Nothing wonderful, but all pretty good. I tend to dislike Mycroft-style mysteries, with a stay-at-home know-it-all (or any kind of know-it-all, actually), and four of the thirteen form a series with that kind of detective - though I liked him in the last one. I liked the Vesta pair, too, and the library one. Dying Night was depressing, Marsport was too weird (though I liked the solution - amusing), the last one - billards - was neat. The two with scientists killed by subordinates were also rather depressing, though the one that got away with it kind of deserved it. There were quite a few with rather flimsy evidence - the first story got around it by saying they could 'psyche-probe' if they had sufficient reason to suspect, most of the others they obviously confessed (aside from the ones that got away with it). It was a fun read, I might reread it. Nothing that really caught me, though. ( )

Asimov did not feel challenged by writing science fiction and mysteries, so he came to a conclusion that he should write science fiction mysteries. Most authors avoided such activities as it became very easy to cheat when writing science fiction mysteries (or for that matter, fantasy mysteries), as there were certain deus ex machinas that could be used to shock the audience.

He instead wrote mysteries in which all things that could be used as surprise solutions were instead brought forth up front or never used or discussed. From this he managed to write several intriguing mysteries, some humorous, and some serious.

Several of the stories feature Wendell Urth, a claustrophiliac expert on extraterrestrial conditions, sort of a mixture between Asimov himself and Mycroft Holmes.

Nevertheless, if you are a fan of Asimov, or a fan of science fiction and mystery, I highly recommend this book to you. ( )

This one's a nice collection of science fiction mysteries, written by Dr. Isaac Asimov. Well, mostly. One tale, "Marooned Off Vesta", isn't a mystery tale, but rather it's included because its sequel, "Anniversary", is one. Another tale, "A Loint of Paw", isn't a mystery either--it's a courtroom drama that is simply a set up for a pun. But since it's only two pages long, I don't feel cheated. All in all, this book is good, classic science fiction, well worth reading.
--J. ( )

Reviewed Sept 2003

A complementation of Asimov’s mysteries most of which I have read many times before. I read this book during lunch breaks many stories are highly technical, the “Billard Ball,” “The Key,” and “Pate de Fois Gras” which usually just bores me. I skip over these areas and move on the to the mysteries. All the stories are about men withthe exception of the story, “I’m in Marsport with Hilda.” Asimov writes about an alto ego (?) Wendell Urth whom will not travel (also something Asimov disliked). Actually hated to fly, and when he did take vacations he always took his typewriter with him.

7-2003 ( )

this book is another collection of short stories, but this time, sci-fi mysteries. with all of Asimov's usual thrill, these stories are brilliant, if a little similar. ( )