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]

Black Cat Weekly #102 has quite an eclectic lineup. We have modern mystery tales by Joseph S. Walker and Marc Lecard (thanks to Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman. A parody of Harlan Ellison’s work from Larry Tritten. Noir from Bruno Fischer. A story featuring traditional British detective Sexton Blake from Hal Meredith. Classic sci-fi by Lester del Rey. And let’s not forget our solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. We also have more than a few stories by famous authors that appeared outside of the genre for which they are most famous. This time it’s mystery writer Evan Hunter, plus horror writers Joseph Payne Brennan and H.P. Lovecraft, all with science fiction stories. Lovecraft’s first appeared as a 3-part serial in Astounding Stories. How did Lovecraft’s work manage to appear in Astounding? For a brief time, he had an agent—who made the sale for him to a market that paid significantly more than Weird Tales. Surely Lovecraft never would have submitted to Astounding on his own. And never mind that it really is a science fiction story, though there are cosmic horrors as well. Literary quality sold it. And so Lovecraft became a science fiction pulp writer! Evan Hunter—slumming in the science fiction field—sold his story to Science Fiction Quarterly—a respectable market, if not in the top tier. Brennan’s tale appeared as an original in his 1963 collection, Scream at Midnight. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: "Making the Bad Guys Nervous," by Joseph S. Walker [Michael Bracken Presents short story] "Things That Go Bump," by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] "Teardown," by Marc Lecard [Barb Goffman Presents short story] "Py Ponk," by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake series, short story] "Stop Him!," by Bruno Fischer Science Fiction & Fantasy: "Painbird, Painbird, Fly Away Home," by Larry Tritten "Operation Distress," by Lester Del Rey "The Dump," by by Joseph Payne Brennan "Reaching for the Moon," by Evan Hunter At the Mountains of Madness, by H. P. Lovecraft [novel]

We have another great issue this week, with original mysteries from N.M. Cedeño (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Brian Rieselman, plus a terrific tale by David Dean (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Our classic mystery novel is The Winning Clue, by James Hay, Jr. (A note to the sensitive: it has some dialog in racial dialect, which was common in novels of the era.) And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy side, we start with an original tale by Jack Ritchie, best known for his crime stories. It was unpublished at the time of his death, and his estate has allowed us to publish it. We also have classics from Henry Slesar, Harlan Ellison, and a fantasy by E. Hoffmann Price. Our SF novel is The Prince of Space, by Jack Williamson. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Wedding Vibes,” N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Random Numbers,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Sofee,” by David Dean [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Crystal Goblet,” by Brian Rieselman [short story] The Winning Clue, by James Hay, Jr. [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Wedding Vibes,” N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Return,” by Jack Ritchie [short story] “Space Brat,” by Henry Slesar [short story] “Cosmic Striptease,” by Harlan Ellison [short story] “A Jest And A Vengeance,” by E. Hoffmann Price [short story] The Prince of Space, by Jack Williamson [novel]

This issue we have quite an all-star lineup. From modern masters of mystery like Donna Andrews and Andrew Welsh-Huggins to the greatest names in science fiction like Frank Herbert and Robert Silverberg, this is an amazing issue no matter how you look at it. As for our featured novels, we have a Fantômas tale by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain and Metropolis by Thea von Harbou. This might possibly be our best issue ever! Take a look at our contents and see for yourself— Cover: Ron Miller Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “A Beauty All Its Own,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Death Takes the Stage,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire,” by Donna Andrews [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Murderer,” by Murray Leinster [short story] The Long Arm of Fantômas, by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain [novel, Fantômas series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Chowhound” by Mack Reynolds [short novel] “A Kiss for the Conqueror,” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Mystery of Deneb IV,” by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Try to Remember!” by Frank Herbert [short novel] Metropolis, by Thea von Harbou [novel]

Exciting stuff this time: a new Velda P.I. story from Ron Miller, a new supernatural mystery from Steve Liskow (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), plus great modern tales from Melodie Johnson Howe (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and Anna Tambour. On top of that, we have a mystery novel from Isabel Ostrander and a space opera novel from Edmond Hamilton. (Truly something for every taste.) And did I mention science fiction classics from Nelson S. Bond, Ray Cummings, and Evelyn Goldstein? And another solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles? Here’s the lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Kindred Spirits,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story ]“Who Killed Yogi Barrett?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Losing It,” by Melodie Johnson Howe [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “E-I-E-I-Oh, Velda!” by Ron Miller [short story, Velda P.I. series] The Fifth Ace, by Isabel Ostrander [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Kindred Spirits,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “None So Seeing As Those Who’ve Seen,” by Anna Tambour [novelet] “The Recalcitrant,” by Evelyn Goldstein [short story] “He Who Served,” by Ray Cummings [short story] “The Ghost of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series] The Universe Wreckers, by Edmond Hamilton [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]

This issue, we have original mysteries by Albert Tucher (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and James Blakey, plus a modern tale by SJ Rozan (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). For our mystery novel, we have a Golden Age tale set in the Canadian Northwest Territories, The Long Arm of the Mounted, by James French Dorrance. Rounding out the section is a solve-it-yourself puzzler by Hal Charles. We also have one of Norman Spinrad’s occasional “Norman Spinrad at Large” columns—wherein he talks about when (not if) we will find life elsewhere in the universe. On the science fiction & fantasy front, we have an original collaboration by Paul Di Filippo & Claudio Chillemi, a tale by British fantasy master John S. Glasby, and classic space opera by Nelson Bond (“Honeymoon in Bedlam,” which he later rewrote to feature Lancelot Biggs for his novel Lancelot Biggs: Spaceman), plus tales by William Campbell Gault and Edmond Hamilton. Fun stuff! Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Bottle Blonde,” by Albert Tucher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Fatal Founders Day,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “New Day Newark,” by SJ Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Five People You Meet in Atlantic City,” by James Blakey [short story] The Long Arm of the Mounted, by James French Dorrance [novel] Nonfiction: “Norman Spinrad at Large: Life As We Don’t Know It?” by Norman Spinrad Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Maximinus Thrax and the Gates of Chaos,” by Paul Di Filippo and Claudio Chillemi [short story] “When Darkness Falls,” by John S. Glasby [short story] “Honeymoon in Bedlam,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] [short story] “The Woman Obsession,” by William Campbell Gault [short story] The Invisible Master, by Edmond Hamilton [short novel]

This issue we are headlining the appearance of Norman Spinrad’s masterful short novel, Riding the Torch—one of my favorites of his, and a work that surely deserved more attention than it’s received. (But in a career that has produced such classics as Bug Jack Baron, The Iron Dream, and The Void Captain’s Tale, perhaps it’s understandable that one of Spinrad’s short novels hasn’t received the attention it deserved.) We also have a trio of original mysteries, four Golden Age science fiction tales, and a solve-it-yourself puzzler…more than enough to thrill even the most jaded reader! So, read on—you’re in for a treat. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Stolen Half-life of Alicia Desilva,” by Avram Lavinsky [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Snitched Snacks,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “An Arm and a Leg,” by M. E. Proctor [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Devils You Know,” by Skye Alexander [short story] “Somebody Cares,” by Talmage Powell [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: Riding the Torch, by Norman Spinrad [short novel] “The Overlord’s Thumb,” by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Love and Moondogs,” by Richard McKenna [short story] “The Way Out,” by Richard R. Smith [short story] The High Ones, by Poul Anderson [short novel]

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]

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]