The Singular Papers of Solar Pons

THE SINGULAR PAPERS OF SOLAR PONSMore New Adventures of The Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street by David Marcum

＂Solar Pons came into being out of Sherlock Holmes . . . .＂ - August Derleth

In 1928, college student August Derleth wrote to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, asking if any more Sherlock Holmes adventures were going to be published. Upon receiving a negative reply, Derleth decided to provide some of his own. However, rather than relating more tales of Holmes and Dr. Watson, he ended up introducing the world to Solar Pons and Dr. Lyndon Parker, living in London during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Pons solved crimes using deduction and ratiocination, often referring to Holmes as ＂The Master＂ or ＂My illustrious predecessor＂. Since his first appearance, Pons has been a favorite with Sherlockians.

＂Now, meet Solar Pons, the Pride of Praed Street . . .

The Master is not too visible - that is, to the naked eye. But you will feel

His dynamic presence once again . . . Yes, dear reader, but turn

a page, and again - the game is afoot!＂

- Ellery Queen

Over the years, public awareness of the Pons stories remained mostly within the Sherlockian community. Then, with the publication of David Marcum’s The Papers of Solar Pons (2017) and The Further Papers of Solar Pons (2022), along his subsequent editing of the original Pons stories in handsome new Belanger Books editions, Pons has been known to the wider world.

＂[Solar Pons is] a clever impersonator, with a twinkle in his eye,

which tells us that he knows that he is not Sherlock Holmes,

and knows that we know it, but he hopes we will like him anyway for what he

symbolizes . . . The best substitute for Sherlock Holmes known.＂

- Vincent Starrett

Since The Papers was published in 2017, there have been a number of new Pons collections, and now the August Derleth Estate, Arkham House, and Belanger Books are pleased to present this authorized collection of more Pons adventures by Sherlockian and Ponsian author and editor David Marcum. Join Pons and Parker in The Singular Papers of Solar Pons as they venture forth into the mysterious London fogs during that murky period between the two World Wars. Along the way, meet some old friends, and discover why Pons is called ＂The Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street＂.