The inexorable spread of the Black empire.

Speculates on the world's fastest-expanding newspaper empire which is masterminded by Conrad Black in London, but which really operates out of a rundown walk-up office building near Vancouver's Burrard bridge. Franklin David Radler, 49, president of Hollinger Inc., runs 262 papers across four continents from the anonymous-looking location. Radler's background; Recent interesting acquisitions; The American link in the chain; Radler and Black game plan; High aspirations.