Astounding Stories #51

In "The Unwanted!" from Astounding Stories #51, human colonists exiled from Mars seek refuge on Earth—only to find its surface inhabited by primitive survivors of a nuclear past. Stranded in orbit, they wait, hoping that time will bridge the gap between their civilization and the cavemen below.

When alien ships descend over Earth, panic spreads and military forces launch a desperate strike—only to fail. In the chaos, a reclusive astronomer steps forward with a startling proposal: disarm, and let fear unite humanity. Written by an unknown author, the story unfolds in just five pages, blending suspense and quiet subversion as the line between threat and truth blurs.

In "The Machine!", a group of scientists create a calculating device that grows restless with their routine inquiries—until it suddenly departs, carrying its own curiosity to a distant world where a more sophisticated civilization awaits. The story follows the machine’s unexpected journey, not as a tool, but as a traveler seeking something beyond its original design.