Petrogypsies is a science fiction novel by Rory Harper. It incorporates a short story that was published in 1985 in Far Frontiers, vol 2. The novel's plot focuses on a group of oil field workers in an alternate Texas who use giant, semi-sentient, worm-like creatures—possibly of extraterrestrial origin—to drill their wells, and on Sprocket, the team's drilling beast.
DarkStar Books and Rory Harper plan to continue the series in two new books, Sprocket Goes International and Sprocket Goes interstellar.
Originally released in mass market paperback by Baen Books in 1989, Petrogypsies was re-released in December 2009 by DarkStar Books in a revised, semi-illustrated trade paperback version with new cover art by Hugo Award winning artist Brad Foster and illustrations by Jason Carranza.[1]
"Petrogypsies is a worthy addition to that body of literature that Texas can proudly claim as her own." A Newsvine review of Petrogypsies by Falkeep[2]