Another great selection of mysteries and science fiction by great modern and classic authors. Here are 8 short stories and 2 novels -- more than 500 pages of great reading! Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Ear Worm,” by Robert Jeschonek [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Who Slew the Valkyrie,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Pot o’ Gold,” by Shannon Taft [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Trouble in Paradise,” by Veronica Leigh [short story] The Scarlet Imperial, by Dorothy B. Hughes [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “A Time To Die,” by Harold Calin [short story] “Out of Nowhere,” by E.A. Grosser [short story] “Star Chamber,” by H.B. Fyfe [short story] “Pogo Planet,” by Donald A. Wollheim [short story] The Kid from Mars, by Oscar J. Friend [novel]

This issue, we begin a 6-week experiment, as we serialize all three volumes of an epic fantasy trilogy by Edmund Glasby. This week, we have the first half of Book 1, The Pale Galilean. As soon as this novel finishes, we’ll start the sequel. Let me know what you think of the idea. Of course, we also have our usual gourmet assortment of stories long and stories short. Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has an original Shanks tale from modern master Robert Lopresti, and Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken has an original ghostly mystery about Edgar Allan Poe from new author Jay Kinney. More mysteries from Tom Andes, Gary Earl Ross, and Kris Neville (best known as a science fiction writer) complete the sleuthing. On the more fantastic side of things, Holly Schofield has an assassin (posing as a midwife) rethinking her profession as she goes up against an alien and her newborn baby. Chad Gayle proves that monsters can give up their taste for eating humans. (Or can they?) And we have another Nelson Bond classic—a crossover story with space-opera hero Lancelot Biggs and 20th century genius, Horse-Sense Hank (both of whom have been featured in BCW in recent issues). Here’s the complete lineup— NOVEL SERIAL The Pale Galilean, by Edmund Glasby [Part 1 of 2] Brother Santiago finds himself in a strange fantasy world plagued by demonic creatures. SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY “The Case of the Purloined Pavilion,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] In the quiet town of Great Falls, a newly built pavilion vanishes overnight, sparking mystery and suspicion. Can you solve it before the detective? All the clues are there! SHORT STORIES “The Ghost of Poe,” by Jay Kinney [Michael Bracken Presents short story] On the eve of his graduation, Caleb Johnson discovers he’s the last student to reside in a room rumored to be haunted by Edgar Allan Poe’s ghost… “Shanks Has Reservations,” by Robert Lopresti [Barb Goffman Presents short story] A canceled conference registration and a stolen credit card tip Shanks off to a hidden crime—but can he stop it? “Didn’t Want To Say I Told You So,” by Tom Andes Marla learns her estranged daughter and her baby may be in danger. She tries a rescue—only to uncover dark secrets… “Split Wit,” by Gary Earl Ross Detective Maxine Travis investigates the brutal murder of a woman with a complex private life. Does her developmentally delayed brother hold the key? “Big Talk,” by Kris Neville Reporter Alf Sweeney navigates a tense night shift with photographer Gil Bratcher, whose bravado and bigotry clash with the grim realities they encounter. “A Better Question,” by Holly Schofield On an assignment to kill a Skrite leader, a top assassin for Queen Napir finds herself questioning her loyalties. “The Hidden Hunger of Grylock the Grotesque,” by Chad Gayle In a world where ancient appetites clash with new treaties, Bakshurr tries to save his old friend Grylock from his now-forbidden craving for human flesh… “The Scientific Pioneer Returns,” by Nelson S. Bond Spaceman Lancelot Biggs meets eccentric genius Horse-Sense Hank in this crossover story linking two vastly different series! Until next time, happy reading!

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]

In our 89th issue, Michael Bracken pulls double duty to bring a pair of original mysteires to readers: great tales by Steve Liskow and Welsh-Huggins. Plus we have a crime novel by Johnston McCulley (who also created Zorro—but he tried his hand at a bunch of other heroes and antiheroes, among them The Scarlet Scourge, The Avenging Twins, and a ton of others). There’s also a novel by Western author B.M. Bower. Plus a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. On the science fiction & fantasy side, we have classic tales by Randall Garrett and Murray Leinster, two favorites. Robert E. Howard (much on my mind since returning from our trip to Robert E. Howard Days in Cross Plains, Texas) has a Solomon Kane adventure. And last (but far from least) we begin the serialization of Darrell Schweitzer’s amazing Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, a series of linked short stories that come together to form a novel…though each tale also manages to stand on its own. The first 3 stories are in this issue. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Nose for News,” by Steve Liskow [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Burgled Bushels,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Supply Chains,” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The Voice at Johnnywater, by B.M. Bower [novel] The Scarlet Scourge, by Johnston McCulley [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Needler,” by Randall Garrett [novella] “Rattle of Bones,” by Robert E. Howard [short story] “Ribbon in the Sky,” by Murray Leinster [novella] Sekenre: The Book of the Sorcerer, by Darrell Schwetizer [serial book, part 1 of 4]

It’s our 63rd issue, and we’re just getting into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit. Our cover this time features a cat-and-turkey dance, but we can guarantee no turkeys among the stories! This time, Michael Bracken has an original crime story by Sharyn Kolberg on tap, and Barb Goffman has acquired a great Joseph S. Walker mystery. We also have classics by “Sapper” (British author H.C. McNeile), a Johnny Liddell detective tale by Frank Kane, and as always, a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have another original story by Sydney J. Bounds featuring his wizard-detective, in “Royal Mage,” plus stories by Frank Belknap Long, Clifford D. Simak, and Joseph Gilbert. Rounding out the issue is a novel by Murray Leinster, Men Into Space, based on the classic television series. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Gone By Greyhound,” by Sharyn Kolberg [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Locked Gymnasium Mystery,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Last Man in Lafarge,” by Joseph S. Walker [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Green Death,” by “Sapper” [short story] “The Icepick Artists,” by Frank Kane [novella] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Atomic Station,”by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “Royal Mage,” by Sydney J. Bounds [short story] “The Call from Beyond,” by Clifford D. Simak [short story] “The Eternal Quest,” by Joseph Gilbert [short story] Men Into Space, by Murray Leinster [novel]

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “An Adventure Aloft,” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series] “The Case of the Murdered Manager,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Hidden,” by Victoria Selman [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “My Lord The Baby,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] “The Gallery Gods,” by Murray Leinster [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Sympathy For Vampires,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Sir Farley’s Story,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “Journals of the Plague Years,” by Norman Spinrad [short story] “The Enemy,” by Richard Wilson [short story] “Beyond Our Control,” by Randall Garrett [novelet]

This is our third Halloween issue of the month, with ghoulishly fun (and seasonally appropriate) tales from John Shepphird (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), father-and-daughter writing team Harding McFadden & Eleanor Hawkins, and British master John S. Glasby. We also feature mysteries by N.M. Cedeño (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Ed Teja, plus a vintage 1908 Holmes short-short by Wex Jones that I recently turned up in my pulp research. Our novel is a classic corporate espionage tale from Francis Lynde. And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction front, we have great tales from Nelson S. Bond, E.C. Tubb, and Philip E. High. Great stuff! SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF MYSTERY “An Historic Heist,” Hal Charles When a priceless George Washington letter goes missing from Caleb Becton’s curio shop, Detective Dani Harlowe must unravel a web of jealousy and secrets to find the thief. Can you solve it before the detective? NOVEL Scientific Sprague, by Francis Lynde An electrical engineer is thrust into a world of industrial espionage and danger. As mysterious threats close in, he must outsmart enemies—and uncover hidden conspiracies—to protect groundbreaking inventions. STORIES “Galápagos People Watching,” N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] On a Galápagos tour, César and his cousin try to make sense of the strange behavior of two fellow passengers… “The Recrudescence of Sherlock Holmes,” by Wex Jones [Sherlock Holmes series] First published in a U.S. newspaper in 1908, this sketch pokes good-natured fun at Holmes and Watson… “Ghost Negligence,” by John Shepphird [Barb Goffman Presents short story] A P.I. investigates a lawsuit in which a woman claims a ghost injured her in a haunted hotel. “Under Hard Rock,” by Ed Teja A P.I. arrives in a remote Colorado mining town hunting a missing man, only to learn he died in a suspicious accident. Hidden secrets could rewrite the town’s past—and future. “Hollow,” by Harding McFadden and Eleanor Hawkins Boys trick-or-treating on Halloween hear the legend of the gluttonous Hollow Fats. As they venture into the woods, what starts as a prank takes a chilling turn. “Dust,” by John Glasby A retired scholar and his uncle investigate a haunted house linked to strange disappearances in a remote village. “Horsesense Hank Does His Bit,” by Nelson S. Bond [Horsesense Hank series] Hank volunteers to help a defense plant during the war and quickly proves his value when Nazis show up. “Life Sentence,” by Philip E. High A ruthless gangster steals the identity of a man selected for a coveted longevity treatment. But a 5,000-year lifespan has unexpected consequences—and punishments. “Way Out,” by E.C. Tubb In robot church, a robot confesses to a terrible sin—envying humans…