Thirteen stories from 1946-57,62. The stories are all winners in the magazine’s international annual contest for the best short story or novelette to cross the judge’s desks.
Favorites: “The President Of The United States, Detective” – H.F.Heard (1947) – The most controversial of the winners. It’s a SF story taking place in 1977. The President of the United States is a scientist who is physically bigger than life. He discovers a plot by the leader of China to melt the Arctic Sea in order to flood the USSR, Europe and the U.S. The editors argue that it has all the elements of a detective story even though the President is not a detective. It’s a fun read but I do wonder what it’s doing in a detective collection, let alone a prize winner in that category.
“Blessed Are The Meek” (1949) – Georges Simeon – In Paris someone is killing elderly women. A tailor thinks the haberdasher across the street from him is guilty. There’s a twenty thousand franc award for information leading to the killer’s identity. The tailor is afraid of his own shadow but he needs the money and tries to get the proof he needs to get the reward.
“Double Image” (1954) – Roy Vickers – The best of the collection is also one of the most clever mystery stories anywhere. Is a man’s twin brother responsible for the murder of their uncle? One problem: His twin died at birth…or did he?
Other authors: Manly Wade Wellman, Alfredo Segre, John Dickson Carr, Charlotte Armstrong, Thomas Flanagan, Steve Frazee, Stanley Ellin, A.H.Z.Carr, Avram Davidson and Cornell Woolrich.
Vintage45's Blog 