Should the Sherlock Holmes series continue at some point?
Yes
No
Maybe
0voters
With the recent release of Sherlock Holmes in theaters, I’d thought I’d bring this up - it’s something I’ve been pondering for some time now, and more so since the recent release of the first Winnie-the-Pooh novel since 1928, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.
Given the release of the aforementioned film, I looked up the Sherlock Holmes novels and stories on Wikipedia, and was stunned to learn that the bulk of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s writings were short stories - 56 of them to be exact, while there have been only four novels.
Also, given that some literary series have continued long after the original author’s death, such as the James Bond series - which is the primary example, with 22 novels in the series being released; the latest was Sebastian Faulk’s Devil May Care in 2008 - and, most recently, the Winnie-the-Pooh series.
Should the Sherlock Holmes series continue? And, if so, who would you like to see take over the reigns of the adventures of Holmes and Dr. Watson?
I’m someone who tends to like sticking with the originals, though I do realise that sometimes the continuation of a series after the original author has passed away can work well. I haven’t actually read any of Arthur Conan Doyle’s works, but I’d say that in their case, as the same with any revered set of stories, it’d be difficult to find the right author with just the right touch to continue the series and to do so in a way that respects the originals.
Yeah, finding the right author is crucial, especially with a series like this. You would want someone who knows Doyle’s work, and is well-versed in detective or mystery fiction.
Take a look at these writers. Any of the living winners catch your eye?
Like lizardgirl, I prefer to stick with original works of art. Speaking from a personal standpoint, I’m probably even more of a purist, as I am of the opinion that novels should be touched by no one but the original author, as no one else will harbor their exact vision of how their story/stories should be told. The exception in this “rule” of mine is fan fiction, which is purely done for “sport” without the intention of being published. Of course, if a successor to a book’s/series’ author was deemed worthy enough to continue on with (and/or create their own adaption of) such works, I might endeavor to read that individual’s interpretation of the book/series. Then again, I may not. It would all depend on the author and the novel(s) in question. It’s an interesting topic of discussion, though, I have to admit.
Mitch - Yeah, like I said before, with a series like this, finding the right person is crucial. Then, and only then, should it happen. I seriously believe that Dan Brown could be a perfect candidate - I’ve mentioned that to people, and they support the idea completely.
Bill - Indeed. Crucial it most definitely would be. As for Dan Brown, I have never read his works, so I am not familiar with his writing style. The popularity of his novels is high, though. Not that that says anything in particular, but if the way his stories play out is similar to that of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales, then perhaps he would be a fair candidate.
As a hard-core Sherlock Holmes fan, having read all the stories in the canon several times, I think the best interpretation of the books and the character were the Granada series starring Jeremy Brett.
They made most of the stories, but Brett died before they could produce them all.
Holmes is one of the most portrayed fictional characters and there has been hundreds of adaptation. Soon or later, yet another TV series will be released. However, I don’t care about most of them. I’m just a fan of the canon stories by Conan Doyle, and I very seldom like one the pastiches.
