What Is Sherlockian.net?

Updated

Sherlockian.net is a curated directory and information portal for Sherlock Holmes literary and fandom communities. It is aimed at newcomers who want an orientation to Sherlockian culture as well as longtime fans looking for a central resource, and it is maintained by the WIDE Research team at Michigan State University.

What the site covers

According to its own description, the site organizes its content around four main areas:

  • The canon — information about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.
  • Adaptations — material on adaptations of Conan Doyle's works.
  • Scions — guidance on connecting to Sherlockian communities, which are called scions.
  • The Great Game online — ways community members share in the Great Game.

The site presents itself as a directory rather than a single blog or archive: its role is to point visitors toward the wider Sherlockian world and to welcome people who are new to it.

Who runs it

Sherlockian.net is supported by the team at WIDE Research, a lab at Michigan State University directed by Professor Liza Potts. The stated goal is twofold: to provide learning opportunities for students, and to act as caretakers of the website, which the site describes as a cultural landmark and information portal for Sherlockians worldwide.

That academic backing is worth noting if you care about how a resource is governed. It suggests the site is maintained as a teaching and stewardship project rather than as a commercial product.

How to contribute or get involved

If you have new or updated content to share, the site invites you to fill out its Content Survey. That is the route it offers for community members who want to suggest additions or corrections.

When this site is useful to you

  • You are new to Sherlock Holmes fandom and want a starting point for the canon, adaptations, and community groups.
  • You are looking for Sherlockian communities (scions) and want help connecting to them.
  • You want to understand the "Great Game" as it is practiced online.
  • You have content to contribute and want to submit it through the site's survey.

If you are looking for the full text of the stories themselves, a single definitive adaptation guide, or a commercial retailer, this site's own description positions it as a directory and portal — a place to find your way to other resources rather than a replacement for them.