The Case of the Compatible Sherlockians

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: It’s kinda like the best rom/com ever. With not romantic rom, but certainly personal and professional. And com, every minute of the day. 

 

Two of the most fabulous Sherlockians in the world, Laurie R. King and Les Klinger—I will pause a moment while you applaud—have put together another incredible volume of Sherlock-inspired short stories. As editors, (like Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple but a tiny bit older) they tap their Holmes-loving pals and acquaintances and say—hey, we could put on a show!

 Et voila, a collection of original short stories. And the newest one, In League With Sherlock Holmes, is out right now—and they are giving away a copy to one lucky Jungle Red commenter! 

I was so thrilled to interview them, and like any great friendship and collaboration, I wondered how it all began. (And I wondered if they’d remember it the same way….) 

 HANK: When did you two first meet? And how? 

(LAURIE R. KING) It feels like we’ve known each other forever, but I think we must have met in person at one of the Left Coast Crime conferences in the early ‘oughts. People like us tend to set up our mutual admiration societies through conferences, which has made 2020 something of a holding pattern, when it comes to new friends…. 

[LESLIE S. KLINGER] Yup, it was at a conference, my first. I had heard of Laurie’s books, and I went to one of her presentations and boldly introduced myself, saying something like “We ought to know each other.” Laurie told me that she had my Holmes books on her reference shelf, and so it was love at first sight!

 HPR: I knew it! A meet cute! Ish. So you knew each other had an affection for Sherlock Holmes. 

 (LRK) Hard to miss it, really. Les writes nonfiction on the bloke, I write fiction where Holmes is a main character. 

 [LSK] Indeed, it was why we met! 

HPR: How much a part of your life is Sherlock Holmes and the whole canon? 

(LRK) Probably a lot less than he is in Les’s life! I certainly work around Holmes when I’m writing a novel, but other than that, I keep him firmly on the shelf. I swear, I can give him up any time. 

ed note: sure. 

[LSK] I try to write some new Holmesian scholarship every year, and I’m quite deeply involved with the literary society, the Baker Street Irregulars, so I’d say it’s a big part of my life. However, so are the many other fields in which I’ve gotten myself involved—horror writing and the Horror Writers Association, the field of comics/graphic novels, the field of classic crime fiction… too many interests! 

HPR: Do you remember the first time you decided to collaborate? What was that? 

(LRK) During the 2010 Left Coast Crime in LA, Les put together a panel with guests of honor Jan Burke and Lee Child, plus a couple of other top writers. Afterward, we looked at each other and Les said, Gee, wouldn’t it be fun to see if these writers would like to play in the world of Sherlock Holmes? So we asked, and they did, and it was fun indeed. 

HPR: Such a ridiculous impossible question, but what is it about the Holmes world that allows for such a glorious breadth of elaboration and creativity? 

(LRK) Well, when it comes to writing short stories inspired by a creation such as Holmes, it helps to have 60 great stories to begin with. The breadth of situations, characters, places—it means that none of the writers we’ve invited have come anywhere near to repeating one of the others. 

[LSK] I think that part of the endurance of Holmes is his archetypicity, if there is such a word. This allows writers to embody the idea of Holmes in many, many forms, places, and eras. 

HPR: I am going to use archetypicity forever. The range of authors who have contributed to your anthologies is so impressive – – tell us about inviting the people. What do they say when you ask? Do you simply assume they know enough to write a short story in this particular world? 

(LRK) As we go, more and more people have heard about the anthologies (and the awards they’ve won) so it takes less explaining. And with five books now, the list of fabulous writers who have already joined the team are truly impressive. I think people take us more seriously than we take ourselves.

 [LSK] What she said! Mostly, they say, “Really? Me? Oh, goodie!” 

HPR: Exactly what I said! I wrote “The Adventure of the Dancing Women” with much joy. And Debs and Rhys and Hallie have all contributed, too! And we are so grateful. 

 When you get the stories for the new anthology – – that must be such a treat! Talk a little bit about when they come in. Do you work together to edit? And oh--who chooses the title? 

(LRK) Yes, it’s a joy when the stories start to come in—we always talk about each one, either in voice or email. Then mostly I do the editing, and Les chimes in with his editorial thoughts and Sherlockian suggestions. Titles, too, come after a conversation. We try to play on some Sherlockian story or situation—and it’s always great to see what our publisher comes up with for the cover art! 

[LSK] We both live in California, so it’s convenient to talk a lot on the phone (same time zone)! There’s a lot of that when we’re at the point of editing and assembling! 

HPR: How has your personal "connection" with Sherlock Holmes and his world changed over the years? 

(LRK) When I first started writing my own series, which joins Holmes up with a young apprentice, Mary Russell, I was looking mostly at her world. But in recent years, I’ve become a little more interested in Holmes himself, who is in his late 50s when they meet (well after Arthur Conan Doyle finished with him!) It’s interesting to speculate on how this Victorian gent would change with the 20th century…. (And knowing that people like Les are looking over my shoulder, I take care to get the details right!) 

[LSK] The greatest joy has been my discovery that while Sherlockians may hook up because of their shared interest in the original stories, these “hook-ups” frequently turn into deeper, lasting friendships. This is true of the mystery community in general, I think—I love the people that I’ve been privileged to meet and call “friend,” and it has nothing to do with their writing or the writing profession. 

HPR: SO true! And do you think the Conan Doyle stories continue to get a new audience? 

 (LRK) Oh, absolutely. There’s always something new to discover there, even in the original stories. When I first started reading them—as an adult, after I decided to make him a character—I was astonished at the humor and the passion shown by this “thinking machine.”

 [LSK] For young readers, the stories are a revelation of invention and plot twists. For experienced readers of crime fiction, the stories seem to be filled with clichés—because Conan Doyle invented many of them! So I think that the pleasure for the latter class of readers is discovering--and basking in—the glow of the friendship of Holmes and Watson. 

 HANK:Yes, I remember reading them when I was a teenager, and the idea of "plot" and "character" and "sleight of hand" dawned on me.  So fantastic, and such a treat to talk with you both. We miss the conventions, too! 

SO Reds and readers, tell us—what’s your fave story starring Holmes and Watson? Or involving them? And a copy of IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES to one lucky commenter.

 IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES

 

Sherlock Holmes has captivated readers for more than a century, simultaneously inspiring countless numbers of writers. In League with Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon (Pegasus – December 1, 2020) edited by renowned Sherlockians Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger, is the newest anthology in their Sherlock Holmes series. 

 Doyle’s great detective’s genius, mastery, and heroism became the standard by which other creators measured their creations. Influencing not only the mystery genre but also tales of science-fiction, adventure, and the supernatural. 

 In League with Sherlock Holmes features fifteen new Holmes inspired stories, written by award-winning authors of horror, thrillers, mysteries, westerns, science-fiction, and graphic novels. Critically acclaimed writers all bound together in admiration and affection for the original stories. 

 This latest collection spans from Victorian England to the modern day Jersey shore and features characters who are inspired, admire, or emulate Holmes. 

 Kirkus reviews said that in introducing this new collection of Sherlockian inspired stories, “the editors indicate the principal originality of this one: The authors are all “not previously known to be friends of Holmes.” This promise is paid off in spades,” and that all the authors have “updated or deconstruct Holmes in ingenious ways.”