Future Crimes: Mystery and Detection Through Time and Space. edited by Mike Ashley. 2021
FUTURE CRIMES: MYSTERY AND DETECTION THROUGH TIME AND SPACE.
RATED 90% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 4.1 OF 5
10 STORIES : 3 GREAT / 5 GOOD / 3 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
During my youth, I stumbled upon the captivating worlds of science fiction and mysteries simultaneously. If one were to predict my future literary preferences, it would seem logical to expect mystery novels to dominate my reading choices. From the enthralling tales of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to the vast collections of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, mysteries became my primary literary passion. However, I also found myself drawn to the works of Isaac Asimov, as his Robot and Foundation series intertwined seamlessly with the mystery genre. Furthermore, Conan Doyle's Lost World effortlessly led me into the captivating realms crafted by HG Wells, Jules Verne, and Ray Bradbury.
While mystery books for adults often delve into sadistic thrillers, serial killers, and horrifying elements, these were themes that didn't quite resonate with me. Consequently, I sought intellectual exhilaration within the pages of science fiction magazines and anthologies instead.
So obviously I had a great deal of pleasure in this anthology of science fictional mysteries. Mike Ashley has put together a quite enjoyable collect of excellent SF mysteries of varying lengths and styles. It is good enough to make me purchase other anthologies by Ashley already.
Three of these stories make their way onto the All-Time Great List:
Elsewhen • (1943) • novelette by Anthony Boucher
A scientist creates a Time Machine with one problem it can only take you back a couple hours. But that is enough for an alibi. Reminded me of an episode of Columbo. First you see the killer commit the murder and then you follow the detective trying to solve it. This is a fun, cozy sci-fi mystery.
Legwork • (1956) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell
An alien with the power to completely overcome a human mind starts a mission of reconnaissance in a small town. He seems to be wildly overpowering to all human institutions until he robs a bank. The strange nature of the crime starts an investigation that highlight the one possible strength that human beings might have: their gumption and stick-to-it-ness. The opening sequence instead the head of the merciless alien really creates a sense of human hopelessness.
Murder, 1986 • (1970) • novelette by P. D. James
A pandemic caused by space travel might destroy the human race. Carriers of the disease are isolated in squalor and ignored. This mystery starts with the murder of a carrier. A murder that the people in power want squashed, but one detective can’t let go. Not just cool idea and story, but superb detailed prose.
TIME CRIMES
10 STORIES : 3 GREAT / 5 GOOD / 2 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Elsewhen • (1943) • novelette by Anthony Boucher
Great. A scientist creates a Time Machine with one problem it can only take you back a couple hours. But that is enough for an alibi. Reminded me of an episode of Columbo. First you see the killer commit the murder and then you follow the detective trying to solve it. This is a fun, cozy sci-fi mystery.
Puzzle for Spacemen • (1955) • novelette by John Brunner
Average. A death of decompression in space may have been murder, but no one is quite sure why or how. Suffers a bit from overcomplexity of world building, wooded dialogue, and a bit of a pat ending.
Legwork • (1956) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell
Great. An alien with the power to completely overcome a human mind starts a mission of reconnaissance in a small town. He seems to be wildly overpowering to all human institutions until he robs a bank. The strange nature of the crime starts an investigation that highlight the one possible strength that human beings might have: their gumption and stick-to-it-ness. The opening sequence instead the head of the merciless alien really creates a sense of human hopelessness.
Mirror Image • [Elijah Baley / R. Daneel Olivaw] • (1972) • short story by Isaac Asimov
Good. A clever story about two scientists who each claim that the other person is stealing their discovery. The secret lies within their robots and the Three Laws of Robotics.
The Flying Eye • [Paul Darraq] • short story by Jacques Futrelle (variant of The Secret Exploits of Paul Darraq, III: The Flying Eye 1912)
Good. A detective believes he is seeing a giant eye looking down at him in a park on a sunny day.
Nonentity • (1955) • short story by E. C. Tubb
Good. A terrorist attack on a spaceship leaves a lifeboat packed with too many survivors. Some of them have to go.
Death of a Telepath • (1959) • short story by George Chailey
Good. All normal people hate telepaths, but how could someone kill one when they know all your thoughts.
Murder, 1986 • (1970) • novelette by P. D. James
Great. A pandemic caused by space travel might destroy the human race. Carriers of the disease are isolated in squalor and ignored. This mystery starts with the murder of a carrier. A murder that the people in power want squashed, but one detective can’t let go. Not just cool idea and story, but superb detailed prose.
Apple • [Talents (Anne McCaffrey)] • (1969) • novelette by Anne McCaffrey
Average. In the days before an important vote on a the rights of parapsychic “Talented” people, a robbery takes place that seems like it could only have been done by one of the Talented.
The Absolutely Perfect Murder • (1965) • short story by Miriam Allen deFord
Good. SciFi-Mystery-Comedy about a mad who really wants to get rid of his wife, but could never act on it until time travel was invented.
