Three favorite series highlight this issue: First, Sherlock Holmes—or rather, several Sherlock Holmeses—feature in A.L. Sirois’s “The Matter of Time” (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Then burlesque queen turned private eye Velda returns in Ron Miller’s original tale, “Big Top Velda.” (You will recall several other Velda stories in recent months—and we have more upcoming!). And on the science fiction front, space opera misfit Lancelot Biggs stars in “The Downfall of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson Bond. Fun stuff! More highlights: Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman has found a real winner in Debra H. Goldstein’s “Harvey and the Redhead.” (I’m a Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Matter of Time” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series] sucker for bar stories.) And our mystery novel is by Harold MacGrath. On the science fiction front, we have dark fantasies from British master John S. Glasby (who’s in his 90s and still writing) and Frank Belknap Long, plus space opera from Edmond Hamilton and classic SF from Lester del Rey. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “The Matter of Time” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series] “The Case of the Lost Library” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Harvey and the Redhead” by Debra H. Goldstein [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “Big Top Velda” by Ron Miller [short story, Velda series] The Blue Rajah Murder, by Harold MacGrath [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Matter of Time” by A.L. Sirois [Michael Bracken Presents short story, Sherlock Holmes series] “A Place of Shadows” John S. Glasby [short story] “Evans of the Earth-guard,” by Edmond Hamilton [short story] “The Downfall of Lancelot Biggs,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story, Lancelot Biggs series] “The Cottage” by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “The Life Watch” by Lester del Rey [novella]

I mentioned to BCW's acquiring editor Michael Bracken that I was enjoying the mystery/science fiction crossover stories he had been selecting for BCW, many of them originals, and he confessed to challenging writers to come up with stories that mixed the two genres. I thought, Aha! So that’s where they have all been coming from! It’s a Good Thing in my opinion. And this issue we have another one—“For Blood,” by Eve Fisher, which works well as both science fiction and mystery. Another of our acquiring editors, Barb Goffman, was nominated for not one, but two Agatha Awards at the Malice Domestic mystery convention last weekend. It’s hard to win when you have two stories up at the same time in the same category, as she did. I kept my fingers crossed for a tie, so she’d have two Agatha Awards this year, but it wasn’t to be. Next year! The good news is, she affirmed her enthusiasm for editing for BCW, and this issue she has yet another great mystery story: “Death of a Bible Salesman,” by Sarah R. Shaber (who I suspect of watching Paper Moon in part for her inspiration. I have a fondness for stories about grifters and conmen.) And speaking of conmen, we have another rare tale by Christopher B. Booth featuring conman deluxe Mr. Amos Clackworthy. Plus mysteries by Hulbert Footner and Hal Charles (a solve-it-yourself puzzler). Plus a historical adventure by western author W.C. Tuttle. On the science fiction front, we have Darrell Schweitzer’s 1979 interview with Fred Saberhagen. If you’re a fan of his Berserker series, there’s a lot here about it. Michael Swanwick returns to our pages with “The House of Dreams,” a fantasy tale selected by Cynthia Ward. Plus we have classics by Malcolm Jameson and Lester del Rey (both from the Golden Age of Astounding Science Fiction) plus a dark science fiction tale by Henry Kuttner from Weird Tales. This issue also has the final 3 episodes of Mel Gilden’s novel, The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood. Great Fun. Here’s the lineup: Non-Fiction: Speaking with Fred Saberhagen, an Interview by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: For Blood, by Eve Fisher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] Booked For Murder, by Hal Charles [solve-it-yourself mystery] Death of a Bible Salesman, by Sarah R. Shaber [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Case of Luke Darrow, by Hulbert Footner [novel] When Mr. Clackworthy Needed a Bracer, by Christopher B. Booth [novelette] Cinders, by W.C. Tuttle [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: For Blood, by Eve Fisher [Michael Bracken Presents short story] The House of Dreams, by Michael Swanwick [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] Tricky Tonnage, by Malcolm Jameson [short story] Raider of the Spaceways, by Henry Kuttner [novelette] The Renegade, by Lester del Rey [short story] The Case by Case Casebook of Emily Silverwood, by Mel Gilden (Part 4 of 4) [Serial Novel]

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]

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #44. This is an amazing issue, with quite the all-star lineup. First off, private detective Frank Wolf and his grandson Joel return to our pages with a new short novel by Saul Golubcow, The Dorm Murder (published simultaneously with Golubcow’s collection, The Cost of Living and Other Mysteries). This is one of my favorite series in recent years, and I highly recommend you start with The Dorm Murder. You won’t be disappointed. Black Cat’s acquiring editors have been busy, too—Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Cynthia Ward, and Darrell Schweitzer all have contributions this issue. Michael and Barb found great mysteries by Mary Dutta and Brendan Dubois, Cindy has a neo-classic science fiction tale by David Marusek, and Darrell has unearned a “paleo-interview” from 1988 with fantasist Nancy Springer. It’s fascinating. And we have classics by Fritz Leiber, Robert Silverberg, George O. Smith, Henry Kuttner, and a Nick Carter mystery novel. Plus, of course, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). Here's the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: The Dorm Murder, by Saul Golubcow [short novel] “The Wonderworker” by Mary Dutta [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Eggcellent Equation” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Lake Tenant” by Brendan DuBois [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Blue Veil, by Nicholas Carter [novel] Non-Fiction: “Speaking with Nancy Springer” [Interview with Darrell Schweitzer] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Getting To Know You” by David Marusek [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Friends and Enemies," by Fritz Leiber [short story] “Lair of the Dragonbird," by Robert Silverberg [short story] “Meddler’s Moon,” by George O. Smith [short story] Avengers of Space, by Henry Kuttner [short novel]

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]

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]

For this week's Black Cat Weekly, Michael Bracken has acquired an original mystery by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier, Barb Goffman found a tale by SJ Rozan that will surely satisfy crime fans, and Cynthia Ward tracked down a Matthew Hughes story. Plus, for the sheer silliness of it all, there’s a Mickey Spillane parody from 1954 (which manages to be both a mystery and fantasy…but wasn’t everything of Spillane’s?) and classics from R. Austin Freeman (a Dr Thorndyke story), a Nick Carter novel, and the first Skylark of Space novel by E.E. “Doc” Smith. Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Ripen,” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Death Takes a Swing,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “E-Golem,” by SJ Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Case Of Oscar Brodski,” by R. Austin Freeman [short story] A Human Counterfeit, by Nicholas Carter [novel] “The Shaky Undertaker,” by Ed Cox [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Shaky Undertaker,” by Ed Cox [short story] “To the Sons of Tomorrow,” by Irving Cox, Jr. [short story] “Mastermindless,” by Matthew Hughes [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Problem In Solid,” by George O. Smith [short story] “Sequel,” by Ben Smith [short story] The Skylark of Space, by E.E. “Doc” Smith [novel]