New Worlds Science Fiction No. 67

About this issue

New Worlds, January 1958 This British science fiction monthly opens with Kenneth Bulmer's novelette "Never Trust A Robot," set on the high-gravity planet Narberth, where mining companies operate remote-controlled equipment to extract rare metals from hostile oceans. The story follows Bill Costain, a skilled skater-flier, as he attempts to control a malfunctioning aircraft during an impending crash. The narrative explores tensions between human operators and the company's resistance to automated systems, with hints of unethical labor practices tied to production quotas. The issue also contains short stories: "The Long Ellipse" by Donald Malcolm, "The Pit My Parish" by Brian W. Aldiss, and Peter Phillips's "Next Stop The Moon"—written within 24 hours of Sputnik One's launch. The serial "Threshold Of Eternity" by John Brunner continues as part two of three. Additional content includes Alan Barclay's article on interplanetary navigation and editor John Cornell's discussion of evolving science fiction aesthetics and the controversial removal of interior illustrations.