This issue, we have original mysteries from Eve Fisher (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Tony Rothman, and Michael Mallory (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), plus a classic novel from Arthur B. Reeve (one of his Craig Kennedy scientific detective series). And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the science fiction side, we 6 tales instead of our usual 5—largely because Robert F. Young’s is a short-short. Classic stories come from William Morrison, F.L. Wallace, Evelyn E. Smith, and Bryce Walton & Al Reynolds (a collaboration). A novella from Grand Master Damon Knight rounds things out. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “At the Dig,” by Eve Fisher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Death Books a B&B,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “A Well-Kept Secret,” by Michael Mallory [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Calendar Girl,” by Tony Rothman [novella] The Adventuress, by Arthur B. Reeve [novel, Craig Kennedy series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “No Star’s Land,” by William Morrison [short story] “The Space Roc,” by Robert F. Young [short-short story] “Too Close to the Forest,” by Bryce Walton and Al Reynolds [short story] “The Deadly Ones,” by F.L. Wallace [short story] “Woman’s Touch,” by Evelyn E. Smith [short story] “The Earth Quarter,” by Damon Knight [novella]

We have another great lineup this time, with original tales by Robert Lopresti (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Shannon Taft (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), Wayne Carey, Teel James Glenn, and JM Cyrus (who gets the honor of having the story with the longest title that we’ve [yet] published!) As always, it’s an eclectic mix, from traditional mysteries to supernatural crimes, from space opera to a fantastic world of moving islands…and everything in between! I hope you enjoy them all. And special thanks to our art director, Ron Miller, who has found a terrific Steve Hickman cover for this issue (and continues to design amazing covers). Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Shanks’s Last Words,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story] A shrewd mystery writer teams up with a rookie detective to try to solve a small-town accountant’s murder, unraveling cryptic clues. “The Case of the Sabotaged Sloops,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] A small-town boat race faces sabotage threats. Can you solve the case before Detective Kelly Stone? “Beware the Bunnyman,” by Shannon Taft [Barb Goffman Presents short story] A detective tries to unravel the truth behind a bizarre murder involving a giant rabbit costume and marital deception. “The Jade Dragon of Dunhuang,” by Wayne Carey [short story] An expert in Chinese antiquities visits 1930s San Francisco, entangling himself in intrigue over a rare jade artifact. The Sturgis Wager, by Edgar Morette [novel] A detective tackles a case of bank fraud and murder in 1890s New York, using keen observation and deductive reasoning. Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Dr. Darque and the Phantom Fear,” by Teel James Glenn [short story] A detective investigates mysterious deaths at Coney Island, uncovering a supernatural threat feeding on fear. “How To Cross the Cavorting Sea’s Wandering Islands During the Fourth Dance of the Widdershins Elliptical Cycle,” by JM Cyrus [short story] A man’s journey across magical islands becomes a voyage of self-discovery and unexpected love in a whimsical world. “The Return of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] Quirky spaceship crew faces danger as efficiency expert’s mistakes pit them against the Sun’s deadly pull. “Murderer’s Chain,” by Wenzell Brown [short story] A greedy son-in-law plots murder with an alien weapon, but his scheme unravels in an unexpected twist. “Home Is the Hero,” by E.C. Tubb [short story] A space pioneer returns to Earth, grappling with physical challenges and the complexities of his heroic status.

Our 97th issue is brimming with interesting items. On the mystery front, Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken has discovered a brand-new story from Dave Zeltserman for us, while Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman brings us an intriguing S.J. Rozan tale. I’ve also been persuading fantasist Phyllis Ann Karr to let us reprint some of her early work—and this time, we have a mystery! Who knew that she launched her writing career with a string of top-notch mystery stories? I certainly didn’t. Also included is an Inspector French police procedural novel from classic British novelist Freeman Wills Crofts. And, of course, no issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler, once again delivered from the pens of Hal Charles. Switching to fantasy and science fiction, we kick things off with a poem by Harry Warner, Jr. An early SF enthusiast, Warner is primarily known for his non-fiction works on the history of the genre, particularly on fandom. His poem “If—1939” (originally published in the fanzine Le Zombie) perfectly encapsulates the fannish enthusiasm of that era. Also featured are fantasies from Adrian Cole and Joseph Payne Brennan, a Golden Age science fiction story by Jay Williams (best known as the co-creator of the kid scientist Danny Dunn), and an engaging SF novel from Frank Belknap Long. Here’s this issue’s complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Matzo Ball Killer,” by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Chocolate Cupcake Caper,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Going Home,” by S.J. Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Slantwise Scales of Justice,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] The Starvel Hollow Tragedy, by Freeman Wills Crofts [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “If—1939,” by Harry Warner, Jr. [poem] “A Girl and Her Doll,” by Adrian Cole [short story] “The Horror at Chilton Castle,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] “Beast of Prey,” by Jay Williams [short story] Woman from Another Planet, by Frank Belknap Long [novel]

This issue features three original short stories (mysteries by M.A. Monnin [thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken], and Edd Vick & Manny Frishberg, plus a fantasy story by D J Tyrer), and an original science fiction novel by Thomas A. Easton. Furthering the mystery section, we also have a great tale by John M. Floyd (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) a classic novel by William J. Burns & Isabel Ostrander, and a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. Rounding out the science fiction and fantasy selections are a dark fantasy by British master John S. Glasby and a classic by Philip Jose Farmer. Lots of fun. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Tick Tock,” by M.A. Monnin [Michael Bracken Presents original short story] “Who Stole the Monopoly Money?” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Molly’s Plan,” by John M. Floyd [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Time and Tide,” by Edd Vick and Manny Frishberg [original short story] The Crevice, by William J. Burns and Isabel Ostrander [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Ring of Tsimblier,” by D J Tyrer [original short story] “In the Midst of Night,” John S. Glasby [short story] “Lancelot Biggs: Master Navigator,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series] “The Wounded,” by Philip José Farmer [short story] Configuration Hacks, by Thomas A. Easton [original novel]

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]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #15—enjoy our holiday cat cover! The magazine is coming more sharply into focus, as our acquiring editors spread out through the mystery and science fiction fields and bring new stories to our lineup. This issue, we officially welcome Cynthia M. Ward to the editorial staff. She comes bearing a gift—Nancy Kress’s excellent science fiction story, “The Art of War.” Darrell Schweitzer was supposed to be back with his second acquisition this week (a comical Esther Friesner tale) but there were problems with the text and I’ve made a last-minute executive decision to push it back an issue or two, while it’s being fixed. I’ll slip in a replacement from my own backlist, another entry in my “Slab’s Tavern” series of fantasy bar stories. Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken have acquired a pair of original tales for us. First, Barb presents “The Importance of Being Urnest,” by Eleanor Cawood Jones. Then Michael selects “Romeo and Isabella” by John M. Floyd. Great stories, both. Thanks, everyone! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Westerns “The Writing Workshop,” by Janice Law [short story] “Romeo and Isabelle,” by John M. Floyd [short story] “Secret Santa,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself mystery] West of Quarantine, by Todhunter Ballard [novel] “The Importance of Being Urnest,” by Eleanor Cawood Jones [short story] “Dr. Kreener’s Last Experiment,” by Sax Rohmer [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy “Serendipity,” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Art of War,” by Nancy Kress [short story] “Well Bottled at Slab’s,” by John Gregory Betancourt [short story] Forever We Die! by Stephen Marlowe [short novel]

Black Cat Weekly #101 presents 10 great tales of mystery. fantasy, and science fiction -- a pair of novels, a novella, and 7 short stories. Hours of great reading await! Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Lost Boy” by Neil S. Plakcy [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Disappearing Document” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “River Secret” by Anne Swardson [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Network of Crime,” by Nicholas Carter [novella] Anybody’s Pearls, by Hulbert Footner [short story collection] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Knocker Baby,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story, Bart Maverel series] “Gentlemen: Please Note,” by Randall Garrett [short story] “Killer Cat,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] “Pen Pal,” by Stephen Marlowe [short story] The Hidden Kingdom, by Francis Beeding