In Re: Sherlock Holmes - The adventures of Solar Pons

August Derleth

Once again in old London, "the game is afoot." Meet Solar Pons.

An admirer of Sherlock Holmes, August Derleth wrote to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, asking if there would be any more Holmes adventures. Upon receiving a clear 'no', he created some of his own but set in (then) contemporary times of the 1920s starring a near exact replica Solar Pons who made use of the classic methods of Holmes.

In this first collection that were pastiches of the Canon, written when he was nineteen, Derleth recreated the London of Sherlock Holmes with Baker Street now Praed Street. Here are 'The Adventure of the Frightened Baronet' about a spectral image of Siva seen at an estate beyond London; 'The Adventure of the Purloined Periapt' which is perhaps the closest of all the tales in this book to the original spirit; 'The Adventure of the Norcross Riddle' containing some neat deduction; "The Adventure of the Man with the Broken Face" a tale of "dark waters"; and eight others.

"How many budding authors, not even old enough to vote, could have captured the spirit and atmosphere with as much fidelity?" Ellery Queen