[R] Very angsty and passionate.

Introduction

Nicholas Meyer popularised the pastiche technique of having the story unfold through secret or lost documents which have been unearthed by some outside editor and finally disclosed to the public after many years.

Pythoness employs this technique to reveal "excerpts" from a private manuscript of Watson's, dating from the time period after-Reichenbach and pre-Return. Later chapters describe events further in the past.

From Pythoness's introduction, it seems likely that one day she will give us a sequel to explain what happens next or to fill in gaps that she's left open. Until then, it's a strong story as it stands.

The Secret Diaries of Dr. Watson

by Pythoness

Normally the story text would go here. However, I have broken up The Secret Diaries into parts based upon the chapter divisions that the author herself used. These parts 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. Kate; Pythoness's "The Secret Diaries of Dr. Watson"; 10 July 2002
   Amazingly well-written piece -- I literally had tears in my eyes by the end. Thank you for this wonderful addition! A question, though -- were the circumstances of Holmes's death explained? I would guess suicide; however, the line "it might be he had a presentiment of his death" makes me think otherwise.
         And to Cress: will there be an update anytime soon? I've read everything on this site, and am anxious for more!
2. Cress; "Secret Diaries"; 11 July 2002
   Hi Kate!
         I believe that Pythoness set the "Secret Diaries" in the time period when Watson believed Holmes to be dead. See the paragraph beginning "The journal is undated..." in the introduction (page diaries0.html). Thus the reference to Holmes's death is a reference to what happend at Reichenbach Falls; presumably, Holmes comes back after three years, but this particular journal that's been found doesn't know of it. The introduction also mentions Watson divorcing his wife in 1893, so possibly he and Holmes had a happy ending.
         As for updates, I will try adding a couple of short pieces soon. Thanks for your visit!
3. Yen; [The Secret Diaries of Dr. Watson]; 20 July 2002
   I love this story. To date, I have plugged bugged more than a dozen people about it.
         ????: *finishes reading intro part* Wow, that sounded something both modern and historical in speech style.
   
         ????: I'm reading! Leave me be! :-)
   
         ???a: You're reading Holmes slash?
         ???a: O_O
         ???b: She made us!
         ???b: And it's good.
   
         ???: Thanks for the link, Yen. I think I'll stay up and read tonight. Is it a full length novel type?
         ????: the holmes/watson?
         Yen: it's just the right length...
         ???: Yes.
         ????: it's 4 parts
         Yen: the sort that makes you wish... it was longer
         Yen: ::sighs::
         Yen: or makes you wish there was a sequel
         ???: Heh. Maybe there will be a sequel of sorts?
         Yen: that would be heaven
   --snip praise for Cress's "Escort" sketch--