Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition

This December 1947 British edition of Astounding Science Fiction contains the novella "Centaurus II" by A.E. van Vogt, along with four additional stories. Short fiction includes "The Model Shop" by Raymond F. Jones, "Time and Time Again" by H. Beam Piper, and "Psych's War" by O.W. Hopkinson, Jr. "Letter to Ellen" is by Chan Davis, and "Brand Boy" by William Ten also appears. Van Vogt's narrative follows Jim Lesbee, second-generation crew member aboard the interstellar vessel Centaurus, during its twenty-seven-year journey to Alpha Centauri. When junior crew member Ganarette attempts a mutiny to force the ship's return to Earth, Captain Lesbee subtly prevents it by screening a cautionary film about an earlier space rebellion and its consequences. The story explores tensions between officer and non-officer classes aboard the ship, generational perspectives on the voyage's duration, and command authority across vast interstellar distances.