Rocket Stories, Vol. 1, No. 1

# Rocket Stories (April 1953, Vol. 1, No. 1)

This inaugural issue of Rocket Stories presents six space-adventure tales emphasizing action and frontier drama over scientific rigor. The complete novel "The Quest of Quaa" by H.A. DeRosso follows Cardwell, an Earth exile stranded on Venus, who is recruited to save Earth despite his mistreatment. Novelettes include "Jackrogue Second" by John Jakes, concerning a figure revived after eons of temporal exile, and "The Idols of Wuld" by Milton Lesser, depicting five insurgents facing galactic forces with suspected treachery within their ranks. Short stories are "Welcome, Voyagers" by Hubert J. Bernhard (aliens bearing gifts incite war on Earth), "This World Is Condemned" by Ward Botsford (a condemned world resists its fate), and "The Haters" by William Morrison (hatred drives characters to the stars). The editorial emphasizes romantic, emotional adventure narratives over scientific exposition, comparing space exploration to frontier literature.