Biddy And The Silver Man

Twelve-year-old Biddy, a spirited girl braving the Arizona heat with her trusty burro Buck, spends her days exploring the desert. Despite her polio and leg brace, Biddy and Buck embark on imaginary adventures until they stumble upon a mysterious cave. Inside, she discovers a peculiar machine and meets Joe, a man claiming to be from the "sky bloc." Joe's miraculous healing powers restore Biddy's leg, igniting wonder and fear in the small town of Sage Bend. As tensions rise, the town's suspicion and prejudice lead to a dramatic confrontation, testing Biddy's courage and the power of hope.

Armchair Fiction presents classic science fiction double novels with original illustrations. The first novel is Harlan Ellison's "Biddy and the Silver Man." Her name was Biddy, and she was just a kid. She was different from the other kids in Sage Band, though. She'd had polio and one of her legs was withered and crippled. But she could still get around with the help of an easy-going burro named Buck. Biddy and Buck had explored all the desert lands around Sage Bend-she knew every square foot. Then one day a cave appeared in the side of a rock wall that hadn't been there before. In that cave Biddy found a strange man, a strange machine, a cure for her malady, and the key to mankind's future? "Biddy and the Silver Man" is a wonderful short novel. It's the story of a young family's struggles in a desert town that had little going for it. It's a tale of the twists and turns that can shape a man's character-for good or evil. It's a tale of aliens and spacecraft and ultimate ultimatums. But most of all, it's a tale of mankind's defining moment, in which all of humanity must choose to either step forwards or backwards. The second novel is "Four-Day Planet" by H. Beam Piper. Fenris was a planet forgotten in the backwash of a great frontier movement. It suffered from an appalling climate and uniformly hostile animal life and barely maintained a population of space bums, fugitives, and a few rough-and-ready colonists. Yet it was home to Walter Boyd, the only one he had known for eighteen years, and Walter found that any home was worth fighting for-even in a far-off place as inhospitable and as dangerous as Fenris? In this exciting science fiction thriller from the past, Henry Beam Piper creates a strange, sometimes desolate, sometimes humorous world of the future as a background for a tale filled with adventure and excitement, as well as some thoughts about human beings, which are valid in any time or place. "Four-Day Planet" was clearly one of Piper's best novels.

This issue, we have original mysteries from Janice Law (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and our BCW’s very own Ron Miller (who moonlights as our Art Director), plus a modern masterpiece by Gina Nelson (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Add a rare Golden Age mystery novel by James Hay, Jr. and we have quite a winning mix. But wait, there’s more! No issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction side, we have a great story by British master Philip E. High, as well as tales by Harlan Ellison, Henry Slesar, and Stephen Marlowe. Our novel is an early classic by Jack Williamson. Here’s the complete lineup— Cover Art: Ron Miller Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Lasker Circle,” by Janice Law [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “One Common Denominator,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Maggie McGrady’s Murder Mystery Cruise,” by Gina Nelson [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “I, Golem,”by Ron Miller [short story] No Clue! by James Hay, Jr. [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Infection,” by Philip E. High [short story] “Beauty Contest?” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Passionate Pitchman,” by Stephen Marlowe [short story] “Biddy and the Silver Man,” by Harlan Ellison [novelet] The Alien Intelligence, by Jack Williamson [novel]

Armchair Fiction presents classic science fiction double novels with original illustrations. The first novel is Harlan Ellison's "Biddy and the Silver Man." Her name was Biddy, and she was just a kid. She was different from the other kids in Sage Band, though. She'd had polio and one of her legs was withered and crippled. But she could still get around with the help of an easy-going burro named Buck. Biddy and Buck had explored all the desert lands around Sage Bend-she knew every square foot. Then one day a cave appeared in the side of a rock wall that hadn't been there before. In that cave Biddy found a strange man, a strange machine, a cure for her malady, and the key to mankind's future? "Biddy and the Silver Man" is a wonderful short novel. It's the story of a young family's struggles in a desert town that had little going for it. It's a tale of the twists and turns that can shape a man's character-for good or evil. It's a tale of aliens and spacecraft and ultimate ultimatums. But most of all, it's a tale of mankind's defining moment, in which all of humanity must choose to either step forwards or backwards. The second novel is "Four-Day Planet" by H. Beam Piper. Fenris was a planet forgotten in the backwash of a great frontier movement. It suffered from an appalling climate and uniformly hostile animal life and barely maintained a population of space bums, fugitives, and a few rough-and-ready colonists. Yet it was home to Walter Boyd, the only one he had known for eighteen years, and Walter found that any home was worth fighting for-even in a far-off place as inhospitable and as dangerous as Fenris? In this exciting science fiction thriller from the past, Henry Beam Piper creates a strange, sometimes desolate, sometimes humorous world of the future as a background for a tale filled with adventure and excitement, as well as some thoughts about human beings, which are valid in any time or place. "Four-Day Planet" was clearly one of Piper's best novels.

Michael Joseph Molloy (1917-1994) was born and died in Milltown, Co. Galway. He originally intended to join the priesthood but was struck down by tuberculosis. It was during the long periods he spent in the hospital that he started writing plays, having been inspired by a childhood visit to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. His first play, Old Road, was produced at the Abbey in 1943, as were The Visiting House in 1946 and The King of Friday's Men in 1948. When the old theatre burned down and the company moved to the Queen's Theatre, his The Wood of the Whispering and The Paddy Pedlar were produced there, followed by The Will and the Way, The Right Rose Tree, and The Wooing of Duvesa. After the company's return to the rebuilt theatre in 1966 his plays -- with their romantic plots and Syngean dialogue -- did not find favor with the new Abbey, and, with the exception of Petticoat Loose in 1979, none of his later works were performed professionally. This selection contains The King of Friday's Men, The Paddy Pedlar,,The Wood of the Whispering, Daughter from Over the Water, Petticoat Loose, and the previously unpublished The Bachelor's Daughter. The volume includes a bibliographical checklist of Molloy's writings.

Since the appearance of the first science fiction magazine in 1926, thousands of short stories have been published in periodicals devoted to the genre. These stories cover a wide range of subjects, from spacecraft to the human condition, and feature little-known authors as well as masters like Ellison and Asimov. In the past, finding which issue of what magazine ran a certain story was nearly impossible. This much-needed reference tool provides valuable assistance in the daunting task of locating short stories published in science fiction magazines, providing exhaustive indexes to magazines, authors, and titles, allowing a variety of options for research on 34,000 stories appearing in nearly 5,000 issues of 133 genre magazines. Stories from all major American publications, as well as from several minor periodicals, are indexed. Also included is an appendix of the best known and most prolific contributors, giving the titles of all their stories in this work (necessary because the huge author index does not show titles). A guide to how to use this book clarifies its features for the researcher.

A gorgeous, all-consuming saga from a rising star in women's fiction Tara Flynn has come a long way since she was a little girl growing up in the village of Ballygrace. Now mistress of Ballygrace House, the beautiful mansion overlooking the Tullamore countryside, Tara has everything she's always wanted - security, a beautiful home, and the love of a good man. But the Irish have an expression - 'the two days', meaning good and bad fortune. Tara may have everything she's ever dreamed of, but can she hold on to it? In Stockport, Tara's dear friend Biddy has problems of her own. She too has escaped a troubled past and built a new life. But when her husband is seriously injured, Biddy must once again begin taking care of herself. As Tara's half-sister arrives at her boarding-house, Biddy realises she'll need eyes in the back of her head if she's to keep both Angela and herself out of trouble . . .

'Rediscover Your Holiday Sparkle: 400+ Christmas Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends' stands as an unprecedented anthology that elegantly weaves together the diverse tapestries of holiday literature. Spanning centuries and embracing a multitude of literary styles – from the transformative social narratives of Charles Dickens to the intimate poetic reflections of Emily Dickinson – this collection encompasses the profound, the heartwarming, and the magical realms of Christmas. Each piece has been meticulously selected to highlight the myriad ways in which the holiday season has inspired some of the most eminent writers in history, making this compilation a treasure trove of cultural and literary significance. The anthology's vast range of offerings ensures that every reader can find a piece that resonates, be it a story that kindles warmth or a poem that reflects on the deeper meanings of the season. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from varied times and lands, bring their unique voices to a common theme – the celebration of Christmas. Their backgrounds span the gamut of the literary spectrum, from iconic figures like Shakespeare and Tolstoy, who need no introduction, to those like Beatrix Potter and Selma Lagerlöf, whose works have touched hearts in more specific but no less significant ways. This collection aligns with various historical, cultural, and literary movements, illustrating how the holiday season has been a perennial source of inspiration across ages and cultures. The anthology thereby serves as a microcosm of global literary heritage, offering insights into the universal human condition through the lens of Christmas celebrations. Scholars and casual readers alike are invited to delve into 'Rediscover Your Holiday Sparkle' for an unparalleled exploration of Christmas as depicted in literature. This anthology not only promises to rekindle the joy and wonder of the holiday season but also offers a unique educational journey through the evolution of Christmas-themed writing. It is an essential addition to the libraries of those who appreciate the richness of holiday traditions and the powerful narratives that have shaped them over centuries. Within its pages lies the opportunity to engage with the works of legendary authors in a new light and to foster a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling around the theme of Christmas.