Future Science Fiction, October 1954

Future Science Fiction, October 1954 This issue contains a novelet and five short stories in the science fiction genre. Milton Lesser's "Dead on Departure" depicts a spaceship tour where visitors observe the frozen, statue-like crew and passengers undergoing temporal deceleration for a thousand-year journey to Sirius. The crew exists in suspended animation, appearing as realists sculptures throughout the ship; prospective travelers must decide whether to abandon Earth forever, officially listed as dead upon departure, to join the voyage. Philip K. Dick contributes "Meddler," while Algis Budrys offers "Despite All Valor." Marion Zimmer Bradley provides "The Crime Therapist," Theodore R. Cogswell "Conventional Ending," and Bob Silverberg "The Silent Colony." The issue includes Irving Cox Jr.'s novelet "Of Such as These." A nonfiction article by R. S. Richardson, "Blame It on Sunspots," examines solar phenomena. Regular departments include editorial commentary on maturity in science fiction, reader correspondence, and book reviews.