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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/casebook_of_black_widowers.png]]
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Published in 1980, this book represents the third [[{{Anthology}} collection]] of the Literature/BlackWidowers written by Creator/IsaacAsimov. Most of the stories were originally published in ''Magazine/ElleryQueensMysteryMagazine'', but three stories are brand-new, published here for the first time ever!
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Published in 1980, this book represents the third [[{{Anthology}} collection]] of the Literature/BlackWidowers written by Creator/IsaacAsimov. Most of the these MysteryFiction stories were originally published in ''Magazine/ElleryQueensMysteryMagazine'', but three stories are brand-new, published here for the first time ever!
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* WriteWhoYouKnow: [[InUniverse]] (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword to "Literature/TheFamilyMan", Dr Asimov admits to using the occasional guest for inspiration behind his characters. He indirectly references Creator/JamesRandi as inspiration for his Amazing Larri (appearing first in "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"), and references his accountant for Simon Alexander in "Literature/TheFamilyMan".
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* WriteWhoYouKnow: [[InUniverse]] [InUniverse] (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword to "Literature/TheFamilyMan", Dr Asimov admits to using the occasional guest for inspiration behind his characters. He indirectly references Creator/JamesRandi as inspiration for his Amazing Larri (appearing first in "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"), and references his accountant for Simon Alexander in "Literature/TheFamilyMan".
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Published in 1980, this book represents the third [[{{Anthology}} collection]] of the Literature/BlackWidowers written by Creator/IsaacAsimov. Most of the stories were originally published in ''Magazine/ElleryQueensMysteryMagazine'', but three stories are brand-new, published here for the first time ever!
The introduction starts off with a brief summary explaining what this book contains, [[SelfDeprecation and his amazement that no-one has told him to stop]]. It continues by pointing out that the stories within these pages are not the style that seem to be popular with the current decade. Nevertheless, Dr Asimov has been focused on providing a [[FairplayWhodunnit fair mystery that anyone might be able to solve]]. The rest of each story is given to [[FancyDinner good food and good conversation]], and his readers seem to appreciate this greatly, and Dr Asimov appreciates being allowed to continue writing these stories.
----
!!Works in the collection:
[[index]]
* "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"
* "Literature/TheFamilyMan"
* "Literature/TheSportsPage"
* "Literature/SecondBest" (new)
* "Literature/TheMissingItem"
* "Literature/TheNextDay"
* "{{Literature/Irrelevance}}!"
* "Literature/NoneSoBlind"
* "Literature/TheBackwardLook"
* "Literature/WhatTimeIsIt?" (new)
* "Literature/MiddleName" (new)
* "Literature/ToTheBarest"
[[/index]]
----
!!Examples of tropes from the collection:
* TheAnnotatedEdition: This collection has an introduction to explain the purpose behind the [[{{Anthology}} collection]], and an afterword for each story to explain more details about the publication.
* {{Anthology}}: This book represents the third collection of the Literature/BlackWidowers mysteries.
* BilledAboveTheTitle:
** The Creator/FawcettCrest covers have Dr Asimov's name in font twice the size as the title, and literally above the title.
** (DownplayedTrope) The original {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has Dr Asimov's name a few font sizes larger than the title itself, placed on the bottom of a fancy dinner invitation card.
* BookEnds: Dr Asimov ends the introduction with the promise that he will continue to write more stories of the Literature/BlackWidowers as long as he can write, and he ends the final afterword with the same promise.
* CoversAlwaysLie:
** There are several different covers for this book, but most are relatively honest, featuring dinnerware and a blank background.
** The Creator/FawcettCrest cover features a black spider, representing their AnimalMetaphor, dragging a question mark bound in silk. Naturally such an image never occurs in any of the stories.
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: It's very unclear what the French translation is trying to show. Red, white, and varying tones between those two.
* FairPlayWhodunnit: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov explains that he tries hard to write each story to make it possible for readers to solve before TheSummation by Henry. Assuming the letters are honest, some of his readers do exactly that.
* FancyDinner: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov points out that he spends roughly three-quarters of each story on the meal/conversation and only one-quarter on the mystery, but his fans seem to enjoy it.
* HardBoiledDetective: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov contrasts what he sees as the then-current style of sex and violence focused detective stories with his [[PhoneInDetective upper-crust society members solving minor mysteries]] while at [[FancyDinner an expensive restaurant]].
* MinimalisticCoverArt: The {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has a black background, with the focus on a knife and fork framing a fancy dinner invitation that holds the title and author's name.
* PhoneInDetective: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov contrasts his Literature/BlackWidowers with what he sees as modern detective stories, since his stories involve [[FancyDinner an expensive meal for upper-crust members]] that casually solve a mystery that often doesn't involve criminal activity.
* StrictlyFormula: (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword for "Literature/TheSportsPage", Dr Asimov outlines the formula for his Literature/BlackWidowers stories.
--> ''In some ways, there is a certain inflexibility about my scheme for writing {{Literature/Black Widower|s}} stories. There is always the banquet and the general conversation; then the grilling and the presentation of the mystery; then the discussion and solution.''
--> ''But there is a certain flexibility as well, for the mystery itself can be anything at all. It can be a [[MurderMystery murder]], or a [[StealThisIndex theft]], or a [[EspionageTropes spy story]], or a [[LostWillAndTestament missing-will story]].''
* {{Tagline}}: "A superb collection of mind-bending mysteries from earthly back alleys to far cosmic shores!"
* WriteWhoYouKnow: [[InUniverse]] (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword to "Literature/TheFamilyMan", Dr Asimov admits to using the occasional guest for inspiration behind his characters. He indirectly references Creator/JamesRandi as inspiration for his Amazing Larri (appearing first in "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"), and references his accountant for Simon Alexander in "Literature/TheFamilyMan".
----
The introduction starts off with a brief summary explaining what this book contains, [[SelfDeprecation and his amazement that no-one has told him to stop]]. It continues by pointing out that the stories within these pages are not the style that seem to be popular with the current decade. Nevertheless, Dr Asimov has been focused on providing a [[FairplayWhodunnit fair mystery that anyone might be able to solve]]. The rest of each story is given to [[FancyDinner good food and good conversation]], and his readers seem to appreciate this greatly, and Dr Asimov appreciates being allowed to continue writing these stories.
----
!!Works in the collection:
[[index]]
* "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"
* "Literature/TheFamilyMan"
* "Literature/TheSportsPage"
* "Literature/SecondBest" (new)
* "Literature/TheMissingItem"
* "Literature/TheNextDay"
* "{{Literature/Irrelevance}}!"
* "Literature/NoneSoBlind"
* "Literature/TheBackwardLook"
* "Literature/WhatTimeIsIt?" (new)
* "Literature/MiddleName" (new)
* "Literature/ToTheBarest"
[[/index]]
----
!!Examples of tropes from the collection:
* TheAnnotatedEdition: This collection has an introduction to explain the purpose behind the [[{{Anthology}} collection]], and an afterword for each story to explain more details about the publication.
* {{Anthology}}: This book represents the third collection of the Literature/BlackWidowers mysteries.
* BilledAboveTheTitle:
** The Creator/FawcettCrest covers have Dr Asimov's name in font twice the size as the title, and literally above the title.
** (DownplayedTrope) The original {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has Dr Asimov's name a few font sizes larger than the title itself, placed on the bottom of a fancy dinner invitation card.
* BookEnds: Dr Asimov ends the introduction with the promise that he will continue to write more stories of the Literature/BlackWidowers as long as he can write, and he ends the final afterword with the same promise.
* CoversAlwaysLie:
** There are several different covers for this book, but most are relatively honest, featuring dinnerware and a blank background.
** The Creator/FawcettCrest cover features a black spider, representing their AnimalMetaphor, dragging a question mark bound in silk. Naturally such an image never occurs in any of the stories.
* DesignStudentsOrgasm: It's very unclear what the French translation is trying to show. Red, white, and varying tones between those two.
* FairPlayWhodunnit: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov explains that he tries hard to write each story to make it possible for readers to solve before TheSummation by Henry. Assuming the letters are honest, some of his readers do exactly that.
* FancyDinner: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov points out that he spends roughly three-quarters of each story on the meal/conversation and only one-quarter on the mystery, but his fans seem to enjoy it.
* HardBoiledDetective: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov contrasts what he sees as the then-current style of sex and violence focused detective stories with his [[PhoneInDetective upper-crust society members solving minor mysteries]] while at [[FancyDinner an expensive restaurant]].
* MinimalisticCoverArt: The {{Creator/Doubleday}} cover has a black background, with the focus on a knife and fork framing a fancy dinner invitation that holds the title and author's name.
* PhoneInDetective: (ConversationalTroping) In the introduction, Dr Asimov contrasts his Literature/BlackWidowers with what he sees as modern detective stories, since his stories involve [[FancyDinner an expensive meal for upper-crust members]] that casually solve a mystery that often doesn't involve criminal activity.
* StrictlyFormula: (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword for "Literature/TheSportsPage", Dr Asimov outlines the formula for his Literature/BlackWidowers stories.
--> ''In some ways, there is a certain inflexibility about my scheme for writing {{Literature/Black Widower|s}} stories. There is always the banquet and the general conversation; then the grilling and the presentation of the mystery; then the discussion and solution.''
--> ''But there is a certain flexibility as well, for the mystery itself can be anything at all. It can be a [[MurderMystery murder]], or a [[StealThisIndex theft]], or a [[EspionageTropes spy story]], or a [[LostWillAndTestament missing-will story]].''
* {{Tagline}}: "A superb collection of mind-bending mysteries from earthly back alleys to far cosmic shores!"
* WriteWhoYouKnow: [[InUniverse]] (ConversationalTroping) In the afterword to "Literature/TheFamilyMan", Dr Asimov admits to using the occasional guest for inspiration behind his characters. He indirectly references Creator/JamesRandi as inspiration for his Amazing Larri (appearing first in "Literature/TheCrossOfLorraine"), and references his accountant for Simon Alexander in "Literature/TheFamilyMan".
----
