I enjoy the series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches that TITAN BOOKS publishes. Here are two books that feature a mash-up of Holmes and H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. The first book, Manly Wade Wellman’s Sherlock Holmes and War of the Worlds, was first published in 1975. TITAN BOOKS reprinted the book in their “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” series in 2009.
The action in Sherlock Holmes and War of the Worlds begins when Holmes buys a crystal egg in a variety shop in London. He discovers it actually is a communication device that links Earth with…Mars! Holmes shares his discovery with the other famous A. Conan Doyle character, Professor Challenger. Together, Holmes and Challenger determine that the Earth is about to be invaded. And, sure enough, they’re right!
For part of the Invasion, Holmes goes his way and Challenger goes his way. But, eventually, Holmes and Challenger get back together to deal with the devastation and horror of death-rays, poison gas, and giant menacing robots.
Eric Brown’s The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – The Martian Menace (2020) opens with Holmes asked to investigate the death of the Martian Ambassador. The successful resolution of that case leads the Martians to approach Holmes once again when one of their famous philosophers is murdered. Holmes and Watson agree to investigate the case…on Mars! During their departure to Mars, Holmes and Watson discover they share their spaceship with another passenger: Professor Challenger!
I enjoyed Eric Brown’s clever plot and the mysteries about the Martians that Holmes and Challenger manage to penetrate. If you’re in the mood for a couple wonderful Sherlock Holmes pastiches with a Science Fiction flavor, I recommend Sherlock Holmes and War of the Worlds and The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. GRADE: B+ (for both)
Does he manage to keep the ACD tone?
Patti, yes, both Manly Wade Wellman and Eric Brown try to replicate the A. Conan Doyle writing style.
When pastiches drift into the SF range, I forego them.
Rick, Sherlock Holmes and WAR OF THE WORLDS are sort of contemporaneous.
How about Cthulhu?
I haven’t read any of these pastiches in years and don’t think I will start now.
Jeff, I’ve enjoyed James Lovegrove’s Cthulhu vs. Sherlock trilogy. These pastiches have a similar flavor.
If I ever get around to finishing the actual stories written by Doyle, I’ll have to check these out. I think the only other Holmes stories I’ve read are the Irene Adler books by Carole Nelson Douglas, where Holmes is not a main character, a book by Michael Chabon’s book The Final Solution, and two Neil Gaiman short stories: “Study in Emerald” and “A Case of Death and Honey”, both excellent.
Carl, Neil Gaiman’s “Study in Emerald” is a classic! This is the perfect time to read the original Sherlock Holmes.
I have Hound of the Baskerville’s on my photographed pile of 20 Books of Summer 20 that I posted about when joining, and it is sitting on a smaller pile on my bedside table, so Doyle this Summer looks promising.
Carl, you will enjoy HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. And, there are several movie versions, too.
I see you aren’t crediting Wellman’s credit of his son, who has made no few unfortunate choices in life, as a collaborator. I was somewhat disappointed by the quality of what the Wellmans saw published in F&SF in the mid ’70s, and so haven’t read this, though did pick up a dirt cheap copy of the Wellmans’ reprint you include in the cover gallery. Disappointed, compared to Wellman (elder) at his frequent best.
My favorite pastiche since reading it remains THE FINAL SOLUTION by Michael Chabon.
Todd, I have a copy of THE FINAL SOLUTION by Chabon around here somewhere. I didn’t give Wellman’s son a nod because…I forgot! Of the two Sherlock Mars books, I’d go with Eric Brown’s novel.