The Strand Magazine - Summer 2024

In this issue

Strand Magazine presents an issue headlined by an unpublished Rod Serling short story, “First Squad, First Platoon.” Written shortly after his World War II service with the 511th Airborne in the Philippines, this story—crafted in his early twenties—captures the brutal reality of combat with a maturity and immediacy reminiscent of Hemingway, Crane, and Dos Passos. Forewords by Serling’s daughters, Jodi and Anne, add personal insights into the man behind the words.

The issue also features John Floyd’s “Pushing Joe Carter,” a Twilight Zone-esque narrative of human cruelty with an unexpected twist; Adam Hamdy and Emily Fox’s “The Fear in Their Eyes,” which delves into the psychological toll of law enforcement; and Vasa Clarke’s “The Adventure of the Ayrshire,” a unique case that brings Holmes and Watson into the realm of veterinary medicine and national security.

Exclusive interviews further enrich this edition. Espionage novelist Robert Littell, whose character-driven spy novels have redefined the genre, discusses how his work explores moral ambiguity and the human condition in a shadowed world of realpolitik. Laurie R. King, acclaimed for her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series as well as her contemporary bestsellers, shares insights from her prolific career.

Finally, with summer on the horizon, our reviews spotlight new releases like Storm Watch by C.J. Box, Independence Square by Martin Cruz Smith, and The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen.