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For the Sake of the Game
- Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner, Simon Vance, Derek Perkins, Julie McKay, James Langton, Marisa Calin, Ralph Lister, Suzanne Elise Freeman
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Anthologies & Short Stories
Non-member price: $34.09
Publisher's Summary
In a sensational follow-up to Echoes of Sherlock Holmes and In the Company of Sherlock Holmes, a brand-new anthology of stories inspired by the Arthur Conan Doyle canon.
For the Sake of the Game is the latest volume in the award-winning series from New York Times best-selling editors Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger, with stories of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and friends in a variety of eras and forms. King and Klinger have a simple formula: Ask some of the world's greatest writers-regardless of genre - to be inspired by the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle.
The results are surprising and joyous. Some tales are pastiches, featuring the recognizable figures of Holmes and Watson; others step away in time or place to describe characters and stories influenced by the Holmes world. Some of the authors spin whimsical tales of fancy; others tell hardcore thrillers or puzzling mysteries. One beloved author writes a song; two others craft a melancholy tale of insectoid analysis.
This is not a volume for listeners who crave a steady diet of stories about Holmes and Watson on Baker Street. Rather, it is for the generations of people who were themselves inspired by the classic tales, and who are prepared to let their imaginations roam freely.
Features stories by Peter S. Beagle, Rhys Bowen, Reed Farrel Coleman, Jamie Freveletti, Alan Gordon, Gregg Hurwitz, Toni L. P. Kelner, William Kotzwinkle and Joe Servello, Harley Jane Kozak, D. P. Lyle, Weston Ochse, Zoe Sharp, Duane Swierczynski, and F. Paul Wilson
Full cast of narrators: Grover Gardner, Simon Vance, Derek Perkins, Julie McKay, James Langton, Marisa Calin, Ralph Lister, Suzanne Elise Freeman, James Patrick Cronin, Andrew Eiden, Scott Brick, Emily Sutton-Smith, Keith Szarabajka, and Justine Eyre.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about For the Sake of the Game
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Norman
- 07-01-2019
Stories were uninteresting and un "Holmes".
There were some fine moments in these stories but as a whole they were uninteresting and very unlike Holmes. Narration was hit and miss. Seeing Laurie R. King's name associated with this book I expected much more.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S. Brockway
- 27-08-2020
Very fun stories, variety
I'm usually very picky about stories that feature Sherlock, I listened to this for free with the launch of Audible Plus and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
The description is accurate; this is not a collection of Sherlock and Watson adventures. More like some additional scopes to add to the imagination from many points of view, over many different spans of time and either featuring the main characters or just references to them. I really really enjoyed some of these and will probably buy the collection to keep forever because of them. There were none I disliked but I would have had trouble with some if my expectations were aligned with anticipation for something more traditionally Holmes in every single story.
Overall, great narration, fun stories, a good listen if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wendy
- 28-04-2020
Enjoyed it a lot
Enjoyed the stories and the interpretations of Holmes. Some of my favorite narrators and a few to look up and hear more from. Great listen
4 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Dee B Pellegrino
- 09-11-2020
Don’t bother
I generally LOVE spin-off Sherlock Holmes “fan fiction”... but this collection of short stories was very very disappointing. I forced myself to listen to the entire collection, hoping things would improve.. but alas it didn’t happen. Don’t waste your credits or time on this one.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Barbara Williford
- 04-01-2021
Falls Short
A compilation of short stories with a Sherlock Holmes themed. Either in his original era or the present. Some even a rewrite of the original each trying to leverage the Sherlock fame. A few were actually interested and intriguing others were a struggle to listen and one so just had to skip all together because all the author could write was profanity. I’m glad I didn’t pay for this.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Eileen
- 10-12-2020
Disappointing
A couple of the stories were mildly interesting. Three narrators did a good job. Mostly not worth your time.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Wulfette Noire
- 07-03-2021
An odd mix of choices
My favorite is The Case of the Missing Case which featured both young Holmes and Mycroft. I found myself enjoying all the stories up until Buy the Bullet - this one has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes and is not even a detective story. The stories after this also feels out of place though I don’t mind them so much. The last one, Hounded, is a rewrite of The Hounds of Baskerville and it’s quite nice. Narrators goes from really good to not bad. All in all, I’m happy to get this free :)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- birdchild
- 26-02-2021
some better than others.
The excellent narration that was in British accent, for authenticity, but easily understand by me, with an American accent. Over all wonderful story telling enhanced to authenticity
by hearing it.
This is what an audio book is about. These stories were just the right length for a walk you extended to hear the conclusion .
Some of your books with a British narration did not appeal to me but that had to do with the
plot. This one was better for it .
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Maverick’s Trove
- 03-02-2021
For the Sake of the Game
I always love Sherlock Holmes stories. This one was a lot of fun to listen to.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- B. F.
- 06-12-2020
A Mixed Bag
The stories ranged from "Gee I wish this author would do a series!" to "Grab the pitchforks and torches boys, we got work to do...".
Apparently "Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon" means "somewhere in the story the words 'Sherlock Holmes' appear". A couple of these SO abused the premise that they reached the level of "irksome"... However a couple of them were so stylistically and thematically divergent from what any reasonable human being would characterize as 'the Sherlock Holmes Canon" that they attained the lofty heights of "loathsome".
However, I guess that is to be expected from a collection edited by Laurie R. King, considering how (in my opinion) she has (very profitably) mangled the Holmes canon. There is apparently a very lucrative market for canon's that have been tossed under a train and crushed beyond recognition.
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