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Posters at AllPosters.com
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Sherlock Holmes and Playing Games
Sherlock Holmes has survived for more than 100 years in the world’s culture. Many books have been written about the world’s first consulting detective in an attempt to capture the reason for that appeal.
I think it is basically Holmes ability to see patterns that others miss. And he was smart enough (and had trained himself) to correctly interpret those patterns. We as readers or viewers want to figure out the mystery before he does, but do not mind when we fail and Holmes does not. Quite often, it is one little thing that Holmes picks up on, that we
saw, but did not observe. And we are delightfully surprised each time Holmes devulges his deductions.
There are many characters that have followed in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes. Here are a few.
There is the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz who was thin and tall and solved problems even before he got his diploma. There is Mr. Spook of Star Trek, who came from a world entirely dedicated to the rigors of logic. Currently on television we can see Monk, a neurotic detective, who because he lives in a world slightly askew from others around him, sees the patterns that the rest miss. And there is the television show, Numbers, where a team of mathematicians solve the mysteries. My deduction is that you, too, can give examples of how Holmes lives on in other characters today.
Of course, Sherlock Holmes lives on in new stories. Hundreds of pastiches have been written featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and other characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. New novels and stores appear every year. (At least, two novels, so far, have appeared in 2006.)
I think that Holmes ability to see pattern relates directly to playing games, In many games, to win we must be better at seeing patterns than our opponent. In chess, we have to figure out future moves based on the previous patterns of moves. In Texas Hold ‘Em, poker players must not only know the patterns of how cards are distributed, but recognize the patterns of other players.
People love to play games, to figure out what is going to happen next and then be surprised by unexpected results. And in Sherlock Holmes we have the master puzzle solver, rarely surprised, but always able to surprise us. And I predict that as long as people like to play games, we will also love the archetypal player Sherlock Holmes.
For more information on playing games please visit my website at Online Games
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News about Sherlock Holmes
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From The Diary of Mrs. Hudson, 1909
I've cooked many a meal for Sherlock Holmes. In the early days, he made me all a-peavish about the desultory way he treated some of my dinners. But I slowly discovered that Mr. Holmes did not always eat when detecting on a case. I also learned through deductions of my own what he really liked me to cook for him. (The Good Docter never turned down a full plate of anything, and was always appreciative of my efforts.)
Most of my meals in the beginning were of good English or Scottish fare which I had learned in the kitchen of my Mother. One day, I discovered that Mr. Holmes had a certain fondness for Apples! "Mrs. Hudson," he told me. "These apple tarts are excellent!" Rare comment from him at the time.
So over the years, I experimented with many an apple recipe, and not just tarts and pies, but fritters and dumplings and custards and omelets and much more - of which Mr. Holmes was enthusiastic with his praise.
Another cuisine I found that my Illustrious Boarder enjoyed was Chinese Cooking. That kept me in a tizzy for years learning not only new dishes, but a new style of cooking. Not a few of the recipes came from Mr. Holmes himself. No doubt he obtained them in those Opium Dens he visited.
If you would be interested in my apple recipes you can find them here:
Apple Recipes
Feel free to copy and print any particular recipe that strikes your fancy.
Also as I am getting on in years, I have put together a cookbook of Chinese recipes. If you would be interested in buying such a cookbook for $3.95, go here:
Chinese Recipes .
Oh, Mr. Holmes has just come in from his bee hives and will want a cup of tea with honey, of course...
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