Science Fiction and Fantasy in the Pulps: 1946

As part of the program for Chicon 8, FFE is orchestrating the “1946 Project” to recall and highlight science fiction and fandom from that important just-post-War year.

Presented here for your perusal and possible amusement is a fiction bibliography for science fiction and fantasy pulps issued in 1946. The list includes magazines that primarily published new works. Excluded are reprints of works published in prior years (most of Famous Fantastic Mysteries, all of Strange Tales). Non-fiction articles and editorials are also omitted. For brevity, we didn’t cite specific issue dates. For richness, we’ve transcribed the introductory blurbs that appeared in the Table of Contents or masthead for each story.

We’d love to hear your reflections on works from 1946 that you might have had occasion to read. Which stories were notable to you, and why? Which have stood the test of time? Which are ‘undiscovered gems?’ Which stories reflected the times in particularly compelling or unique ways?

Please drop us a note with your thoughts at:
info@firstfandomexperience.org

Isaac Asimov chose sixteen of these tales for inclusion in his anthology, “The Great SF Stories 8: 1946” (edited by Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg, DAW Books, Inc., 1982). We offer this list as his point-of-view, possibly influenced by copyright restrictions, and without endorsement or dismissal:

“A Logic Named Joe” by Will F. Jenkins (Murray Leinster)
“Memorial” by Theodore Sturgeon
“Loophole” by Arthur C. Clarke
“The Nightmare” by Chan Davis
“Rescue Party” by Arthur C. Clarke
“Placet is a Crazy Place” by Fredric Brown
“Conqueror’s Isle” by Nelson S. Bond
“Lorelei of the Mist” by Ray Bradbury and Leigh Brackett
“The Million Year Picnic” by Ray Bradbury
“The Last Objective” by Paul A. Carter
“Meihem in ce Klasrum” by Dolton Edwards
“Vintage Season” by Lawrence O’Donnell (C.L. Moore)
“Evidence” by Isaac Asimov
“Absalom” by Henry Kuttner
“Mewhu’s Jet” by Theodore Sturgeon
“Technical Error” by Arthur C. Clarke

A contemporaneous view of fan favorites from the year was compiled by Joe Kennedy in his the 1946-1947 Fantasy Review, the second in his series of yearbooks covering the field. Kennedy’s survey captured the opinions of 78 fans of the day. (For details on the poll participants and methods, see this post: Science Fiction and Fantasy in Books: 1946.) Here are the top 25:

From The 1946-47 Fantasy Review, compiled and published by Joe Kennedy in 1947

Science Fiction and Fantasy in the Pulps: 1946

Amazing Stories (Raymond A. Palmer)

Invasion of the Micro-MenRichard S. ShaverA terrible plague came to Nor, and Elder Goddess Vanue lost her crown. A story of Mutan Mion.
“Anything You Say, Dear”Leroy YerxaHe was just a mouse of a man until he got the hypnotic tube–then he became master in his home.
The Huntress of AkkanRobert Moore WilliamsShe was lovely beyond all compare, but she was a huntress–and a huntress to chill one’s blood!
Final VictimHenry Hasse & Ray BradburyWho was it that lost out in the end? Pursued, or pursuer, on this hideous little rock in space?
Little Drops of WaterFrances M. DeeganAlmost anything might be expected to show up in a microscope–except the experimenter himself!
Four Who ReturnedChester S. GeierThe world waited breathlessly for the return of the four survivors of the first voyage to Mars…
The Masked WorldRichard S. ShaverUnder New York lies the cavern city, Ontal, ruled by the most murderous cutthroat gang of all time.
Atom WarRog PhilipsYears in the future Chicago had become the World Capital, and it was first target for atomic bombs.
Bridge of LifeRobert Moore WilliamsMaybe a walkie-talkie isn’t the thing to put in a call to a dead man, but at least you can try
The Affair of Matthew EldonMillen CookeWhen we get to monkeying around in the electronic bands, there is no telling what we’ll discover!
A Room with a ViewDavid Wright O’BrienThe things one says in this room! Characters from a masque ball who claimed they weren’t from one.
Don’t Mention It!John & Dorothy de CourcyThe invention was vital–and there was opposition from another dimension. Then came a “Helper”…
The Perfect ImitationH. B. HickeyDon’t go around aping people, even if they are good examples; maybe you’ll imitate them too well!
AghartiHeinrich HauserA super atomic bomb, carried by rocket, launched itself from the Harz Mountains–and Satan died!
The Brothers ShenaniganDavid V. ReedWhen these brothers go into business on the Moon, the looney Luna business really begins to boom!
Luder ValleyRichard S. ShaverIf any man saw it fall, he called it another meteor; but it wasn’t a meteor that crashed to earth…
To Whome It May ConcernMillicent HolmbergPeople with strange new senses, and with strange plans for the future, lived in this western town.
Cult of the Witch QueenRichard S. Shaver & Bob McKennaHecate was her name, an immortal goddess–but her subjects called her the Limping Hag
The MutantsRog PhillipsArny wasn’t like other boys–he was the result of the Atom War, a mutant human…
ChrysalisRay BradburySmith was dead–or was he? Maybe he was only dead as a butterfly larvae is dead!
The Man with Two MindsLeroy YerxaOne way to discover the workings of the mind of a murderer is to be in his mind…
Heart of LightGardner F. FoxThe diamond had a heart–of light. And the light was also the light of life…
Scar TissueHenry S. WhiteheadThousands of years in the Past he died, but the scars remained even in a new life.
The Man Next DoorRobert Moore WilliamsWhat about the man next door? Do you know anything about him, really? Do you?
The Sea PeopleRichard S. ShaverThe Limping Hag, having been beaten on Venus, fled to Earth to set up her empire on the sea bottom.
March of the Mercury MenDon WilcoxDeath and destruction loomed as the Mercury Men set out on their monstrous steeds to do battle…
The GiftBerkeley LivingstonPrecious indeed was the gift from the world’s greatest artist–but a curse went with its misuse.
Some Are Not MenJohn & Dorothy de CourcyYou see them on the street every day, but do not recognize them–these creates who are not men.
BothonHenry S. WhiteheadOf what importance was one wronged man in a world rent apart by the dying convulsion of a continent?
Earth Slaves to SpaceRichard S. ShaverThe Darkspear came to Earth and picked up a load of slaves–but Earther’s other people never knew it!
The Cosmic SistersLeroy YerxaWomen tall as trees, female counterparts of the legendary giant man, Paul Bunyan–and very lovely.
Battle of the GodsRog PhillipsThe final showdown between the rival mutant humans who were born of the atom war; what would happen?
Morton’s ForkJack & Dorothy de CourcySo there are no such things as demons? Of course not, if you’re looking for horns and a tail!
The Green ManHarold M. ShermanHe came from the planet Talamaya bearing a vitally important message for the inhabitants of Earth!
The Caduceus of HermesGeorge TashmanThere it was: the caduceus used by Hemes himself. And it turned out to be a powerful gadget!
GetawayChester S. GeierIt was a way of escape never used before–to elude capture by police by taking off in a spaceship!
M-M-M-M-M-M!Millen CookeShe came through a Time Warp, from a world where kisses were unknown–and became an atavist!
The Return of SathanasRichard S. Shaver & Bob McKennaMankind has long abhorred the devil, but regard him as a myth. Mutan Mion met him and fought him!
Haunted MetropolisChester S. GeierFar away on a planet unknown a city became haunted–and terror stalked its darkened streets!
The Secret of Lord FennelFrank G. HeinerWhat was going on in Lord Fennel’s castle? Who–what–was his lovely oriental wife and he slave?
The Man Who Went NowhereJohn & Dorothy de CourcySo you don’t think it’s possible to keep on the move and not go anywhere? Well, for instance…
Side StreetLeroy YerxaSide streets have a peculiar fascination for some people, and they can’t resist exploring them!
Atala RimJ. S. HarrisonThere in the old Mexican church he stood, a man named Atala Rim… and there was the unknown in him!
Command PerformanceBerkeley LivingstonWhat if there was a gadget that could really “command” a performance? You’d be its utter slave!
The Land of KuiRichard S. ShaverDeep beneath Kui was a machine that ate rock–and it left Kui perched on a precarious pillar.
Death SentenceChester S. GeierWhat out of the ordinary could there possibly be concerning the death sentence of two rabbits?
Giant of GanymedeRoss RocklynneThe most peaceful, gentle business of all seems to be that of a florist–but not on Ganymede!
Great Gods and Little TermitesDon WilcoxDown into the tiny world of the Termites they went–or was it really a giant world of Termites?
Double for DestinyLeroy YerxaDestiny played a dual role, a sort of Jekyll and Hyde split personality–and Fate went hog-wild
Sentimental MonsterLee FrancisSentiment in a machine–don’t be ridiculous; or perhaps it’s just in the way you look at things…

Astounding Science-Fiction (John W. Campbell, Jr.)

The Fairy ChessmenLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)The weirdest weapon ever conceived attacked not the mighty defensive screens, but the defending technical minds. It was a simple idea–but simply devastating. All it did was deny the basis of the scientific method!
Veiled IslandEmmett McDowellA new author presents a tale of a new kind of superman, a cannibalistic, savage, dirty barbarian. But it isn’t what a race knows that counts; it’s what that race is.
Fine FeathersGeorge O. SmithIt’s an old, old, human urge to join the “get-rich-quick” boys. But with the educator machine that one man had invented, another man decided it was even better to join the “get-smart-quick” bandwagon. But as no man is ever quite rich enough, no man ever feels he’s quite smart enough–and both lead to trouble.
N DayPhilip Latham
(R.S. Richardson)
There have been many tales of the terror and riots that precede the end of the Earth, when some scientist accurately predicts its doom. But now let’s see–would men react quite that way…
A Matter of LengthRoss Rocklynne“How long is a minute?” doesn’t ordinarily make much sense–but on that strange planet, a minute was the wrong length. The oxygen in the air was the wrong length, too–but they were the right length to take the measure of Joe Henderson’s deadly little problem!
The PlantsMurray LeinsterIt should be axiomatic that the dominant life-form on any planet is a dangerous, powerful species–or it wouldn’t be dominant. But of course, no one will be much bothered by a pretty little flower, even if it is dominant–
Special KnowledgeA. Bertram ChandlerA good officer on a modern merchant marine ship has a great deal of highly specialized knowledge. But if that man somehow found himself an officer on a merchant spaceship, his special knowledge would seem pretty useless–ordinarily. But not that trip!
This is the HouseLawrence O’Donnell (C.L. Moore)A house, it has been said, is a machine for living. The house they bought from its previous occupant had, very definitely, been made just that. But–not for human living!
The Fairy ChessmenLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)Concluding Padgett’s novel of a strange but very terrible sort of weapon–the concept that truth, like all other things, might be variable, and our most basic laws but one of many possible aspects.
Pattern for ConquestGeorge O. SmithFirst of three parts. The Earth has been menaced by galactic conquerors before, in science-fiction. But not quite this way–and not with quite these results. For instance, consider: What is the purpose of war? How determine the winner?
We Kill PeopleLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)It was quite a business, too… and it wasn’t anything you could prove murder. Murder, after all, is strictly a human affair; this was, on the contrary, an inhuman sort of business!
Lady DogA. Bertram ChandlerThe more complex, sensitive, and responsive a machine becomes, the more closely it approaches a living organism. Fine — but what if the darned thing begins to believe it is a living organism…?
DepthG. N. HowardA new author presents a new picture of a ship of–not space, yet space for all that. But the space hundreds of miles within the Earth!
AdapterMurray LeinsterThe Ethical Equation were a curious sort of business. For instance, the only ethical thing to do might turn out to be insubordination!
Guest in the HouseFrank Belknap LongThe guest wasn’t invited, but then, the house was really a guest–in the time era of the intruder. The guest’s great trouble was he didn’t know the difference between knowledge and mental agility–
A Logic Named JoeWill F. Jenkins (Murray Leinster)Joe was a machine, and Joe wanted to be helpful. Joe was immensely helpful. So horribly helpful he very nearly destroyed civilization with his accurate answers!
Pattern for ConquestGeorge O. SmithSecond of Three Parts. With the aid of the Little People, Earth had developed new and mighty powers–but Earth remained one planet, and one people, opposing a quarter of a galaxy. The end was foredoomed–but the meaning was not so clear!
SwamperJerry SheltonThe peasant type clings to old ways in the face of any new advance–and, in time, there will be the dull, unchanging peasant type even on other worlds. Like the Swamper–
Black MarketRaymond F. JonesAn O.P.A agent’s job is to stop black market operations–but the job that faced him was something no ordinary measure could handle. Targ advertised his Black Market Emporium–but not the source of his strange and wonderfully efficient goods!
LoopholeArthur C. ClarkeThe Martians knew when Man developed the atomic bomb–and they knew Man’s warring character. So they took steps to see that Man stayed on his own home planet. That was a serious error–
MemorialTheodore SturgeonHis plan was to create a crater than would warn all men to avoid atomic war for five thousand years to come, memorial that would spit lava and deadly rays for five millenniums. Part of his plan was fulfilled–the wrong part.
The NightmareChan DavisThis is a story of the immediate tomorrow–and of civilization headed down the inescapable road to destruction–down the road that we have, already, selected–and its nightmare end.
Rescue PartyArthur C. ClarkeThe mission was to rescue a fraction of a population–because the Galactic Union hadn’t known that the Earth’s Sun had inhabited planets until too late. But they did know it was going Nova!
The CureLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)The simplest way to drive a sane man mad is to face him with an absolutely insolvable dilemma. There are more complex ways, of course–but the cure gets complicated, too, and sometimes fails–
A Son Is BornA. E. van VogtVan Vogt starts a new series, of a world where atomic energy is old–and science forgotten, debased to ritual. A world into which a child touched by atomic rays is born–
Alexander the BaitWilliam TennA new author presents an ingenious new idea on how to get interplanetary travel started. It’s done with a Moon-radar system. But not quite as the world thought–
Placet is a Crazy PlaceFrederic BrownIt wasn’t that Placet itself was so crazy; it was just that the things Placet’s gravitic situation did to human sensory organs was really remarkable. You could even solve impossible problems quite unintentionally–
Pattern for ConquestGeorge O. SmithConclusion. The true nature of conquest isn’t always easy to determine–as a completely overwhelmed and conquered Earth had to demonstrate. It’s so impractical to enslave a man brighter than you are–
ForecastRaymond F. JonesEven if you can control the weather–the weather won’t satisfy everyone. And if someone’s dissatisfied, that means a fight–
The Bottled MenRoss RocklynneTwo men–hunter and hunted–were trapped in that natural battle. One started digging his way out, but it was a trickier problem than he guessed–
The Chromium HelmetTheodor SturgeonThis isn’t the best of all possible worlds–but it was no help to five reasonably comfortable people to encounter the strange effects of the “cromium hemlet[sic].”
ParadiseClifford D. SimakThe Mutants had solved the secret of the philosophy that would give men peace–but the man who returned from Jupiter offered Paradise with a price tag; the oblivion of mankind.
The Chronokinesis of Jonathan HullAnthony BoucherTime travel might make murder easy–but time travel itself, even though accomplished, might not be any easy thing to bear–
Cold FrontHal ClementThe Master Salesman’s job was to find out what the people of that new world wanted and needed, and how best to supply it. What they needed was easy; decent weather. But supplying it–even though Earth knew how to control weather–wasn’t so easy!
TroubleGeorge O. Smith“It takes two to make a quarrel” doesn’t mean two different people, really–just two different viewpoints!
The BlindnessPhilip Latham
(R.S. Richardson)
If, by some miracle, the full light of the Day Star could shine on man and his works–
Rain CheckLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)It wasn’t human, or even remotely human. The race that created it had given it great powers. But one power it desperately wanted was denied it–
StabilityA. Bertram ChandlerBalance is important in modern planes–but a serious misbalance in something trying to balance on a jet of flaming gas could be more than merely annoying!
Film LibraryA. E. van VogtTheir novelty films were remarkable–but no novelties. Not, that is, at the time they were filmed–
Slaves of the LampArthur Leo ZagotIf greed were the only feature of human psychology men had to fear, we might cure the problem. But sometimes even worse is a man’s determination to improve his fellow man…
The Last ObjectivePaul CarterThe only way to avoid atomic bombs is to be where they ain’t–and for an army, that meant tunneling underground in a really all-out way!
Bankruptcy ProceedingsE. Mayne HullArtur Blord had been in trouble–of his own doing–before. He knew how to protect himself against enemies. But it was his friends who were really dangerous!
Child of the GodsA. E. van VogtIn a world of war, assassination, and violence there seemed no place for the psychopathically shy and timid Clane. He could never appear in public, or rule as was his right–it seemed.
The Cat and the KingRaymond F. JonesA cat can, of course, look. But this was a remarkable cat: it didn’t look. It watched. There’s a rather important difference–
The ToymakerRaymond F. JonesThe Imaginos were silly, lumpy little dolls–but the kids were crazy about them. In fact–they were so crazy about them that the destiny of the planet hung on them!
Vintage SeasonLawrence O’Donnell
(C.L. Moore)
Everybody seemed to want the old house during May–and seemed willing to pay fantastic prices for the privilege. Strange tourists they were, too. The Cafe Society of another time.
Blind TimeGeorge O. SmithThe real problem of the missing link–missing because displaced a few hours in time–was how to prevent an accident that had already happened!
EvidenceIsaac AsimovYou know, it would be mighty hard to get evidence that a robot claiming it was a man, was not. As a man, he’d have rights of privacy, and until you proved otherwise–
Slaves of the LampArthur Leo ZagotSometimes the finest motives are the deadliest, the kindliest acts, the stupidest–and an idealist can kill a city!
The ChroniclerA. E. van VogtThere was a third eye in his skull–but it was more than a third path for vision. It was the key to a new, and terror-ridden world. A world of savages in a city, and philosophers in caves–and of a spaceship. First of two parts.
Chaos, Co-OrdinatedJohn MacDougal
(James Blish, R.W. Lowndes)
Earth didn’t stand much chance of winning against a galaxy, when the multitude of races was co-ordinated by a perfect thinking machine/ But machines have their limitations. No imagination–no soul, no poetry in ’em!
Assumption UnjustifiedHal ClementIt was an easy error to make. To an alien being, a man is a man is a human being. Even human beings have trouble, sometimes, telling one man from another. The alien’s assumption–
False DawnA. Bertram ChandlerA tale of very long ago, before man had descended (sic) from the “apes,” and a time when the Moon was not an airless, scarred glove in the night skies.
AlienGeorge O. SmithThis is not a logical, probably, or scientific story. It’s a bit of insanity about a barroom brawl over a man with feathers where his hair should have been–
To Still the DrumsChan DavisSome men ask only peace, and a chance to do their work; to some, a mighty weapon is an irresistible temptation to power, with or without the consent of a nation. And such must be watched.
Mewhu’s JetTheodore SturgeonMewhu came from–somewhere. He wrecked his spaceship on landing, but the “parachute” he had was something decidedly super–an atomic jet job! The problem was to get into communication–they thought.
HobbiesClifford D. SimakThe cities were deserted, save for one. The men and women of that city had hobbies–but no accomplishments. The robots they had left behind were doing better…
The UnforeseenMark ChampionA prison break is successful only when it employs some factor which neither foresight nor past experience has called to the attention of the guards. They key to freedom is–the unforeseen.
Tower of DarknessA. Bertram ChandlerThe planet was a deadly place–deadly not to men, but to their ambition. It seemed to be cursed by the Tower, and against the Tower neither strong will, courage, not the flame of human ambition succeeded. It took something quite different–and unanswerable.
The ChroniclerA. E. van VogtConcluding the story of a man thrown into a strange world of highly civilized barbarians, and a decaying city–
MetamorphositeEric Frank RussellBuilding a galactic empire takes time–a very long time. And it may not be the same people who started the job when they finish–
For the PublicBernard I. KahnThe story of a doctor of the Lunar Quarantine Station and his routine job. And the routine was death–
Hand of the GodsA. E. van VogtClane, the Child of the Gods, might be loved by the Atom Gods, but not by the sharp-minded old woman who ruled the Empire–and that was a very practical and dangerous matter indeed!
The Impossible PirateGeorge O. SmithPrecisely so–impossible. Which was what made it so hard to catch him! There wasn’t any possible way he could escape–
Time EnoughLewis Padgett (Kuttner / Moore)The Old ‘Uns lived in secret–not quite immortal, but for five hundred years or more they’d lived. But nevertheless they’d all died at about one century!

Famous Fantastic Mysteries (Mary Gnaedinger)

While Famous Fantastic Mysteries generally ran reprints, there were two notable exceptions in 1946.

DaemonC. L. MooreFor such as Luiz o Bob the powers of ancient earth will gather when his cry for help is heard… but only for such as he, who have no souls–who can see the dainty hoofs of Pan and can hear the strange and terrible music of his pipes…
And Not in PeaceGeorge Whitley
(A. Bertram Chandler)
He laughed at devils and vampires and wasn’t afraid, because they belonged to the world of fantasy–forgetting that it is sometimes the realest world of all…

Fantastic Adventures (Raymond A. Palmer)

Moon SlaveLeroy YerxaMany things happen under the moon, and because of the moon; was that why these graves were opened?
Vacation in ShastaRog PhillipsMt. Shasta is supposed to be the home of weird underground dwellers. What is its deep-hidden secret?
The Life SymbolRichard CaseyNoah, a modern one, boards an ark of space, and the old story takes on a few new, and funny, angles!
Siren SongLester BarclayModern soldiers and sailors engaged in a war can’t expect sirens to sing to them–or can they?
Toka and the Man BatsJ. W. PelkieOut of the sky came the greatest of all dangers for Sandcliff–and Toka took his axe into the air.
The Land of Big Blue ApplesDon WilcoxIn this country you ate apples–and you caught them on your horns. Saved trouble picking them up.
Christopher Crissom’s CravatDavid Wright O’BrienIt was a lovely tie–if you had an eye for color. And this one demanded that it be noticed…
An Adam From the SixthRichard S. ShaverAdam hung himself in despair; then he got another chance to live, all memory of the past erased.
A Crystal and a SpellChester S. GeierThere was magic in the crystal; it could cast spells. But a piece of gas pipe complicated things.
The Sword and the PoolBerkeley LivingstonOut of the pool came a pair of hands bearing aloft a shining beauty of a sword dedicated to freedom.
Finished by HandH. B. HickeyNever throw stones if you live in a glass house; and also, never yell thief if you are one too!
To Watch by NightRobert Moore WilliamsEyes that watch in the night sometimes see things that are not suspected during the daylight…
Tree’s a CrowdRobert BlochLefty Feep found himself unpopular in ordinary company–his bark was worse than his bite…
He Who Saw TomorrowThomas P. KelleyOrdinarily no man can see the future, lease of all his own. But tomorrow he would live again!
Jimmy Takes a TripWilliam Lawrence HamlingJimmy liked trains, especially this one that he saw at the station where nobody else saw trains.
The Softly Silken WalletDavid Wright O’BrienA wallet is for one purpose only, to carry money–but it can be made of a variety of materials…
The Tale of the Last ManRichard S. ShaverOnly one man left on earth; the whole world was his, to do with as he liked. What would he do?
Cult of the EagleBerkeley LivingstonThey were the most fearsome creatures on the planet–eagles as big as men, and as dangerous!
Minions of the TigerChester S. GeierHis eyes had one peculiarity when they looked at you: They were the eyes of a tiger…
The MirrorWilliam Lawrence HamlingIt was just a plain mirror, and an old one. But it showed you the strangest things…
A Voice From BeyondJohn P. LenahanWhen he walked over the X-ray cables, something happened to him. A voice called out…
I’ll Take the SubwayBerkeley LivingstonIf you owned a subway system you’d be a rich man. But can a dead man spend his money?
Taming of the TyrantLeroy YerxaIt was a world where women were forgotten. Teena set out to make the tyrants remember
Dual PersonalityRog PhillipsHe was perfectly content to stay single. But then somebody doubled up inside him…
Shadow of the SphinxWilliam Lawrence HamlingThe sphinx stands patiently in the sands of Egypt–waiting–for someone…
Rocket to LimboMargaret St. ClairMillie wanted to get rid of her husband, so she bought him a one-way ticket to limbo…
The CounterfeiterRobert Moore WilliamsThe little man didn’t want to be a counterfeiter–it was the machine he built…
The Moving FingerBerkeley LivingstonWhen the old man pointed his finger and prophesied death, people laughed–and died…
Happiness is NowhereChester S. GeierMan’s quest for happiness in this world is futile–but there are other worlds…
The Smiling WifeH. B. HickeyThe Norsemen have many strange legends. One of them concerns a smiling woman…
The Red DoorDon WilcoxThere were many doors in Askandia, and all of them had been opened–except one…

Fantasy (UK) (Walter Gillings)

Last ConflictJohn Russel FearnTo men to ruthless ambition, Science can be a very powerful ally. But too much power is dangerous for those who can’t control it…
SupernovaP. E. CleatorAll the evidence pointed to a sudden, catastrophic end for Man and his planet. But only one man knew, and denied the world the knowledge. Fortunately…
The Worlds of IfStanley G. WeinbaumTo travel into the future or the past? Pfui! But to explore the might-have-beens — that was easy to a genius like van Manderpoots.
Technical ErrorArthur C. ClarkeThe Chief Physicist has a problem… How to keep a starving man alive when it would cost two millions a year to feed him?
The Pain MachineL. V. HealdTurning pain into pleasure seemed a good idea — and the machine did just that. But sometimes machines can work too well…
A Matter of SizeNorman LazenbyBigness isn’t everything… And a man deprived of his sense of proportion is apt to overlook the compensations of smallness — even when he wants to hide.

Futuristic Stories (UK) (Dennis H. Pratt)

The Lords of ZormN. Wesley Firth(no blurb)
Laughter of the GodsEarl EllisonMister Seedly’s Impulsator
The Timeless DimensionRice AckmanMike Owens stepped into trouble when he stepped into the Vanishing Cabinet of Calgary. Through a timeless dimension to a dying, twilight world, alien and deserted, except for two beautiful girls — and the CRAKES!

New Worlds (UK) (Edward John Carnell)

The Mill of the GodsMaurice G. HugiWorld markets were being flooded with cheap merchandise, but nobody knew where the goods were manufactured. Until Intelligence officers stumbled upon the fantastic answer…
The Three PylonsWilliam F. TempleA fantasy of long ago. King Fero left his son a hard task — the riddle of the three pylons. When Rodan solved the problem it altered history.
Solar AssignmentMark DenholmTwo news reporters tangle with a mystery on Pluto–and find the answer to an age-old Earth mystery.
Knowledge Without LearningK. Thomas
(R.W. Fearn)
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A lot, when stolen from other people, can be more than dangerous–for some.
Sweet Mystery of LifeJohn Russel FearnA strange plant grew from a rose cutting–and Man learned the secret of space travel. There was a snag, however
White MouseThornton Ayre
(J.R. Fearn)
If an Earthman married a girl from another planet an brought her to earth, how would she fit into her new environment?
The Living LiesJohn BeynonVenus, as a colony of Earth, had a highly specialised system for keeping the balance of power in the White’s hands. It was a problem of racial colour–but not to the Venusians
Lunar ConcessionThornton Ayre
(J.R. Fearn)
Mining on the Moon might be fun–for some–if the stakes were not so high.
Space Ship 13Patrick S. SelbyWith all interplanetary space to travel in, the Rapier had to be on another spaceship’s course.
Vicious CirclePolton CrossTime runs in a straight line=–but what if one man’s Time Line is circular? He’d see the Past, the Present and the Future
Foreign BodyJohn BrodyIf, long years ago, a visitor from space crashed on Earth–where would be the logical place to find traces?
The Micro ManAlden LorraineA fantasy of a little man who visited the Gods–but the Gods were not amused–only careless
Green SpheresW. P. CockcroftIf Earth is ever invaded from Outer Space, the first arrivals might not be the invaders–but merely their softening-up process.

Outlands (UK) (Leslie J. Johnson)

Pre-NatalJohn Russel FearnThe “searchlights” from Outer Space were in search of something — someone — on the Earth. When they found what they sought, one man “died” — only to live again…
Strange PortraitSydney J. Bounds(no blurb)
Bird of TimeJohn GabrielThe Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly — and Lo! The Bird is on the Wing.
Omar Khayyam
Undying FaithCharnock WalsbyDowater was a confirmed Atheist, but he was not without Faith — in his own disbeliefs!
Rival CreatorsGeorge G. WallisA story of the Ages after the Earth’s End.
The Opaque WordAnthony CotrionSeptimus Hudd had not been invited to attend at the Brain’s Trust, but he turned up just the same — and made “light” of some of the questions…

Planet Stories (Chester Whitehorn, Paul L. Payne)

Engines of the GodsGardner F. FoxThe engines were the wealth of Mars–but they could not be used until their secret was solved. Kortha and the evil Guantra fought and schemed for the knowledge–and the planet lay on the bring of destruction.
The Blue VenusEmmett McDowellThe Renegade’s men swept through the valleys of Venus, seeking a greed-maddened slaver who planned an experiment so cruel and barbaric it would crumble the very foundation of mankind.
What Hath Me?Henry KuttnerThe thousand tiny eyes raced past him, glittering with alien ecstasy, shining bright, ever brighter as they fed. He felt the life blood being sucked out of him.
SurvivalBasil WellsMen found themselves suddenly in the swampy hell of Venus, fighting a weird battle for existence.
Defense MechRay BradburyMan, man, how’d you get in a mess like this, in a rocket a million miles past the moon, shooting for Mars and danger and terror and maybe death.
Electron Eat ElectronNoel Loomis(Editor’s note: When we had read through this in-a-class-by-itself story, we exclaimed “Here’s PLANET’S scoop on the world!”)
Crisis on TitanJames R. AdamsHere they were, about to be blasted out of existence by strange inhabitants of a weird planet–and Staley was making like a baseball player!
Lorelei of the Red MistLeigh Brackett, Ray BradburyHe died–and then awakened in a new body. It was a good body, and he took pleasure in it… until he discovered that it was hated by all on Venus–and that his soul was owned by Rann, devil-goddess of Falga.
Captives of the Weir-WindRoss RocklynneTheir objective–if they lived to reach it–was a world beyond all worlds… a planet where howling winds could kill and lakes of radium acted as graves.
The Shadow-GodsVaseleos GarsonCurt watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself. With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
The Pumpkin EaterCarlton SmithEd shook the kid’s hand and smiled–and said to himself: “I got to kill this guy! Before he gets inside me! Before he finds out what I am!”
Space-Lane of No-ReturnGeorge A. WhittingtonIt came suddenly–the excitement you yearned for–and you found yourself being blasted out of the void…
Prisoner of the Brain-MistressBryce Walton“I became part of it, part of the heat and brightness and whirling, and I could feel myself melting away–until I became nothing…”
The Million Year PicnicRay BradburyJust behind the veil of the vacation–instead of the soft face of laughter–there was something hard and bony and terrifying…
Dread-Flame of M’TonakHenry HasseGrimly the outlaw Ketrik slogged toward the proud Martian city… behind him the gibbering mindless wrecks of Terra’s shrewdest intelligence men… ahead a ghastly green glow in the sky that waited for him as it had for them–hungrily!
The Creatures That Time ForgotRay BradburyMad, impossible world! Sun-blasted by day, cold-wracked by night–and life condensed by radiation into eight days! Sim eyed the ship–if he only dared reach it and escape! … But it was more than half an hour distant–the limit of life itself!
Enter the NebulaCarl JacobiThe greatest cracksman of the Galaxy–the Nebula… mocked by a gay voice that called herself Andromeda, who led him into danger–into the hands of his enemy!
The DerelictWilliam J. MatthewsDying, castaway Jeff Thorne stumbled across the pitiless desert… was Death awaiting him in this sudden vision of the crumbling towers–the dry-rotted hulks of an ancient Martian seaport?
Total RecallLarry SternigThe armada from outer space was attacking–Roger Kay had thirty minutes to wrench the secret of victory from the old scientist’s brain where it lay buried in horror!
Through the Asteroids–To Hell!Leroy YerxaBlair Freedman had torn that tunnel through the grinding asteroid wall–with the might Cutter… he’d die now to keep it open–but not with the girl he loved!
Six TuesdaysRoss RocklynneNot six Tuesdays in as many weeks, but the same Tuesday, over and over! Ivan wondered what he’d gotten the universe into–with this crazy time-machine of his!
The Man the Sun-Gods MadeGardner F. FoxThe Tryllans worshipped him as god. Yet grief bowed those superbly-muscled shoulders, for Tyr knew he was no more divine than the lowest ray-gunner of the invader hordes.
The Sven Jewels of ChamarRaymond F. JonesScattered, the jewels were maddening. Held in a grasping palm they bestowed power enough to rile the System. But space-roving Nathan and the deadly Firebird learned the terrible price of that power.
Love Among the RobotsEmmett McDowellHenry Ohm found his robots hard to control–with that girl around. There was something about her–ah–personality!
TepondiconCarl JacobiThere was treasure beyond price in those plague-darkened cities of Ganymede, provided the seeker, too, had no price.
Space BatCarl SelwynOut of the caves of space it flew–huge, rapacious, terrifying. But Lou Flint wanted it more than he wanted the luscious Karen.
Fog of the ForgottenBasil WellsRebelling against science, his people had thrust themselves down into the ancient mists. Now Ho Dyak wanted light.
ExampleTom PaceFrantically, the space-liner called Commander Gray: “Disaster ahead–you can save us!” He smiled grimly; he knew the only way.
Breath of BeelzebubLarry SternigOnly half an ounce of the liquor from Planetoid Y-145 had been distilled. But that was enough to drive the universe mad!

Startling Stories (Sam Merwin, Jr.)

Outlaw WorldEdmond HamiltonOn the trail of malevolent space pirates, Curt Newton and the Futuremen combat the evil machinations of the Uranian Ru Ghur, who plans the total destruction of the Universe!
The Forgotton Man of SpaceP. Schuyler MillerA Hall of Fame Classic reprinted by popular demand
The Jimson Island GiantSam Merwin, Jr.Duplex had a formula–but could not foresee its consequences
Valley of the FlameKeith HammondFar from civilization, Brian Raft and Parror, the cat-man, grapple in a fight to the finish–while a breathless girl looks on and the destiny of a race totters in the balance!
Shadow Over VenusFrank Belknap LongCommand James Elwood battles against the Venusian gules
Twelve Hours to Live!Jack WilliamsonA Hall of Fame Classic reprinted by popular demand
The Dark AngelHenry KuttnerTim Hathaway sensed that his wife was growing different, but–
The Dark WorldHenry KuttnerEdward Bond enters a twin universe of black sorcery, where his evil replica, Ganelon, fights for a kingdom of slaves, infinite power, and two alluring women–Arles and Medea!
The Man With X-Ray EyesEdmond HamiltonA Hall of Fame Classic reprinted by popular demand
Planet of the Black DustJack VanceThe pirates held all the cards but one–a man’s soul
The Vicious CirclePolton CrossDick Mills oscillates back and forth from past to future
Extra EarthRoss RocklynnePresident Woodward and his cabinet wage war on six evil men
The Solar InvasionManly Wade WellmanCurt Newton, Joan Randall and the Futuremen cruise into a strange world peopled with weird, pallid inhabitants, on the quest of a lost satellite which was mysteriously plucked from the sky!
After ArmageddonFrancis FlaggA Hall of Fame Classic reprinted by popular demand
AfraidW. E. ThiessenEarth’s messenger, Norman Kane, braves the terrors of the Moon
AbsalomHenry KuttnerThe prodigy son of a future father presents a difficult problem

Strange Adventures (UK) (Dennis H. Pratt)

Fugitive on VenusLeslie HalwardBourbon, a homicidal maniac, made a break from Grunton Pen., and in his madness he hurled himself through space to Venus, taking with him Professor Systrom’s beautiful daughter, Lana…
Mary Had a Little… ?N. Wesley FirthA riotously funny story about the thing that followed Mary about, a thing from another dimension. A story with an unusual ending… by the author of “Lords of Zorm”.
Space Hobo’s DiaryRice AckmanThe space hobo had some strange stories to tell. And this is one of his strangest…

Thrilling Wonder Stories (Sam Merwin, Jr,)

Forgotten WorldEdmond HamiltonStar-sick Laird Carlin is ordered back to Earth for a rest cure–and there on the ancient, ancestral planet, his love for a girl lures him into the toils of a weird conspiracy!
The Disciplinary CircuitMurray LeinsterFleeing from the fury of despots through parsecs of space, Kim Rendell and Dona Brett dodge ghastly dangers!
Siren SatelliteArthur K. BarnesA daring crew of spaceteers faces a grim prospect–unless Gerry Carlyle wins a devouring monster as her ally!
Information PleaseStanley WhitesideA mechanical super-brain possesses a one-track mind
Atomic StationFrank Belknap LongRoger Sheldon puts up a battle when energy runs amuck
Clutch of MorpheusLarry SternigRackam’s comet induces a fatal sleeping sickness
Battle of the BrainsJerry SheltonImmortal powers were conferred upon men when the colossus Klarth implanted their brain cases into invincible super-bodies–but Mason knew it meant humanity’s enslavement!
Indestructible ManEdmond HamiltonDeath holds no threat for Phil Ryan as he dares bullets, floods and other lethal threats while battling to protect the world’s greatest secret!
UndermostManly Wade WellmanEnter the Dakar-Natal Transatlantic Tunnel, situation eight miles below sea-level, where brave men struggle mightily for glory, fame and love!
Rocket PantsNoel LoomisDetermined to save a friend from ruin, Arne Pearce and Hugo Drake race through space, facing the sinister menace of treacherous Marcus Barr!
Find the SculptorSamuel MinesThere was a maddening riddle in the epochal time-travelling machine
Jones’ PhysiqueWilm CarverThe odd case of J. Maurice Jones was only a scientific problem, until–
Rocket SkinRay BradburyHitch-hiking through space, George Vanning meets up with murder
Like DupsMurray LeinsterGreedy Earthman “Slug” Breen gambles against time for limitless wealth
Tital of the JungleStanton A. CoblentzA mysterious fluid of enlightenment reverses the order of the world–and only Mark Haverside and the Pembrooks, armed with slingshots and courage, can set things right!
Dead CityMurray LeinsterOut of the misty past come weird creatures to prey upon mankind–but Pete Marshall and his aides meet the menace with scientific weapons!
The Ice WorldRoss RocklynneWhen reptiles rule in a dying world, brace Starnik and his friend Caset become leaders in a struggle to restore the heritage of humanity!
Twilight PlanetPolton CrossA young scientist shatters the atom–and destroys his planet
ZeroNoel LoomisSpace flier Bob Parker risks the peril of banishment to the Moon
Forever is TodayCharles F. KsandaEdmund Carsten, scientist, seems to bend eternity to his wishes
The Multillionth ChanceJohn Russell FearnPhysicist Grant Mayson re-creates Iana, the wonder girl of long ago, out of scattered atoms–but between them stands the memory of Anrax, long-dead master of science!
Call Him DemonKeith HammondDeep in his fourth dimensional lair crouches the hungry monster, while only a band of children guards helpless adult victims!
Pocket UniversesMurray LeinsterWhen a Latin-American tyrant visits New York, Luis Santos perfects a machine that can eliminate space–and exacts vengeance!
The Good EggRoss RocklynneSquare Root, the little imp from space, does some fast figuring
Never the Twain Shall MeetBrett SterlingJohn Farrel keeps his Tryst with Ylleen, whose love means death
The Little ThingsHenry KuttnerDave Tenning, a born rebel, felt he did not belong in this Futureworld
Tubby–Master of the AtomRay CummingsAn atomic beauty of a distant era gives Tubby the eye
I Am EdenHenry KuttnerIn a fabulous Brazilian Valley, Jim Ferguson and Dr. Cairns battle against walking rocks and cannibal plants in their strange quest of a mysterious and fascinating girl goddess!
The EndMurray LeinsterWhen universal disaster threatens, Ron Hort and Sart Voorn fight ruthless pirates while striving to find the answer to an ancient enigma!
Phalid’s FateJack VanceHis brain encased in the body of a giant insect on an alien planet, Ryan Wratch struggles against big odds to defeat the enemies of all Earthmen!
Grim RendezvousArthur Leo ZagatJohnny Rober, discredited physicist, stages a desperate sky venture
The Ghosts of Melvin PyeL. Sprague de CampLandlord Conroy’s property is besieged by frolicsome “ha’nts”
Pardon My MistakeFletcher PrattA future kidnaper tries to make his getaway in a fast space ship
Life on the MoonAlexander SamolmanJay Revere explores the unknown in a rocket trip to Earth’s satellite

Weird Tales (Dorothy S. McIlwraith)

KurbanSeabury QuinnLike Pharoh’s necromancers, he could cast his rod upon the earth and it became a live, hissing serpent
Chariots of San FernandoMalcolm JamesonThere are many unsolved mysteries in this strange world of ours–like the bizarre adventures at the Amazon’s headwaters!
Sin’s DoorwayManly Wade WellmanA soul is free to enter heaven if its burden of sin is borne by a living person
SeedJack SnowHow thin is the veneer of modern learning. And how little it takes to shake one’s faith!
Mr. Bauer and the AtomsFritz LeiberIf a person suddenly became radio active, with all that atomic energy inside his body…
Satan’s PhonographRobert BlochHave you ever heard of a recording machine so damnably delicate that it captures the human soul?
PikemanAugust DerlethThe tombstone warned “Prepare for death and follow me!”
The Diversions of MME. GamorraHarold LawlorWhat, pray, would people be like if they were reduced to their least common denominator!
All the Time in the WorldCharles KingThe mass of bloated flesh that could be formed into different shapes by kneading with the fingers–was me!
Twice CursedManly Wade WellmanDo you know of those who are afraid of memory shadows and others who never fear the devil except on a dark night?
The Man in the Crescent TerraceSeabury QuinnThe thing used its spear like a woman testing cake with a broomstraw–on the “cake” was a human!
The Bogey Man Will Get YouRobert BlochThat was what was nice about him — the mystery, the not-knowing…
Dead Man’s ShoesStephen GrendonThose who are stricken with that curious and terrible hallucination should be thankful — for it warns of something far more terrible
ChanuJim KjelgaardLook closely at his cultured face and you will discern to your amazement a snarling mouth and great fangs
The JonahEmil PetajaRemember the “Marie Celeste”? Here’s an explanation for that and other sea mysteries that could not be explained!
Tunnel TerrorAllison V. HardingStrong things can happen in a vehicular tube — especially when the tunnel goes places it isn’t supposed to!
The TravellerRay BradburyA strange family, with no real life to any of them!
The Valley of the GodsEdmond HamiltonGuarding this fabulous, legendary valley is a sinister night-shrouded place of the dead
Three in ChainsSeabury QuinnWhoever it was–or whatever–watched us gloatingly
MidnightJack SnowThere was scarcely a forbidden book of shocking ceremonies and nameless teachings that he had not consulted
The Man in PurpleDorothy QuickThis accursed room had an aura of immeasurable menace–a ghost come true
The Smiling PeopleRay BradburyNothing is quite so horrible, so final as complete utter silence
Once There Was an ElephantR. H. PhelpsYou’ve heard of the old triangle–but suppose one of the trio is an elephant!
Rain, Rain, Go Away!Gardner F. FoxHis obsession sat like an evil witch astride his thin shoulders, haunting him
The Silver HighwayHarold LawlorThere was a strange story connected with the Pope-Hartford runabout and the exquisite girl who sat in it
Frozen FearRobert BlochA deep-freeze unit is like some monstrous beast that has just dined well
Shonokin TownManly Wade WellmanThe Shonokins are real — real almost-men with peculiar knowledges and sciences, fearing only their own dead
CatspawsSeabury QuinnA girl attacked at night by some creature; not human, not animal, but monster
The NightRay BradburyThis was a summer night that waded deep in time and stars and warm eternity–a night when reason ended and universal evil took over
The WingsAllison V. HardingOne never knows what incredible forces are ready to loose themselves upon the world at any moment
The Man Who Told the TruthJim Kjelgaard“From this night on everything you say will come true, so watch your language!”
I’ll Be Glad When I’m DeadCharles KingIt’s written that pint-sized demons can only give out with vest pocket spells!
The Cinnabar RedheadHarold LawlorLife is full of problems and in the lonely hush of a foggy night ghosts become one of them
The ShinglerE. L. WrightNext time you have work done on your house be sure you don’t get the Singler!
For Love of a PhantomStanton CoblentzThe room was a musty six-by-eight where unearthly shadows seemed to dance in the gas-light
GhostP. Schuyler MillerIt is a pleasure to remember sometimes how certain people died
LotteSeabury QuinnWhen a mystery presents itself it gnaws like a magot at the brain, nor can it be dislodged till the solution is found
Day of JudgementEdmond HamiltonSomeday, some eternity away, there will be a last man and a last woman. And who will be their judgers?
EnochRobert BlochHave you ever felt the tread of little feet walking across the top of your skull?
Alice and the AllergyFritz LeiberIt’s only common sense to be scared of a killer–sometimes even after he has been apprehended and executed!
Not HumanBert David RossA tulka does not really live — therefore a tulka is indestructible. It cannot die
The HornCharles KingA goat’s horn, marvelously endowed with strange virtues and an unforgivable future
The MachineAllison V. HardingA machine, so sensitive as to be human, was the scientist’s goal. What he got was as utterly unexpected as it was horrific!
Six Flights to TerrorManly BanisterThe building’s bizarre architecture was as though it had been lifted bodily and transported here from some haunted place deep in a mysterious Europe
Polar VortexMalcolm FergusonAll alone on the night side of the world time moves at a snail’s pace
Threshold of EnduranceBetsy EmmonsWhat is, can be — what happens, can happen again
Xerxes’ HutHarold LawlorA small unpretentious hut, with an eternity of history and an unguessable secret within four walls of horror
Spawn of the Green AbyssC. Hall ThompsonThere are events that transpire in this world that you will not believe–that you will not want to believe!
Eyes in the DarkSeabury QuinnSome will not live to grow old — for a variety of outre reasons
ShipmateAllison V. HardingYour shipmates are picked by chance or fate — to sail with you toward some shrouded doom beyond the farthest horizon!
Mayaya’s Little Green MenHarold LawlorThings happen in rambling, reconverted farmhouses, things that make you wish you weren’t twenty miles from the nearest neighbor
Let’s Play “Poison”Ray BradburyChildren — little monsters thrust out of hell because the devil could no longer cope with them
A Collector of StonesAugust DerlethYou don’t always worry about ethics if you’re a fanatical collector. But you should worry about the dead!
Lizzie Bordon Took an AxeRobert BlochA locked room, mouldering books, muttered curses, in a rotting hulk of a house — add up to tragedy
FrogfatherManly Wade WellmanThe oldest ones say Khomgabassi dug the waterways, planted the trees and fathered the frogs
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