New Worlds #97

# New Worlds Science Fiction, No. 97 (August 1960)

This British science fiction monthly contains five short stories and Part Two of a three-part serial. "The Watchtower" by Bill Spencer depicts operators Jon and Ilsa manning an automated radiation-monitoring station in a jungle while their ailing colleague Trancer is evacuated with no replacement. They observe recordings while the narrative cuts to alien life forms on Kurag, a planet orbiting a binary star system, where millions of sentient luminous beings gather mentally beneath their world's surface. "Still Time" by David Porter, "The Funnel" by Harold Parsons, "Alien for Hire" by Larry Maddock, and "No Return" by George Whitley are also featured. Kenneth Bulmer's serial "The Fatal Fire" continues; Bulmer's accompanying profile notes the story follows two narrative trends unsuitable for shorter format and provided him particular satisfaction in composition. The issue includes an article on space by Kenneth Johns and reviews by Leslie Flood, plus editor John Carnell's discussion of Heinlein's Starship Troopers.