Black Cat Weekly #21

For mystery readers, Michael Bracken brings us an original tale by Eve Fisher-"The Ghost of Eros" features art crime of a most creative sort. Barb Goffman's presents an action-packed tale by David Hagerty. "A Photo's Worth" features an actress, a paparazzo, San Francisco, and scancal-a great read. Hal Charles (the writing team of Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet) brings us another solve-it-yourself mystery. And we have a classic mystery featuring Madame Storey from Hulbert Footner, and a British suspense novel by Edgar Wallace.

Science fiction and fantasy fans will enjoy a 1950 short novel from Murray Leinster, a classic space opera. Leinster was one of the greats of the science fiction field. He published more than a thousand stories over a distinguished six-decade career. "Planet of the Small Men" is pulp adventure in grand space opera tradition-and one I wish had been expanded to novel length. It's from Thrilling Wonder Stories, and I don't believe it's ever been reprinted. Plus we have dark fantasy stories by Tom Marcinko (Cynthia Ward's selection this issue) and Larry Tritten (whose work we've been running regularly-a real change of pace for him). Plus classics by Malcolm Jameson and Lester del Rey.

Here's the complete lineup:

Mystery / Suspense
"The Ghost Of Eros," by Eve Fisher [short story]
"The Pilfered Pictogram," by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
"A Photo's Worth," by David Hagerty [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
The Almost Perfect Murder, by Hulbert Footner [short novel]
The Strange Countess, by Edgar Wallace [novel]

Science Fiction & Fantasy
"Temperance," by Tom Marcinko [short story]
"Africa Screams, " by Larry Tritten [short story]
"Brimstone Bill," by Malcolm Jameson [short story]
"Dark Mission," by Lester del Rey [short story]
"Planet of the Small Men," by Murray Leinster [short novel]