New Releases by Fredric Brown

Welcome to Black Cat Weekly. I can’t believe it’s been 100 issues! Time flies when you’re having fun. To help make this issue special, I asked Barb Goffman and Michael Bracken to contribute some special stories of their own. I think you’ll agree, they are among the highlights of this issue. On the mystery side , we also have stories by Nancy Pickard, Bradley Harper, and a novel from the legendary Fredric Brown—his classic Knock Three-One-Two. And what issue is complete without a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles? On the more fantastic side of things, we have another of Darrell Schweitzer’s historical interviews with a legend of science fiction, this time Robert Sheckley. Conducted in 1981, it talks about his becoming fiction editor of Omni magazine, the science fiction community in New York City, and more. As for fiction, we have that, too, of course. Fantasy from Joseph Payne Brennan and Aeryn Rudel. Science fiction from Larry Tritten, Frank Belknap Long, and a rare novel, The Green Girl, from Grandmaster Jack Williamson. A big thanks to everyone who made the first 100 issues possible, including Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Paul Di Filippo, Darrell Schweitzer, and Cynthia Ward, staffers Sam Hogan, and Karl Wurf, and of course all our readers! -- John Betancourt, Editor Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Wolfhound” 2023 by Bradley Harper [short story] “Things That Go Bump” 2022 by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “If Only You Would Leave Me” by Nancy Pickard [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “The Lord Is My Shamus” 2012 by Barb Goffman [short story] “The Downeaster ‘Alexa’” 2021 by Michael Bracken [short story] Knock Three-One-Two, by Fredric Brown [novel] Nonfiction: “Speaking with Robert Sheckley” by Darrell Schweitzer [interview] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Smile Price” by Aeryn Rudel [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Exit Laughing” by Larry Tritten [short story] “The Miniature Menace,” by Frank Belknap Long [short story] “The Seventh Incantation,” by Joseph Payne Brennan [short story] The Green Girl, by Jack Williamson [novel]

“A masterfully delivered tale of an inconspicuous citizen who [finds] murder simple . . . The climax packs a brilliant wallop.” —Chicago Tribune Relentlessly twisting and blackly funny, this noir novel by Edgar Award winner Fredric Brown is a portrait of a seemingly upstanding print shop owner in mid-twentieth-century Los Angeles who has successfully murdered his wife—and is now feeling quite confident about his criminal skills. As victims start falling like dominoes, this fast-paced tale works its way to a memorable end, marking a masterwork by this celebrated author of mysteries and crime thrillers. “A real pro . . . a natural storyteller.” —The New York Times Book Review

The clock is ticking as a husband frantically tries to save his abducted wife in this fast-paced crime novel by “a real pro” (The New York Times Book Review). Twenty-five grand if he wants his wife back alive. That’s the demand on the ransom note Lloyd Johnson found sitting in his typewriter. It has to be in unmarked bills—and it has to be delivered in five days. To make it worse, the kidnapper dropped the names of his previous victims—one who’d made it back home to her husband, and one who hadn’t. Armed with this information, Johnson hopes further investigation of those cases will improve his—and his wife’s—chances. But the more he learns, the worse things look, and time is running out, in this twisting tale by the Edgar Award–winning author.

Lust plus greed equals murder in this classic Hollywood noir novel by “a real pro” (The New York Times Book Review). A struggling actor, Willy Griff keeps himself entertained with the wife of a business mogul, but he wants more: He also wants the business mogul’s money. The mistress, Doris, likes the idea even more than Willy does, and figures if she helps plan the murder, she can ditch the husband and keep the cash. It’s a dangerous scheme for two low-level, aspiring criminals. But Willy comes up with an ingenious, foolproof plot for pulling it off. At least, he better hope it’s foolproof . . . The Murderers is a gritty tale of crime and passion from Fredric Brown, a master of noir and mystery and winner of the prestigious Edgar Award.

A small-town reporter must investigate a murder in a motel—before he becomes the story—in this mystery from an Edgar Award winner and “real pro” (The New York Times Book Review). Bob Spitzer is a young newspaperman in Arizona, and the owner of the local motel has just called. A woman named Amy Waggoner has been found naked and stabbed to death on the premises. As the reporter and the police chief survey the lurid scene, Spitzer reflects on the fact that he once showed a romantic interest in the victim—a fact that could put the spotlight of suspicion directly on himself. His only hope for taking the heat off is to put his investigative skills to work—not something he needs to do very often working for a weekly rag in a sleepy town—and locate the elusive murderer . . .

A woman’s wild story about killers from space leads two Chicago detectives into a bizarre case in this mystery by the Edgar Award–winning author. Ed and Ambrose Hunter, nephew and uncle, have partnered up to open their own detective agency in early 1950s Chicago. With their experience solving the case of Ed’s father’s murder, among others, they have the skills to take criminals down. And as carnies, they’ve encountered all sorts of unusual characters. But it’s still a surprise when a woman asks them to protect her from the Martians who are supposedly targeting her. It’s an easy story to scoff at, but when she actually turns up dead soon afterward, Ed and Am are resolved to find out who on Earth is responsible . . . “[Ed and Am are] an engaging pair of detectives.” —The New York Times

A detective scours Chicago for his missing uncle in this classic mystery by “a real pro—a natural storyteller” (The New York Times Book Review). Young Ed Hunter and his uncle Ambrose, an ex-carnie, have been making their mark as private detectives in post-WWII Chicago, and one day their agency gets a call from someone seeking help. Apparently, the problem involves carnivals, so Ambrose steps in to put his expertise to work—and then disappears. To find his partner, Ed will have to pound the seedy streets of the city, get involved with a fortune teller, and delve into an old story about an “Ambrose collector,” in this smart, quirky entry in the Edgar Award–winning series.

“An engaging pair of detectives” at a traveling carnival look to capture a heartless killer in this entry in the Edgar Award–winning series (The New York Times). As a band of carnies moves through the Midwest putting on shows for the rubes, it seems a killer is traveling along with them. The first victim is one of the pint-size performers, and two more tragedies soon follow. Fortunately, Ed Hunter and his uncle Ambrose are there—and they have some sleuthing experience in their recent past. So even though Ed’s a little distracted by a fetching female, they intend to track down this midway murderer . . .

A dead man and a pile of missing money have two Chicago detectives investigating the deceased’s daughter in this entry in the Edgar Award–winning series. Tens of thousands of dollars have disappeared from the city of Chicago’s coffers, and the late Jason Rogers is the likely embezzler. So Rogers’s daughter seems to be the one to interview to determine where the funds are stashed. But the nephew-and-uncle team of Ed and Ambrose Hunter is hitting a brick wall as the woman remains tight-lipped and loyal. The pair of private detectives is going to have to dig deeper if they want to balance the books of justice . . . “[Fredric Brown is] a real pro—a natural storyteller.” —The New York Times Book Review

Robinson Crusoe ... Gulliver ... Paul Bunyan; the story of their adventures is nothing compared to the Saga of Mitkey. Fredric Brown was a science fiction and mystery writer. He is known for his use of humor and mastery of the short story form. His stories contained ingenious plotting devices, surprise endings, humor, and a somewhat postmodern outlook.

Hank was spinning quite a space lie—something about earrings wearing their owners. The crew got a boot out of the yarn—until they got to thinking.

A clever 1953 mystery set in the world of the carnies and written by an author as famous for his science fiction as his crime fiction titles--Fredric Brown.

Maybe a woman''s place was in the home in 1949 -- but then again, maybe it wasn''t for a woman sheriff! A classic mystery by Fredric Brown, ripped from the pages of the Summer, 1949 issue of Mystery Book Magazine.

Fredric Brown Double Mystery Novel

Defying time, Jack Breton crosses into a parallel world to regain Kate - the wife who, nine years earlier, was found raped and strangled in a lonely park. But, in the alternate time-stream Kate is married to his double, John. And for one husband to remain either Jack or John must die.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the potential terror of weapons of mass destruction--from nuclear, biological, and chemical to dirty bombs--preoccupies national security experts. In Chemical Warfare, Frederic J. Brown, presents a cogent, innovative framework for understanding the historical forces that have restrained the use of WMD and how they continue to have relevance today. Analyzing both world wars, he argues that the restraints on use were complex and often unpredictable and ranged from the political to the technological. The author offers a detailed examination of American chemical warfare policy as it was shaped by industry and public sentiment, as well as national and military leaders. The organization of the book into three parts reflects the importance of battlefield experiences during the First World War and of international political restraints as they evolved during the interwar years and culminated in ""no first use"" policies by major powers in World War II. Part I examines the use of chemical weapons in World War I as it influenced subsequent national policy decisions. Part II focuses on the evolution of political, military, economic, and psychological restraints from 1919 to 1939. Part III discusses World War II during two critical periods: 1939 to early 1942, when the environment of the war was being established largely without American influence; and during 1945, when the United States faced no credible threat of retaliation to deter its strategic and battlefield use of chemical weapons. Written at the height of controversy about the U.S. use of chemicals in Vietnam, Chemical Warfare offers a valuable historical perspective, as relevant now in its analysis of chemical and also nuclear policy as it was when first published.

"I’m called Howie, or The Professor. I’m on Skid Row in Los Angeles because I want to know what it’s like to be a bum, from the inside. But I didn’t know I’d fall for a part-time hustler named Billie the Kid. I didn’t know I’d get mixed up in two killings, and that the cops would pin them on me..." -- http://www.centipedepress.com/crime/wenchisdead.html (as viewed on February 16, 2017).

""Fredric Brown tops himself again," says the Los Angeles Mirror-News of this taut, dramatic novel of one night when a desperate rapist-killer stalked a town, ten hours of panic and terror that turned the night into a nightmare. For as the net tightened around the killer more and more, people became entangled in a chain of events that ended in an explosion of maniacal savagery"-- http://www.centipedepress.com/crime/knock312.html (as viewed on February 16, 2017).

Armchair Fiction presents extra large paperback collections of the best in classic science fiction short stories. Enjoy our twelfth collection of Science Fiction Gems. This fine anthology of science fiction gems offers fantastic musings from great authors like Theodore Sturgeon, Clifford D. Simak, Lester Del Rey, Murray Leinster, Alfred Coppel, Fredric Brown, and others. In this collection you''ll never know where the next page is going to take you. You''ll wander through time & space; be inspired by weird and wonderful creatures, or fight against seemingly insurmountable intergalactic problems. Or perhaps you''ll set foot on distant worlds, where time and space shift back and forth or deadly seas threaten your very survival. If old fashioned space opera is your cup of tea, you''ll find yourself fighting for your life against an interplanetary race of deranged aliens who are hell bent on destroying the Earth! All these and more will usher you on a thought-provoking journey, guided by some of the most exciting authors of yesteryear.. The contents are:BEWARE THE FURY By Theodore SturgeonTHE LAST NIGHT OF SUMMER By Alfred CoppelMOON-BLIND By Lester Del ReyTHE BARRIER By Murray LeinsterTHE FENCE By Clifford D. SimakTHE UNDYING ONES By Fredric BrownTOO MANY WORLDS By Irving E. Cox, Jr.CITY OF LOST SOULS By Ralph Milne Farley and Al P. NelsonTHE WINGED PERIL By Robert Moore WilliamsA HOME AMONG THE STARS By E. K. JarvisTHE METAL MARTYR By Henry Slesar

The first in a new series of Fredric Brown double-novels, The Far Cry / The Screaming Mimi could very well have been subtitled "The Way of the Knife." And since this is Fredric Brown we''re talking about, the razor''s edge isn''t limited to the blade itself; it is a metaphor for the narrow ledge the characters navigate. Taken together we find Brown at the height of his powers. As with many of Brown''s narratives, the main characters are fueled by an alcoholic haze and are never far from their next drink. Although the boozing never becomes the story, it keeps the protagonists constantly teetering on the edge of collapse. The novels are daring for their time, awash in taboo subjects and frank language that would never, ever make it into the mystery films of the same period. It''s why people read potboilers in the first place. They wanted the gritty underbelly they couldn''t get anywhere else. The Screaming Mimi is an early take on the serial killer sub-genera, written long before it became mystery mainstream. The Far Cry is one of Brown''s darkest stories--a serpent''s tail that coils tighter and tighter around the narrator as attempts to unravel the knot of a young woman''s murder. One novel takes place in an authentically rendered Chicago--nightclubs, press rooms and police precincts; the other casts its drama in the forlorn deserts of New Mexico--a haunting, vast emptiness where ghosts don''t have to be seen to be felt.Fredric Brown double-novels are newly edited and presented in a format that gives these works the treatment they deserve. Reading a book is more than just reading a story.The Far Cry / The Screaming Mimi features a new introduction by Sci-Fi great Barry N. Malzberg, whose decades-long appreciation of Fredric Brown makes for a stirring kick-start to the new series.

Fantascienza - racconto lungo (34 pagine) - Un uomo contro un alieno: dal loro scontro dipende il destino di due civiltà. Un grande classico dal quale è stato tratto uno dei più famosi episodi di Star Trek Un uomo e un alieno, soli, su un pianeta inospitale. Sono chiamati a confrontarsi come campioni della propria specie, ma non hanno a disposizione armi, se non quelle che saranno in grado di costruisi da sé, con le poche risorse offerte dal pianeta. Fredric Brown firma un grande classico della fantascienza, dal quale nel 1967 Gene L. Coon trarrà (molto liberamente) l''omonimo episodio di Star Trek. Fredric Brown è nato a Cincinnati nel 1906 ed è morto a Tucson nel 1972. Apprezzatissimo scrittore di gialli vincitore del Premio Edgar, Brown è noto nella fantascienza soprattutto per i suoi straordinari racconti brevi e brevissimi, come il famoso Sentinella o La risposta, col quale nel 1954 anticipava in poche righe il moderno concetto di singolarità tecnologica, o ancora Arena, incluso tra i migliori 25 racconti di fantascienza di tutti i tempi e dal quale è stato tratto un celebre episodio di Star Trek. Brown ha in curriculum anche due dei più divertenti e brillanti romanzi di fantascienza dell’età d’Oro: Marziani, andate a casa! (1955, Delos Books), incluso da varie fonti nei cento migliori romanzi di fantascienza di tutti i tempi, e Assurdo universo (1949), che sotto l’ironia irresistibile di Brown anticipa temi che saranno al centro dell’opera di Philip K. Dick.

Fredric Brown (1906-1972) is perhaps best remembered for his use of humor and his mastery of the "short-short" form (these days called flash fiction) -- stories of one to three pages, often with ingenious plotting devices and surprise endings. (He also wrote excellent short stories and novels.) This volume contains 27 of his stories, including the classics "The Waveries," "Honeymoon in Hell," "Cartoonist," and many more! Included are: THE WAVERIES OBEDIENCE ALL GOOD BEMS FIRST TIME MACHINE BLOOD THE LAST MARTIAN MAN OF DISTINCTION VENGEANCE FLEET THE WEAPON MOUSE THE DOME GREAT LOST DISCOVERIES I -- Invisibility GREAT LOST DISCOVERIES II -- Invulnerability GREAT LOST DISCOVERIES III -- Immortality MILLENNIUM SECOND CHANCE CONTACT A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR SOMETHING GREEN CRISIS, 1999 AND THE GODS LAUGHED MITKEY RIDES AGAIN PLACET IS A CRAZY PLACE HONEYMOON IN HELL DAISIES DAYMARE CARTOONIST And don''t forget to search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see more entries in the series, covering science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, adventure stories, westerns, and much, much more! (Sort by publication date to see the most recent of our 100+ releases.)

Fredric Brown (1906-1972), one of science fiction''s greatest masters from the Golden Age, is famous for his many classic short stories -- quite a few of which are presented here, including "Arena," "Knock," "Earthmen Bearing Gifts," "The Star Mouse," and many more. The 32 tales of science fiction and fantasy assembled in this massive volume include: ARENA EXPERIMENT KEEP OUT HAPPY ENDING HALL OF MIRRORS EARTHMEN BEARING GIFTS IMAGINE IT DIDN''T HAPPEN RECESSIONAL EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK PUPPET SHOW NIGHTMARE IN YELLOW JAYCEE PI IN THE SKY ANSWER THE GEEZENSTACKS KNOCK REBOUND THE STAR MOUSE ABOMINABLE LETTER TO A PHOENIX NOT YET THE END ARMAGEDDON OF TIME AND EUSTACE WEAVER RECONCILIATION NOTHING SIRIUS PATTERN THE YEHUDI PRINCIPLE COME AND GO MAD SENTRY ETAOIN SHRDLU THE END NOW AVAILABLE: The Second Fredric Brown Megapack! (Search this ebook store for the companion volume, with another great set of Fredric Brown tales!) And don''t forget to search this ebook store for ʺWildside Press Megapackʺ to see more entries in this great series (including "The Second Fredric Brown Megapack"), covering classic authors and subjects like mysteries, science fiction, westerns, ghost stories -- and much, much more!

An anthology of works related to Wisconsin, by authorship, theme, or both.