[Drumdraper]

I was at the library and browsing the mystery section when I came across a book called The Angel of the Opera by Sam Siciliano published in 1994 by Otto Penzler Books.

It tells the story of what would happen if Sherlock Holmes went to investigate the legend of the Opera Ghost at the Paris Opera. It delves into the past of Erik and shows Christine and Raoul in a comical light, that doesn't portray them as glamorus as in the show. It's a good read and something to check out.

[Jennifer Lynn]

I bought that for a friend who likes both Holmes and Phantom. In some ways, the book has a few things to recommend it. But unfortunately, it discards Watson in favor of Siciliano's preferred narrator, a French cousin of Holmes named Henry Vernet. Vernet slips in digs at Watson every chance he gets.

Siciliano explains away the differences between canon-Holmes and his Holmes by having Vernet say that Watson misrepresented the detective. Now, I don't mind when pastiches highlight different aspects of Holmes that may have been less emphasized in the ACD stories...for example, looking closely at the original stories, it's quite obvious that Holmes isn't as unemotional as he likes to claim he is. But this just seems like Siciliano is just creating the kind of hero he wants to have and calling him Sherlock Holmes.

Besides, Siciliano portrays Raoul in such a way that would make the most rabid Raoul-bashing phangirl go, "Whoa, man...you're being a little hard on the guy!"

Interestingly, Nicholas Meyer, author of the landmark Holmes pastiche The Seven Per-Cent Solution, wrote a Holmes/POTO crossover called The Canary Trainer. I haven't read this one yet, but it seems that Watson isn't in this one either...but this is explained by having it take place during Holmes' missing-presumed-dead years, and having Holmes relate it to Watson after the fact. Given Meyer's track record, I assume it's probably pretty good.