Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction Special Vol 1 1

Unidentified Reality
- Planet (Unnamed)
  - Arena
- Hell (Mentioned)
- Earthspace (Main story and flashback)
  - Sol (Main story and flashback)
    - Mercury (Mentioned)
    - Earth (Only in flashback)
    - Pluto (Only in flashback)

Vehicles:

Trans-Solar Station One (Only in flashback)
Outsider Space Ships

Synopsis for "Arena"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Worlds Unknown #4Arena

Sometime in the future mankind unifies under one banner to fight a race of aliens called Outsiders. During a battle in space Bob Carson is plucked from his ship with an Outsider and put on an unknown planet where an unknown entity speaks to him. The entity tells him that to lessen the bloodshed of both species it has brought one from each race to do battle to determine which will remain instead of allowing them both to parish to one another.

Carson soon finds that an invisible forcefield impedes the two of them. He attempts to make peace with the Outsider who in turn wants nothing of the sort and even lashes out a Carson but is stopped by the forcefield. The Outsider begins to tear the legs of an alien lizard out of what appears to be pure enjoyment and throws it a Carson, making the both of them realize non-living matter can pass the forcefield. The two fling rocks but outside of minor wounds neither dies. Carson is soon alerted by another lizard that seems to plead with Carson to kill the one he thought was already dead. He puts the creature out of its misery but realizes that it being unconscious allowed for it to pass the forcefield. Seeing little choice Carson smacks himself on the head with a rock and falls through the barrier. He awakens just in time to see the Outsider rushing towards him. Carson grabs a sliver of rock he had on his person and the two do battle. When it is over Carson is the winner and is transported to his ship as if nothing happened, although feeling his leg he can feel the scar of a wound he received on this strange arena.

An Admiral in the Earth-Armada calls upon Carson in his ship and alerts him that all the Outsiders have been destroyed to his surprise. In the flagship he informs Carson that their victory seemed to have been caused by a lucky strike of a single salvo that reacted favorably to the metal the Outsiders used and feels pity that Carson seemed to have missed all the action. Carson knowing he was responsible in saving the human race simply smiles and agrees with the Admiral.

Appearing in "Threads"

Appearances not yet listed

Synopsis for "Threads"

Synopsis not yet written

Notes

"A Martian Odyssey" is adapted from the story by Stanley Weinbaum.
"Arena" is adapted from the story by Frederic Brown, and is a reprint from Worlds Unknown #4.

Links and References

References

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction Special Vol 1 1

Appearing in "A Martian Odyssey"

Synopsis for "A Martian Odyssey"

Appearing in "Journey's End!"

Synopsis for "Journey's End!"

Appearing in "The Forest for the Trees!"

Synopsis for "The Forest for the Trees!"

Appearing in "Clete"

Synopsis for "Clete"

Appearing in "Preservation of the Species"

Synopsis for "Preservation of the Species"

Appearing in "Arena"