Weird Thrillers #2

A British physicist vanishes in a mysterious net during a sudden storm—and Scotland Yard's Inspector Haversham finds himself pursuing the same inexplicable fate. When the inspector discovers an ancient pattern of famous men disappearing without a trace, he's pulled into the orbit of the Fisherman of Space, a strange cosmic creature with sinister plans for its captives. Now stranded on a tropical island that defies the laws of nature itself, Haversham must uncover the truth behind this otherworldly captor and the immortal prison it commands.

When marine explorer Dan Vickerson surfaces from a week-long expedition in the Pacific depths, he discovers Earth has been devastated by a poison gas cloud from outer space—and he fears he's humanity's sole survivor. His desperate radio broadcast brings an answering voice: Betty Wriston, sheltering in a museum, who speaks of an ancient time capsule containing clues to a legendary "Reservoir of the Future" hidden beneath the city. As Dan and Betty begin their search, they're forced at gunpoint by Shep Rankin and his crime syndicate to lead them to the treasure—but the chamber's ancient defenses exact a deadly price on those driven by greed alone.

When escaped convict Fred McCann hits a man on a lonely Minnesota road, he's shocked to discover the body looks exactly like him—and his luck gets stranger when visitors from Alpha Centauri arrive with a time-space machine that can jump between eras. Eager to exploit the machine's power for himself, McCann sees a chance at ultimate wealth and control, but time itself may have other plans for a man who's already run out of second chances.

In "Murderer's Mask," Donald Blanshard acquires a sinister mask in a desperate bid to frighten his wealthy uncle into death—but when he dons it, he finds his own face slowly changing, mirroring the grotesque features beneath the leather. The transformation is more than physical; it’s a chilling descent into a madness he never intended to unleash.

This 1951 non-fiction account traces humanity's leap from the Wright brothers' historic 1903 flight at Kitty Hawk through the rapid evolution of aviation—from the Channel-crossing triumph of Blériot to the devastating aerial warfare of World War II—and peers forward to a tantalizing future where rockets and jets may finally carry mankind to the planets themselves. With speeds already reaching 1200 miles per hour and scientific instruments probing the upper atmosphere, the story suggests that within another fifty years, the mysteries of Mars and Venus might be within our grasp. A fascinating snapshot of mid-century optimism about humanity's next frontier.

A straightforward exploration of lightweight, ultra-strong metals essential for the space age, "Metals for the Future" examines how common materials like clay and seawater can be refined into aluminum, magnesium, and advanced alloys such as duralumin and 75S. The story showcases real-world applications—from reinforced bridges to experimental aircraft—and explains why these innovations will be crucial for humanity's push toward interplanetary travel.