rescue it. When the bomb that Clark leaves for the kidnappers blows up, Podkayne is killed, shielding the young fairy with her body. Clark takes over the narrative for the last chapter. The story ends with a hint of hope for him, as he admits his responsibility for what happened to Podkayne—that he "fubbed it, mighty dry"—then shows some human feeling by regretting his inability to cry and describes his plan to raise the fairy himself. In the revised version, Podkayne is badly injured by the bomb, but not fatally. Uncle Tom, in a phone conversation with Podkayne's father, blames the parents—especially the mother—for neglecting the upbringing of the children. Uncle Tom feels that Clark is dangerous and maladjusted, and attributes this to the mother giving priority to her career. Clark still takes over as the narrator, and, again, regrets that Podkayne was hurt and plans to take care of the fairy, this time because Podkayne will want to see it when she is better. This is the ending that appeared when the book was published in 1963. The 1993 Baen edition included both endings (which differ only on the last page) and featured a "pick the ending" contest, in which readers were asked to submit essays on which ending they preferred. The 1995 edition included both endings, Jim Baen's own postlude to the story, and twenty-seven of the essays. The ending in which Podkayne dies was declared the winner. Among the reasons readers favored this ending were that they felt Heinlein should have been free to create his own story, and they believed the changed ending turned a tragedy into a mere adventure, and not a very well constructed one at that. This ending has appeared in all subsequent editions. Editions February 1963, G. P. Putnam's Sons, hardcover 1964, Avon, paperback, Avon S335 1966, Avon, paperback, Avon G1211 March 1969, New English Library, paperback January 1970, Berkley Medallion Edition, paperback, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, 176 pages, May 1973, New English Library, paperback, 160 pages, January 1, 1976, Hodder & Stoughton General Division, paperback, December 1976, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, December 1976, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, 176 pages, June 1979, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, March 1982, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, September 1983, Berkley Publishing Group, paperback, June 15, 1987, Ace, paperback reissue edition, August 1, 1993, Baen, paperback reprint, 224 pages, July 1, 1995, Baen, paperback, 288 pages, April 1,