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The Obliterated Man

H. G. Wells

First published August 1911
Type Short Fiction
Length Short Story


The story begins: "I was—you shall hear immediately why I am not now—Egbert Craddock Cummins. The name remains. I am still (Heaven help me!) Dramatic Critic to the Fiery Cross. What I shall be in a little while I do not know." --The Country of the Blind and Other Stories (1911)

Wells selected the contents of the 1911 collection, as an inclusive version of "all the short stories by me that I care for any one to read again". He wrote its introduction, which does not mention the new title for this story alone. Probably he preferred it at the time.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
August 1911 Cover The Country of the Blind and Other Stories Thomas Nelson & Sons Collection 193
August 1913 The Country of the Blind and Other Stories Thomas Nelson & Sons Collection 193
1924 Cover Tales of Life and Adventure W. Collins Sons Collection 152
December 1925 The Obliterated Man and Other Stories Haldeman-Julius Collection
1954 Tales of Life and Adventure Collins Collection
1965 Cover Tales of Life and Adventure Collins Collection 140
October 1996 Cover The Country of the Blind and Other Stories Oxford University Press Collection |14
April 2004 The Country of the Blind and Other Stories Project Gutenberg Collection |14
January 2006 Cover The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories The Echo Library Collection |14
March 2010 Cover The Country of the Blind and Other Stories Waking Lion Press Collection 123
January 2013 Cover The Country of the Blind and Other Stories CreateSpace Collection 97
July 2013 Cover The Country of the Blind and Other Stories CreateSpace Collection 185
April 2017 Cover The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories Enhanced Media Publishing Collection |14
March 2024 Cover Tales of Life and Adventure Faded Page Collection |16