Black Cat Weekly #146

by Art Taylor
Black Cat Weekly #146
Author: Art Taylor
Publisher: Black Cat Weekly
Total Pages: 637
Release: 2024-06-16
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1667603582
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This time, we have original mysteries from Wil A. Emerson (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Billie Livingston, plus a great tale by Art Taylor (thanks to Acquiring editor Barb Goffman). Our mystery novel is by Golden Age British author G.D.H. Cole. Plus, of course, there’s a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy end, we have tales by Grand Master Robert Silverberg, plus classics by Stephen Marlowe, William P. Salton, and a novelet by P.F. Costello. A historical fantasy from Weird Tales by Otis Adelbert Kline and E. Hoffmann Price rounds things out.

Black Cat Weekly #20

by Josh Pachter
Black Cat Weekly #20
Author: Josh Pachter
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2021-12-16
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 147947147X
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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 #22

by Michael Bracken
Black Cat Weekly #22
Author: Michael Bracken
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2022
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1479471364
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Black Cat Weekly #22 features a change of pace fantasy story from Michael Bracken, who is best known for his mysteries and crime stories—selected by Cynthia Ward. It’s our featured story this issue. But that’s not to say the other science fiction and fantasy stories aren’t great, too! “Alien,” by Lester del Rey, is a different take on the crash-landed alien who wants to eat everyone around him. And I’m sure you’ll get a chuckle from Larry Tritten’s gonzo sendup of generic fantasy and science fiction quest stories, “The Lord of the Land Beyond (Book One).” (Hint: don’t look for a sequel.) Classics from Unknown by Malcolm Jameson and from Weird Tales by Manley Wade Welllman round out the section. Mystery readers, too, have a lot to explore. Charlotte Morganti leads off with “Deadly Drama,” selected by Michael Bracken—it begins with an accordion festival—rejoice if you like polkas!—but I don’t want to say too much. Read it yourself! Barb Goffman brings us “All Prayers Are Answered,” a powerful story by Eric Rutter of a homeless man whose friend is murdered. He is drawn into the investigation out of fear a young woman investigating the crime will come to harm—or unearth a terrible secret from his past. If you like your detectives hardboiled, Frank Kane returns with another Johnny Liddell mystery. Traditional mystery fans will enjoy a Madame Story novel from Hulbert Footner. And western and historical readers will enjoy a great pulp novel by Max Brand. And of course, where would we be without our solve-it-yourself mystery? Pit your wits against Hal Charles (the writing tream of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet) and see if you can solve “The Coin Flip” without reading the solution! Lastly, “The ‘Rexmel,” by Ralph Milne Farley, has an improbable invention, but it’s not really science fiction, even though it’s by a science fiction writer and appeared in a fantasy magazine. Maybe you could call it a pulp sea-story with shaggy dog elements? Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure “Deadly Drama at the Accordion-o-Rama,” by Charlotte Morganti [short story] “A Coin Flip,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Package for Mr. Big,” by Frank Kane [short novel] “All Prayers Are Answered,” by Eric Rutter [short story] The Death Notice by Hulbert Footner [novel] A Shower of Silver, by Max Brand [novel] “The ‘Rexmel’,” by Ralph Milne Farley [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Fishmonger’s Wife,” by Michael Bracken [Cynthia Ward Presents, short story] “The Lord of the Land Beyond (Book One),” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Alien,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Doubled and Redoubled,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] “Old Dhoh,” by Manly Wade Wellman [short story]

Black Cat Weekly #30

by Elizabeth Elwood
Black Cat Weekly #30
Author: Elizabeth Elwood
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 507
Release: 1901
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1667600737
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Black Cat Weekly #30 is a fabulous issue. This time, Darrell Schweitzer has unearthed his 1980 interview with Tom Disch, which is fascinating. Disch talks about writing his classic fantasy novel, The Businessman, among other things. As Darrell always notes, these old interviews fall “somewhere between oral history and paleontology.” Lots of mysteries this time, too—including originals by Elizabeth Elwood (thanks to editor Michael Bracken) and Jack Halliday (a flash fiction portrait of a serial killer). Barb Goffman has selected “Take the Hit,” by Nikki Dolson. And we have a short story by James Holding and a classic novel by Hulbert Footner. And no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Sweet and Charlie Blythe). On the fantastic side of things, Cynthia Ward has selected a great science fiction tale by Matthew Hughes. I’ve seen his name for years, but never managed to read anything of his until now—but I’m definitely sold. I'm going to have to check out more of his work. Great stuff. Plus we have stories by Larry Tritten, Richard Wilson, and a vintage ghost story—or is it?—by one of my favorite authors, Anonymous! Here’s the complete lineup: Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Thomas M. Disch,” conducted by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “One for the Road,” by James Holding “MeToo Too,” by Elizabeth Elwood [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Take the Hit,” by Nikki Dolson. [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Touch of Magic,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] A Self-Made Thief, by Hulbert Footner [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “An Odd Ghost Story,” by Anonymous [short story] “To Tell the Phoenecians,” by Matthew Hughes [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Turning Off,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “If a Man Answers,” by Richard Wilson [short story]

Black Cat Weekly #89

by Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Black Cat Weekly #89
Author: Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 817
Release: 2023-05-13
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 166768213X
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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]

Black Cat Weekly #32

by Robert Sheckley
Black Cat Weekly #32
Author: Robert Sheckley
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 830
Release: 1901
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1667699911
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Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #32. This issue, we have more original stories than ever before. Editors Michael Bracken and Cynthia Ward have brought in new tales by Wil A. Emerson and the writing team of Jayme Lynn Blaschke and Don Webb, and I snagged magazine rights to Mel Gilden’s new novel, The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood. Mel’s story is a new and thoroughly modern take on the Mary Poppins theme. Wil Emerson has a study on the dynamics of detective partners. And Blachke and Webb’s story (as Cindy Ward put it) “reveals the connections between Nietszche’s abyss, Lovecraft’s god-monsters and non-Euclidean spaces, and Cordwainer Smith’s monsters of subspace.” Wow! Not to be outdone, Barb Goffman acquired Stacy Woodson’s first story, which won the Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine Reader’s Award. And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles, a historical adventure novel from Edison Marshall, and a slew of great science fiction stories from such masters as Henry Slesar, and Edmond Hamilson. And a World War II fantasy from Malcolm Edwards. Here’s the lineup: Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Robert Sheckley,” conducted by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Insieme,” by Wil A. Emerson [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Eggcellent Equation,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Paper Caper,” by James Holding [short story] “Duty, Honor, Hammett,” by Stacy Woodson [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Infinite Woman, by Edison Marshall [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: It Gazes Back,” by Jayme Lynn Blaschke and Don Webb [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood, by Mel Gilden [serialized novel] “Vengeance in Her Bones,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] “The Man Who Liked Lions,” by John Bernard Daley [short story] “A Message from Our Sponsor,” by Henry Slesar [short story] Crashing Suns, by Edmond Hamilton [novel]

Black Cat Weekly #116

by Norman Spinrad
Black Cat Weekly #116
Author: Norman Spinrad
Publisher: Black Cat Weekly
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2023-11-19
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:
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On behalf of the staff, the contributors, and myself, I’d like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. (You may all burst into traditional Thanksgiving carols, should you wish.) Here’s our holiday lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Restavek,” by Neil S. Plakcy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Tipsy Turkey,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “he Final Course,” by Stacy Woodson [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Tiger Island,” by Carl Jacobi [short story] Tiger Island, by Jack Ritchie [serial novel, part 1 of 3] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Baad-hin’jan and the Chickpea,” by Anna Tambour [short story] “The Music of the Sphere” by Norman Spinrad [short story] “Go To Sleep, My Darling,” by Winston K. Marks [short story] “The Statistomat Pitch,” by Chan Davis [short story] The Eagle’s Wing, by Francis Jarman [serial novel, part 1 of 4]

Black Cat Weekly #35

by Fred Saberhagen
Black Cat Weekly #35
Author: Fred Saberhagen
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Total Pages: 360
Release: 1901
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1667601024
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I mentioned to BCW's acquiring editor Michael Bracken that I was enjoying the mystery/science fiction crossover stories he had been selecting for BCW, many of them originals, and he confessed to challenging writers to come up with stories that mixed the two genres. I thought, Aha! So that’s where they have all been coming from! It’s a Good Thing in my opinion. And this issue we have another one—“For Blood,” by Eve Fisher, which works well as both science fiction and mystery. Another of our acquiring editors, Barb Goffman, was nominated for not one, but two Agatha Awards at the Malice Domestic mystery convention last weekend. It’s hard to win when you have two stories up at the same time in the same category, as she did. I kept my fingers crossed for a tie, so she’d have two Agatha Awards this year, but it wasn’t to be. Next year! The good news is, she affirmed her enthusiasm for editing for BCW, and this issue she has yet another great mystery story: “Death of a Bible Salesman,” by Sarah R. Shaber (who I suspect of watching Paper Moon in part for her inspiration. I have a fondness for stories about grifters and conmen.) And speaking of conmen, we have another rare tale by Christopher B. Booth featuring conman deluxe Mr. Amos Clackworthy. Plus mysteries by Hulbert Footner and Hal Charles (a solve-it-yourself puzzler). Plus a historical adventure by western author W.C. Tuttle. On the science fiction front, we have Darrell Schweitzer’s 1979 interview with Fred Saberhagen. If you’re a fan of his Berserker series, there’s a lot here about it. Michael Swanwick returns to our pages with “The House of Dreams,” a fantasy tale selected by Cynthia Ward. Plus we have classics by Malcolm Jameson and Lester del Rey (both from the Golden Age of Astounding Science Fiction) plus a dark science fiction tale by Henry Kuttner from Weird Tales. This issue also has the final 3 episodes of Mel Gilden’s novel, The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood. Great Fun. Here’s the lineup: Non-Fiction: Speaking with Fred Saberhagen, an Interview by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: For Blood, by Eve Fisher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] Booked For Murder, by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] Death of a Bible Salesman, by Sarah R. Shaber [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Luke Darrow, by Hulbert Footner [novel] When Mr. Clackworthy Needed a Bracer, by Christopher B. Booth [novelette] Cinders, by W.C. Tuttle [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: For Blood, by Eve Fisher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The House of Dreams, by Michael Swanwick [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] Tricky Tonnage, by Malcolm Jameson [short story] Raider of the Spaceways, by Henry Kuttner [novelette] The Renegade, by Lester del Rey [short story] The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood, by Mel Gilden (Part 4 of 4) [Serial Novel]

Black Cat Weekly #150

by Teel James Glenn
Black Cat Weekly #150
Author: Teel James Glenn
Publisher: Black Cat Weekly
Total Pages: 521
Release: 2024-07-13
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:
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Welcome to our 150th issue. This time, we have terrific original tales by Neil S. Plakcy, Britin Haller & Shane Gericke, Bob Tippee, and Teel James Glenn ... plus novels by Natalie Sumner Lincoln and Gans T. Field, and classic stories by Jack Williamson, Nelson S. Bond, Jack Sharkey, and Larry Tritten ... plus a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles ... all jam-packed into 521 pages! Hours of great reading await. Here's the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Shandiclere,” by Neil S. Plakcy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Campground Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “So Many Shores in Crookland,” by Britin Haller & Shane Gericke [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Private Equity,” by Bob Tippee [short story] The Three Strings, by Natalie Sumner Lincoln [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Shadow Hunt,” by Teel James Glenn [short story] “The Bird of Time,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Second Shell,” by Jack Williamson [short story] “The Madness of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] “The Man Who Was Pale” by Jack Sharkey [short story] The Pale Ones Shall Dance, by Gans T. Field [novel]