A Whiff of Death [Mass Market Paperback]

Isaac Asimov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1969

The master of science fiction, Asimov blends knowledge of the laboratory with the explosive world of campus politics in a compelling and different drama of murder.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Lancer Books; paperback / softback edition (1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0722112521
• ISBN-13: 978-0722112526
• ASIN: B000GE570I
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,460,693 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 A good mystery combined with academic intrigue, December 2, 2001

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Whiff of Death (Hardcover)

While dated with only hints of sex and no violence, this book is still a good read forty years after it was written. It begins with a graduate student possessing a nasty personality being killed by the inadvertent sniffing of cyanide during a research experiment. Given that the student was meticulous in his work and showed no suicidal tendencies, murder is immediately suspected. As a former and currently part-time academic, I found the description of academic politics and the push for rank advancement to be the most interesting part of the book. It seems clear that Asimov is describing some of his experiences in the academic world.
The main character is a competent instructor of chemistry whose only goal is to rise to the rank of associate professor, an aspiration that he has held for eleven years. It was his doctoral student who died and in an attempt to salvage his career, he embarks on a quest to determine what happened. Most of his actions are those that would normally happen during the course of his professional activity. The only difference is that now he is the logical suspect in what was obviously a murder.
Included in the story is a dictatorial professor nicknamed Cap who is retired, but is legendary as a dictator who demanded that students work long hours, even during holidays. One wonders if this is also a description of someone Asimov encountered as a student.
I lent my copy of this book to a chemistry professor friend of mine and he enjoyed it as well. His comment is an excellent way to end this review. “It was nice to read a story that combines a well-designed mystery with the nastiness and pettiness of academic politics. I t brought back memories of my time as a graduate student.”

5.0 out of 5 stars My First Asimov Book, December 16, 2009

By 

Willam J. Overman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Whiff of Death (Mass Market Paperback)

This all started with me looking for something to do and and I looked over to see my mom had brought it down stairs. With this book I really could not put it down in the time I was reading it and now I'm up at this godly hour with the book finished and me regretting it in a few hours. As a College student this puts life into perspective of the life for your Professors. A good book and one I hope to remember too and a must for even the Sci-fi reader in me.

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping mystery that will intrigue all readers, July 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Whiff of Death (Mass Market Paperback)

A young student has died of inhaling lethal chemicals in his lab. When the police come they are faced with a question: was it an accident or was it cold-blooded murder. The possibility of an accident by such a meticulous young man seems highly unlikely to all questioned. The detective is then led into an intricate net possibilities, logical conclusions and most importantly - human emotions. You'll never be able to put this book down!