Black Cat Weekly #13 presents: Mystery / Suspense: Most Men Don’t Kill, by David Alexander [novel] “Razor Sharp,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Black Friday,” by R.T. Lawton [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Matter of Science” by Ray Cummings [short story] A Town Is Drowning, by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Truth About Wallpaper,” by Robert Bloch [humor] “You Don’t Walk Alone,” by Frank M. Robinson [science fiction] “The Adapters,” by Philip High [short story] The Terror out of Space! by John D. Swain [short novel]
Our 73rd issue is another great one. It features an original mystery story by Laird Long (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Great modern tales from Diana Deverell (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), Nicole Givens Kurtz (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Cynthia Ward), and Richard Wilson (a rare short story that only appeared in a limited edition chapbook). Plus classics from Ray Bradbury, Murray Leinster, Carolyn Wells, George O. Smith, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Quite a list of contributors! Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Murder On My Mind,” by Laird Long [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Play’s the Thing,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “In Plain Sight,” by Diana Deverell [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Oscar Slater, by Arthur Conan Doyle [novel] Where’s Emily, by Carolyn Wells [Fleming Stone series, novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Pluviophile,” by Nicole Givens Kurtz [Cynthia Ward Presents novelet] “A Rat for a Friend,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “Referent,” by Ray Bradbury [short story] “The Seven Temporary Moons,” by Murray Leinster [novelet] Hellflower, by George O. Smith [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]
This issue has been fun to put together. As a Maryland resident, I’ve always been partial to stories set in my home state, and Golden Age mystery author Zenith Brown is here this time with Murder in Maryland, a classic mystery originally published under her “David Frome” pseudonym. (She also wrote as Leslie Ford.) Add to that more mysteries by Hal Charles (another Solve-It-Yourself mystery challenge), Lester Dent (author of the famous Shadow pulp novels), Murray Leinster (whose name most science fiction readers should recognize), plus a great tale by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera (selected by Barb Goffman), and you have a terrific lineup. Alas, I wasn’t able to get to another Frank Lovell Nelson story, but his telepathic detective will be back next week. In the words of TV hucksters, But wait, there’s more! Remember, we also include great science fiction and fantasy in every issue, and here we have a bunch of classics by Lester del Rey (a rare fantasy from John W. Campbell’s Unknown first published in 1940), a devilish fantasy tale by Jerome Bixby, and a science fiction story by Robert Silverberg & Randall Garrett in collaboration. Plus I’m sneaking in one of my own Zelloque fantasies, written when I was reading the Richard Burton translation of The Thousand and One Nights. The influence shows. Our science fiction novel this issue is Get Off My World, by Eando Binder. —John Betancourt, Editor Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries “This Will Slay You,” by Dale Clark [novelet] “Playing by the Rules,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Pipeline Juggernaut,” by Lester Dent [short story] “Pink Ears,” by Murray Leinster [short story] “The Right Profile,” by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera [Barb Goffman Presents Mystery] Murder in Maryland, by Zenith Brown [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Pipes of Pan,” by Lester del Rey [fantasy short story] “The Incomplete Theft,” by Robert Silverberg & Randall Garrett [science fiction short story] “The Last Guardian of Ru Ishtl,” by John Gregory Betancourt [fantasy short story] “The Battle of the Bells,” by Jerome Bixby [fantasy short story] Get Off My World, by Eando Binder [novel]
This issue, we have five mystery stories, three of which are originals—tales by Tracy Falenwolfe (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Veronica Leigh, and Teel James Glenn—these last two names should be familiar to regular readers from previous issues. We also have a great modern tale by Jonathan Santlofer (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and a classic pulp crime story set in the dark world of Las Vegas casinos by Bryce Walton. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction end, the Lancelot Biggs space opera series from Nelson Bond continues with “F-O-B Venus.” F-O-B was a more common term in early to mid 20th century. It stands for “Free on Board”—a term used in international shipping to indicate that the seller delivers the goods to a ship at a specified port, and the buyer assumes responsibility once the goods are on board and is responsible for shipping costs, insurance, and other expenses related to transporting the goods to their final destination. Rounding things out are a pair of novels: pulp action-adventure from Edmond Hamilton, then Lester del Rey’s classic tale of an atomic power plant heading toward meltdown. Great stuff. Here’s the complete lineup for #151— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Jamming at Jollies,” by Tracy Falenwolfe [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Carried-off Coins,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Lola,” by Jonathan Santlofer [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Divine Discontent,” by Veronica Leigh [short story] “White Face, Blood Red,” by Teel James Glenn [short story] “Murderers Three,” by Bryce Walton [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “F-O-B Venus,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series] Outside the Universe, by Edmond Hamilton [novel] Nerves, by Lester del Rey [novel]
Mysteries & Suspense Mystery on Graveyard Head, by Edith Dorian "Kismet and the Baby Orchid," by Frank Lovell Nelson [short story, Carlton Clarke #8] "Awake To Fear," by Robert Camp [short story] "Look It Up," by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] "The Devil's Dooryard," by W.C. Tuttle [historical novella] Straight to the Goal, by Nicholas Carter [mystery novel] "The Moon and Marcie Wade," by John M. Floyd [Barb Goffman Presents Mystery] Science Fiction & Fantasy "Marsyas in Flanders," by Vernon Lee [fantasy story] "Sympathy for Wolves," by John Gregory Betancourt [fantasy story] "The Blackwood Oak," by Stephen Gallagher [science fiction story] "Perfectly Adjusted," by Gordon R. Dickson [science fiction novella] The White Isle, Darrell Schweitzer [fantasy novel]
Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #37. Another hefty issue is in hand, featuring novels and novellas by some of the greats of the mystery and science fiction fields. And, as expected, our acquiring editors have found some true gems. Michael Bracken has selected an original suspense tale from from N. M. Cedeño, Barb Goffman has a mystery from the always-superb Janice Law, and Cynthia Ward has Naomi Kritzer’s “Evil Opposite”—a great alternate-universe tale (and our featured story this issue). Of course, there’s lots more—including a tale of the Mounties by Hulbert Footner, a historical adventure from Otis Adelbert Kline, a detective novel featuring Nick Carter, and science fiction and fantasy from George R. Smith (his classic novel The Fourth “R”), Malcolm Jameson, and A.R. Morlan. Plus a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles! Here’s the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Serenity, Courage, Wisdom,” by N. M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Ring of Truth,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Good Girl,” by Janice Law [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Adam Tasker, by Hulbert Footner [novel] An Unsolved Mystery, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “The Dragoman’s Confession,” by Otis Adelbert Kline [novella] “Murder in the Time World,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Evil Opposite,” by Naomi Kritzer [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “A Little Pinch Is All You Need,” by A.R. Morlan [short story] “Murder in the Time World,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] The Fourth “R”, by George O. Smith [novel]
Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #44. This is an amazing issue, with quite the all-star lineup. First off, private detective Frank Wolf and his grandson Joel return to our pages with a new short novel by Saul Golubcow, The Dorm Murder (published simultaneously with Golubcow’s collection, The Cost of Living and Other Mysteries). This is one of my favorite series in recent years, and I highly recommend you start with The Dorm Murder. You won’t be disappointed. Black Cat’s acquiring editors have been busy, too—Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Cynthia Ward, and Darrell Schweitzer all have contributions this issue. Michael and Barb found great mysteries by Mary Dutta and Brendan Dubois, Cindy has a neo-classic science fiction tale by David Marusek, and Darrell has unearned a “paleo-interview” from 1988 with fantasist Nancy Springer. It’s fascinating. And we have classics by Fritz Leiber, Robert Silverberg, George O. Smith, Henry Kuttner, and a Nick Carter mystery novel. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). Here's the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: The Dorm Murder, by Saul Golubcow [short novel] “The Wonderworker” by Mary Dutta [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Eggcellent Equation” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Lake Tenant” by Brendan DuBois [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Blue Veil, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Nancy Springer” [Interview with Darrell Schweitzer] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Getting To Know You” by David Marusek [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Friends and Enemies," by Fritz Leiber [short story] “Lair of the Dragonbird," by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Meddler’s Moon,” by George O. Smith [short story] Avengers of Space, by Henry Kuttner [short novel]
Black Cat Weekly #62 presents another thrilling mix of original and classic science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and adventure fiction. Here are more than 600 pages of great reading—no matter what genres you enjoy, you'll find something you'll love in these pages! Mystery / Crime / Suspense: “Siren Song,” by M. A. Monnin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Letter Perfect,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Beneath the Surface,” by Kathryn Prater Bomey [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Code 197,” by Richard S. Prather [novella] A Human Counterfeit, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adventure: “Siren Song,” by M. A. Monnin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Green Roses,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “A Family Matter,” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Isle of Lost Ships,” by Seabury Quinn [novella] “Miracle,” by Ray Cummings [short story] The Cave Girl, by Edgar Rice Burroughs [novel]
Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #43. If this isn’t the best issue we had to date, it’s pretty darn close. Lots of great tales are packed into this one—including not one, but two mystery novels (by Edwin Balmer and Nicholas Carter), three shorter mysteries (including a major new novelet by Robert Lopresti, a great reprint by Victoria Weisfeld, and a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles). On the science fiction side, we have an amazing set of stories by Daniel Marcus, Isaac Asimov, George O. Smith, Murray Leinster, and Robert Silverberg. It’s hard to get better than that. Oh, wait—we also have an interview with Robert Varley, courtesy of Darrell Schweitzer. This is another one of his “paleo-interviews,” going back to 1976, the time when Varley burst onto the scene and became one of this hottest writers in the field. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Suicide Club,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story] A Wee Bit of Dough,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] Evidence, by Victoria Weisfeld [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Ruth of the U.S.A., by Edwin Balmer [novel] An Uncanny Revenge, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Non-Fiction: "Speaking with John Varley” [Interview with Darrell Schweitzer] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Jesus Christ Superstore,” by Daniel Marcus [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Let’s Get Together,” by Isaac Asimov [short story] “The Undamned, by George O. Smith [short story] “Planet of Sand,” by Murray Leinster [short story] “The Guest Rites,” by Robert Silverberg [short story]
