Astounding Stories #24

An archaeologist haunted by memories of a past life discovers the tomb of Princess Zita in the deserts of ancient Sumaria, only to find himself branded with a mystical scarab symbol that compels him to enter and bridge the centuries between his present existence and a forgotten history of forbidden love. As Jim Benton descends into the tomb, he's transported back through time itself, reliving his previous incarnation as a young Sumarian gladiator—and uncovering the tragic destiny that has bound him and the Princess together across ages. With the past and present colliding around him, Benton must confront what the royal sorcerer's ancient prophecy truly means for his eternal reunion with Zita.

Elaine Johnson witnesses a horrifying spectral figure moments before a tragic accident, and her terrifying visions keep returning—each time preceding disaster. As the phantom phantom grows bolder and more threatening, Elaine desperately searches for answers while racing to prove the supernatural menace is real before it claims its next victim.

Gerald Ansco, a traveling salesman from Tennessee, is plagued by a recurring nightmare in which his car spirals out of control on a rain-slicked mountain road, chased by a carrion bird and heading toward a ruined bridge. After a psychiatrist convinces him the dreams stem from his subconscious hatred of constant driving, Ansco quits his job—and the nightmares vanish. But when he sets out one rainy weekend to visit his wife in the country, a detour and a blown-down road sign force him onto an unfamiliar route that begins to feel disturbingly familiar.

In "The Matter with Harry!" from Astounding Stories #24 (1968), a shy man stumbles upon a Venusian woman fleeing Martian aggressors, and in a moment of unexpected courage, he comes to her aid. Moved by his kindness, she proposes marriage and invites him to join her on Venus, launching him into an otherworldly adventure far beyond his wildest dreams.

A local Wessex legend haunts the Valcourt family, beginning with the burial of young George Valcourt in 1713—and the dark circumstances surrounding a mysterious ring. This tale of the ill-starred Valcourts draws on centuries-old folklore whispered through the English countryside, weaving superstition and tragedy into a compelling mystery that grips readers from its opening moments.