Black Cat Weekly #28


Book Description

Black Cat Weekly #28 features another interview by acquiring editor Darrell Schweitzer—this time with Larry Niven.. It originally appeared in Thrust, a review and critical essay magazine published by Doug Fratz in the 1970s. As Darrell has observed, these old interviews fall “somewhere between oral history and paleontology.” It’s always interesting to compare where at author was in his career almost 50 years ago to where he is today. For this issue’s mysteries, we have an original story by Bruce Arthurs, thanks to editor Michael Bracken. Barb Goffman has selected “The Chess Room” by Elizabeth Elwood. And we have a second classic novel from Mildred Davis. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself tale by Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Sweet and Charlie Blythe)—no issue would be complete without one. Editor Cynthia Ward has selected “Miles to Go” by Linda D. Addison for this issue. Great stuff, especially if you like music. (Who doesn’t?) Leslie Perri’s “Under the Skin,” Randall Garrett’s “Stroke of Genius,” and Lester del Rey’s “Mine Host, Mine Adversary” round out the classic reprints. Great reading. Here’s the complete lineup: Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Larry Niven,” an interview by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Return of Dodge Tombstone, Outlaw,” by Bruce Arthurs [short story] “A Secret Admirer,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “The Dark Place,” by Mildred Davis [novel] “The Chess Room,” by Elizabeth Elwood [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Milez To Go,” by Linda D. Addison [short story] “Under The Skin,” by Leslie Perri [short story] “Stroke Of Genius,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “Mine Host, Mine Adversary,” by Lester del Rey [short story]




Black Cat Weekly #144


Book Description

This issue, we have original mysteries from Janice Law (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and our BCW’s very own Ron Miller (who moonlights as our Art Director), plus a modern masterpiece by Gina Nelson (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Add a rare Golden Age mystery novel by James Hay, Jr. and we have quite a winning mix. But wait, there’s more! No issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction side, we have a great story by British master Philip E. High, as well as tales by Harlan Ellison, Henry Slesar, and Stephen Marlowe. Our novel is an early classic by Jack Williamson. Here’s the complete lineup— Cover Art: Ron Miller Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Lasker Circle,” by Janice Law [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “One Common Denominator,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Maggie McGrady’s Murder Mystery Cruise,” by Gina Nelson [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “I, Golem,”by Ron Miller [short story] No Clue! by James Hay, Jr. [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Infection,” by Philip E. High [short story] “Beauty Contest?” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Passionate Pitchman,” by Stephen Marlowe [short story] “Biddy and the Silver Man,” by Harlan Ellison [novelet] The Alien Intelligence, by Jack Williamson [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #83


Book Description

Black Cat Weekly #83 has something for everyone -- modern and classic mysteries? Check! Science fiction? Check! Fantasy? Check! Even a crime tale set in the Old West! Novels, short stories, series tales featuring such great characters as master detective Nick Carter, western hero Hashknife Hartley, and sword & sorcery team Frostflower and Thorn are ien this issue. One of our best! Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Lucky Day” by Bruce D. Arthurs [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Grand Larceny at the Grand Prix” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “How Does He Die This Time?,” by Nancy Novick [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Blood Will Tell, by Nicholas Carter [Nick Carter series, novel] Hidden Blood, by W.C. Tuttle [Hashknife Hartley series, novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Truth About the Lady of the Lake,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower & Thorn series, short story] “Time for Survival,” by George O. Smith [short story] “Nobody Saw the Ship” by Murray Leinster [short story] “Momentum,” by Charles Dye [short story] Convoy to Atlantis, by William P. McGivern [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #54


Book Description

Our 54th issue is another good one. On the mystery side, we have a great original tale by Jacqueline Freimor (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), plus strong stories by Stephen D. Rogers (selected by Barb Goffman) and James Holding, another solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet), and an Edwardian mystery novel by Dick Donovan—whose popularity rivaled that of Arthur Conan Doyle in their day. On the science fiction side, Acquiring Editor Cynthia Ward has a stunning tale by Holly Wade Matter, plus we have classic shorts by James Blish, Robert Zacks, and Kendell Foster Crossen—plus a novel by Arthur K. Barnes. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “A Death-drop to Die For,” by Jacqueline Freimor [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Most Guilty Person,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Sensing the Fall,” by Stephen D. Rogers [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Phase Four,” by James Holding [short story] A Gilded Serpent, by Dick Donovan [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Russian Winter,” by Holly [short story] "Inside Matter," by James Blish “From Outer Space,” by Robert Zacks [short story] “The Gnome’s Gneiss,” by Kendell Foster Crossen [short story] Interplanetary Hunter, by Arthur K. Barnes [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #131


Book Description




Black Cat Weekly #70


Book Description

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Crow’s Nest,” by John M. Floyd [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Whom Do You Trust?” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Winter’s Journey,” by R.J. Koreto [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Smoke of the .45, by Harry Sinclair Drago [novel] A Certain Dr. Thorndyke, by R. Austin Freeman [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “All in the Golden Afternoon,” by Marilyn “Mattie” Brahen [short story] “Doubled in Brass,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “The Admiral’s Walk,” by Sam Merwin [short story] “Simple Psiman,” by F.L. Wallace [short story] “Siren Satellite,” by Arthur K. Barnes [novella]




Black Cat Weekly #96


Book Description

Our 96th issue introduces some new contributors to the magazine—Smita Harish Jain (with an original mystery, thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Naomi Hirahara (with a riveting reprint mystery, courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Also on the mystery front, we have a pair of British classics: a Sexton Blake detective story by Hal Meredith and a novel by William Le Queux. When it comes to fantasy and science fiction, we’ve achieved an appealing balance. Adrian Cole and Henry S. Whitehead deliver two distinctly different nautically-themed stories. Also featured is Robert E. Howard’s eerie tale, “The Dream Snake.” (The Whitehead and Howard pieces originated from Weird Tales, and Cole’s work could easily have found a home within its pages.) Complementing the mix are science fiction stories by Arthur Leo Zagat and Russ Winterbotham, both prolific during the Golden Age. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “An Honorable Choice,” by Smita Harish Jain [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Taken Trophy,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Off the 405,” by Naomi Hirahara [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Empty Tin,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] The Gamblers, by William Le Queux [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Running with the Tide,” by Adrian Cole [short story] “Sea Change,” by Henry S. Whitehead [short story] “The Dream Snake,” by Robert E. Howard [short story] “No Escape from Destiny” by Arthur Leo Zagat [novella] The Red Planet, by Russ Winterbotham [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #125


Book Description

This time, we have a rare mystery from Hulbert Footner (whose Madame Storey mysteries I greatly enjoy). His novel Queen of Clubs in this issue is a jazz-age mystery that—well, I don’t want to spoil the surprises. Read it and see for yourself! Also on the mystery front, we have original tales by Andrew Welsh-Huggins and Robert Lopresti (thanks to our Acquiring Editors, Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman), a classic crime story by David Goodis, and, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction & fantasy side, we have a recent tale by Edward M. Lerner, classic shorts from William C. Gault, Randall Garrett, and T.D. Hamm, and a rare short novel from Ward Moore—most famous for his classics Greener Than You Think and Bring the Jubilee. Moore’s Transient originally appeared in Amazing Stories magazine in 1960 and languished undiscovered for decades before a small press reprinted it in an anthology a decade ago. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. (Keep an eye out for unicorns.) As for this issue: here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Cumberland Gap,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Porch Pirate and the Pillow,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Late Bus,” by Robert Lopresti [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Blue Sweetheart,” by David Goodis [short story] Queen of Clubs, by Hulbert Footner [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “I’ve Got the World on a String” by Edward M. Lerner [short story] “Burden the Hand,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “Title Fight,” by William C. Gault [short story] “Floor of Heaven,” by T.D. Hamm [short story] Transient, by Ward Moore [short novel]




Black Cat Weekly #26


Book Description

This issue brights quite a selection of mysteries and crime stories—8, in fact. (Though two are doing double-duty as science fiction.) Michael Bracken has selected a story by our acquiring editor Cynthia Ward for this issue—“Roadsong,” which (along with Eando Binder’s tale) is also science fiction. Barb Goffman has picked a winner by John Shepphird this issue. Plus we have classics by Stephen Wasylyk, James Holding, Dorothy B. Hughes, and Nicholas Carter. And what issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles? On the science fiction side, Cynthia Ward has picked “Memorabilia,” a post holocaust story, by Holly Wade Matter, plus we have a classic fantasy by Lester del Rey (from Unknown), and a classic science fiction story by Jerry Sohl (from Infinity). Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Alligators Don’t Ask for Payment,” by Stephen Wasylyk [short story] “Shima Maru,” by James Holding [short story] “A Ring of Truth,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Of Dogs & Deceit,” by John Shepphird [short story] The Bamboo Blonde, by Dorothy B. Hughes [novel] Following a Chance Clue, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “The Sign of the Scarlet Cross,” by Eando Binder [short story] “Roadsong,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Sign of the Scarlet Cross,” by Eando Binder [short story] “Roadsong,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Memorabilia,” by Holly Wade Matter [short story] “Death in Transit,” by Jerry Sohl [short story] “Anything,” by Lester del Rey [short story]




Black Cat Weekly #23


Book Description

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #23. Lots of good stuff this time—highlighted by a novel from Golden Age mystery author Rufus King, Duenna for a Murder. Plus a few novellas, and lots of great short stories, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles, and great selections from Michael Bracken (Laird Long’s “Taken for a Ride”—which qualifies as both a mysery and a fantasy story) and Barb Goffman (Michael Allan Mallory’s “Random Harvest”). On the science fiction side, the Cynthia Ward Presents story is missing this week, but that’s only because we have a fantastic alternate-history story from Cynthia herself! Check out her “On Stony Ground.” Plus an epic disaster story from Allan Danzig, a fantasy from Unknown by Lester del Rey and James H. Beard, a space-based tale by Richard Wilson, and a miniature military SF story from Larry Tritten. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Soul Searching,” by Laird Long [short story] “A Fine Kettle of Fish,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Dead Wrong,” by Frank Kane [short story] “Taken for a Ride,” by Hulbert Footner [short novel] “Random Harvest,” by Michael Allan Mallory [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Duenna to a Murder, by Rufus King [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “On Stony Ground,” by Cynthia Ward [short story] “Corrigan’s Homunculi,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Carillon of Skulls,” by Lester del Rey and James H. Beard [short story] “Abel Baker Camel,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “The Great Nebraska Sea,” by Allan Danzig [short story]