Charles M. Schulz. It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1975)

      Charles M. Schulz. It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1975) A picture book based on a TV special. The panels have rounded corners like a TV screen, and are displayed against a green background on which the text is printed. A slight work, it will keep youngsters occupied for a half hour or so; but it’s not up to the classic Charlie Brown videos or books. Snoopy plays Sherlock Holmes, and finds Woodstock’s nest, which has gone missing because Susie needs an object for show-n-tell. ** (2004)

Sue Grafton. “J” is for Judgment (1993)

     Sue Grafton. “J” is for Judgment (1993) Millhome is hired to confirm that a man who apparently suicided some seven years earlier is still alive. She finds him; he is murdered; and she discovers the truth even though most of it is now irrelevant. She also discovers that she has remnants of a family, but this subplot doesn’t go anywhere, and seems introduced merely to add to the back story (Kinsey Millhome fans must have wanted more details about her.) Well enough plotted, characters thin, setting OK, pacing OK, but there’s the feeling that Grafton is getting tired; this is number 10 in the series, after all. Since then she has managed to move on to “Q”. The books are a good read, but not particularly memorable. ** (2004)

Peter Medawar. Pluto’s Republic (1982)

      Peter Medawar. Pluto’s Republic (1982) Medawar belongs to that small group of scientists who can make their arcane arts intelligible to the general reader. He simplifies, but never too much. He can coin the pithy phrase, and has a nice sense of irony, as well as the courtesy to assume a similar sense in his readers. Pretty well all these essays are occasional pieces, written as lectures or addresses or for publication in reviews and other journals. Thus, there is repetition not only of theme but of language, which makes reading the book in one go tedious at times. But on the whole, his essays are a pleasure to read, and his themes need repeating: that science depends as much on imagination and inspiration as on logic and reason; that any speculation must be tested by against observation and experiment; that much nonsense clothes itself in the garments of science; and that science is too important to be left to scientists. He clearly thinks that the ordinary citizen not only needs but deserves to have broad understanding of how science works, of what science has achieved, and of science’s benefits and dangers. His book helps achieve that end. *** to **** (2004)

Gordon R. Dickson. Beginnings (1988)

     Gordon R. Dickson. Beginnings (1988) Collection of stories from the 40s on. Many show their age, both in content (the most interesting is the limited understanding of computers, but the industry itself had no inkling of what the PC would lead to) and in style. But Soldier, Ask Not, the Dorsai story that Dickson later expanded into a novel, stands up well: it was a true departure, and Dickson’s skill at placing character in an invented culture makes the story work. The other Dickson theme, the extraordinariness of human beings, sometimes descends into something close to species jingoism, but it does supply the two other stories that will surely last; Danger, Human! and 3 Part Puzzle. In his introduction Dickson stresses that he was writing for a living, and didn’t think of his stories as other than something saleable. Most of the pieces in this collection have all the defects and strengths of such writing: neatly twisted plots, more or less obvious humour, limited characterisation (though Dickson has the knack of sketching a character in a few words) focus on novelty of concept or setting, and brevity. They were written to entertain and in that aim they all succeed. ** to **** (2004)

Heywood Gould. One Dead Debutante (1975)

     Heywood Gould. One Dead Debutante (1975) The tough guy hero-narrator (Josh Krales) is a journalist. A hit that kills five people (including the title character) leads him on a twisting and turning chase that ends, more or less, in a tobacco field in Carolina. Political and other kinds of corruption abound. The story telling is generally fast paced, but the blurbs promise more than Gould delivers. For one thing, it’s not nearly as funny as the review snippets claim. *½ (2004)

Simon Brett. Death on the Downs (2001)

     Simon Brett. Death on the Downs (2001) “A Fethering Mystery.” Brett has invented a pair of middle aged women sleuths living on the Sussex coast and entirely too curious for their own good. The back story is that both are divorced, and both have love troubles, but Brett keeps these firmly in the background. Pity; if he wants readers to buy more books, he should make the characters more interesting. Sheltering from the rain in an old barn, Carole Seddon finds some human bones neatly packaged in blue plastic fertiliser bags. Discovering their identity and the reason for the odd hiding place takes up some 330-odd pages of pleasantly written and imagined story. The resolution resolves an ancient grudge going back to childhood cruelty and causing a third murder. Brett has written witty and sometimes macabre short stories, as well as scripts for the Holmes series, and so on, so he knows his metier, and does a craftsmanlike job. This book is number two in a projected series; I’ll look for the other numbers, but won’t cry if I don’t find them **½ (2004)

Marion Elliot. Paper Making (1994)

     Marion Elliot. Paper Making (1994) A brief history of paper making, emphasising the handicraft aspects of the technology, introduces this well put together and instructive book. Artistically not very inspired, but technically very sound. Makes you want to build a mould and deckle, and start making paper. *** (2004)