Zach Dundas

Full disclosure: I went to high school with the author, and also dated some of his family members (Missoula, MT was a small town, ok? jeez). This is a great look at underground sports with some really funny writing. I'm still not in love with roller derby and never will be, but there was some great writing on the background and I guess I respect it more than I did previously. Should I have been so surprised that most of these sports involve heavy drinking? The chapter on the creation of a croquet league in Portland was my favorite.… (more)

As somebody who considers themselves a Sherlockian, or a Holmesian, (whichever you prefer), this book was an interesting recounting of the character's creation and enduring popularity. There was a lot of stuff I knew and a lot of stuff I didn't know. Dundas talks about Doyle, the writing of the stories, their reception, their adaptations on film, radio, television, the pastiches, the fanfics, etc. etc. etc. There are many cool characters, lots of neat trivia, and its good fun all around. My only caveat is that Dundas, a journalist, intrudes far too often in the story. I did this, I did that, I met this person, I interviewed such and such, I went here, I attended this party. A good third of the book is Dundas talking in the third person, which I find annoying, because the book could have been done without it.… (more)

People are fascinated by Sherlock Homes and Dr. John Watson. Their friendship is all but legendary and compelling to the point that most popular media reflects some aspect of the duo. (Buddy cop movies, perhaps?) People say they never lived, but many enjoy the idea that they did.

The Great Detective is a biography of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes himself. It's a retelling of Dundas's own adventure to Scottish moors to find the inspiration of The Hound of the Baskervilles. The reader is introduced to the Baker Street Irregulars, the most well-known Sherlockian/Holmesian enthusiasts. Dundas eases into a discussion of fandom, referencing the fervor of readers as the stories were published in the Strand Magazine and comparing them to dedicated fan fiction writers on Tumblr playing with more recent adaptations of the Homes and Watson in BBC's Sherlock and the US series Elementary.

Dundas is charming and approachable in his writing. He's excited about the enduring quality of The Great Detective. He knows that it's "not real" but hopes we'll play The Game alongside him.… (more)