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"Tiny and The Monster" is a 10,000 word short story by Theodore Sturgeon, about a dog that is possessed by an alien. This story was first published in the May, 1947 issue of Astounding Science Fiction.

Spoiler Warning: Plot details and/or information about the ending follow. If you wish to enjoy the work first, stop reading here and return at another time.

Plot

Tiny is the name of a Great Dane dog, who lives in the Virgin Islands with his owner, Alec. Tiny begins acting strangely, and after Tiny overhears the name of a famous metallurgist, a woman named Alistair, Alec gets the overwhelming urge to send Tiny off to live with her. The new owner, curious about Tiny’s behaviour, corresponds with Alec, and eventually Alec comes to America to visit. Alistair suspects that Tiny can read, and that he can communicate with her telepathically. Alec reports that about the time that Tiny began acting weirdly, a friend reported seeing a monster, and that Tiny was with him that day. They learn that in fact Tiny the dog is possessed by this 'monster', and that this monster has a spacecraft which needs a part rebuilt (that’s why it needed the metallurgist). They agree to help, and take the part out to the river designated by Tiny, and drop the part in the water. The alien ship then takes off for its home.

Reprints

This story has been reprinted in, among other places, Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 9 (1947).