1182 replies to this topic

[Zorin Industries]

I gave up on the second SHERLOCK episode. Mainly because it was streaming online so badly at the time and that it didn't seem to have the impact of the first. The third one is so much better and a very fitting end to the series.

Met Mark Gatiss last week (he plays Mycroft Holmes and pens DOCTOR WHO, SHERLOCK and a great recent BBC4 series on horror films, THE HISTORY OF HORROR). What a nice guy. I think he should play Cushing at least once in his life.

[terminus]

I'm well into Young Sherlock 2, Red Leech. Pretty good so far. More action/chase than mystery however.

I'm reading the latest Rick Riordan book - the partner bought it for me before Red Leech turned up, so it got started first. At the speed I'm moving through Lost Hero, I'll be onto Red Leech by this point next week.

[marktmurphy]

So I thought the second episode of Sherlock was not nearly as strong as the first. (But I've never liked The Sign of Four in any form.) The fight with the whatever-he-was in Baker Street at the opening needed to be cut completely. That just didn't work at all, IMO. Still, had some good stuff.

It's a bit of a dip: and the direction suddenly drops several notches- it's a TV show whereas the first one was a movie. You'll be glad to hear it improves greatly for the last one: it's a sort of Holmes portmanteau (makes you wonder why no-one made a Holmes movie like it before) but the director of the first one is back for it so it looks wonderful. And there's a brilliant homage to the Rathbones in it too!

[zencat]

I'm well into Young Sherlock 2, Red Leech. Pretty good so far. More action/chase than mystery however.

I'm reading the latest Rick Riordan book - the partner bought it for me before Red Leech turned up, so it got started first. At the speed I'm moving through Lost Hero, I'll be onto Red Leech by this point next week.

I'll probably finish it today.

Check it out. Book 3 teaser just popped up on the official site. This series is rolling out very nicely.

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[terminus]

That sounds rather good - hopefully they keep up the design of the books until the series ends and not change it midway through like another series I collected.

[zencat]

Yeah, I hope so too. They're lining up beautifully on the shelf.

[zencat]

My Amazon review of Red Leech. While it doesn't contain spoilers, it may shape your perceptions of the book, so don't read if you want to stay pure.

Spoiler

Andrew Lane's second Young Sherlock Holmes book, RED LEECH, is every bit as enjoyable as his first. This time Holmes is off to America in pursuit of dastardly Confederates who are harboring a living (but deranged) John Wilkes Booth. Not sure why the publicity doesn't play up the Booth angle (it's not mentioned in the plot blurbs, etc.), because this is a heck of a hook! This Young Sherlock book is less of a mystery and more of fast-paced chase, with many imaginative set-pieces and terrific action. Sherlock's time aboard the paddle steamer SS Scotia is my favorite part of the book. Lane has obviously done some excellent research, and his description of the ship and voyage really transports the reader. I also enjoyed Sherlock learning the violin during this section, and meeting a very famous German ballon enthusiast (I won't spoil it, but it shouldn't be too hard to guess). All the American locations are wonderfully drawn, as are the villains, and I really love that we get to see Holmes use his first disguise while in New York City.

My only (constructive) criticism is there is no puzzling mystery that anchors the book and motivates Holmes' investigation (aside from the living Booth -- which is not really treated as mystery). Yes, the villains do have a master plan, but their plan is not teased out with clues that Sherlock sniffs out along the way. As I said, it's really just a kidnap and chase, and all is revealed to Holmes (James Bond style) when he reaches the end of the line. But I guess there's nothing necessarily wrong with this. In fact, I think the core readership will love the fast pace over mind work. But one of the things I so loved about Death Cloud is that it had the mystery of the killer smoke at its heart. That made it a Holmes book. Something to think about for book 3, BLACK ICE, which cannot come soon enough for this (Young) Sherlock Holmes fan!

[terminus]

Neat review, zencat Made me even more eager to get through Lost Hero and onto Red Leech!

[Brisco]

So I thought the second episode of Sherlock was not nearly as strong as the first. (But I've never liked The Sign of Four in any form.) The fight with the whatever-he-was in Baker Street at the opening needed to be cut completely. That just didn't work at all, IMO. Still, had some good stuff.

I'm well into Young Sherlock 2, Red Leech. Pretty good so far. More action/chase than mystery however.

That first fight definitely should've been cut, but overall I liked the second episode too. Not as good as the first because there wasn't as much fun stuff and clever canon nods for fans, but it was still totally entertaining. And I liked the whole Victorian "Oriental menace" thing, which may not be totally HOLMES, but was certainly a nice nod to the fiction of his era. I'm shocked to hear you say you've never cared for The Sign of Four, Zencat! That's far and away my favorite Holmes novel, the one that first made me a fan, and in my opinion the quintessential Holmes story! I love it, and I wish it were adapted as frequently as The Hound of the Baskervilles, which I like but have never been as into. That said, I didn't really read the second Sherlock episode as being much of a Sign of Four riff. Sure, there was a SORT OF version of Tonga and the whole locked room thing, but those seemed to me no different from all the other little elements borrowed from various Doyle stories to make everything feel Holmesy. (Like the Dancing Men graffiti.) I'd still like to see a real Sign of Four adaptation for this Holmes, with a Four Kings-like backstory with soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan discovering a treasure.

Anyway, I do agree that episode 2 wasn't as good as the first one, but I was prepared for that by the UK reaction, and actually liked it a good deal more than I was expecting to. I can't wait for Gatiss' finale tomorrow night - and the Blu-ray on Tuesday!

My Amazon review of Red Leech. While it doesn't contain spoilers, it may shape your perceptions of the book, so don't read if you want to stay pure.

Thanks, Zen! While I didn't get the first book, based on your enthusiasm for the series around here I couldn't resist preordering Red Leech on the Book Depository when it was so cheap. My copy arrived the day after Sherlock premiered in America, which was perfect timing for a very Sherlockian week! But now I'm wondering if I can actually read this without having read the first book. Can I? Or do I really need to start at the beginning?

Thanks!

[honour]

I enjoyed the second episode of Sherlock..I'd heard it wasn't as good, but I quite enjoyed it.

Glad to see that I'm not the only person who finds those self check out machines at grocery stores hard to use!

[terminus]

Thanks, Zen! While I didn't get the first book, based on your enthusiasm for the series around here I couldn't resist preordering Red Leech on the Book Depository when it was so cheap. My copy arrived the day after Sherlock premiered in America, which was perfect timing for a very Sherlockian week! But now I'm wondering if I can actually read this without having read the first book. Can I? Or do I really need to start at the beginning?

Thanks!

I'm not Zen - and I've not read RL yet, still not finished Lost Hero. But, I do think it's probably advisable to have read Death Cloud, even if only to know where the characters have come from - that said, read it as well because it's a bloody awesome novel.

[TheREAL008]

Not sure if this has been mentioned already (and apologies if it has) but IDW publishing has been creating a Sherlockian series of hardback titles of ACD's stories in "chronological" order with illustrations.

I finally got to see the first two episodes of Sherlock and I'm quite impressed with them, truly much better than that Guy Ritchie/Robert Downey Jr. drivel from last year.

I'll have to look for the Young Sherlock Holmes stories that Zencat's so excited about, read his reviews on amazon and found it very helpful, so thanks Zen for the recommend.

[Brisco]

I'm not Zen - and I've not read RL yet, still not finished Lost Hero. But, I do think it's probably advisable to have read Death Cloud, even if only to know where the characters have come from - that said, read it as well because it's a bloody awesome novel.

Thanks, Terminus! Not the answer I wanted to hear, since Red Leech is the one I have in hand, but it makes sense. I'll heed your advice; it just means I won't be able to begin the series as soon as I'd hoped to. I was planning to just wait and pick up Death Cloud when it came out in America, but given that cover I'll probably import the UK version instead...

[terminus]

It might cost you a bit more to get the book - but, trust me, it'll definitely be worth it.

[zencat]

Yeah, Brisco, I'd say start with Death Cloud. It sets up the world and characters. It's also the better book, I think.

You should buy from The Book Depository. Free shipping to U.S.

(I'll also email you the contact info the Macmillian's Young Sherlock guy.)

[Iroquois]

I'm a big Holmes fan, but I've not actually posted here yet which is bizarre...either way, has anyone seen the on set pics for Sherlock 2?(sorry if this has been posted before).

http://www.dailymail...o=feeds-newsxml

[zencat]

Oh, I hadn't see those. Thank you, Iroquois.

I'm excited to hear they are going to be shooting, among other places, in Switzerland. Might we see the Holmes-Moriatry Reichenbach Falls confrontation in this film?

[Brisco]

I'm a big Holmes fan, but I've not actually posted here yet which is bizarre...either way, has anyone seen the on set pics for Sherlock 2?(sorry if this has been posted before).

http://www.dailymail...o=feeds-newsxml

Thanks! I hadn't seen those ones! I'm just so glad that Downey Jr's hair is better this time around. That oh-so-modern gelled and mussed look was my least favorite part of the first film. I'm at least as excited about the new hair as I am about Stephen Fry being Mycroft in this sequel! His hair even looks kind of Rathboney in those pictures, which is always a good thing...

[zencat]

Watch the third episode of Sherlock last night. Thought it was EXCELLENT! I look forward to more.

[terminus]

I expect to commence 'The Red Leech' tomorrow afternoon - on the last few chapters of The Lost Hero at the moment.

[Bucky]

Watch the third episode of Sherlock last night. Thought it was EXCELLENT! I look forward to more.

watched that earlier today and loved it. cannot wait for the next series of episodes. watching the show made me wish that james bond was in the public domain like sherlock holmes is because it is nice being able to see different takes on the character that are enjoyable in their own ways.

[terminus]

Finally started 'The Red Leech' today - and already almost half way through it! An absolute stonker of an adventure, neatly divided so far between the segments in England and the segment on the trip to America - curious to see how the red leech of the title ties into everything though I expect it to be suitably grotesque.

[terminus]

Spoiler

Andrew Lane's second Young Sherlock Holmes book, RED LEECH, is every bit as enjoyable as his first. This time Holmes is off to America in pursuit of dastardly Confederates who are harboring a living (but deranged) John Wilkes Booth. Not sure why the publicity doesn't play up the Booth angle (it's not mentioned in the plot blurbs, etc.), because this is a heck of a hook! This Young Sherlock book is less of a mystery and more of fast-paced chase, with many imaginative set-pieces and terrific action. Sherlock's time aboard the paddle steamer SS Scotia is my favorite part of the book. Lane has obviously done some excellent research, and his description of the ship and voyage really transports the reader. I also enjoyed Sherlock learning the violin during this section, and meeting a very famous German ballon enthusiast (I won't spoil it, but it shouldn't be too hard to guess). All the American locations are wonderfully drawn, as are the villains, and I really love that we get to see Holmes use his first disguise while in New York City.

My only (constructive) criticism is there is no puzzling mystery that anchors the book and motivates Holmes' investigation (aside from the living Booth -- which is not really treated as mystery). Yes, the villains do have a master plan, but their plan is not teased out with clues that Sherlock sniffs out along the way. As I said, it's really just a kidnap and chase, and all is revealed to Holmes (James Bond style) when he reaches the end of the line. But I guess there's nothing necessarily wrong with this. In fact, I think the core readership will love the fast pace over mind work. But one of the things I so loved about Death Cloud is that it had the mystery of the killer smoke at its heart. That made it a Holmes book. Something to think about for book 3, BLACK ICE, which cannot come soon enough for this (Young) Sherlock Holmes fan!

Have to say - now I've finished it - that I couldn't agree more with your review. My only criticism was that it feels like the writer really didn't know what to do with the character of Virginia and she vanishes (like Matty - though, at least, there's a decent reason for that) for vast swathes of the book, which I was somewhat disappointed in.

[Brisco]

Getting away from the newest incarnations of Sherlock for a second and back to the classics, I noticed a listing on Amazon for The Sherlock Holmes Archive Collection Vol. 2. I loved Vol. 1, which offered some really cool rarities bolstered by the DVD debut of Arthur Wontner's first movie as a nice central attraction. A little poking around and all I can find out about Vol. 2's contents is less promising. So far all I've seen listed is the Douglas Fairbanks silent spoof "The Mystery of the Leaping Fish" (which is fantastic and well worth owning if you don't already have it on multiple Fairbanks collections, which I do, but not even really Holmes), a "rare version" of the Basil Rathbone movie Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon whose only rarity seems to be rare Spanish subtitles (something I've never found myself clamoring for), some more silent shorts, and TV commercials. Those last bits I'm actually most interested in. I loved the silent shorts included on the first set, and I'd really like to see ALL the Ellie Norwood shorts, but I'll settle for one or two more. I'm also keen to see Sherlock Holmes Baffled, since it was the great detective's first screen appearance. And TV commercials should be fun, but none of that stuff really constitutes an Archive Collection worth charging $25 for - especially if the centerpiece is simply a Spanish-subtitled version of a Rathbone movie we all own already! So what I'm hoping is that that description is leaving out some treasures. Anyone know? There's got to be more, right?!

I also found some mysterious listings online for DVDs called Sherlock Holmes: The Early Years and Sherlock Holmes: The Later Years. As far as I can tell, they seem to comprise content already covered in the two Archive Collection releases, but I can't be sure if it's ALL overlap...

[terminus]

Amazon UK have now updated their Black Ice page with a better quality graphic than the one from the main page:HERE

[Tybre]

So, it could just be repeats or something, but in the BBC One promo for this year, there's Sherlock. Maybe being filmed now-ish for release later in the year, or maybe just repeats or something. Only suggest the latter because it uses clips from last series. Not on the up and up with every show to know if it's new clips for everything but Sherlock, or some new stuff and some just borrowing clips from previous episodes. Here if anyone really wants to see for themselves.

[terminus]

I doubt that Auntie would be pimping out repeats of a series in the 'new year' trailer - suspect it's pimping out the new series but as the new series has only begun filming recently (and won't be out until the end of the year, maybe in the Christmas schedule, from what I hear) they won't have that much to put a trailer together with.

[Qboat]

Yeah new series of Sherlock!!!

[marktmurphy]

I went to a Q&A with Moffat and Gatiss last week: loads of fun and they confirmed that the new series begins filming in May. And that it'll feature Adler, Hound and Reichenbach.

[zencat]

Here's some surprising news.

http://www.guardian....nthony-horowitz