Sherlock Holmes Vs The War of the Worlds

By D G Leigh

This is a serious and intelligent interpretation
and not a comical fusion of two classic genres.
Using pivotal sequences portrayed in Wells' masterpiece,
we'll accompany Holmes & Watson as they experience and tackle
the horror of a full scale Martian invasion.
Includes new plot twists and updated science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bright Ideas Inc
• Release date: Jan 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370559510

D G Leigh

David grew up by the sea in a medium size fishing village.He filled his childhood days beach-combing, exploring nature and wandering around museums. Those early years gave him the love he has for the great outdoors and those motionless exhibition ignited his thirst for inhaling the real world.At eighteen he threw his rucksack across his shoulders. Over the following decade he encompassed the globe. Sometimes travelling alone through remote and dangerous places. These were his pirate years. Riding horseback on foreign shores waiting for the next escapade to tap him on the shoulder. Meeting many wonderful people from every corner of planet and haphazardly faced death on numerous occasions.He now resides in London with his wife and son.

Book preview

Sherlock Holmes

Vs

The War of the Worlds

Compiled and presented by D G Leigh

Published by Bright Ideas Inc

Copyright 2015

Anniversary Edition 2018 V2.0

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Foreword from the author

This is a serious and intelligent interpretation

and not a comical fusion of two classic genres.

Using pivotal sequences portrayed in Wells' masterpiece,

we'll accompany Holmes & Watson as they experience and tackle the horror of a full-scale Martian invasion.

Includes new plot twists with updated science.

An explanation for the use of two words.

Darkie:- A term spoken by the Victorian generation due to their socialisation and ignorance to describe people with darker skin. Not used as a term of malice, simply the lack of a metropolitan society in the interwar period with Africa.

Underground:- This is a reference I used for London's subterranean rail network that at this actual era was called the Metropolitan Railway but some readers may be unaware that these trains operated beneath the city.

* * * * * *

Note

The old astronomer.

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Sarah Williams 1837 -1868

* * * * * *

Narrated by Dr. John Watson.

His true account of the actual events that took place

before and after the attack.

Taken directly from his personal memoirs

and reliable eye witness testimonies.

* * * * * *

Prologue

Eve of the War

As the chronicler of Holmes' many fantastic and incredible investigations, some of which have yet to be published due to the unbelievable natural of the subject material that quite frankly the majority of the reading public would simply refuse to believe such outlandish events occurred and therefore would've labelled my literature renditions whimsical and nothing more than a fantasy joyride of nonsense. Thus diminishing both mine and Holmes' creditably but now my companion's brilliance is a legendary fact I consider our reputations safe and firmly respected for me to finally reveal the most astounding case file of them all.

The apocalyptic attack from planet Mars.

Bizarrely the August invasion got officially documented by our trusted scholars as to the Great London Hurricane of 1894. The millions that perished died of an outbreak of cholera as a direct result of the storm's aftermath. Nothing is further from the truth.

Historical turning points are normally the recording privileges of the victorious. If you were to count the total number of our dead over that horrific fortnight we'd certainly had been the vanquished, at the brink of extinction. The miracle of mankind's salvation lays solely in God's hands and the invisible wonders that in His infinite wisdom placed upon this Earth. As for myself if it wasn't for the remarkable Sherlock Holmes I wouldn't be alive this hour to give this genuine account of the dreadful circumstances that besieged our great capital.

The enemy's technological machinery were beyond our comprehension. Confiscated by the government or a higher shadowy power during the clean-up. The thought is frightening if we could learn how to build them ourselves. I hear that there is trouble brewing in Europe, perhaps war. If my fears are founded I'm sure we'll see these unearthly weapons resurface.

Holmes hypothesized that brainwashing was responsible for the false evidence gathered and compiled, side effects from the Martian's black smoke. Those under its influence were told what to believe happened. Anybody that remembered or spoke out differently was swiftly branded a simpleton. A risk that I now consciously and willingly undertake.

Similar to the chemical weapon sprayed by a skunk's scent glands, Holmes concluded, instead of a repulsive smelling liquid, an odour powerful enough to cause temporary blindness, the Martians used a gas, almost a fine dust. Not deployed as a defence mechanism, warding off potential threats but as an attack. Amnesia fog rendering all those that inhaled the black vapour free of fear. Purged were the reasons behind their panic. Once you have smoked the bees you can put your hand directly into their hive without the reprisal risk of being stung.

This could be true. I watched countless innocents caught in the mass psychosis cloud instantly halt their exodus. Stood perfectly still while they were effortlessly scooped up and imprisoned inside cages mounted upon the Martian's machines. Holmes christened these monsters the handlings. An eight-legged squat spider contraption in both its appearance and behaviour. Able to freely attach its body mass to the side of buildings. I heard reports of one mechanical arachnid delicately hanging upside down on Kew's Temperate House.

During their short occupation, callously hunted the obliterated streets of London and surrounding suburbs. They stalked shell-shocked survivors. The advancing first-wave of merciless towering tripods simply eradicated life but these nimble spiders were unfavourably here to capture us for unspeakable purposes. I shudder at the chilling prospect as to their end. Holmes, as did many private gentlemen, kept museum-quality collections of lepidoptera and other tropical oddities, a popular pastime during Victorian times. Were those forsaken human specimens to be labelled and neatly mounted inside display cabinets? The dread of such - makes me sick, I shall move on.

This wasn't the warfare of two nations conducted under strict written rules of engagement. Spare the women and children caught in-between the conflict. It was the annihilation of humanity from a superior and unstoppable force not of this world. Unsympathetic to our suffering.

* * * * * *

Chapter one

Ten Nights

--- One ---

Before the invasion.

Each night, visible to the naked eye, flashes of light. Not the normal harmless twinkle of the cosmos. Enough in mass to mask the stars behind from view. The planet I refer to in our sky known as Mars. Little was reported about this curious phenomena in the national press. A side note in the Daily Telegraph briefly mentioned the stellar occurrence. Excited word of mouth spread the news faster than