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]

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]

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]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly. On the mystery side of things, we have original tales by Veronica Leigh (one that looks to be the start of a new series) and Richard A. McMahon (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has selected a great tale by Anna Scotti, and our novel is The Talleyrand Maxim, by Golden Age author J.S. Fletcher. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy side, our lead item is a new feature—a portfolio by artist Ron Miller. Ron has joined our staff as art director and will be providing covers from his vast body of work. But I wanted our readers to know how great an artist he is, so here is a collection of some of his best covers. As for the fiction, we have a monster-in-the-mist story by British master John Glasby, plus an all-star lineup of classic authors: Frank Belknap Long, Donald A. Wollheim, Henry Slesar, and Philip Jose Farmer. Great stuff. Here’s the complete lineup— Cover Art: Ron Miller Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Mr. George,” by Richard A. McMahan [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Open and Shut Case,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “That Which We Call Patience,” by Anna Scotti [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughters,” by Veronica Leigh [short story] The Talleyrand Maxim, by J.S. Flextcher [novel] Special Feature: “Cover Portfolio,” by Ron Miller Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Thing in the Mist,” by John Glasby [short story] “Mr. Caxton Draws a Martian Bird,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “Saknarth,” by Donald A. Wollheim [short story] “Mr. Loneliness,” by Henry Slesar [short story] “The Celestial Blueprint,” by Philip José Farmer [short story]

This issue features three original stories—a pair of mysteries (by Mindy Quigley and Mark Thielman, thanks to Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman), plus John Gregory Betancourt's “Sympathy for Invisible Men,” part of a series of meditations on classic monsters he has been writing for about 30 years now. Plus—if you’ve been following the lamentations of science fiction magazines about AI submissions—you will find Norman Spinrad’s essay on the subject fascinating. And of course there is plenty of great reading from old masters like Robert E. Howard and Marie Beloc Lowndes and (relatively) newer writers like Robert Abernathy, Stephen Marlowe, and Louis Carbonneau. Of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles, too! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Meeting,” by Mark Thielman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Patriotic Pilferage,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Worth the Wait,” by Mindy Quigley [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Terriford Mystery, by Marie Belloc Lowndes [novel] Essay: “Save the SF Magazines from AI, Amazon, And SFWA?” by Norman Spinrad Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Sympathy for Invisible Men,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Righteous Plague,” by Robert Abernathy [novella] “Fugue,” by Stephen Marlowe [novella] “Skulls in the Stars,” by Robert E. Howard [short story] The Sentinel Stars, by Louis Charbonneau [novel]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #14. Over the next few issues, you will note a number of changes coming to Black Cat Weekly. We have been expanding our staff of editors, and this issue Michael Brachen brings us his first selection, “A Ship Called Pandora,” by Melodie Campbell—which fits neatly in both the science fiction and mystery genres! Barb Goffman has an off week, since we’re using one of her own stories—“Whose Wine Is It Anyway?” which was a nominee for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Of course, we also have several mystery novels—a Mr. Pinkerton puzzler by Zenith Brown and a classic Nick Carter detective story. And don’t miss this issue’s Solve-It-Yourself mystery by Hal Charles. On the science fiction and fantasy side, Michael Brachen brings us his first selection, “A Ship Called Pandora,” by Melodie Campbell—which fits neatly in both the science fiction and mystery genres! (No, you’re not suffering from deja vu. I’m just repeating myself.) New acquiring editor Darrell Schweitzer makes his first selection for BCW with Tom Purdom’s “Madame Pompadour’s Blade,” which combines French history and magic. (Next issue we hope to have a selection from Cynthia M. Ward, another new acquiring editor who is joining th staff.) Plus we have a classic short by Henry Kutttner, a modern short storoy by the late Larry Tritten, a short novel Edmond Hamilton, and I’ve snuck in a fantasy of my own, “Dreamtime in Adjaphon.” Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense “Saving Downtown Abbey,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] Two Against Scotland Yard, by Zenith Brown [novel] “Whose Wine Is It Anyway?” by Barb Goffman [short story] A Cigarette Clue, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “A Ship Called Pandora,” by Melodie Campbell [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “A Ship Called Pandora,” by Melodie Campbell [short story] “Dreamtime In Adjaphon,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Hydra,” by Henry Kuttner [short story] “Madame Pompadour’s Blade,” by Tom Purdom [short story] “The Dead Woods,” by Larry Tritten [short story] Battle For The Stars, by Edmond Hamilton [short novel]

Our 65th issue features original stories, by Tammy Euliano (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Phyllis Ann Karr (continuing her Bart Maverel weird western series). Plus we have “The Victorian Frock Coat,” by Clare Empson (thanks to Barb Goffman), and a great lineup of classics and modern mysteries and science fiction. Good stuff! Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mystery / Suspense: “The Intern,” by Tammy Euliano “Time After Time,” by Hal Charles “The Victorian Frock Coat,” by Clare Empson “The Mystery of the Private Dining Room,” by Johnston McCulley Black Nick, the Hermit of the Hills, by Frederick Whittaker Science Fiction / Fantasy: “Waiting for Old Smoky,” by Phyllis Ann Karr “Clutch of Morpheus,” by Larry Sternig “Remember Me, Kama!” by Walter Kubilius “Nothing,” by Donald A. Wollheim Forgotten World, by Edmond Hamilton