Monthly Meeting Minutes – 11th January 2020

The Shingle of Southsea Holmesian Society

Monthly Meeting Minutes

Date of Meeting: 11th January 2020

Location of Meeting:
The Sherloft, My House, Portsmouth, UK

Attendees:
"The Entire Canon" (Paul Thomas Miller), "The Blank Page" (Brenda Mannequin)

Apologies:
It was cleared up and we decided to say nothing more about it.

Presentation:
"The Entire Canon" (Paul Thomas Miller) presented his findings regarding Sherlock Holmes and Star Wars:

Was Conan Doyle a Star Wars Fan?

The fourth of May is a significant date for at least two fandoms. Among the followers of Skywalker, it is known as Star Wars day. This is derived from the coincidence that "May the fourth" sounds an awful lot like the start of the Jedi mantra "May the force be with you". Among the followers of Holmes, it is known as the day Holmes vanquished Moriarty atop the Reichenbach Falls.

While producing my chronology of Holmes and Watson (shameless plug: Watson Does Not Lie, available here) I discovered that there are several more references to May the Fourth in the Canon.

It was 4th May 1847 when Lucy and John Ferrier were rescued by the Mormons in the Great Alkali Plain (STUD).

In 1867 it was the date when John McMurdo informed the Scowrers that Birdy Edwards was after them (VALL).

In 1882 it was when Thaddeos Sholto's advert appeared in The Times seeking Mary Morstan. And, following her reply, it was the date when each year until 1888 she would receive a pearl from her secret benefactor (SIGN).

In 1889 it was the date Sir Charles Baskerville announced his intention to go to London, thereby inducing Stapleton to up his game and murder Sir Charles the following night (HOUN).

In 1895 it was the date Holmes and Watson rescued Violet Smith from the evil clutches of Woodley and Williamson (SOLI).

To my knowledge no other date has quite so many appearances in the Canon. Which leads one to the inescapable conclusion that Conan Doyle must have favoured Star Wars Day because he was a Star Wars fan.

And once one has accepted this fact, the supporting evidence is only too obvious. In considering Professor Moriarty next to Emperor Palpatine, the similarities are only too obvious - the evil genius with powers that match the hero, making his plans and setting them in motion from the safety of his innocent looking position in society.

Such inspirations are littered through the Canon. Holmes and Watson are adequate representations of Luke Skywalker and his stalwart companion R2D2. There are elements of Princess Leia in Mary Morstan; the woman who briefly comes between our heroes, but ultimately Leia is more fully represented in Irene Adler - an underestimated woman who we find is just as heroic and talented as the male lead. Jabba the Hutt appears as Charles Augustus Milverton, C3P0 is clearly Mrs Hudson and Hans Solo is represented by the many well-meaning, often ineffective, somewhat unintelligent Scotland Yarders. Chewbacca, then is the impressive policemen such as Inspector Baynes of Wisteria Lodge. Jango Fett is explored is subtle detail too - in the Star Wars franchise he is a bounty hunter who is cloned to make an army for The Empire. We see Doyle mirror this in the story of Birdy Edwards and the Pinkertons. Birdy is a highly skilled detective with more than a touch of bounty hunter to him. The Pinkertons built on the successes of people like Birdy to create an unofficial police force of agents just like him. Yoda can be found in the unrivaled powers of Mycroft Holmes, Ewoks as irregulars... the list would probably go on if I weren't so lazy.

Let us not forget too, the Holmes's we find in the movies: Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku and Richard E. Grant who played General Pryde.

The evidence is all there. Arthur Conan Doyle was a massive Star Wars fan and the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon is little more than a sub-standard fanfic rip off of the Sci-Fi franchise.

Postscript:

To those who may object that the Star Wars films postdate the life of Conan Doyle, I need only point out that the events portrayed in the films took place "a long time ago". The late production of the films does not preclude his knowing about the events.

"The Blank Page" (Brenda Mannequin) presented a coldness that was unnerving.

Any Other Business:
"The Entire Canon" (Paul Thomas Miller) asked "The Blank Page" (Brenda Mannequin) for feedback again. None was provided again.

Society Photo - 11th January 2020