Astounding Stories #188

In "Return of the Martian!" from Astounding Stories #188, the imprisoned alien from Mars escapes his confinement and unleashes a terrifying campaign to dominate Earth. Though his powers overwhelm the military, his victory is ultimately undone by a simple, unseen threat—Earth's germs.

In "What the Mirror Revealed!", a man uses his time mirror—a device that shows the past of whoever gazes into it—to manipulate a girl’s affections. Pretending to be selfish, he pushes her toward a selfless, impoverished man he’s challenged to look into the mirror, hoping to win her heart through sacrifice.

In "Loom of Fate!" from Astounding Stories #188, antiques dealer Jasper Ferall stumbles upon the Norns—three mysterious sisters whose quiet weaving hides a far darker purpose. When he attempts to exploit one’s gift for foresight, he quickly realizes some threads are better left uncut.

In "Fear Follows Fenton," a detective’s sudden coma doesn’t end the hunt—it intensifies it. The fugitive he’s been chasing begins to feel the weight of an unseen presence, as if the man he’s evaded is now stalking him from beyond consciousness. When the fugitive finally turns himself in, the police chief is stunned to learn the detective has just awakened, still locked in the case.

In "The Boy with Second Sight," a young boy’s uncanny ability to foresee danger puts his family in peril when he warns his mother that his father’s car has crashed into a lake—just as the accident happens. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, the story unfolds with quiet tension, exploring the weight of a gift no child should have to bear.