New Worlds Science Fiction #109, Volume 37

# New Worlds Science Fiction, August 1961

This issue features five pieces of fiction anchored by John Rackham's novelette "Goodbye, Dr. Gabriel," exploring a synthetic man's perspective as his sensory capabilities are constructed from zero. The narrative opens with Dr. Gabriel discovering his creation Johnny Dawson—an artificial being powered by a transmitter—has deactivated himself, leaving only a diary. Gabriel must read Johnny's account to determine why before colleague Sir Andrew pressures him to reactivate the equipment.

The diary entries begin August 15, 1982, with Johnny, formerly John Ellis Dawson, age twenty-six, documenting his consciousness as a synthetic reconstruction. Also included are Robert Silverberg's "Company Store," Mike Davies's "The Ship of Heaven," the concluding installment of John Brunner's serial "Put Down This Earth," and Kenneth Johns's article "Bigger Birds." Leslie Flood provides book reviews, and editor John Carnell discusses trends in British science fiction publishing, noting Victor Gollancz's new monthly publication series and the shifting relationship between magazine and book publishing.