The Heirs of Anthony Boucher Marvin Lachman

19 Mystery
Scene (1985–)
Mystery Scene (1 5–)
Though containing material of interest to fans, Mystery Scene was started by writers
Ed Gorman and Robert J. Randisi and devoted much space to promotion of writers.
In the first issue, dated 1985 and mailed with MDM, Randisi stated its goal was “to
entertain and inform mystery writers and readers as fully and completely as possible
with publishing news, stories and, when necessary, rumors, as well as book reviews,
articles, and interviews.” Publishing news made up most of the first issue, which
included an article by Ray Puechner, “Finding an Agent.”
Mystery Scene, looking to increase its subscriber base, in the second issue (twentyfour
pages) added “The Horror Scene” and reported on the World Fantasy Convention.
Still, there were profiles of mystery writers and Ellen Nehr’s column “Murder
Ad Lib,” containing news and reviews, mostly of “cozy” books, providing contrast in
a magazine that seemed to tilt in favor of hardboiled material. Michael Seidman and
William Campbell Gault began columns in the second issue.
By the third issue in 1986, Mystery Scene had almost 200 subscribers and was fiftytwo
pages. A new columnist was Warren B. Murphy, writing “Curmudgeon’s Corner,”
giving them two curmudgeons because Gault fit that description too. The magazine
continued expanding its definition of the mystery scene with Kevin Randle’s article
on “The World of Action Adventure.” More mystery-related was Josh Pachter’s new
short story column “The Short Sheet.” In Issue #16, Bill Pronzini showed that he
was a fan as well as a writer with his article on forgotten short story writer Bryce
Walton.
I was not alone in perceiving an early bias against fans in Mystery Scene, though
it never extended to refusing our subscription payments. I criticized that and the
inclusion of horror and fantasy in a magazine titled Mystery Scene. Michael Seidman
responded, taking umbrage, especially at my calling him “Mike,” which I had heard
people do at Bouchercons. He also objected to my characterizing as “whining and
doomsday forecasting” the remarks he made at Bouchercons about the state of the
mystery, when he admonished fans to support writers by buying their books. In the
January 1987 issue, he launched his strongest attacks on fans, saying the majority
were negative and that “Ultimately, those who label themselves fans do not have the
power to create. They are vampires, sucking the very essence of life from those and
that which they adulate.”
Not willing to let Seidman have the last word, I wrote a letter for the eighth issue
about his artificial distinction between “aficionados”—whom he regarded favorably—and
“fans,” whom he denigrated. I said he was ignoring the time and money
fans had put into writing for fan magazines and putting on Bouchercons, activities
that benefit writers. I also mentioned a gratuitous dig by Gault at fan magazines in
Mystery Scene.
It was difficult to keep up with the changes in format of Mystery Scene. What
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