Anthony Boucher wrote science fiction and was the celebrated editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Boucher also wrote mysteries like Rocket to the Morgue which blends a locked-room mystery with a Science Fiction cast of characters.
Lieutenant Terence Marshall, with the help of Sister Ursula, tackle a very quirky case. Hilary Foulkes, son of a celebrated writer, guards the literary legacy of his father by demanding premium royalties for reprint rights. This policy generated a lot of enemies for Hilary. And, Lieutenant Marshall discovers as he investigates a series of attempts on Hilary’s life, that many “persons of interest” are Science Fiction writers. Boucher creates characters based on Robert Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and John W. Campbell.
This mash-up of detection and Science Fiction is an entertaining selection in the “Otto Penzler Presents American Mystery Classics” series. This edition includes an insightful Introduction by F. Paul Wilson. Perfect Summer Reading! GRADE: B+
Obviously I am not an expert on the science fiction of the day, but I enjoyed this along with the other Boucher mysteries that I read, mostly in the ’70s and ’80s, I could be wrong but I vaguely remember reading that he also based a character on Adrian Conan Doyle.
Jeff, Anthony Boucher was well known in Science Fiction circles, and as Editor of the MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION, Boucher was acquainted with most of the “name” SF writers of the 1950s and 1960s.
I read all of his mysteries. Not sure about this one though.
Patti, I’m glad Otto Penzler is bringing back some of these classic mystery novels.
If you read all of his mysteries, then you read this, Patti.
When I was in graduate school in the mid to late Sixties I was doing a lot of reading, still some SF but sort of transitioning to mysteries, when I came across a novel by Boucher called “The Case of the Seven Sneezes” featuring a detective named Fergus O’Breen. I was familiar with Boucher from my years of reading SF, and found the novel quirky but enjoyable. I searched around in bookstores, which was the only way to find things in those days, and found two other novels in the same series. There was one other one that I never found. I just checked my library, which is still only partially open, and found that they do have “Rocket to the Morgue”, so I’ll get it when the library gets its act together.
Michael, I think you’ll find the quirky ROCKET TO THE MORGUE just as enjoyable as THE CASE OF THE SEVEN SNEEZES.
I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never read any of Boucher’s mysteries (not that I remember) although I had them all in pb. I may still have them, and if I can find them and catch up on my review reading, I’ll give them a try.
Maggie, I think you’ll find Anthony Boucher’s mysteries quirky, but fun.
I enjoyed this one very much. Other mysteries that “Tuckerized” writers of the day include Mack Reynolds’ THE CASE OF THE LITTLE GREEN MEN, Asimov’s MURDER AT THE ABA, and Carl Hodges’ NAKED VILLAINY. There is also Philip K. dick’s wonderful short SF story “Waterspider,” which features Poul Anderson as the hero.
Jerry, thanks for these insights! I knew about Mack Reynolds and Asimov, but I’ve never read Carl Hodges’ NAKED VILLAINY. And, I’ll have to dig out my copy of Philip K. Dick’s “Waterspider” to check out what he did to Poul Anderson’s character!
I’m amazed. Not a single person has mentioned what Boucher is most known for, his book reviews for the NY Times. He reviewed both mysteries and SF, mostly the former, and was one of the very best, if not the top reviewer at the time.
Rick, I’m glad you brought that up. I keep meaning to read the RAMBLE HOUSE collection of Anthony Boucher’s reviews that I’ve owned since 2009 yet haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I have this in pb and have read it a couple of times, with great enjoyment.
Rick, I have a couple of editions of ROCKET TO THE MORGUE, too. But, I really like this new cover!
I’ve read them all too. The three books are on my “keep for rereading” shelf just to the right of the computer.
I knew him only as a critic and editor, so I had to look up his wiki, very interesting!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Boucher
He died in 1968, only 56 years old …
Wiki also has this on Rocket to the Morgue:
His 1942 novel Rocket to the Morgue, in addition to being a classic locked room mystery, is also something of a roman à clef about the Southern California science fiction culture of the time, featuring thinly veiled versions of personalities such as Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard and rocket scientist/occultist/fan Jack Parsons.
Did you recognize them?
Wolf, F. Paul Wilson’s INTRODUCTION identifies who most of the SF characters in ROCKET TO THE MORGUE were based on.