BOOK: KIM NEWMAN'S PROFESSOR MORIARTY: THE HOUND OF THE D'UBERVILLES

GASLIGHT GRIMOIRE: FANTASTIC TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES and GASLIGHT ARCANUM: UNCANNY TALES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES contributor Kim Newman's full-length Moriarty and Moran saga - PROFESSOR MORIARTY: THE HOUND OF THE D'UBERVILLES - is due for release from Titan Books in September 2011.


This volume features all of Kim's Moriarty and Moran novellas and stories that have appeared to date, as well as at least three entirely new pieces, but presents them in a serial novel form as a continuing narrative with a connecting thread. Presented as a series of memoirs starting with his initial meeting with the Napoleon of Crime, Professor James Moriarty, Colonel Sebastian 'Basher' Moran relates seven interlinked tales of their adventures, often mirroring certain Sherlock Holmes stories, culminating with the fateful event at Reichenbach Falls. Moran fills his stories with a sly, bawdy and caddish humor, often reminiscent in tone to George MacDonald Fraser's FLASHMAN, that makes this an incredibly charming and engaging read from start to finish. Adding to the fun, like Kim Newman's ANNO DRACULA and DIOGENES CLUB stories, you'll find loads of references to other literary and film characters.

Highly recommended to Sherlock Holmes and Flashman fans alike! 

Publisher's description:

Imagine the twisted evil twins of Holmes and Watson and you have the dangerous duo of Prof. James Moriarty - wily, snake- like, fiercely intelligent, unpredictable - and Colonel Sebastian 'Basher' Moran - violent,politically incorrect, debauched. Together they run London crime, owning police and criminals alike. Unravelling mysteries -- all for their own gain.

A spin-off from Titan's highly successful Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series, The Hound of the D'Urbervilles sees acclaimed novelist Kim Newman (Anno Dracula) take on the fiendish Professor Moriarty.

Pre-order here from Amazon USA
Pre-order here from Amazon UK

Visit Kim Newman's official website is at johnnyalucard.com

EPHEMERA: SHERLOCK HOLMES PAPER DOLLS, COLORING BOOKS AND ACTIVITY BOOKS?

Okay, what can I say, I'm a sucker for silliness. With the upcoming release of the Robert Downey Jr. starring SHERLOCK HOLMES film it appears that everybody is doing their best to get in on a piece of the action, which isn't the least bit surprising, and good for them, but what is surprising is some of the oddball products that are making their way into the Sherlockian marketplace. Paper dolls? A Coloring Book? An Activity book?

The most interesting of these, from the description at least, strikes me as being the Sherlock Holmes Paper Dolls. Here is the product description:

"The dean of detectives is a master of disguise so his doll comes with 10 different costumes. This set also includes 5 colleagues and adversaries: the loyal Dr. Watson, the nefarious Professor Moriarty, Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, Mrs. Hudson, and Irene Adler, the only woman to outwit Holmes. Sixty interchangeable heads portray a variety of actors who have played Holmes and Watson over the years."

Yes, you read that correctly "Sixty interchangeable heads" featuring a variety of actors who have played Holmes. Yes, my curiosity over the representations of actors is strong enough for me to order this ephemeral bit of silliness just to see who made the cut.  Expect a follow-up when I find out!

As for THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES COLORING BOOK and the SHERLOCK HOLMES ACTIVITY BOOK, I'm afraid that you're on your own!

All three items are currently available for pre-order on Amazon USA.

SHERLOCK HOLMES PAPER DOLLS Amazon Link

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES COLORING BOOK Amazon Link

SHERLOCK HOLMES ACTIVITY BOOK Amazon Link

DVD: 1968 BBC SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES COMES TO REGION 1 DVD ON DECEMBER 15, 2009

A&E Home Entertainment will be releasing all 5 existing episodes ( the BBC wiped the rest in an economy drive) of the 1968 BBC Sherlock Holmes series starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock as Holmes and Watson to Region 1 (North America) DVD in December 2009. The boxed set is comprised of: The Hound of the Baskervilles (parts 1 & 2), The Sign of the Four, The Blue Carbuncle, A Study in Scarlet and The Boscombe Valley Mystery.

Click here to pre-order the set from Amazon USA.

Cushing is a fantastic Holmes and, to my mind, his performance in this series marks him as one of the great interpreters of the role. While I loved his work in the 1958 Hammer film version of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, he's far less frantic and even better in the BBC series. Nigel Stock is a staunch, loyal and largely convincing Watson. The chemistry between Cushing and Stock is apparent and the two actors play off of each other beautifully. The two-part HOUND rates as one of the most faithful versions ever produced for film or television. A definite 'must have' for North American Sherlock Holmes fans. Highly Recommended!