Crossover Cover: In the Company of Sherlock Holmes

This anthology contains two crossovers. One is "The Curious Affair of the Italian Art Dealer" by Sara Paretsky, in which Holmes and Watson investigate the theft of a painting by Titian and the beating of the man who was planning to have the painting authenticated, but Miss Amelia Butterworth of Buffalo, New York solves the mystery before Holmes can. Amelia Butterworth appeared in three detective novels by Anna Katherine Green. The other crossover story is "By Any Other Name" by Michael Dirda. Arthur Conan Doyle’s relationship with Jean Leckie hits a rough spot when he admits all the books and stories attributed to him were ghost-written by other authors. "That Blue John Gap cave-monster" (from Doyle’s "The Terror of Blue John Gap"), Dr. Thorndyke, Sir Harry Flashman, the crime wave at Blandings (a reference to P. G. Wodehouse’s story of the same name), and the mystery of Lord Strathmorlick’s courtship (a reference to The Courtship of Lord Strathmorlick, a novel written by Rosie M. Banks in Wodehouse’s Jeeves story "No Wedding Bells for Bingo") are mentioned. I am inclined to treat this story as an AU.

Crossover Cover: Hex and the City

Hey, are you a fan of Simon R. Green's books?

Then you'll love this entry in his Nightside series, which has crossover connections to The Phantom of the Opera, Doctor Who, Casablanca, and many more!

All the details can be found in Crossovers Expanded Vols. 1 and 2, my AUTHORIZED companions to Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World Vols. 1 and 2 by Win Scott Eckert, coming out from Meteor House in July!

Crossover Cover: A Handful of Dust

Mrs. Beaver tells her son she is lunching at Viola Chasm’s. Lady Metroland telephones Mrs. Beaver about putting up a new bathroom ceiling. Brenda Last’s sister and brother-in-law travel aboard Lord Monomark’s yacht, while her mother visits Lady Anchorage’s chalet. Viola Chasm and Lady Anchorage previously appeared in Waugh’s novel Vile Bodies. Lady Metroland appears in a number of Waugh’s books and stories. Lord Monomark appeared prior to this in Vile Bodies and Black Mischief.

Crossover Cover: King Solomon's Mines

Hey, like H. Rider Haggard's Allan Quatermain novels?

Then you've probably read his first appearance, King Solomon's Mines. But did you notice that it contains references to the Count of Monte Cristo and Robinson Crusoe that sound like they refer to real people?

For all the details, check out my forthcoming books Crossovers Expanded Vols. 1 and 2, AUTHORIZED companions to Win Scott Eckert's Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World Vols. 1 and 2, debuting at the Meteor House booth at PulpFest/Farmercon on July 21-24!

Crossover of the Week

1927

LES CINQ DÉTECTIVES (THE FIVE DETECTIVES)

            Bob, who was allegedly raised by Sherlock Holmes; Jonas, who was raised by Monsieur Lecoq; Scipion, a former collaborator with Nick Carter; Leonard, a former assistant to Inspector Tony; and a man named Valentin team up to solve a case.

            Novel by Gabriel Bernard, 1928. All of the first four detectives’ mentors are already in the CU. It is unlikely Bob was actually raised by Sherlock Holmes, but he is probably a former student of the Great Detective’s.