Reviews

Authorised Murder by Isaac Asimov

w0carolina's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

andinator's review against another edition

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5.0

I'd like to preface this review by admitting right up front that this book is extremely dated, sexist, politically incorrect, and likely only of interest to serious students Asimov and/or the American publishing business in the mid-70s. So, if you aren't a member of that select cadre of individuals, please look elsewhere for your reading edification.

However, if you ARE a big Asimov fan, this book is a MUST. Start with an Agatha Christie murder mystery set at a huge booksellers' convention in mid-town Manhattan in 1975... chuck in some real-life characters like Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan, and Harlan Ellison. Stir the pot until really strange smells emerge...

You get the idea.

picto's review

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3.0

Authorised Murder is a fun murder mystery that is quite different from all of the other Asimov books that I've read. The idea behind the bok is really meta. Asimov is at a book conference where he has to write a story about a murder at a book conference. It just so happens that there is a murder at the book conference so (in the story) the murder is true and Asimov is dramatising it. All Clear? Good.

This does kind of touch on my favourite bit about the book, which is where Asimov and Darius Just, the character investigating the murder, argue in the footnotes about details of the plot. These are universally fun and give a good break from the tension of the investigation.

The mystery itself is well thought out and while I had a suspicion about whodunnit it wasn't obvious enough that I would have put money on it. The characters are fun if a little edgy in the post #MeToo world, there are some cringy descriptions and sexy bits that haven't aged well but they are more dated than offensive.

Well worth a look if you want to see a master trying his hand at something different. It is a fun, fast read that is worth the price of admission.

fanny44's review against another edition

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funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

barefootbetsy's review against another edition

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challenging funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

An entertaining story, definitely some casual womanizing (it was published in the 1970s by a white man so....), but an entertaining story with a satisfying and plausible ending.

I think I liked it better upon rereading in part because I'm now a bookseller so reading about the ins and outs of an ABA (American booksellers association) conference in the 1970s was endlessly fascinating.
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tyriesha's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5

narzack's review against another edition

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3.0

It's a brisk little page-turner. Despite my dislike of the man personally, there's no denying his talent. And I'm sure we're all jealous of the ease in which he was able to produce a monstrous amount of books.

shinymetal's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Daniels Grace’s narration was splendid. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed the book as much if it was anyone else. 

kismazsola's review against another edition

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4.0

Az úgy volt, hogy kvázi örökségként kaptunk egy adag nem mai könyvet (galaktikás szinte mind), szépen bekerültek a polcra, és azóta feléjük sem néztem. Most meg végre eldöntöttem, hogy nekikezdek a polcnak, balról jobbra. Az előszóból pedig rájöttem, hogy bár Asimov könyve, mégsem sci-fi. És jól meglepődtem.


A krimi nem annyira az én zsánerem, a cozy mystery-k aranyosak, csak azok meg sokszor bénácskák. Agatha Christie-t persze szeretem, de neki is nagyon kevés könyvét olvastam. És akkor itt van ez a kis szatírikus, metahumorral is operáló krimi, amit nagyon élveztem.


A cselekmény kibontakozása, maga a nyomozás lassú volt, de őszintén az a része még jobban is tetszett, mielőtt elindult volna a nyomozás. Van egy olyan érzésem, hogy maga a stílus polarizál: valakinek vagy nagyon bejön, vagy nagyon nem. Én az előbbi voltam. A túlírtnak nevezhető volta is a szatírát erősítette szerintem. Viszont a kommentárok az írói életről, meg a sok minden másról mindent vittek. Arról nem besszélve, hogy Asimov maga megjelenik mint szeretplő az egyébként is valós környezetben, és a könyv cselekménye szerint Asimov írja meg a regényt főszereplőnk E/1. narrálásával, miközben lábjegyzetben kommunikálnak néha.


Én nagyon jól szórakoztam. És úgy láttam, hogy még egy Asimov-krimi következik a polcon. Remélem, az is ilyen jó lesz. :)

amichael098's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Asimov probably had a great time writing this book, but it’s a slow burn and not up to par with his other work.