In my new-found identity as an official Sherlockian (BSI investiture: “The Red Circle”) I’ve been talking to über-Sherlockian Les Klinger about a couple of projects. One of them is a touch specialized, although I’ll be posting about it closer to its pub date. But the other is going to be such a blast, I have to shout about it now.
Question: What do these people have in common? (other than being great writers)—
Alan Bradley
Tony Broadbent
Jan Burke
Lionel Chetwynd
Lee Child
Colin Cotterill
Michael Dirda
Neil Gaiman
Laura Lippman
Gayle Lynds
Philip Margolin
Margaret Maron
T. Jefferson Parker
Thomas Perry
S. J. Rozan
Dana Stabenow
Charles Todd
Answer: They’ve all agreed to write a story for Studies in Sherlock, edited by Les Klinger and Laurie R. King:
In 19th century England, a new kind of hero—a consulting detective—blossomed in the mind of an underemployed doctor and ignited the world’s imagination. In the thirteen decades since the Sherlock Holmes archetype appeared, countless variations on that theme have been played, everything from Mary Russell to Greg House, from ‘Basil of Baker Street’ to the new BBC Holmes in the Internet age.
Now, writers like the above don’t usually “do” Sherlock Holmes. Which is precisely why we asked them, because we suspected that they had, lurking in the backs of their minds, stories that play variations on the Holmes theme.
All we’ve asked is that they let the Holmes stories inspire them. We might get a straight Holmes pastiche, or a story about Mycroft or Mrs Hudson or Billy the page. The story might take place in Victorian Baker Street or Mughal India or on the first manned flight to Mars. We may get one or two graphic tales.
Oh, this is going to be such fun!
Studies in Sherlock. Look for it from Random House books, Christmas 2011.
Cherie Monte says
October 5, 2010 at 8:15 amThat is AWESOME! I cannot get enough Sherlock!!!!
strawberry curls says
October 5, 2010 at 9:17 am**Rubbing my hands together** This will be something special for the Sherlockian, or non-Sherlockian for that matter. Good stories are good stories!! What an amazing array of authors. I can’t wait!
–Alice
Heidi says
October 5, 2010 at 10:20 amI’d buy that for Neil Gaiman alone. Very exciting.
Jenna says
October 5, 2010 at 7:20 pmI cannot. Believe. This! It’s almost too good for truth. I’m so glad – because those are all of them great writers, wonderful, even; I’ve enjoyed their work. However, if this new book is edited by Ms King…well, then it would be almost as good as cannon, wouldn’t it?
Dannyn says
October 5, 2010 at 9:20 pmJolly good show folks! What a wonderful holidays present this will be, for myself and for my dear old dad, who I’ve just found out after all these years is a Holmes fan (he will be 81 right before the book comes out). Lovely lovely lovely.
Cheerio and toodlepip!
classics_fiend says
October 6, 2010 at 7:56 amThat’s great!!! I can’t *wait* to read it!!! 😀
Damien Russell says
October 6, 2010 at 1:53 pmThis should be awesome!!
Sara Cordin says
October 8, 2010 at 4:14 amFANTOOABULOUS!!!!!!! Oh huzzah and frabjous day! Me like!
Now I must remember my manners and not send query after query of ‘Is it out yet?’, ‘Is it out yet?’, ‘Is it out yet?’, etc.
Poetic Justice says
October 8, 2010 at 7:23 pmI don’t think I can wait until December 2011 to read this!!! This will torment me for a whole year now! Curse you for the torture, Laurie, but thank you for telling us. 🙂
Okie says
October 11, 2010 at 8:04 amThat sounds like so much fun…I can’t wait. 🙂