“26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss” is a 2008 science fiction short story by Kij Johnson. It is about a woman who tries to figure out how the monkeys in her magic show really disappear.

continue reading "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss by Kij Johnson"

“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"

“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 Crystal Spheres” is a 1984 science fiction short story by David Brin. It is about a man who travels to a distant star system after learning that the inhabitants there have broken out of their crystal shell.

continue reading "The Crystal Spheres by David Brin"

“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"

“Jeffty is Five” is a 1977 science fiction short story by Harlan Ellison. It is about a five year old boy who never ages and the strange pocket of time in which he lives.

continue reading "Jeffty is Five by Harlan Ellison"

“The Chief Designer” is a 2001 science fiction novella by Andy Duncan. It is a fictionalized account of the man in charge of the Soviet Union’s space program during the “race to the moon.”

continue reading "The Chief Designer by Andy Duncan"

“Understand” is a 1991 science fiction novelette by Ted Chiang. It is about a man whose use of an experimental drug makes him super intelligent.

continue reading "Understand by Ted Chiang"

“The Concrete Jungle” is a 2004 science fiction novella by Charles Stross. It is about an agent who works for a secret British intelligence organization handling supernatural cases, and his discovery that someone has hacked into their deadly network.

continue reading "The Concrete Jungle by Charles Stross"

“Slow Life” is a 2002 science fiction novelette by Michael Swanwick. It is about an astronaut on Titan who believes she is in communication with a newfound life form.

continue reading "Slow Life by Michael Swanwick"

“It’s a Good Life” is a 1953 science fiction short story by Jerome Bixby. It is about a small boy who uses his special powers to terrorize the small town in which he lives.

continue reading "It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby"

“The Giving Plague” is a 1988 science fiction short story by David Brin. It is about a member of a famous research team that discovers a virus with a peculiar method of transmission.

continue reading "The Giving Plague by David Brin"

“Oceanic” is a 1998 science fiction novella by Greg Egan. It is about an ocean dwelling man living on the planet Covenant, and how the events of his life take him from religious zealot to non-believing academic.

continue reading "Oceanic by Greg Egan"

“Burn” is a 2005 science fiction novella by James Patrick Kelly. It is about a farmer-turned-firefighter who accidentally summons the ruler of a distant world to help fight forest fires.

continue reading "Burn by James Patrick Kelly"

“Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge” is a 1994 science fiction novella by Mike Resnick. It is set in the far future when a group of anthropological aliens are studying the long and brutal empire of mankind.

continue reading "Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge by Mike Resnick"

“The Faery Handbag” is a 2004 science fiction novelette by Kelly Link. It is about a girl whose grandmother has a handbag with a whole village of fairies in it.

continue reading "The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link"

“The Green Leopard Plague” is a 2003 science fiction novella by Walter Jon Williams. It is about a genetically altered mermaid who is researching why the founder of her modern society went missing for three weeks.

continue reading "The Green Leopard Plague by Walter Jon Williams"

“Radiant Doors” is a 1998 science fiction short story by Michael Swanwick. It is about a woman who receives a mysterious gadget from the tyrannical leaders of the future.

continue reading "Radiant Doors by Michael Swanwick"

“Sergeant Chip” is a 2004 science fiction novella by Bradley Denton. It is about a military dog who has a special ability to communicate with his handler.

continue reading "Sergeant Chip by Bradley Denton"

“Distant Replay” is a 2007 science fiction short story by Mike Resnick. It is about an elderly man who meets a woman that looks and acts exactly like his deceased wife.

continue reading "Distant Replay by Mike Resnick"