Created by August Derleth (1909-71) "How many budding authors, not even old enough to vote, could have captured the spirit and atmosphere with as much fidelity?" -- Ellery Queen on"The Norcross Riddle" One of the most popular--and certainly the longest-running--Sherlock Holmes pastiches of all comes from the heart of the American Midwest. When he was … Continue reading Solar Pons
Tag: Pastiche
Spike Bludgeon
Created by Marion Mainwaring (1922-2015) "You're so wonderful, Spike," she muttered, "All those ugly scars....your broken nose...and the ear that's chopped off...How could they do it, Spike? How could anyone bear to hurt you?" "The ones who did it are dead," I told her. "People who cross me usually end up that way." Murder in … Continue reading Spike Bludgeon
Watson & Holmes
Created by Karl Bollers and Rick Leonardi "No time for explanation, the game's afoot!" Ever wonder what would have happened if Sherlock Holmes had been an inner city black dude? Me neither. But comic book scribe Karl Bollers did just that, and it was a pretty fun spin on the Great One. His HOLMES is … Continue reading Watson & Holmes
The Twenty-Year Death Trilogy
Created by Ariel S. Winter "I had on my good suit, a navy blue so deep it looked black, with a pressed white shirt, a red-and-blue-striped tie, a red handkerchief, and freshly polished loafers. I'd had a shower and a shave." -- Dennis Foster calls on his client, in The Falling Star "Yeah, I'd always … Continue reading The Twenty-Year Death Trilogy
Joe Carmody, Hector Berlioz & Victor Strang (Ethan Coen’s Eyes)
Created by Ethan Coen "The meniscus don't lie, greaseball!" -- Joe Gendreau in "Gates of Eden" In his first collection of fiction, 1998's Gates of Eden, filmmaker Ethan Coen presented us with fourteen short stories, novellas and short screenplays. With his brother Joel, the Coen Brothers have written and directed some of the most unconvential … Continue reading Joe Carmody, Hector Berlioz & Victor Strang (Ethan Coen’s Eyes)
Jake Cardigan
Created by William Shatner (1931--) When I first heard about this one, I was all set to lace into this one. I mean, Tiberius Hambone a writer? But he -- or at least Ron Goulart -- pulled it off. The first novel, TekWar (1989), which kicked off the whole franchise, was nothing earth-shattering, but decent … Continue reading Jake Cardigan