No, this is not one of Max Allan Collins’ Quarry novels. This is a science fiction and private eye mashup tale. Rick Robinson reviewed a John E. Stith novel here. As I result, I picked up Deep Quarry to give it a try. ACE Books published Deep Quarry in 1989. A private eye on an alien planet is hired to look into thefts at an archaeological dig sight. The theft of 10,000 year old antiques is just the tip of the iceberg in a surprising plot. If you’re interested in some off-beat detection, Deep Quarry just might be your cup of tea.
Cool. I think I’ve read just one thing by Stith, some time back…George, any music this month?
Todd, I’ll have a review of the new Adele CD up on the blog tomorrow.
Brabnd new author for me George – thanks as I do like a good SF mystery!
Sergio, I have a fondness for private eyes in Science Fiction and Fantasy.
George, a new sf writer and book for me too. The cover art is really good.
Prashant, the cover attracted me right away! I may track down more of the books in this series.
Stith is one of the authors I totally forgot – seems I’m getting old …
Here’s the list of his books (at least those I know of):
0STITH JOHN E
1DEATH TOLLS
1DEEP QUARRY
1MANHATAN TRANSFER
1MEMORY BLANK
1RED SHIFT RENDEZVOUS = ZEITGESCHICHTEN
1REUNION ON NEVEREND
1SCAPESCOPE
9RECKONING INFINITY
1 means it’s a novel afaik and I got that book
9 means I don’t have it
PS and OT:
I started that list on punched cards – printouts on a line printer in the 1970s. That’s why it’s all in capital letters – I was too lazy to change that later …
Wolf, thanks for the helpful list! I’m going to track down more Stith books.
One of my favorites by John. He’s great at combining science fiction and mystery.
Wayne, I’m going to seek out John’s other books. You’ll see more reviews of Stith titles on this blog in the future.
Wake up, WordPress (and Patrick). There are still problems.
After Rick’s review I got one of Stith’s books from the library but didn’t get around to reading it, though it had an interesting premise. This one has a great cover, and the premise (PI on an alien planet) sounds like another I’ve read recently.
Jeff, Patrick is still sleeping. And, he flies back to Albuquerque tomorrow! I’m convinced it’s a WORDPRESS problem. Maybe an upgrade will fix things.
Oh yeah, it was MANHATTAN TRANSFER. I liked the premise – the entire Manhattan island is ripped up and taken to an alien world along with other places from other civilizations – but for me the book bogged down in minutia on the other planet when they were trying to escape from the dome. Stith lost my interest.
Jeff, DEEP QUARRY was a quick read. Entertaining, but not essential.
Yes, wordpress lost my info too – but the first letter keyed in brings it back …
A bit OT re the island of Manhattan being “released from Earth”:
That also was one of the premises behind James Blish’s “Cities in flight” aka Okie series, together with the spindizzy which made this possible. Those books were among my early favourites !
Those Blish books are great.
Rick, I enjoyed every Blish book I ever read!
Wolf, I keep meaning to reread CITIES IN FLIGHT. I’m a big James Blish fan!
I liked the one I read, and think I’ll try this one.
Rick, it was your review of that John E. Stith book that lead me to buy DEEP QUARRY when I ran across it in a used bookstore in Raleigh!
George –
I’ve read several of Stith’s novels and met him at a convention once. Very nice guy and I enjoyed all the novel’s I read.
Scott, I enjoyed DEEP QUARRY so I’ll be on the lookout for more of Stith’s SF novels!
sounds like something Gary Warren Niebuhr would have liked when he was into mysteries.
Maggie, you’re right about Gary Warren Neibuhr’s tastes in private eye fiction. DEEP QUARRY would resonate with him!