This issue, we have original mysteries by Albert Tucher (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and James Blakey, plus a modern tale by SJ Rozan (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman). For our mystery novel, we have a Golden Age tale set in the Canadian Northwest Territories, The Long Arm of the Mounted, by James French Dorrance. Rounding out the section is a solve-it-yourself puzzler by Hal Charles.

We also have one of Norman Spinrad’s occasional “Norman Spinrad at Large” columns—wherein he talks about when (not if) we will find life elsewhere in the universe.

On the science fiction & fantasy front, we have an original collaboration by Paul Di Filippo & Claudio Chillemi, a tale by British fantasy master John S. Glasby, and classic space opera by Nelson Bond (the original version of “Honeymoon in Bedlam,” which he later rewrote as a Lancelot Biggs story for Lancelot Biggs: Spaceman), plus tales by William Campbell Gault and Edmond Hamilton. Fun stuff!

Here’s the complete lineup—
Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure:
“The Bottle Blonde,” by Albert Tucher [Michael Bracken Presents short story]
“The Fatal Founders Day,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery]
“New Day Newark,” by SJ Rozan [Barb Goffman Presents short story]
“The Five People You Meet in Atlantic City,” by James Blakey [short story]
The Long Arm of the Mounted, by James French Dorrance [novel]

Nonfiction:
“Norman Spinrad at Large: Life As We Don’t Know It?” by Norman Spinrad

Science Fiction & Fantasy:
“Maximinus Thrax and the Gates of Chaos,” by Paul Di Filippo and Claudio Chillemi [short story]
“When Darkness Falls,” by John S. Glasby [short story]
“Honeymoon in Bedlam,” by Nelson S. Bond [short story] [short story]
“The Woman Obsession,” by William Campbell Gault [short story]
The Invisible Master, by Edmond Hamilton [short novel]

Never Fire First