Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition

About this issue

This November 1945 British edition of Science-Fiction contains the novelette "First Contact" by Murray Leinster, illustrated by Orban. The story follows the crew of the spaceship Llanvabon, particularly quartermaster Tommy Dort, who is investigating the Crab Nebula four thousand light-years from Earth. As the ship enters the nebula's interior, its instruments detect an invisible vessel nearby—a locator beam creating phantom readings on their scanners. The skipper realizes they have encountered an alien spacecraft, likely crewed by non-human intelligent beings. Facing an unprecedented situation, he must decide whether to attempt communication or prepare weapons, uncertain whether the aliens come in peace or pose an existential threat to humanity. The narrative explores the theoretical and practical dilemmas of first contact with an unknown extraterrestrial civilization in deep space.