All-Consuming Fire by: Andy Lane - A Re-Review

Writing a second review to a novel often means that decisions have to be made to reflect changes I may have had on that novel, so it is odd when upon reread my thoughts on All-Consuming Fire have not changed much.  Already one of the best Virgin New Adventures, upon reread I find myself appreciating Lane’s style and story more than ever now that I have experienced much of the original Sherlock Holmes canon.  Lane takes careful steps to match the style of Arthur Conan Doyle from the way that all of the characters speak in almost exaggerated dialogue, and the plot being seen through the filter of Dr. John Watson who has compiled the reminiscences of the Case of the All-Consuming Fire.  Lane has captured the mannerisms of Holmes and Watson well, modeling them on the book characterizations for this novel and not the more traditional Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce portrayals.  The book is written in the way that it feels like it is part of Doyle’s original canon and not the Virgin New Adventures: it’s the missing fifth Sherlock Holmes novel that just happens to contain the Doctor, Benny, and Ace as major supporting characters.  The first thing Lane does in the novel to establish this firmly into the canon of Holmes by making one of the novel’s major villain’s Baron Maupertuis, who is mentioned in The Adventure of the Reigate Squire from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

Maupertuis works very much in the same way as other Holmes villains: he is one that works in the background and the second half of the novel is spent tracking him down on the alien planet of Ry’leh.  He embodies the upper-class villain, misguided in his own beliefs even if his plan to steal books from the Library of St. John the Beheaded, the only person in history to do so.  This library is eventually what the Braxiatel Collection will partially grow from and creates a great setting for an inciting incident and to base an investigation.  Much of the outlandish points in the case, like many Holmes cases, can be explained rationally with the aid of science fiction technology that is not unreasonable to assume to be possible.  There are also several settings and characters which will be a treat to Holmes fans: the Diogenes Club, Mycroft Holmes, and Professor Moriarty all appear in this novel, Moriarty admitting that this is the first time he has met Holmes and foreshadowing The Final Problem nicely.

While the Doctor is still manipulative in All-Consuming Fire and his presence is felt in his absence, there is much more of a trickster spirit around him.  The Doctor here has some idea what is going on and is clearly delighting in outsmarting the Sherlock Holmes at several points in the book.  He spends his time on the sidelines where he can direct the events and push things into what he thinks are the right direction.  He has sent Benny and Ace ahead to India and Ry’leh respectively, meaning that the main trio of Holmes, Watson, and the Doctor drives much of the book.  Once Benny appears in the narrative, she integrates herself incredibly well and even gets her own adventure with Watson.  Lane sidelines Ace for even more of the novel which actually makes her harsher characterization hit softer than other novels where she suffers from this.  There are also twists and turns around every corner making the book one of the best of the VNAs mainly because of how unconventional, yet simple the story is.  It owes a great deal not only to Doyle, but also to H.P. Lovecraft who inspires the villains.  Steven Moffat clearly has read this as Extremis draws quite a few ideas from here.  It’s highly recommended to Who and Holmes fans alike. 10/10.