not a ghost or a bee

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[ghostbees]

The Veiled Lodger

More of a confession by a third party than a proper story from the pen of Dr Watson, this recollection of a mysterious lodger with a devouring secret is the shortest of all canonical tales. Imbued with melancholy and a philosophical cynicism that characterises the late adventures, it deals with harrowing themes: domestic violence, animal abuse, cowardly betrayal, facial disfigurement, and suicidal ideation.

As the penultimate entry in the saga, it gives us a last glimpse at the two friends in the late 1920s. In the final adventure, the mood is slightly lighter and Watson does not supply any exposition. But here, even as he has seemingly drifted away from Holmes, he is still dutifully acting as his biographer, writing back to old clients and readers, reviewing and selecting stories for publication.

Our Little Adventures 59/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

A very special @fandomtrumpshate piece for @spacemutineer, to illustrate their incredible time-loop story The Scientist's Method. I've always wanted to do a first meeting piece, and this was the most perfect opportunity to blend this iconic scene (featuring background redrawn from the original Hutchinson illustration) with spacemutineer's wonderful words. A long time ago, I did a few bits for some of their classic 60 for 60 stories, and it was fantastic to get the opportunity to work on something together again. Truly a marvellous project and we raised $150 for LA Foodbank!

[ghostbees]

The Retired Colourman

“Sherlock Holmes was in a melancholy and philosophic mood that morning. His alert practical nature was subject to such reactions.”

Our Little Adventures 58/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

Thieves on a roof, for another cheeky trade with @salazar-bollinger :)

[very-sincerely-yours-zine]

Leftovers Sale JULY 7th 📚 PDFs available now!

Finally! After several months of oft-interrupted packing and shipping, we have finally sent out all Kickstarter pledges, barring those with incomplete Pledge Managers (or Pledge Managers submitted in the last week, which will be sent out with our leftover batch). 

This means that we can announce our leftovers sale, which will run from July 7th to July 31st, through my personal storefront. We have 115 leftover books for sale, as well as a number of charms, tote-bags, and flat merchandise bundles remaining. Please look out for everything going live on July 7th, at 12:00PM EST! 

This also means that all pledges with incomplete pledge managers should consider their orders forfeit at midnight on July 6th, so please do fill those in as soon as possible!

PDFs of the anthology are also now available on Gumroad and will remain on sale indefinitely, with proceeds collected for donation on a rotating basis.

Thank you everyone for your patience and your interest in the leftovers, I hope you are all able to obtain a copy soon! 🙏💕

Very sincerely yours,

Minh H.

[very-sincerely-yours-zine]

THE LEFTOVERS SALE IS NOW LIVE! 💕

[ghostbees]

The Lion's Mane

A bittersweet tale of retirement, this odd crime-less story from Holmes’ pen is a rare insight into the mind of the ageing, lonely ex-detective. There is much that we learn about his life after leaving the bustle of London: the quiet nature around him, his simple routine, his new friendships, his interest in photography, and his estrangement with Watson. What June Thomson in her fascinating Holmes and Watson calls “a slow drifting apart, brought about by the physical distance between them, rather than through any specific alienation” is not a pleasant thing to muse on, but it is clear, at least from what the two men share with their readers, that Holmes retires alone while his friend stays in London with his new wife and flourishing practice. Though they still correspond and enjoy “an occasional week-end visit”, this unexplained estrangement makes the lack of a Watsonian touch much more jarring than in Holmes' previous recollection, as his absence echoes throughout the narrative.

Our Little Adventures 57/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

A Peter Serafinowicz Show verse kiss for @kingstoken's amazing prompt in the last round of @holmestice. In fact, a prompt so inspiring that we were three to fill it!

[ghostbees]

The Blanched Soldier

For this end-of-career investigation into the disappearance of a gentleman’s army mate, we are astonished to hear from Holmes himself for the first time. There is no denying that Holmes’ narration lacks Watson’s warmth and poetic touch, but his two stories are not as inferior as some critics seem to think. It is true that compared to his earlier recollections in "The Gloria Scott” and “The Musgrave Ritual”, they could do with some joie de vivre, but that is only in keeping with the tone of the other tales from The Case-Book, including those narrated by Watson. What is evident is that, at the time he is writing these, Holmes does miss his friend terribly and funnels his loneliness into sarcastic remarks, as he is wont to do.

Our Little Adventures 56/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

My @holmestice piece for @detectivehdbholmes who requested (among other things) some Shekhar Home! The quote is from Rabindranath Tagore’s The Gardener, translated from the original Bengali by the author himself. Tagore's work features prominently in the final episode, but this is set in (spoilers) happier times. Or perhaps I'm...fixing it? Did you watch Shekhar Home when I posted about it last year? You should watch Shekhar Home. It's a “delightful” 2024 Indian series that modernises Holmes in 1990s Bengal!

[ghostbees]

Another cartoon I did last year for The Watsonian as part of my little “Canonical Corner” series... with a really incredible quote from “The Illustrious Client”.

[ghostbees]

Just rush right out to greet him Don't hesitate at all, dear ♪

[ghostbees]

The Three Gables

The subdued omnipresent strain of period-typical racism that runs throughout the entire canon is at its worst in this shoddily plotted story. Though it gives us a hasty peek at the formidably under-used Langdale Pike, Holmes’ gossiping columnist friend, there is nothing that can redeem this adventure. Holmes is indeed a product of his time and privileged place in society, and as such displays a complex array of prejudicial attitudes, but it is hard to reconcile his relaxed mood at the conclusion of “The Yellow Face” with his aggressive racism toward the figure of Steve Dixie. The case itself is a rehash of an already twice-used plot, growing weaker each time: it is basically identical in premise to both the events of the Red-Headed League and the missing Garrideb, with clues that apparently no one but the reader picks up on, a Holmes with a remarkable absence of foresight, and the villain(ess) undeservedly getting away with her crime. One is left to wonder why it was considered for publication at all. 

Our Little Adventures 55/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

The Illustrious Client

“He gave no explanations and I asked for none. By long experience I had learned the wisdom of obedience. But when I had left his room I walked down Baker Street, revolving in my head how on earth I was to carry out so strange an order.”

Our Little Adventures 54/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

Various disorganised Ring for Jeeves/Come On, Jeeves thoughts brought to you by...well, nothing, I'm simply always thinking about measly late canon crumbs:

Wodehouse editing out crossdressing ghost Jeeves when novelising the play is honestly...sigh, we could have had it all!

Guy with no employment gap and a passion for lying: “Yeah, I was in the war, for sure.”

Darning looms such as the ‘Speedweve’ were very popular in the fifties, though I'm not sure that would have been of any help to Bertie. Also, did you know the first London hamburger parlour opened in 1954?

[ghostbees]

The Three Garridebs

“The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.”

Our Little Adventures 53/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[ghostbees]

Had to draw my faves too!

[ghostbees]

Terror part of a trade with the fabulous @salazar-bollinger!