Franklin W. Dixon

Francis Beeding

Hal Charles

George O. Smith 

Phyllis Ann Karr 

N.M. Cedeño

Bryon Quertermous 

Philip José Farmer 

Wenzell Brown  

Oliver Saari 

Our 79th issue features a pair of original mysteries by N.M. Cedeño (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and Bryon Quertermous (thanks to Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). Cedeño is no stranger to BCW readers, having already appeared in our pages twice before. Hopefully Bryon Quertermous will match that hat trick, too. Rounding out the mystery section are a pair of novels: Francis Beeding’s The House of Doctor Edwardes (filmed by Alfred Hitchcock as Spellbound) and The House on the Cliff, by Franklin W. Dixon, which you may recognize as the very first Hardy Boys book. If you grew up reading the modern revisions of the original Hardy Boys series (which began in 1927), you’re in for a shock: these brothers are tougher, edgier, and face real peril. They were definitely watered down beginning in the 1950s. And often the titles were the only things that remained from the original stories. And, of course, no issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet). In the science fiction & fantasy section, Phyllis Ann Karr continues the adventures of her legendary fantasy duo, Frostflower and Thorn, in “Night of the Short Knives.” Don’t skip her Afterword about the story; it’s fascinating. Plus we have tales by Philip José Farmer, a rare science fiction foray by mystery author Wenzell Brown, and tales by Oliver Saari and George O. Smith. Great stuff. Here’s the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Disappearance of a Serial Spouse,” by N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “An Impossible Theft,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Visiting Artist,” by Bryon Quertermous [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The House of Doctor Edwardes, by Francis Beeding [novel] The House on the Cliff, by Franklin W. Dixon [novel, Hardy Boys #1] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Night of the Short Knives,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story, Frostflower & Thorn] Daughter,” by Philip José Farmer [short story] “Murderer’s Chain,” by Wenzell Brown [short story] “Moon Dust,” by Oliver Saari [short story] “Bombs Awry,” by George O. Smith [novella]

Black Cat Weekly #79

Isaac Asimov

Robert Silverberg

Nicholas Carter

John Varley

Victoria Weisfeld 

Daniel Marcus 

Robert Lopresti 

Murray Leinster 

Edwin Balmer 

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]

Black Cat Weekly #43

George O. Smith

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