Astounding Science Fiction, October 1950

About this issue

This issue contains five stories of speculative fiction. The lead novelette "New Foundations" by Wilmar H. Shiras concerns the discovery and gathering of mutant children born to parents killed in an atomic plant explosion. The children possess extraordinarily high intelligence and are being recruited for a new school. Dr. Peter Welles interviews Jay Worthington, a brilliant fourteen-year-old who is secretly the author James Vernon Worth, responsible for acclaimed biographies; however, Jay declines to join the school because he is committed to his uncle, a blind historian. Another novelette, "The Mercenaries" by H. Beam Piper, follows. Short stories include "Regulations Provide" by Raymond F. Jones, "Conformity Expected" by H. B. Fyfe, "A Matter of Matter" by L. Ron Hubbard, and "Next Friday Morning" by D. W. Meredith. The issue features a cover illustration by Rogers.