Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #5 - Marvel

A very atypical Marvel cover--more like something you'd see on a Warren mag--graces this issue of Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. The cover is credited to "Puigdomenech"...?

The inside cover is a really neat piece by Howard Chaykin, of an astronaut/space explorer of some sort, ray-gun in hand, sitting on the ground, dead with an arrow in the chest. Chaykin's comment on the magazine? The genre? The limits of technology? Am I overthinking this?

First up, as usual, is an adaptation of the "Slow Glass" concept by Bob Shaw, this time by Roy Thomas, with art by Gene Colan and Frank Chiaramonte--an unusual combination, to be sure.

The first story is "Paradise Found" by Bruce Jones and Gray Morrow, about a group of space explorers who have moved to a new world that at first seems like a paradise. At first. A more gentle type of tale, perfectly suited to Morrow's style.

Next is a text feature called "The Many Many Worlds of Larry Niven", and then is "All The Myriad Ways" by Howard Chaykin. A tale examining the concept of multiple worlds, all variations of the other, and how it leads to one man to examine the idea of endless variables. Grimly funny ending; very Chaykin.

There's another article, about sci-fi novels, by Don and Maggie Thompson, called "Fantastic Worlds", and then is "Addict" by Don Glut and Virgilio Redondo. The drug in this case is the ability to dream, and one man's addiction to it in a future world that has eradicated it. Fun, paranoid(?) sci-fi tale.

Last is "Half Life" by John Allison, a very 2001-ish tale set aboard the deep-space ship the USS Agamemnon. Some very inventive layouts help with the very psychedelic, reality-bending tone of the tale. Might've worked better had I dropped acid before reading it, perhaps. Oh well.

The issue wraps up with a "Slow Glass" closer and a letters page, wrapping up a fine issue. Unfortunately, most comics fans didn't agree apparently, since the next issue would end up being the last regular issue...