Originally published in 1961, The Reminiscences of Solar Pons was reprinted in a paperback edition by Pinnacle Books in 1975 as part of a Solar Pons series. This fifth volume, with its informative introduction by Anthony Boucher, is my favorite. August Derleth, best known for creating Arkham Press and reprinting the works of H. P. Lovecraft, was a prolific writer. His faux-Sherlock Holmes figure, Solar Pons, mimics the best of Doyle’s character. The stories in The Reminiscences of Solar Pons were mostly published in The Saint Magazine in the 1950s. Anthony Boucher liked these faux-Sherlock Holmes pastiches and so did I. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction, by Anthony Boucher 1
“The Adventure of the Mazarine Blue” 6
“The Adventure of the Hats of M. Dulac” 26
“The Adventure of the Mosaic Cylinders” 50
“The Adventure of the Praed Street Irregulars” 97
“The Adventure of the Cloverdale Kennels” 116
“The Adventure of the Black Cardinal” 139
“The Adventure of the Troubled Magistrate” 165
“The Adventure of the Blind Clairaudient” 187
“A Chronology of Solar Pons”, by Robert Patrick 205
Finally, one I like!
Bob, the Solar Pons series takes the traditional Holmes/Watson route. When I was at the World Fantasy Convention last November in San Antonio, a guy in the Dealers’ Room offered to sell me a thick hardcover volume of the Complete Solar Pons stories for $600!
I have that Complete Solar Pons, in two volumes, hardcover, slipcased. I didn’t realize it had appreciated that much.
Rick, you’re sitting on a gold mine with that 2-volume hardcover edition of SOLAR PONS!
I remember reading some of these as a teenager and enjoyed them. Also I liked a series of parodies by Robert l. Fish who called his character Schlock Holmes and these appeared in EQMM.
Steve, I have a collection of Robert L. Fish stories. Perhaps I’ll include them during the next SHERLOCK HOLMES week.
I’m a big Solar Pons fan and a bigger August Derleth fan. Luckily for myself and other fan, the Pontine adventures were continued by the great Basil Copper. Now that Copper is gone, I doubt if anyone else will pick up the mantle.
And I doubt there will be any parodies of Pons along the lines of Schlock Homes or Hemlock Jones. It’s nigh impossible to parody a parody or a pastiche.
Jerry, I was tempted to choose one of Basil Copper’s Solar Pons volumes. Maybe for the next SHERLOCK HOLMES WEEK…
Just have Pons investigate labor oppression in Wisconsin by human agents of the Elder Gods, which turn out to be agents of Satan, and I think you’ve the makings of a Lunar Spons series…
“fans”
Stupid fumble fingers!
I don’t remember which book was which, but I also agree on the Solar Pons series. Good ones.
Jeff, for traditional Holmes/Watson fans, these Solar Pons stories represent the Gold Standard for pastiches.
I used to find the Basil Copper ones in England.
Jeff, I used to find the Basil Copper SOLAR PONS books in Canada. I’ve rarely seen them in the U.S.
Not a fan of Holmes ripoffs or fan fiction in general, but Derleth is deservedly revered in our field, and he gets a pass. I remember reading and liking some of these stories long ago. Welcome back to my lawn.
Michael, I figured August Derleth’s Solar Pons stories might assuage some of the outrage that THE TEA MASTER AND THE DETECTIVE, SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY, A STUDY IN HONOR, and GOOD-NIGHT, MR. HOLMES engendered here on the blog this week.
Ah yes, good choice, George. You just made trudging through the week worthwhile. I like the Solar Pons stories quite a lot, and have read them all. I’d have to say Derleth is best know for his science fiction and for these, and for Arkham and Lovecraft second, but that’s just the other end of the stick. These Pons paperbacks are hard to find.
I have the Basil Copper books, too, but the way.
Rick, I picked up the Pinnacle paperbacks as they were published. Then, over the years, I bought duplicates when I ran across them. But, as you say, today these SOLAR PONS books are scarce.
At one point, Derleth was Much better known for his Wisconsin regional novels, historical and contemporary’mimetic, and to a lesser extent for his leftist/laborite advocacy, than for either his Arkham House/Mycroft & Moran imprints or his sf anthology editing.
Love Solar Pons. The good news is that both the Derleth and Copper stories are now being reprinted (I think the Copper volumes are all out and about half of the Derleth volumes). There are even new Pons stories coming out thanks to David Marcum, who has done a great job editing books of new Holmes pastiches. joe
Joe, that’s great news! These wonderful books deserve a new audience.
As I grew up in Wisconsin not far from Derleth’s stomping grounds, and deciding it’s high times I finally got around to reading him, I just now downloaded the Kindle edition of The Adventures of Solar Pons, Book 1. Thanks for the nudge!
Matt, I wish I’d bought some affordable August Derleth books when I lived in Madison, Wisconsin in the mid-1970s. You’ll enjoy those Solar Pons adventures!
I remember Derleth as an edit (code 5)or – but not his stories, though I bought quite a few of his collections (code 3):
3FROM OTHER WORLDS
3THE MARK OF CTHULHU
3MR. GEORGE AND OTHER ODD PERSONS
3NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD
3THE OUTER REACHES
3WHEN GRAVEYARDS YAWN
5BEACHHEADS IN SPACE
5NEW WORLDS FOR OLD
5TIME TO COME
Too many books – not enough time!
Wolf, Derleth’s fame is secure because of his work with Arkham Press.