«Black Cat Weekly #81» by Ann Aptaker, Bruce Campbell, Elisabeth Sanxay Holding, Fritz Leiber, George Smith, H.K. Slade,

Our 81st issue is among our best so far, if I do say so myself. We have an original mystery by H.K. Slade (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), a great modern tale by Ann Aptaker (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), and a pair of mystery novels—Bruce Campbell’s The Mystery of the Iron Box, featuring Ken Holt (by special request of one of our readers), and The Girl Who Had to Die, by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. And no issue would be complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles.

On the science fiction and fantasy side, we have a classic novel by Fritz Leiber: Conjure Wife, originally published in 1943. Don’t miss the introduction, which puts it into historical context. If that’s not enough, we also have an entry in Phyllis Ann Karr’s “Frostflower & Thorn” series and classic science fiction stories by George O. Smith, Kendell Foster Crossen, and Lu Kella. Fun!

Here’s this issue’s complete lineup:

Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:

“House in the Snow” by H.K. Slade [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Death Visits Campus” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]“Red Nocturne,” by Ann Aptaker [Barb Goffman Presents short story]The Mystery of the Iron Box, by Bruce Campbell[novel] The Girl Who Had to Die, by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding [novel]

Science Fiction & Fantasy:

“The Dragon, the Unicorn, and the Teddy Bear,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower & Thorn short story]“The Dreamers,” by Lu Kella [short story]“Booby Prize,” by George O. Smith [novelet]“The Agile Algolian,” by Kendell Foster Crossen[novelet] Conjure Wife, by Fritz Leiber [novel]