Customer Reviews

The Player on the Other Side (An Ellery Queen Mystery)

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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.

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.