Black Cat Weekly 143

This issue, we have the second of the long-running Dutch series featuring the adventures of Lord Lister (Alias Raffles), as the Robin Hood of England tangles with a jeweler who likes to cheat his customers with fake diamonds and pearls. (This is a new translation and its first appearance in English. We have more coming up.) Plus we have original mysteries by Tom Larsen (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Joseph S. Walker (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and K M Rockwood. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction side of things, we have another great lineup, with tales by Stephen Marlow, Henry Slesar, Edmond Hamilton, Frank Belknap Long, and a writer best known for his mysteries, Donald E. Westlake. Enjoy! Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “El Cazador (The Hunter),” by Tom Larsen [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “New Sheriff in Town,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Sunrise at the Moonshine Palace,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Flippin’ Flapjacks,” by K M Rockwood [short story] “The Punishment of the Jewel Forger,” by Kurt Matull and Theo Blakensee [novelet, Lord Lister (Alias Raffles) #2] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Passionate Pitchman,” by Stephen Marlow [short story] “My Robot,” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Life-Masters,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story] “The Red Fetish,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “Meteor Strike!” by Donald E. Westlake [short story]

In our 89th issue, Michael Bracken pulls double duty to bring a pair of original mysteires to readers: great tales by Steve Liskow and Welsh-Huggins. Plus we have a crime novel by Johnston McCulley (who also created Zorro—but he tried his hand at a bunch of other heroes and antiheroes, among them The Scarlet Scourge, The Avenging Twins, and a ton of others). There’s also a novel by Western author B.M. Bower. Plus a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. On the science fiction & fantasy side, we have classic tales by Randall Garrett and Murray Leinster, two favorites. Robert E. Howard (much on my mind since returning from our trip to Robert E. Howard Days in Cross Plains, Texas) has a Solomon Kane adventure. And last (but far from least) we begin the serialization of Darrell Schweitzer’s amazing Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, a series of linked short stories that come together to form a novel…though each tale also manages to stand on its own. The first 3 stories are in this issue. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Nose for News,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Burgled Bushels,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Supply Chains,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The Voice at Johnnywater, by B.M. Bower [novel] The Scarlet Scourge, by Johnston McCulley [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Needler,” by Randall Garrett [novella] “Rattle of Bones,” by Robert E. Howard [short story] “Ribbon in the Sky,” by Murray Leinster [novella] Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, by Darrell Schwetizer [serial book, part 1 of 4]

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 79th issue features a pair of original mysteries by N.M. Cedeño (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Bryon Quertermous (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Cedeño is no stranger to BCW readers, having already appeared in our pages twice before. Hopefully Bryon Quertermous will match that hat trick, too. Rounding out the mystery section are a pair of novels: Francis Beeding’s The House of Doctor Edwardes (filmed by Alfred Hitchcock as Spellbound) and The House on the Cliff, by Franklin W. Dixon, which you may recognize as the very first Hardy Boys book. If you grew up reading the modern revisions of the original Hardy Boys series (which began in 1927), you’re in for a shock: these brothers are tougher, edgier, and face real peril. They were definitely watered down beginning in the 1950s. And often the titles were the only things that remained from the original stories. And, of course, no issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). In the science fiction & fantasy section, Phyllis Ann Karr continues the adventures of her legendary fantasy duo, Frostflower and Thorn, in “Night of the Short Knives.” Don’t skip her Afterword about the story; it’s fascinating. Plus we have tales by Philip José Farmer, a rare science fiction foray by mystery author Wenzell Brown, and tales by Oliver Saari and George O. Smith. Great stuff. Here’s the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Disappearance of a Serial Spouse,” by N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Impossible Theft,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Visiting Artist,” by Bryon Quertermous [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The House of Doctor Edwardes, by Francis Beeding [novel] The House on the Cliff, by Franklin W. Dixon [novel, Hardy Boys #1] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Night of the Short Knives,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story, Frostflower & Thorn] Daughter,” by Philip José Farmer [short story] “Murderer’s Chain,” by Wenzell Brown [short story] “Moon Dust,” by Oliver Saari [short story] “Bombs Awry,” by George O. Smith [novella]

On the mystery side, Black Cat Weekly #25 has an original mystery by Joseph S. Walker, thanks to editor Michael Bracken, and Barb Goffman has tracked down an Edgar Award nominee by Judith Green. Plus we have a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Charlie Sweet and Hal Blythe), and novels by Lange Lewis and Nicholas Carter. On the fantastic side, Cynthia Ward has selected “Cabbages and Kale” by David Marusek for this issue. Plus we have modern and classic tales by Larry Tritten, Lester dey Rey, Fletcher Pratt, and Richard Wilson. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Here on Seventeen,” by Joseph S. Walker [short story] “A Present from the Past,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Good, Safe Place,” by Judith Green [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Meat for Murder, by Lange Lewis [novel] The Pressing Peril, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Cabbages and Kale,” by David Marusek [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Play It Again, Sam,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Done Without Eagles,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Danger,” by Irvin Lester and Fletcher Pratt [short story] “Course of Empire,” by Richard Wilson [short story]

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]

This issue, we have 17 short stories and 2 novel serials for you—one of our largest lineups ever! (Of course, quite a few of the stories are short, and hopefully you like awful-pun stories…) On the mystery front, we have original tales from Dave Zeltserman (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Justin M. Kiska (a Christmas fantasy-mystery), plus another fantasy-mystery from C. C. Guthrie (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Our serial of Jack Guthrie’s Tiger Island concludes. And, of course, there’s a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. For the science fiction and fantasy lineup—we have the above-mentioned Kiska and Guthrie tales, plus the complete series of 8 Benedict Breadfruit stories by Randall Garrett (written under the pseudonym “Grandall Barretton”) plus 3 more pun-stories from the series Garrett was parodying, The Adventures of Ferdinand Feghoot Through Time and Space, by Reginald Bretnor (written under the pseudonym “Grendel Briarton”) and a Feghoot by Your Editor, John Betancourt (written under the pseudonym “Grendel Briarton, Jr.”). See my intro to this very punny section for more info. On top of all that, we have a delightful fantasy from Anna Tambour, a classic SF piece from Ben Bova, and part 3 of Francis Jarman’s historical fantasy novel, The Eagle’s Wing. Whew, that’s a lot! And just a reminder: if you’d like to contribute to Black Cat Weekly, please see our submission portal at blackcatweekly.com for guidelines. We are always looking for original mystery and science fiction/fantasy stories. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup (in order of appearance): Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Ice Lady,” by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Coveted Coin Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The December Candle Caper Con,” by C. C. Guthrie [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “North Pole Noir,” by Justin M. Kiska [short story] Tiger Island, by Jack Ritchie [serial novel, part 3 of 3] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The December Candle Caper Con,” by C. C. Guthrie [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “North Pole Noir,” by Justin M. Kiska [short story] “The Godchildren,” by Anna Tambour [short story] “Through Time and Space With Benedict Breadfruit: I to VIII,” by Grandall Barretton [8 short stories] “Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot: VIII, XIX, and XXXVII,” by Grendel Briarton [3 short stories] “Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot: Alpha,” by Grendel Briarton, Jr. [short story] “Answer, Please Answer,” by Ben Bova [short story] The Eagle’s Wing, by Francis Jarman [serial novel, part 3 of 4]

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]