The Sherlockian Interview - Gordon Linzner
Posted by Steve Emecz on
The final four volumes (49-52) of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories are now on Kickstarter (click here). Every day we will be featuring one of the authors in the collection. Today its Gordon Linzner.
What’s the name of your story in the collection?
The Youngest Client
How did the story come about?
Among other story details, I thought it would be interesting to show Holmes dealing with a ‘client’ who was so young, about seven, that he was not exactly certain how to handle the situation. This also let me give Mrs. Hudson a slightly larger role than usual.
Have you contributed to anthologies before?
I have been fortunate to do so, yes. For Holmes collections alone, half a score, but I have also, over several decades, contributed to perhaps half a hundred other anthologies in a variety of genres, in addition to scores of magazines.
Where did you first discover Holmes?
To the best of my memory, it was catching the Basil Rathbone films on television, and later reruns of the old radio shows, particularly the ones with Carlton Hobbes. These can all be easily found online today. I also learned to read at a very early age – so early I would be asked to read short pieces (not Holmes) to my fellow kindergarteners – and it was not long afterwards that I discovered access to the detective’s adventures in the public library.
Are there any writers/adaptations of Holmes you particularly enjoy?
I assume we’re just asking about the written ones, rather than film, television, etc. Nicholas Meyers’ novels are the most obvious, but really, anyone who sticks to the general feel of the characters and atmosphere works for me.
Do you write on any other subjects?
As hinted above, I’ve written (and continue to) scores of stories in various genres – fantasy, horror, even a bit of science fiction, as well as more than a few non-Holmes mystery and suspense tales.
