NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Chloe recently broke up with her BFF, and now to be considered part of the cool gang at school, she has to do whatever they tell her to do. Chloe takes a dare to break a window at the Cat Lady’s house. The Cat Lady is rumored to steal children and turn them into cat food for the dozens of creepy cats in her yard. But when Chloe hurls a gigantic rock, and hurts a cat instead of a window, the consequences are very severe.

MY THOUGHTS

My kids are always asking me about the science fiction short stories I am reading. So when I was browsing at the school’s book fair, I was delighted to find a “Science Fiction For Kids” section! (Two birds, one stone, my friends… or in this case… two cats, one stone, haha!)

I read The Cat Lady aloud to my kids and we were all pretty happy with this (not too) scary science fiction tale. It had a good buildup, some fun creepy details that grossed my kids out, and a great moral to the story that satisfied the mother in me. While it wasn’t a hardcore science fiction story, it was a fun family read.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: approximately 10,000
• Page Count: 51
• Published: 2006

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• The Cat Lady is one of the 3 Terrifying Tales collected in “The Midnight Library”, a book I purchased at the school book fair.
• You can purchase The Midnight Library at Amazon.com.

Find out what happens when people start being polite and start getting real — in space.

Non-Spoiler Summary

The story is told through the exchange of two postcards, sharing the different perspectives of a husband and wife involved in an intergalactic TV wife swap among species. In typical fashion for these television reality shows, the husband and wife each have very different experiences during their swap, which ultimately reveal more about their individual personalities and beliefs.

My Thoughts

This is a fun bit of flash fiction told in a unique format. With the strict word limitations on the form, experimentations with narrative can add another layer to flash fiction, and this author chooses a great narrative device to add meaning. In a short amount of space, this author gives us a rich story that involves religious beliefs, prejudices, sexual politics, questions about marital relations, and commentary on our culture’s obsession with fame.

Interesting Tidbits

• Word Count: 284
• Published Online: 2008
• This story is an example of flash science fiction.

Where to Find This Story

• You can read Reality TV Intergalactic Wife Swap for free at the blog of online author Rob Hopcott.

 Bio:

Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for campus visits at nursing schools. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about online DSN programs. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Lukasz has had a hard life. When he was a child in Poland a horrible new plague swept across the world killing nearly everyone. Now he ekes out a living with a handful of other survivors. It is in this situation that his city receives some unlikely visitors – first a *real* family with a young woman who can still bear children, and then a group of African elephants who take a keen interest in Lukasz life. Oh, and the two sets of visitors aren’t entirely unrelated – as Lukasz is about to discover for himself!

Some Juicy Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 9,141 (13 pages)
• "The Elephants of Poznan" was nominated for the 2001 Nebula Award for Best Novelette.
• Did you know that Orson Scott Card also works as a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University? Yep. You can learn more about this excellent science fiction author at his web site.

Where To Find The Elephants of Poznan

• This story first appeared in the January 2000 edition of Galaxy Online.
• You can read a free online version of "The Elephants of Poznan" at Lightspeed Magazine.
• This story is also included in Orson Scott Card’s anthology Keeper of Dreams.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "The Elephants of Poznan" then you may also enjoy Orson Scott Card’s story “Ender’s Game” – which lead to his excellent and famous novel with the same title!

Non-Spoiler Summary

Desdemona ‘Desi’ Pringle is a smart girl who lives a really good life. But she is noticing something strange lately: not only do parts of her body spontaneously disappear, but some of the knowledge she has learned is being brushed off as “outdated.” She decides that it is time to start investigating some of those other weird things that have been around for a while – starting with the chair in the attic. Uh-oh, this only leads to more investigations as Desi begins to unravel the mysteries of her world and is shocked to discover the amazing truth!

Some Juicy Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 6,387 (12 pages)
• Did you know that Paul Carlson helped free a Russian Unificationist missionary imprisoned in Kazakhstan? Yep. Learn more about this fascinating SF author on his web site.
• Special thanks to Variety SF for pointing me towards this great story!

Where To Find Mirror Girl

• This short story first appeared in the Fourth Quarter 2009 edition of Abyss & Apex – where you can still read it for free.
• Although it wasn’t included in the collection, "Mirror Girl" did receive an honorable mention in Gardner Dozois’ The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Seventh Annual Collection.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Mirror Girl" then you might also enjoy “Artifice and Intelligence” by Tim Pratt – about an unorthodox artificial intelligence designer, a video game programmer and a recently converted pagan woman who are called into action to help an Indian sentient computer network do battle against the world’s malicious software. (Whew!)

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Stephen has had a rough go of things lately. He’s low on cash, can’t drum up any new business, his wife left him, and his apartment is empty.  He’s beginning to feel conspired against.  And he’s starting to get looks from people… you know… looks of pity.

One day a beautiful woman approaches Stephen and gives him her card, “Cameron Cassavetes: Troublesolver”, offering to help him get out of his rut.  But when he arrives at home, his apartment has been ransacked.  Is it possible that the charming troublesolver is trying to drum up some business of her own?

MY THOUGHTS

I loved the tone of this story.  It almost felt like an old school, private investigator narrative.  Written in first person, you get the steady and usually sarcastic stream of Stephens’ thoughts that will keep you laughing.  Where is the science fiction you ask?  Don’t worry, it’s there, and it’s great!

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 9,698
• Page Count: 22
• About the Author: Tim Pratt has a unique writing style that I very much enjoy.  He won a Hugo Award, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.  Learn more about this talented and successful author at his website.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read Troublesolving for free at Subterranean Press.

CRAVING MORE STORIES?

If you enjoyed Troublesolving, I’m sure you will enjoy Little Gods, also written by Tim Pratt.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Therese Klass seems like a completely different girl to her parents. Um… that’s because she is. The well-behaved 17 year old mysteriously over-dosed on the drug Zen a couple of years ago and that did quite a number on her personality. Now after years of therapy, Therese and her parents are trying to start a new life together – and it isn’t easy. As Therese learns more about her former self, she begins to understand what could have possibly pushed the “other Therese” over the edge – and that isn’t very pleasant either. Will her parents be able to understand and accept that? A good question indeed!

Some Juicy Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 8,515 (15 pages)
• "Second Person, Present Tense" placed 1st in the 2006 Asimov’s Reader Poll for Best Novelette.
• Did you know that Daryl Gregory has been a high school English teacher and a technical writer? Yep. You can learn more about this amazing author on his web site.

Where To Find Second Person, Present Tense

• This story first appeared in the September 2005 edition of Asimov’s Science Fiction.
• You can read "Second Person, Present Tense" for free online at Asimov’s web site.
• It is also included in Gardner Dozois’s collection The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Third Annual Collection.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Second Person, Present Tense" then you may also enjoy “Going Deep” by James Patrick Kelly – about a cloned teenage girl who lives on the moon and is about to be offered a life changing opportunity.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Nico hates the aliens, and agrees that they must die. That is why he is signing up for the war effort. They’re ugly too – with their lizard heads and green scaly hides. But as Nico is forced to make several physical changes in order to become a better fighter he begins to realize that maybe the enemy isn’t so different after all! Oh well, he has a job to do… right?

Some Juicy Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 1,847 (4 pages)
• Special thanks to Free SF Reader for recommending this awesome story!

Where To Find Scales

• This story originally appeared as a podcast on The Guardian – where you can still listen to it for free.
• You can read "Scales" for free at the LightSpeed web site.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Scales" then you may also enjoy Alastair Reynolds other story “Diamond Dogs” – about a group of highly specialized people who travel to a deadly alien tower on a remote planet.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Mia joined the MedCorps a long time ago, and for a variety of reasons. Now, near the end of her life, the Corps is investigating a beautiful planet where a deadly plague destroyed all the humans over 350 years ago. Well, not *all* the people. The team discovers that there are some survivors, but they have a peculiar way of life. As Mia tries to help one native girl, she learns that well people aren’t always the happiest people.

Some Juicy Tidbits About This Story

• Word count: 6,848 (26 pages)
• "Ej-Es" was nominated for the 2004 Locus Poll Award for Best Short Story.
• Special thanks to Free SF Reader for pointing out this great story.

Where To Find Ej-Es

• This story originally appeared in the anthology Stars: Original Stories Based on the Songs of Janis Ian.
• You can read (or listen to) "Ej-Es" for free online at Lightspeed Magazine.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Ej-Es" then you may also enjoy “The Ugly Little Boy” by Isaac Asimov – about a small Neanderthal boy who is brought into the future for scientific experimentation.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Whitwell Smith grows pot.  He lives alone in the middle of nowhere.  He has plenty of good customers, and he has plenty of rules.  No showing up without an appointment is rule number one.  So when someone knocks on his door without prior notice, he freaks out.  Interesting thing though, Mr. Smith isn’t so worried about the whole illegal drug thing.  He is more worried about the whole alien being discovered in his living room thing!

MY THOUGHTS

Reading Cucumber Gravy felt more like I was listening to a good friend tell me about a crazy experience…  “Here is what happened, here is how I felt about it, here is what I was thinking at the time it all happened, here is what it reminded me of…” I thought it was a great writing style.  Mr. Smith is a great character with plenty of quirks and flaws that make him endearing even though he is a drug dealer.  And the unexpected knock at the door introduced us to another great character: a preacher that is full of his own surprises.  And the cucumbers… space cucumbers… fascinating little aliens!

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 8,541
• Page Count: 16
• Published: 2001
• Susan Palwick is an Associate Professor of English and a licensed lay preacher.  Read more about this author at her blog.
• Be sure to read the Author Spotlight Susan Palwick did for Lightspeed Magazine about this story.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• Cucumber Gravy originally appeared in SCI FICTION.
• You can read Cucumber Gravy for free at Lightspeed Magazine.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

“The last science fiction writer sits in an all night diner beneath the sizzling haze of a neon sign…” and simultaneously reminisces the glory of the past and despises the dreariness of the present. It’s pretty obvious that he is depressed, and as he chats with his agent, we learn that writing has completely gone out of style, because in the future no-one can read.

MY THOUGHTS

I find myself trying to decide if this story is a comedy or a tragedy! As a very short story, I’m happy that it left me pondering so deeply. Is it possible that in the future the need to read will vanish because our lives could become so convenient? The author very aptly points out that science fiction authors usually write about things that are considered impossible, yet many of those things have come to pass. Maybe we should be careful with our imaginings, because as the famous saying goes: “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 2,366
• Page Count: 6
• Published: 2009
• About the Author: Jaimie Todd Rubin is a software application developer, an FAA licensed pilot, and a New York Yankees fan. Read more about this talented author at his website.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read Hindsight, In Neon for free at Apex Magazine.