Baker Street Dozen

Review: This book is sub-titled Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Thirteen Favorite Holmes Stories, Each Accompanied by an Essay by a Prominent Sherlockian Along with Various Interludes, Curiosities & Miscellanea. That about explains it all. The list of contributors is stellar, starting with Isaac Azimov and ending with John Bennet Shaw with nineteen other names in between. If I named any more, I would have to name all because of the prominence of all.

There are lists and commentaries, stories and explanations enough to satisfy any taste. For those not familiar with "The Writings About the Writings" this collection will be an excellent introduction. For those who have read the commentary for some time, many of these articles will present fresh insights and viewpoints. This is certainly a treasure trove of goodies laced with "thirteen of the best short stories ever written" according to John Bennet Shaw. The thirteenth is Silver Blaze, which Doyle did not count among his dozen favorites but which Sherlockians cannot leave out of a list of favorite tales.

The only people whom this book would not suit are those who already have all the Canon and who don't appreciate commentary on the tales.

Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, 2003