The Player on the Other Side (An Ellery Queen Mystery) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Ellery Queen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

This novel marked the return of the Ellery Queen series after a five-year hiatus, as well as the beginning of a new phase in Queen's detective exploits. Player makes for an awkward adaptation. The story involves a complex, puzzle-like plot; the printed novel included a map, diagrams and typographic changes, none of which translate to audio. One has trouble deciphering certain names: "Ann Drew" sounds like "Andrew," and "Y's Gambit" sounds like "wise gambit." Narration and characters are well differentiated by David Edwards, but his voice often comes across as tired and flat, made worse by the fuzzy recording quality. S.E.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 469 pages
• Publisher: John Curley & Assoc (April 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893401072
• ISBN-13: 978-0893401078
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,629,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sturgeon's Law, February 2, 2009

By 

Roger Long "longrush" (Port Clinton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Player on the Other Side (Paperback)

I had not read many pages into this mystery before I was fairly certain that the duo known as Ellery Queen did not write it. The rather ornate style was a departure from the very simple language of the author listed on the title. A little research revealed that the science fiction master, Theodore Sturgeon, had actually ghost written this. Why? That is a mystery in itself.

In addition to his poetic science fiction, Sturgeon gave us his simple law: "Ninety percent of science fiction is [bad]. In fact, ninety percent of everything is [bad]." This novel is in the ten percent that is good, or, at least, not bad, which is quite different.

The plot is intriguing, the characters well drawn, the atmosphere fair, and the outcome satisfying. In fact, the novel is listed as one of the 100 best mysteries ever written. Too bad it is now out of print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Correction, April 21, 2008

By 

Carlos A. Altgelt "carolusrockets" (Martinez, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Player on the Other Side (Paperback)

While, it first appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, this novel was not written by the duo Ellery Queen, but by the famous SF author, Theodore Sturgeon, who acted as a "ghost-writer". Carlos A. Altgelt.