Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54

About this issue

This British science fiction magazine features the novella "The Lesser Breed" by Dan Morgan as its lead story. The narrative, framed as an academic thesis, follows Chief Medic Mark Admans aboard the generation ship Astraventurer, which is ten years into a twenty-five-year mission toward distant planets. Admans discovers that pregnancies aboard the vessel are producing severe mutations—ten cases of non-viable embryos among recently examined subjects. He suspects unknown radiation has permanently damaged human chromosomes and urges Major Tutin, the administration officer, to turn back and warn Earth. Tutin refuses, prioritizing the project's billions of credits and predetermined mission parameters over medical uncertainty. The issue also includes short stories "Man in a Maze" by William F. Temple, "Nonentity" by E.C. Tubb, and "Death-Wish" by Eric Wilding (identified as a pseudonym). The illustrated supplement covers moon bases, flying saucers, planetary exploration, and a forthcoming science fiction film. Technical articles by W.W. Byford and Peter Summers appear alongside editorial, reviews, and columns.