For the Sake of the Game: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon

Few fictional characters have inspired more stories, more characters, and more mysteries than Sherlock Holmes. The Great Detective is an icon, one who has influenced hundreds upon hundreds of writers over the years.

For the Sake of the Game collects short stories that all have a touch, or more than a touch, of Holmes in them as part of their narrative DNA. Some of the stories are told in the classic Doyle style, while others transplant Holmes into a modern setting. Others still offer detectives with Holmesian qualities, while a few rely on a single Holmes reference or some clever inspiration to spin an entirely new yarn from familiar cloth.

The eclectic nature of this collection might prove off-putting to readers looking for more traditional Holmes tales, but I would recommend sticking with this collection all the way through. Many of the stories are fascinating in their inventiveness. There’s plenty of mystery, of course, but there are also elements of fantasy and sci-fi, as well as a comic strip with an insectoid Holmes. We even find out there are further secrets to be uncovered in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

But undoubtedly the highlight of the collection is “The Case of the Missing Case,” which offers wonderful insight into a young Sherlock Holmes, still honing his skills as a detective. This story alone is worth the price of admission, and it’s far from the only great story in the mix.