The Open and Inclusive Worldwide Online Sherlockian Society (Really, We're about Having Fun)
Please join in welcoming them with the Society’s greeting: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
I attended with great pleasure the June 2010 Bennington conference Sherlock Holmes: The Man and His Worlds. While visiting Montreal in 2011 I was made very welcome by members of The Bimetallic Question. The 2013 Baker Street Irregulars & Friends Weekend in New York City was my first and I plan to appear again in 2014. I have been an appreciative guest at several events of The Speckled Band. Very recently I journeyed to Connecticut and attended a dinner meeting of The Men of the Tor, whom I promptly joined.
I enjoy the writings about the writings, researching aspects of life in the time of Holmes, touring Holmesian sites in London, investigating obscure references in the canon, starting my day with Hounds-L, finding pastiches as well executed as the Solar Pons stories of August Derleth, and all the social aspects of being a Sherlockian.”
Please extend our traditional greeting to Mr Colby: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Marcy writes:
“For many years, I have been a member of the Agra Treasurers, a Dayton Sherlock Holmes group. I have served the group in many different ways. My first introduction to Holmes was as a wee little child. I am now teaching my dear little six pack (very tiny grandchildren) all about Holmes.
All members of my family, on my mother’s side, live in North Wales, Great Britain and yes I have been there many times to visit. On each visit, it is a must that I spend time in London. When not reading, I love to make cloth dolls and their clothing. I have a very large library of books on Holmes and first edition mysteries. I look forward to learning many new things about both Holmes and Watson.”
Please extend a warm welcome to Marcy with our Society greeting: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
You have never seen one like this before! You will love this one! A Numeric Quiz! Yes . . . Maths! We need as many members- and non-members – as possible to try this because it is fun!
Please submit your answers and solution by Wednesday, October 30, 2013 by 4 pm Pacific time. Buttons is betting two rounds of meat pies and pints on this one stumping you!
Weekly Quiz #6
This week’s quiz is on Canonical Numbers. Determine the number or numbers that are indicated by the textual clues. Each question is answered with a number. When you have answered all of the questions with their respective numeric answers, total all of the numbers and proceed to the final division and Solution. There will be a 5 point bonus for providing all of the accurate page citations from the Doubleday one-volume edition of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, 1930.
Questions:
Total of all Numbers: _____
Divide the Total by 28.66: _____
Final Number Answer: _____
Note: The Final Answer Number is your “Check” answer. If it is Canonically logical, you have correctly provided accurate numbers for all 20 questions. If it is not logical, you have one or more answers incorrect. This is Way Cool!
Please join in welcoming Walter with the Society’s welcome: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Michele writes:
“I am the current president of Uno Studio in Holmes (Italy), Scion Society to the BSI, and also a member of the SHSL. Our society has always devoted great attention to Dr. Watson; actually, our logo depicts both Holmes and Watson, as equally important for every serious devotee of the Canon. So I heartily approve of the idea of a John H. Watson Society.”
We look forward to Michele’s participation and his contributions to the Society and hope additional friends of Dr Watson will be attracted from Italy. After all, it is the home of the good Doctor’s and Mr Holmes’s favourite cuisine.
Please extend a warm welcome to Michele with the Society’s welcome to new members: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
The honours for Weekly Quiz #5 go to: (answers posted below)
Member Individual Category: The first to submit with 20/20 correct answers plus 5 bonus points for textual citations is James O’Leary “Pippin”, who claims the honours this week. He was followed by Denny Dobry “Kirby”, Dean Turnbloom “Stoker”, and Elinor Hickey “Misty”, who all came within two questions.
Member Team Category: Again (for the fifth week) our intrepid team of members from Seattle, Margie Deck “Gwen” and Sheila Holtgrieve “Daisy” took the team honours with 20/20, also plus the 5 bonus points.
Congratulations to these Quiz Masters and Quizzees who continue to be difficult to stump. They will go forward to the Monthly Quiz #2.
“I started reading Holmes while working as a canoe guide in Maine. We had no electrical power, so entertainment was in the form of reading (by firelight and gas lamp I might add). I read Holmes to celebrate my English heritage and got hooked. 1977. Of course I know of Rathbone’s Holmes, but it took the book to really get me going.
I became a charter member of the St Charles Mo based Harpooners of the Sea Unicorn in 1989. Then in, conjunction, started Scrimshanders of the Sea Unicorn to fill even more of my Sherlockian need. Scrimshanders were first started as a way to discuss Holmes outside of what the Harpooners were doing and as a way for the officer to plan Harpooner meetings and events.. It is now a stand alone group starting this month. My Sherlockian blog is Sherlock Holmes Society of St Charles , again to fill a need the Harpooners no longer provide and to have fun with the world created by Doyle.
I edited the Harpooner newsletter, The Whaling News, as well as acting as president (Blue Whale) on and off over the years. and organized most special events for the Harpooners. Created and organized the first two Sherlockian conventions to happen in the St Louis area, The Games Afloat. Both held on an old river boat.
I have done about 33 papers for presentations at the Harpooners meetings and have worked with our local PBS station to host Jeremy Brett in the early 90’s when he was on tour to St Louis. (What a pleasure that was to meet him). Starting spring of 2014, I will be teaching a course on ‘Playing the Game; a Study of Sherlock Holmes’ at our local community college.”
Please welcome “Barney” to membership: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
The Society welcomes Carol Cavaluzzi “Brooke” to Charter Membership. Carol lives in Jamestown, New York. We have not received her biography and more information will be posted upon receipt.
Please welcome Carol to the Society with our member greeting:
“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
Can you identify where this house that Arthur Conan Doyle occupied is located? The brass plaque commemorates his period in residence.And, if you can identify the location, can you shed any light on when and for what purpose Sir Arthur was in residence in this house?
The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes brings this world to life as never before as you step into Conan Doyle’s Victorian London and work side-by-side with his legendary detective. You will become Holmes’ eyes and ears as he tackles a baffling new case in a world steeped in innovation and experimentation. Along the way you’ll see a dazzling array of original manuscripts, publications, period artifacts, film and television props and costumes. You’ll learn to use investigative tools and techniques from Holmes himself, and test yourself with exciting, interactive crime-solving opportunities.
In Search of Doctor Watson
Weekly Quiz #5 18 October – 23 October 2013
Theme: In observance of All Hallows Eve (early), a Quiz about Disguises
Identify who is in disguise, the nature of the disguise, and the story where it is found. Each clue is contained in the description of the disguise. There will be 5 Bonus Points added if all 20 questions are correct and the page number of the Doubleday single volume edition of 1930 is cited in each question. Total possible points: 20 + 5 = 25. Submissions will be received until 4 pm (Pacific) Wednesday, 23 October 2013. Submit via email to: buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com<.
Bon Chance!
Questions:
A Sherlock Holmes Who’s WhoMolly Carr, JHWS
Available from Amazon and MX publishing $18
Ever since A. C. Black & Co. brought out their first Whos Who? of the great and good in 1849 (followed in 1897 by Who Was Who after death intervened and removed their entries to a separate volume) people have been fascinated by the rich and famous. So there is, for example, a Whos Who in cricket, a Whos Who in Agatha Christie. And even a Whos Who in a famous cemetery. So if you have ever wanted to know where Watson bought his boots, or where (and when) Inspectors Lestrade, Bradstreet, Athelney Jones, Hopkins and MacDonald appear in the stories then this is the book for you. How many times is Moriarty mentioned, and what was his henchman, Colonel Moran, up to in an empty house? Who on earth was Acton and, more to the point, who could possibly have been called (by the Great Detective himself) a rival to Sherlock Holmes?
This book gives pretty much any listing you might want from the stories. It is divided into 3 sections: 1) People (characters in the stories & even some only mentioned in passing), 2) Places (countries, regions, landmarks, addresses, etc.), & 3) Props (companies, businesses, societies, objects, animals, etc.) I have read the entire Canon & didn’t recall quite a number of these listings. For the Holmes fanatic who wants to know everything.
-Karen Haynes
REVIEWERS LOVE IT
Our members, Dan Andriacco “Dutch” and Kieran McMullen “Raleigh,” have written another great book.
Available from Amazon and from MX Publishing $12
It’s a fast-paced and immersive read, barely allowing the reader to take a breath from page to page. But it’s also a remarkable and masterful undertaking – suggestive of something new and fresh, while remaining true to the source that shaped it.
–Better Holmes and Gardens
Above all, the novel is enjoyable. It’s a quick read that can be digested in a few sittings, and the ending leaves the reader hoping for more. Andriacco and McMullen have done a masterful job of blending history, fiction, and Sherlock Holmes in a way that entices and delights.
–Girl Meets Sherlock
In contrast to most tales involving Holmes, The Amateur Executioner takes us into an ambiguous and murky world where right and wrong aren’t always distinguishable. I look forward to reading more about Enoch Hale.
-The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
In telling the story, the authors have done a masterful job in melding actual historic figures with famous fictional characters.
–Kings River Life Magazine
The blending of real characters, real history with fictional characters and fictional history is very well accomplished and at no time does the insertion of these ‘guest stars’ overshadow the very well thought out and exciting plot. There may not be a major part for Holmes to play, but his ‘fingerprints’ are all over the plot and you do gain the impression that this novel could only have been written by a Holmesian, or in this case, two Holmesians. It is a very enjoyable read, fast paced and undoubtedly fun. You see, collaborations can work. And work well.
–David Ruffle
