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Helix the Cat

Theodore Sturgeon

First published November 1973
Type Short Fiction
Length Novelette

An experimenter's cat is "enhanced" to serve as a suitable vessel to house a recently deceased soul, but it becomes apparent that both the soul and the cat are obnoxious narcissists with their own devious plans.

Written in July 1939, but rejected by John W. Campbell for inclusion in either Astounding or Unknown, according to Paul Williams' story notes in The Ultimate Egoist.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
November 1973 Cover Astounding: John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology Random House Anthology 269
February 1974 Cover Astounding: John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology Random House / SFBC Anthology 269
October 1974 Cover The John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology Sidgwick & Jackson Anthology 268
December 1974 Cover Astounding: John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology Ballantine Books Anthology 288
May 1975 Cover The John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology Sphere Anthology 268
February 1995 Cover The Ultimate Egoist North Atlantic Books Collection 178
February 1995 Cover Mystery Cats III: More Feline Felonies Signet / New American Library Anthology 180
November 1998 Cover The Ultimate Egoist North Atlantic Books Collection 178
November 2010 The Ultimate Egoist North Atlantic Books Collection
September 2013 Cover The Ultimate Egoist Gateway / Orion Collection
August 2017 Cover 猫は宇宙で丸くなる 猫SF傑作選 竹書房 Anthology