In a suspenseful narrative, death emerges from an ancient box found in a tomb and begins stalking the streets of Chicago. Archaeologist Samuel Morton had brought the mysterious box back to the city but met a gruesome end after opening it. As he tried to decipher its hieroglyphics, a strange silence fell upon him, followed by excruciating pain,...More
Robert Moore Williams was an esteemed American writer known for his captivating science fiction tales. Born on June 19, 1907, in Farmington, Missouri, Williams discovered his passion for storytelling early on. After graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism in 1931, he embarked on a remarkable career that would span decades. Williams made his debut in the science fiction realm with the publication of "Zero as a Limit" in Astounding Science Fiction in 1937. Under the pseudonym "Robert Moore," he introduced readers to his unique narrative style and imaginative worlds. From that point forward, his literary output was ceaseless, captivating readers with his vivid imagination and thought-provoking ideas. His final novel was published in...More
Robert Moore Williams was an esteemed American writer known for his captivating science fiction tales. Born on June 19, 1907, in Farmington, Missouri, Williams discovered his passion for storytelling early on. After graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism in 1931, he embarked on a remarkable career that would span decades. Williams made his debut in the science fiction realm with the publication of "Zero as a Limit" in Astounding Science Fiction in 1937. Under the pseudonym "Robert Moore," he introduced readers to his unique narrative style and imaginative worlds. From that point forward, his literary output was ceaseless, captivating readers with his vivid imagination and thought-provoking ideas. His final novel was published in 1972, marking the culmination of a prolific career. Among his notable works is the "Jongor" series, which first enthralled readers in the pages of Fantastic Adventures during the 1940s and 1950s. The series eventually found its way into book form in 1970, cementing Williams' reputation as a master storyteller. By the 1960s, he had already penned over 150 stories, leaving an indelible mark on the science fiction genre.
Book Summary
In a suspenseful narrative, death emerges from an ancient box found in a tomb and begins stalking the streets of Chicago. Archaeologist Samuel Morton had brought the mysterious box back to the city but met a gruesome end after opening it. As he tried to decipher its hieroglyphics, a strange silence fell upon him, followed by excruciating pain, skin discoloration, and death in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, a man named Rocks Malone, who had a strong passion for archaeology, lived near the Asian Museum where Morton worked. The museum staff, including Morton and Malone, had suspicions about the box's contents. It was believed to be a gateway to another dimension, and something unknown had emerged from it. After Morton's death, the box remained in the museum, and Rocks was called to help identify a body found there. Sharp, the museum's business manager, explained that when the box was opened, it seemed to contain an almost invisible, smoky mass. Morton thrust his hand inside, and it vanished, rendering his hand invisible and staining it red. The box was now on a table in the museum's basement. Later, the box's contents escaped, and the police were called in to search for the mysterious entity. Penny, McCumber's granddaughter, called for help after discovering her grandfather's lifeless body. Rocks rushed to their aid, relieved to find Penny alive. McCumber, however, had suffered a similar fate to Morton, with his skin turning red and his clothing crumbling to dust. Penny suspected that the entity had followed them from the museum, though no one had seen it directly. With the gruesome deaths and the unknown entity still at large, fear and uncertainty hung over the city, leaving everyone vulnerable to the silent, deadly force.