Cover for Second Variety
Short Story

Second Variety

1953

About this story

On a ruined Earth, autonomous weapons have begun developing new forms beyond their creators' control. Soldiers trying to negotiate across enemy lines discover that telling a human from a machine may be impossible.

Chronology

Work history

  1. no later than Oct 3, 1952

    Composition: no later than Oct 3, 1952

    Latest supported composition boundary based on agency receipt evidence.

    Medium confidence
  2. Oct 3, 1952

    Received by Scott Meredith Literary Agency

    Oct 3, 1952

  3. May 1953

    First published May 1953

    Space Science Fiction