The Return of Solar Pons

The Original Adventures of the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street, Volume 3

By: August Derleth

Narrated by: Steve White

It will be good news to many devotees of the deductive story - particularly the pastiche of Sherlock Holmes - that Solar Pons is back in a third major collection after a lapse of seven years. In his introduction to this collection, Mr. Smith echoes the sentiments of many readers and listeners when he says, "These pastiches come the closest of any that have been written, consistently, to capturing the true flavor of the Holmesian saga and to making its people and its places and its happenings entirely credible."

There are 13 tales in this collection, ranging from the complex problem set forth in "The Adventure of the Lost Dutchman" to the sanguine events chronicled in "The Adventure of the Swedenborg Signatures". Here are such provocative exploits as "The Adventure of the Penny Magenta", "The Adventure of the Trained Cormorant", "The Adventure of the Little Hangman", "The Adventure of the Remarkable Worm", "The Adventure of the Camberwell Beauty". Here is a puzzle with supernatural overtones - "The Adventure of the Devil's Footprints", and here, too, another one which touches upon the early exploration of atomic secrets - "The Adventure of the Rydberg Numbers". And one of these entertaining accounts is a double pastiche - not only of the Master of Baker Street but also of the sinister Oriental of Limehouse!

These tales will bring back long-missed Baker Street days, for, Number 7, Praed Street bears a striking resemblance to 221B Baker Street, and Solar Pons and Dr. Parker seem often interchangeable with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. No living writer has equaled August Derleth's achievement in these pastiches, offered to listeners with no intention to deceive, but only to entertain. Here, once again, is London of decades ago, and here, once again, "the game is afoot".

©2018 Derrick Belanger (P)2019 Derrick Belanger

13 Wonderful Solar Pons Tales

I read this book long ago and I've always remembered how fascinated I had been with Solar Pons and Dr. Parker. It was said that these were Sherlock and Watson under different names but I find a number of differences in the details of their personalities which make them stand out as their own characters. I often wonder why Pons puts up with Parker. After all of these adventures Dr. Parker still insists on being an outright ass to Pons at times. But the stories do follow much of the classic framework of a great Doyle story and they certainly satisfy.

I was very much looking forward to listening to these stories again as audiobooks. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed Steve White's readings. He immediately pulled me into the stories and gave wonderful voice to the characters. I have since heard him read some Sherlock Holmes stories with the same charm and intensity. I will now seek out audiobooks narrated by him.

I recommend this audiobook to any lover of classic Sherlock Holmes tales (or old Solar Pons fans like myself). The stories here have always been very solid and beloved mysteries. I think the addition of Mr. Whites spellbinding narrations manages to take them up yet another notch. I was given this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A most enjoyable listen

Extremely well narrated book. Steve White has a perfect voice for the book and his character voices are subdued and not over the top. A joy to listen to. Obviously this isn’t as good as the original Sherlock stories (but nothing is). These are in very fine form and the mysteries are quite fun. The Devils Footprints is a standout but no real stinkers. Dr. Parker gets on my nerves. He is much more aggressive and self-righteous then dear Watson. So happy that these stories are available again. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Better than the Sherlock Holmes

This book is better than the new Wheel of Holmes books that they are publishing. There are very distinct differences between the two. In my opinion this is what Sherlock Holmes should have been like according to the era. This book has everything espionage, murder, debunking the supernatural and true detective work. I loved it. I received this audio book at my request and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of my own volition.