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 this archive preserves the historical record of what ran, when, and under whose editorship. Issue introductions and selected nonfiction are preserved on their own pages where linked. Earlier captures of the original zine pages can be consulted through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.

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.