Sherlock Holmes faces H.G. Wells' Doctor Moreau in this thrilling fast paced romp, perfect for readers of both classic Victorian detective mysteries and science fiction alike Following the trail of several corpses seemingly killed by wild animals, Holmes and Watson stumble upon the experiments of Doctor Moreau. Moreau, through vivisection and crude genetic engineering is creating animal hybrids, determined to prove the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin. In his laboratory, hidden among the opium dens of Rotherhithe, ...
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Sherlock Holmes faces H.G. Wells' Doctor Moreau in this thrilling fast paced romp, perfect for readers of both classic Victorian detective mysteries and science fiction alike Following the trail of several corpses seemingly killed by wild animals, Holmes and Watson stumble upon the experiments of Doctor Moreau. Moreau, through vivisection and crude genetic engineering is creating animal hybrids, determined to prove the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin. In his laboratory, hidden among the opium dens of Rotherhithe, Moreau is building an army of 'beast men'. Tired of having his work ignored--or reviled--by the British scientific community, Moreau is willing to make the world pay attention using his creatures as a force to gain control of the government. A brand-new adventure for Conan Doyle's intrepid sleuth!
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New. Following the trail of several corpses seemingly killed by wild animals, Holmes and Watson stumble upon the experiments of Doctor Moreau. Determined to prove Darwin's evolutionary theories, through vivisection and crude genetic engineering Moreau is creating animal hybrids. In his laboratory, Moreau is building an army of 'beast men' in order to gain control of the government...
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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 256 p. Sherlock Holmes. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 256 p. Sherlock Holmes. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
This is the second novel by Mr. Adams featuring Sherlock Holmes. His earlier effort was ?Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God,? in which Aleister Crowley and several ?supernatural investigators? join Holmes in fending off evil. This new book also takes its inspiration from the popular fiction of the late Nineteenth Century, this time from H. G. Wells?s ?The Island of Dr. Moreau.? It seems that someone is carrying on with the animal experiments of Dr. Moreau into the beginning of the Twentieth Century. At Mycroft?s request, Sherlock turns to a team of 19th Century fictional scientists to uncover this evil. Scientists and adventurers of all sorts pop up at the oddest moments and places.
My main problem with the book stemmed from the 19th Century science at the bottom of it. Wells? works, while not being exactly prophetic, have usually been based on solid advances in science of one sort or another. His ?Doctor Moreau,? unfortunately, did not point to a glorious or even a practical future. Serums and extracts generally have no effect at the level of detail required for effective multi-generic crosses and mixes. The nature of the DNA control of growth and aging still remain beyond our science more than a hundred years later even though glimmers are appearing. On that basis, I found the required ?willing suspension of disbelief? to be very hard-sought.
Once the science details are out of the way, the mystery becomes a good deal more interesting. Some unknown person is duplicating Dr. Moreau?s work somewhere in London?s sewers. Corpses are turning up in various states of dismemberment (mostly ?fine?) and no-one seems exempt. Shopkeepers, gentlemen, ladies of the evening and beggars all show up in parts at odd locations. The wear on the bodies is especially upsetting as it all seems to result from claws and fangs, not the usual knives and blunt objects. Holmes enlists Professor Challenger to join him on a hunt for one of the perpetrators and they succeed.
What (or who) they capture leads only to more questions and confusion. The only sure result is that they know that more is happening than night terrors. The reasons and the criminal remain hidden, so an all-out attack on his ?laboratory? must be conducted. In the meantime, the perpetrator leads an expedition, in disguise, to parliament and captures the Prime Minister. At this point the Government become perturbed and Mycroft receives orders to ?DO SOMETHING!?
The Government raid proceeds, with the long-foreseen double and triple-crosses and Watson and Shinwell Johnson are wounded, Holmes is captured and the Prime Minister slaughtered, but, otherwise, all turns out well(?) The questions left over provide a good deal of food for thought, while the actual slaughter and horrors are but a pale reflection of the coming ?War to end all Wars.? It all just goes to show that humans can be more beastly than ANY animals when they apply themselves.
The overall quality of the book is good. If it were not for my personal issues with the main subject, I would have enjoyed it much more, but that is simply a matter of personal taste and does not reflect on the skill or invention of the author. It presents a fine adventure with Holmes being even more typically himself than in most other Sherlockian fiction. At one point, he is quoted as saying about Society Notes, ?I listen, I just do not always care!?