The Necronomicon of Solar Pons, edited by Derrick Belanger, Belanger Books, 2020. Cover art by Brian Belanger, info: amazon.com.
From Sherlock Holmes to the Cthulhu Mythos. August Derleth introduced the world to Solar Pons and Dr. Lyndon Parker in the 1920’s. Pons, like Sherlock Holmes, solved crimes using deduction and ratiocination, often referring to Holmes as “The Master” or “My illustrious predecessor”. Since his first appearance, Pons has been a favorite with Sherlockians. In the 1930’s, Derleth coined the term “Cthulhu Mythos” to describe the weird fiction written by the writers in the Lovecraft circle. After Lovecraft died in 1937, Derleth created Arkham House Publishing to make certain Lovecraft and other writers of the Cthulhu mythos, himself included, remained in print. Derleth wrote a number of tales of the Cthulhu mythos including The Mask of Cthulhu, The Trail of Cthulhu, and The Watchers Out of Time (collaborating with Lovecraft). Now, for the first time ever, the estate of August Derleth has authorized a one of a kind anthology combining Derleth’s Solar Pons, the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street, with his Cthulhu Mythos and horror tales. Join us in the foggy streets of early 20th Century London where horror is lurking on the streets and also at the veil of reality. Nine new tales of terror and detection including: The Rondure of Cthulhu by Stephen Herczeg – Solar Pons must solve the mystery of a man seemingly torn to shreds by invisible forces. The Meandering Mathematician by Robert Perret – A mathematician’s strange disappearance leads to visions of an otherworldly realm, a witch, and a sinister rat with a human face. A Matter of Blood by Nick Cardillo – Dr. Seward brings Pons a case involving a a notorious Transylvanian Count. Fans of Stoker’s Dracula will love this sequel. To Everything There is a Season by Stephen Persing – The Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street has a Lovecraftian Final Problem. The Adventure of the Book and the Gate by Eleanor Sciolistein – The Necronomicon is used to access a horrifying power source. Solar Pons and the Testament in Ice by Jeff Baker – Pons must face an evil Arctic entity. The Adventure of the Drowned Genealogist by I.A. Watson – How did the body of a recently deceased woman end up in a two century old tomb? It is up to Solar Pons to solve this Dunwich horror. The Man with the Writhing Skin by David Marcum – Mrs. Velda Knoll, a lecturer on “The Great Old Ones” is being stalked by a man with masses of open sores moving about his skin. The Devil’s Tongue of Blue John Gap by Derrick Belanger – Solar Pons must solve the case of strange symbols mysteriously appearing in the fields of Blue John Gap. Plus a bonus Sherlock Holmes adventure!
Contents: Solar Pons & Cthulhu? by Bob Byrne The Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street in the Derleth Mythos by Derrick Belanger The Rondure of Cthulhu by Stephen Herczeg The Meandering Mathematician by Robert Perret A Matter of Blood by Nick Cardillo To Everything There is a Season by Stephen Persing The Lancastrian and the Lake Monster by Derrick Belanger The Adventure of the Book and the Gate by Eleanor Sciolistein Solar Pons and the Testament in Ice by Jeff Baker The Adventure of the Drowned Genealogist by I.A. Watson The Man with the Writhing Skin by David Marcum The Devil’s Tongue of Blue John Gap by Derrick Belanger The Wylington Lake Monster by Derrick Belanger Special Thanks to Our Kickstarter Backers About the Author
