Black Cat Weekly 63

It’s our 63rd issue, and we’re just getting into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit. Our cover this time features a cat-and-turkey dance, but we can guarantee no turkeys among the stories! This time, Michael Bracken has an original crime story by Sharyn Kolberg on tap, and Barb Goffman has acquired a great Joseph S. Walker mystery. We also have classics by “Sapper” (British author H.C. McNeile), a Johnny Liddell detective tale by Frank Kane, and as always, a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have another original story by Sydney J. Bounds featuring his wizard-detective, in “Royal Mage,” plus stories by Frank Belknap Long, Clifford D. Simak, and Joseph Gilbert. Rounding out the issue is a novel by Murray Leinster, Men Into Space, based on the classic television series. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Gone By Greyhound,” by Sharyn Kolberg [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Locked Gymnasium Mystery,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Last Man in Lafarge,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Green Death,” by “Sapper” [short story] “The Icepick Artists,” by Frank Kane [novella] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Atomic Station,”by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “Royal Mage,” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Call from Beyond,” by Clifford D. Simak [short story] “The Eternal Quest,” by Joseph Gilbert [short story] Men Into Space, by Murray Leinster [novel]

Black Cat Weekly presents another selection of not-to-be-missed mystery and science fiction novels and short stories. With a great lineup of modern and classic fiction, here are— NOT DONE WITH THE NIGHT by Jay Brandon [mystery short, Barb Goffman Presents] ROAD TO SAMARRA by Jane Roth [mystery short] HEIRS AND HOUNDS, by Hal Charles [solve it yourself mystery] THE SQUARED TRIANGLE, by Frank Lovell Nelson [mystery short] ONE HOUR LATE, by William O’Farrell [short mystery novel] TRANSIENTS, by Darrell Schweitzer [science fiction short] FROM THE WALLS OF IREZUMI by A.R. Morlan [science fiction short] THE MAN WHO MADE THE WORLD by Richard Matheson [science fiction short] SLAVES TO THE METAL HORDE, by Stephen Marlowe [short science fiction novel]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #38. This issue, we have some real gems—starting with our featured story, Hope Mirrlees’s Lud-in-the-Mist. It’s a true classic of fantasy, acclaimed by critics for generations. Plus we have a Hashknife Hartley historical adventure novel (okay, you can call it a Western!) from W.C. Tuttle. Our acquiring editors have been busy, too. Michael Bracken snagged an original private eye tale from Laird Long, Barb Goffman found a terrific John M. Floyd story, and Cynthia Ward picked up a great science fiction story by Nisi Shawl and Michael Ehart. And I’ve been busy picking out stories, too—just so you don’t think I’m resting on the magazine’s laurels. This issue has a classic-style detective yarn from new author Saul Golubcow (the first of of three stories we’ll be running in this series), plus classic science fiction from Lester del Rey, John W. Campbell Jr., and Otis Adelbert Kline. Here’s the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Toy Ploy” by Laird Long [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Robber’s Craft” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “The Cost of Living”by Saul Golubcow [novelet] “The Barlow Boys” by John M. Floyd [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Buckaroo of Blue Wells, by W. C. Tuttle [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In Blood and Song” by Nisi Shawl and Michael Ehart [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Shadows of Empire” by Lester del Rey [short story] “The Immortality Seekers” by John W. Campbell, Jr. [novelet] “Meteor Men of Mars” by Harry Cord and Otis Adelbert Kline [short story] Lud-in-the-Mist, by Hope Mirrlees [novel]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #24—another great issue packed with new and classic mystery, fantasy, and science fiction. Here are: Mystery and Suspense: THE ADVENTURE OF THE CURIOUS CUBE, by A.L. Sirois A JAR FULL OF CHARITY, by Hal Charles THE SLEEPER CAPER, by Richard S. Prather WHERE THE STRANGE ONES GO, by Steve Hockensmith IT NEVER GOT INTO THE PAPERS, by Hulbert Footner WON BY MAGIC, by Nicholas Carter Science Fiction and Fantasy: PANCHO VILLA’S FLYING CIRCUS, by Ernest Hogan THE ENGINEER, by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth THE DATE, by Larry Tritten TRAUMEREI, by Charles Beaumont KING OF THE HILL, by James Blish THE OLD ONES HEAR, by Malcolm Jameson

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #15—enjoy our holiday cat cover! The magazine is coming more sharply into focus, as our acquiring editors spread out through the mystery and science fiction fields and bring new stories to our lineup. This issue, we officially welcome Cynthia M. Ward to the editorial staff. She comes bearing a gift—Nancy Kress’s excellent science fiction story, “The Art of War.” Darrell Schweitzer was supposed to be back with his second acquisition this week (a comical Esther Friesner tale) but there were problems with the text and I’ve made a last-minute executive decision to push it back an issue or two, while it’s being fixed. I’ll slip in a replacement from my own backlist, another entry in my “Slab’s Tavern” series of fantasy bar stories. Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken have acquired a pair of original tales for us. First, Barb presents “The Importance of Being Urnest,” by Eleanor Cawood Jones. Then Michael selects “Romeo and Isabella” by John M. Floyd. Great stories, both. Thanks, everyone! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Westerns “The Writing Workshop,” by Janice Law [short story] “Romeo and Isabelle,” by John M. Floyd [short story] “Secret Santa,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself mystery] West of Quarantine, by Todhunter Ballard [novel] “The Importance of Being Urnest,” by Eleanor Cawood Jones [short story] “Dr. Kreener’s Last Experiment,” by Sax Rohmer [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “Serendipity,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Art of War,” by Nancy Kress [short story] “Well Bottled at Slab’s,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] Forever We Die! by Stephen Marlowe [short novel]

Three of our contributing editors brought in amazing tales. Barb Goffman presents Jason’s Half’s “The Last Ferry,” Cynthia Ward brings us “Quinn’s Deal,” by L. Timmel Duchamp, and Michael Bracken offers “A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy,” by N.M. Cedeño. Two are mysteries and two are science fiction. I leave it to you to figure out which is which. (No cheating and checking the list of stories below…unless you absolutely can’t help yourself!) We have three fantasies this time, too—Larry Tritten returns with a story featuring a djinn and a man with a hankering for travel. Everil Worrell has a date with Death. And in Curios, a short story collection by Richard Marsh, we find 7 short stories featuring a pair of rival curio collectors—with some most unusual items! And, of course, there are some classic tales—A Sharper’s Downfall is a mystery novel featuring Nick Carter, Stephen Wasylyk has a vintage mystery short, and we have rip-roaring science fiction tales from Paul W. Fairman and Malcolm Jameson. And of course we couldn’t forget a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. (Yes, it’s a Halloween solve-it-yourself. I should have included it in one of the October issues, but messed up. Doh! You’ll just have to live with it.) Here is the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense: “The Halloween Costume Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Ten Dollar$ a Week,” by Stephen Wasylyk [short story] "A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy," by N.M. Cedeñov [short story] "The Last Ferry," by Jason Half [Barb Goffman Presents short story] A Sharper’s Downfall, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Curios, by Richard Marsh [fantasy and mystery collection] Science Fiction & Fantasy: Curios, by Richard Marsh [fantasy and mystery collection] “Leonora,” by Everil Worrell [fantasy short story] “Travels With Harry,” by Larry Tritten [fantasy short story] "A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy," by N.M. Cedeñov [science fiction short story] “Quinn’s Deal,” by L. Timmel Duchamp [Cynthia Ward Presents science fiction novelet] “Traitor’s Choice,” by Paul W. Fairman [science fiction short story] “Blockade Runner,” by Malcolm Jameson [science fiction short story]

Black Cat Weekly #60 presents another great lineup of modern and classic tales. This issue kicks off with "Buxton," an original by Dave Zeltserman, and continues through classic crime and detective stories, including a psychic detective tale featuring Jules de Grandin by Seabury Quinn. Plus there are monsters, hardboiled detective Nazi villains, science fiction, and more! Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Buxton”by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Unlucky Horseshoe” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Nineteen Creaks” by Peter DiChellis [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Thirty Pieces of Lead” by Frank Kane [short story] “Suicide” by Frank Kane [short story] “The Tenants of Broussac,” by Seabury Quinn [novelet, psychic detective] Science Fiction / Fantasy / Horror: “Finders”by Melissa Scott [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Boiling Point” by Lester del Re [short story] “Murder by Magic” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Vampire Maid,” by Hume Nisbet [short story] “The Tenants of Broussac,” by Seabury Quinn [novelet, psychic detective]

Our mystery selections kick off with “A Matter of Trust,” N.M. Cedeño’s tale of a genetic genealogy detective trying to prove an illegitimate child’s claim to a family trust. Thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken for this one. And Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has a Halloween-appropriate tale in “Grimalkin,” by Mark Thielman, in which a cat may be more than it seems. We also have fantasist Phyllis Ann Karr’s first sale—which turns out to be a mystery!—and a novel by British master J.S. Fletcher. And, of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. Continueing our seasonal celebration of all things Halloween, we have a pair of dark delights—tales by Adrian Cole and me. Have some ghoulish shivers on us! For lovers of science fiction, we have a terrific recent tale by Norman Spinrad, plus classics by Charles V. De Vet and Lester del Rey. Great stuff. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “A Matter of Trust,” by N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Munificent Musketeer,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Grimalkin,” by Mark Thielman [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “An Economical Means of Murder,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] The Herapath Property, by J.S. Fletcher [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In the Court of the Pumpkin King,” by Adrian Cole [short story, Nick Nightmare series] “Sand,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story, SCP series] “Quarantine,” by Norman Spinrad [short story] “Survival Factor,” by Charles V. De Vet [short story] “The Band Played On,” by Lester del Rey [novelet]