the world of Sherlock Holmes. We are, in principle, to expect Holmesian deductive reasoning to be pitted against unfathomable eldrich forces, a face-off that (while hardly literature) promises to at least be good 'popcorn' reading.
To be clear, a handful of the stories are actually excellent. The principle piece ("A Study In Emerald") is very strong, but it can be acquired for free elsewhere in a much classier format, weakening the case for the anthology somewhat. While a number of other stories rise to the occation ("Tiger! Tiger!", "The Weeping Masks", and "Art In The Blood" were all entertaining), most are mediocre or worse.
The crux of the problem is that "The Mythos" and "Holmes Fiction" are two very specific sub-genres that follow well-established patterns. The cliche of Holmes deducing the character of his client at a glance during the opening is well known to fans of the Detective, as is the horror-narrative-told-through-the-lens-of-a-diary trope familiar to Mythos fans. These create expectations on the part of the reader.
It is, for example, easy to tell a Sherlock Holmes story wrong, which a distressing number of stories included do. The Holmes formula requires the story be told by Watson in the first person: failure to do so simply feels wrong. A clever story can dodge this bullet and innovate, but a clumsy story cannot.
At the same time, however, having to satisfy both formulas simultaneously presents a different problem: overly predictable storytelling. If you're familiar with the Deep Ones, you'll know the ending of various stories even as they begin. Indeed, the very approach Lovecraft took in his writing (slowly, through implication, building up to a shocking and otherworldly reveal) has largely been abandoned by writers who make the crucial mistake of re-using the same monsters and gimmicks. Few stories have that element of surprise precisely because the fans who will be drawn to this premise will be the best-equipped to identify the tired old monsters that have been recycled well past the point of horror, into the realm of cartoons and mockery. Or, for more than a couple of stories, the lowest tier of fiction: fanfic.
(As an aside, I feel I should point out that Lovecraft himself relied on a narrative formula rather than a consistent setting. He rarely used the same antagonist more than once. Consequently, most of his imitators in this collection and otherwise have spectacularly missed the point of "cosmic horror.")
The bottom line is that this collection is, for the most part, a team composed of cripples, with the exception of a handful of genuine athletes. Finishing the collection (a requirement I held myself to before reviewing it) was a chore, and not one I would wish upon others. Absolutely, read "A Study In Emerald" (available from the link above, or in the collection Fragile Things), but otherwise give this bundle a pass.
October 2, 2017
‘Sombras sobre Baker Street’ (Shadows over Baker Street, 2003), mezcla dos universos. Por una parte, el creado por Arthur Conan Doyle y su gran detective Sherlock Holmes. Y por otra, el creado por H.P. Lovecraft: Cthulhu, el Necronomicón, los Primigenios, etc. Ambos mundos me apasionan, y este libro lo tenía pendiente desde hacia mucho tiempo. Resulta una mezcla un tanto variopinta, ya que Holmes siempre se ha caracterizado por su mente racional y por ser un descreído de todo lo sobrenatural. Sin embargo, la idea del Gran Detective investigando casos en los que el horror más abyecto está presente no podía dejar escaparse.
La presente antología contiene dieciocho relatos que intentan conjugar lo mejor de ambos mundos. El resultado, en mi opinión, es algo irregular. Sin embargo, hay relatos realmente brillantes, como el Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, Barbara Hambly, John Pelan, Caitlín R. Kiernan o Richard A. Lupoff.
-Estudio en esmeralda, de Neil Gaiman
-¡Un tigre! ¡Un tigre!, de Elizabeth Bear
-El caso de la ondulada daga negra, de Steve Perry
-Un caso de sangre real, de Steven-Elliot Altman
-Las máscaras sollozantes, de James Lowder
-Arte en la sangre, de Brian Stableford
-El curioso caso de la señorita Violet Stone, de David Ferguson y Poppy Z. Brite
-La aventura de la sobrina del anticuario, de Barbara Hambly
-El misterio del gusano, de John Pelan
-El misterio del enigma del ahorcado, de Paul Finch
-El terror de múltiples rostros, de Tim Lebbon
-La aventura del manuscrito árabe, de Michael Reaves
-El geólogo ahogado, de Caitlín R. Kiernan
-Un caso de insomnio, de John P. Vourlis
-La aventura del símbolo voor, de Richard P. Lupoff
-La aventura del priorato de Exham, de Feargus Gwynpleine McIntyre
-La Muerte no se convierte en él, de David Niall Wilson y Patricia Lee Macomber
-Pesadilla de cera, de Simon Clark
La presente antología contiene dieciocho relatos que intentan conjugar lo mejor de ambos mundos. El resultado, en mi opinión, es algo irregular. Sin embargo, hay relatos realmente brillantes, como el Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, Barbara Hambly, John Pelan, Caitlín R. Kiernan o Richard A. Lupoff.
-Estudio en esmeralda, de Neil Gaiman
-¡Un tigre! ¡Un tigre!, de Elizabeth Bear
-El caso de la ondulada daga negra, de Steve Perry
-Un caso de sangre real, de Steven-Elliot Altman
-Las máscaras sollozantes, de James Lowder
-Arte en la sangre, de Brian Stableford
-El curioso caso de la señorita Violet Stone, de David Ferguson y Poppy Z. Brite
-La aventura de la sobrina del anticuario, de Barbara Hambly
-El misterio del gusano, de John Pelan
-El misterio del enigma del ahorcado, de Paul Finch
-El terror de múltiples rostros, de Tim Lebbon
-La aventura del manuscrito árabe, de Michael Reaves
-El geólogo ahogado, de Caitlín R. Kiernan
-Un caso de insomnio, de John P. Vourlis
-La aventura del símbolo voor, de Richard P. Lupoff
-La aventura del priorato de Exham, de Feargus Gwynpleine McIntyre
-La Muerte no se convierte en él, de David Niall Wilson y Patricia Lee Macomber
-Pesadilla de cera, de Simon Clark
December 10, 2018
After starting out brilliantly, this turned into more and more of an endless slog, like I was trapped in a wicked artifact from a Lovecraftian story: a neverending volume that steadily sucks the reader's soul dry. That's not to say that it's uniformly awful, but many of the stories have an intriguing build-up that is quickly rushed when the author realizes they're running out of space. Writing action-driven short stories well takes a specific set of skills, and this collection throws Lovecraft and Conan Doyle's rare talent for doing so into sharp relief.
The main exception is "A Study in Emerald". I'm not a fan of Neil Gaiman (American Gods is probably the most pretentious piece of drivel I've ever read), but this story is truly brilliant and deserves five stars on its own.
"A Study in Emerald" is really the only must-read story, but if you really find the theme intriguing, I recommend the following stories:
A Case of Royal Blood
The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece
The Horror of the Many Faces
A Case of Insomnia
The Adventure of the Voorish Sign
Give all the others a miss, and definitely don't waste your money buying the book. You can find "A Study in Emerald" on Neil Gaiman's website with even prettier formatting.
The main exception is "A Study in Emerald". I'm not a fan of Neil Gaiman (American Gods is probably the most pretentious piece of drivel I've ever read), but this story is truly brilliant and deserves five stars on its own.
"A Study in Emerald" is really the only must-read story, but if you really find the theme intriguing, I recommend the following stories:
A Case of Royal Blood
The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece
The Horror of the Many Faces
A Case of Insomnia
The Adventure of the Voorish Sign
Give all the others a miss, and definitely don't waste your money buying the book. You can find "A Study in Emerald" on Neil Gaiman's website with even prettier formatting.
January 26, 2010
I'd love to give it 5 stars, but I feel there's only so much pastiche can achieve, even if it is as inspired as the short stories in this collection. Now, that said, if they were all on par with Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald", I'd be whining that I couldn't go up to 6 stars & begging for another installment.
When I first read this collection about a year ago I liked it well enough, being much more well-versed on the Lovecraft side of the equation than the Holmes. But credit the Guy Richie film adaptation and a slew of Granada television dramatizations (with the excellent Jeremy Brett) for rekindling my interest in London's best (& only) consulting detective.
With a little more Holmes under my belt, both from the original sources and the distillations, I have to say I like "Shadows Over Baker Street" even better than before. (Being a fan of marginalia & asides, I especially like being able to better pick up on throwaway references to other famous cases, such as the infamous & never-discussed giant rat of Sumatra, as well as better appreciate "extended cast" characters such as Irene Adler.) As I re-read this, I have a suspicion it might even get bumped up to a full 5 stars.
When I first read this collection about a year ago I liked it well enough, being much more well-versed on the Lovecraft side of the equation than the Holmes. But credit the Guy Richie film adaptation and a slew of Granada television dramatizations (with the excellent Jeremy Brett) for rekindling my interest in London's best (& only) consulting detective.
With a little more Holmes under my belt, both from the original sources and the distillations, I have to say I like "Shadows Over Baker Street" even better than before. (Being a fan of marginalia & asides, I especially like being able to better pick up on throwaway references to other famous cases, such as the infamous & never-discussed giant rat of Sumatra, as well as better appreciate "extended cast" characters such as Irene Adler.) As I re-read this, I have a suspicion it might even get bumped up to a full 5 stars.
February 29, 2008
Oh man.
I love "A Study In Emerald". Love it. I've read some of the other stories in the book and have liked them pretty well, but I love "A Study In Emerald".
In case you don't know this is basically a collection of stories that break down to being Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulu. And the first story is "A Study In Emerald" by [author:Neil Gaiman}. It's brilliant. It shows why Neil Gaiman is a master of his craft. It's chilling and thought provoking and just great.
Like I said I've read a few of the other stories but since I don't really have any history with Lovecraft stories I don't really have any point of reference. Which is one of the reasons I like "A Study In Emerald" so much. You don't really have to know much about the Elder Gods to get it. I know that they're terrible monsters from the edge of sanity and I know that Sherlock Holmes is a detective that uses logic and sanity to solve his cases. Therefore the combination of the two is really rather brilliant all around.
I love "A Study In Emerald". Love it. I've read some of the other stories in the book and have liked them pretty well, but I love "A Study In Emerald".
In case you don't know this is basically a collection of stories that break down to being Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulu. And the first story is "A Study In Emerald" by [author:Neil Gaiman}. It's brilliant. It shows why Neil Gaiman is a master of his craft. It's chilling and thought provoking and just great.
Like I said I've read a few of the other stories but since I don't really have any history with Lovecraft stories I don't really have any point of reference. Which is one of the reasons I like "A Study In Emerald" so much. You don't really have to know much about the Elder Gods to get it. I know that they're terrible monsters from the edge of sanity and I know that Sherlock Holmes is a detective that uses logic and sanity to solve his cases. Therefore the combination of the two is really rather brilliant all around.
July 25, 2007
The ultimate pastiche: Sherlock Holmes meets the denizens of H.P. Lovecraft's sinister universes. Two writers who have not only been imitated, but whose characters/settings have been used by countless others. The combo is even better. A Study in Emerald is just one of the many little gems in this book. Probably best that you have read at least one Cthulu mythos tale first though: just to know what is being lampooned or venerated.
March 21, 2016
“Hay más cosas en el cielo y en la tierra, Horacio, de las que sueñas con tu filosofía”
Un crossover imaginativo, delicioso y obscuro para los fans de Lovecraft, de Doyle o en mi caso, de ambos.
Puedo destacar varios autores de esta compilación, Gaiman, Brite , sin embargo en general todos los cuentos son de alta manufactura, bien logrados. Lo recomiendo para aquellos que no podemos quedarnos con las ganas de soñar y atormentarnos con los mitos de Cthulhu.
“¡Ygnaiih, ygnaiih Yog-Sothoth!”
Un crossover imaginativo, delicioso y obscuro para los fans de Lovecraft, de Doyle o en mi caso, de ambos.
Puedo destacar varios autores de esta compilación, Gaiman, Brite , sin embargo en general todos los cuentos son de alta manufactura, bien logrados. Lo recomiendo para aquellos que no podemos quedarnos con las ganas de soñar y atormentarnos con los mitos de Cthulhu.
“¡Ygnaiih, ygnaiih Yog-Sothoth!”
November 12, 2023
This anthology of eighteen short stories revolve around a central theme of Sherlock Holmes . . . with a twist, an H.P. Lovecraft twist. Every tale involves the supernatural and it's an intriguing mix of the feel of Holmes' England and Watson's companionship. The disconcerting aspect is not the supernatural as much as it’s the individual authors creating future histories for each man and none of those histories connect. As I read, I couldn't understand what happened to that second marriage or how the various authors reconciled Holmes' disappearance between 1893, his apparent death at Reichenbach Falls and 1903 when he reappears. A minor note amidst the otherwise very captivating stories.
The Stories
Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald (1881)" refers to the case Holmes investigated involving the German word "rache" although this one's definition incorporates more than revenge. I loved the ads Gaiman incorporated into the story . . . just making sure the reader understands its supernatural aspects as he creates a fantasy world with its alien monarchy . . . eeeee . . .
Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger! Tiger" (1882)"
This claim to Holmes is its use of Irene Adler as one of the shooters on a tiger hunt in India. A good story in its own right, I was frustrated with it as I kept hunting for its association to Holmes. Bear's rendering left too many questions to be satisfying.
Steve Perry's "Case of the Wavy Black Dagger" (1884)
This includes a Spice Islands priestess, a kris, and the Old Ones.
Steven-Elliot Atlman's "A Case of Royal Blood" (1888)
This one involved the Dutch court with its ghostly stalking of its remaining blood royal, the Princess Wilhelmina.
James Lowder's "Weeping Masks" (1890)
This is the true tale of Watson's debilitating experiences in Afghanistan when he comes up against the Weeping Ones. Lowder provides just enough information to be creepy but much too insufficient to inform.
Brian Stableford's "Art in the Blood" (1892)
This is a confusing tale of old blood activating through objects. Only if one were enthused of the sea would the curse begin to transform one's body.
Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson's "Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone" (1894)
This involves a botched communication.
Barbara Hambly's "Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece" (1894)
This is a true Hambly-esque tale of magic and tragedy with a truly creepy though practical ending. Eeeee . . .
John Pelan's "Mystery of the Worm" (1894)
Another of those frustrating tales involving "Egyptian" artifacts and a deluded scientist willing to risk anyone and anything to live forever.
Paul Finch's "Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle" (1897)
Ewww, this involves the sewers and a plot to dose all of London and eventually the world into evolving into a newer, more amphibious species.
Tim Lebbon's "Horror of the Many Faces" (1898)
The ghoulish tale of an alien scientist exploring the structure of mankind . . . internally.
Michael Reeves "Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript" (1898)
This illuminates more of Dr. Watson's Afghan adventures with the appearance of Miriam, the daughter of a tribal chief who nursed Watson back to life. Supposedly, she is hunting the "Kitab al-Azif", one of the complete versions of the "Necronomicon" to keep it safe.
Caitlín R. Kiernan's "Drowned Geologist" (1898)
This takes the form of a letter written by Dr. Logan, a paleontologist with the American Museum of Natural History, imploring Dr. Watson to investigate the connections between three ammonites discovered in shales outside of their expected time period and Phoenician and/or Irish gods and the drowning death of Sir Elijah, a geologist, whom Logan had met earlier. A letter expressing expectations of a future. A letter written shortly after the theft of the one ammonite still in public hands and one day before his "suicide".
John P. Vourlis' "A Case of Insomnia" (1899)
This felt like a crossover with Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody with its Egyptian curse of the stone and the otherworldly beastie attempting its recovery.
Richard A. Lupoff's "Adventure of the Voorish Sign" (1899)
Combines gypsies with the otherworldly as it combines magical "religious" observances with otherworldly architecture to create a doorway between worlds. I do wish Lupoff had given closure to Lord Fairclough. I did like the description of the Anthracite Palace, a truly remarkable sounding edifice.
F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre's "Adventure of Exham Priory" (1902)
Provides a supernatural explanation of what actually happened at Reichenbach Falls in 1893 when Holmes grappled with Moriarty and they fell. This particular story, "Adventure of Exham Priory", involves a blood curse and the Elder Gods. A curse restricted to a particular family that only activates on contact with an otherworldly doorway. MacIntyre cracks me up with his so very solemn revelation of Moriarty's greatest regret . . . it's not surprising to learn he grew up in Australia!
David Niall Wilson and Patricia Lee Macomber's "Dead Did Not Become Him" (1902)
This involves greed and an easy path for the son of a Jewish rabbi who misuses his religion's science and golems to thwart a tontine. Unfortunately for the perpetrator, the doctor who signed Michael Adcott's death certificate is Dr. Watson.
Simon Clark's "Nightmare in Wax" (1915)
Refers to the wax cylinder which Professor Moriarty uses to record his triumph in uncovering the drowned village of Burnston up Yorkshire way. It seems he stumbled across a copy of the "Necronomicon" and intends to use its secrets to rule the world. It's a gruesome tale as Moriarty calmly sits by as the evolved inhabitants of the village destroy and eat his workmen.
Clark's is a frustrating story as we start the tale in 1915 when government officials ask Watson to identify the voices on the cylinder while the end of the story is supposedly in 1903 when Holmes, I'm guessing, hands the wax cylinder over to the Home Office. Further confusion is created because Watson mentions [in the beginning] that he received the critical telegram three weeks ago in, I can only assume, 1903 although it is currently 1915. I mention this because Watson concludes the story with his concern over whether he should have mentioned that only one day after he received the 1903 telegram, Holmes telephoned him with a warning about Moriarity having recovered the book Holmes had tossed out. We are also led to believe that it's been 12 years since Watson, or anyone, has seen Holmes. Very irritating and not at all the enticement I assume Clark was attempting.
The Cover
Kris Tobiassen's cover art is a lovely comic reflection of the supernatural with its ghostly Holmes, eerie, faced skeletal trees, slavering demon dogs, and menacing figures hinted in the distance with the shivery title superimposed over all.
The Stories
Neil Gaiman's "A Study in Emerald (1881)" refers to the case Holmes investigated involving the German word "rache" although this one's definition incorporates more than revenge. I loved the ads Gaiman incorporated into the story . . . just making sure the reader understands its supernatural aspects as he creates a fantasy world with its alien monarchy . . . eeeee . . .
Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger! Tiger" (1882)"
This claim to Holmes is its use of Irene Adler as one of the shooters on a tiger hunt in India. A good story in its own right, I was frustrated with it as I kept hunting for its association to Holmes. Bear's rendering left too many questions to be satisfying.
Steve Perry's "Case of the Wavy Black Dagger" (1884)
This includes a Spice Islands priestess, a kris, and the Old Ones.
Steven-Elliot Atlman's "A Case of Royal Blood" (1888)
This one involved the Dutch court with its ghostly stalking of its remaining blood royal, the Princess Wilhelmina.
James Lowder's "Weeping Masks" (1890)
This is the true tale of Watson's debilitating experiences in Afghanistan when he comes up against the Weeping Ones. Lowder provides just enough information to be creepy but much too insufficient to inform.
Brian Stableford's "Art in the Blood" (1892)
This is a confusing tale of old blood activating through objects. Only if one were enthused of the sea would the curse begin to transform one's body.
Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson's "Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone" (1894)
This involves a botched communication.
Barbara Hambly's "Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece" (1894)
This is a true Hambly-esque tale of magic and tragedy with a truly creepy though practical ending. Eeeee . . .
John Pelan's "Mystery of the Worm" (1894)
Another of those frustrating tales involving "Egyptian" artifacts and a deluded scientist willing to risk anyone and anything to live forever.
Paul Finch's "Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle" (1897)
Ewww, this involves the sewers and a plot to dose all of London and eventually the world into evolving into a newer, more amphibious species.
Tim Lebbon's "Horror of the Many Faces" (1898)
The ghoulish tale of an alien scientist exploring the structure of mankind . . . internally.
Michael Reeves "Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript" (1898)
This illuminates more of Dr. Watson's Afghan adventures with the appearance of Miriam, the daughter of a tribal chief who nursed Watson back to life. Supposedly, she is hunting the "Kitab al-Azif", one of the complete versions of the "Necronomicon" to keep it safe.
Caitlín R. Kiernan's "Drowned Geologist" (1898)
This takes the form of a letter written by Dr. Logan, a paleontologist with the American Museum of Natural History, imploring Dr. Watson to investigate the connections between three ammonites discovered in shales outside of their expected time period and Phoenician and/or Irish gods and the drowning death of Sir Elijah, a geologist, whom Logan had met earlier. A letter expressing expectations of a future. A letter written shortly after the theft of the one ammonite still in public hands and one day before his "suicide".
John P. Vourlis' "A Case of Insomnia" (1899)
This felt like a crossover with Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody with its Egyptian curse of the stone and the otherworldly beastie attempting its recovery.
Richard A. Lupoff's "Adventure of the Voorish Sign" (1899)
Combines gypsies with the otherworldly as it combines magical "religious" observances with otherworldly architecture to create a doorway between worlds. I do wish Lupoff had given closure to Lord Fairclough. I did like the description of the Anthracite Palace, a truly remarkable sounding edifice.
F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre's "Adventure of Exham Priory" (1902)
Provides a supernatural explanation of what actually happened at Reichenbach Falls in 1893 when Holmes grappled with Moriarty and they fell. This particular story, "Adventure of Exham Priory", involves a blood curse and the Elder Gods. A curse restricted to a particular family that only activates on contact with an otherworldly doorway. MacIntyre cracks me up with his so very solemn revelation of Moriarty's greatest regret . . . it's not surprising to learn he grew up in Australia!
David Niall Wilson and Patricia Lee Macomber's "Dead Did Not Become Him" (1902)
This involves greed and an easy path for the son of a Jewish rabbi who misuses his religion's science and golems to thwart a tontine. Unfortunately for the perpetrator, the doctor who signed Michael Adcott's death certificate is Dr. Watson.
Simon Clark's "Nightmare in Wax" (1915)
Refers to the wax cylinder which Professor Moriarty uses to record his triumph in uncovering the drowned village of Burnston up Yorkshire way. It seems he stumbled across a copy of the "Necronomicon" and intends to use its secrets to rule the world. It's a gruesome tale as Moriarty calmly sits by as the evolved inhabitants of the village destroy and eat his workmen.
Clark's is a frustrating story as we start the tale in 1915 when government officials ask Watson to identify the voices on the cylinder while the end of the story is supposedly in 1903 when Holmes, I'm guessing, hands the wax cylinder over to the Home Office. Further confusion is created because Watson mentions [in the beginning] that he received the critical telegram three weeks ago in, I can only assume, 1903 although it is currently 1915. I mention this because Watson concludes the story with his concern over whether he should have mentioned that only one day after he received the 1903 telegram, Holmes telephoned him with a warning about Moriarity having recovered the book Holmes had tossed out. We are also led to believe that it's been 12 years since Watson, or anyone, has seen Holmes. Very irritating and not at all the enticement I assume Clark was attempting.
The Cover
Kris Tobiassen's cover art is a lovely comic reflection of the supernatural with its ghostly Holmes, eerie, faced skeletal trees, slavering demon dogs, and menacing figures hinted in the distance with the shivery title superimposed over all.
August 27, 2010
This is so very fanfic-ish, in concept at least. (And sometimes in execution. Please note that that's not meant as an insult. While some fanfic is bad enough to make run screaming into the streets, some of it is of pro or near-pro quality.) It's a pretty cool idea, but I started losing interest after a few stories.
The Neil Gaiman piece at the beginning was excellent. I know that's a "really going out on a limb there" thing, but ... Neil Gaiman doesn't push my readerly buttons that much. (I know, that makes me a comparative rarity. >.> This might be the best thing by him that I can recall reading.) The Elizabeth Bear story that followed was almost as good. After that, the stories gradually began to seem very similar. It probably didn't help that I'm not that familiar with the Holmes canon.
The Neil Gaiman piece at the beginning was excellent. I know that's a "really going out on a limb there" thing, but ... Neil Gaiman doesn't push my readerly buttons that much. (I know, that makes me a comparative rarity. >.> This might be the best thing by him that I can recall reading.) The Elizabeth Bear story that followed was almost as good. After that, the stories gradually began to seem very similar. It probably didn't help that I'm not that familiar with the Holmes canon.
February 11, 2010
I liked this book but it's a little bit like too much of a good thing.I think I made the mistake of trying to read this book through when I would have been better set to read a story or two a day.I got kind of sick of Sherlock and Watson.
That said this is a fun book with a good premise.I am always looking for some good Mythos stories and this book has quite a few of them.
I think if you want to fully appreciate this book you will read it along with another book so that you look forward to Sherlock and not dread him like I did.
I got this book at the library and I am glad I read it but won't be shelling out $30 for a copy from Amazon.
That said this is a fun book with a good premise.I am always looking for some good Mythos stories and this book has quite a few of them.
I think if you want to fully appreciate this book you will read it along with another book so that you look forward to Sherlock and not dread him like I did.
I got this book at the library and I am glad I read it but won't be shelling out $30 for a copy from Amazon.
February 21, 2025
Big Lovecraft fan and just read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon, so naturally I was excited to read this collection.
Sadly, I was a bit disappointed. Most of the stories didn’t follow the typical format of a Holmes story, which is fine, but some also didn’t feel like they got Holmes right at all.
A lot of “men writing women.”
And the entire book is just a bit too long, given it’s filled with stories that feel a bit rushed.
But if you love Sherlock Holmes and the mythos, it’s likely worth the read. My favourite was the H.G. Wells one. Just be prepared you may be checking how many pages are left of a few of the stories…
Sadly, I was a bit disappointed. Most of the stories didn’t follow the typical format of a Holmes story, which is fine, but some also didn’t feel like they got Holmes right at all.
A lot of “men writing women.”
And the entire book is just a bit too long, given it’s filled with stories that feel a bit rushed.
But if you love Sherlock Holmes and the mythos, it’s likely worth the read. My favourite was the H.G. Wells one. Just be prepared you may be checking how many pages are left of a few of the stories…
November 11, 2018
Just a lot of fun. It’s uncanny how well Doyle and Lovecraft go together. As an anthology of short stories, it is a little uneven, but the weakest stories are merely adequate rather than bad. And the standouts, particularly Neil Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald”, and Elizabeth Bear’s “Tiger, Tiger” are outstanding.
December 29, 2021
¿Pastiches uniendo el universo sherlockiano con el de Lovecraft, escritos por autores reconocidos? COMPRO.
Lamentablemente, a mitad del libro las historias empiezan a parecerse demasiado entre sí, y la novedad se diluye. Por momentos me cuesta distinguir la historia que estoy leyendo de la anterior. Buh.
¿Bien escritas? Sí. ¿Terroríficas? Sí (al menos si juzgamos por el nivel de insomnio y pesadillas raras que tuve esta semana, casi casi como las de los personajes). ¿Originales? No tanto, excepto la de la persecución en la alcantarilla, la del géologo ahogado y por supuesto la muy superior historia que abre el libro a cargo del inmenso Neil Gaiman (y que mezcla otros personajes como Drácula o Frankenstein con una cuota de humor negro). El resto, como dije, son tan similares que a un día de haber terminado el libro se me confunden entre sí.
Recomendado sólo para conocedores de ambos cánones o se perderán algunas referencias importantes. Pensándolo bien no sé por qué alguien que no sea fan de Sherlock Holmes o Lovecraft leería pastiches (que no son otra cosa que fanfictions glorificados)
Lamentablemente, a mitad del libro las historias empiezan a parecerse demasiado entre sí, y la novedad se diluye. Por momentos me cuesta distinguir la historia que estoy leyendo de la anterior. Buh.
¿Bien escritas? Sí. ¿Terroríficas? Sí (al menos si juzgamos por el nivel de insomnio y pesadillas raras que tuve esta semana, casi casi como las de los personajes). ¿Originales? No tanto, excepto la de la persecución en la alcantarilla, la del géologo ahogado y por supuesto la muy superior historia que abre el libro a cargo del inmenso Neil Gaiman (y que mezcla otros personajes como Drácula o Frankenstein con una cuota de humor negro). El resto, como dije, son tan similares que a un día de haber terminado el libro se me confunden entre sí.
Recomendado sólo para conocedores de ambos cánones o se perderán algunas referencias importantes. Pensándolo bien no sé por qué alguien que no sea fan de Sherlock Holmes o Lovecraft leería pastiches (que no son otra cosa que fanfictions glorificados)
February 11, 2014
I don't know if I've ever felt more like a book was written specifically for me. This was a series of short Sherlock Holmes adventures set in the world (and/or inspired by the world) of H.P. Lovecraft, two of my greatest nerd loves. I would have never thought these two would blend together so well but I suppose it makes sense. Holmes is the the detective who needs to know everything and Lovecraft posits that to know everything is to be driven mad.
The best of the bunch is probably "A Study in Emerald" the opening story by Neil Gaiman. It won a Hugo Award for short fiction when it came out and it is easy to see why. That being said, the entire collection is extremely strong. There are even references in many of the stories to other stories within the same collection, even though every story is written by different authors. I credit the two editors with this and it makes the whole experience all the richer.
This definitely isn't for all tastes but if you love Holmes and Lovecraft this will blow your mind.
The best of the bunch is probably "A Study in Emerald" the opening story by Neil Gaiman. It won a Hugo Award for short fiction when it came out and it is easy to see why. That being said, the entire collection is extremely strong. There are even references in many of the stories to other stories within the same collection, even though every story is written by different authors. I credit the two editors with this and it makes the whole experience all the richer.
This definitely isn't for all tastes but if you love Holmes and Lovecraft this will blow your mind.
September 27, 2012
As with any anthology, this one is a mixed bag of candy. As other reviewers have stated, the first story offered, “A Study in Emerald” is the best written of all.
I found my favorite short tale in the middle of the book: “The horror of the many faces” by Tim Lebbon, has Watson witnessing a horrible murder by no less than Sherlock Holmes himself. The outcome is a perfect balance between ACD and Lovecraft’s styles.
The book was worthy just for the two stories mentioned above, but I also enjoyed some other immensely: “The curious case of Miss Violet Stone”, “The adventure of the antiquarian’s niece”, “A case of insomnia” and a couple others I don’t recall now.
Best to be read spread among winter evenings.
I found my favorite short tale in the middle of the book: “The horror of the many faces” by Tim Lebbon, has Watson witnessing a horrible murder by no less than Sherlock Holmes himself. The outcome is a perfect balance between ACD and Lovecraft’s styles.
The book was worthy just for the two stories mentioned above, but I also enjoyed some other immensely: “The curious case of Miss Violet Stone”, “The adventure of the antiquarian’s niece”, “A case of insomnia” and a couple others I don’t recall now.
Best to be read spread among winter evenings.
June 6, 2007
An anthology of modern writers inventing new tales that set Sherlock Holmes as a consulting detective in the world of H.P. Lovecraft. If you enjoy X-files, Lost or any other blend of mystery and the supernatural this should strike a cord.
October 29, 2017
"Shadows over Baker Street" ist eine Sammlung von Kurzgeschichten, in denen sich die Welt von Sherlock Holmes mit dem Cthulhu-Universum von H. P. Lovecraft überschneidet.
Leider nutzt sich eigentlich fantastische Idee sehr schnell ab. Den meisten Autoren gelingt es nicht, aus Sherlock Holmes mehr als eine Klischee zu machen. Auch Aufbau und Entwicklung der einzelnen Geschichten folgen in der Regel dem immer gleichen Schema. Ein mysteriöser Besucher oder ein geheimnisvolles Paket trifft in 221B Baker Street ein. Holmes weiss natürlich schon Bescheid, hat natürlich bereits in der Vergangenheit gelernt, dass es sich um ein erschütterndes Geheimnis handelt. Es folgt ein Gang in eine dunkle Höhle, ein verlassenes Herrenhaus, einen verschütteten Tempel. Irgendeine unglückliche Gestalt stirbt, Holmes und Watson entkommen knapp. Ende. Gefühlt 80% der Geschichten folgen dieser Vorlage. Die Spannung verlässt den Leser spätestens bei der dritten Story im Buch.
Die Perle in diesem Buch ist "A Study in Emerald" von Neil Gaiman. Die Geschichte hat nicht umsonst den Hugo-Award bekommen. Sie ist originell, folgt nicht dem oben beschriebenen Szenario und überzeugt mit dem fantastischen Universum, in dem sie spielt.
Wer ein spannendes Crossover zwischen Holmes und Cthulhu lesen möchte, der besorge sich Neil Gaimans Geschichte. Der Rest des Buches sollte nur in homöopathischen Dosen über große Zeiträume verteilt genossen werden, um keine Langeweile aufkommen zulassen.
Leider nutzt sich eigentlich fantastische Idee sehr schnell ab. Den meisten Autoren gelingt es nicht, aus Sherlock Holmes mehr als eine Klischee zu machen. Auch Aufbau und Entwicklung der einzelnen Geschichten folgen in der Regel dem immer gleichen Schema. Ein mysteriöser Besucher oder ein geheimnisvolles Paket trifft in 221B Baker Street ein. Holmes weiss natürlich schon Bescheid, hat natürlich bereits in der Vergangenheit gelernt, dass es sich um ein erschütterndes Geheimnis handelt. Es folgt ein Gang in eine dunkle Höhle, ein verlassenes Herrenhaus, einen verschütteten Tempel. Irgendeine unglückliche Gestalt stirbt, Holmes und Watson entkommen knapp. Ende. Gefühlt 80% der Geschichten folgen dieser Vorlage. Die Spannung verlässt den Leser spätestens bei der dritten Story im Buch.
Die Perle in diesem Buch ist "A Study in Emerald" von Neil Gaiman. Die Geschichte hat nicht umsonst den Hugo-Award bekommen. Sie ist originell, folgt nicht dem oben beschriebenen Szenario und überzeugt mit dem fantastischen Universum, in dem sie spielt.
Wer ein spannendes Crossover zwischen Holmes und Cthulhu lesen möchte, der besorge sich Neil Gaimans Geschichte. Der Rest des Buches sollte nur in homöopathischen Dosen über große Zeiträume verteilt genossen werden, um keine Langeweile aufkommen zulassen.
February 15, 2025
Shadows Over Baker Street is an intriguing collection of pastiche stories blending the worlds of H.P. Lovecraft and Sherlock Holmes. Having read nearly all of Lovecraft’s works but only a handful of Holmes stories, I found this anthology leaned more heavily on the detective’s side of the equation. While the cosmic horror elements are present, the investigative tone and structure often took precedence, making it feel more Holmsian than Lovecraftian.
About a quarter of the stories stood out as truly exceptional, capturing both the eerie dread of the Mythos and the sharp reasoning of Holmes. Around half of the stories were enjoyable, offering a fun twist on familiar tropes, even if they didn’t fully immerse me in eldritch horror. One amusingly consistent detail was the frequent mention of Holmes' cocaine use—perhaps a nod to his own indulgences or a means to emphasize the unsettling strangeness of the cases.
Overall, it’s a mixed bag, but an entertaining one, particularly for those who appreciate the interplay of logic and madness.
About a quarter of the stories stood out as truly exceptional, capturing both the eerie dread of the Mythos and the sharp reasoning of Holmes. Around half of the stories were enjoyable, offering a fun twist on familiar tropes, even if they didn’t fully immerse me in eldritch horror. One amusingly consistent detail was the frequent mention of Holmes' cocaine use—perhaps a nod to his own indulgences or a means to emphasize the unsettling strangeness of the cases.
Overall, it’s a mixed bag, but an entertaining one, particularly for those who appreciate the interplay of logic and madness.
January 17, 2026
Great heavens, Holmes!
18 short stories that place Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in Lovecraft's deranged xenophobic fever dream: what's not to love?
A little short on variety, perhaps. Any reader of this 438 page anthology would be shocked if the editors did NOT in fact distribute the following memo to Neil Gaiman and their gaggle of writers:
For each story:
- The bad guy must be either Moriarty or a swarthy foreigner.
- The McGuffin is always, ultimately, the Necronomicon.
- Copious use of the words 'eldritch' and 'madness' will suffice in place of descriptive language.
- Praise the Old Ones.
18 short stories that place Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in Lovecraft's deranged xenophobic fever dream: what's not to love?
A little short on variety, perhaps. Any reader of this 438 page anthology would be shocked if the editors did NOT in fact distribute the following memo to Neil Gaiman and their gaggle of writers:
For each story:
- The bad guy must be either Moriarty or a swarthy foreigner.
- The McGuffin is always, ultimately, the Necronomicon.
- Copious use of the words 'eldritch' and 'madness' will suffice in place of descriptive language.
- Praise the Old Ones.
March 16, 2022
DNF!
The stories are boring and generic. You take a classic Sherlock Holmes story, add someone mentioning The Old Ones, et voilà: there goes your superficial fusion of Lovecraft and Holmes.
For me it did not work at all! I decided to waste my time with other books instead.
The stories are boring and generic. You take a classic Sherlock Holmes story, add someone mentioning The Old Ones, et voilà: there goes your superficial fusion of Lovecraft and Holmes.
For me it did not work at all! I decided to waste my time with other books instead.
September 29, 2022
Very enjoyable set of stories involving Holmes & Watson challenged with supernatural mysteries. The concept of blending Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective and his sidekick with the bizarre and horrific worlds of H.P. Lovecraft is an interesting one. It mostly works well enough, with a couple of the stories being weaker than the rest.
Not entirely sure if Conan Doyle and Lovecraft would approve…but..then again, why not? It’s a fun enough ride for what it is.
After all, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.
Not entirely sure if Conan Doyle and Lovecraft would approve…but..then again, why not? It’s a fun enough ride for what it is.
After all, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.
March 26, 2023
Excellent collection of Holmes in Lovecraftian landscapes. While some stories were better than others, there wasn't a bad one in the bunch. Especially loved Gaiman's A Study in Emerald.
February 1, 2022
A fun read, but as with many anthologies, there are hits and misses. A study in Emerald was probably my favourite.
October 13, 2011
"Shadows over Baker Street" is an ingenious (if not singular) attempt by Ballantine Books to superimpose the gigantic persona of Sherlock Holmes upon the weirdly menacing landscape of Cthulhu, under the editorship of Michael Reaves and John Pelan. The authority of these two as well as the host of authors invited by them to undertake this `mission' is irreproachable. But to an aficionado of either genre, the crux of the matter is to find out who has been disparaged by whom (although the outcome of the confrontation was `known' to all, since, had the Lovecraftian monsters succeeded surely we would not be here to contemplate over global warming and other trivia). But now, I better come to the point.
The penmanship of the stories constituting this book vary along-with the focus of the authors. Some of these works are about Yog-Soggoth, some about the Colour beyond Space, some about other paranormal and psychological phenomena that would have stumped the author of the famous line: "This agency stands flat-footed upon the ground, and there it must remain. The world is big enough for us. No ghosts need apply." [The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire]. The stories are:
1. "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman is one of the finest pastiches that I have ever come across. It is about events very similar to those in "A Study in Scarlet" happening in a post-Cthulhu London occupied by some of the most well-known characters of fantastic Victoriana, where the events are narrated by `once crack-shot' Col. S. M, the murder is solved by a consulting detective who is the author of "Dynamics of an Asteroid" and has been pressed into action by Inspector Lestrade, the murderer is an ex-Army Doctor who has been to Afghanistan and the murder is planned & implemented by an extremely talented amateur actor Sherry Vernet!!!
2. "Tiger! Tiger!" by Elizabeth Bear is a breathtaking adventure of hunting, international politics and a sorcerer who chants "Ia! Ia Hastur cf'ayah 'vugtlagln Hastur!" in Malwa plateau involving Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene Adler.
3. "The Case of the Wavy Black Dagger" by Steve Parry recounts Holmes' meeting with the woman of his dreams (NOT IRENE ADLER)!
4. "A Case of Royal Blood" by Steven-Elliot Altman is an adventure concerning some of the dark secrets of the royal family in Netherlands, where Holmes is accompanied and assisted by H.G. Wells.
5. "The Weeping Masks" by James Lowder is Watsonian reminiscences of what could have actually taken place after the battle of Maiwand and how Murray saved him from otherworldly doom.
6. "Art in the Blood" by Brian Stableford is a solid effort that aims at bringing not only Sherlock Holmes, but also Mycroft Holmes and his Diogenes Club into the Cthulhuian world.
7. "The Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone" by Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson is a rather flat story involving mind-travel, somehow clinging to the Lovecraftian postulates.
8. "The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece" by Barbara Hambly is a purely Cthulhuian pulp-action, with not only Holmes but also Carnaki the ghost-finder. It was racy and horrifying.
9. "The Mystery of the Worm" by John Pelan is a worthy attempt to convert the tantalizing reference left by Conan Doyle into a Wold-Newton adventure bringing Dr. Nikola and Cthulhu mythos onto 221B Baker Street.
10. "The Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle" by Paul Finch is a superb adventure where Holmes and Watson encounter the legacy of Innsmouth, Massachusetts!
11. "The Horror of the Many Faces" by Tim Lebbon is a disturbing study in psychology that only uses the trappings of the mythos.
12. "The Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript" by Michael Reaves is an adventure where Watson comes across a fragrance from his past and feels the putrid odor of Cthulhu only at the climax.
13. "The Drowned Geologist" by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a neat story of Holmes coming across artifacts from Cthulhu during "the Hiatus".
14. "A Case of Insomnia" by John P. Vourlis is another Lovecraftian story of a `portal' through which otherworldly creatures may come visiting, esp. in darkness.
15. "The Adventure of the Voorish Sign" by Richard A Lupoff is a story of signs and designs that may allow us to venture into the perilous (mildly speaking) world of Cthulhu.
16. "The Adventure of the Exham Priory" by F. Gwynplaine Macintyre is a chilling story of Moriarty acting as the agent of Yog-Soggoth and how he almost managed in snatching Holmes away forever.
17. "Death Did Not Become Him" by David Niall Wilson and Patricia Lee Macomber is a biblical story of `Golem' set amidst Lovecraftian incantations and Holmes-Watson.
18. "Nightmare in Wax" by Simon Clark recounts Moriarty's efforts to usher the inmates of Cthulhu into the world as we know it, and how Holmes foiled it in nick of time (or, did he?)!
To summarize, this book would be a good companion to you irrespective of your inclinations towards Holmes or Cthulhu in particular. Go ahead and read the book. All the best!
The penmanship of the stories constituting this book vary along-with the focus of the authors. Some of these works are about Yog-Soggoth, some about the Colour beyond Space, some about other paranormal and psychological phenomena that would have stumped the author of the famous line: "This agency stands flat-footed upon the ground, and there it must remain. The world is big enough for us. No ghosts need apply." [The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire]. The stories are:
1. "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman is one of the finest pastiches that I have ever come across. It is about events very similar to those in "A Study in Scarlet" happening in a post-Cthulhu London occupied by some of the most well-known characters of fantastic Victoriana, where the events are narrated by `once crack-shot' Col. S. M, the murder is solved by a consulting detective who is the author of "Dynamics of an Asteroid" and has been pressed into action by Inspector Lestrade, the murderer is an ex-Army Doctor who has been to Afghanistan and the murder is planned & implemented by an extremely talented amateur actor Sherry Vernet!!!
2. "Tiger! Tiger!" by Elizabeth Bear is a breathtaking adventure of hunting, international politics and a sorcerer who chants "Ia! Ia Hastur cf'ayah 'vugtlagln Hastur!" in Malwa plateau involving Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene Adler.
3. "The Case of the Wavy Black Dagger" by Steve Parry recounts Holmes' meeting with the woman of his dreams (NOT IRENE ADLER)!
4. "A Case of Royal Blood" by Steven-Elliot Altman is an adventure concerning some of the dark secrets of the royal family in Netherlands, where Holmes is accompanied and assisted by H.G. Wells.
5. "The Weeping Masks" by James Lowder is Watsonian reminiscences of what could have actually taken place after the battle of Maiwand and how Murray saved him from otherworldly doom.
6. "Art in the Blood" by Brian Stableford is a solid effort that aims at bringing not only Sherlock Holmes, but also Mycroft Holmes and his Diogenes Club into the Cthulhuian world.
7. "The Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone" by Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson is a rather flat story involving mind-travel, somehow clinging to the Lovecraftian postulates.
8. "The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece" by Barbara Hambly is a purely Cthulhuian pulp-action, with not only Holmes but also Carnaki the ghost-finder. It was racy and horrifying.
9. "The Mystery of the Worm" by John Pelan is a worthy attempt to convert the tantalizing reference left by Conan Doyle into a Wold-Newton adventure bringing Dr. Nikola and Cthulhu mythos onto 221B Baker Street.
10. "The Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle" by Paul Finch is a superb adventure where Holmes and Watson encounter the legacy of Innsmouth, Massachusetts!
11. "The Horror of the Many Faces" by Tim Lebbon is a disturbing study in psychology that only uses the trappings of the mythos.
12. "The Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript" by Michael Reaves is an adventure where Watson comes across a fragrance from his past and feels the putrid odor of Cthulhu only at the climax.
13. "The Drowned Geologist" by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a neat story of Holmes coming across artifacts from Cthulhu during "the Hiatus".
14. "A Case of Insomnia" by John P. Vourlis is another Lovecraftian story of a `portal' through which otherworldly creatures may come visiting, esp. in darkness.
15. "The Adventure of the Voorish Sign" by Richard A Lupoff is a story of signs and designs that may allow us to venture into the perilous (mildly speaking) world of Cthulhu.
16. "The Adventure of the Exham Priory" by F. Gwynplaine Macintyre is a chilling story of Moriarty acting as the agent of Yog-Soggoth and how he almost managed in snatching Holmes away forever.
17. "Death Did Not Become Him" by David Niall Wilson and Patricia Lee Macomber is a biblical story of `Golem' set amidst Lovecraftian incantations and Holmes-Watson.
18. "Nightmare in Wax" by Simon Clark recounts Moriarty's efforts to usher the inmates of Cthulhu into the world as we know it, and how Holmes foiled it in nick of time (or, did he?)!
To summarize, this book would be a good companion to you irrespective of your inclinations towards Holmes or Cthulhu in particular. Go ahead and read the book. All the best!
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April 10, 2017needed to take a break on this one - hopefully i come back to it!
May 26, 2020
This anthology is quite a rollercoaster of quality.
1. A Study in Emerald. This classic is probably the centerpiece of the whole anthology. Dripping with atmosphere and with layers upon layers. Can be re-read many times.
2. Tiger Tiger. Very well written story, only peripherally set in the Holmes universe and only thematically touching on Cthuliana. Nothing very special overall though, mostly interesting for its descriptions of colonial India and surroundings.
3. The Case of the Wavy Black Dagger. This tiny piece seems written solely to give Holmes a strong female he's interested in? Self-indulgent tripe, one of the worst in the book.
4. A Case of Royal Blood. A longish yarn about a "haunting" of the Netherlandish royal house. It's quite ok, but does drag on a bit. Pretty much starts out Holmes and ends up Lovecraft.
5. The Weeping Masks. An excellent and at times genuinely creepy story about Watson's past in Afghanistan, told in retrospect. The ending is unfortunately weak.
6. Art in the Blood. One of the better stories, transporting Lovecraft's New England to Old England, ripe with the most obscure place names in Dorset. Mycroft is the main character.
7. The Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone. A straightforward and very Lovecraftian "Strange Science" type story involving time-and-body-travelling prehistoric aliens. Starts out very slow but works well enough.
8. The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece. Very long but fairly good, definitely captures the Lovecraftian ancient horror vibe. I like the structure, that starts with a visit, then research, then finally personal investigation.
9. The Mystery of the Worm. A fairly short and kinda modern story that is peripherally Lovecraftian but very "flashy" in its horror. The Dr. Nikola character seems interesting, should check out those books...
10. The Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle. This one is very cool and interesting. It really stands out in its fantastic descriptions of the dirt and darkness of victorian London and especially the sewers under it. A true fantastic adventure romp, this could easily be a Pulp Cthulhu adventure!
11. The Horror of the Many Faces. Lebbon serves up a very dark tale indeed, steeped in psychological damage and inexplicable horrors. Possibly one of the best in the anthology if you like his style.
12. The Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript. Another Pulp Cthulhu style yarn, this one is pretty funny in the way it practically ties into story #5, coincidentally (I'm thinking about the afghan woman and Watson). One of the few stories that actually managed to surprise me with the twists. Not a very good Holmes story though.
13. The Drowned Geologist. Another little atmospheric story on the North Yorkshire coast, framed in its entirety as a dead man's letter. Nice enough, nothing much happens.
14. A Case of Insomnia. I loved this! A pure, timeless adventure scenario, could be easily transferred to any roleplaying system like D&D. Strong structure and characters, great atmosphere.
15. The Adventure of the Voorish Sign. One of the absolute worst of the anthology. Totally breaks style with both Holmes and Lovecraft with some absurd overt sexual innuendo, and a complete failure to understand the underlying ideas of Lovecraft (but leans well into his racism...). Features a mansion built out of COAL. A slog to get through.
16. The Adventure of Exham Priory. This is in many ways very similar to #8. There's most likely some background connections I don't get here, with the Welsh Marshes and semi-abandoned mansions/priories and "de la Poer" coming up often. I don't think this one is very well written though, the style is modern and defies both Doyle and Lovecraft conventions.
17. Death Did Not Become Him. Ah yes, Reanimator + Golem. This is in itself a decent Lovecraftian story, but the language is very muddy. The story just ambles along without grip or grit.
18. Nightmare in Wax. This is a weird one, and fairly good. Presented almost in full as a transcribed audio recording, it fully mixes up Lovecrafts Dreamlands and Cthuliana styles. In my opinion it fails at the horror, but the Dreamlands wonder is fairly well done. Having Moriarty as a "narrator" presents a wonderfully emotionally flat viewpoint.
1. A Study in Emerald. This classic is probably the centerpiece of the whole anthology. Dripping with atmosphere and with layers upon layers. Can be re-read many times.
2. Tiger Tiger. Very well written story, only peripherally set in the Holmes universe and only thematically touching on Cthuliana. Nothing very special overall though, mostly interesting for its descriptions of colonial India and surroundings.
3. The Case of the Wavy Black Dagger. This tiny piece seems written solely to give Holmes a strong female he's interested in? Self-indulgent tripe, one of the worst in the book.
4. A Case of Royal Blood. A longish yarn about a "haunting" of the Netherlandish royal house. It's quite ok, but does drag on a bit. Pretty much starts out Holmes and ends up Lovecraft.
5. The Weeping Masks. An excellent and at times genuinely creepy story about Watson's past in Afghanistan, told in retrospect. The ending is unfortunately weak.
6. Art in the Blood. One of the better stories, transporting Lovecraft's New England to Old England, ripe with the most obscure place names in Dorset. Mycroft is the main character.
7. The Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone. A straightforward and very Lovecraftian "Strange Science" type story involving time-and-body-travelling prehistoric aliens. Starts out very slow but works well enough.
8. The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece. Very long but fairly good, definitely captures the Lovecraftian ancient horror vibe. I like the structure, that starts with a visit, then research, then finally personal investigation.
9. The Mystery of the Worm. A fairly short and kinda modern story that is peripherally Lovecraftian but very "flashy" in its horror. The Dr. Nikola character seems interesting, should check out those books...
10. The Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle. This one is very cool and interesting. It really stands out in its fantastic descriptions of the dirt and darkness of victorian London and especially the sewers under it. A true fantastic adventure romp, this could easily be a Pulp Cthulhu adventure!
11. The Horror of the Many Faces. Lebbon serves up a very dark tale indeed, steeped in psychological damage and inexplicable horrors. Possibly one of the best in the anthology if you like his style.
12. The Adventure of the Arab's Manuscript. Another Pulp Cthulhu style yarn, this one is pretty funny in the way it practically ties into story #5, coincidentally (I'm thinking about the afghan woman and Watson). One of the few stories that actually managed to surprise me with the twists. Not a very good Holmes story though.
13. The Drowned Geologist. Another little atmospheric story on the North Yorkshire coast, framed in its entirety as a dead man's letter. Nice enough, nothing much happens.
14. A Case of Insomnia. I loved this! A pure, timeless adventure scenario, could be easily transferred to any roleplaying system like D&D. Strong structure and characters, great atmosphere.
15. The Adventure of the Voorish Sign. One of the absolute worst of the anthology. Totally breaks style with both Holmes and Lovecraft with some absurd overt sexual innuendo, and a complete failure to understand the underlying ideas of Lovecraft (but leans well into his racism...). Features a mansion built out of COAL. A slog to get through.
16. The Adventure of Exham Priory. This is in many ways very similar to #8. There's most likely some background connections I don't get here, with the Welsh Marshes and semi-abandoned mansions/priories and "de la Poer" coming up often. I don't think this one is very well written though, the style is modern and defies both Doyle and Lovecraft conventions.
17. Death Did Not Become Him. Ah yes, Reanimator + Golem. This is in itself a decent Lovecraftian story, but the language is very muddy. The story just ambles along without grip or grit.
18. Nightmare in Wax. This is a weird one, and fairly good. Presented almost in full as a transcribed audio recording, it fully mixes up Lovecrafts Dreamlands and Cthuliana styles. In my opinion it fails at the horror, but the Dreamlands wonder is fairly well done. Having Moriarty as a "narrator" presents a wonderfully emotionally flat viewpoint.
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