Vol 50, No 2. Contents: 5 • The Perfect Machine • [Editorial (Astounding)] • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by The Editor] 7 • The Currents of Space (Part 1 of 3) • [Trantorian Empire • 3] • serial by Isaac Asimov 68 • In Times to Come (Astounding, October 1952) • [In Times to Come (Astounding)] • essay by The Editor 69 • The Exile • short story by Alfred Coppel 80 • But You Said ... • essay by Ralph Williams 83 • Fireworks • essay by Willy Ley 97 • Modern Style Rockets • essay by uncredited 98 • The Big Hunger • short story by Walter M. Miller, Jr. 112 • The Analytical Laboratory: July 1952 (Astounding, October 1952) • [The Analytical Laboratory] • essay by The Editor 113 • Survival Policy • short story by James E. Gunn [as by Edwin James] 134 • Brass Tacks (Astounding, October 1952) • [Brass Tacks] • essay by The Editor 134 •  Letter (Astounding, October 1952) • essay by Crispin Kim-Bradley [as by C. Kim Bradley] 139 • The Evidence at Hand • novelette by Dean McLaughlin 162 • The Reference Library: Matters of Fact (Astounding, October 1952) • [The Reference Library] • essay by P. Schuyler Miller.