Black Cat Weekly 130

This issue has a pretty much everything you could possibly want from a mystery and science fiction magazine (and some things you probably never thought you wanted!)—detectives, neanderthals, a professional taster, starships, a body in an underpass, dinosaurs, World War II soldiers, aliens with tentacles, musicians, time travel—and so much more! As always, thanks to our Acquiring Editors, Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken, for help in finding great stories. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Underpass,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Who Took the Tsarina’s Pearls?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Curse of the Supertaster,” by Leslie Karst [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The House on the Cliff,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] Suspicion Aroused, by Dick Donovan [short story collection] “The 13th Juror,” by Leslie Waltham [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Luck of Ignatz,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “The 13th Juror,” by Leslie Waltham [short story] “Iteration,” by C.M. Kornbluth [short story] “Rhythm Rides the Rocket,” by Bob Olsen [novelet] “Blitzkrieg in the Past,” by John York Cabot [novella]

Our 97th issue is brimming with interesting items. On the mystery front, Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken has discovered a brand-new story from Dave Zeltserman for us, while Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman brings us an intriguing S.J. Rozan tale. I’ve also been persuading fantasist Phyllis Ann Karr to let us reprint some of her early work—and this time, we have a mystery! Who knew that she launched her writing career with a string of top-notch mystery stories? I certainly didn’t. Also included is an Inspector French police procedural novel from classic British novelist Freeman Wills Crofts. And, of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler, once again delivered from the pens of Hal Charles. Switching to fantasy and science fiction, we kick things off with a poem by Harry Warner, Jr. An early SF enthusiast, Warner is primarily known for his non-fiction works on the history of the genre, particularly on fandom. His poem “If—1939” (originally published in the fanzine Le Zombie) perfectly encapsulates the fannish enthusiasm of that era. Also featured are fantasies from Adrian Cole and Joseph Payne Brennan, a Golden Age science fiction story by Jay Williams (best known as the co-creator of the kid scientist Danny Dunn), and an engaging SF novel from Frank Belknap Long. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Matzo Ball Killer,” by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Chocolate Cupcake Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Going Home,” by S.J. Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Slantwise Scales of Justice,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] The Starvel Hollow Tragedy, by Freeman Wills Crofts [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “If—1939,” by Harry Warner, Jr. [poem] “A Girl and Her Doll,” by Adrian Cole [short story] “The Horror at Chilton Castle,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] “Beast of Prey,” by Jay Williams [short story] Woman from Another Planet, by Frank Belknap Long [novel]

Black Cat Weekly #82 has another great set of new and classic mysteries & science fiction. Here's the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Mobster Serendipity,” by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Disappearing Gem Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Bygones,” by Wayne J. Gardiner [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Clue of the Dead Hand,” by Dick Donovan [novelet] The Texican, by Dane Coolidge [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Robber Girl, the Strangers, and Ole Lukoie,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower & Thorn series short story] “Chameleon Man,” by Henry Kuttner [short story] “Sibling,” by Leslie Waltham [short story] “Imitation of Death,” by Lester del Rey [short story] The Starmen, by Leigh Brackett [novel]

This time, we have an original mysteries by George Wilhite (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Peter DiChellis (a locked-room mystery), as well as an original science fiction story by Larry Tritten and me. (It is a posthumous collaboration—Larry passed away in 2011. I acquired his copyrights some years ago and have been working on reprinting his stories, as longtime readers of BCW will realize. One particular story, with a terrible name, just didn’t work. So I rewrote it, retitled it, and am pleased to show it off here. I hope you all enjoy it.) And Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman found a great tale by Marcelle Dubé. We also have classic novels from British mystery author Edgar Wallace and Irish fantasist James Stephens, plus classic science fiction from Randall Garrett, J.F. Bone, and Mark Reinsberg. Good stuff. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Hanged By the Neck Unti…,” by George Wilhite [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Puzzle Palace Perplex,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Tethered,” by Marcelle Dubé [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Behind a Locked Door,”by Peter DiChellis [short story] The Just Men of Cordova, by Edgar Wallace [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Free-For-All-Way,” by John Betancourt and Larry Tritten [short story] “Respectfully Mine,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “The Missionary,” by J. F. Bone [short story] “The Satellite-Keeper’s Daughter,” by Mark Reinsberg [short story] The Demi-Gods, by James Stephens [novel]

Our 59th issue puts us firmly into one of the happiest seasons of the year, Halloween! So fun and frights abound, with extra spooky content—starting with “Ghost Writers in the Sky,” an original tale by Steve Liskow, courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken. (It does double-duty as mystery and fantasy, as does Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman’s pick, “Deal Breaker,” by Justin Gustainis.) Alas, we have no selection from Cynthia Ward this time, but hopefully she will be back in short order. I picked up one of my favorite dark fantasies by another Acquiring Editor to fill the hole: “Peeling It Off,” by Darrell Schweitzer. Plus an uncanny tale by A.R. Morlan that would have been at home in Weird Tales, then a Victorian-era occult novel by Marie Corelli round things out. For fans of traditional mysteries, we have a pair of great private detective novels: About Face, by Frank Kane, and a vintage Nick Carter novel from 1903. On the science fiction side, we have contributions by Murray Leinster and a novel by George O. Smith. Overall, this is one of our most eclectic issues, but there is bound to be more than a few tales to suit everyone’s taste. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Ghost Writers in the Sky,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Point, Set, Match,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Deal Breaker,” by Justin Gustainis [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Toying with Fate, by Nicholas Carter About Face, by Frank Kane [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Ghost Writers in the Sky,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Deal Breaker,” by Justin Gustainis [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Peeling It Off,” by Darrell Schweitzer [novelet] “The Cat Tracker Lady of Asad Alley,” by A.R. Morlan [short story] “The Nameless Something,” by Murray Leinster [novelet] The Hellflower, by George O. Smith [novel] The Sorrows of Satan, by Marie Corelli [novel]

The third issue of Black Cat Weekly presents more tales of the mysterious and fantastic—3 mystery shorts, a mystery novel, 2 science fiction stories and a fantasy story, plus a science fiction novella. Here are: THE MAN FROM SCOTLAND YARD, by Leslie Ford [mystery novel] THE CASE OF THE ZINC CASE, by Frank Lovell Nelson [Serial story - 3 of 12] THE CASE OF THE VANISHING PROFESSOR, by Tara Laskowski [Barb Goffman Presents - mystery short] CLEARLY GUILTY, by Hal Charles [Solve it yourself mystery!] HOLMES SHERLOCK, by Eleanor Arneson [Paul Di Filippo Presents - sci-fi short story] WORLD OF THE MAD, by Poul Anderson [sci-fi short story] MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MAGNATE, by Ralph Milne Farley [sci-fi short story] THE COSMIC JUNKMAN, by Rog Phillips [fantasy novella]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #47. Another fine issue is at hand—with mysteries from Peter Lovesey (thanks to acquiring editor Barb Goffman), Laird Long (thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken), and classics from Christopher B. Booth, Edgar Wallace, and Nicholas Carter. (Not to mention a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles!) On the science fiction front, we have Nisi Shawl’s excellent “Lazzrus” (thanks to acquiring editor Cynthia Ward) plus classics from George O. Smith, E.E. “Doc” Smith, and Algis Budrys. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Suicide Sleep,” by Laird Long [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Boxed In,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] Popping Round to the Post,” by Peter Lovesey [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Penny Protection,” by Christopher B. Booth [short story] Chick, by Edgar Wallace [novel] The Sultan’s Pearls, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Lazzrus,” by Nisi Shawl [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Firegod,” by Algis Budrys [short story] “Robot Nemesis,” by E.E. “Doc” Smith, Ph.D. [novelet] Pattern for Conquest, by George O. Smith [novel]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #45. This is an fun issue, and I’ve selected Tobias S. Buckell’s fantasy “The Fisher Dragon” as the cover story. (I must admit to having a fondness for dragons. The very first story I sold professionally, way back at the dawn of time when I was 16 years old, was about a dragon. And they appear in several of my novels, most notably Master of Dragons.) Thanks to acquiring editor Cynthia Ward for selecting it. Black Cat’s other acquiring editors are represented in this issue, too—Michael Bracken selected an original mystery from John M. Floyd, and Barb Goffman has a tale about a retired detective by Steve Hockensmith (whose “Holmes on the Range” series of historical mystery stories are must-reads, as far as I’m concerned. Check then out if you get a chance.) And last (but not least), Darrell Schweitzer unearthed one of his paleo-interviews for us—this time with Craig Shaw Gardner. It's from the 1990s, when Gardner had just become a best-selling author, thanks to his Batman movie novelization. And we have classics by George O. Smith, Henry Kuttner, and many others, including a 1915 Nick Carter mystery novel. And, of course, a modern solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “From Ten to Two” by John M. Floyd [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Eggceptional Solution” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Frank” by Steve Hockensmith [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Bush-Rancher, by Harold Bindloss [novel] The Suicide, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Craig Shaw Gardner” [Interview with Darrell Schweitzer] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Fisher Dragon”by Tobias S. Buckell [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Catspaw,” by George O. Smith [short story] “The Half-Haunted,” by Manly Wade Wellman [short story] “The Sea-Witch,” by Nictzin Dyalhis [short story] “Chameleon Man,” by Henry Kuttner [short story]