Random Happenstance

The cover promises a bit more sci-fi horror than the interior delivers, but there's still a smidge: from 1984, Alien Worlds #8, cover by John Pound.

"...And Miles to Go Before I Sleep" is a sentimental story by William F. Nolan and the great Al Williamson: a rocket captain contracts an alien disease, and is told he would die long before making it home to see his parents. Unwilling to break his promise to return, the captain sends a robot duplicate to visit his parents, then dies. But he may not be the only one considerate of others.

"Soft Boiled" is a private detective story where the clues don't add up, but there's a reason for that. (Written by Bruce Jones, art by Paul Rivoche.) It was okay, but I liked "Collector's Item" better: written by Bruce Jones, art by Ken Steacy. A young boy is bound and determined to complete his familiar-looking collection of "Venus Invades" trading cards, but the last card he needs may be an unpleasant surprise. (I'm 90% sure I still have the Mars Attacks novel Steacy did the cover for.)

"Stoney End" has a Wally Wood/Weird Science homage going, as another rocket captain reads his Wonderful Planet Stories comic to take his mind off of the mess his ship was in. It ends sadly, but with acceptance, possibly in more than one sense of the word.

Pretty sure I have another issue of this lying around, lets see if he can cram that into the month!