Asimov's Mysteries by Isaac Asimov
Mar. 26th, 2006 03:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Isaac Asimov is renowned the world over as creator of the magnificent Foundation trilogy, a galaxy-spanning saga of warfare and political intrigue. He has also virtually pioneered the mystery story as a distinct branch of science fiction with such novels as The Naked Sun and The Caves of Steel. Now he presents thirteen fiendishly ingenious stories of crime, murder, puzzlement and detection in the far reaches of space and centuries in the future. This book is a superb showcase of Dr Asimov's brilliant storytelling talent.
Whilst the science behind the stories is now a little dated, the joy is that the mysteries themselves still work. What is particularly interesting is that the science became outdated even as Asimov presented these tales and he himself recognises the fact - for example, the twist in The Dying Light depends on the then current knowledge of Mercury, which was that it was a planet that did not spin - in an edit for the collection written in 1965, Asimov notes that this is now incorrect and there's a certain charm about that but the testament to his skill is that even when you know this, it doesn't detract from enjoying the story.
Some of the stories feature a character called Dr Urth, an extraterrologist who refuses to travel on any space device and is confined to leaving his home only by foot. He reminds me a great deal of Nero Wolfe (who similarly will not leave his house) and like Nero Wolfe, he has great deductive powers. Stories such as The Singing Bell and The Key make great use of his deductive reasoning in a way that makes him human (albeit a slightly pompous, odd-bird of a human) but will also have you slapping your forehead as you wonder how come you didn't come to that conclusion.
My favourite story in this particular collection is the last - The Billiard Ball is a murder mystery that combines billiards, arrogance, one-upmanship and murder in an ingenious and utterly delightful way that will make you pleased to see the criminal get away with it.
Whilst some of the science is a little complicated, you never feel overwhelmed and Asimov's careful explanations are not partonising but instead, enlightening and even more enjoyable. These stories work both as science fiction and as mysteries and as such will stand the test of time.
The Verdict:
Again, if you're a sci-fi fan then you need to read these stories. Similarly, if you like a good mystery then I think you'll get a lot out of them two. Quite simply, a delight.
Isaac Asimov is renowned the world over as creator of the magnificent Foundation trilogy, a galaxy-spanning saga of warfare and political intrigue. He has also virtually pioneered the mystery story as a distinct branch of science fiction with such novels as The Naked Sun and The Caves of Steel. Now he presents thirteen fiendishly ingenious stories of crime, murder, puzzlement and detection in the far reaches of space and centuries in the future. This book is a superb showcase of Dr Asimov's brilliant storytelling talent.
Whilst the science behind the stories is now a little dated, the joy is that the mysteries themselves still work. What is particularly interesting is that the science became outdated even as Asimov presented these tales and he himself recognises the fact - for example, the twist in The Dying Light depends on the then current knowledge of Mercury, which was that it was a planet that did not spin - in an edit for the collection written in 1965, Asimov notes that this is now incorrect and there's a certain charm about that but the testament to his skill is that even when you know this, it doesn't detract from enjoying the story.
Some of the stories feature a character called Dr Urth, an extraterrologist who refuses to travel on any space device and is confined to leaving his home only by foot. He reminds me a great deal of Nero Wolfe (who similarly will not leave his house) and like Nero Wolfe, he has great deductive powers. Stories such as The Singing Bell and The Key make great use of his deductive reasoning in a way that makes him human (albeit a slightly pompous, odd-bird of a human) but will also have you slapping your forehead as you wonder how come you didn't come to that conclusion.
My favourite story in this particular collection is the last - The Billiard Ball is a murder mystery that combines billiards, arrogance, one-upmanship and murder in an ingenious and utterly delightful way that will make you pleased to see the criminal get away with it.
Whilst some of the science is a little complicated, you never feel overwhelmed and Asimov's careful explanations are not partonising but instead, enlightening and even more enjoyable. These stories work both as science fiction and as mysteries and as such will stand the test of time.
The Verdict:
Again, if you're a sci-fi fan then you need to read these stories. Similarly, if you like a good mystery then I think you'll get a lot out of them two. Quite simply, a delight.
