"In all the large literature of the misadventures of Sherlock Holmes," wrote Anthony Boucher as early as 1965, "there is nothing quite comparable to Robert L. Fish's tales of Schlock Homes.... These Fish stories are the best of all the mock Holmesian literature." No murmur of dissent has ever been heard to challenge this judgment, and during 22 years, from 1959 to 1981, Robert L. Fish wrote 32 of his "small masterpieces of adroit and devious plotting." All your old Bagel Street friends are here — Schlock Homes himself, his partner and confidant Dr. Watney, his brother Criscroft Homes; Inspector Balustrade of Scotland Yard; the villains Professor Marty, Colonel Moron, Irene Addled, and A.J. Lotteries; and of course (thanks to Dr. Watney's excellent care) the immortal Bagel Street Regulars.
Now, for the first time, all the Schlock Homes tales have been brought together-every unpardonable word of every outrageous case recorded by the ever-reliable Dr. Watney. Many old favorites are available here for the first time in a decade and a half — and nine of the cases between these covers have never before appeared in book form. A brief bibliography has been appended to provide original publication dates and book appearances. In sum, Schlock Homes: The Complete Bagel Street Saga is the definitive edition of the exploits of the Great Defective of Bagel Street.
Robert L. Fish (1912-1981), a civil engineer by profession, was 47 years old before he wrote his first published story. He quickly became one of the best regarded figures in the mystery genre, winning three Edgar Allan Poe Awards, serving on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America (and one term as its president), and taking a special interest in beginning authors. He is known for his series characters Kek Huuygens the smuggler and Captain José de Silva the Rio police detective, as well as for the movie Bullitt. But it is the misadventures of Schlock Homes of Bagel Street upon which his reputation will inevitably rest. It is secure.
Gaslight
Publications, Hard Cover with Dustjacket, 250 pp.
ISBN 0-934468-16-8 $25.00