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Title: The Machine That Won the War

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Title: The Machine That Won the War Title Record # 62429
Author: Isaac Asimov
Date: 1961-10-00
Type: SHORTFICTION
Length: short story
Series: Multivac
Webpages: mendham.wmrhsd.org, olivenri.com, Wikipedia-EN
Language: English
Synopsis: After humanity wins a war with an alien species, due to the Multivac computer being put in charge of military decisions, the three men involved in operating the machine and implementing the decisions realize that none of them trusted it at all.
User Rating: 7.67 (6 votes) Your vote: Not cast VOTE
Current Tags: near future (1), computers (1), war with aliens (1), humor (1), satire (1), science fiction (1), interstellar war (1), artificial intelligence (1) Add Tags

Other Titles

Translations
Year Language Title
1962ⓘTranslated by Elisabeth Gille
 French La machine qui gagna la guerre
1962 Swedish Maskinen som vann kriget
1963ⓘTranslated by Charlotte Winheller
 German Die Maschine, die den Krieg gewann
1967ⓘTranslated by Francesco Villa
 Italian La macchina che vinse la guerra
1971ⓘTranslated by Hilia Brinis
 Italian La macchina che vinse la guerra
1972ⓘTranslated by Franco Lucentini
 Italian La macchina che vinse la guerra
1973ⓘTranslated by Dr. Eva Sander
 German Die Maschine, die den Krieg gewann
1976ⓘTranslated by J. A. Harloff
 Dutch De machine die de oorlog won
1980ⓘTranslated by Simone Hilling.
 French La machine qui gagna la guerre
1985ⓘTranslated by Gálvölgyi Judit
 Hungarian A gép amely megnyerte a háborút
1988ⓘTranslated by Rosa S. de Naveira
 Spanish La máquina que ganó la guerra
1988ⓘTranslated by Irene Paetzold
 German Die Maschine, die den Krieg gewann
1992ⓘTranslated by Carlos Gardini.
 Spanish La máquina que ganó la guerra

Awards

Place Year and Award Category
Honorable Mentions 1962 Hugo Best Short Fiction

Publications

Not displaying translations • Display all variants and translations • Do not display variants or translations

Title Date Author/Editor Publisher/Pub. Series ISBN/Catalog ID Price Pages Format Type Cover Artist Verif
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1961 1961-10-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Mercury Press, Inc.  
$0.40?$: US dollar
 132
digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125".
 mag Chesley Bonestell Checkmark
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Eleventh Series 1962-00-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Doubleday  
C$4.95?C$: Canadian dollar
 258
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Roger Zimmerman  
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction [UK], February 1962 1962-02-00 ed. uncredited Atlas Publishing and Distribution Co. Ltd  
2/6?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling. Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g. 3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters of a shilling).
 132
digest?Digest-size magazine, including both standard digest size, at about 7" by 4.5", and also large digest, such as recent issues of Asimov's, which are about 8.25" by 5.125".
 mag  
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Eleventh Series 1962-03-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Doubleday  
$3.95?$: US dollar
 258
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth R. M. Zimmerman Checkmark
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Eleventh Series 1962-10-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Doubleday / SFBC  
$1.69?$: US dollar
 258
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Roger Zimmerman  
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Eleventh Series 1964-00-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Gollancz (Gollancz SF Series (2))  
18/-?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling. Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g. 3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters of a shilling).
 255
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth  
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Eleventh Series 1966-00-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Ace Books M-137
$0.45?$: US dollar
 254
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Bob Schinella Checkmark
The Best from Fantasy & Science Fiction: Number 11 1966-05-00 ed. Robert P. Mills Panther 2052
3/6?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling. Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g. 3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters of a shilling).
 189
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 1969-00-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday (Doubleday Science Fiction)  
$5.95?$: US dollar
 343
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Amelia S. Edwards  
Nightfall and Other Stories 1969-12-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday / SFBC (Doubleday Science Fiction) 2099
$1.69?$: US dollar
 343
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Amelia S. Edwards Checkmark
Best SF Seven: Science Fiction Stories 1970-00-00 ed. Edmund Crispin Faber and Faber 0-571-08808-2
£1.40?£: UK pound
 212
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 1970-06-25 Isaac Asimov Rapp & Whiting 0-85391-157-6
35/-?Prior to decimilisation (1968-1971), UK books were priced in shillings, or shillings and pence, where 20 shillings equals one pound and 12 old pence equals one shilling. Shillings were indicated with a variety of suffixes, e.g. 3s, 3', 3", 3/ all mean 3 shillings. Any number after that is additional pence, usually 6 (half a shilling) but sometimes 3 or 9 (a quarter of a shilling or three-quarters of a shilling).
 344
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll  
Nightfall and Other Stories 1970-11-00 Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest M1486
$0.95?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1971-10-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03537-0
£0.30?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1972-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03657-1
£0.30?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1973-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03657-1
£0.30?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Best SF Seven 1975-02-00 ed. Edmund Crispin Faber and Faber 0-571-10694-3
£0.95?£: UK pound
 212
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 anth Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1976-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03657-1
£0.50?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 1977-07-00 Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest 0-449-23188-7
$1.75?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1978-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther / Granada 0-586-03657-1   192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1981-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther / Granada 0-586-03657-1
£1.25?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
The Golden Age of Science Fiction 1981-10-00 ed. Kingsley Amis Hutchinson 0-09-145770-X
£6.95?£: UK pound
 370
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Checkmark
The Golden Age of Science Fiction 1983-00-00 ed. Kingsley Amis Penguin Books 0-14-006382-X
£2.95?£: UK pound
 365
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 anth Mick Brownfield Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 1984-12-00 Isaac Asimov Del Rey / Ballantine 0-345-31091-8
$3.50?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Rick Sternbach Checkmark
Nightfall Two 1985-00-00 Isaac Asimov Panther / Granada 0-586-03657-1
£1.95?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Robot Dreams 1986-11-00 Isaac Asimov Berkley Books (Masterworks of Science Fiction and Fantasy (Byron Preiss)) 0-425-09346-8
$50.00?$: US dollar
 349
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie  
Robot Dreams 1986-11-00 Isaac Asimov Berkley Books (Masterworks of Science Fiction and Fantasy (Byron Preiss)) 0-425-09345-X
$7.95?$: US dollar
 349
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie Checkmark
Robot Dreams 1987-04-00 Isaac Asimov Gollancz 0-575-04021-1
£10.95?£: UK pound
 349
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie  
Battlefields Beyond Tomorrow: Science Fiction War Stories 1987-12-00 ed. Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh Bonanza Books / Crown Publishers 0-517-64105-4
$8.98?$: US dollar
 xiii+
650
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Romas Checkmark
Robot Dreams 1988-05-00 Isaac Asimov VGSF / Gollancz 0-575-04254-0
£3.95?£: UK pound
 349
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll  
Robot Dreams 1989-00-00 Isaac Asimov VGSF 0-575-04565-5
£3.50?£: UK pound
 474
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov 1989-05-00 Isaac Asimov Dark Harvest 0-913165-44-1
$21.95?$: US dollar
 678
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Ron Lindahn , Val Lakey Lindahn  
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov 1989-05-00 Isaac Asimov Dark Harvest 0-913165-43-3
$49.00?$: US dollar
 678
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Ron Lindahn , Val Lakey Lindahn  
Robot Dreams 1990-06-00 Isaac Asimov Ace Books 0-441-73154-6
$4.95?$: US dollar
 xvi+
384
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie Checkmark
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 1990-11-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday Foundation 0-385-41606-7
$22.95?$: US dollar
 viii+
614
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Barclay Shaw  
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 1990-11-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday Foundation 0-385-41627-X
$12.95?$: US dollar
 viii+
615
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Barclay Shaw Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov! 1991-00-00 Isaac Asimov Legend 0-7126-4690-6
£14.99?£: UK pound
 836
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Tony Roberts (artist) Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov!: Volume Four 1991-02-00 Isaac Asimov Ace Books 0-441-03109-9
$3.95?$: US dollar
 182
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Bob Eggleton Checkmark
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 1991-03-00 Isaac Asimov Doubleday Foundation / SFBC 17907
$10.98?$: US dollar
 viii+
614
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Barclay Shaw Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 1991-07-00 Isaac Asimov Grafton / HarperCollinsPublishers 0-586-21255-8
£4.99?£: UK pound
 445
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Chris Foss Checkmark
The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov: Volume One 1991-10-10 Isaac Asimov Legend 0-7126-4770-8
£8.99?£: UK pound
 485
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Tony Roberts (artist)  
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 1993-03-00 Isaac Asimov HarperCollins (UK) 0-00-224139-0
£15.99?£: UK pound
 614
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 coll Chris Moore  
The SF Collection 1994-08-00 ed. Edel Brosnan Chancellor Press 1-85152-317-0
£4.99?£: UK pound
 501
hc?Hardcover. Used for all hardbacks of any size.
 anth Luis Royo Checkmark
The Complete Stories: Volume Two 1995-01-00 Isaac Asimov HarperCollins (UK) 0-00-648016-0
£5.99?£: UK pound
 464
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Chris Moore  
The Complete Stories: Volume Two 1997-00-00 Isaac Asimov Voyager 0-00-648016-0
£6.99?£: UK pound
 464
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Chris Moore Checkmark
Robot Dreams 2004-06-00 Isaac Asimov Ace Books 0-441-01183-7
$14.00?$: US dollar
 xvi+
335
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie  
Robot Dreams 2014-09-29 Isaac Asimov Recorded Books 978-1-4906-3310-7    
digital audio download?Digital recording in any format that is downloaded directly from the Internet. This category includes podcasts.
 coll Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories 2021-07-13 Isaac Asimov Del Rey 978-0-593-35746-0
$17.00?$: US dollar
 416
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Paul Lycett Checkmark
The Complete Stories: Volume Two 2023-11-09 Isaac Asimov Harper Voyager (UK) 978-0-00-851629-1
£4.99?£: UK pound
  
ebook?Used for all electronic formats, including but not limited to EPUB, eReader, HTML, iBook, Mobipocket, and PDF.
 coll  
Nightfall and Other Stories date unknown Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest M1486
$0.95?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll  
Nightfall and Other Stories date unknown Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest P1969
$1.25?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories date unknown Isaac Asimov Fawcett Crest 0-449-23672-2
$1.95?$: US dollar
 350
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Checkmark
Nightfall and Other Stories date unknown Isaac Asimov Grafton / HarperCollinsPublishers 0-586-21255-8
£4.99?£: UK pound
 445
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Chris Foss Checkmark
Nightfall Two date unknown Isaac Asimov Panther 0-586-03537-0
£0.50?£: UK pound
 192
pb?Paperback. Typically 7" by 4.25" (18 cm by 11 cm) or smaller, though trimming errors can cause them to sometimes be slightly (less than 1/4 extra inch) taller or wider/deeper.
 coll Ken Sequin Checkmark
Robot Dreams date unknown Isaac Asimov Ace Books 0-441-01183-7
$14.00?$: US dollar
 xvi+
335
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll Ralph McQuarrie  
Robot Dreams date unknown Isaac Asimov Recorded Books      
digital audio download?Digital recording in any format that is downloaded directly from the Internet. This category includes podcasts.
 coll Checkmark
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 date unknown Isaac Asimov Doubleday Foundation 0-385-41627-X
$17.95?$: US dollar
 viii+
614
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll  
The Complete Stories, Volume 1 date unknown Isaac Asimov Broadway Books 0-385-41627-X
$22.00?$: US dollar
 viii+
614
tp?Trade paperback. Any softcover book which is at least 7.25" (or 19 cm) tall, or at least 4.5" (11.5 cm) wide/deep.
 coll  
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