Dates
- Cover date
- [December 1967]
- On sale
- September 1967
- Pages
- 36
Editions and covers
- Original editionSource ↗
Creators
Stories
- Keys of Knowledge: Astronomy: Meteors and Meteorites · 1 pages
Illustrated text feature on meteors and meteorites.
- The Aliens · 4 pages
For the first time, an Earth ship meets an alien ship, which attacks with missiles. The Earthmen would jump-drive for home, but the aliens could follow. To safeguard Earth's location, Captain Johner must destroy the enemy. The aliens are saucer-headed loop-limbed giants captained by Zarz, who also must protect his planet. A furious battle damages both ships. Then an Earth lifeboat puts out.... Via tele-translator, Captain Johner proposes half the Earth crew venture to the aliens' planet, and half the aliens go to Earth. "To establish contacts and trade. It looks like a good beginning!"
- A Matter of Judgement · 4 pages
Aboard the Earth-bound ship, Captain Johner teaches Zarz how the ship runs. Two crewmen object to the "creatures" and distrust them. Later the ship is attacked by (some unknown ship's) missiles. Shields hold, but the hypatomic motors spill radiation. Humans collapse, but the Aliens are unaffected and steer the ship into an asteroid belt, safe. Humans revive. An objector admits, "I'll be more careful before I pass judgment on anything from now on!"
- Suspense in Space · 4 pages
The Earth-bound ship gets a call. An experimental missile with an atomic warhead will destroy the Space Research Lab in three hours. Diverting, Captain Johner and Zarz defuse the warhead with seconds to go. The Earthman and Alien are saluted by the crew of the Space Lab.
- A Case of Nerves · 4 pages
Earth-bound, Captain Johner and Zarz wonder about the Alien-bound ship... On that ship, the human "ambassadors" are bottled up and stir-crazy. The only calm guy is Ric, who has hypersensitive nerves for hypatomic maintenance. They venture out and Bul explains how their motors work - as the sub-space drive overloads! Ric is stranded in sub-space, a bewildering rainbow of colors. Only with hyper-nerves can he trace the vibrations and colors to shut off the motors - even passing through solid bulkheads. The Aliens were helpless. "Credit it to a case of nerves!"
- The Dream Makers · 4 pages
After two years, the Alien-bound ship reaches home. The Earthmen are amazed at the honor: first to visit an alien planet! Yet Captain Bul warns of "strange appearances" and not to touch anything. The reception has many strange aliens - and two pretty human women! Yet when an Earthman touches one, he collapses. The telepathic Dream Makers take on any form - and are hideous if seen clearly. Camouflaged, they are the secret service that protects the planet.
- An Alien Welcome · 4 pages
On the Aliens' planet, the Earthmen are treated as honored guests. But some Aliens think they're dangerous spies. The men go sight-seeing after Bul warns of fanatics. Fanatics lead them into an empty chamber and lock it. Gas pours in, pitting their helmets. They'll be dissolved! They radio for help. Bul frees them and the fanatics are killed. That was a disintegration chamber. In the future, the Earthmen will be guarded at all times.
- Talk-Down · 4 pages
The Earth-bound ship reaches home, but a strange pink cloud-belt cuts off all communication. At Earth Space Control, the staff panics: anyone who enters the cloud of psycho-gas, a backfired defense experiment, will be rendered helpless. The ship tries to land and the humans pass out. Zarz contacts Space Control, who freak to see an alien. Zarz calmly explains he can pilot with a talk-down - and by a miracle, lands safely.
- Fear of the Unknown · 4 pages
Zarz landed the ship after humans passed out, but now the hypatomic engines rupture. Zarz orders "Every Earthman must be outside before any of us leave the ship!" But the rescuers freak at the aliens, and soldiers open fire as the ship burns. No way out but to link up "our barrier of mind-force!" Outside, Captain Johner revives and opens the air lock as the commander orders, "Hold your fire!" Zarz says, "Fear of the unknown can be deadly to any civilization [but]... it looks like a good beginning!"
- Keys of Knowledge: Astronomy: Asteroids · 1 pages