Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by two writers who know their way around both classic deduction and deep-cut science fiction as we talk about the Kickstarter for their new novel, Sherlock Holmes: The Southwark Stigmata. This is a project that leans hard into atmosphere, mystery, and character, re-examining Holmes through a darker, more psychologically charged lens, and the Kickstarter is giving readers a chance not just to support the book, but to be part of its launch in a meaningful way.

My guests are Michael Jan Friedman and Christopher Abbott. Mike brings decades of storytelling experience and an encyclopedic command of Star Trek, shaped by his many Trek novels and his work on Star Trek: Voyager. Chris is equally steeped in Trek lore, having written thoughtful Star Trek essays for Film Threat, and together they share a genuine love for canon, continuity, and bold reinterpretation. We dig into the origins of The Southwark Stigmata, how their collaboration came together, and why Sherlock Holmes still has new stories worth telling today.