Review: One-Dimensional
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 11, 2013
The writing style was decent, which is why I didn't give this short story a "one star" rating.I didn't like how pompous the main character was. Allow me to elaborate this point by conceding that I am well aware that this is a short story. I chose to read it BECAUSE it was short. Consequently, I am aware that the murder and the resolution to said murder had to happen a bit more quickly than in a novel...I did not realize that it would be a 10 minute discovery. You can read his resolution in REAL TIME. What is the fun in that? Why isn't inspector Zhang everywhere then? Where's his cape? Or pipe, in this case being more apropos?  Even Sherlock knew how to entertain, and he too, was a bit of a jerk.What really bugged me about this story was all of the superfluous descriptions...like for example: in Zhang's mind there are 7 ways to deduce a "closed door mystery",  which he listed ALL seven (OUTLOUD) even if they did not make ANY sense...EVENTHOUGH HE KNEW WHO DID IT.Hence my original assessment, that Zhang is a pretentious individual. Couple my dislike for him with the ease and simplicity of the type of murder (a case this character has waited his WHOLE LIFE for, only to solve it in 10 minutes) and it results in a "two star" rating.I have not read anything else with the character in it, nor am I familiar with this author. This brief glimpse into both have caused me to hesitate in reading anything else.