Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles (Professor Moriarty Novels)

Much as the character of Moriarty can be taken at face value as a mathematician by society and the Napoleon of Crime when one looks deeper, so does this book work on two levels that make it a good read not just once, but over and over again. On it's surface, Moriarty is the flip side of the coin: Many of the stories serve as mirror images of Sherlock stories, told from a darker point of view and by a different hand. There are obvious examples of reflections: Moriarty and Sherlock (the eccentric masters of their field), Watson and Moran (the injured soldiers and biographers), Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. H (the kidnly land lady and the landlady...who runs a brothel), and even minor characters, like Stamford (Watson's boyhood friend and the criminal Moran knows and dislikes, both of whom introduce the pairs). But there is more to it than that when it comes to the reflections and different outlooks. While Watson sought to bring out the best in people, Moran brings out the worst, focusing on their faults. For example, while Watson writes that Irene Adler was a cunning woman and an accomplished singer, Moran reveals she sang very poorly, was kicked out of her theater troupe, purposely used her...assets...for her gain...and most amusing, actually had a 'Noo Joosey' accent (and not the proper English accent Watson seemingly gives her). And that is where the second layer comes in. This book will force the reader to ask themselves a simple, yet complex, question: Who was being honest? Whose word should we take as truth? Could it be that Moran is the honest writer, not having to alter characters like Watson does (and admits too)? Where Watson creates a world where even murder was a gentlemen affair settled in parlors with smoking jackets, Moran presents a more realistic, more truthful view of the world, making us question everything Watson writes. And yet, Moran is a killer, a cutthroat willing to murder a feeble minded teen and idly comments that if he forced himself on Irene when he first met her, she would have been broken like a horse and come to heel. Can we honestly believe a word a man who looks at the world so darkly says? That is where the fun of this book is revealed. You will find yourself flipping back through the famous Sherlock stories, wondering just whose side to believe, how much each is hiding and just what the truth might me.

I found this novel while wandering through Barnes and Noble one day, and immediately purchased it on Amazon for the discount. I was overjoyed to read this since I love the world of Sherlock Holmes. Moriarty and the Hound of the D'urbervilles is an excellent counter to the typical Holmes story, and Moran is a wonderful mirror for Watson. Where Watson was precise, detailed and reverential in his retellings, Moran is reckless, ambiguous and down right egotistical. - This is a collection of short stories(longest is around 100 pages) as well as an appendix of notes and associated works - Moran acts as narrator and main protagonist, describing a handful of jobs as well as providing how he and Moriarty came to work together(all told in the past tense after his capture) - The stories are often mirrors of famous Holmes tales, as the title suggests, or they involve/mention characters from those tales To me this books is very similar to a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and weaves in and out of the famous stories so many of us are familiar with. They poke fun at the classics, and often provide counter solutions. Moran is every bit the villain and isn't shy about enjoying it. His narrative often drifts off into self-reflection and day dreaming, which lends even more character to the stories since the whole book is meant to have been a retelling of his past. If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes then I highly suggest this book. It is a very quick read. It has great character, and the appendix is filled with other great novels and collections that make these stories even more enjoyable if you're familiar with them.

If you are expecting a book where Moriarty pulls off some amazingly clever crimes and does battle with Sherlock Holmes, you are going to be disappointed. Newman writes this book as a pulpy action adventure with some hilarious jokes, tons of literary references, and entertaining prose, and succeeds most of the way through. Hound of the D'Urbervilles follows Colonel Moran and his time working for professor James Moriarty. He's brash, witty, and even when the plot fails his writing keeps the story entertaining. There are seven stories of varying lenghts, each one parodying a different Holmes story. Unfortunately, two of the stories put this book dangerously close to 3-star territory. The Irene Adler story is just plain bad and nonsensical, and The Final Adventure ends the book in a fairly unsatisfying way. It could have been better, but this is still a fun read.

Sebastian Moran shows up in Conan Doyle's stories only a few times. This book is Sebastian Moran telling it like it is. Hilarious and a page turner. What would it be like to sit down and have tea with the Colonel? Don't wonder any more, just read this book. Sometimes the language is hard to understand. The author did this brilliantly. I have read it once and I am very tempted to read it again. At the moment I have two other books on the go but the urge to start reading this again is so very strong. You can't just read this once and put it away, there is too much info, and action and adventure. You will definitely want to go back to it. During the course of the book, Moran would make comments (without naming names) (the thin man = Sherlock Holmes) (his biographer = Watson) where I had to put the book down and grab Conan Doylee's collection, find the story ( which is not hard for hard core Sherlock fans) and get both versions. Sometimes while reading, Moran will say something and I have to stop and think.... wait a minute, that rings a bell. Then the nagging feeling will come on and off, I go to find the story in Conan Doyle's collection. I love this book. So glad I bought it.

It's actually quite a lot of fun to read the stories about what was happening on the other side of the Sherlock Holmes legend. Another gine colle tion of tales by Kim Newman.

A great book with great characters. I highly enjoyed the morbid twists the book takes on the canon stories which made me laugh more than once. For example, as Irene Adler is respectably known as The Woman by Holmes and Watson, Moriarty and Moran refer to her by a slightly less flattering title. Even for non-native speakers the book is very good to understand and I recommend everyone to read it. It really was a joy and worth every penny!

ホームズが恐れおののく宿敵ジェイムズ・モリアーティを主人公としていることで楽しみにして購入。 しかし 作者はドイルの作品に敬愛を示して、作品を書いたわけではなく。あくまで本を売るために名前とコンセプトを借りてきたという感じの展開です。ワトソンの代わりに腹心の部下、セバスチャン・モラン大佐の回顧録の形をとった、いくつかの短編を集めた回顧録のような書き方ですが モラン自体、ドイルの本編ではさして詳しい説明はなく、軍人で冒険家、虎狩で名を馳せた暗殺者ぐらいのイメージでした。本作では、こうしたドイルの本編の登場人物を勝手に無駄に登場させて書きすすめています。しかも探偵小説としては最低レベルで、テンポや展開もなく、ミステリーとしての犯人探しや密室物の短編もなく。 ドイル本編の小説のいくつかをかじっては話を作ったみたいな感じで、全く読むのが苦痛でした。 モリアーティ自体 威厳のあるような人物には描かれてなく、弱弱しく、時々ホームズのイメージと重なる表現があり 作者の想像力のなさにがっかりしました。モランも道化師のような描き方でこんな頼りにならない人物が犯罪組織のNo2とはとても信じられないような描き方でした。 我慢して最後のホームズとの対決の偏まで読みましたが、終わり方も肩すかしで 正直、購入して金を無駄にしたような内容です。 作者はこの前の作品ではドラキュラの名前を使って小説を書き、ヘルシング教授の名前を勝手に借りて同じような展開で作家活動していたようですから、ドイルで2匹目のドジョウを狙ったのかもしれませんが、もう少し ドイルの作品集に敬愛を持っているファンのことも考えて作品を発表してもらいたいものです。

Wise men (and women) have considered literature as mirror of society. That presupposition inevitably leads to several pesky questions, one among of them being: "who is getting reflected into whom"? If the Victorian world seen through the eyes of that faithful Army Pensioner and highly respectable Dr. Watson of 221B Baker Street and presented as "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is the 'real' thing, then the 'virtual' must be this book: the view from Conduit Street, as depicted by Colonel Sebastian 'Basher' Moran. In every imaginable (and unimaginable) manner, Kim Newman creates this unique 'inverted' world that is known (with tantalising glimpses of the 'real' world and comfortably known things mentioned in the said "Adventures" and numerous other exploits of heroes and anti-heroesand) yet unknown and horrifying, repelling and fascinating, 'fun' and sombre. But let me mention the "bad-ventures" included in this book, and check if the titles rattle a few tumblers in the safe of your mind: (*) Preface: the incidents that allow the unearthing of the manuscript, after the collapse of the "Box Brothers" where it had been kept. 1) Chapter One: A Volume in Vermilion: induction of Moran in Moriarty's orbit, and the prequel to "A Study in Scarlet". 2) Chapter Two: A Shambles In Belgravia: Irene Adler had not rubbed only ONE mastermind the wrong way, as you would know after reading this piece. 3) Chapter Three: The Red Planet League: Moriarty getting one over his arch-nemesis (no, NOT Holmes). 4) Chapter Four: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles: the most gothic & chilling story in this collection. 5) Chapter Five: The Adventure of the Six Maledictions: an one-line summary would be insulting for a story of this complexity, and yet so enjoyable. You better leave this story for a slow and relaxed reading, just to appreciate it over a long time. 6) Chapter Six: The Greek Invertebrate: a Moriarty family reunion, our first introduction to several enigmatic charatcers mentioned in other most memorable adventures (NO, I am NOT going to list them here, but this adventure also deserves your utmost attention), and our only look into Moriarty's childhood. And YES, THAT is utterly terrifying. 7) Chapter Seven: The Problem of the Final Adventure: a neat clearing-up of the mess created by "The Final Problem", "The Empty House" and the interpretations proposed by all & sundry, with an unexpected degree of seriousness, and the right amount of ambiguity at the last line, allowing us to draw our conclusion. This book does not present Moriarty as a likeable fellow, going against Michael Kurland's conception. But it portrays a neglected and foot-noted character in brilliant & vivid shades: Colonel Moran himself. I can only pray that Da Man feels inspired enough to conjure a few more anecdotes from the pool of this narrator's memory, in whose presence all other narrators of Sherlockiana (& Moriartiana??) are bound to appear colourless. Highly recommended would be a huge understatement. Go, get the book!