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The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword
Sir Magnus Holmes, cousin to the more famous Sherlock, is asked to investigate the appearance of an otherworldly knight carrying a legendary sword in the cellar of a Victorian London pub.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2020
About the author
Garth Nix
215 books14.5k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 19, 2020
A Tor short story available free from HERE.
Cousin to the more well known Holmes, and with his own doctor sidekick, Sir Magnus Holmes is asked to investigate an elderly knight waving a sword around in the cellar of a bar in London. Set in Victorian times, it does unfortunately read more like an excerpt than a short story - as it is left wide open at the conclusion.
Good, but needed more space to complete.
3/5
Cousin to the more well known Holmes, and with his own doctor sidekick, Sir Magnus Holmes is asked to investigate an elderly knight waving a sword around in the cellar of a bar in London. Set in Victorian times, it does unfortunately read more like an excerpt than a short story - as it is left wide open at the conclusion.
Good, but needed more space to complete.
3/5
February 15, 2020
✔️ Fantasy ✔️ Victorian Mystery ✔️Magic ✔️Intrigue ✔️ Arthurian legend
This ticked all my boxes. Reading about Magnus Holmes was more exciting than reading about his cousins. I really hope Garth Nix continues writing about Magnus because I need more than this morsel.
This ticked all my boxes. Reading about Magnus Holmes was more exciting than reading about his cousins. I really hope Garth Nix continues writing about Magnus because I need more than this morsel.
February 9, 2020
Definitely an interesting and fun story, but ultimately a bit too short for me to rate it any higher than 3 stars. I do really like both of the main characters though and would love to read something longer set in this universe.
April 20, 2022
That was a delightful short story. We know of Sherlock Holmes and his brother Mycroft, but did you know they also have a cousin, one Magnus Holmes? Less famous than his cousins, he is called upon for cases of... let's say supernatural nature.
August 15, 2020
I enjoyed this very much but it felt unfinished to me. I kept thinking I must be missing something at the end, but no - it just ended at a strange place. Clearly there will be a continuation ...
February 28, 2021
This was my Tor short story for February and all I can say after finishing it, is that I'd love to see more and I wish it was turned into a full novel!
I know that Garth Nix is a well-known fantasy writer, however I've never read any of his books, until now. And this short story was really good. It had just enough world and character building for the reader to know what's going on, and the story itself was interesting. The fantasy elements and the ties to arthurian legends really piqued my interest, and like I mentioned, I'm a bit sad it's not a full novel.
It was a great choice of a story for this month and introduced me to the author, whom I'm now keen on discovering more from!
For more bookish goodies, check out my Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and Pinterest ★
I know that Garth Nix is a well-known fantasy writer, however I've never read any of his books, until now. And this short story was really good. It had just enough world and character building for the reader to know what's going on, and the story itself was interesting. The fantasy elements and the ties to arthurian legends really piqued my interest, and like I mentioned, I'm a bit sad it's not a full novel.
It was a great choice of a story for this month and introduced me to the author, whom I'm now keen on discovering more from!
For more bookish goodies, check out my Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and Pinterest ★
December 7, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Having read and enjoyed Sabriel by Garth Nix, I thought I'd give this short story (available for free via Tor.com) a go, and I'm glad I did. Nix takes inspiration from Great Britain's back-catalogue of legendary tales and mashes them together in what was a fast and fun story, perfect for fans of his other works and anyone who just enjoys a good yarn.
This story is essentially Sherlock Holmes (or, at least, his lesser known cousin, Sir Magnus) meets Excalibur, by way of some nefarious scheme likely to depose either the monarchy or parliament - as orchestrated by a wicked witch, of course. Naturally, its up to our heroes to save the day - all whilst maintaining that stiff upper lip we Brits are well known for.
Despite leaning heavily on familiar tales to weave the story, Nix managed to bring a level of originality to proceedings. That being said, it didn't push the boundaries far enough for me to consider it as anything other than a decent, but ultimately unmemorable, read. It was a good concept and solidly done, but it lacked the substance it needed to become legendary in its own right.
I'd consider the story to be magical realism, which works surprisingly well even when considering the inclusion of a character linked to Conan Doyle's decidedly non-magical Holmes.
A decent effort that's worth the read, even if it doesn't reach the dizzying heights of the source material it takes inspiration from.
Having read and enjoyed Sabriel by Garth Nix, I thought I'd give this short story (available for free via Tor.com) a go, and I'm glad I did. Nix takes inspiration from Great Britain's back-catalogue of legendary tales and mashes them together in what was a fast and fun story, perfect for fans of his other works and anyone who just enjoys a good yarn.
This story is essentially Sherlock Holmes (or, at least, his lesser known cousin, Sir Magnus) meets Excalibur, by way of some nefarious scheme likely to depose either the monarchy or parliament - as orchestrated by a wicked witch, of course. Naturally, its up to our heroes to save the day - all whilst maintaining that stiff upper lip we Brits are well known for.
Despite leaning heavily on familiar tales to weave the story, Nix managed to bring a level of originality to proceedings. That being said, it didn't push the boundaries far enough for me to consider it as anything other than a decent, but ultimately unmemorable, read. It was a good concept and solidly done, but it lacked the substance it needed to become legendary in its own right.
I'd consider the story to be magical realism, which works surprisingly well even when considering the inclusion of a character linked to Conan Doyle's decidedly non-magical Holmes.
A decent effort that's worth the read, even if it doesn't reach the dizzying heights of the source material it takes inspiration from.
February 2, 2020
An entertaining short story about Sir Magnus Holmes, cousin to the more famous Sherlock. The protagonist investigates the appearance of an otherworldly knight carrying a legendary sword in the cellar of a Victorian London pub.
Worth a shot, especially that it's free to read on Tor.com website.
Worth a shot, especially that it's free to read on Tor.com website.
January 29, 2020
Originally posted on my Blog
Oh what a tasty yet teasing little moresel that was! All the trappings of a Holmes mystery mixed with a healthy does of magic and mythology. It was chocked full of worldbuilding and hinted at wonderful side stories. I would happily revisit Magnus and Susan. They had such a well developed back story that hinted at such a wider world it's almost cruel that this is a short story only.
Oh what a tasty yet teasing little moresel that was! All the trappings of a Holmes mystery mixed with a healthy does of magic and mythology. It was chocked full of worldbuilding and hinted at wonderful side stories. I would happily revisit Magnus and Susan. They had such a well developed back story that hinted at such a wider world it's almost cruel that this is a short story only.
February 6, 2020
A very interesting take on The Excalibur. It is set in a world of Sherlock Holmes. Yet it is different because it is solved by Sherlock's cousin Magnus Holmes and Susan Shrike. I very much enjoyed this and now all I want is a longer version of this, perhaps a series.
4 stars
4 stars
February 1, 2020
Very much enjoyed this tantalisingly short story with a very different type of Holmes and an almost doctor. Mystery and magic and monsters in Victorian England is right up my street.
April 14, 2023
Short. Very short.
But satisfying.
In less than 30 pages (depending on your font size) or one long scrolling internet page (no thank you, but if one is curious… Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword at Tor.com ), Nix, the master storyteller, manages to introduce an alt history London complete with Arthurian legends seemingly come-to-life, two intriguing and almost fully fleshed (for the space afforded) protagonists along with a plot that moves quickly, if a bit spottily, to a triumphant and wistful resolution.
Oh…and the word “crysophilist.”
Not sure what prompted Mr. Nix to write this short story, but I hope he explores this setting and these two characters…all of which lean heavily on British Gothic and mystery novels of the late 19th century…in much more depth.
The Soundtrack
Deliverance (Live)
A Forest (Live)
The Cutter (Live)
But satisfying.
In less than 30 pages (depending on your font size) or one long scrolling internet page (no thank you, but if one is curious… Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword at Tor.com ), Nix, the master storyteller, manages to introduce an alt history London complete with Arthurian legends seemingly come-to-life, two intriguing and almost fully fleshed (for the space afforded) protagonists along with a plot that moves quickly, if a bit spottily, to a triumphant and wistful resolution.
Oh…and the word “crysophilist.”
Not sure what prompted Mr. Nix to write this short story, but I hope he explores this setting and these two characters…all of which lean heavily on British Gothic and mystery novels of the late 19th century…in much more depth.
The Soundtrack
Deliverance (Live)
A Forest (Live)
The Cutter (Live)
December 28, 2020
4.6 Stars rounded up to five.
Okay, this story was only twenty something pages long and almost got a five star rating out of me. That was how much I liked it. However, it was too short. I could have kept reading The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword for hours, but I couldn't.
Seriously, this could have been an entire series and I would have been more than happy to read all of it. In fact, I'm really hoping Garth Nix is planning on turning it into a series, or at least a longer project, because I kind of need more of Sir Magnus Holmes, Susan, and their adventures.
This little short story has so much potential I can hardly stand it. I would be overly and stupid excited if Nix decided to turn this into something more than a short story. It was full of great characters, an incredible start for an awesome backstory, wonderful plot, and tantalizing hints of adventures to come.
The only thing I didn't like about it (aside from the fact that it was much too short for how deeply attached I became to it) was that it ended so abruptly. It just kind of stopped. I flipped the page expecting more and it was just the blurb for the author, and I was just like, "Wait, that's IT?!" The transition into the end of the story could have been much smoother, but it wasn't...
Other than that I liked everything else. Literally. Everything else.
If you're looking for something short that packs a lovely punch, then please pick up this story. It's fantastic.
(Also, sorry for harping on how short it was... I was just really disappointed. Lol)
Happy reading, my friends!
Okay, this story was only twenty something pages long and almost got a five star rating out of me. That was how much I liked it. However, it was too short. I could have kept reading The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword for hours, but I couldn't.
Seriously, this could have been an entire series and I would have been more than happy to read all of it. In fact, I'm really hoping Garth Nix is planning on turning it into a series, or at least a longer project, because I kind of need more of Sir Magnus Holmes, Susan, and their adventures.
This little short story has so much potential I can hardly stand it. I would be overly and stupid excited if Nix decided to turn this into something more than a short story. It was full of great characters, an incredible start for an awesome backstory, wonderful plot, and tantalizing hints of adventures to come.
The only thing I didn't like about it (aside from the fact that it was much too short for how deeply attached I became to it) was that it ended so abruptly. It just kind of stopped. I flipped the page expecting more and it was just the blurb for the author, and I was just like, "Wait, that's IT?!" The transition into the end of the story could have been much smoother, but it wasn't...
Other than that I liked everything else. Literally. Everything else.
If you're looking for something short that packs a lovely punch, then please pick up this story. It's fantastic.
(Also, sorry for harping on how short it was... I was just really disappointed. Lol)
Happy reading, my friends!
August 25, 2022
The Case of the Somewhat Mythic Sword by author Garth Nix is a short story you can read for free on the Tor.com site https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
Sir Magnus Holmes, cousin to the more famous Sherlock, is asked to investigate the appearance of an otherworldly knight carrying a legendary sword in the cellar of a Victorian London pub.
I loved the formidable Almost Doctor Susan Shrike, Sir Magnus’ alternative version of Doctor Watson. Again, a very exciting overture to what would be a fantastic book. Loved it!
Themes: a mythical knight in the cellar, fairy gold, sorcerer Krongeitz’s curse, Lady of the Lake, never the yellow pill.
4 Stars
Sir Magnus Holmes, cousin to the more famous Sherlock, is asked to investigate the appearance of an otherworldly knight carrying a legendary sword in the cellar of a Victorian London pub.
I loved the formidable Almost Doctor Susan Shrike, Sir Magnus’ alternative version of Doctor Watson. Again, a very exciting overture to what would be a fantastic book. Loved it!
Themes: a mythical knight in the cellar, fairy gold, sorcerer Krongeitz’s curse, Lady of the Lake, never the yellow pill.
4 Stars
July 10, 2020
Classic Nix
Always so imaginative, there’s some great work here with pocket mythic dimensions, sorcery and nasty beasties.
The character of Sir Magnus, cousin of Sherlock Holmes, didn’t work for me as well as I would have liked. I liked his keeper, almost Doctor Susan Shrike, but was disappointed that their relationship was explained in an infodump rather than shown throughout the story.
Enjoyable read nonetheless.
Always so imaginative, there’s some great work here with pocket mythic dimensions, sorcery and nasty beasties.
The character of Sir Magnus, cousin of Sherlock Holmes, didn’t work for me as well as I would have liked. I liked his keeper, almost Doctor Susan Shrike, but was disappointed that their relationship was explained in an infodump rather than shown throughout the story.
Enjoyable read nonetheless.
February 16, 2020
Fun short story - I quite enjoyed the descriptions, especially:
All this, combined with typical British reticence to discuss their relationship and its problems, led them to behave in such a repressed way to each other that everyone else around them knew immediately they were in love.
January 29, 2020
This was a fun peak at what I hope will be the start of more adventures with these two. Subtle wording gives the reader the history of who Magnus is and how he and Susan came to find themselves in their current predicament. The sense of humor and use of Excalibur as the mystery in residence makes this a quick, fun read.
January 30, 2020
Exceedingly short story, very well done, free on Tor.com. I’ll be checking out more of what Garth Nix has written after reading this.
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
January 30, 2020
Fun short snippet. Would really like more from that world!
July 10, 2024
Magnus Holmes, cousin of Sherlock and mystic investigator tries to solve an Arthurian mystery concerning a certain sword.
Fun story, I would love to read something like this in a bigger novel.
Fun story, I would love to read something like this in a bigger novel.
June 21, 2021
This was my first real exposure to Garth Nix's writing, even though I have a couple of his books on my TBR and I did enjoy this spin on the Holmes family as well as his writing style. The story does start off rather jarringly as you are dropped smack dab in the middle, getting a vignette really. Perhaps an introduction would have helped, but it was still enjoyable and a fun mini-adventure.
February 1, 2020
This was a really fun short story. It draws from Sherlock Holmes literature and mixes in magic. I was sad to find out this wasn't part of a larger book. I would gladly read more stories with Magnus Holmes and Susan Shrike!
January 30, 2020
I guess it’s like mixing Beauty and the Beast with Sherlock Holmes? An intriguing idea with all sorts of possibilities.
Perfect.
And I do love a good Tor cover
4 stars
The curse was fading, but until it was entirely dissipated, Magnus had to spend his nights locked up in the most private and secure wing of the Bethlem Royal Hospital for the Insane, and either Susan or more rarely one of Dadd’s other associates accompanied him everywhere in daylight hours.
This was a form of torture for Magnus, who was deeply in love with Susan, but he would not declare himself until he was free of the curse. Susan was also in love with Magnus, but would not admit it, since she was his keeper.
In the meantime Susan was both witness to the more humiliating effects of the curse on Magnus and was also at great risk in her role as his keeper and safeguard, both things Magnus wished she were not subjected to. All this, combined with typical British reticence to discuss their relationship and its problems, led them to behave in such a repressed way to each other that everyone else around them knew immediately they were in love.
Perfect.
And I do love a good Tor cover
4 stars
February 17, 2024
I am amazed by what Garth Nix managed to accomplish with the small page count that makes up this short story. The world that was created and the two characters we were introduced to, Sir Magnus Holmes and “Almost-Doctor” Susan Shrike, were incredibly memorable and entertaining. I truly wish this was a full-length novel (or two). I wish we knew more about Magnus’ curse and the events that led to him getting cursed. I also wish we got to see what was going to happen following the events of this story. I’m seriously sad we will never know more, which is truly a testament to Mr. Nix’s writing that he was able to get me so intrigued and invested with so few pages. Needless to say that I definitely recommend this short story to anyone who is interested. It may be very short, but it was very fun and imaginative.
January 31, 2020
A lesser-known Holmes meets a sort-of Knight of the Round Table. Weird? Yes! Delightfully so.
Read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
Read for free here: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
January 31, 2020
We have a cursed cousin of Sherlock Holmes known as Magnus Holmes. He has ability to solve magical/mystical problems. The way he introduces his assistent/care taker/(undeclared lover) as Keeper can be considered as a similarity to Sherlock or just a copycat of Sherlock. Apart from that he doesn't show any resemblance to Sherlock in character or deductive skills. The story progressed in full speed without giving background which was kind of annoying. Probably this is meant for people who know the original story behind this retelling. It was an okay read.
This is available for free read here: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
This is available for free read here: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/29/the-ca...
February 1, 2020
"From necessity he had become more conversant than he would have liked with caves, hypogea, catacombs, Mithraeums, vaults, crypts, cellars, tunnels and all the other subterranean lairs and dwellings of those whose delvings were sorcerous as well as earthly. " - TCotSMS
An entertaining gaslamp Sherlockian urban fantasy with characters I'd love to read more about: Almost Doctor Susan, and Sherlock's more ... paranormally-inclined cousin, Sir Magnus. See also “The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder: As Experienced by Sir Magnus Holmes and Almost-Doctor Susan Shrike” first published in Ghosts by Gaslight, edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers, 2011.
An entertaining gaslamp Sherlockian urban fantasy with characters I'd love to read more about: Almost Doctor Susan, and Sherlock's more ... paranormally-inclined cousin, Sir Magnus. See also “The Curious Case of the Moondawn Daffodils Murder: As Experienced by Sir Magnus Holmes and Almost-Doctor Susan Shrike” first published in Ghosts by Gaslight, edited by Jack Dann and Nick Gevers, 2011.
January 31, 2021
This started out interesting: a case handled by the cousin of the Holmes' brothers whose specialty is "arcane practices." But there's not much mystery to it, the imagery is richer than the tale, and the author gives the characters more body than serves the story. I honestly don't know why there was a Sherlock Holmes tie-in: it didn't serve the story and it wasn't much like a Sherlock Holmes story. Perhaps it was just a ploy to grab a few extra readers? It was a diverting read but I felt like there was a lot of potential left unrealized and the denouement wasn't really that interesting to me.
September 17, 2021
A fantasy story steeped in the Holmesian world, the protagonist being a cousin of the great detective, one who has mastered the science of sorcery as his cousin had mastered the arts of evidence and analysis. There’s not a lot of mystery in this story, but it’s a nicely presented adventure full of exciting details and some moments of character. I wouldn’t regret reading another with the same protagonist.
November 14, 2022
a decent short story
I enjoyed the added Arthurian legend and the connections to Sherlock. The inn keepers dialect made it frustrating to understand what he was saying. Also some of the words used and sentence structures where difficult to grasp.
The curse was interesting and the story seemed to focus more on the curse then it did the mythic sword which was annoying considering the title.
I enjoyed the added Arthurian legend and the connections to Sherlock. The inn keepers dialect made it frustrating to understand what he was saying. Also some of the words used and sentence structures where difficult to grasp.
The curse was interesting and the story seemed to focus more on the curse then it did the mythic sword which was annoying considering the title.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews