People say "don't judge a book by it's cover". I'll say the same for this book. The cover maybe old and worn out but in it there are 13 terrific stories which captures ones imagination. Included was foreword and sometimes afterwords in nearly each story.It's hard to write sci-fi let alone sci-fi with mysteries. It sure takes a lot of imagination and a lot of up todate science knowledge. But not matter how up todate ones is, there is always a danger on future event or discovery may mess up the plot of the story.
This is seen in the story of "The Dying Night" where in the Afterword Isaac Asimov commented that the story was published in 1956 where Mercury was thought to keep one side always to the sun. The plot of the story was built on that. But later in 1965, Astronomers discovered that Mercury have a rotation period of about 54 days. Hence all side would be exposed to the sun at one time or another. Well, that does spoil the plot a bit but it does not affect the enjoyment of the story.
I particularly like "I'm in Marsport without Hilda" where Max had to solve settle a "problem" fast and get to the place of his female "friend" for a little good time. Another good one was "Obituary" where a domineering husband who wanted to be famous somehow got the chance to read his own Obituary".
Yes, this book is for keeps.
