Question for the Holmesians

[neadods]

Just because I have about 10 other critical things that require my brainpower and effort doesn't mean that I'm not above asking questions about completely unrelated issues. So:


QUESTION FOR THE HOLMESIANS: Which 1 to 3 short stories would you recommend to people who want to start reading canon? (And why - because you like it, because you think it has specific objective merit, because it's the most exciting, explains the characters the best, etc.)


I have an idea percolating in the back of my head...

Comments

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I started reading the Holmes short stories from a collected edition, and that hooked me - I don't think you could do better than saying 'start with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' which gives you the first three stories - Scandal in Bohemia, Red Headed League and A Case of Identity.

(Though I might suggest The Copper Beeches as a replacement for the latter.)

[chase820.livejournal.com]

A Study in Scarlet

"A Scandal in Bohemia"

The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Not only are these some of Conan Doyle's best work, but they also give a lot of good exposition about the characters. For extra credit, I would also recommend "The Greek Interpreter" (first introduction of Mycroft) and The Sign of Four (Watson falls in love with Mary Morstan).

Really, anyone interested in Holmes would do well to read the entirety of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.. It's only a dozen or so stories, and most of them are short. Add the novels--Scarlet, Hound, and Sign on top of that, and you're in pretty good shape.

[mme-hardy.livejournal.com]

I strongly disagree on Study in Scarlet: the Mormon section has not aged well. Now that Mormons are not the titillating scary people, that section is tedious.

[chase820.livejournal.com]

Sure, the Mormon stuff is tedious, but how can you skip the Holmes/Watson origin story? Whenever I re-read it, I skim the Mormon bits and concentrate on London. Works like a charm.

[mme-hardy.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, but you're a fan. When you're trying to give media-only Sherlock fans a reason to glom the books, don't recommend a book that has large skippable sections!

[chase820.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I see your point. But for someone just getting started, I do think the origin fic is important. Maybe they shouldn't read it first, but I do think they should read it. YMMV, of course.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm with mme on STUF - and I need short stories. However, it's a bit tempting to excerpt the beginning... Even of is't contradicted by a lot df what's written later.

[ponygirl72.livejournal.com]

A Scandal in Bohemia, The Adventure of the Yellow Face, The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. Because the source material has been corrupted so badly in recent years; because it offers a little glimmer of hope for human nature in a fairly dark time; and because it offers an interesting insight into the characters, respectively.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Yellow Face is racially problematic to rec to a racially diverse audience; the reader has to put up with a lot of outdated attitudes and wording before the sensitive resolution.

[mme-hardy.livejournal.com]

My favorite as a child was Speckled Band, because who doesn't love trained snakes? Seriously. Anyway, I remember it as exciting, with an action scene. Never forgotten the illustration of Holmes beating his snake with a cane.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - and the mysterious Gypsies in the woods. More horror story than detective. (And you may notice I agree with you about the illustration...)

[benbenberi.livejournal.com]

Yes, Speckled Band was my favorite too. Snakes, and a creepy house!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Band is proving a popular option.