"The Monster" (1948) - A. E. van Vogt’s best short story

This golden-age story, first published in the August 1948 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, was considered by its author to be one of his – an opinion we heartily concur with.

It was later republished in some anthologies as Resurrection, but it appeared in van Vogt’s first anthology of his own short stories (Destination: Universe!, in 1952) with its original title, and it was referred to by that name by him in later interviews, so The Monster clearly is the proper "canonical" title of this quite perfect story, one of the great stories of the century – all categories considered – we do believe.

With the original Astounding artwork by Cartier.

(6,600 words)

An e-book is available for downloading below.

The Monster (e-book)