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]

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]

This issue, we have an original mystery from Mike Adamson, plus a recent tale by Neil S. Plakcy (courtesy of our Acquiring Editors). Classic mystery reprints come from Dale Clark and Edgar Wallace. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler by Hal Charles. I broke out the Adventure category for Vera Shamarin, by William Murray Graydon. It’s an exciting tale of escape from Russia. Not really mystery, but perhaps more suspense, I thought it belonged in its own category. See if you agree. It’s an all-classic lineup from our science fiction writers: Ted White & Marion Zimmer Bradley lead off, followed by Frank Belknap Long, Ivar Jorgenson, and Edmond Hamilton. Jack Sharkey’s short novel, “The Programmed People,” caps things off.

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]

This is a special issue—our 50th, as you may have noticed from our cover. To celebrate, all past and present editors were to contribute a story. (It helps that they are also amazingly talented writers.) So we have stories from Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Paul Di Filippo, Darrell Schweitzer, and Cynthia Ward in addition to our other fare. But wait! There’s more! This issue features four original tales—Elizabeth Zelvin has a fantasy/mystery stories, Phyllis Ann Karr has a weird western, and Cynthia Ward has a gonzo science fiction crowd-funding story. And I have completed a story by the late H.B. Fyfe, who was best known for his science fiction stories, though this one is a revenge tale that most closely fits the mystery genre. And the good stuff doesn’t stop there. We also have a superhero story from Darrell Schweitzer. Space Opera from Algis Budrys and E.E. “Doc” Smith. A historical mystery novel by western author B.M. Bower. A historical investigation from Charles Todd. A Mallworld story from Somtow Sucharitkul (who also writes as S.P. Somtow). And no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. All in all, this is an probably our best Black Cat Weekly yet. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Ladies of Wednesday Tea” by Michael Bracken [short story] “Hidden in Plain Sight” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Ice Ice Baby” by Barb Goffman [short story] “Flayed” by H.B. Fyfe and John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Blood Money” by Charles Todd [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The House of Marble” by Elizabeth Zelvin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The Eagle’s Wing, by B.M. Bower [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The House of Marble” by Elizabeth Zelvin [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Rise and Fall of Whistle-Pig City” by Paul Di Filippo [short story] “Rabid in Mallworld” by Somtow Sucharitkul [short story] “Fighting the Zeppelin Gang” by Darrell Schweitzer [short story] “Winona of Bleeding Kansas” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Campaign Is Now Officially Complete” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Blood on my Jets” by Algis Budrys [short story] The Skylark of Valeron, by Edward E. Smith, Ph.D. [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]