World of Mockery

"World of Mockery" by Sam Moskowitz is a science fiction story about astronaut John Hall, whose crash landing on Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, leads to a terrifying encounter with grotesque alien creatures, written in the early 1940s. These bizarre beings mirror his every move and thought, which starts as a curiosity, however quickly becomes a descent into madness. Lost and alone on the desolate moon, Hall's sanity frays as the creatures evolve into reflections of his past, including his fiancée. Overwhelmed and paranoid, Hall unwittingly exacts a horrifying revenge on these creatures, leaving a shocking scene for the arriving rescue crew. This story explores themes of isolation, humanity's essence, and the eerie link between mind and body in an alien world.