Vol 49, No 5. Contents: 5 • The Ultimate Weapon • [Editorial (Astounding)] • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by The Editor] 8 • The Emissary • novelette by James Cooke Brown [as by Jim Brown] 48 • All the Way Back • short story by Michael Shaara 65 • I Am Nothing • short story by Eric Frank Russell 83 • Comets • essay by Willy Ley 106 • Gramp and His Dog • short story by Frank Quattrocchi 123 • Stardust • novelette by Chad Oliver 156 • The Reference Library: Editor's Choice (Astounding, July 1952) • [The Reference Library] • essay by P. Schuyler Miller 162 • In Times to Come (Astounding, July 1952) • [In Times to Come (Astounding)] • essay by The Editor 162 • The Analytical Laboratory: March 1952 (Astounding, July 1952) • [The Analytical Laboratory] • essay by The Editor 162 • The Analytical Laboratory: April 1952 (Astounding, July 1952) • [The Analytical Laboratory] • essay by The Editor 163 • Brass Tacks & Letters.