Shadows Over Baker Street
By Michael Reaves, John Pelan, Neal Gaiman, Elizabeth Bear, Steve Perry, Steven Elliott Altman, James Lowder, Brian Stableford, Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson, Barbara Hambly, Paul Finch, Tim Lebbon, Caitlin R. Kiernan, John P. Vourlis, Richard A. Lupoff, F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre, David Niall Wilson and Patricia Lee Macomber, and Simon Clark

Publisher: DelRey
Published In: New York , New York
Date: 2003
Pgs: 446

Summary:
What would happen if Conan Doyle’s detective was to find himself and his allies faced with mysteries whose solutions lay beyond logic’s reach and the border of sanity itself.

A Study in Emerald-Neil Gaiman ~ Gaiman’s portrayal of the great detective’s sidekick is a bit on the naïve side despite a tour in Afghanistan and a wounding in a cavern there. Love the idea of the Old Ones arising and taking the place of both the gods and royalty in the Middle Aged world and ruling through to the Industrial Age. And great twist. Gaiman is freakin’ awesome.

The Weeping Masks-James Lowder ~ Many of these stories seem to take their roots in Watson’s military service in Afghanistan and his wounding there. The elder gods are watching from the dark. Their supplicants are everywhere. The darkest darkness is waiting.

Art in the Blood-Brian Stableford ~ The Brothers Holmes stare into the Abyss brought to their attention by a curse visited on three sailors with the sea in their blood.

The Adventure of the Antiquarian’s Niece-Barbara Hambly ~ This was a good story. Not as good or immersive as the previously reviewed ones. But not forgettable like some of the others have been in this collection.

The Mystery of the Hanged Man’s Puzzle-Paul Finch ~ The way this one is written makes it read most like a true Holmes adventure with Lovcraftian undertones. There are fantastic elements. But at heart, it’s a hero’s journey wrapped in mystery.

The Horror of the Many Faces-Tim Lebbon ~ This one is worth a comment mainly for the tragedy of it...the way it leaves Holmes at the end. Very sad.

A Nightmare in Wax-Simon Clark ~ This might have been the prefect closing note for this collection. Most of the second half of the book were good stories, but they didn’t rise to the quality of those mentioned above. Nightmare showcased an great interpretation of Watson, Holmes, and Moriarity. Loved the format of this tale too. Usually, I don’t like the “unending” story, but this one worked well. The game is, most assuredly, afoot.

Genre:
Mystery, Horror, Short Stories

Main Character:
Sherlock Holmes

Favorite Character:
Watson

Least Favorite Character:
Holmes is my favorite character. He’s just so cool. That is communicated well in the majority of these short stories.

Favorite Scene:
Watson’s convalescent scene in The Weeping Masks when the priest comes to pray for him.

The scene in Art in the Blood where Sherlock tries to describe to Mycroft what he saw in the cavern at St. Aldhelm’s Head.

Watson’s revelation at the end of Nightmare in Wax.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
Nothing nagging left hanging in these short stories.

Last Page Sound:
A big self-satisfied sigh.

Author Assessment:
Those mentioned above, I’d say definitely give them another chance. The ones in the book that didn’t rise to get their own mentions, I’d give them a look.

Disposition of Book:
Return it to the Irving Public Library in Irving, TX. And possibly at some future point, revisit it...especially the stories that I mentioned above.

Why isn't there a screenplay?:
The only way you could get a screenplay out of this mixed fandom project would be in a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.