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Jan Darzek #5
The Whirligig of Time
Jan Darzek, former private detective from Earth and now First Councilor of the Galaxy, has encountered his most baffling case. The planet Nifron D has been inexplicably turned into a sun. A quarter of a galaxy away, a native on the planet Skarnaf has been found horribly disfigured by an impossibly massive dose of radiation. While Darzek searches for a connection between the two events, the populous and prosperous world of Vezpro receives a blackmail letter that threatens it with the fate of Nifron D. In a crimeless society, has a master scientist turned master criminal? Darzek must decide quickly whether the letter is a monstrous hoax. If it is not, how can the impossible demands be met -- or five billion inhabitants evacuated in time?
- GenresScience Fiction
211 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1979
About the author
Lloyd Biggle Jr.
141 books27 followersBiggle was born in 1923 in Waterloo, Iowa. He served in World War II as a communications sergeant in a rifle company of the 102nd Infantry Division; during the war, he was wounded twice. His second wound, a shrapnel wound in his leg received near the Elbe River at the end of the war, left him disabled for life.
After the war, Biggle resumed his education. He received an A.B. Degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University and M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. Biggle taught at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University in the 1950s. He began writing professionally in 1955 and became a full-time writer with the publication of his novel, All the Colors of Darkness in 1963; he continued in the writing profession until his death.
After the war, Biggle resumed his education. He received an A.B. Degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University and M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. Biggle taught at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University in the 1950s. He began writing professionally in 1955 and became a full-time writer with the publication of his novel, All the Colors of Darkness in 1963; he continued in the writing profession until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 5, 2023
Lovely little book about the paradoxes of time travel. Shame that all the characters were far from being memorable or likeable.
November 26, 2017
Volume 5 of the Jan Darzek series. Like book 4, this one is another planet-sized mystery rather than the galaxy saving efforts of the second and third books.
This time, Jan and Effie help a planet that has received a message threatening it with destruction by persons unknown. If planet Vezpro does not comply with a series of impossible demands, the anonymous author of the threat claims he will turn turn their planet into a star. In a galactic civilization that knows no crime, the planet's government doesn't know how to react. Is it a joke? A hoax? A real threat? Jan Darzek is from Earth, a planet rife with crime and criminals, so he's the natural person to call on for help.
The first clue that turns up is a report of an uninhabited planet elsewhere in the galaxy that has mysteriously turned into a star, as if someone were practicing a technique they might want to use on Vezpro. The second clue is a radiation burned and unconscious man who appears out of nowhere on the planet Skarnaf. But how are these two events connected? Are they just coincidences? There are plenty of suspects and not enough time. And, a bit of a spoiler: there is no actual Whirligig of Time; it's just a quote from Shakespeare meant to give the reader one extra clue that Jan Darzek doesn't have - can you solve the mystery before he does?
This time, Jan and Effie help a planet that has received a message threatening it with destruction by persons unknown. If planet Vezpro does not comply with a series of impossible demands, the anonymous author of the threat claims he will turn turn their planet into a star. In a galactic civilization that knows no crime, the planet's government doesn't know how to react. Is it a joke? A hoax? A real threat? Jan Darzek is from Earth, a planet rife with crime and criminals, so he's the natural person to call on for help.
The first clue that turns up is a report of an uninhabited planet elsewhere in the galaxy that has mysteriously turned into a star, as if someone were practicing a technique they might want to use on Vezpro. The second clue is a radiation burned and unconscious man who appears out of nowhere on the planet Skarnaf. But how are these two events connected? Are they just coincidences? There are plenty of suspects and not enough time. And, a bit of a spoiler: there is no actual Whirligig of Time; it's just a quote from Shakespeare meant to give the reader one extra clue that Jan Darzek doesn't have - can you solve the mystery before he does?
February 14, 2020
I am bummed out that I reached the end of this series. What an enjoyable experience. Once again Mr. Biggle gave an interesting sci-fi mystery, men and women being treating equally without rubbing one's face in how "forward thinking" he would have been at the time, and a satisfying conclusion. What a treat. I recommend the entire series.
January 25, 2008
A good sci-fi tale that's also a mystery. A good job of making alternate races believable without getting silly. Also an interesting take on travel between and on worlds.
November 4, 2014
1980 grade A
2002 grade A
Ace double novel C1979
Oversize copy too
Series D5
2002 grade A
Ace double novel C1979
Oversize copy too
Series D5
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews