T HE NORWEGIAN EXPLORERS OF MINNESOTA, INC. ©2006 Winter, 2006 EXPLORATIONS Issue #53 EXPLORATIONSEXPLORATIONS From the (Outgoing) President Dear Friends, felt I had the opportunity to meet an enor- mous number of interesting people and have he old saying is that all good things come to call those people friends. Please must end. In my case, my tenure as T extend your congratulations to Gary as he president of The Norwegian Explorers cov- steps up to meet the challenge of leading our ered nine years, and while I didn’t have to group of, as Dr. Watson noted in A Study in step down, I realized it was time for another Scarlet, “the dirtiest and most ragged street person to take the helm. I’m very pleased arabs that ever I clapped eyes on.” that our vice-president Gary Thaden agreed I’d like to thank everyone involved in Inside this issue: to take the role. He’s bright, energetic, capa- The Norwegian Explorers for their friend- ble and hard working, and wants to serve for From the (New) President 2 ship and support over the last nine years. I’ll all of the right reasons. Who can forget the Internet Explorations 2 be moving to the exalted ranks of past presi- image of Gary at our last conference, tie dents and will look forward to seeing you at Annual Meeting & Dinner 3 tucked inside his shirt, helping to serve our upcoming meetings. Explorer Travels 4 lunch to the attendees? I can only hope that he finds the time he serves as president to be A New Take on Mrs. Hudson 5 as personally rewarding as it was for me. I Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI Holmes and Plastic Man? 6 The English 8 A Toast to Mycroft 9 From the Editor’s Desk Sherlock’s Last Case 9 Study Group 10 n this last issue of Explorations for 2006 delivered at our annual dinner, joining I we recap our recent annual meeting and frequent contributors Mike Eckman and dinner, notable for a changing of the guard Bob Brusic as well as Study Group reviewer as Julie McKuras stepped down after an Charles Clifford. Phil Bergem continues his energetic nine years as president of the Nor- Internet Explorations, and we look forward wegian Explorers. We are sure that our new to an upcoming performance of a Sher- president, Gary Thaden, will ably carry on lockian play. in the tradition of Julie and all our past Letters to the editor or other submis- leaders, including our founder and Siger- sions for Explorations are always welcome. son, the late E.W. “Mac” McDiarmid. We Please email items in Word or plain text also note travels by Explorers to two recent format to [email protected] conferences, both of which featured speak- ers from the ranks of the Explorers. We John Bergquist, BSI welcome Ray Riethmeier as a contributor to Editor, Explorations the newsletter by printing his fine toast Page 2 EXPLORATIONS Issue #53 From the (Incoming) President Internet Explorations t is both humbling and exciting. Those are the “He sits motionless, like a spider in the centre of its I two emotions I experienced as I accepted the Web…” gavel from outgoing President Julie McKuras. After being President of the Norwegian Explorers for or this issue I would like to highlight the nine years, some members don’t remember B. J. F audio side of Sherlock Holmes on the (Before Julie). Ms. McKuras’s gentle, but steady Internet. One site, hand on the helm of the Norwegian Explorers http://www.cambridge-explorer.org.uk/ “Audio books have during her reign is a very humbling thought. Julie HBWEB/VV341/VV341.htm did a wonderful job as President and she deserves a provides details of the radio dramatizations of their appeal, but lack standing ovation. the Canon and a number of pastiches. The the sound effects, But, I am also excited about continuing Julie’s site, developed by Hugo Brown, has not been modifications to high standard for the Norwegian Explorers. Mem- updated since 2004 but it is still of interest. It lines and other bers are working on BSI West to celebrate the Mas- provides a great deal of information laid out dramatic effects ter’s birthday here in Minnesota. The Red in an easy-to-follow format with titles, broad- which are required to Throated League is putting together another great cast dates and actors. This is useful to anyone performance at the Pavek Museum this spring. The who has in interest in the radio production of hold a listener’s study group will continue to meet and study; Explo- Sherlock Holmes stories. interest.” rations will continue to explore the Sherlockian On the subject of radio dramatizations, world, and we will have our annual holiday event one of the best writers of Holmes-story drama- next December. And… tizations is Bert Coules. Bert adapted a num- The highlight of the year is sure to be our tri- ber of the original stories for the BBC produc- annual conference, “Victorian Secrets and Edward- tions originally broadcast between 1989 and ian Enigmas” on July 6-8, 2007. The conference 1998. A radio dramatization is quite different committee (Dick Sveum, Julie McKuras, Mike from simply reading the story into a micro- Eckman, Phil Bergem, John Bergquist, Pj Doyle, phone. Audio books have their appeal, but Tim Johnson, Tom Gottwalt, and myself) is work- lack the sound effects, modifications to lines ing on another great round of speakers. Confirmed and other dramatic effects which are required speakers of the conference are Michael Dirda, Mi- to hold a listener’s interest. Bert Coules and chael Kean, Jonathan McCafferty & Elaine Hamill, other writers adapted all 60 short stories and Bill Mason, Dana Richards, Daniel Stashower, Sue novels for the BBC series, the only time the Vizoskie and a couple of local favorites. The confer- full Canon was performed by the same actors ence will be held at Elmer L. Andersen Library at playing Holmes (Clive Merrison) and Watson the University of Minnesota, and the conference (Michael Williams). Bert has a site, http:// hotel is the Holiday Inn Metrodome in Minneapo- www.bertcoules.co.uk/, which after a few lis. The conference is jointly sponsored by the Nor- appropriate clicks gets to the section that de- wegian Explorers, the University of Minnesota tails the BBC series, including broadcast Libraries (Special Collections and Rare Books), and dates, background on the actors and pictures. the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections at Bert’s site has a few sound files that can the University of Minnesota. I look forward to be downloaded. There is another website at seeing you there. You can be placed on the mailing http://www.sherylfranklin.com/sh- list by emailing [email protected]. sounds.html that has a number of other I also want to welcome our new members to sound clips from productions starring Jeremy the Norwegian Explorers: Kristi Iverson and Mary Brett, Peter Cushing and Basil Rathbone. For Brunn. Don’t forget to spread the word about those adept with computers, you can save Sherlock Holmes and the Norwegian Explorers. these sound files and use them in place of the You can contact me at [email protected]. I normal (and boring) noises your computer am looking forward to another exciting Norwegian makes when it alerts you to various happen- Explorer year. “It’s quite exciting,” said Sherlock ings. Holmes….” (STUD) Phillip Bergem Gary Thaden Page 3 EXPLORATIONS Issue #53 Annual Meeting and Dinner he 2006 Annual Meeting and Dinner of Pastiches: T the Norwegian Explorers was held on Julie & Mike McKuras for “The Luncheon” Thursday, December 7 at the Minneapolis Golf Michel Eckman for “Finding Miss Hunter” Club in suburban St. Louis Park. Club mem- Robert Brusic for “The Wild West” bers Wade and Mary Manthie once again re- Regina Harris for “Moriarty’s Reprise” served the attractive facilities for us. “Award-winning Toast: Stephen Cribari for “The Woman” After exchanging greetings and charging Poem: Ruth Berman for “Sherlockian Phantoms” mystery author drinks — and after Rev. Robert Brusic offered Puzzle: Francine Kitts for “Word Search” Sujata Massey an appropriate invocation — we queued up for Our evening’s speaker was the award win- charmed the the British buffet. Good comments were heard ning writer Sujata Massey. Sujata has written ten audience as she about the shepherd’s pie, Yorkshire pudding mysteries set in the U.S. and Japan featuring a recounted how she and English trifle. Dinner was punctuated by a young, female Japanese-American amateur detec- was influenced by the series of toasts arranged by Phil Bergem: to Mrs. tive named Rei Shimura. Sujata’s first book was Hudson by Pj Doyle, to Mycroft by Ray Rieth- Sherlock Holmes The Salaryman’s Wife, published in 1997, and her meier (see p. 9), to Watson (a poetic toast with most recent is Girl in a Box, published this year. stories of Arthur musical accompaniment) by Karen Ellery, to Dr. Sujata charmed the audience as she recounted Conan Doyle.” Watson’s Second Wife by Ken Timoner, and to how she was influenced by the Sherlock Holmes The Woman by Garry Peterson. stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. One of the val- After din- ues she picked up from Conan Doyle is that “the ner came the things that are routine are the things that are business meet- true and that are worth writing about.” Sensa- ing. Mike Eck- tionalism is not necessary for a compelling story. man read the Like Holmes (at least usually), her detective slate of officers solves mysteries through intelligence rather the and board use of force.