News & Timeline

This timeline follows the zine from its first issue to its last bow, then notes major publications by its editor.

The Zine Years

Fall 2002 — Hardluck Stories launches with Philip Tomasso III as guest editor. The first issue includes an essay on Jim Thompson, planting the zine's flag from day one.
2003 — Four issues under guest editors Michael A. Black, Charlie Shafer, Jim Blue, and Miki Hayden. Ray Banks, Allan Guthrie, and Ed Lynskey appear in the contributor lists.
Spring 2004 — Charlie Stella's issue carries the landmark Ken Bruen interview by Duane Swierczynski, drawn from a 26,000-word correspondence.
2005 — The zine moves to one directory per issue. The Bank Job issue includes the noir comic Nothing But Jerks, illustrated by Jean-Pierre Jacquet; Weird Noir and City at Night follow.
2006 — The strongest single year: Horror/Crime (Harry Shannon), Borderland Noir with the James Crumley interview (Craig McDonald), Western Noir (Ed Gorman), and Psycho Noir (Dave Zeltserman).
2007 — Femme Fatales (O'Neil De Noux), Noir Blues (Trey Barker), and the Five Star / Crime in the City issue (John Helfers) marking the zine's fifth anniversary.
2008 — The one last call goes out; the final 30s Pulp Noir issue, co-edited by Ed Gorman, closes the run with Jean-Pierre Jacquet artwork.

2008 — Small Crimes reaches U.S. publication in October, alongside news and reviews under the Dark Crime Fiction banner.
2009–2010 — Pariah and Killer complete the Serpent's Tail noir cycle; Bad Karma arrives from Five Star. Reviews, podcasts, and appearances followed.
The 2010s — A string of acclaimed later novels extends the author's bibliography beyond the zine years.

The issue index records the themes, credits, interviews, and essays from the zine's run.