[R] Contains some sex, but leaves more to the imagination than to the text. There is also a storyline involving prostitutes and their business activities.

Introduction

Irene Adler's classic tale, featuring humour, angst, and drama, has inspired many of us H/W slashers. Here is the author's succinct intro:

Holmes is investigating a blackmail case and won't tell Watson who the client is; Watson does a little digging and finds out a lot of stuff he really should have known already.

Absurdly Simple

by Irene Adler

Normally the story text would go here. However, since Absurdly Simple is fairly long, I've now broken it up into parts that are linked to this index, and to each other:

Comments

Now there's a guestbook from which I will copy the comments on the slash fiction. Sample comments would look like this:

• [Author]; [subject]; [date]
  [message text]

1. Irene Adler; Holmes/Watson; 16 March 1999
   Hi there...just thought I'd get the guestbook rolling. Cress, "Absurdly" looks great! I didn't even know you were going to do footnotes...this is truly a full-service operation. BTW, if you want notes for the more obscure stuff like the Offences Against the Person Act, the Reading Gaol reference, Tennyson & Hallam, etc., let me know and I'll provide 'em.
         Keep the faith,
         Irene Adler
2. Toft; Holmes/Watson site; 17 March 1999
   I have read the story called Absurdly Simple before and I'm happy that you have placed it here.Keep up the good work!
3. Jin Katkin; general; 20 March 1999
   Gosh, it's nice to know this is here. ; *> Let it be known by all and sundry that Miss Roylott and S/he who has changed Hir name to Adler are Very Good Writers. I'd make a comment about Toft, but I haven't read any of her stuff (growl). I wonder, though� does Cress take on sacreligious sacrelige? If so, she should talk to me.
4. Mark Stanley aka Listdad; general; 21 March 1999
   I'm just here to say I like the new additions to the site! Irene Adler is as wonderful in this fandom as she is in her Garak/Bashir incarnation. Her story is delightful and her essay is helpful and informative. The story with the Catullus is great as well.
5. Predatrix; general, for Cress--apology!; 13 January 2000
   --snip discussion of background textures on site--
         In any case, I think the site as a whole is great (honourable mentions to Solstice (tone & style absolutely gorgeous, [except for] the occasional Americanism which grates on me because I'm a picky Brit), Long Overdue (such a relief to have a less-than-adoringly-submissive Watson for a change, many writers sell him a bit short), Anything (lovely angst & struggle betw society's morals and Watson's desires) and the Irene Adler thing (which I read before she had that pseud or it had a title, but is memorable, particularly for the tobacco in the hair).
         Cheers, Pred'x (...whose own H/W story is still bubbling in the back of the head...
6. Aura Starfire; fanfiction : absurdly; 10 July 2001
   Hi, I'd just like to say I loved your fanfic 'Absurdly'. The few slash Holmes/Watson fanfics/stories I have read have not been what I would call good, so your fanfic is a refreshing touch, I hope you write more.
7. The Artist Formerly Known As Shame; Absurdly Simple, by Irene Adler; 1 Jan 2003
   Hi, I'd just like to say I loved your fanfic 'Absurdly'. The few slash Holmes/Watson fanfics/stories I have read have not been what I would call good, so your fanfic is a refreshing touch, I hope you write more.
8. Cress; belated reply; 16 Jan 2003
   About the comment on Irene Adler's story: I will add your comment to the story, but I think the footnote was referring to the fact that Bosie's father *believed* that Wilde had seduced his son. He and probably others assumed that it was the decadent older man who corrupted the supposedly innocent younger man. In fact, Bosie was, as you point out, not at all innocent, and was the one who introduced Wilde to rent boys and such things.