FANTASTIC SHERLOCK HOLMES

“AN OUTSTANDING COLLECTION”—Amazing Stories

“A good book for both mystery readers and science fiction fans.”—Library Journal

“Eminently exhibits the hold of Holmes even over extra-terrestrials.”—ALA Booklist

In this outstanding collection of Sherlockian tales, the master of detection solves the most fantastic cases of his career. Herein are answered questions which have plagued loyal readers for decades, including: What is the truth about the mysterious menace of Sumatra? What occurs when Holmes must pursue an extra-terrestrial? Is it possible that there is an alien Sherlock Holmes? What is the dreadful truth behind the disappearance of J. Adrian Fillimore? These and other matters are thoroughly and delightfully solved by a distinguished group of authors including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Isaac Asimov, Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, Philip José Farmer, Sterling Lanier, Gene Wolfe, Edward Wellen, and others, for your amusement and edification.

This edition is the twelfth in a series of Bluejay Illustrated Editions, containing sixteen black-and-white drawings by Tom Kidd and Richard Berry. Printed on acid-free paper, this edition will remain sturdy and readable for years to come. Other Bluejay Illustrated Editions include works by L. Sprague de Camp, Keith Laumer, Normal Spinrad, Vernor Vinge, Jack Williamson, Jack Vance and others, with art by Tim Kirk, Tom Kidd, and Philip Hagopian, among others.

Now, I love Sherlock Holmes. I really, really do. I’m not a big fan of mysteries as a rule, but I do enjoy Sherlock Holmes a lot.

I really don’t like this book.

It does have a story by Asimov in it, the Black Widower mystery ”The Ultimate Crime.” It also has a genuine Sherlock Holmes story in it, the deservedly obscure “Adventure of the Devil’s Foot.” And it has a lot of other stories based on Sherlock Holmes themes, some of which are OK but some of which aren’t. In particular, I don’t care for Edward Wellen’s “Voicover” or the second Philip José Farmer piece, “A Scarletin Study.” I suppose the others are OK, but I can’t get excited about any of them.

If you want Sherlock Holmes, read Doyle. If you want a Black Widower mystery, read the Black Widower books. There’s no real reason to get bogged down in this volume.

Contents

“The Ultimate Crime”