Black Cat Weekly 64

Our 64th issue is a bit of a celebration—our American holiday, Thanksgiving, is nearly upon us, so we have a couple of other seasonally appropriate stories which I hope you will enjoy. (I trust our international readers will enjoy them as much as we do here.) Our acquiring editors have been busy. Michael Bracken has an original tale by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Barb Goffman has a turkey tale from modern master John M. Floyd. Cynthia Ward is off again this week, but she will have more for us shortly. Not enough? Well, we have gone back to the pulps for stories by Alfred Bester, George O. Smith, and Arthur J. Burks. Plus a novel by mystery superstar Mary Roberts Rinehart. Plus a long-lost fantasy by British author Sydney J. Bounds, which appears here for the first time. And another long-unseen story by the late and much-missed Larry Tritten. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Dumbass Is Dumbass,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Loser Takes All,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Button’s and Bo’s,” by John M. Floyd [short story] “Thubway Tham’s Thanksgiving Dinner,” by Johnston McCulley [short story] “The Adventure of the Coffee-Pot,” by Hal Meredeth [short story] The Red Lamp, by Mary Roberts Rinehart [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In Video Veritas,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Grey Mage,” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Unseen Blushers,” by Alfred Bester [short story] “The Death Crystal,” by George O. Smith [novelet] “The Vanishers,” by Arthur J. Burks [novelet]

Our mysteries this issue include Josh Pachter’s “The Secret Lagoon” (Michael Bracken’s pick), Larry Allen Tyler’s “Just a Little Before Winter’s Set In” (selected by Barb Goffman) and a solve-it-yourself from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). A futuristic detective tale by Larry Tritten, and a classic Nick Carter novel from 1903, The Plot That Failed, round things out. On the science fiction & fantasy side, we have a vampire classic by Carl Jacobi, “Revelations in Black” (which was also the title story of one of his Arkham House collection); “Bullard Reflects,” by Malcolm Jameson, which is classic SF from Astounding; “Strike,” by Richard Wilson, about newspaper reporters coming a shipping strike in space; and “Three Bananas,” by Larry Tritten—which is one of his gonzo cross-genre mashups. Fun stuff. Plus the already-mentioned “Extended Family,” by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. (Did we mention that this is one of those stories you won’t want to miss?) Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense “The Secret Lagoon,” by Josh Pachter [short story] “The Game’s Afoot,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Just a Little Before Winter’s Set In,” by Larry Allen Tyler [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Plot That Failed, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “Three Bananas,” by Larry Tritten [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “Extended Family,” by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough [Cynthia Ward Presents, short story] “Bullard Reflects,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] “Three Bananas,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Strike,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “Revelations in Black,” by Carl Jacobi [short story]

Our 93rd issue has a ton (we weighed it!) of great fiction, starting with an original crime story from John M. Floyd. John remains one of our most popular authors, and this one comes courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken. We also have a great mystery tale by Joseph S. Walker, thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman. Plus a Jack the Ripper tale from Adrian Cole. And mystery classics from James Holding and Dick Donovan—in Donovan’s case, a complete short story collection. Of course, we also have a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles. On the more fantastic side of things, you will also find Adrian Cole’s Jack the Ripper story. Plus a pair of classic novels from Jack Williamson (future war against the robots) and George O. Smith (a time travel classic), plus a scientific zombie (using the old term, “jumbee”) tale from Wallace West. Quite a varied selection this time! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “High Noon in the Big Country,” by John M. Floyd [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Patriotic Pilferage,” by Hal Charles “Mercy,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Consultant,” by James Holding [short story] Riddles Read, by Dick Donovan [short story collection] “In the Wake of the Autumn Storm,” by Adrian Cole [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “In the Wake of the Autumn Storm,” by Adrian Cole [short story] “The Belt,” by Wallace West [short story] The World-Mover, by George O. Smith [novel] After World’s End, by Jack Williamson [novel]

For our 106th issue, we seem to have developed a television theme, with a pair of great speculative fiction stories about TV: Norman Spinrad’s “Prime Time” and Henry Slesar’s “The Show Must Go On.” Spinrad’s tale is a look at a future where people can retire to relive television. And Slesar’s is a darkly cynical look behind the curtain of television production. Jack Vance, H.B. Fyfe, and Joseph Payne Brennan round out our SF and fantasy contributors this issue. “Prime Time,” incidentally, is Norman Spinrad’s fiction debut in Black Cat Weekly, and it won’t be his last story for us. He kindly went through his short fiction and selected 10 favorite stories for us to reprint in coming issues, so you’re in for a real treat. And speaking of treats, our editors are already working on some special Halloween surprises for October. I know you’ll be thoroughly spooked by some of them. Something to look forward to, as we approach my favorite holiday season. (There’s a reason we have a black cat for a mascot.) Our novel this issue is a mystery: Scarhaven Keep, by Golden Age British author J.S. Fletcher. Also in mysteries, we have an original from Nikki Knight (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and a terrific crime story by Brendan DuBois, who remains a mainstay of short mystery fiction. Of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself short from Hal Charles. Great stuff indeed. Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The New York Goodbye,” by Nikki Knight [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Last Shot,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Road’s End,” by Brendan DuBois [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Scarhaven Keep, by J.S. Fletcher [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Prime Time,” by Norman Spinrad [short story] “The Show Must Go On,” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Visitor in the Vault,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] “The Night of No Moon,” by H.B. Fyfe [short story] “The Men Return,” by Jack Vance [short story]

Black Cat Weekly #86 features 3 original stories: a sequel to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Casque of Amontillado" by Phyllis Ann Karr, and mysteries by K.L. Abrahamson and Andrew Welsh-Huggins. Plus series stories from Robert E. Howard (Solomon Kane) and Hal Meredith (Sexton Blake). Plus novels from Zenith Brown (writing as David Frome) and Edgar Rice Burroughs (a "Lost World" tale).. Plus tales by Bryce Walton and George O. Smith. Plus a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles. Hours of great reading! Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Girls of Soi Eleven,” by K.L. Abrahamson [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Steering Clear of Trouble” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Habits” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Poker-Work” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] In At the Death by Zenith Brown [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Revenge of Fortunato” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] "Earth Needs a Killer," by Bryce Walton [short novel] “Dark Recess” by George O. Smith [short novel] “Red Shadows” by Robert E. Howard [short novel, Solomon Kane series] The Land of Hidden Men, by Edgar Rice Burroughs [novel]

Black Cat Weekly #28 features another interview by acquiring editor Darrell Schweitzer—this time with Larry Niven.. It originally appeared in Thrust, a review and critical essay magazine published by Doug Fratz in the 1970s. As Darrell has observed, these old interviews fall “somewhere between oral history and paleontology.” It’s always interesting to compare where at author was in his career almost 50 years ago to where he is today. For this issue’s mysteries, we have an original story by Bruce Arthurs, thanks to editor Michael Bracken. Barb Goffman has selected “The Chess Room” by Elizabeth Elwood. And we have a second classic novel from Mildred Davis. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself tale by Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Sweet and Charlie Blythe)—no issue would be complete without one. Editor Cynthia Ward has selected “Miles to Go” by Linda D. Addison for this issue. Great stuff, especially if you like music. (Who doesn’t?) Leslie Perri’s “Under the Skin,” Randall Garrett’s “Stroke of Genius,” and Lester del Rey’s “Mine Host, Mine Adversary” round out the classic reprints. Great reading. Here’s the complete lineup: Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Larry Niven,” an interview by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Return of Dodge Tombstone, Outlaw,” by Bruce Arthurs [short story] “A Secret Admirer,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “The Dark Place,” by Mildred Davis [novel] “The Chess Room,” by Elizabeth Elwood [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Milez To Go,” by Linda D. Addison [short story] “Under The Skin,” by Leslie Perri [short story] “Stroke Of Genius,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “Mine Host, Mine Adversary,” by Lester del Rey [short story]

Our 51st issue is another strong one one, with four of our acquiring editors finding tales for us. Michael Bracken has an original Bev Vincent mystery, and Barb Goffman has a winner from R.T. Lawton. Cynthia Ward turns the tables on fellow editor Michael Bracken and selects a haunted house story by him! And too-long-absent editor Paul Di Filippo has picked a powerful story by Sheree R. Thomas. Good stuff. As if that’s not enough (which it never is for the Black Cat!), we have gone back to the pulps for some historical mystery-adventure tales by Harold Lamb and Philip M. Fisher, and dived even deeper for a collection of mysteries by Dick Donovan called The Chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service. On the science fiction front, we have novellas by Arthur Leo Zagat and George O. Smith, plus Skylark Three, by E.E. “Doc” Smith. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Death Sentence,” by Bev Vincent [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Letter Perfect,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Tightening of the Bond,” by R.T. Lawton [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Man Who Measured the Wind,” by Harold Lamb [novella] “The Yangtze Horde,” by Philip M. Fisher [short story] The Chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service, by Dick Donovan [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Little Spring,” by Michael Bracken [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Thirteen Year Long Song,” by Sheree R. Thomas [Paul Di Filippo Presents short story] “The Faceless Men,” by Arthur Leo Zagat [novella] The Kingdom of the Blind, by George O. Smith [novella] Skylark Three, by E.E. “Doc” Smith [novel]

It seems the Halloween season starts earlier and earlier each year. I first began noticing Halloween candy in stores in July (!), and every time I turned around since then, there were more decorations, party favors, and treats at hand. Is it any wonder I’ve been wandering around the house humming “The Monster Mash” for the last few weeks? Our 108th issue kicks off a truly epic celebration of the season, with a pair of nightmarish treats. You will never look at seagulls the same way after experiencing Adrian Cole’s “The Birds Are Back in Town.” And Lin Carter’s “Keru” is a tale that would have been right at home in Weird Tales in its heyday. “The Power of Evil,” by Alan Orloff, is not a supernatural tale, but futuristic suspense (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), so it’s doing double duty this time. And the grisly-sounding “A Burn That Reaches Bone,” by Karen Odden is not a mad slasher tale, but a tale of a horrible crime that reaches through the generations. (Thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman for this one.) And, of course, there are traditional mysteries, too—I found a rare Victorian-era mystery by Australian writer Ernest Favenc while I was browsing issues of Australian Town and Country Journal looking for mysteries by Mary Fortune (my favorite classic Australian mystery writer) and couldn’t resist adding it to this issue. Plus we have a detective novel featuring Nick Carter and a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have another great Norman Spinrad story, a classic by Robert F. Young, and the first entry in the Pillsworth & Toffee series by Charles F. Myers (we have more coming up). Fun stuff Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Power of Evil,” by Alan Orloff [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Swimming into Troubled Waters,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Burn That Reaches Bone,” by Karen Odden [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Mystery of the Death Stroke,” by Ernest Favenc The Forced Crime, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Power of Evil,” by Alan Orloff [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Entities,” by Norman Spinrad [short story] “The Birds Are Back in Town” is copyright © 2019 by Adrian Cole [short story] “The Courts of Jamshyd,” by Robert F. Young [short story] “Keru,” by Lin Carter “I’ll Dream of You” by Charles F. Myers [short story]