Black Widowers
Encyclopedia
The Black Widowers is a fictional men-only dining club created by Isaac Asimov
for a series of sixty-six mystery
stories
which he started writing in 1971. Most of the stories were first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
, though a few first appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction
, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and the various book collections into which the stories were eventually gathered.
. Each one takes turn to act as host for the evening and brings along a guest for the occasion. The guest may be a friend, relative or colleague from work (women are not allowed). The meal is served by the incomparable waiter Henry Jackson — almost invariably referred to as simply Henry — whom the regulars look upon with high regard and even consider an actual member. The room includes sketches of the guests drawn by Black Widower Mario Gonzalo and a bookcase with an encyclopaedia which is often consulted.
After the main course, the brandy
is served and the host rattles his spoon on his water glass for silence. One of the other Widowers is appointed as "griller" and begins by asking the guest to "justify his existence". In the course of the subsequent conversation, it always comes out that the guest has a problem which varies from personal issues to problems at work or actual crimes. The club members try to solve the problem, raising various related aspects in the course of the conversation but are unable to come to an actual conclusion. In the end, it is Henry who provides the correct, and usually very simple, answer, obtained from details mentioned in the conversation. Asimov intended them to always follow that pattern.Asimov 1994, I. Asimov, chapter "119. Mystery stories".
Asimov uses the stories in order to delve into aspects of science, history, culture and other interests: Goldbach's conjecture
in Sixty Million Trillion Combinations; the 19th century in The Year of the Action; and the origins of the name "Susan" in The Intrusion.
.Asimov 1994, I. Asimov, chapter "120. The Trap Door Spiders". Members of the Widowers were based on real-life Spiders, some of them famous writers in their own right:
The deceased founder of the club, Ralph Ottur, on whom the plot of the story "To the Barest" turned, was based on the real-life founder of the Trap Door Spiders, Fletcher Pratt
. The stage magician The Amazing Larri, from the story "The Cross of Lorraine", was based on James Randi
. The arrogant science writer Mortimer Stellar, from the story "When No Man Pursueth", was based on Asimov himself.
Asimov was a P. G. Wodehouse
fan and a member of the Wodehouse Society.Seiler 2007, "Isaac Asimov FAQ", section "2.10. Did Asimov do anything other than write all day and all night?". He explained that Henry Jackson was not based on a real person, but might have been inspired in large part by Wodehouse's immortal character Jeeves
.
and Harlan Ellison
. They are:
A few Black Widowers tales have been written by other authors as tributes to Asimov. One is "The Overheard Conversation" by Edward D. Hoch
, which appears in the festschrift
anthology Foundation's Friends
(1989); another is "The Last Story", by Charles Ardai, in Return of the Black Widowers (2003).
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
for a series of sixty-six mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
which he started writing in 1971. Most of the stories were first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction...
, though a few first appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and the various book collections into which the stories were eventually gathered.
Synopsis
Most of the stories follow the same basic convention: the six club members meet once a month at a private room at the Milano restaurant in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Each one takes turn to act as host for the evening and brings along a guest for the occasion. The guest may be a friend, relative or colleague from work (women are not allowed). The meal is served by the incomparable waiter Henry Jackson — almost invariably referred to as simply Henry — whom the regulars look upon with high regard and even consider an actual member. The room includes sketches of the guests drawn by Black Widower Mario Gonzalo and a bookcase with an encyclopaedia which is often consulted.
After the main course, the brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
is served and the host rattles his spoon on his water glass for silence. One of the other Widowers is appointed as "griller" and begins by asking the guest to "justify his existence". In the course of the subsequent conversation, it always comes out that the guest has a problem which varies from personal issues to problems at work or actual crimes. The club members try to solve the problem, raising various related aspects in the course of the conversation but are unable to come to an actual conclusion. In the end, it is Henry who provides the correct, and usually very simple, answer, obtained from details mentioned in the conversation. Asimov intended them to always follow that pattern.Asimov 1994, I. Asimov, chapter "119. Mystery stories".
Asimov uses the stories in order to delve into aspects of science, history, culture and other interests: Goldbach's conjecture
Goldbach's conjecture
Goldbach's conjecture is one of the oldest unsolved problems in number theory and in all of mathematics. It states:A Goldbach number is a number that can be expressed as the sum of two odd primes...
in Sixty Million Trillion Combinations; the 19th century in The Year of the Action; and the origins of the name "Susan" in The Intrusion.
Origins
The Black Widowers were based on a literary dining club Asimov belonged to known as the Trap Door SpidersTrap Door Spiders
The Trap Door Spiders are a literary male-only eating, drinking, and arguing society in New York City, with a membership historically composed of notable science fiction personalities...
.Asimov 1994, I. Asimov, chapter "120. The Trap Door Spiders". Members of the Widowers were based on real-life Spiders, some of them famous writers in their own right:
- Geoffrey Avalon (based on L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Emmanuel Rubin (based on Lester del ReyLester del ReyLester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey was the author of many of the Winston Science Fiction juvenile SF series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books, along with his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.-Birth...
) - James Drake (based on Dr. John D. ClarkJohn D. ClarkJohn Drury Clark, Ph.D. was a noted American rocket fuel developer, chemist, and science fiction writer and fan. He was instrumental in the revival of interest in Robert E. Howard's Conan stories and influenced the writing careers of L. Sprague de Camp, Fletcher Pratt, and other authors.- Life and...
) - Thomas Trumbull (based on Gilbert CantGilbert CantGilbert Cant was a London-born American journalist.Cant arrived in the U.S. in 1934 and began working for the New York Post in 1937. He was a war correspondent in the Pacific during World War II and wrote three books on the subject, The War at Sea, America's Navy in World War II, and The Great...
) - Mario Gonzalo (based on Lin CarterLin CarterLinwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
) - Roger Halsted (based on Don BensenDonald R. BensenDonald Roynald Bensen , also known as Don Bensen and sometimes listed as D.R. Bensen, was an American editor and science fiction writer. Editorally he is best known for editing works of P. G. Wodehouse and his involvement in their re-issue in paperback in the United States...
)
The deceased founder of the club, Ralph Ottur, on whom the plot of the story "To the Barest" turned, was based on the real-life founder of the Trap Door Spiders, Fletcher Pratt
Fletcher Pratt
Murray Fletcher Pratt was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and history, particularly noted for his works on naval history and on the American Civil War.- Life and work :...
. The stage magician The Amazing Larri, from the story "The Cross of Lorraine", was based on James Randi
James Randi
James Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
. The arrogant science writer Mortimer Stellar, from the story "When No Man Pursueth", was based on Asimov himself.
Asimov was a P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
fan and a member of the Wodehouse Society.Seiler 2007, "Isaac Asimov FAQ", section "2.10. Did Asimov do anything other than write all day and all night?". He explained that Henry Jackson was not based on a real person, but might have been inspired in large part by Wodehouse's immortal character Jeeves
Jeeves
Reginald Jeeves is a fictional character in the short stories and novels of P. G. Wodehouse, being the valet of Bertie Wooster . Created in 1915, Jeeves would continue to appear in Wodehouse's works until his final, completed, novel Aunts Aren't Gentlemen in 1974, making him Wodehouse's most famous...
.
Books
The first five books each contained twelve stories; in most cases, nine stories were first published in various magazines while three were first published in the book. As was usual with Asimov's collections, many stories had chatty forewords or afterwords. The sixth book, published posthumously, contained six previously uncollected stories, ten reprinted from previous collections, and additional material by Charles ArdaiCharles Ardai
Charles Ardai is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, and television producer. He is best known as founder and CEO of Juno, an Internet company, and founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, a line of pulp-style paperback crime novels.-Biography:...
and Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
. They are:
- Tales of the Black WidowersTales of the Black WidowersTales of the Black Widowers is a 1974 collection of mystery short stories written by American author Isaac Asimov.This book is the first of six books that describe mysteries solved by a private men's club known as the Black Widowers. It is a collection of short stories, and is a "straight" mystery...
(1974) - More Tales of the Black WidowersMore Tales of the Black WidowersMore Tales of the Black Widowers is a collection of mystery short stories by American author Isaac Asimov, featuring his fictional club of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers...
(1976) - Casebook of the Black WidowersCasebook of the Black WidowersCasebook of the Black Widowers is a collection of mystery short stories by American author Isaac Asimov, featuring his fictional club of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1980, and in paperback by the Fawcett Crest imprint of Ballantine Books...
(1980) - Banquets of the Black WidowersBanquets of the Black WidowersBanquets of the Black Widowers is a collection of mystery short stories by science fiction author Isaac Asimov featuring his fictional club of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers...
(1984) - Puzzles of the Black WidowersPuzzles of the Black WidowersPuzzles of the Black Widowers is a collection of mystery short stories by American author Isaac Asimov, featuring his fictional club of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday in 1990, and in paperback by Bantam Books in 1991.This book is the fifth of...
(1990) - The Return of the Black WidowersThe Return of the Black WidowersThe Return of the Black Widowers is a collection of mystery short stories by science fiction author Isaac Asimov featuring his fictional club of mystery solvers, the Black Widowers. It was first published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf in November 2003....
(2003)
A few Black Widowers tales have been written by other authors as tributes to Asimov. One is "The Overheard Conversation" by Edward D. Hoch
Edward D. Hoch
Edward Dentinger Hoch was an American writer of detective fiction. Although he wrote several novels, he was primarily known for his vast output of over 950 short stories.-Biography:...
, which appears in the festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
anthology Foundation's Friends
Foundation's Friends
Foundation's Friends, Stories in Honor of Isaac Asimov is a 1989 festschrift honoring science fiction author Isaac Asimov, in the form of an anthology of short stories set in Asimov's universes, particularly the Robot/Empire/Foundation universe. The anthology was edited by Martin H...
(1989); another is "The Last Story", by Charles Ardai, in Return of the Black Widowers (2003).
External links
- List and index of the Black Widowers stories at Asimov Online.com