"Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes has at various times to examine."

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

As It Might Have Been (1998)

A collection of Sherlockian parodies "from unlikely sources" collected by Robert C.S. Adey.

Ellery Queen once described the difference between pastiche and parody: 'A pastiche is a serious and sincere imitation in the exact manner of the original author. But writers of parodies, which are humorous or satirical take-offs, have no such reverent scruples. They usually strive for the weirdest possible distortions, and many ingenious travesties have been conceived.' 
AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN is all about those distortions and ingenious travesties: the collection brings together some thirty-eight examples, most of which have not seen the light of day since their first publication in obscure magazines. 
The reader will encounter Herlock Sholmes, Sheer Luck, Padlock Jones, Hemlock Coombs, and many others, including a delightful parody of a Conan Doyle ROUND THE RED LAMP story. But all of these pieces were written with one character in mind—the never to be forgotten Sherlock Holmes. As such, they may be regarded as a tribute to the creator and the created. 
Join us then, as Sherlock Holmes (or whichever character he appears to be at the time) investigates 'The Great Security Bank Mystery', 'The Reigate Road Murder', 'The Marischal Manor Mystery', 'The Omnibus Murder', and a host of other unusual cases. This splendid collection has been gathered for our pleasure by Robert Adey, whose leisure hours, as will be apparent, were spent collecting and trawling through long-forgotten magazines and periodicals. 
SHERLOCKIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS: This volume could seriously heighten apoplexy!

Title: As It Might Have Been
Author: Robert C.S. Adey
Year: 1998
Publisher: Calabash Press
Purchase: Amazon.comAmazon.co.uk

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