“Tower of Babylon” is a 1990 science fiction novelette by Ted Chiang. It is about the journey of a young miner who ascends the great tower of Babylon to help break through the vault of heaven.

continue reading "Tower of Babylon by Ted Chiang"

“The Fog Horn” is a 1951 science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It is about two men in a rural lighthouse who witness an ancient creature rise from the deep ocean.

continue reading "The Fog Horn by Ray Bradbury"

“What’s Expected of Us” is a 2005 science fiction short story by Ted Chiang. It is about a device that predicts when a person will push a button, and the devastating effect it has upon society.

continue reading "What’s Expected of Us by Ted Chiang"

“Paying It Forward” is a 2003 science fiction short story by Michael A. Burstein. It is about an aspiring writer who carries on an email tutelage with a recently deceased science fiction author.

continue reading "Paying It Forward by Michael A. Burstein"

“The Home Team” is a 2008 science fiction short story by Greg Wickenhofer. It is about a man whose nifty new appliances refuse to work properly.

continue reading "The Home Team by Greg Wickenhofer"

“Neutron Star” is a 1966 science fiction short story by Larry Niven. It is about a man sent to investigate the mysterious deaths of two space explorers who were studying the galaxy’s only known neutron star.

continue reading "Neutron Star by Larry Niven"

“The Dyslexicon” is a 2008 science fiction short story by Carl Frederick. It is about a dyslexic robot who is trying to join a geek organization.

continue reading "The Dyslexicon by Carl Frederick"

“Yokel with Portfolio” is a 1955 science fiction short story by Robert Silverberg. It is about a man from a backwater, forgotten world who comes to New York City to ask for technological help from the Colonial Minister of Earth.

continue reading "Yokel with Portfolio by Robert Silverberg"

“The Game of Rat and Dragon” is a 1955 science fiction short story by Cordwainer Smith. It is about the telepaths, and their partners, who use mind altering pin-sets to protect spaceships traveling in interstellar space.

continue reading "The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith"

“Relay” is a 1991 science fiction short story by Lewis Shiner. It is about a man who claims to have traveled to the future while on a relay station in orbit above the Earth.

continue reading "Relay by Lewis Shiner"

“O One” is a 2003 science fiction short story by Chris Roberson. It is about the chief computator, in an alternate history China, who is challenged by a new computing engine.

continue reading "O One by Chris Roberson"

“A Sound of Thunder” is a 1952 science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It is about a man who travels back in time to hunt a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

continue reading "A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury"

“Aristotle OS” is a 2007 science fiction short story by Tony Ballantyne. It is about a man who’s computer operating system constructs an alternate reality.

continue reading "Aristotle OS by Tony Ballantyne"

“Last Contact” is a 2007 science fiction short story by Stephen Baxter. It is about a field of dark energy that is devouring the entire universe.
continue reading "Last Contact by Stephen Baxter"

“Ender’s Game” is a 1977 science fiction novelette by Orson Scott Card. It is about an eleven year old boy who is drafted to command other kids in a very important military game.

continue reading "Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card"

“All Summer in a Day” is a 1954 science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It is about a class of children on Venus who are eagerly awaiting the one day every seven years when the rain will briefly stop and the sun will shine.

continue reading "All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury"

Heaven, As Built By Tackleby Ames

by Bart Meehan

• Word count: 540
• Page count: 2

“Heaven, As Built By Tackleby Ames” is a 2007 flash fiction story by Bart Meehan. It is about a rich old jerk who builds a computer in which he can spend eternity.

continue reading "Heaven, As Built By Tackleby Ames by Bart Meehan"

Bears Discover Fire

by Terry Bisson

• Page count: 7

Bears Discover Fire is a multiple award winning science fiction short story by Terry Bisson. It is about bears that have started making campfires on interstate medians.

continue reading "Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson"

Titanium Mike Saves the Day

by David D. Levine

• Word count: 5611
• Page count: 9

Titanium Mike Saves the Day is a science fiction short story by Hugo Award winning author David D. Levine. It is about a series of tall tales set in space that follow the adventures of the amazing Titanium Mike – a man bigger than life, whose exploits in the solar system range from incredible to absolutely unbelievable.

continue reading "Titanium Mike Saves the Day by David D. Levine"

The Feeling of Power

by Isaac Asimov

• Word count: 3283
• Page count: 10

The Feeling of Power is a cool little science fiction short story by one of the giants of the genre: Isaac Asimov. Written in classic Asimov fashion, the story explores the idea of a society so dependent on computers that they have forgotten basic math skills.
continue reading "The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov"