Episode 76: Out of the Abyss

"a tremendous abyss" [FINA]   The BSI Manuscript series continues to churn out remarkable books on an annual basis. In 2015, we're pleased to see the manuscript for "The Empty House" printed, analyzed and opined in , edited by Robert Katz, BSI ("Dr. Ainstree"), Steven Rothman, BSI ("The Valley of Fear") and Andrew Solberg, BSI ("Professor Coram").   The trio of editors joined us for a discussion of how this project came about - including getting access to the MS from the famed  in Philadelphia. The inimitable Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach (who is most decidedly NOT a physician), rare book dealer and bibliophile, owned the original manuscript and it has remained with his collection in the museum and library. Of course, seeing the story in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's own handwriting is illuminating - particularly as one can look at the corrections (or lack thereof) and get a sense of the author's thought process. Seeing that in light of Holmes's resurrection in "The Empty House" is even more thrilling.   Contributors to this volume include Catherine Cooke, BSI ("The Book of Life"), who investigates the location of the Empty House, based on previous scholarship throughout the ages; Lyndsay Faye, BSI ("Kitty Winter") who contributes a short story; Russell Merritt, BSI ("The Trepoff Murder") with a look at the Col. Morans in film; Brent Morris on sleight of hand and card playing; Chris Redmond, BSI ("Billy") and Lindsay Colwell on the theme of resurrection; and more.   In addition to discussing everything that went into this volume, we have a sneak preview of the next volume that Bob and Andy are working on together. While they don't yet have a title, the topic is certainly one that will attract a number of readers.   Mental Exaltation We're pleased to bring you another entry in our "Mental Exaltation" quiz program, inspired by NPR's Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! and written by IHOSE quizmaster Nick Martorelli. . "My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation.   In this episode, we welcome James O'Leary of Natick, Massachusetts to the show as a contestant. James has a harrowing triumverate of math questions to answer (do we detect the hand of Prof. Moriarty, former math tutor and Col. Moran's boss?). Listen to see how he did.     We wrap up with our regular Gas-Lamp reading, this time taken from the General Editor's Preface from the BSI Manuscript Series.    [Save As] | File size 94.6 MB, 1:43:20   Links:  - available for sale on the BSJ website for $39.95 Be sure to check out  on Twitter  - and .  - audio recordings of the Sherlock Holmes stories  will be run in May.  discussion forum reopens       Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  and , as well as on the  on Google+ (still growing, now at over 2,300 members), as well as through our accounts on , and .     Please , ,  or  and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (ihearofsherlock AT gmail DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).       Sponsors This episode includes two sponsors that deserve your attention:    (check out the new ) , where you should get  in now to secure all four issues and a very special Christmas Annual about The Seven Per-Cent Solution.   And special thanks to Hein & Co., James O'Leary and Mary Miller for your generous donations.     --