Worlds of IF - Science Fiction: January-February 1972
All illustrations by Jack Gaughan. Cover by Jack Gaughan (for "Patterns of Chaos.")

Novelette: "The Cast-Iron Rat" by Harry Harrison (incorporated into The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World.)

Serial: "Patterns of Chaos" (Part 1 of 3) by Colin Kapp.

Stories: "Time Patrol" by Joe L. Hensley
"Sheltering Dream" by Doris Pisercia
"The Castoffs" by David R. Mason.

Ejler Jakobsson is editor, Judy-Lynn Benjamin is managing editor, Lester del Rey is feature editor, Jack Gaughan is Associate Art Director.

Allow me to put in a plug for the Colin Kapp serial: I've always been fond of big-concept or outrageous-idea novels. Imagine a civlization in another galaxy with extraordinary predictive abilities, so afraid of one man that they launch multiple planet-buster attacks over the incredible distance of space & time- with pinpoint accuracy, but just missing by days or hours. (Wow!) Jack Gaughan contributes 2 covers for it, and his black & white interior for the 2nd part is one of my favorites by him. This is the last issue printed on the usual somewhat flimsy stock.