Hardluck Archives

This is the complete index of Hardluck Stories, newest issue first. Every story and essay is credited to its author; guest editors are noted for each issue. The fiction itself belongs to its writers — many of whom went on to collect these stories in books of their own — so the index shows what ran, when, and under whose editorship. Issue introductions and selected nonfiction appear on their own pages where linked.

The Final Issue (2008): 30s Pulp Noir

Editors: Ed Gorman and Dave Zeltserman. Artwork by Jean-Pierre Jacquet. Read the introduction.

• Fiction by John McFetridge, Garnett Elliott, Andrew Sheeter, Bill Crider, T. L. Wolf, Barry Baldwin, Paul Butler, James Reasoner, Wayne Ellis, Terrie Farley Moran, Keith Tyler, and Lynn Ewing — high-seas adventures, deadly boxing matches, fixed horse races, mobsters, bank robbers, and dames, in the tradition of the 1930s pulps.

Special Jeremiah Healy Issue

• Fiction: Loose Ends by Harry Shannon; The Plan by Dave Zeltserman; The Last Good Cop by Tom Sweeney
• Nonfiction: Essay on Jeremiah Healy by Jeffrey Michaels; Hard Freeze reviewed by James R. Winter

Summer 2007 — Crime in the City (Five Star Edition)

Editor: John Helfers. Read the introduction.

• Fiction: Payment Due by Trey Barker; Dead Aid by Denise Dietz; A Walk in the Park by Molly MacRae; Convivium by Kelli Stanley; Doing the Deed by Kit Daniels; A Night on the Town by Jim Ingraham; A Better Way to Die by Gail Lukasik; The Leap by Charles Ardai

Spring 2007 — Noir Blues

Editor: Trey Barker.

• Fiction: Mississippi Saxophone by Jeff Kerr; Like Sapphires in the Sea by John Weagly; Born Under a Bad Sign by Paul D. Marks; Killer Be Killed by Craig Corelli; Cadaver Dog by Bryon Quertermous; Until The Real Thing Comes Along by Barry Baldwin; Dirty Blues by William Boyle; The Black Hole by Miles Archer

Winter 2007 — Femme Fatales

Editor: O'Neil De Noux. Read the introduction.

• Fiction: The Big Burn by Trey Barker; Breaking Routine by Michael Bracken; Girl Crazy by Pearce Hansen; Lucille's Long Night by Garnett Elliot; Paralyzed by Stephen D. Rogers; Last Tear for Laura by George Wilhite; The Kick it Gives by John J. Wilson; Quality Operations by Patricia Abbott; Useful Instincts by Matt Spencer; Holding a Pair by T. P. Keating; Two by Rafe MacGregor; Water by Mary Elizabeth Merrem Shaw; My Gypsy Girl From Bluefield by Terry White

Fall 2006 — Psycho Noir

Editor: Dave Zeltserman. Read the introduction.

• Fiction: Church Social by Pearce Hansen; West Texas Waitin' by Kaye George; Boa Constrict Her by Craig Corey; Amigo by William Tanner; Hole in the Wall by Patricia Abbott; The Prettiest Face in Hell by Jon Bassoff; Yellowhead by Raymond Embrack; Mason's End by Richard C. Rogers; 51-50 by Paul Marks; Poor Box by William Boyle

Summer 2006 — Western Noir

Editor: Ed Gorman.

• Fiction: The Old Ways by Ed Gorman; Vanity by Jeremiah Healy; Durston by Norman Partridge; Piano Man by Bill Crider; Hell by Bentley Little; Burl Lockhart's In Town by Steve Hockensmith; The Cartoonist by Jon Breen; The Conversion of Carne Muerto by James Reasoner; Desert Reckoning by Trey R. Barker; In Some Countries by Jerry Raine; Lucky by Harry Shannon; Going Where The Wind Blows by Jan Christensen; Hell Hath No Fury by T. L. Wolf; All Good Men by Terry Tanner

Spring 2006 — Borderland Noir

Editor: Craig McDonald.

• Fiction: To Have and To Hold by Ken Bruen; No Hablo Ingles by Manuel Ramos; Coyote's Ballad by Mike MacLean; Broken Promised Land by Craig McDonald; Work of Wolves by Bradley Mason Hamilton; Trailer de Fuego by Garnett Elliot; Corrida de Toros by Rick Deckard
• Nonfiction: James Crumley, An Interview conducted by Craig McDonald; Touch of Evil by Dave Zeltserman; Lessons in Noir by Dave Zeltserman

Winter 2006 — Horror/Crime

Editor: Harry Shannon.

• Fiction: Punk by Ken Bruen; Beauty by Ed Gorman; The Confession by JA Konrath; Shy One Pearl by Robert W. Walker; The Only Easy Day was Yesterday by Adrian McKinty; Second Choice by Pat Lambe; A Handful of Dust by Harry Shannon; Flies by Dave Zeltserman
• Nonfiction: Out on the Edge by Harry Shannon; Horror and Noir by Charles Ardai

Fall 2005 — City at Night

Editor: Iain Rowan.

• Fiction: Freezing Moon by Roy K. Felps; Lost In the Water by Trey R. Barker; Champagne Cocktails by David Moss; All The Way Home by John Stickney; Blue Night, Blue City by Bertil Falk (one story removed at its author's request)

Summer 2005 — Weird Noir

Editor: Neddal Ayad.

• Fiction: Coma by John McCaffrey; Evil Forces by Gary Lovisi; Familiars by Robert Tinsely; Our Gift and Our Curse by Kim Harrington; Maewe's Gift by Garnett Elliot; Moth by Iain Rowan; The Killing Jar by Roy K. Felps
• Nonfiction: Apocalypse Now, Voyager by Jay Russell, reviewed by Neddal Ayad

Spring 2005 — The Bank Job Issue

Editor: Dave Zeltserman.

• Fiction: Amends by Walker Eugene Dollahon; What's in a Name by Robert W. Wagner; The Last Act by Barry Baldwin; The Inside Man by Gary Lovisi; One Step Closer by Iain Rowan; Venus in Transit by Chick Lang; The Inside Job by J. Mark Bertrand
• Noir comic book: Nothing But Jerks — art by Jean-Pierre Jacquet, story by Dave Zeltserman
• Nonfiction: Gary Lovisi interviewed by Dave Zeltserman; Reed Coleman interviewed by Kevin Tipple; Magdalen Martyrs reviewed by Dave Zeltserman; Hardluck Jersey by Pat Lambe

Winter 2005

Guest Editor: Michael A. Black.

• Fiction: Cell Damage by Dave Case; The Tale of the Closet by Susan Brassfield Cogan; A Man's Gotta Do by Patricia Harrington; House of Pain by James M. McGowan; Knight Erring by Darragh Metzger
• Nonfiction: Rules For Writing Short Stories by Michael Black; Vicki Hendricks interviewed by Kevin Tipple; Interview with an indie film director by Dave Zeltserman; Hardluck Jersey by Pat Lambe

Fall 2004

Guest Editor: Allan Guthrie.

• Fiction: Cold Fire by Cathy Myers; A Brother's Gift by Michael Wiecek; Nice Tie by Candace Wiggins; Over There by Gary Warren Niebuhr; Station to Station by Ray Banks; The Perfect Victim by Ed Lynskey
• Nonfiction: A Conversation with Allan Guthrie by Dave Zeltserman; Steve Hamilton interviewed by Kevin Tipple; T. Jefferson Parker interviewed by Kevin Tipple; Hunting Down the Pleonasm by Allan Guthrie

Spring 2004

Guest Editor: Charlie Stella.

• Fiction: The Backside of Liberty by Patrick J. Lambe; Bait And Switch by Trevor Maviano; The Big Store by Stephen D. Rogers; End Game by Andy Henion; Keely Sings The Blues by Sarah Weinman; The Sincerest Flattery by Brandon Hebert; Answering For Santino by Charlie Stella
• Nonfiction: A Talk with Ken Bruen by Duane Swierczynski; Jimmy Bench-Press reviewed by Dave Zeltserman; Charlie Opera reviewed by Allan Guthrie

Winter 2004

Guest Editor: Thomas Deja.

• Fiction: Cutting Diamonds by Graham Powell; Grasshopper by Robert W. Tinsley; Sunset Requiem by John Weagly; Welcome to Wal-Mart by Art Montague; In the Land of Cherries by Stephen D. Rogers
• Nonfiction: PI Shell Scott: Hardboiled Made Fun by Ed Lynskey

Fall 2003

Guest Editor: Miki Hayden.

• Fiction: Bloody Game by Wenda Wardell Morrone; Diamond Dogs by Ray Banks; Horse of the Same Color by Robert W. Tinsley; Emma and I by Tim Wohlforth; Dog Breath by Gary Carson; The Long Road by David White; Men of Prey by G. Miki Hayden
• Nonfiction: Cockfighter reviewed by Dave Zeltserman

Summer 2003

Guest Editor: Jim Blue.

• Fiction: After Big Noise in Hanoi by Ed Lynskey; Donkey Work by Ray Banks; Code of Silence by Patricia Harrington; Might Just Take Your Life by James R. Winters; Trolls by Megan Powell; A Twist of Kate by Gerald So
• Nonfiction: These Are the Good Old Days by Jim Blue; Rediscovering a Noir Classic by Dave Zeltserman

Spring 2003

Guest Editor: Charlie Shafer.

• Fiction: In Glock We Trust by Art Montague; De Noir by Michael A. Black; Found Him by Jan Christensen; Packy by Stephen D. Rogers; Rolling Vengeance by Brian Evankovich; Sparks by Megan Powell
• Nonfiction: Hard-boiled / Soft-boiled by Charlie Shafer; Charlie Shafer Interview; Ed Gorman Interview; A Talk With Hilliard and Harris by Louise Guardino; Cold Pursuit reviewed by James R. Winter

Winter 2003

Guest Editor: Michael A. Black.

• Fiction: Blue Angel by Julie A. Hyzy; A Kiss To Build A Dream On by Tess Collins; I'm No Killer by Allan Guthrie; Daddy San by Jochem Vandersteen; The Cure by Gary Lovisi; Nobody Gets Outta Here Alive by Miles Archer; A Dead Body's a Deal Breaker by Hal Glatzer
• Nonfiction: An Examination of John D. MacDonald by Michael A. Black

Fall 2002 — The First Issue

Guest Editor: Philip Tomasso III.

• Fiction: Say Cheese by Leon Altman; Nine Green Fingers by Ed Lynskey; Jumping The Fence by Stephen D. Rogers; A Cut Above by Del Tinsley; Requiem For Lost Souls by David Toy; Breath of Death by Tim Wohlforth
• Nonfiction: The Irish Sports Pages reviewed by James R. Winter; A Short Essay on Jim Thompson by Dave Zeltserman

For the story behind the zine itself, see The Zine and the Guest Editor pages.