Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle [Paperback]

Maurice Leblanc (Author), Randy Lofficier (Author), Jean-Marc Lofficier (Author), Kim Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Maurice Leblanc's classic 1909 thriller pits France's Gentleman Burglar against England's Great Detective in a deadly duel over the age-old secret of the Kings of France. What is the Hollow Needle and what frightening power does it confer? Can Sherlock Holmes and Paris' newest crime solver, young Isidore Beautrelet, wrest its secret from Arsène Lupin Lupin? This new edition has been entirely retranslated for the first time since its original 1910 English publication. It also includes Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late, the very first 1906 Lupin vs. Holmes short story, Escape Not The Thunderbolt, an all-new account of the final encounter between the Gentleman Burglar and the Great Detective (written by J.-M. & Randy Lofficier) and a foreword by Kim Newman (Anno Dracula).

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This famous 1909 Holmesian pastiche has been retranslated for the first time. The book also includes SHERLOCK HOLMES ARRIVES TOO LATE, the first 1906 Lupin-Holmes short story, and ESCAPE NOT THE THUNDERBOLT, an all-new account of the final encounter between the Gentleman Burglar and the Great Detective, written by J.-M. & Randy Lofficier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Hollywood Comics (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974071196
• ISBN-13: 978-0974071190
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Battle Commences in "The Hollow Needle", September 11, 2004

By 

Kevin Tipple (Plano, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle (Paperback)

In this first volume of a planned three-volume set, the reader is introduced to Arse'ne Lupin, the Gentleman Burglar of France. Maurice Leblanc made the fictional character famous in a series of short stories and novels just after the turn of the century approximately 100 years ago. Arse'ne Lupin, in a sense, was France's answer to the exploits of the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Various meetings between the men on opposite sides make up the two short stories and the novel The Hollow Needle" found in this book.

"The Hollow Needle" opens with Raymonde de Saint-Ve'ran being awoken by sounds of intruders below her room in the country castle. She discovers they are being robbed and with the Count unconscious, takes matters into her own capable hands. As the last person flees away from her home, she manages to shoot and wound him at long range. The intruder goes down, and then begins to crawl away as she goes downstairs to begin the pursuit. Once outside she quickly goes to the point where she last saw him and discovers that he has vanished. A search of the grounds and surrounding farmland is commenced by the servants with no success and by dawn the gendarmes are called in.

An investigation is launched by the local magistrate and numerous clues are discovered. Also found is a note threatening the young woman's life if she has managed to fatally wound the boss. The media, in the form of two young reporters, is allowed total and complete access to the case and every detail discovered. It quickly becomes apparent that one of the reporters isn't a reporter after all. Instead, he is a young high school student who is using the situation as a learning experience. Isidore Beautrelet is his name and he quickly puts together several of the clues leading the investigation towards Lupin and his gang. What follows is a cat and mouse game as Isidore, with Sherlock not available due to being kidnapped, leads the investigation on behalf of the authorities in a pursuit of Lupin. Lupin, master of disguises and plans, constantly eludes the authorities and Isidore while a fascinated nation watches and reads all about it in the papers.

Also present in this first volume is the short story "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late." Originally written in 1906, it features the first clash between Sherlock and Lupin. The book is concluded with a short story entitled "Escape Not The Thunderbolt" which is an original story penned by Jean-marc and Randy Lofficier for this volume. In it, by following the writing style of Maurice Leblanc, they bring several story threads from "The Hollow Needle" together to provide a conclusion to the rather open ended read.

Unlike many mystery novels today, this novel does not feature gratuitous and graphic descriptive violence. While there are violent moments, they are limited and are used to move the story forward on a new track. Instead, what drives the novel forward is the mental process where deduction and reasoning are used to solve an ever-changing puzzle thanks to the constant efforts of Lupin. His answer is not to kill the pursuers and others that are witnesses. Instead, his answer is to publicly celebrate the chase, his ability to elude, and his ability to plant new false clues for Isidore and the authorities to chase. In this case, all trails eventually lead to the revelation of "The Hollow Needle" and its legendary secret involving the Kings of France.

While Sherlock Holmes rarely makes an appearance in the novel, the novel and accompanying short stories provide a highly entertaining read. The book as a whole combines a strong mystery, a villain that is so dastardly he becomes likeable, and protagonist in Isidore worthy of Sherlock. In the end, Beautrelet proves that two can play at this game and win.


Book Facts:

Arse'ne Lupin VS. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle
By Maurice Leblanc
Adapted by Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier
Black Coat Press
www.blackcoatpress.com
2004
ISBN # 0-9740711-9-6
Large Trade Paperback

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love crossovers, this is the one for you, March 13, 2005

By 

Win Scott Eckert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle (Paperback)

Great Holmes crossover pastiche, in which he jousts with the archetypal French gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin. Perfect for fans of Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, etc.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Less Sherlock Than I Would Have Liked, But..., June 26, 2005

By 

Darkendale "Raven" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle (Paperback)

This really isn't a renewal of the clash between Sherlock Holmes and Arsene Lupin began in The Blonde Phantom. Lupin has effectively removed Holmes from the scene by kidnapping him. Enter a new protagonist: Isidore Beautrelet, a very young reporter with an analytical mind amost matching that of Holmes, if I may utter such blasphemy.

Beautrelet manages to track down Lupin and free Holmes, whose misguided shot kills Lupin's lover, Raymonde de Saint-Ve'ran. But years later, when Holmes has retired to the Downs to keep bees (depending on whose line of books you wish to follow, The Raven walks all paths), Arsene Lupin visits him and forgives him for the deed. In fact, it seems Lupin never really held it against The Great Detective, believeing all along the shot was accidential. Their friendship, and rivialry, remains to the end. [Escape Not The Thunderbolt], an original story by Jean-marc and Randy Lofficier included in this volume, tells the tale. Quoth the Raven...