Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 69: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

POTENTIAL Ellis nodded. He was having diffi- culty identifying the large, bland Haines in the film with the shrill- voiced scarecrow in front of him. It would take time for all of them, he knew, and a good deal of readjust- ment. “We'd better get to work,”’ Ander- son said. “After you have the defec- tives on this planet serviced, we'll re- fuel your ship and send you on.” “Where?” Ellis asked. “To another planet?” 67 “Of course, There are probably only a few million hosts on this one, since we’re not touching normals.” “Only! But how many people have I stored?” There was the sound of voices in the hall. “You really are a case,” Haines said, amused. ‘‘Back into bed, men— I think I hear that doctor. How many? The population of Earth was about four billion. You have all of them.” IN TIMES TO COME Next issue Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides are back with “Hide! Hide! Witch!” Now this business of witchcraft is interesting stuff; a witch is somebody who does something without any understandable method. Clifton, having a lot of experience with the psychological problems of John Q. Public, brings out, in this yarn, a point I, as a physical scientist, would have missed—missed as completely as the central character of the story did. Sometimes it does take a club to get an idea into a man’s head—particularly when he knows he’s right. Ever think under what conditions a scientist fulfills the definition of a “‘witch’’? And will get the treatment our culture metes out to witches, in consequence! Lee Correy’s back, too, with another rocketship story. Since Correy’s had actual experience with actual big rockets, he has a slight edge on understanding their problems. It’s the little details, the petty factors, that are easy to overlook. The mighty ship of space, capable of roaring free of Earth’s gravity! Hobbled, though, very thoroughly—by, as the title says, an “Ill Wind”! THe EDITOR. EComichbooks, co me