La palabra clave y otros misterios

by Isaac Asimov, Encarna Ros Riera (Translator)

An interest in words and keen perception help a young sleuth solve mysteries that have defied his father, a big city detective

Genres: Mystery, Collections, Short Stories, Fiction

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Works 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...

Reviews

[Rosa Dracos99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al ver el título (sin leer la sinopsis) creía que sería algún libro del mismo estilo que los cuentos de los Viudos Negros y que se me había pasado; pero no. Es un libro con 5 historias cortas, protagonizadas por un niño que ayuda a su padre, policía, a resolver algunos casos aportando un punto de vista diferente. Pese a ser una admiradora de este autor, lo he encontrado muy sencillo, demasiado incluso para el público infantil al que parece que va destinado.

[Alvaro Zinos-Amaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and diverting for the intended demographic (adults may find it slight, but I still enjoyed these brain teasers).

[Lyle Blosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I reserved this book from the public library, I was surprised to find that the slim volume that appeared contained young-adult mystery stories written by the great Isaac Asimov. I almost decided not to read them, and that would have been my loss. Despite being penned for the young teen set (or perhaps even earlier primary school age), these were very well-written and quite entertaining. The protagonist's "voice" was very much in line with his reported age (14 or so), and yet he was proven to be a capable and clever detective-in-the-making. Each of the tales in the book was fun to read and had a surprising twist. Don't let the fact that this book is a "young-adult" book keep you from the enjoyment to be found within. (NOTE: I also read "The Disappearing Man and Other Mysteries", with the same enjoyment, and my review of this book applies equally well to that collection. Asimov is truly a master.)

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- After an initial start of which I was not really a fan, the book found its stride and wound up being pretty good. Told in five cases, this is the story of Larry, a middle-school-aged boy who helps his NYC detective father solve crimes. While I prefer the styling of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, I still found these to be clever problems that Larry had to solve. Kudos to Asimov as well for not "aging" them. Considering this was published almost 50 years ago, the stories do not feel dated. Larry uses the New York Times on one case and references reading & researching on the rest, but neither of those is like mentioning fads of the day. Of the five, I guessed one, Sarah Tops, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of it. Sadly, though, this book will also face removal. The cover is a true 1970s cover; it is not AR; and it has not been checked out since before 2009.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a set of five (very) short mystery stories that Asimov wrote for young readers. The tales feature a first-person narrator whose father is a NYC police detective and in each one, the young man helps his dad solve a case. In most of the stories, the solution involves some sort of clever word play or requires the young protagonist to know a piece of esoteric trivia that no one else does.

As another reviewer here wrote, these are more brain teasers or riddles than traditional mysteries. Given the slightness of these stories - both in their length and in their intellectual heft - these are probably best left for the younger set.

[Christina Cueto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book confirmed & cemented my love of mysteries. The stories are very short & simple, but just right for a 10 year old. I think I also love it because I received it as a Christmas gift from one of my all time favorite teachers. I read my original copy so much that the same fate befell it as my paperback Trixie Belden books & to be honest many of my hardback books & my more grown up mysteries. I was thrilled to find a used, but good copy on Amazon. It’s a quick enough readto give to an older child who’s not really into reading, but are required to read so many books or mom & dad want to encourage reading.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is composed of 5 short stories about a boy detective. In each there is a clever trick that solves the puzzle. It is a quick read as the who thing is just 54 pages (about 10 pages per story).

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't aware that Isaac Asimov had written these short children's detective stories until I was looking for children's books that were published in the mid-1970's. I would really have enjoyed this one.

[Christopher Arregui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tan brillanté como sencillo, ¡Asimov tiene el don de enganchar al lector de una forma antinatural!

[Vcautin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misterio infantil. Para niños de 8-10 años está ok.

[Kareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buena serie de cuentos que nos llevan por los confines del universo que algún día conoceremos.

[Gaston Rayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es una serie de cuentos cortos (muy cortos) en los que el hijo de un reconocido detective, utilizando la lógica y un poco de astucia, ayuda a su padre a resolver misterios.

Algo infantil, muy fácil de leer y extremadamente liviano.

Son cinco relatos que se pueden leer en un par de minutos.
Para pasar un rato (un rato muy corto, claro).

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few mystery stories for children. A boy helps his detective father solve crimes. Asimov can't help using his broad knowledge base, however, and the facts that end up solving the crimes are so esoteric and weird that a kid might not actually think of them! :)

[Avi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of Asimov's "mysteries" -- which are usually just little brain teasers that center around some piece of trivia -- aimed at younger children. Marginally interesting and maximally slight.