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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of adventure short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

8570+ Adventure Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. From riding the high sea to climbing behemoth mountains, there isn’t any action that’s out of reach when it comes to adventure stories.

Adventure Short Stories – Page 216 of 572

Should Have Listened to Static

Submitted to Contest #156

Baz Patha was slouched down in the co-pilot seat in the poorly lit command center of Clear Runner, a cargo transfer ship. As a Gordelian, he was already short and pudgy. Slouching just enhanced his appearance as a dark gray, noxious blob of flesh only restricted from further spread via containment within a flight suit. He was glumly reviewing the data screen that monitored the environmental status of the various containment chambers. Everything was fine. Everything except his mood. “Don’t know why you can’t just consider it,” he grumbled. Hi...

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Mission report

Submitted to Contest #155

Trigger warning: contains blood and violence “He’s bleeding out,” A man named Jason yelled over the sirens.  He put down his gun and ran past the other bodies and towards the bleeding man. Almost slipping on the marble floor slick with blood. The man’s lab coat was drenched in blood with it also soaking his red curly hair making it matted. His blue eyes were moving rapidly trying to figure out whether he was going to survive or not. Flex of it mixed in with his freckles. Jason knelt and started to put pressure on his thigh. You’re not ...

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Albert Capone

Submitted to Contest #155

Albert Capone, the son of the famous Al Capone, had always wondered how he was left penniless especially because his father had been a successful businessman. Everyone that knew his father also knew about him which ended up causing Albert to be looked at differently than all the other kids. He was always alone, but according to his father if you ever felt lonely the one place you would eventually find a friend is at the playground. Day after day he would go to the playground in look of a friend; as he lay on the roundabout spinning it using ...

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GUTTER CONFUSION

Submitted to Contest #155

Just another day, so Randy thought, putting his last-minute notes together. Today they have a job scheduled at the farthest end of the city that just happened to be on one of the tallest buildings in the area. We got this he told Buddy, Linc, Parker and Gavon. It ain’t our first rodeo, right? Just our usual bunch of swings and roundabouts. GUTTER CONFUSION was our successful and highly reviewed business where we continued to take the worry out of the replacement factor for this vital necessity to one’s home or business. Now, we, had to ...

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Sleep Walking Through Life

Submitted to Contest #155

“STOP!” “JUST STOP!” “Listen to me!”, my friend yells at her husband. He never does listen to her. It’s sad. So very sad. As my friend recounts the conversation she attempted to have with her husband for the one thousandth time, I couldn’t help recall the similarities from her story to that of a recent video I had watched on YouTube. It was of the late, great Dr. Wayne Dyer. In this presentation, which was held in sunny California, “The Doc” as I affectionately refer to him, said many profound insights. But one item in particle has reso...

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Lois and Lucinda Recall the (Alleged) Sinking of the Cruise Ship

Submitted to Contest #156

“The first thing I did was put on my life raft.” “No, Lucinda, you put your jewelry on first.” “Did I?  No! I put on the life raft first, Lois.” “No, you didn’t. You even said ‘I don’t want the bracelet Harry got me sinking to the bottom of the ocean like that diamond in Titanic.’” “Was it a diamond or a pearl that sank to the bottom of the ocean?” “You’re thinking of Prince.” “Prince who?” “Prince.” “Prince of what?” “Just Prince. The musician. With the doves.” “Ohhhhh with the doves. You never just say anything. Yo...

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The Wolf Prince

Submitted to Contest #155

Elyria and Koden have been best friends ever since Elyria was born. Over the years Elyria found out she had a special bond with Koden, and she kept a secret with him. At times when they were alone he'd change from a wolf into a man. He had fur that could change colors based on Elyria's moods. Everywhere Elyria went, he went with her. Koden always made sure that Elyria was happy; since she didn't have any other friends to play with. Sure, she talked with the other girls, but none really knew her. And she didn't really know them. One day, Elyr...

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The Seasons

Submitted to Contest #155

Winter Prince~Black feathers flutter aroundIn a fury of darkness and cold windThey form into the Winter PrinceHand clenched on his sword that's strapped to his sideThe Winter Prince goes to see the King~People stay out of his wayFor rumor goes around even to this daySaying that the Winter PrinceAnd his sour mood has come again~But nobody knows who he truly isFor the Winter Prince in his wake, is never moodyWhen his Season comes aroundHe's at his brightest and most at easeThe Winter Prince strides past the peopleLike a rolling wave from the s...

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Unbecoming

Submitted to Contest #155

“We are running out of time. My ribs are killing me. I can’t hold it back for much longer. We need to leave. Now.”          Ishua looked around the pub with hesitation, his hands balling up into fists trying to take his mind from the ever-growing issue at hand. Kelsey threw back the rest of her beer and stood, linking one of her arms with his.“C’mon, I'll help you. My father has an old cellar not far from here. It’s hidden in the woods and no longer in use so we will be safe there. No one wil...

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Praxip's Second Escape from the Shadow Overlords

Submitted to Contest #155

Praxip stood stone faced, staring forward and not moving while the Shadow Overlords and their aristocratic friends towered over him and reveled in the Shadow Overlords’ victory (and Praxip’s defeat.) Three nights ago, Praxip tried to escape from his dictatorial, power-hungry rulers, only to be thwarted by the fact that he was apparently a ‘Garden Gnome’ and the Overlords magically fused his legs together. Praxip didn’t agree with the stone statue overlooking the cross-roads that he was doomed to serve the Shadow Overlords by stayin...

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The Human Scale

Submitted to Contest #155

The beginning of the end, of what Stanley and others called phase I civilization, or pre-Ruin, began when immigrants left there home countries in hordes because the land began to be overrun by water at the coasts. This began slightly after the last glacier melted and ice began floating everywhere. Then someone got hold of a nuclear fission bomb and The Big Kabooma it finally happened, but no savior came and neither did the end of the world. That according to phase II civilixation history happened about three centuries ago. The X in civilixat...

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Port City

Submitted to Contest #155

It was the first time out of state and on a bus by themselves. Josiah continued to stare out the window while replaying his last conversation in his mind. Malachi stirred in the seat next to him, mumbling as he called out for their mother. Turning slightly, Josiah patted his little brother's back to comfort him back to sleep. This had taken a toll on both of them, Malachi was taking it the hardest. Their parents continued to leave messages advising everything was okay. But if everything was okay, why did they have to leave their home?  ...

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The Battle for Rosewood

Submitted to Contest #155

The good news for Hector Bestwick was he was in line to inherit Rosewood. The sad news was his father would have to die for him to get it. Rosewood was his grandparent’s cozy two-story colonial home, so called because of the prodigious rose bushes that grew on both sides of the house. His grandfather, Priam (known as Billy), had planted the rose bushes. A former shipyard welder, Billy was a little under five and a half feet tall, but he was James Cagney tough - quiet, and hard, with a talent for keeping his emotions in check.  Matti...

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The Journeys West

Submitted to Contest #155

Once in my travels, I came across a great walled city, a place of shelter and safety in an otherwise harsh desert. I entered through what I came to know as the West Gate and walked the stone-laid streets. I had spent weeks crossing the sands, surviving well enough on the supplies I carried with me, but both my horse and I welcomed the refuge. Away from the wind and under shade from the sun, I saw the people of the city presented in all manner of appearance and speech; no one characteristic seemed to unify them. Some wore little more than t...

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Take Your Hatred to the Grave

Submitted to Contest #155

“This man says he’s your father and he’s dying,” Billie says. She’s looking at me with her face creased in concern.            I shrug. “And what’s the bad news?” I take the phone. “Hello. I don’t know who you are, but this isn’t funny.”            “Xander. It’s me, dad.” I hear the voice and my heart starts beating a drum solo. My throat goes dry. “I know it’s been a long time, son. I have bowel cancer and just a few days ...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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