Black Cat Weekly #6


Book Description

Black Cat Weekly features an eclectic mix of original, classic, and rare stories and novels—science fiction, mysteries, fantasy (light and dark), and the uncategorizable. The latest issue is no exception. Here are 2 novels and 10 shorter works: MR. BIG NOSE, by Martin Suto [mystery short] THE PASSING OF BIG MAMA MAYHALL, by Bobbi A. Chukran [mystery short] ONE HOUR, by Dashiell Hammett [mystery short] IT’S A DATE, by Hal Charles [mystery short] KEEBAN, by Edwin Balmer [mystery novel] WISHFUL THINKING, by Barb Goffman [suspense/fantasy short] MYSTERY OF THE SILVER SKULL, by Frank Lovell Nelson [mystery short] JEMIMA, by A. R. Morlan [science fiction short] MAN-SIZE IN MARBLE, by E. Nesbit [fantasy short] SYMPATHY FOR ZOMBIES, by John Gregory Betancourt [science fiction short] HOLY CITY OF MARS, by Ralph Milne Farley [science fiction short] PLANET OF DREAD, by Dwight V. Swain [science novel]




Black Cat Weekly #122


Book Description

This is the last issue of the year—which explains why we have a New Year’s story from Elizabeth Elwood (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). We also have original mysteries from Mark Troy (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Nikki Knight (a new Grace the Hit Mom story), plus a complete short story collection by Edgar Wallace, plus a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. Five classics this time on the science fiction & fantasy front, from some of the great short story writers of the field: Robert F. Young, Jack Sharkey, Harry Harrison, Thomas M. Disch, and August Derleth (one of Derleth’s rare excursions into science fiction, in fact…in this case, a robot story.) Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Your Table’s Waiting,” by Mark Troy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Hot Car,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “All Decked Out for New Year’s Eve,” by Elizabeth Elwood [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “No Angels Here,” by Nikki Knight [short story, Grace the Hit Mom series] Mrs. William Jones—and Bill, by Edgar Wallace [short story collection] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Lord of Rays” by Robert F. Young [short story] “The Smart Ones,” by Jack Sharkey [short story] “Down To Earth,” by Harry Harrison [short story] “Utopia? Never!” by Thomas M. Disch [short story] “The Maugham Obsession,” by August Derleth [short story]




Black Cat Weekly #121


Book Description

This is our final issue of 2023. We have original stories from Robert Jeschonek, John M. Floyd, Anne Swardson, and Phyllis Ann Karr, plus a recent tale by Anna Tambour. Classic reprints from Keith Laumer, Piers Anthony, Raymond F. Jones, and Hal Meredith. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Luckiest Man in the World” by Robert Jeschonek [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Garage Sale Mystery” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Christmas Movie” by John M. Floyd [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Spice of Death,” by Anne Swardson [short story] “The Ancient Monk,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Witch of La Jícara” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Tin and the Damask Rose,” by Anna Tambour [short story] “The Walls,” by Keith Laumer [short story] “Quinquepedalian,” by Piers Anthony [short story] “Stay Off The Moon!” by Raymond F. Jones [short story]




Black Cat Weekly #116


Book Description

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 #113


Book Description

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]




Black Cat Weekly #130


Book Description

This issue has a pretty much everything you could possibly want from a mystery and science fiction magazine (and some things you probably never thought you wanted!)—detectives, neanderthals, a professional taster, starships, a body in an underpass, dinosaurs, World War II soldiers, aliens with tentacles, musicians, time travel—and so much more! As always, thanks to our Acquiring Editors, Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken, for help in finding great stories. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Underpass,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Who Took the Tsarina’s Pearls?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Curse of the Supertaster,” by Leslie Karst [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The House on the Cliff,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] Suspicion Aroused, by Dick Donovan [short story collection] “The 13th Juror,” by Leslie Waltham [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Luck of Ignatz,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “The 13th Juror,” by Leslie Waltham [short story] “Iteration,” by C.M. Kornbluth [short story] “Rhythm Rides the Rocket,” by Bob Olsen [novelet] “Blitzkrieg in the Past,” by John York Cabot [novella]




Black Cat Weekly #136


Book Description

THE CAT’S MEOW Welcome to Black Cat Weekly. This issue, on the mystery side of things, we have original stories from Brendan DuBois (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), E Senteio (crime in the library!), and Cody Goodfellow (has the classic villain Fantomas finally met his match?)…plus Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has unearthed a gem by Eve Fisher. Our novel is Behind the Bronze Door, by William Le Queux, and of course we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. As if that weren’t enough, we also have science fiction stories from Lester del Rey, Philip Jose Farmer, and T.D. Hamm. Rounding out the issue is a Jules de Grandin novelette by Seabury Quinn. Our cover is by our art director, Ron Miller. I’ve had to twist his arm (he’s far too humble for self promotion) and next issue, we’re going to have an illustration feature—a portfolio of his best and favorite book covers. Something to look forward to. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Million-dollar Recovery,” by Brendan DuBois [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Historic Heist,” by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] “Wind Power,” by Eve Fisher [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Damned If You Do, and Damned If You Don’t,” by E Senteio [short story] “The Black Hand of Fantomas,” by Cody Goodfellow [short story, Fantomas series] Behind the Bronze Door, by William Le Queux [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Battleground,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Tongues of the Moon,” by Philip Jose Farmer [short story] “The Survivors,” by T.D. Hamm [short story] “The Jewel of Seven Stones,” by Seabury Quinn [novelette, Jules de Grandin series] Until next time, happy reading!




Black Cat Weekly #76


Book Description

Our 76th issue is a mammoth one, with 4 novels and 6 short stories (including a new Sherlock Holmes adventure, courtesy of A.L. Sirois and Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Take a look at the contents below...I know you’ll be impressed by the quality and diversity of the material. Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Adventure of the Accelerationist,” by A. L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Death in the Department,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Sodium Arrow,” by Camille Minichino [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Red Signal, by Grace Livingston Hill [novel] Dead Weight, by Frank Kane [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Adventure of the Accelerationist,” by A. L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Garnet and the Glory,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story, Frostflower & Thorn series] “The Foxholes of Mars,” by Fritz Leiber [short story] “Hsilgne Esrever (Reverse English),” by John S. Carroll [short story] The Stars Look Down, by Lester del Rey [short novel] The Eternal Savage, by Edgar Rice Burroughs [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #149


Book Description

This issue, we have original mysteries by Mark Thielman (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Joslyn Chase, plus a modern classic by Eve Fisher (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Our novel is a Golden Age tale by Isabel Ostrander. Of course, there’s also a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the more fantastic side of things, we have a dark fantasy from British master Edmund Glasby, plus a classic tale by Allen Kim Lang...who, at age 95, is still with us. (His most recent story appeared in Analog in 2020.) Plus we have a Lancelot Biggs story by Nelson Bond, a classic SF story by Randall Garrett, and a fantasy novel by Manly Wade Wellman. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Dramatis Personae,” by Mark Thielman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Black Bandana Kid Rides Again,” by Hal Blythe Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Sophistication,” by Eve Fisher [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Killer View,” by Joslyn Chase [short story] Ashes to Ashes, by Isabel Ostrander [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Something About Spiders,” by Edmund Glasby [short story] “Lancelot Biggs Cooks a Pirate,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] “The Price of Eggs,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “I, Gardener,” by Allen Kim Lang [short story] Fearful Rock, by Manly Wade Wellman [novel]




Black Cat Weekly #20


Book Description

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]