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It has been over 40 years since I took a copy of The Complete Sherlock Homes home from the library with the goal of starting with A Study in Scarlet and working my way to the end. I made it to The Valley of Fear and crashed. At the time the appearance of Professor Moriarty confused me. I was young back then and the concept of prequels was not a part of my vocabulary unless clearly stated in the text. I never finsished Valley and probably around that time became immersed in the monthly Doc Sabage reprinys from Bantam books and the Nick Cater Killmaster spy novels along with still much thought of Matt Helm novels by Donald Hamilton. And while liking Dean Martin I have never forgiven him those horrid movies.

About a year ago I decided having conquered Allan Quaterman and The Shadow let alone Tarzan and assorted others it would be a sin to meet eternity without Holmes on my resume. I am taking it in stride this time. A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four were quickly read -partially to get them redone as I remmebered quite a bit about Scarlet not so much of the Four. I bogged down inAdventures but an encourgaing remark from AndaveYa got me going again.

Completed The Gloria Scott Sunday afternoon and had to smile. I am totally ruined from reading without making comic book references about whatever it is that catches my eye. I had absolutely no memory of the story but I have quickly subtitled it The Secret Origin of Sherlock Holmes. DC would have made an annual out of it and Marvel a six issue mini.

I found it slight in plot but interesting as a story told from Holmes viewpoint. I know there are a couple of others like that in the future according to a list of the 56 so time will tell who the better storyteller is but I'm sure it's Watson's special niche.