Black Cat Weekly 74

Our 74th issue features an essay from Norman Spinrad, the sort of non-fiction feature I’d like to see more of here in the future. (In fact, we do have an interesting essay from Harlan Ellison coming up in an issue or two, too.) And I plan to resume running author interviews shortly as well. This issue features an original story by Neil Plakcy, plus more recent tales by James A. Heart and Phyllis Ann Karr, plus classics by Norbert Davis, Ray Bradbury, Frank Belknap Long, and Edmond Hamilton. And no issue would be complete without a Hal Charles solve-it-yourself mystery. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Flaking Out in Wilton Manors,” by Neil Plakcy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Conundrum In Winter,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Trip Among the Bluebonnets,” by James A. Hearn [short story] “A Knotty Problem,” by Hal Meredith [short story] “Dead Man’s Chest,” by Norbert Davis [novelet] Non-Fiction: “An SF Manifesto,” by Norman Spinrad [essay] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Two Days Out of Sludgepocket,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Shape of Things,” by Ray Bradbury [short story] “Galactic Heritage,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “Regulations,” by Murray Leinster [short story] “Transuranic,” by Edmond Hamilton [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]

Black Cat Weekly #18 is another great lineup of novels and short stories this time, so without further ado—on to the stories! Mysteries / Suspense: “Rediscovery,” by James Holding [short story] “Staying Cool,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Ghost Who Read the Newspaper,” by Vicki Weisfeld [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Mr. Clackworthy and the Auto Rim,” by Christopher B. Booth [short story] “Kane and Averill,” by Bev Vincent [short story] The Merchant of Murder, by Spencer Dean [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Deeps of the Sky,” by Elizabeth Bear [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Spanish Vampire,” by E. Hoffmann Price [short story] “The Potable Zombie,” by Larry Tritten [short story] The Giant Atom, by Malcolm Jameson [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]

THE CAT’S MEOW Welcome to Black Cat Weekly. This issue, on the mystery side of things, we have original stories from Brendan DuBois (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), E Senteio (crime in the library!), and Cody Goodfellow (has the classic villain Fantomas finally met his match?)…plus Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has unearthed a gem by Eve Fisher. Our novel is Behind the Bronze Door, by William Le Queux, and of course we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. As if that weren’t enough, we also have science fiction stories from Lester del Rey, Philip Jose Farmer, and T.D. Hamm. Rounding out the issue is a Jules de Grandin novelette by Seabury Quinn. Our cover is by our art director, Ron Miller. I’ve had to twist his arm (he’s far too humble for self promotion) and next issue, we’re going to have an illustration feature—a portfolio of his best and favorite book covers. Something to look forward to. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Million-dollar Recovery,” by Brendan DuBois [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Historic Heist,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Wind Power,” by Eve Fisher [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Damned If You Do, and Damned If You Don’t,” by E Senteio [short story] “The Black Hand of Fantomas,” by Cody Goodfellow [short story, Fantomas series] Behind the Bronze Door, by William Le Queux [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Battleground,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Tongues of the Moon,” by Philip Jose Farmer [short story] “The Survivors,” by T.D. Hamm [short story] “The Jewel of Seven Stones,” by Seabury Quinn [novelette, Jules de Grandin series] Until next time, happy reading!

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]

Our 90th issue is another great one—3 original short stories, 8 modern and classic short story reprints, a novella, and a pair of novels. That’s a lot of reading! Where to start with the highlights? On the mystery side, Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman is back from her hiatus with another mystery selection (“Bad Chemistry” by John G. Wimer), as is Michael Bracken (“The Garden” by Jeffrey James Higgins). And proving Hal Charles isn’t the only one who can write Solve-It-Yourself myseries for Black Cat Weekly, this time we have Bradley Harper’s take on a puzzle story, with “Silent Partner.” Plus classics by Harvey J. O’Higgins and Arthur Stringer. On the fantasy & science fiction side, we have an original by Phyllis Ann Karr, “Sir Mordred and the Green Knight,” which features a new take on the classic legend. Our serial of Darrell Schweitzer’s Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, continues with Part 2 (of 4), featuring three more stories of the immortal boy-sorcerer and his quest to keep his humanity. Plus classic science fiction by Murray Leinster and Louis Charbonneau. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Garden,” by Jeffrey James Higgins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Silent Partner,” by Bradley Harper [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Bad Chemistry,” by John G. Wimer [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Stop Thief,” by Harvey J. O’Higgins [short story] The Shadow, by Arthur Stringer [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Sir Mordred and the Green Knight,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “Be Young Again,” by Murray Leinster [novella] Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer (part 2), by Darrell Schweitzer [3 short stories] Corpus Earthling, by Louis Charbonneau [novel]

Black Cat Weekly #9presents: Mysteries & Suspense “Tie Score,” by Lee Mayers[short story] “Lunch Is Served,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Lamplighter by the Sea,” by Michael Nethercott [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Judas Journey, by Lee Roberts [mystery novel] Special Detective, by John Thomas McIntyre [novel, Ashton-Kirk series] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Wolf Woman,”, by H. Bedford-Jones [short story] “The New Pass,” by Amelia B. Edwards [short story] “Sympathy for Mummies,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “No-Risk Planet,” by Stephen Marlowe [short story] Peril of the Starmen, by Kris Neville [novel] The Amulet, by A.R. Morlan [novel]