ecl@ahuta.UUCP (ecl) (02/08/85)
THE UNION CLUB MYSTERIES by Isaac Asimov
Fawcett, 1985, $2.95.
A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper
This is a collection of short mysteries told in the same fashion as
Asimov's "Black Widower" stories. In both cases there is a standard set of
characters: in the "Black Widower" stories it is a set of friends who gather
once a month for dinner; in the "Union Club" stories it is a regular set of
Union Club members. In both cases the mystery is presented and then there
is a (literary) pause to give the reader a chance to deduce/guess the
solution before Asimov reveals it. In both cases the same character solves
the mystery each time: in the "Black Widower" stories it's the waiter
(Henry); in the "Union Club" stories it's the retired government employee
who has told the story in the first place.
When I saw this book, I thought, "Oh, great! Another set of "Black
Widower"-type mysteries." Well, no. Perhaps it's because Asimov wrote the
"Black Widower" stories for a mystery magazine and the "Union Club" stories
for a "men's" magazine, but the stories here aren't as good, nor the writing
style as enjoyable. Also, the fact that here it is the same character
presenting story after story of his exploits, with no attempt at modesty,
but rather bragging about how clever he was each time, starts to wear on the
reader rather quickly. (In the "Black Widower" stories, it is always an
outside guest who presents the mystery, which provides more variety in the
types of stories also.)
And, finally, the solutions to these stories range from the obvious to
the impossibly convoluted, in a sort of inverted bell-shaped curve.
Puzzle-type mysteries should be such that, even if you can't figure out the
solution, it makes sense when you read it. Many of the stories hear break
that rule.
If you're an Asimov completist or want some short mysteries to read,
this book is okay, but I can't really recommend it.
Evelyn C. Leeper
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