VISITORS FROM THE RED PLANET And 76 Other Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries <i> by Dr. Crypton (Paul Hoffman) (W. W. Norton: $7.95, illustrated)</i>

A collection of pleasantly improbable one-page micro-mysteries that end with a puzzle. The solutions depend on a careful reading of the story--and a broad knowledge of trivia, i.e. heavy cream actually weighs less than light cream, because it contains more fat. Paul Hoffman’s alter ego, Dr. Crypton, often recalls Rube Goldberg’s Professor Butts: Both characters build elaborate rational structures on nugatory bases, and both love puns, the worse the better. (Crypton’s arch-rival is the British liar, Harrison Tweed.) Gary Baseman’s quirky, New Wave cartoons complement the text and give the book a visual appeal. Mystery buffs will enjoy reading these miniature tales aloud to see who can solve them first.