Astounding Stories #48

In "If This Be Earth," a returning astronaut crew lands on what they believe is their home planet—only to discover it’s a meticulously crafted replica, built by aliens who admire Earth so deeply they’ve recreated it for a grand display. The familiar landscape feels just a little too perfect, and the silence of a world they thought they knew is suddenly heavy with wonder.

In "Worthless World," Earthmen arrive on Venus expecting riches, only to find a planet seemingly barren of value. Their disappointment turns to shock when the Venusians, long hidden, reveal their cities and civilization—choosing invisibility not out of fear, but to protect their world from exploitation.