tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post176989019659589463..comments2024-03-28T13:37:53.397-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Sherlock Holmes by the NumbersLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-90152910770423329092016-06-29T21:27:05.321-04:002016-06-29T21:27:05.321-04:00I’m not sure about werewolves, but vampire and mon...I’m not sure about werewolves, but vampire and monster stories trace their origins back to Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley. Amazing horror writers like Oliver Onions, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and H.P. Lovecraft teased, taunted, and tantalized us in the 1800s and early 1900s. With little doubt, tales of terror and horror date back to our ancient ancestors sitting around the dying embers of their cookfires, telling stories to frighten their audience. Much of modern day writing pales in comparison, although movies tended to be rich in detail.<br /><br />But of course the real monsters aren’t Frankensteins or werewolves or vampires. They are ourselves.<br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-32676547736123474012016-06-29T17:20:09.341-04:002016-06-29T17:20:09.341-04:00As a non-writer, I'd be interested in what you...As a non-writer, I'd be interested in what you all think about the spate of new "werewolf-vampire" novels using established characters and books from the 1800s. I haven't read them (or seen the movies they are apparently making now, based on those books), but . . . well, I guess what I think isn't the point. How do they strike you all?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57756186610594647072016-06-29T11:19:00.536-04:002016-06-29T11:19:00.536-04:00I read the Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes when...I read the Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes when I was a kid and loved them. And, while I never read "Alice in Quantumland", I have read and own "Alice in Puzzleland" one of the many [fiendish] logic puzzle books by Robert Smullyan. (ALL ARE EXCELLENT. And, as I said, fiendish.) <br /><br />I prefer these kinds of things to the "remakes" of beloved characters, where they're revamped into something they never were - such as the Robert Downey, Jr. version of Holmes. Or the Geraldine McEwan version of "Miss Marple" who suddenly had had an affair as a young girl, etc.... Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55327801832552721422016-06-29T10:10:41.424-04:002016-06-29T10:10:41.424-04:00Given my dim view of bad pastiches (and awful Robe...Given my dim view of bad pastiches (and awful Robert Downey Jr movie adaptations), I find the use of Holmes in this case rather charming. Why? First, because it’s done by amateur who obviously loves and knows the canon. Secondly, it’s not badly written at all. But there’s a third critical element. I’ll explain.<br /><br />When I designed software, after I finished a project I had to explain what the software package did. Rather than the usual dry introduction, I led off with a humorous story (which wasn’t as well written as the Holmes pastiche example). As an independent developer, I had a lot of freedom to do things my way, but I got a lot of corporate push-back from the sales offices… they wanted the usual bland, dry-as-dust biz-speak writeup. Creativity wasn’t something to be tolerated, let alone encouraged, but I fought back and got my way. Those terrible little stories became kind of a trademark.<br /><br />As tough as it was eking out creativity in the corporate world, I expect it might be harder yet in the government realm. I picture a long-ago clerk with his eyeshade, his typewriter and a bottle of white-out, plinking out that story, daring to defy the higher-ups who wanted the usual, non-committal blather. Hurray, I say!<br /><br />As for the science mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, when I was a kid I loved comics or stories that reduced the tedium in history, geography, and yes, even science. I recall Superman as well as Pooh explaining some arcane topic, so why not Sherlock? It's all about relating with the audience.<br /><br />I believe I’ve read Alice in Quantumland, although I don’t recall specifics. But if you’re into physics, the surreality of Alice makes a good fit– interdimensions, string theory, entanglement– the world around us is far stranger than we can imagine.<br /><br />Thanks for bring the topic to our attention, Rob. Very cool article.<br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19767813604547374082016-06-29T08:06:48.668-04:002016-06-29T08:06:48.668-04:00Clearly it is a mixed blessing to create a charact...Clearly it is a mixed blessing to create a character so charismatic that he or she escapes not only their original books but the whole genre.<br />Reflections on America sounds like a font of inspiration for any writer!janice lawnoreply@blogger.com