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Killdozer!

Theodore Sturgeon

First published November 1944
Type Short Fiction
Length Novella

Synopsis

An American engineering crew attempting to build a landing strip in a remote locale for use during WWII accidentally release a long-trapped malevolent alien energy being which possesses their Caterpillar D7 bulldozer and sets out to eliminate them; the machine proves a formidable opponent.

Notes

According to Locus index there are two variants of this novella; the first version published in Astounding November 1944 and reprinted many times; the revised version was published in Aliens 4, Avon, 1959, and reprinted e.g. in Killdozer!: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Vol. 3 (1996) and Selected Stories (2000). Made into a TV movie of the same name,in 1974.

External Links

Wikipedia Wikipedia

Awards

YearAwardCategoryStatus
2019 Retro Hugo Award Best Novella Nominee/Finalist
2020 Retro Hugo Award Best Novella Winner

Publications (38)

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
November 1944 Astounding Science Fiction, November 1944 Street & Smith Publications, Inc. MAGAZINE 7
May 1945 Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1945 Atlas Publishing and Distribution Co. Ltd MAGAZINE 2
February 1946 The Best of Science Fiction Crown Publishers Anthology 155
December 1952 Famous Fantastic Mysteries Combined with Fantastic Novels Magazine, December 1952 Popular Publications, Inc. MAGAZINE 54
1963 The Best of Science Fiction Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers Anthology 59
September 1963 Spectrum III Gollancz Anthology 15
1964 Spectrum III Harcourt, Brace & World Anthology 15
September 1964 Spectrum III The Science Fiction Book Club (UK) Anthology 15
July 1965 Spectrum 3 Berkley Medallion Anthology 13
1966 Spectrum III Pan Books Anthology 13
1966 Spectrum III Pan Books Anthology 13
November 1969 Spectrum 3 Berkley Medallion Anthology 13
October 1970 Aliens 4 Avon Collection 7
October 1970 Aliens 4 Avon Collection 7
1971 Spectrum III Pan Books Anthology 13
May 1972 Wondermakers Fawcett Premier Anthology 194
1980 The Golden Age of Science Fiction Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers Anthology 155
December 1981 The Great Science Fiction Stories Volume 6, 1944 DAW Books Anthology 248
December 1981 The Great Science Fiction Stories Volume 6, 1944 DAW Books / New American Library of Canada Anthology 248
1984 Isaac Asimov Presents The Golden Years of Science Fiction: Third Series Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers Anthology 513
December 1984 Machines That Kill Ace Science Fiction Books Anthology 1
August 1987 A Touch of Sturgeon Simon & Schuster UK Collection 1
October 1987 Cinemonsters TSR Anthology 186
December 1987 To Marry Medusa Baen Books Omnibus
December 1987 To Marry Medusa Baen Books Omnibus 165
December 1987 13 Short Horror Novels Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers Anthology 383
1989 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1940s Robinson Anthology 205
1989 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1940s Carroll & Graf Anthology 205
1989 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1940s Carroll & Graf Anthology 205
1990 Astounding Stories: The 60th Anniversary Collection (Vol. 2) The Easton Press Anthology 195
1991 Great Tales of the Golden Age of Science Fiction Galahad Books Anthology 167
1991 Science Fiction: Classic Stories from the Golden Age of Science Fiction Galahad Books Anthology 167
1991 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction Jaico Publishing House Anthology 205
May 1992 Machines That Kill Tor Anthology 1
August 2000 Science Fiction: Classic Stories from the Golden Age of Science Fiction Galahad Books Anthology 167
2007 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction Robinson Anthology 215
2007 The Mammoth Book of Golden Age Science Fiction Carroll & Graf Anthology 215
March 2010 Science Fiction: Classic Stories from the Golden Age of Science Fiction Galahad Books Anthology 167