Secrets of the Unknown #166

In "The Abyss!", a small group of political refugees finds unexpected aid from mysterious, otherworldly guides as they flee a repressive regime. Their desperate journey leads them through hidden realms, only to emerge on the far side of Mount Olympus—where freedom awaits, but the cost of their passage remains shrouded in wonder.

In "A Thousand Years," a condemned man is given a shocking choice by a stranger: sign a contract and gain both freedom and a thousand years of life—on one condition. He agrees, and wakes up sealed inside a rocket, hurtling into the void with no need to eat or drink, destined to live a solitary existence across the stars.

In "The Painting," a ruthless art dealer's greed leads him to steal a mysterious work from a gypsy who refuses to part with it—only to find himself trapped within its frame. When the gypsy tracks him down, he discovers the dealer has become a permanent, haunting figure in the very painting he coveted.

When a desperate man’s life takes a bizarre turn after being targeted by a telepathic alien that uses television sets to steal objects—and people—his only salvation comes from a surprisingly mundane source: his unpaid electric bill. In this offbeat science fiction tale from *Secrets of the Unknown #166*, the line between cosmic menace and domestic neglect blurs in unexpected ways.

In "The Stone Man," an old man's desperate prayers to a forgotten hero's statue summon a miracle—only to see his neighbors betray him, stealing the gift meant for the poor. When the statue finally stirs to life, justice is swift, and the old man is carried beyond the earth, lifted to a place beyond the world.

In "The Gypsy's Revenge!" from *Secrets of the Unknown* #166 (1976), a desperate American criminal flees with stolen gold after terrorizing an old gypsy, only to find himself haunted by the man’s curse. Years later, a chance encounter at a traveling circus leads him to a fortune teller’s tent—suspended unnaturally in the void—where the seer’s face slowly reveals the truth of his past.

In "Dead Planet!", a lone warrior from a conquering race lands on a world that should be empty—yet something about its silence gnaws at him. Though he finds no living beings, the planet hums with an eerie presence, and in its stillness, he meets a fate far stranger than death in battle.

In a world where horses can speak, Silverstreak—a proud and clever stallion—manages to convince his abusive jockey, Barney, to bet on their joint chance at victory in the next big race. When the odds turn against them and the race ends in defeat, Barney’s desperation leads to a reckless act that costs him everything, leaving him broken and alone.