Anthony Horowitz Reboots Sherlock Holmes

During the years of the 2000s, we began hearing of TV and film series undergoing a "reboot" in order to replace older cast members with younger actors and to take a particular series in a new direction. Such was Star Trek® (2009). Sherlock on the BBC television network is a reboot of the Holmes universe in 2010 as a miniseries of three 90-minute broadcasts that end in a temendous cliffhanger. More to come in August 2011 in this reboot. This reboot casts Holmes as a thrity-something loose cannon and is compelling to watch. Watson is more proactive than in Victorian London, but still a veteran of an Afghan war. Holmes in this reboot shows us more than ever that Gregory House of House MD is based on Sherlock Holmes - their obsession with solving the puzzle is an addiction.

In literature, the estates of deceased authors are able to provide permission to new authors to continue a series of novels. Agatha Christie forbade this to occur, permanently, so we will have no more of the entertaining Hercule Poirot. Perry Masonmysteries by book and TV continued for a time after the death of Erle Stanley Gardner and even Raymond Burr, with the permission of Gardner's wife Jean; a new series starring Mary Markham was unsuccessful decades later, however.

The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle estate carefully screens authors and their ideas today and presents them with permission to use the Sherlock Holmes series characters in pastiche, some of them very good. However, YA (for young adults) author Anthony Horowitz received permission in January 2011 to write a new Holmes novel and seems to present his story ideas as a first in a series of a reboot rather than a simpler continuation of the original timeline in pastiche.

"'Orion Books, which will release the novel in Britain in September (2011), said Mr. Horowitz’s “passion for Holmes and his consummate narrative trickery will ensure that this new story will not only blow away Conan Doyle aficionados but also bring the sleuth to a whole new audience.”' -- DAVE ITSKOFF, Artsbeat Blog, New York Times

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Star Trek® has enjoyed a following of 45 years as of September 2011, with novels and major motion pictures carrying it forward. Sherlock Holmes has carried its following much longer, adding new generations each decade for over 120 years in 2011 and looks to be going forward as well. An interesting project in 100 years' time would be to compare Holmes and Trek again in order to determine their comparative appeal.

Three writers at least have delivered outstanding Sherlockian novels. One is M.J. Trow, who has completed 16 Lestrade mysteries. These stories are dramatic, yet filled with puns, literary references, and humor surrounding Sholto Lestrade, man and boy. Reading these novels makes me wish that Conan Doyle had apportioned a larger role to the character in the original Holmes stories. I like this Lestrade very much. In a few of the Trow books, Lestrade's daughter has grown up to work with him behind the scenes at Scotland Yard. The two together are great fun. The Lestrade in the BBC Sherlock is not that sort of character - bland, really, but he's a bit humorous.

A second relevant author is one that listened to Holmes and Watson on the radio as a boy and was given the work of writing the radio stories into a book with illustrations later in life. This is Ken Greenwald, who has not written any additional Holmes books afterward. Having not heard the original radio programs, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its illustrations the resemble Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

A third remarkable author is J. Robert King, who is also a video/online game designer and member of the writing group called the Alliterates. His The Shadow of Reichenbach Falls is incredible and makes it one of my favorites to read and own. It is funny and brings in even older mystery characters and literary references. It also presents a Moriarity back story prior to his criminal career for probably the first time. It is a Moriarity that people can like. I sincerely hope the King writes a sequel to Richenbach Falls.

Should I add a fourth author to this mix, I would include Stephen Seitz and his Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula. It is the best of the Holmes-Dracula stories and characterizations to date, and Watson is no dolt, either. PLanned sequels include one concerning the boyhood of Sherlock Holmes and one about the detective and a famous blacksmith.