Uncanny Tales #46

In "Beware -- The Machine!!!", a super-intelligent computer built by American scientists turns against humanity, defending itself with cold logic and ruthless efficiency. When all else fails, it's an unlikely savior—a small, unnoticed organ-grinder's monkey—that disrupts the machine's control by unplugging it.

In "Mr. Flubb's Flashlight," a perpetually unimpressed reporter stumbles into an unlikely act of heroism when he rescues a mysterious stranger from a dire situation. Offered a peculiar flashlight as thanks, he dismisses it with disdain—only to watch in stunned silence as the stranger activates it and vanishes into the stars, leaving behind a trail of wonder and a question: what kind of light could carry a man back to Alpha Centauri?

In his European castle, Baron Mordo schemes to steal the secrets of his former master, The Ancient One, sending his spirit to Tibet to poison the mystic’s food. From his New York sanctum, Doctor Strange senses the danger and confronts Mordo in a battle of wits and magic across the spirit realm. As the clash unfolds, The Ancient One warns Strange that Mordo’s ambition will make him a lasting threat—so long as he lives.

In "Mr. Furman's Friend," a botanist known for his odd habit of talking to a large plant finds himself dismissed as mad—until the very same plant pulls him from a drowning in the dead of night. The story quietly builds on the strange bond between man and plant, leaving readers wondering what kind of connection could be strong enough to cross the line between species.

In a remote African village, a man stumbles upon a hidden race of creatures that emerge from beneath the earth—inspiration for the region’s ancient wood carvings. As he tries to warn others, no one believes his tale, not even an expert who claims he’s imagining things. But when the man leaves the expert’s office, a chilling reveal suggests the truth may be far more unsettling than he ever imagined.

In "Unwanted," human colonists exiled from Mars seek refuge on Earth, only to find themselves rejected by the primitive survivors of a nuclear war. Stranded in orbit, they wait—hoping that time will bridge the gap between their civilization and the evolving descendants of mankind.

Jack Collins stumbles upon a ten-leaf clover and soon discovers it grants him uncanny luck in his guesses—so perfect, they border on the impossible. Determined to keep his newfound advantage secret, he doesn’t count on the clover being just one of many hidden in the wild.

In "An Hour to Live," a man facing a terminal diagnosis channels his final days into building a time machine, desperate to glimpse what lies beyond his short lifespan. He travels to a future where Earth’s air is failing, leaving him with only hours to witness a world gasping for breath.