Kallocain
by Karin Boye
Kallocain is a dystopian novel by the Swedish writer Karin Boye, first published by Albert Bonniers in Stockholm in 1940. Told by Leo Kall, a chemist who invents a truth drug, it portrays a totalitarian world state. Gustaf Lannestock's English translation appeared in 1966.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First published
- Albert Bonniers, Stockholm, 1940
Kallocain by Karin Boye was first published in 1940. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Univ of Wisconsin Pr1966 Hardback I own Kallocain, Univ of Wisconsin Pr 1966 Log in to want this
- Wisconsin U.P1966 Hardback I own Kallocain, Wisconsin U.P 1966 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Awards and honours
Adaptations
- Kallocain television series
In print
- Editions recorded
- 18 on Open Library, 6 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 18 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
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Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of Kallocain are there?
We track 2 editions of Kallocain. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has Kallocain been adapted?
Yes, including Kallocain (television series), according to Wikidata.
When was Kallocain first published?
Kallocain by Karin Boye was first published in 1940.
Where these facts come from
- Kallocain, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Boye, Karin, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (sf-encyclopedia.com)
- Kallocain (Albert Bonniers, 1940), Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 23 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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