Mystery Tribune / Issue Nº5

Editor’s Note Ehsan Ehsani Publisher and Managing Editor A little over a year ago, after years of being a “Digital-only” venue, I finally decided to launch the print edition of Mystery Tribune. The project was envisioned as a quarterly journal devoted not only to crime and mystery fiction but also other artistic mediums with relevant attributes. Our team launched the first issue in an environment where critics had been lamenting the death of “print mystery magazines” for at least a decade if not more. We had often heard the question asked, in panels and symposia, “Can a print mystery magazine thrive in the age of the Internet?” The reality is that although the impact of Internet and digitalization can't be underestimated, the ultimate driver for the survival of a mystery magazine like ours is whether we need a great print journal like Mystery Tribune. In the age of information overload and social media distractions, the elegant issues of Mystery Tribune are designed to sink in. They are a sanctuary from daily life's noises and allow you to experience a zen-like joy. This effect is kind of ironic given the fact that our stories largely cover crime and mayhem. Well that's the beauty of it and I think that's one reason we have survived and flourished so far. In this issue, we are honored to feature an unpublished Mickey Spillane story which Max Allan Collins was kind enough to complete for us. I personally grew up with Spillane reading his books in hiding. Those books were banned in our household for being too scandalous. Reading this new piece definitely brings the nostalgia of my childhood back. If you haven't met Todd Robinson yet, you should: He is one of the craziest characters in crime fiction community and his story “The House Where Nobody Lives” is something which I am fairly sure only someone like him can produce. “Lake Paradox” by Rob Hart is an equally crazy story but from a calmer mind and is also highly recommended. Besides stunning photography from Gabriel Isak and other notable photography and fiction collections, we have continued featuring crime comics: This issue includes an interview with Megan Abbott and Alison Gaylin plus a preview of Normandy Gold. I hope you enjoy this new issue like me and certainly appreciate if you spread the word and give your friends and loved ones the gift of “Mystery Tribune” subscription so that we can continue the dream. Fictions Fiction