Knights describes his early experiences aboard merchant ships, navigating dangerous seas, encountering unpredictable weather, and the everyday realities of working in maritime environments. His anecdotes capture the physical demands of the job as well as the skills required to navigate through different parts of the world, from bustling ports to remote, exotic locations. Alongside these practical details, Knights reflects on the changing nature of maritime work due to technological advance...

Notes by the way in a sailor's life presents a reflective exploration of maritime existence through a series of interconnected recollections that illuminate the physical, emotional, and psychological dimensions of life at sea. Drawing from varied episodes of travel and observation, the narrative offers a layered portrait of long voyages shaped by shifting climates, unpredictable waters, and the constant demands of shipboard labor. The text emphasizes the harsh yet compelling rhythms of sea...

This issue, we have original mysteries from Eve Fisher (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken), Tony Rothman, and Michael Mallory (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman), plus a classic novel from Arthur B. Reeve (one of his Craig Kennedy scientific detective series). And, of course, we have a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles.On the science fiction side, we 6 tales instead of our usual 5—largely because Robert F. Young’s is a short-short. Classic stories come f...

From the earliest sound films to the present, American cinema has represented African Americans as decidedly musical. Disintegrating the Musical tracks and analyzes this history of musical representations of African Americans, from blacks and whites in blackface to black-cast musicals to jazz shorts, from sorrow songs to show tunes to bebop and beyond.Arthur Knight focuses on American film’s classic sound era, when Hollywood studios made eight all-black-cast musicals—a foc...

A neurotic man lives alone in his empty house. And something is watching from the woods.Simon lives in a half-finished neighborhood, a several minutes drive from real civilization, surrounded by an undeveloped wilderness. He works from home, sleeps poorly, and drifts through life on autopilot—haunted by the sense that he should strive for more, but refuses to reach for it.But just as he finally resolves to change his life, fate intervenes.One night, he hear...

Welcome aboard the adventurous journey of Arthur Lee Knight's Leaves from a Middy's Log, a thrilling narrative that charts the daring exploits and maritime escapades of a young midshipman navigating the high seas.Embark on a voyage alongside our protagonist as he navigates the challenges of life aboard a naval vessel, from exhilarating battles to moments of camaraderie and personal growth. Knight's vivid storytelling captures the essence of life at sea with authent...

John Dillinger's reign as Public Enemy No. 1 began in the summer of 1933, when he left the Commercial Bank of Daleville, Indiana, with $3,500 and a diamond ring belonging to the bank president's daughter. It was the depth of the Depression. Banks were closing everywhere, and millions of Americans were losing their life savings. To them, Dillinger's act made him a sort of hero, even a modern-day Robin Hood. Within the next year, he would go on to rob ten banks and break out of two jails, on...

Sam Bonner is a household name. He spent his life within the best-known circles of Hollywood. His name on a film guaranteed a gross of millions. Every actor and actress wanted to star in a Bonner film, and Bonner's casting choices made or broke careers; after all, he controlled the game. Success was so easy for him but in the bicentennial summer of 1976, a nation turned two hundred, and Sam's game has plateaued.On the road with his third wife, Sara, Sam crosses the American West, se...

Welcome aboard the adventurous journey of Arthur Lee Knight's "Leaves from a Middy's Log," a thrilling narrative that charts the daring exploits and maritime escapades of a young midshipman navigating the high seas.Embark on a voyage alongside our protagonist as he navigates the challenges of life aboard a naval vessel, from exhilarating battles to moments of camaraderie and personal growth. Knight's vivid storytelling captures the essence of life at sea with aut...

At the time when the adventures which I am about to relate took place, I, Jack Darcy, was serving as a midshipman on board H.M.S. Rattler, a smart frigate of fifty guns, commanded by Captain Graves, who was a very distinguished officer and much beloved by all who served under him. Our vessel was attached to the North American squadron, and consequently we often visited the West Indies and cruised in the Caribbean Sea. On this particular occasion we were lying at anchor in the commodious ha...

Three erotic short stories. Three points in history. Three alluring succubi walking alongside us.Mythology and folklore tell of guardian angels and helpful spirits tied to individuals. But what if, instead, you were being secretly watched over and protected by a devil?If one of your ancient ancestors made a pact with the underworld—one that bound your family's fate to the sudden appearances of lust-fueled demons—who's to say you won't have an encounter your...

From the silent era to the present day, popular music has been a key component of the film experience. Yet there has been little serious writing on film soundtracks that feature popular music. Soundtrack Available fills this gap, as its contributors provide detailed analyses of individual films as well as historical overviews of genres, styles of music, and approaches to film scoring.With a cross-cultural emphasis, the contributors focus on movies that use popular songs fro...