Vol 43, No 2. Contents: 4 • "Oh King, Live Forever ..." • [Editorial (Astounding)] • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by The Editor] 6 • Plague • [Ole Doc Methuselah] • novelette by L. Ron Hubbard [as by René Lafayette] 33 • Extraterrestrial Biochemistry Note • essay by uncredited 34 • Devious Weapon • short story by M. C. Pease 44 • The Undecided • novelette by Eric Frank Russell 71 • Prodigy • short story by Theodore Sturgeon 81 • Colonial • [Max Larkin] • novelette by John Christopher [as by Christopher Youd] 104 • In Times to Come (Astounding, April 1949) • [In Times to Come (Astounding)] • essay by The Editor 105 • Seetee Shock (Part 3 of 3) • [Seetee • 2] • serial by Jack Williamson [as by Will Stewart] 146 • ₉F¹⁹? • essay by Arthur C. Parlett, Jr. [as by Arthur C. Parlett] 162 • The Analytical Laboratory: January 1949 (Astounding, April 1949) • [The Analytical Laboratory] • essay by The Editor.