Discussion Post: The Valley of Fear

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday and welcome back. Let's talk canon, shall we? What did you think of our fourth novel The Valley of Fear? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts and questions to start. Please add your own!

- I find the last Sherlock Holmes novel grows on me the more I think about it after reading. With multiple high-quality revelations and reversals, it begs for extra readings to see how all the pieces come together once you know the full picture. Also, I found the faint, ominous background presence of Moriarty to be surprisingly effective. He is all the more threatening as a deadly genius for hire on top of being a criminal mastermind by himself. The foreshadowing of the past/future is deliciously painful too, with Holmes closing the story begging for time to beat Moriarty, and the reader feeling the weight of the long years and sacrifice behind those words.

- Valley of Fear, like Study in Scarlet before it, is two stories in one: Holmes and Watson on the case, and a backstory involving the victim set in a desperate corner of America. But VALL ends up being two detective stories in one, and that gives it a curious quality. It gives the reader a unique opportunity to closely view the method and character of Holmes and a different detective for comparison and contrast. Which leads directly to my next question.

- What would have happened if Holmes had been hired to investigate the Scowrers rather than Edwards/McMurdo/Douglas? What would he have done differently? What would he have done the same? Holmes and Douglas have a similar dogged, single-minded determination to see a job to its end, regardless of how much work or pain that entails. But do they share the same cold calculation to witness and abet (if not commit) beatings and murders of innocents in the pursuit of justice? That point I'm not so sure on. Interesting to imagine Holmes faced with that choice.

- According to Holmes, the past and present rhyme, and Jonathan Wild was the Professor Moriarty of London's 1750's. Now that is an idea I love. Do you think Wild had his own version of Holmes dogging his steps? What were the two of them like? Did 1750!Holmes have a 1750!Watson at his side? Who was the Moriarty before Wild? Who is/was the Moriarty after Moriarty?

The Valley of Fear: Seasick

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Canon: The Valley of Fear (VALL)
Title: Seasick
Author: ennui_enigma
Rating: G
Warnings: none
A/N: Unfortunately, it seems Birdy Edwards met his demise at the hands of Moriarty. I like to think that at least it was mighty inconvenient for the evil genius.

“Holmes has interfered once too many!” Moriarty thundered. “My reputation will suffer.”

“His career must end! I cannot continue to waste resources while he thwarts my schemes. That voyage to South Africa was the last straw! Sailing makes me sick!”

“A bullet, noose, runaway carriage, or slip off a cliff; whatever it takes to eliminate this thorn in my side!” 

The Valley of Fear: A Strange Sort of Peace

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Valley of Fear
Title: A Strange Sort of Peace
Author: thesmallhobbit
Rating: G

It seems strange to think that when I wish to calm my mind I think of Birlstone Manor; not of the death that occurred, or the events that led up to the death, but of the grounds.  I choose to recall the calm when walking between the yew trees, the beautiful lawn and the sundial marking the passage of time.

The Valley of Fear: For Thou Art With Me

[methylviolet10b]

Author: methylviolet10b
Rating: PG
Character(s): Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Summary: Before leaving for the War, Watson leaves Holmes a task.
Warnings: Very vague references to VALL.
Word Count: 60
Author's Notes: 60 words of my own inspired by one of the canon stories, and by the publication date of VALL - 1915. And by the references to a certain character, whom Watson had never heard of in EMPT - and yet here he is in 1886.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.

VALL -- The Valley of Fear

I set the last page of the manuscript down with a shaking hand. He’d left it with me to publish – a message. And within the much-fictionalized account, another.

The latter message: I never would have left you, had you told me of Moriarty. And furthermore, the outcome of the case might have been very different.

The former: I will return.

The Valley of Fear: Loyalty

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Canon: The Valley of Fear
Title: Loyalty
Author: hisietari
Rating: G

I must admit that I wasn’t surprised to learn about Moran’s position, I, who knew the benefits of a faithful companion so well. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but wonder about the extent of Sebastian Moran’s loyalty. Would he, like my Watson, not just accompany Moriarty into crime, but also scold him for the resulting dangers he deliberately took upon himself?

Three Students, Twisted Lip & Valley Of Fear

[flawedamythyst.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Three Students
Title: Teasing
Rating: PG
A/N: Based on this line: "Not one of your cases, Watson — mental, not physical. All right; come if you want to."

It had been two long weeks of Watson being wordlessly bored and frustrated by my immersion in my studies, otherwise I would have sent Soames away unsatisfied. However, I have long been powerless to deny that look of enthusiasm on Watson's face, although I do enjoy teasing him that I might leave him behind – as if I ever would!

Canon Story: The Man With The Twisted Lip
Title: Lighthouse
Rating: PG

Watson underestimates himself. It is not just his wife to whom those in distress are drawn – Watson himself is a great help in times of need. That is why I was so pleased to have him with me on this case, not just to help, but in case I should have to deliver bad news to Mrs. St. Clair.

Canon Story: The Valley Of Fear
Title: Softening Of The Brain
Rating: PG
A/N: Oh look, I managed to get Holmes/Watson into this one.

I have often declared myself an idiot once an obvious solution to a mystery has revealed itself, but I have never meant it more than I did in Birlstone, when I half-woke Watson and recognised his expression of unguarded affection at the sight of me. How could I have missed that he feels for me as I feel for him?


*

The Valley of Fear: Stagecraft x 3

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Valley of Fear
Title: Stagecraft x 3
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This week's idea is based on repeated wording that caught my eye. I've been in a weird brain-space, so I wrote and rewrote and rewrote some more. Eventually I ended up with three complete 60s, each beginning the same but ending differently, and I thought I might as well post them all as an experiment. Next week, likely back to our regularly scheduled programming.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, the set dressed perfectly in a driving gale on a distant shore. It was the work of a genius. In my life, I only witnessed such expert stagecraft twice.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, set perfectly in a driving gale, convincing in every detail. The work of a genius. Holmes' own stagecraft never earned a mention. I've often wondered at his assessment.


"Badly stage-managed" is what Holmes called Douglas' first death. The ring was missing, as were Mrs. Douglas' tears. Douglas' second death, the real one, he termed "well stage-managed", and it was, set perfectly in a driving gale, the work of a genius. Holmes' own stagecraft never earned an assessment from him, although I think I know what he'd say.