See why I said that this was arrogant? I really don't want to seem like I'm insulting Robert Adey here, I just want to know why we can't create something like this, or something similar. We'd have many different people working on it. We'd have different areas of expertise. Heck, e-publishing gives us a chance to get it out there. I'm not saying that it'd be easy, but maybe we could discuss it and see how it works? Again, I'm sorry for the arrogance, and I'm sorry if this turns out to be infeasible. I just want to see it discussed...
(And yes, I'm working on the next review. I had an algebra test this week; cut me some slack and show some mercy on this poor soul!)
I don't think you can just copy/paste Locked Room Murders, add omissions, foreign titles and recent examples, and than publish it. Something about copyrighted material. Besides, I have read Adey is still keeping file cards and a third editions would be monstrous in size, if it ever gets published.
ReplyDeleteA better approach would be gathering them all on a website, such as the GADWiki, because a page can be revised/updated the moment information resurfaces or a new locked room mystery is being published. Making this information open source could attract more readers to the genre.
True. I honestly wasn't sure if this would even be possible. Oh well.
DeleteBesides, you gave a better idea! I'd be happy to help, if I knew the first thing about website creation. Do you know anyone who could help with that?
An archive website would easily allow one to cross-link related mysteries, which would be great, I think. I.e. go to Rue Morgue and have it linked to other mysteries where the murder was commited by an ******, where the murder was indeed commited inside the room, etc. etc.
DeleteRampo had a great essay where he presented a typology of all kinds of tricks used in mystery novels (including locked rooms), with titles, but I still have to see that worked out into a database-like website/archive/whatever.
Indeed! I don't know if that would be the best though. I mean, what if the novel you're reading used the same trick as another that you're looking at? Maybe it could be sorted by author/series...
DeleteAnd I want that Rampo essay translated so bad....
Obviously, the stories wouldn't be linked directly to each other, but like how these blogs work: click on the tag you want to read about to go a page that aggregates all these stories. At your own risk of course, but I think this would be more useful/interesting than just a list with no cross-references, even if it's a bit spoiler-dangerous.
DeleteAs for Rampo's essay, I have a translation of the categories, though not of the complete essay (the complete essay obviously has examples & comments with each category)
That could work... my main concern is about stuff like Agatha Christie's work. Someone having a "perfect" alibi was a common thing with her, and that would be a spoiler...
DeleteAlso, yes you have the categories, but that just makes me want to read the rest more!