Unhappy birthday!

[elionwyr]

There is a city in New Mexico, mostly unknown to most of us, that sits pretty much in the middle of its state along Rt 66.

This city? Moriarty, New Mexico.

A careful perusal of the above rather modest website reveals nothing of why this town should be (in)famous. Indeed, a scouring of the internet brings back little information about the town's dubious claim to fame, and oh I suspect this shows evidence that the Napoleon of Crime's infrastructure remains intact lo these many many years.

Once Upon a Time, and far too long ago now, a branch of the Baker Street Irregulars known as "The Brothers Three of Moriarty" gathered at the Frontier Saloon on (if memory serves me correctly) October 31st for their annual Unhappy Birthday You B*stard Moriarty 'celebration.'

And I am blogging this because of the following snippet of IM conversation tonight:

elionwyr: I really wish I could have attended just one of the Unhappy Birthday You B*stard Moriarty events
lionel: of these i am not familiar
elionwyr: It's ok.
elionwyr: It's a special sort of geekery that is
lionel: which confirms your geekdom

..Oh yes. Yes it does.


(For those who are reading this going, "Napoleon of what? Click here. Sigh.)

Comments

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

You mean the guy from Star Trek? *ducks*

Actually, I've read both "The Final Problem" and The Seven Per-Cent Solution. Know whereof you speak I do.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

There's a series of books by John Gardner that are really interesting reading regarding the bastard Professor, including a plausible reason for there being two James Moriartys...

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

How many cool non-A.C. Doyle stories have been written? Sounds like the fanfic (and by-pros-fic, but "fanfic" seems more correct and all-encompassing) can be amazing.

One of these days I'll try reading Holmes again. I read some, obviously, about 10 years ago, but ultimately it didn't grab me. (Oh, long before that, back in junior high, I did read and like "The Hound of the Baskervilles." So I think I can get back into it again.)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

The term in Sherlockiana is 'pastiche.' But I can't see a claim to snobbery regarding titles as we're talking about a 'fandom' based on the desire to have an excuse to go out drinking.

Some of the fun of Holmes is in looking for the story-within-a-story. Check out "The Blue Carbuncle" - I think you might catch that one pretty quickly. :)

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Ah, "pastiche." I should've gotten that word. I was experiencing Word Fail. (That's a Fail we'll probably get to eventually.)

we're talking about a 'fandom' based on the desire to have an excuse to go out drinking.

Brilliant! (said like the Guinness commercial guys)

Some of the fun of Holmes is in looking for the story-within-a-story.

Innnnnnnnteresting. I've heard Doyle is great for "reading between the lines" reading...

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

My library has the last one, Moriarty. Still a good idea to seek out the first two books (Return of Moriarty and Revenge of Moriarty, for my reference) other ways?

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

They're the better of the books, actually.
(If you can't find them and want to read them, we could work out a loan..)

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Not now -- I'm trying to get rid of books right now, not get (even to borrow) them -- but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[norda.livejournal.com]

I've probably asked you this before, but bear with my foggy brain one more time if so.

Were you ever a member of The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes? One of my soul-sisters, singedcat, used to get me into meetings when I was in college in the 1980's.

[I think you would like Susan. She performs pirate music at RenFaires with her husband / partner Gregg.]

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Sadly, no, I've never been an ASH. Though I do have some of their newsletter booklets and I own a silver commemorative pin that I bought on a rather expensive whim years ago. it's still one of my most favourite emblems, I must admit.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

"Arty Morty...?" oO

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

SRSLY!

[s00j.livejournal.com]

***severe icon love***

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

lionel: which confirms your geekdom

..Oh yes. Yes it does.

*Pushed glasses back on nose*

*Snort* "Heh-heh"

;-P

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

No denial here.

[e-scapism101.livejournal.com]

This...this is knowledge that makes me happy.

Speaking of, have you read the Enola Holmes novels by Nancy Springer? YA, featuring Sherlock's much younger sister. Oh, but she is very much his sister and the arc of the books is that she's trying to keep away from Sherlock and Mycroft so they won't send her off to school to become a proper Victorian lady. Very cute, and amusing as hell watching the master get skunked by his little sister. *G*

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

No! I will add that to my list.

Have you read Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler books? The first few are really good. (I think it kinda jumps the shark at Castle Rouge, and now that I look I see there are more books I didnt' know about..augh!)

[e-scapism101.livejournal.com]

No...I've never gotten around to those. I'm always a little leary of others writing the characters, although I do like the Laurie King Beekeeper's Apprentice line, and the 7% Solution, etc. I'll have to give teh Carole Nelson Douglas books a try...at least the first few. *G*

Have you read the Stephen King short story where Watson solves the case?

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I'm generally leery, too, but I truly enjoy the first three books.

And no, I've not seen the King book! *adds it to MY list* *grin*

Did you read "Shadows over Baker Street"..?

[e-scapism101.livejournal.com]

Not yet...but now I'm gonna!