The Return of the Black Widowers by Perseus (EPUB)

Description

Six clever, wonderfully writen “Black Widower” mysteries penned by the award-winning science fiction writer reveal the inner workings of a mind that was capable of crossing genres easily to produce some of the best mystery writing on the market. Reprint.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Isaac Asimov wrote more than 400 books on topics ranging from abstract mathematics to the Bible not to mention two mystery novels and nine collections of mystery short stories.Charles Ardai is a Shamus-nominated mystery writer, editor of numerous anthologies, and creator of the internet service Juno. He lives in New York City.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Of course I had to buy it! I love Asimov, I love his style and wit. He passed away in 1992, but that only slowed his output without stopping it.There are 11 stories repeated from previous collections, six stories gathered for the first time, one Black Widower story by someone else, and an hommage to the Black Widowers also by someone else. There’s an essay by Asimov and Harlan Ellison’s forward.Ellison’s forward is the first thing wrong with the book. Asimov was famous for refusing to have anyone else write introductions to his books. In his story collections he also appended miniature essays to each story, often about how he came to think of a particular plot; obviously these essays are missing here. Further, the two stories by other writers just didn’t belong in an Asimov collection, they’re intruding. Finally, a few of the last stories were written when Asimov was dying and they are simply no good. I read and enjoyed them for sentimental reasons only; they would disappoint readers new to Asimov or the Black Widowers.So if you are already a fan of the Good Doctor’s fiction, indulge yourself and enjoy. Otherwise, do yourself a favour and pick up another of his 400+ books.Vincent Poirier, Tokyo

⭐The Return of the Black WidowersThe Return of the Black Widowers (2003) contains:The Acquisitive ChuckleEarly Sunday MorningThe Obvious FactorThe Iron GemTo the BarestSixty Million Trillion CombinationsThe Wrong HouseThe RedheadTriple DevilThe Men Who Read Issaac AsimovAnd some previously uncollected stories,including:NorthwestwardYes, But WhyLost In a Space WarpPolice at the DoorThe Haunted CabinThe Guest’s GuestThe Woman in the BarThe Last Story, by Charles ArdaiAnd an Afterword on the Birth of the Black WidowersThe Foreword by is by Asimov’s Friend Harlan EllisonIf you’ve enjoyed The Black Widowers before or if you just enjoy a good mystery short story, I highly recommend this book.Please be advised, it might be hard to put down.Gunner April,2007

⭐I have been reading Asimov since the 1960s. I loved his science writings. That led me into his fiction. Much later, I discovered the Black Widowers. Although every story in ‘The Return’ is not new, it is like coming home again to re-read them. He never distracts the reader with burdensome philosophy and theory. He is always right to the point. And, of course, by now, his characters are well established and well known to the reader. It amazed me that he could originate so many unique ‘puzzles’, only a couple of which I was able to solve before Henry stepped in. Even the couple of stories not penned by Asimov seemed to carry on his tradition. Bravo, Isaac Asimov!

⭐I didn’t realize that the book was a posthumous tribute to Asimov, with stories which had been, previously , collected in other books (all of which I had) so it was a bit of a disappointment.

⭐Great quiet mysteries from Mr. Asimov. If I may suggest, read some of the earlier collections first.

⭐Bought as a birthday gift for DH. This was actually a replacement for a copy eaten by our 10 month Dogue de Bordeaux. I was quite surprised by the prices for some of the Black Widowers books! We’ll have to go through and see if there are any doubles to sell!

⭐theses are short stories, good for a few minutes in bed or bathtub

⭐one of the great black widowers’ series book. henry is still unbeatable, even in the snobbish and pseudo-cultural environment of the black widowers. asimov proves he can be superb writing about ANYTHING

⭐As an Asimov fan, I’m really glad to have read this last (alas!) collection of the Black Widowers Mystery/puzzles. There you will find among other things, a selection of the best BW stories, six uncollected ones, and a story by Charles Ardai, that’s both a good BW story and a poignant tribute to The Good Doctor. A must have!

⭐Shame these are the last stories. They are as good as the rest but only 6 new originals instead of the usual 12.

⭐アシモフ自身「死ぬまで書き続ける」とお気に入りだった短編シリーズのうち、生前単行本化されなかった６編を集めたもの。単行本にするには分量が足りないとして、過去５作からの「ベスト選」と別の作者によるオマージュ短編１作、それに関連のエッセイを盛り込んで１冊にまとめている。「新作」はいずれもアシモフ晩年の作品とあってか、ミステリとしての切れ味は正直今ひとつという感じがする。もともと本格推理というより「なぞなぞ」に近いシリーズのうえ、前半に過去の「ベスト短編」が並んでいることもあって（選ばれたのが「ベスト」といえるかという議論はさておき）、対比でよけいに弱さが目立つかもしれない。しかしシリーズの愛読者としては、原題通り「黒後家蜘蛛の会が帰ってきた」というだけで、すべてを許したくなる。クセのある６人のメンバーと給仕ヘンリーが再びミラノ・レストランに集い、ゲストを交えて雑学と謎解きを競い合う、それだけで嬉しくなってしまう。そもそも「黒後家蜘蛛」の魅力はその雰囲気を味わうところにあると思うので、どうしても点が甘くなる。最後のオマージュ短編 “The Last Story” も、なかなかの出来だと思った。もちろん「黒後家蜘蛛」ものの最後の作品という意味のほか、作品中に出てくる「最後の作品」を示している。また、「失くなったものは一体どこにあるのか？」という、（この本の最初に再録されている）シリーズ第１作のテーマとトリックを別の視点から取り上げたものでもある。さらに、アシモフが過去のシリーズ作品で、自分自身についてたびたび登場人物に語らせていたことを逆手に取った形にもなっている。読み終わると、あらためて「アシモフはもういない。彼の『黒後家蜘蛛』はもうこれ以上読めないのだ」という感を強くする。残念なのは、過去の単行本で各ストーリーのあとに必ずアシモフがつけていた短い「あとがき」が、この本にはないことである。作者自身が亡くなっているので「ないものねだり」なのだが、創作の楽屋裏に触れたあの短文も「黒後家蜘蛛」を読む楽しみだったことにいまさらながらに気づく。この本が出版されてすでに１０年ほど経つが、「ベスト作品選」の部分を除くと薄くなってしまうことはまったく問題ではないので、ぜひ邦訳第６巻として出版してほしいものだ。ウェブで調べると、これら「新作」は別々に翻訳され雑誌等に掲載されたようなので、翻訳権上の問題があるのだろうか。

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⭐作者が亡くなったので、最後のシリーズとなりました。以前、ＮＨＫラジオでドラマ番組化されたものを聞き、読み始めました。中には文化や言語など我が国での常識では解明不可能な謎もありますが、おおむね登場人物のキャラクターの設定がそれを補ってあまりある小劇を構成しています。ヘンリーという給仕探偵は、ミステリーの世界でも特筆すべき独創であると思います。

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⭐今は亡きアシモフに送るまえがき、黒後家ベスト、オマージュ作品、新作６作、the Last Story。ま、ベスト作品は編集の好みでいいかなとも思いますが、アシモフ以外の方々の書いたオマージュ作品や贋作も含めて、ぜひ６巻に収めてほしいです。「会心の笑い」のヘンリーが、the Last Storyでみせた優しさが印象的でした。両方とも死者が絡むことは共通だとして、悼み方がまるで違いました。the Return・・・ のタイトルにふさわしい、完結のための秀逸な物語だと思います。Yes, but why? のヘンリーの姿は衝撃的でした。彼も、理より情をとることがあるんだなあと思い、「かえりみすれば（だったかな）」で、作家の卵の学生さんに味方したエピソードを思い出しました。

⭐Not found.

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