Sherlock, the reader
What if…
Alive and well in a parallel universe remarkably similar to our own, activated by the Quantum powers of vast human deductive reasoning and creative consciousness, the greatest mastermind sleuth known to the time-space-warp, Sherlock Holmes, is busy reading not only the accounts of colleagues such as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe but also the labyrinths of Borges, the magical realism of the Latin American novel and modern science, engaged in conversation with Dr. Watson and shedding new light on concepts, adventures, characters and cases long thought closed.
We know his cultural erudition: he read the letters of Flaubert, recommended The Martyrdom of Man by Winwood Reade to Watson and was familiar with Thomas Carlyle. We know he attended performances of Wagner at Covent Garden, recitals by Pablo de Sarasate, enjoyed indulging in anecdotes about Paganini and wrote a monograph on the polyphonic motets of Lassus.
And, we know he travelled for two years in Tibet, visited Lhassa, spending some days with the head Lama.
But… would the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience change his methodology? How would he unravel string theory? Could he stomach California-style zen peddled by Asian agents sent to solicit donations from naive Western hippies?
More importantly, what could we learn overhearing his conversations with Watson as he applies his scientific art of deduction, inference and observation to literature of the 20th century. Could he possibly pick up on clues overlooked by his less-perceptive though worthy professional sleuthing competition?
Would he change his worldview?
He once said to Watson:
”…when one tries to rise above Nature one is liable to fall below it. The highest type of man may revert to the animal if he leaves the straight road of destiny. There is a danger there - a very real danger to humanity. Consider, Watson, that the material, the sensual, the worldly would all prolong their worthless lives. The spiritual would not avoid the call to something higher. It could be the survival of the least fit. What sort of cesspool may not our poor world become?”
Boil the kettle for a nice cuppa, settle into your most comfortable chair and let’s find out.
Alive and well in a parallel universe remarkably similar to our own, activated by the Quantum powers of vast human deductive reasoning and creative consciousness, the greatest mastermind sleuth known to the time-space-warp, Sherlock Holmes, is busy reading not only the accounts of colleagues such as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe but also the labyrinths of Borges, the magical realism of the Latin American novel and modern science, engaged in conversation with Dr. Watson and shedding new light on concepts, adventures, characters and cases long thought closed.
We know his cultural erudition: he read the letters of Flaubert, recommended The Martyrdom of Man by Winwood Reade to Watson and was familiar with Thomas Carlyle. We know he attended performances of Wagner at Covent Garden, recitals by Pablo de Sarasate, enjoyed indulging in anecdotes about Paganini and wrote a monograph on the polyphonic motets of Lassus.
And, we know he travelled for two years in Tibet, visited Lhassa, spending some days with the head Lama.
But… would the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience change his methodology? How would he unravel string theory? Could he stomach California-style zen peddled by Asian agents sent to solicit donations from naive Western hippies?
More importantly, what could we learn overhearing his conversations with Watson as he applies his scientific art of deduction, inference and observation to literature of the 20th century. Could he possibly pick up on clues overlooked by his less-perceptive though worthy professional sleuthing competition?
Would he change his worldview?
He once said to Watson:
”…when one tries to rise above Nature one is liable to fall below it. The highest type of man may revert to the animal if he leaves the straight road of destiny. There is a danger there - a very real danger to humanity. Consider, Watson, that the material, the sensual, the worldly would all prolong their worthless lives. The spiritual would not avoid the call to something higher. It could be the survival of the least fit. What sort of cesspool may not our poor world become?”
Boil the kettle for a nice cuppa, settle into your most comfortable chair and let’s find out.
© 2021 JD Hixson