What do you think?
Rate this book
Estoy en Puertomarte sin Hilda y otros cuentos
13 INCREDIBLE TALES BY THE INCOMPARABLE MASTER OF SCIENCE THE SINGING BELL—An intergalactic criminal steals treasured, musical lunar artifacts.THE TALKING STONE—A spaceship crew is planning on some illegal uranium mining with the help of on intelligent creature mode of rock.WHAT'S IN A NAME?—Everything. Especially when twin librarians ore involved in a murder.PÂTÉ DE FOIE GRAS—Just how did that goose lay the golden egg?Also included in the collection THE DYING NIGHT. THE DUST OF DEATH, A LOINT OF PAW, I'M IN MARSPORT WITHOUT HILDA, MAROONED OFF VESTA and ANNIVERSARY, OBITUARY, STAR LIGHT, THE KEY, and THE BILLIARD BALL.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
45 people are currently reading
1569 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,341 books27.8k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
January 10, 2018
Pure genius. There simply are no other words for it.
July 17, 2023
This is an early collection of stories by Asimov that add a (sometimes tenuous) mystery twist to a science fiction tale. Published several years prior to his Black Widowers or Union Club stories, they're mostly quite clever and challenging puzzles without the framing sequences of the series that sometimes grew to feel rather constricting. The majority of this baker's dozen were originally published in F & SF magazine in the mid 1950s, though there a couple from the 60s, and a few from other periodicals including Venture SF, The Saint mystery magazine, Scientific American (!), Astounding SF, and a pair from Amazing SF, including his first published story from 1939 (which isn't a mystery, but there's a sequel from 1959 that he claims makes it okay.) None of his best or classic works are here, but the handful of Wendall Urth stories are fun, and it's an enjoyable book despite the inescapable aging. His informal chatty forewords and afterwords are amusing and interesting, too.
March 5, 2016
This collection contains: The Singing Bell; The Talking Stone; What's in a Name; The Dying Night; Pate de Fois Gras; The Dust of Death; A Loint of Paw; I'm in Marsport Without Hilda; Marooned Off Vesta; Anniversary; Obituary; Star Light; The Key; and The Billiard Ball.
In some ways the first short story in this collection, The Singing Bell,is the best. That's because some thought has gone into the plot to make the murderer cunning. Or maybe I just like the style? It reminds me of Nightfall and Other Stories.
The talking stone was the next story. I am of the opinion that the rest of the collection can't match this, hence the final rating of 2/5. The story is taut, there's no waste, there's no place for red herrings.
The rest of the stories vary their protagonists. Gone is the reassuring presence of Wendell Urth. There's even one mystery that's not science fiction, but the mystery is flat and all sizzle.
From The Dying Night onwards, I read the rest of the book in a blur, quickly, to be done with it. The quality failed to recapture my interest and imagination. Some of the stories are too technical, others are obtuse, others still, forgettable. That's my take on 'Asimov's Mysteries'.
In some ways the first short story in this collection, The Singing Bell,is the best. That's because some thought has gone into the plot to make the murderer cunning. Or maybe I just like the style? It reminds me of Nightfall and Other Stories.
The talking stone was the next story. I am of the opinion that the rest of the collection can't match this, hence the final rating of 2/5. The story is taut, there's no waste, there's no place for red herrings.
The rest of the stories vary their protagonists. Gone is the reassuring presence of Wendell Urth. There's even one mystery that's not science fiction, but the mystery is flat and all sizzle.
From The Dying Night onwards, I read the rest of the book in a blur, quickly, to be done with it. The quality failed to recapture my interest and imagination. Some of the stories are too technical, others are obtuse, others still, forgettable. That's my take on 'Asimov's Mysteries'.
October 8, 2012
A very recent review on this site by Nandakishore on a work by Agatha Christie explains the dilemma in trying to review mysteries. It is something like trying to explain how an ingenious magic trick works for once the explanation is done, the audience feels oh, so was that just it ? and countless hours of practice on the magician's part goes to waste in a breath. This is also the reason why I love mysteries for you never know what awaits you at the end of the tale. Asimov in this slim volume offers tales in this huge family tree set in futuristic cityscapes.
The stories are more or less very simple in their structure. In the gap of a good ten or 15 pages, the whole affair reaches a conclusion which Asimov makes us believe is a logical one. There are no convoluted plots nor larger-than-life characters for even in space, Asimov's characters retain an earthly touch. Two characters tend to repeat through most of the stories. The first is an official investigator H.Seton Davenport who while being pragmatic and duty bound cannot help but being a baffled albeit pale shade of Dr. Watson. The eccentric detective caricature here is bestowed upon Dr. Wendell Urth who is quite a unique character sketch. There is also another reason why I liked this duo for they are never interested in each other's company beyond the lifetime of the mystery, a purely professional working arrangement is how they proceed. To add to this is the way the mysteries are solved for all these seemingly impossible knots are untied in the cluttered setting of Dr. Urth's abode. Another of my favorites in the book was the tongue in cheek rendition of a folk tale in the guise of Pâté de Foie Gras .
A solid collection of tales but nothing unexpected in the plot lines in terms of twists. As reliable as morning coffee is your man Isaac Asimov !
The stories are more or less very simple in their structure. In the gap of a good ten or 15 pages, the whole affair reaches a conclusion which Asimov makes us believe is a logical one. There are no convoluted plots nor larger-than-life characters for even in space, Asimov's characters retain an earthly touch. Two characters tend to repeat through most of the stories. The first is an official investigator H.Seton Davenport who while being pragmatic and duty bound cannot help but being a baffled albeit pale shade of Dr. Watson. The eccentric detective caricature here is bestowed upon Dr. Wendell Urth who is quite a unique character sketch. There is also another reason why I liked this duo for they are never interested in each other's company beyond the lifetime of the mystery, a purely professional working arrangement is how they proceed. To add to this is the way the mysteries are solved for all these seemingly impossible knots are untied in the cluttered setting of Dr. Urth's abode. Another of my favorites in the book was the tongue in cheek rendition of a folk tale in the guise of Pâté de Foie Gras .
A solid collection of tales but nothing unexpected in the plot lines in terms of twists. As reliable as morning coffee is your man Isaac Asimov !
September 16, 2014
Asimov enjoyed showing off his versatility, and even though he's best known for his SF and popular science, he could do other things too. In particular, he was surprisingly competent at mysteries. Maybe he should have written more of them.
This book collects together his best mystery short stories, the greater part of which have an SF theme. They often hinge on a clever piece of word-play. Asimov loved jeux de mots, and had a tendency to be a little too silly with them, but here he gets it right; "What's in a Name?" is a nice murder set in a library, with a very satisfying and logical resolution, and "The Clue" manages at the same time to be incredibly geeky and rather haunting. Recommended to anyone who likes both the SF and mystery genres.
____________________________________
If you've read The Billiard Ball, you may be interested to know that
This book collects together his best mystery short stories, the greater part of which have an SF theme. They often hinge on a clever piece of word-play. Asimov loved jeux de mots, and had a tendency to be a little too silly with them, but here he gets it right; "What's in a Name?" is a nice murder set in a library, with a very satisfying and logical resolution, and "The Clue" manages at the same time to be incredibly geeky and rather haunting. Recommended to anyone who likes both the SF and mystery genres.
____________________________________
If you've read The Billiard Ball, you may be interested to know that
May 20, 2021
Em resposta a opiniões que atestavam como difícil a compatibilidade entre a ficção científica e ficção criminal, Isaac Asimov escreveu dois romances: The Caves of Steel (1953), "...acolhido pela crítica como uma boa história de ficção científica-policial", e a sua continuação The Naked Sun (1957), "...só para demonstrar que o livro anterior não fora mero produto do acaso..."
Entre estes dois romances, incentivado ainda pelo mesmo móbil, diz-nos o autor que "...produzi vários contos curtos destinados a provar que as histórias policiais de ficção científica se podiam escrever em todas as extensões."
São esses contos (14 no total) que este livro agrupa, nomeadamente:
Os Sinos Cantantes
As Pedras Falantes
O Nome Revelador
A Noite Imortal
A Galinha dos Ovos de Ouro
O Pó Mortal
Questão Legal
Estou em Porto de Marte sem Hilda
Em Órbita Forçada
Aniversário
Necrologia
O Fugitivo
A Chave
A Bola de Bilhar
Gostei um pouco mais de alguns dos contos (em especial dos ultimos seis e também de "A Galinha dos Ovos de Ouro") e não desgostei de nenhum, apesar do machismo gritante de "Estou em Porto de Marte sem Hilda (característica bastante comum nos autores clássicos de ficção científica, nao sendo, na minha opinião, Asimov "dos piores") 😂.
No geral foi uma boa leitura, que a mim enquanto leitora, fez brincar a imaginação e o raciocínio lógico dedutivo. Gostei bastante das "conversas entre contos" que Asimov trava com o leitor. Trazem, na minha opinião, uma intimidade extra que potencia o efeito da leitura. Gostei também bastante de como os mesmos personagens surgem em vários dos contos, dando uma sensação de continuidade.
Não houve no entanto nenhum conto "uau". Penso que a fusão de géneros está bem conseguida e que Asimov provou sem margem para dúvidas a compatibilidade e o potencial, mas acabei por não considerar nenhum conto verdadeiramente excepcional ou surpreendente, nem na parte policial, nem na parte sci-fi, acabando no geral por ser uma leitura boa, mas "morna".
Sou fã de Isaac Asimov e já fui muito apaixonada quer por ficção científica quer por policiais. Tenho pena que este livro não tenha chegado na altura mais propícia da minha vida de leitora, mas não deixou de ser uma leitura compensadora, que gostei de ter realizado.
Entre estes dois romances, incentivado ainda pelo mesmo móbil, diz-nos o autor que "...produzi vários contos curtos destinados a provar que as histórias policiais de ficção científica se podiam escrever em todas as extensões."
São esses contos (14 no total) que este livro agrupa, nomeadamente:
Os Sinos Cantantes
As Pedras Falantes
O Nome Revelador
A Noite Imortal
A Galinha dos Ovos de Ouro
O Pó Mortal
Questão Legal
Estou em Porto de Marte sem Hilda
Em Órbita Forçada
Aniversário
Necrologia
O Fugitivo
A Chave
A Bola de Bilhar
Gostei um pouco mais de alguns dos contos (em especial dos ultimos seis e também de "A Galinha dos Ovos de Ouro") e não desgostei de nenhum, apesar do machismo gritante de "Estou em Porto de Marte sem Hilda (característica bastante comum nos autores clássicos de ficção científica, nao sendo, na minha opinião, Asimov "dos piores") 😂.
No geral foi uma boa leitura, que a mim enquanto leitora, fez brincar a imaginação e o raciocínio lógico dedutivo. Gostei bastante das "conversas entre contos" que Asimov trava com o leitor. Trazem, na minha opinião, uma intimidade extra que potencia o efeito da leitura. Gostei também bastante de como os mesmos personagens surgem em vários dos contos, dando uma sensação de continuidade.
Não houve no entanto nenhum conto "uau". Penso que a fusão de géneros está bem conseguida e que Asimov provou sem margem para dúvidas a compatibilidade e o potencial, mas acabei por não considerar nenhum conto verdadeiramente excepcional ou surpreendente, nem na parte policial, nem na parte sci-fi, acabando no geral por ser uma leitura boa, mas "morna".
Sou fã de Isaac Asimov e já fui muito apaixonada quer por ficção científica quer por policiais. Tenho pena que este livro não tenha chegado na altura mais propícia da minha vida de leitora, mas não deixou de ser uma leitura compensadora, que gostei de ter realizado.
May 17, 2023
1978 Grade A+
2023 Grade A-
The word "Mysteries" was used loosely by the publishers. These thirteen Science and SciFi short stories are more like crime dramas than true mysteries. Often the only thing present is the actual crime with no detective work at all, just an odd twist at the end. They are still great stories, but my standards have changed. Thus the altered grade. Still eight of the stories are grade A!
Recommended.
2023 Grade A-
The word "Mysteries" was used loosely by the publishers. These thirteen Science and SciFi short stories are more like crime dramas than true mysteries. Often the only thing present is the actual crime with no detective work at all, just an odd twist at the end. They are still great stories, but my standards have changed. Thus the altered grade. Still eight of the stories are grade A!
Recommended.
September 21, 2019
En mi intención por adentrarme en la ciencia ficción, uno de los autores más recomendados era Isaac Asimov, por lo que no dudé a la hora de buscar novelas suyas para adentrarme más en el género. Si bien cogí prestado en la biblioteca no solo este libro, también Yo, Robot, quise dar la oportunidad primero a Estoy en Puertomarte sin Hilda para conocer más al autor con relatos cortos antes de adentrarme en la novela anteriormente mencionada.
Hay que decir que son relatos amenos e interesantes, aunque hubo uno que se me hizo especialmente predecible. Son diferentes entre sí tanto en situaciones como en personajes —aunque veremos a más de uno en varios de estos— y creo que es una buena manera de probar a este autor a la par que el mismo género.
Ya, a nivel personal, el autor me ha parecido tanto por sus comentarios como un par de historias un tanto machista y pretencioso, pero eso no degrada su calidad como autor y en concreto el nivel de estos relatos.
Hay que decir que son relatos amenos e interesantes, aunque hubo uno que se me hizo especialmente predecible. Son diferentes entre sí tanto en situaciones como en personajes —aunque veremos a más de uno en varios de estos— y creo que es una buena manera de probar a este autor a la par que el mismo género.
Ya, a nivel personal, el autor me ha parecido tanto por sus comentarios como un par de historias un tanto machista y pretencioso, pero eso no degrada su calidad como autor y en concreto el nivel de estos relatos.
August 20, 2015
This is a very good mix of thirteen crime and mystery stories (excepting one or two) by Mr. Asimov, some written during the earliest stages of his writing career. At times it felt like reading Sherlock Holmes, albeit based in a science-fictional scenario. A few scientific descriptions (although not too technical), which are usually expressed within dialogues, could tend to go beyond the grasp of understanding with an under-average, un-scientific mind. All the stories are wonderful, although some need to be given special admiration.
Paté de Foie Gras was an intensely interesting story, scientifically extrapolated upon a folk-tale that kids usually listen to during their school days.
Marooned Off Vesta and Anniversary is a combination of two stories, the second one of which was written as a sequel on the preceding story's twentieth anniversary of its publication. The first story (unedited, as claimed by the writer in his foreword) has been very well written considering that it was the writer's first published story in a magazine while he was in his late teens, in the infamously well-remembered commencing year of WWII, 1939. Anniversary continues, as the characters from the first story meet up on the twentieth anniversary of their events in the first story. The two combine together to exhibit the element of mystery.
Obituary deals with murder using an experimental time-travel phenomenon. An amazing story.
The Key is a well devised mystery tale, which also discusses about a certain group of extremists with their idea about of reducing the global population by ninety-nine percent through killing. It talks about the rigid nature of their emotions, lacking empathy, and their incapability to connect very well with other people's emotions.
The book ends with The Billiard Ball, another lovely idea based upon Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
Paté de Foie Gras was an intensely interesting story, scientifically extrapolated upon a folk-tale that kids usually listen to during their school days.
Marooned Off Vesta and Anniversary is a combination of two stories, the second one of which was written as a sequel on the preceding story's twentieth anniversary of its publication. The first story (unedited, as claimed by the writer in his foreword) has been very well written considering that it was the writer's first published story in a magazine while he was in his late teens, in the infamously well-remembered commencing year of WWII, 1939. Anniversary continues, as the characters from the first story meet up on the twentieth anniversary of their events in the first story. The two combine together to exhibit the element of mystery.
Obituary deals with murder using an experimental time-travel phenomenon. An amazing story.
The Key is a well devised mystery tale, which also discusses about a certain group of extremists with their idea about of reducing the global population by ninety-nine percent through killing. It talks about the rigid nature of their emotions, lacking empathy, and their incapability to connect very well with other people's emotions.
The book ends with The Billiard Ball, another lovely idea based upon Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
November 30, 2021
The stories themselves didn't stand out for their writing or plots and were neither particularly good nor bad. The value in this book and what makes it interesting is how Asimov incorporated mystery into his science fiction. Recommended for anyone who likes short stories, Asimov's other writing, or is interested in merging two genres into one.
June 26, 2025
نثر آسیموف ساده ولی تیزبین است. او استاد گفتنِ حرفهای بزرگ با کلمات کوچک است. این کتاب برای علاقهمندان به داستانهای کوتاه، علمیتخیلی و حتی فلسفه علم، یک گوهر کمنظیر بهشمار میآید.
«علم، مانند موسیقی، گاهی زنگی آهنگین دارد؛ اما نه همیشه زیباست، و نه همیشه امن.»
«علم، مانند موسیقی، گاهی زنگی آهنگین دارد؛ اما نه همیشه زیباست، و نه همیشه امن.»
September 10, 2017
Typical Asimov, which is only a good thing.
June 11, 2024
کتابی که من از تشر ققنوس میخواندم (زنگ آهنگین و شبی که مرد؛ از مجموعه «پانوراما»)، انتخابهای خوبی را انجام داده بود، و با خواندن داستانها با دوستانم، حسابی هیجانزده شدیم و لذت بردیم.
نوشتن یک داستان جنایی-معمایی کار سادهای نیست (لااقل برای من) و فکر میکنم نوشتن یک داستان جنایی-معمایی-علمی-تخیلی چیز سختتری هم هست؛ و آسیموف خیلی جذاب از عهده این دشواری بر آمده است.
خواندن این کتاب کمحجم و جالب را پیشنهاد میکنم، البته اگر ژانر علمی-تخیلی برایتان دوستداشتنی باشد!
نوشتن یک داستان جنایی-معمایی کار سادهای نیست (لااقل برای من) و فکر میکنم نوشتن یک داستان جنایی-معمایی-علمی-تخیلی چیز سختتری هم هست؛ و آسیموف خیلی جذاب از عهده این دشواری بر آمده است.
خواندن این کتاب کمحجم و جالب را پیشنهاد میکنم، البته اگر ژانر علمی-تخیلی برایتان دوستداشتنی باشد!
March 1, 2016
Oh I enjoyed it a lot! Asimov is really good, the mysteries are a lot of fun, and some are even very impressive. There's murders and regular mysteries. And I ended up liking Urth quite a lot. But as far as Asimov stories go, I prefer his Robot stories.
August 8, 2021
I thought this would be similar to the Black Widowers series of stories, but instead it was stories that could be classified as both mystery and science fiction. I had read some of the stories before, but I don't think I had previously read this collection. My favorite was "What's in a Name?" which was probably the least science-based.
August 2, 2024
Qué bochorno, Dios mío.
September 24, 2018
I'd read some of these before and enjoyed some of them anew. it's always nice to come back to some familiar characters.
January 28, 2025
El científico se impone sobre el escritor. Algunos cuentos muy simples poseen la misma estructura de elaboración, pero tres de la colección son soberbios. Y además a Asimov todo se le perdona.
July 23, 2009
This collection ends with a few really good stories but quite a few are mediocre which drags down my rating of this book.
"Orbituary" and "The Billiard Ball" are the stand out stories in my opinion. Anyone who says Asimov can't write should give these a go and it might change their mind.
Of the stories contained herein, only a few are of the kind that you, as the reader, try to guess "who done it" before it's revealed at the end. Doing so will require quite a deep knowledge of scientific and astronomical facts, that went beyond the limits of my knowledge for sure. Others were more of the kind that the reader knows "who done it" from the outset and then follows how they were found out. Still others explore intriguing scientific discoveries which involve someone being murdered but only the reader knows when to all else it appears like an accident.
A common theme throughout illustrates the politics, rivalry and egotism that the scientific establishment is riddled with (if Asimov is to be believed). He certainly gives the impression that he is very knowledgeable about science and what it's like being a scientist.
Worth reading for the gems but there's a few duffers to be glossed over (although a better knowledge of the science involved might improve their reading).
"Orbituary" and "The Billiard Ball" are the stand out stories in my opinion. Anyone who says Asimov can't write should give these a go and it might change their mind.
Of the stories contained herein, only a few are of the kind that you, as the reader, try to guess "who done it" before it's revealed at the end. Doing so will require quite a deep knowledge of scientific and astronomical facts, that went beyond the limits of my knowledge for sure. Others were more of the kind that the reader knows "who done it" from the outset and then follows how they were found out. Still others explore intriguing scientific discoveries which involve someone being murdered but only the reader knows when to all else it appears like an accident.
A common theme throughout illustrates the politics, rivalry and egotism that the scientific establishment is riddled with (if Asimov is to be believed). He certainly gives the impression that he is very knowledgeable about science and what it's like being a scientist.
Worth reading for the gems but there's a few duffers to be glossed over (although a better knowledge of the science involved might improve their reading).
September 20, 2019
This book is a bit of a weird one, really, because it’s a short story collection that brings together these sort of science fiction mystery stories. I’ve actually read one or two of them before, including one that’s just a couple of pages long and which was basically written entirely for the sake of a pun. But that’s Asimov, for you.
I enjoyed reading this one a lot, but mainly because I dipped in and out of it and read a story here and a story there instead of overloading myself. But that’s one of the beauties of short story collections in general. What I will say is that here, Asimov proves once again that he’s a master of the written word and that he’s just as good with short stories as he is with novels and non-fiction.
One of the best things about this collection is that Asimov also wrote introductory essays for each piece which give them a little bit of extra context. I think that actually boosted my enjoyment of it as a whole, although you might want to skip them until after you’ve read each story. There weren’t any spoilers as such, but I do think that it might have been cool to read them without the context and then to piece it together afterwards.
All in all though, I was pretty happy with this and would recommend it. Why not?
I enjoyed reading this one a lot, but mainly because I dipped in and out of it and read a story here and a story there instead of overloading myself. But that’s one of the beauties of short story collections in general. What I will say is that here, Asimov proves once again that he’s a master of the written word and that he’s just as good with short stories as he is with novels and non-fiction.
One of the best things about this collection is that Asimov also wrote introductory essays for each piece which give them a little bit of extra context. I think that actually boosted my enjoyment of it as a whole, although you might want to skip them until after you’ve read each story. There weren’t any spoilers as such, but I do think that it might have been cool to read them without the context and then to piece it together afterwards.
All in all though, I was pretty happy with this and would recommend it. Why not?
October 3, 2015
Asimov was one of those writers I started as a tween, and amongst others built my love for reading, and always carries much affection in my heart as a result.
He was always writing mysteries, it forms the bulk of his work, whatever some idiot reviewers on here will pretend, both straight and sci-fi, most of his robot stories were mysteries after all. These are a collection of his sci fi mystery shorts, none robot related.
All accessible, enough science to satisfy the hardcore, but always explained so a novice could understand, he was a teacher after all, and always believed in clarity and accessibility for all readers. Loved him as a 10 year old, before even science was taught at all, so everyone can enjoy.
It gets dragged down by his inane forwards, his cringy attempts at humour, and his love of puns.
But many are ingenious, all are readable, and his heart is always pure, ready to pierce the vainglorious, and lampoon the academic squabblings.
He was always writing mysteries, it forms the bulk of his work, whatever some idiot reviewers on here will pretend, both straight and sci-fi, most of his robot stories were mysteries after all. These are a collection of his sci fi mystery shorts, none robot related.
All accessible, enough science to satisfy the hardcore, but always explained so a novice could understand, he was a teacher after all, and always believed in clarity and accessibility for all readers. Loved him as a 10 year old, before even science was taught at all, so everyone can enjoy.
It gets dragged down by his inane forwards, his cringy attempts at humour, and his love of puns.
But many are ingenious, all are readable, and his heart is always pure, ready to pierce the vainglorious, and lampoon the academic squabblings.
January 21, 2021
An absolutely perfect airplane book. Ever since I took an Asimov book as a plane read, I am convinced that he is the perfect author to read while traveling (especially through the sky.) This is a collection of his published mysteries, which is a bit ironic since every one of his books is technically a mystery story. Like all Askmoc stories they were light, adventurous, engaging, and made the world feel a little bit bigger and more conquerable. Also, props for working organic chemistry into many of his stories in a way that was still understandable for someone like me.
July 13, 2014
Me gustó(y aprendí cosas, de paso), pero me hizo mucha gracia el comentario del relato que da nombre al libro, donde Asimov explicaba que lo había escrito sólo para demostrar que sabía escribir romance.
El relato va de cómo un señor se quiere ir de putas aprovechando que su mujer no está en Puertomarte. Romance, indeed xD
El relato va de cómo un señor se quiere ir de putas aprovechando que su mujer no está en Puertomarte. Romance, indeed xD
October 22, 2016
There's no standout stories in this collection from Asimov. Some of the story settings are interesting but the mystery/crime is underwhelming.
If I had to pick a favourite, it'd be 'Marooned Off Vesta' & 'Anniversary'. They are connected and were the most fun read of the collection.
If I had to pick a favourite, it'd be 'Marooned Off Vesta' & 'Anniversary'. They are connected and were the most fun read of the collection.
February 19, 2022
Asimov alega en el prólogo, al contrario que sus contemporáneos, la factible unión entre ciencia ficción y novela policíaca (respetando las peculiaridades de ese género).
Lo demostró en Las bóvedas de acero, con buena crítica.
Me gusta este conjunto de relatos "híbridos" porque Asimov añade un prólogo o epílogo en cada uno explicando las peculiaridades de su publicación.
La lectura sencilla y amena camufla la complicada tarea de estructurar relatos.
Mi favorito es el último: La bola de billar.
Lo demostró en Las bóvedas de acero, con buena crítica.
Me gusta este conjunto de relatos "híbridos" porque Asimov añade un prólogo o epílogo en cada uno explicando las peculiaridades de su publicación.
La lectura sencilla y amena camufla la complicada tarea de estructurar relatos.
Mi favorito es el último: La bola de billar.
October 25, 2025
Este libro es una selección de relatos de Asimov en los que todos comparten una mezcla de ciencia-ficción con tramas de resolución de enigmas y detectives.
Como el propio autor reconoce se nutren mucho de las experiencia de escribir los dos primeros volúmenes de su conocida serie de los robots, las bóvedas de acero y el sol desnudo, ya que los siguientes volúmenes de esta serie los escribirá mas tarde.
Son interesantes, y si eres muy fan de Asimov, no te van a defraudar, y desde luego que si te has leído esa saga de los robots y te gusto, estos relatos no te van a defraudar.
7/10.
Como el propio autor reconoce se nutren mucho de las experiencia de escribir los dos primeros volúmenes de su conocida serie de los robots, las bóvedas de acero y el sol desnudo, ya que los siguientes volúmenes de esta serie los escribirá mas tarde.
Son interesantes, y si eres muy fan de Asimov, no te van a defraudar, y desde luego que si te has leído esa saga de los robots y te gusto, estos relatos no te van a defraudar.
7/10.
September 24, 2018
Clever page turning compilation of Asimov science fiction mystery short stories. A worthwhile read for fans of the master. I don't know if the Professor Urth stories were ever expanded on, but I found them very clever. Professor Urth is a veritable 23rd century Sherlock Holmes, with a phobia of travel to boot.
October 20, 2024
An excellent collection, enhanced by the author's notes for each story.
Was familiar with the billiard pool story and was fun to re-read it.
Finding about Wendel Urth, the Nero Wolfe of space, was a treasure.
Maybe one day the Asimov estate will allow authors to write more Urth mysteries.
Was familiar with the billiard pool story and was fun to re-read it.
Finding about Wendel Urth, the Nero Wolfe of space, was a treasure.
Maybe one day the Asimov estate will allow authors to write more Urth mysteries.
May 27, 2023
Asimov nos seus livros raramente desliza para a fantasia. A sua base sempre foi a ciência.
Um livro com contos simples onde casos de polícia se desvendam através da ciência.
Um livro com contos simples onde casos de polícia se desvendam através da ciência.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews