Short Reviews: Charles Sheffield

"A Braver Thing" [permanent link]. In this complex story, the narrator is asked to look at the notebooks of a former colleague who has apparently commited suicide, although his family does not believe this. What he finds leaves him horrified as well as amazed at the genius of his former colleage. He figures out what causes the death of his colleague but can he share the revelation with the rest of the world?
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"The Courts of Xanadu" [permanent link]. A story about a treasure hunting trip set in the heart of China. As the trip progresses, the guide begins to find out more about his companions and what kind of treasure they may actually be looking for. The end result of the hunt is quite unexpected.
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"Destroyer of Worlds" [permanent link]. A fascinating story that starts out as a story about a detective who is asked to look for a missing man. But as the story developes and additional characters and clues are introduced, it slowly turns into a story about an experiment that could endanger the world.
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"The Diamond Drill" [permanent link]. An interesting puzzle story that will challenge the reader. One person claims to possess stage jewelry that resembles diamonds in all but one respect. So, is he what has what he says it is or are they diamonds in disguise? Try to figure it out before the end of the story.
Found in Apr 2002 Analog Science Fiction & Fact
"Georgia On My Mind" [permanent link]. A fascinating story about two men who discover what may be the remains on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in a farm in New Zealand. But in going over the notes of the people who brought the remains of the Engine there, they discover another puzzle that leads them on a world-wide search to solve it, and possibly changing the fate of mankind.
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"Out of Copyright" [permanent link]. An interesting tale set in a future where the genetic information of people in the past are no longer protected by copyright. Huge corporations purchase the genetic material of famous people and scientists like Einstein, Heisenberg, etc., hoping that their minds were the result of genes, allowing their genius to be used for commercial purposes. But one person may have been selected for quite a different reason.
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"Godspeed" [permanent link]. A thoughtful tale about two scientist who, just as they are about to test their FTL (faster than light) ship, are stopped by aliens who happen to arrive at that time. The aliens clain that FTL is dangerous; the scientists think that the aliens, who apparently arrive via slower than light ships, want to deny manking the FTL drive. Who is right?
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"The Lady Vanishes" [permanent link]. An interesting tale about a scientist who is asked to investigate the apparent disappearance of a fellow researcher. In the course of doing so, he finds that his colleague may have found a way to vanish that would be of interest to the military. But how to you catch an invisible woman and do you want to?
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"The Treasure of Odirex" [permanent link]. A fascinating historical-type story featuring the Erasmus Dawin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. In this story, he is asked to look at a patient who appears to be insane because she sees things on a nearby fell that other people do not see. But Erasmus believes that is more to it than that. The investigation will lead to quite dramatic events and lead to the solving of a mystery.
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