This issue, we have an original mystery by dbschlosser (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), a recent tale by Bruce Robert Coffin (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and a slightly older tale by James Holding. Our mystery novel is As a Thief in the Night, by R. Austin Freeman—part of his Dr. Thorndyke series. And, of course, a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction side, we have an original story by Larry Tritten, plus classics by Walt Sheldon, Winston K. Marks, and Richard Banks. Our science fiction novel is The Sane Men of Satan, by Sam Merwin—renamed, I suspect, by a very pulp-fiction oriented editor. (I can’t see any rational science fiction author giving his time-travel book that title!) You may notice a similarity between the titles of James Holding’s and Winston K. Marks’s stories. I assure you, the similarities end at the title. I thought it would be fun to pair them in the same issue, though. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Destroyer of Worlds,” by dbschlosser [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Unlocked Room Mystery,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Fool Proof,” by Bruce Robert Coffin [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Go to Sleep, Darling,” by James Holding [short story] As a Thief in the Night, by R. Austin Freeman [novel, Dr. Thorndyke series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Down the Rabbit Hole,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Shrine,” by Walt Sheldon [short story] “Go to Sleep, My Darling,” by Winston K. Marks [short story] “The Last Class,” by Richard Banks [short story] The Sane Men of Satan, by Sam Merwin [short novel]

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]

Black Cat Weekly #22 features a change of pace fantasy story from Michael Bracken, who is best known for his mysteries and crime stories—selected by Cynthia Ward. It’s our featured story this issue. But that’s not to say the other science fiction and fantasy stories aren’t great, too! “Alien,” by Lester del Rey, is a different take on the crash-landed alien who wants to eat everyone around him. And I’m sure you’ll get a chuckle from Larry Tritten’s gonzo sendup of generic fantasy and science fiction quest stories, “The Lord of the Land Beyond (Book One).” (Hint: don’t look for a sequel.) Classics from Unknown by Malcolm Jameson and from Weird Tales by Manley Wade Welllman round out the section. Mystery readers, too, have a lot to explore. Charlotte Morganti leads off with “Deadly Drama,” selected by Michael Bracken—it begins with an accordion festival—rejoice if you like polkas!—but I don’t want to say too much. Read it yourself! Barb Goffman brings us “All Prayers Are Answered,” a powerful story by Eric Rutter of a homeless man whose friend is murdered. He is drawn into the investigation out of fear a young woman investigating the crime will come to harm—or unearth a terrible secret from his past. If you like your detectives hardboiled, Frank Kane returns with another Johnny Liddell mystery. Traditional mystery fans will enjoy a Madame Story novel from Hulbert Footner. And western and historical readers will enjoy a great pulp novel by Max Brand. And of course, where would we be without our solve-it-yourself mystery? Pit your wits against Hal Charles (the writing tream of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet) and see if you can solve “The Coin Flip” without reading the solution! Lastly, “The ‘Rexmel,” by Ralph Milne Farley, has an improbable invention, but it’s not really science fiction, even though it’s by a science fiction writer and appeared in a fantasy magazine. Maybe you could call it a pulp sea-story with shaggy dog elements? Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure “Deadly Drama at the Accordion-o-Rama,” by Charlotte Morganti [short story] “A Coin Flip,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Package for Mr. Big,” by Frank Kane [short novel] “All Prayers Are Answered,” by Eric Rutter [short story] The Death Notice by Hulbert Footner [novel] A Shower of Silver, by Max Brand [novel] “The ‘Rexmel’,” by Ralph Milne Farley [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “The Fishmonger’s Wife,” by Michael Bracken [Cynthia Ward Presents, short story] “The Lord of the Land Beyond (Book One),” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Alien,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Doubled and Redoubled,” by Malcolm Jameson [short story] “Old Dhoh,” by Manly Wade Wellman [short story]

On the mystery side, Black Cat Weekly #25 has an original mystery by Joseph S. Walker, thanks to editor Michael Bracken, and Barb Goffman has tracked down an Edgar Award nominee by Judith Green. Plus we have a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Charlie Sweet and Hal Blythe), and novels by Lange Lewis and Nicholas Carter. On the fantastic side, Cynthia Ward has selected “Cabbages and Kale” by David Marusek for this issue. Plus we have modern and classic tales by Larry Tritten, Lester dey Rey, Fletcher Pratt, and Richard Wilson. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Here on Seventeen,” by Joseph S. Walker [short story] “A Present from the Past,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Good, Safe Place,” by Judith Green [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Meat for Murder, by Lange Lewis [novel] The Pressing Peril, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Cabbages and Kale,” by David Marusek [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Play It Again, Sam,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “Done Without Eagles,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Danger,” by Irvin Lester and Fletcher Pratt [short story] “Course of Empire,” by Richard Wilson [short story]

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]

Our 80th issue has some great tales for you, starting with an original mystery by Hugh Lessit (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and a great reprint by Jim Thomsen (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Plus we have a pair of detective novels, the first featuring New York-based private investigator Nick Carter, and the second another original Hardy Boys mystery. If you read the later editions, you will be shocked to find how much was changed from the originals. These are not the watered-down Hardy Boys most of us read as kids. Give it a read. On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a Frostflower & Thorn tale by Phyllis Ann Karr, as she brings her famous duo to a world created by M. Coleman Easton...in collaboration with Easton. Great fun. Plus classic SF by Mike Curry, Robert Silverberg, Robert F. Young, and Murray Leinster. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Shade Tree Mechanic” by Hugh Lessig [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Clear as Glass” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Ride Home,” by Jim Thomsen [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Little Glass Vial, by Nicholas Carter [novel] The Tower Treasure, by Franklin W. Dixon Science Fiction & Fantasy: “A Glassmaker’s Courage,” by Phyllis Ann Karr and M. Coleman Easton [short story] “Metamorphosis,” by Mike Curry [short story] “Come Into My Brain!” by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Bbruggil’s Bride,” by Robert F. Young [short story] The Gadget Had A Ghost, by Murray Leinster [novella]

Black Cat Weekly presents a mix of mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories every issue. #53 includes: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Art of the Deal,” by Neil S. Plakcy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Mickey Mantle Is Missing,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Vaudeville Detective,” by Garnett Elliott [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Half a Million Ransom, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Deep Lake Mystery, by Carolyn Wells [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Sweetheart,” by Kathleen Alcalá [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Out of the Sea,” by Leigh Brackett [novelet] “And We Sailed the Mighty Dark,” by Frank Belknap Long [novelet] “The Wings of Night,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Flight of the Silver Eagle,” by Arthur Leo Zagat [novella]