The thirty-two stories in this new collection reflect the differences between man's real self and the various masks he has to wear in a Romanian society that vacillates between nostalgia for its communist past and restrained optimism about its capitalist future. The characters, who are taken from all walks of life, face constant political intrigues, moral dilemmas, and/or family crises. They must find a way to fit their own life stories, however insignificant, within the often ruthless history of their native land. Written in a journalistic style, and based very loosely on incidents that the author encountered while working for a local newspaper, these stories are filled with unexpected twists and turns, pathos, and small glimpses of average and extraordinary people coping with real-life crises. Gripping tales from Eastern Europe!

One of the tales, it should be added, is a mere jeu d’esprit, the presence of which in the collection is justifiable only on the plea that it makes believe to be what the others are—relieving a note too monotonously sounded by lowering it to the key of mockery. Possibly, nevertheless, it may turn out to be the float which will save the weightier portion of the cargo from going too speedily to the bottom. All the stories have appeared, during the last four years, in various periodicals, to the editors of which my acknowledgments are due for leave to reproduce them.

9 great reads for a lonely night of thrills and chills! In Sydney J. Bounds's "The Book Miser" has detective Josephine "Jo" Royal trying to thwart an unscrupulous book collector who's taken advantage of an innocent seller. In "The Purple Glove Murders," by Mary Wickizer Burgess, attorney Gail Brevard is asked to solve a killing that appears to be linked to another murder from decades earlier. In Victor Cilinca's "Eggs," a multi-millionaire pasta company executive becomes the target of a scam. In "The Case of the Telbury Halt Ghost," by Ernest Dudley, well-known detective Doctor Morelle must unravel the mystery behind the apparent haunting of a rural railway station. "The Adventure of the Forgotten Umbrella," by Mel Gilden, is one of those tales of Sherlock Holmes mentioned—but never actually related—by Doctor Watson. Michael Hemmingson tells the story of an unfortunate young man on the make who's quite simply overwhelmed by his three "Vivacious Vixens!" Francis Jarman demonstrates, "In the Light of What Happened," that poking around in old Indian temples can have unforeseen consequences! James B. Johnson's "Flankspeed" is one of the most unusual mysteries ever encountered by this editor—and also one of the best. Arlette Lees, a rising star of the noir mystery magazine scene, contributes "Blood Bayou," one of those backwater places that you probably want to avoid on your next little escape from the law.

This is one of a series of anthologies of science fiction and mystery stories by Borgo Press writers that are being distributed at cost as both ebooks and print-on-demand volumes. This third volume in the sequence, Once Upon a Future, includes a dozen original and reprint tales by twelve writers. Jean Lorrah’s “Best of Friends” is a key tale in the Sime~Gen sequence, being set just after the implementation of the treaty that allowed Simes and Gens to live together peaceably. In “Best-Laid Plans,” by William Maltese, a pair of professional fighters is selected for a new mission—but not the one they thought! A. R. Morlan’s “Boog’/4 and the Endicaran Kluge” is an interesting psychological tale set on a multi-generational spaceship to the stars. Edward R. Morris can pronounce “Game Over” only when his protagonist escapes the game world in which he’s trapped. Charles Nuetzel’s “The Talisman” demonstrates that “free” is sometimes too high a price to pay for a gift. Patricia Wardon discovers that “Saving Jane Austen” (by Robert Reginald) is not as easy as it sounds. A starving author’s agent discovers a new market for subsidiary rights in Pamela Sargent’s amusing “All Rights.” Darrell Schweitzer’s “The Fire Eggs” just appear one day, everywhere on Earth, but what are they—and what purpose do they serve? “The Skin Trade,” by Brian Stableford, is one of a series of tales that explores the future of biotechnology, particularly as applied to the human form. In “The Space City,” by Doru Tatar, Grig investigates the massacre of a group of androids. E. C. Tubb’s “Agent” only wants to make money peddling his clients’ talents, but the licensees desire something entirely different! George Zebrowski’s “The Water Sculptor” fashions sculptures from ice in his isolated satellite home orbiting Earth. Twelve great stories by a dozen great writers!

Selectie niet eerder gepubliceerde verhalen, sketches, essays, notities en boekrecensies van de homoseksuele auteur wiens onvervulde hartewens het was priester te worden.

The second Borgo Press book of mystery stories presents a collection of great tales by such masters as Michael Kurland, Brian Stableford, Darrell Schweitzer, Don Webb, George Zebrowski, Ardath Mayhar, John Russell Fearn, Lonni Lees, and many more!

Plutarch's Lives of Demosthenes and Cicero are an unusual pair in that they are about orators and not military men. With the translations and commentaries, Lintott provides a detailed introduction which discusses the context of the texts, the author, and the philosophy which underlies Plutarch's presentation of the two personalities.