Contents (view Concise Listing)

• 3 • Editorial (Vertex, December 1974) • essay by Donald J. Pfeil
• 4 • The Law of Conservation of Pain • [Callahan] • short story by Spider Robinson
• 4 •  The Law of the Conservation of Pain • interior artwork by Alicia Austin
• 8 •   Review: The Many Worlds of Poul Anderson by Poul Anderson • review by uncredited
• 8 •   Review: Final Stage by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg • review by uncredited
• 8 •   Review: Future City by Roger Elwood • review by uncredited
• 8 • Vertex Looks at Books (Vertex, December 1974) • essay by various
• 10 •   Review: The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction by Edward L. Ferman • review by uncredited
• 10 •   Review: Survival Ship and Other Stories by Judith Merril • review by uncredited
• 10 •   Review: Alpha 5 by Robert Silverberg • review by uncredited
• 11 •   Review: A Guide to Middle Earth by Robert Foster • review by uncredited
• 11 •   Review: Alien Horizons by William F. Nolan • review by uncredited
• 11 •   Review: The Best Science Fiction of the Year #3 by Terry Carr • review by uncredited
• 11 •   Review: The Land Leviathan by Michael Moorcock • review by uncredited
• 11 •   Review: I, Weapon by Charles W. Runyon • review by uncredited
• 12 • The Conversation • short story by William Rotsler
• 12 •  Vertex Potpourri • (1974) • interior artwork by Bruce Day
• 13 • Patent Rights • short story by Daniel A. Darlington
• 14 • Grok • short story by Alvaro Cardona-Hine
• 14 • Ten Micro Novels • short story by William John Watkins [as by William Jon Watkins]
• 15 • Examination • short story by Scott Edelstein and Jonathan Phillips
• 15 • Target Practice • short story by Robert Payes
• 16 •  Sunrise West (Part 2 of 2) • interior artwork by Rodger MacGowan
• 16 • Sunrise West (Part 2 of 2) • serial by William K. Carlson
• 21 • Trouble in Space • essay by Igor Bohassian
• 24 • People's Park • short story by Charles Ott
• 24 •  People's Park • interior artwork by Rodger MacGowan
• 28 • End and Beginning • short fiction by Thomas A. Easton [as by Thomas Easton]
• 28 •  End and Beginning • interior artwork by Monte Rogers
• 34 • Vertex Interviews Ursula K. Le Guin • interview of Ursula K. Le Guin • interview by Gene Van Troyer
• 40 • The Ultimate Responsibility • short fiction by Lee Overstreet
• 40 •  The Ultimate Responsibility • interior artwork by Monte Rogers
• 44 • Don't Touch That Dial • short fiction by William Byrne and Scott Edelstein
• 44 •  Don't Touch That Dial • interior artwork by Alicia Austin
• 53 •  Cartoon: "Martha! We've been invaded!" • interior artwork by William Rotsler
• 60 • If God is God • short story by Terry Carr
• 60 •  If God is God • interior artwork by George Barr
• 72 • Balance Point • short story by William Rotsler
• 72 •  Balance Point • interior artwork by Stevan Arnold
• 80 • Fire in the Sky • short story by A. C. Ellis [as by Albert C. Ellis]
• 84 • Earth Needs Space to Grow • essay by The Editors
• 88 • Hope Deferred • short story by Herman Wrede
• 89 • Power Play • short story by B. J. Merholz
• 91 • Child's Play • short story by A. R. Guynn
• 94 • 2002: A Spaced Lunacy • short fiction by William Rotsler
• 94 •  2002: A Spaced Lunacy • interior artwork by William Rotsler
• 98 • Source Material • short story by Mildred Downey Broxon
• 98 • Moment in History: Near Miss • essay by uncredited