Sherlock Holmes

[sophinisba]

If I wanted to try reading some Sherlock Holmes stories, which ones would you suggest I start out with?

Comments

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I'd start at the beginning - A Study in Scarlet. 60 short stories and 4 novels to choose from. The trouble is that if you pick one at random and then another, you'll soon notice that in one Holmes is a rabid drug addict and in another it isn't mentioned.
Most good editions have a chronology. If you lived closer I'd lend you my set!
It's a slasher's paradise of course. I remember someone started a series of stories - no idea who - but it never got anywhere, or it just disappeared under my antenna! Pity. I'd like that. Maybe it'll inspire you. :D

[sophinisba]

But are there one or two in particular that come close to the beginning and you think, "Wow, if Sophie read this one she'd totally become a fan!"? Or do you feel that way about A Study in Scarlet?

Oh, and I wonder if there's any info on the series you were reading here: http://www.liquidfic.net/Holmes_Watson.html

[dreamflower]

Definitely start with the first: A Study in Scarlet, where you get Watson's first reactions to his new friend.

[sophinisba]

Isn't that one kind of long though? Am I not allowed to start with a short short story to see how I like the style?

[mariole.livejournal.com]

I adore Sherlock Holmes and I am a major geek! He was my first fandom stop in London; I had to see the SH museum. They had rooms set up showing the different adventures and my brother-in-law was quite worried when I'd take one glance and say, "Oh, the Speckled Band! Oh, Black Peter!" :D

I adore so many of the stories, largely because of Holmes and Watson's hilarious interactions. I'll just pick 2 of my favorites from the first two short story collections. You can find them online here:

http://www.citsoft.com/holmes3.html

A Scandal in Bohemia
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

Silver Blaze
The Reigate Puzzle

If you're interested, I can pick out my favorites from each book. Holmes is excellent! A little dated in his views of women and minorities, so be prepared, but authors are creatures of their time. Holmes really was the first superhero. What's amazing is he's based on one of Conan-Doyle's own teachers, who used the deductive reasoning technique in class to help diagnose a patient's problems. Vive le Holmes!

[sophinisba]

Thank you, this is just what I was hoping for. I will start out with A Scandal in Bohemia. (Yay, Bohemia!)

[sophinisba]

Okay I just read the first three paragraphs and Holmes and Watson are so totally in love with each other.

[mariole.livejournal.com]

SEE!??!! Isn't it GREAT!?!? *fangirls Conan-Doyle*

[lovethosehobbit.livejournal.com]

The Hound of the Baskervilles...all of them, they're fantastic. I read all of them and then watched all of the old movies with Basil Rathbone when I was a kid...couldn't get enough of them.