Sherlock Holmes and the Kings Evil: And Other New Tales Featuring the Worlds Greatest Detective

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE KING'S EVIL. And Other New Tales Featuring the World's Greatest Detective. by Donald Thomas. BUY NOW.
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Thoroughly researched, with some interesting historical heft, however, Thomas makes two huge stylistic errors that make this a Holmes-like novel, not a Holmes novel: Often during the Doyle versions I could not help but wonder why Holmes would choose to hang around someone as dense and oblivious as Watson.

In Thomas' version, Watson occasionally catches things the first time, and may have even once noticed something before Holmes. He helps out the King, but there really isn't a date associated with it. Thomas blythely plops Holmes cracking German cyphers during the war, or palling around with Churchill during the Siege of Sydney.

4 770,64 RUB

While it is facinating to tie history into these fictional characters, it is out of style for Doyle. This second point bothers me far less, I might add. While not seamless with Doyle's work, these little tweaks actually would make the cannon more believable and enjoyable. The actual mysteries, however, are not. A few of the stories are just Holmes and Watson getting through a historical event, with very little deducing by The Great Detective. And the stories where he actually does detective work, it's as dry and boring as Any one of these stories could have been pulled out into a Hound of the Baskervilles-style novel under other hands.

Thomas, whose forte is history, revels in the history and leaves the adventure out.

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Sep 07, sage rated it did not like it Shelves: I realized yesterday what really bugged me, above everything else that's wrong with this book: THAT takes some doing. Gah, that was the most boring Holmes fic I've ever read. It isn't the subject matter. I've read plenty of war stories, and I've read some novels featuring complex cryptography. I slogged through Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, for god's sake, and I di edit, days later: I slogged through Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, for god's sake, and I didn't even hate it.

This was just DULL. Also, more telling than showing. Also, there are almost no women in the entire book. How can you write five novellas with only a handful of women, total, including Mrs. Hudson and a mostly useless client in distress? Next to this, Arthur Conan Doyle's usual mundane and sometimes purple prose is vivid and electrifying.

Also, twenty minutes after finishing it, I can't remember anything but the ending of the last novella. Why, why did I bother? Oh, right, some of the historical detail was nifty. A Holmes novel post Conan Doyle is a difficult thing at best you end up with a parody of the tales with a two dimensional Holmes as authors often treat the main character with such reverence than all the cliches remain with nothing much added,That's pretty much the case here..

Holmes is actually the least interesting part of this volume in fact Watson seems the more rounded figure. It's all there cape,pipe,genius residing under the shadow of a larger genius Mycroft the only thing Holmes seems to A Holmes novel post Conan Doyle is a difficult thing at best you end up with a parody of the tales with a two dimensional Holmes as authors often treat the main character with such reverence than all the cliches remain with nothing much added,That's pretty much the case here..

It's all there cape,pipe,genius residing under the shadow of a larger genius Mycroft the only thing Holmes seems to have kicked is his interest in hard drugs For all that I enjoyed these tales for what they where.. All in all I enjoyed this collection. Jun 05, Dale Houstman rated it really liked it Shelves: I enjoy Holmesiana, and have thus read some terrible books.

Donald Thomas' collections are amongst some of the better goes at Doyle's creation. The tone is familiar and cozy, the characterizations well delineated, the environments atmospheric, and the use of real historical events and personalities handled with grace. Comfortable reading, and don't we read Holmes for that Victorian fireplace glow and a cup of tea? Yet I felt some of the tales went on a bit too long, losing I enjoy Holmesiana, and have thus read some terrible books.

Yet I felt some of the tales went on a bit too long, losing the sprightliness of the originals. This likely arises from the need to inject verisimilitude into the historical aspects, and is perhaps not conducive to a vigorous trot. Still, if you like Holmesiana this and the other collections are well worth your attention. Apr 24, Wynssa rated it did not like it.

Most Sherlock Holmes fanfiction is better than this plodding attempt. No amount of clever ideas - having Holmes discover the truth of Wilde's "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime", for instance; or introducing the young Winston Churchill as the pre WWI Home Secretary - can make up for the terrifyingly pedestrian slog Thomas produces. Neither Holmes not Watson have a distinctive voice; only gimmicky expressions nabbed from Conan Doyle. Mar 11, Pinko Palest rated it it was ok. A couple of the stories were so good they could pass for the original.


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Most of the others were pitiful and some were extremely right-wing to boot for example the one with the Russian anarchists. But the worst thing about the book is this: Sherlock Holmes was definitely no intellectual. He knew nothing about high-brow literature and politics was a no-go zone for him. It is part of his charm and it is what Connan Doyle made him like.

Thomas goes out of his way to make Sherlock Holme very uneven. Thomas goes out of his way to make Sherlock Holmes a connoisseur of all the arts and a political expert to boot. Jan 06, Daisy rated it it was ok Shelves: Not bad for a non Doyle Sherlock Holmes book, I've read worse. The author interpreted the Holmes character pretty well, however, his Watson grated on me. Having just finished Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. Watson by Lyndsay Faye, a book which nailed both characters, the time, and streets of London, this was a step down.

If you're in the mood for a new Holmes story go with the Faye book. If you do undertake The King's Evil skip the last story that gets heavily bogged down in the inner workings of code breaking during WWI. Jul 29, Jessica rated it really liked it. It's a fun, quick read.

Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil

Jan 08, Tom rated it liked it Shelves: Sherlock Holmes is making a big return to popular culture and so I thought "why not try some other Sherlock Holmes interpretation? Not that it matters as this author did a pretty good job of sticking the original language and story treatment of the venerable detective. If you are looking for some good old fashioned Sherlock Holmes then these stories will take you back and entertain. Sep 21, Rozonda rated it liked it.

This collection of Sherlockian pastiches is respectful to the canon, entertaining and full with bright ideas for example, one of the stories is in fact a very famous Oscar Wilde tale told "from the outside" so to say Unluckily, the prose is a bit boring, the pace is slow and Thomas lacks the touch of excitement that every Sherlockian author should have.

Anyway, a decent enough effort. May 31, Tom rated it it was amazing. Thomas does a brilliant job copying Doyle's voice in tale of The Great Detective, helping us actually see Watson as more than simply our avatar. Nothing shockingly new here, and like all additions to The Canon, purists may sniff, but I applaud Thomas for his neat, well plotted additions. I look forward to his next effort! Aug 30, robyn rated it it was ok Shelves: These are really well written, chock-full of historical detail and drama, loaded with real, famous people and real AND invented events.

Unfortunately, they're just not very exciting. I think if I came across any one of them in a SH anthology, I would enjoy it. Taken all together, they sort of subside into a steady drone. Oct 15, Rachel Kennedy rated it liked it Shelves: While I have never found a post-Conan Doyle rendition of Sherlock Holmes which can match the original, as would be expected, this was quite a good read.

Frankly, I liked it better than the House of Silk, which I also recently read. This language, pace, characterization, plots I thought were more similar and genuine in this version, and Sherlock himself was more akin to the original. A collection of magazine articles, previously published in New Yorker, Atlantic , and other magazines, Thomas covers a broad spectrum of gangsters, con men, murderers, and baseball players. Yup, and delightfully so. The casual reader will find something to enjoy. May 02, Glen rated it liked it Shelves: A fairly well done collection of Sherlock Holmes pastiches.

I liked all but the last story, a rather humdrum affair of code breaking during WWI. The rest were quite good, with Holmes meeting a number of historical personages, including Winston Churchill. Apr 20, Delores Thomas rated it really liked it.

Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil (Sherlock Holmes ) by Donald Thomas

Not a bad book that copies Arthur Conan Doyle"s form. Tyhe stories sound exactly like the original stories but are very different in that he even travels to the United States. If you like mysteries try this one on for size. Jan 28, Janet rated it liked it. Why do I continually do this to myself?

I keep checking out Holmes books that are not up to snuff Ah, well, back to the drawing room. Jan 23, J rated it really liked it. Good imitation of the original Doyle stories. The last 3 stories were boring and dull. Oct 14, Patricia rated it liked it Shelves: A good book of new Holmes stories.


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These are told in the traditional Dr. Watson fashion; they are well done and good comfort reads. Jun 29, Glenn rated it it was ok. Although these five tales might be faithful to the style of Conan Doyle, they are painfully dull and plodding, with zero action. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. About Donald Serrell Thomas. He has written a number of biographies, two volumes of poetry, and has also edited volumes of poetry by John Dryden and the Pre-Raphaelites. Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil: Collectible - Like New.

Like New dust jacket. In protective mylar cover. In these five tales, Sherlock Holmes is shown at the height of his powers: But it is all in a days work for the great detective, who continues to defy the odds and lives to ratiocinate another day. In this new collection of five Sherlockian short stories, the master sleuth is once again at the height of his powers with the aid of his constant companion, Dr.

Watson, and, on occasion, Inspector Lestrade. Sherlock finds the reason for an eccentric aristocrat's strange behavior, uncovers missing treasure while looking for two missing brothers, discovers forgeries of the work and letters of Lord Byron and Robert Browning, helps Winston Churchill prevent a Latvian anarchist revolution in the Siege of Sydney Street, and, finally, breaks the code of the Zimmerman Telegram during World War I.

Because Thomas has authored Sherlock Holmes anthologies The Execution of Sherlock Holmes and nonfiction books about Victorian-era crime The Victorian Underworld , it's hardly surprising that the atmosphere runs true in these stories, which could be mistaken for unpublished Arthur Conan Doyle tales. Recommended for Sherlock Holmes fans and readers who enjoy Victorian mysteries. Fourth Collection of Sherlockian Tales by Donald Thomas This is the fourth collection of Sherlock Holmes tales by this author and it continues a series of excellent books. Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones Set: Martin Paperback, The Outsider by Stephen King , Hardcover The Outsider a Novel by Stephen King 1.

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