Trio for Slide Rule and Typewriter

This volume contains three of the most important hard science fiction novels of Hal Clement – Needle, Iceworld, and Close to Critical.

Needle – An alien detective is pursuing a fugitive when both crash-land on Earth. Cut off from home, the detective must track down the criminal and prevent damage to humans. But, how to do this when both law and outlaw are intelligent viruses?

Iceworld – A high-school chemistry teacher is hired by a gang of interstellar narcotics smugglers to increase their profits. This drug comes from a bitterly cold and inhospitable planet, incapable of even being visited without massive life-support – Earth.

Close to Critical – Tenebra is a planet near the triple point of water; small changes of temperature and pressure cause major phase changes. By accident, two children – one human, one non-human – are marooned, creating an interstellar political crisis. Their only hope lies with the Tenebrans themselves, but some may be hostile.