Cover of Astounding Stories, August, 1931

Astounding Stories, August, 1931

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  • 6 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Astounding Stories" by Various is a collection of science fiction stories written in the early 20th century. This magazine issue features a variety of tales, revolving predominantly around themes of adventure, exploration, and encounters with extraordinary beings in unfamiliar settings. Among the notable characters is George Abbot, a young scientist who faces perilous challenges as he explores the depths of the Pacific Ocean within his bathysphere. The opening of this magazine presents "The Danger from the Deep," where George Abbot becomes trapped at the ocean floor after his cables are severed and goes from being an intrigued explorer to a scientist confronting imminent peril. Left in a steel sphere with dwindling oxygen and even colder temperatures pressing in, he recognizes that he is not alone but is being watched by intelligent, humanoid fish—man-sharks—that may have ulterior motives. As he desperately attempts to survive and document his findings, Abbot's journey leads him into a deeper realm of discovery, intrigue, and the realization of the existence of a hidden world beneath the waves. The narrative captures a blend of scientific curiosity and the terror of the unknown, drawing readers into a thrilling underwater adventure.

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  • Science fiction · Periodicals
  • Science fiction, American · Periodicals

Read the opening

Chapter I: The Message

In a hospital in Vienna, in a room where sunlight flooded through ultra-violet permeable crystal, the warm rays struck upon smooth walls the color of which changed from hot reds to cool yellow or gray or to soothing green, as the Directing Surgeon might order. An elusive blending of tones, now seemed pulsing with life; surely even a flickering flame of vitality would be blown into warm livingness in such a place.

Even the chart case in the wall glittered with the same clean, brilliant hues from its glass and metal door. The usual revolving paper disks showed white beyond the glass. They were moving; and the ink lines grew to tell a story of temperature and respiration and of every heart-beat.

On the identification-plate a name appeared and a date: "Chet Bullard—23 years. Admitted: August 10, 1973." And below that the ever-changing present ticked into the past in silent minutes: "August 15, 1973; World Standard Time: 10:38—10:39—10:40—"

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I: The Message
  3. Chapter II: Into Space
  4. Chapter III: Out of Control
  5. Chapter IV: The Return to the Dark Moon
  6. Chapter V: A Desperate Act

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About this edition

This free edition of Astounding Stories, August, 1931 by Various comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #33016, released 2010-06-28. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Adventure.

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