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

7430+ Science fiction Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Whether you’re looking for daring space battles or chilling “what if” glimpses of the future, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our collection of free science fiction short stories.

Science fiction Short Stories – Page 204 of 496

The Bold and the Bashful (or Time Fortunate)

Submitted to Contest #163

Time travel isn’t supposed to be possible. Hell, it’s not even probable. In fact it’s damn near the most improbable thing you’re expecting to hear about, especially given my situation. I’ve been in some tight jams before. But this? This one really takes the cake. Hell, this one takes the cake, the whole cake and nothing but the cake. If I was a gambler then I would comfortably tell you to put your money on my happy ass having extreme difficulties figuring out how to get out of this one. There I was: shirt untucked, pants down…did I mention I...

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Syriah Falls

Submitted to Contest #163

It’s Syriah’s turn to fall, but she hasn’t gone yet. I made it just in time.The cold wind rips at me when I exit the labour elevator at the top floor, and I feel my balls shrivel into my body. It’s not just the chill. The top floor of the Meridian-Yamagawa Arcology is unfinished, a work in progress. It’s all beams and scaffolding, and precious few walls. A sobering thought at 1,257 metres in the air.But it’s a hell of a view.The smog clouds of the city are below us, glowing neon green and pink from all the pleb lights that poison the air. An...

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What's Eating You?

Submitted to Contest #162

What’s Eating You? “Can I take your order?” “Definitely, not too hungry today. Just the ribeye steak, medium with baked potato, lobster tail, chicken a la king and…the veal parmesan, just the sandwich, I don’t need the full meal.” The server looked at me, her eyebrows raised so high, they disappeared into the 50’s beehive she was still sporting. “What, no appetizers?” I was almost positive she was being sarcastic. “No, not today, gotta watch my figure, you know,” I responded patting the paunch which people insisted gave me a “dad bod.” I was...

7 likes 2 comments 2
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The Last Technical Truth

Submitted to Contest #162

[Content Warning- Death] “You know, I make the meanest grilled cheese in the world.” Flicking a few more switches, Marcie checked out the cabin window. “Well, in the universe, I suppose.” A light dimmed on the panel in front of her. Thinking, she thought. “You have told me this before,” a flat voice said. “I know. I’m just not sure you believe me.” Another dim. Memory recall? “I do not have any way to make an objective judgment on your statement.” Ah, no. Snarky. “You don’t have to make a judgment. You could just trust me, you...

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01001001

Submitted to Contest #162

There’s no real use for stories or creativity anymore. I suppose my urge to write this down is my last human instinct for self preservation. I want to believe no one wanted this end for our world. I’ve been scrunched up in this small room for hours trying to find the words to describe what has happened last month.   My husband and I decided to go out tonight for our twentieth wedding anniversary. We have been fans of this absolutely delicious restaurant, ‘The Nightingale’, since our first date together. Henry and I have witnessed ...

15 likes 9 comments 9
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Mommy, No!

Submitted to Contest #163

“Please don't, ma!”“You’ve got to hear it from me,” his mother insisted.“I don’t want to!”“It’s the way you’re built.”"What do you mean? Stop telling me!”“How you’re wired.”“Wired? Wires, why?”“Your programming…”“No more talking, I’m confused.”“You’re not a real boy, honey.”Her words stung like angry hornets. With each stab of truth what had been only suspected now was coldly and callously confirmed as reality by a person whom he‘d thought was his mother. But apparently, she wasn’t. As upsetting as that was it wasn’t as bewildering as this k...

75 likes 50 comments 50
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My House Wants to Meet

Submitted to Contest #162

Douglas, or Doug, was on the most awkward date of his life and it was not even his own. The person sitting opposite him on the dining table was not his date, but a proxy like him. It was a date for their houses. The humans received instructions through a Bluetooth earphone, passed what their houses wished to communicate and described the meal before them. The date was rather mechanical, but other than that the meal and ambiance was actually quite lovely. Doug was a smart home enthusiast; he lived alone so he had no restrictions to consider...

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01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100101 01101110 01110101

Submitted to Contest #162

Hyper-seasonal special Fungi-To-Be-With Straight from head chef Marlene Bartley’s vegetable garden/acres of woodland (a land guaranteed protected from the radiation after effects, being as it is covered a magnificent dome of state-of-the-art disease-resistant toughened glass), we are delighted to present a creamy vitamin-enriched garlic mushroom risotto peppered with crispy crickets, who reach your plate after spending their best days in our patented Bug Hotels, with prior counselling as to the benefit they will be serving greater life for...

15 likes 7 comments 7
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FAULTY FORMULA

Submitted to Contest #162

Fred, Dan, and Mat have been working on creating a formula for almost 12 months. They must somehow come up with the final factor to make it function properly. The 3 scientists have been colleagues for several years at Jamco Corporation. For the last 13 months or so, they have been working on a formula that Mat devised. When created to perfection, this formula will create a liquid that, when added to gas tanks, will prevent gasoline from freezing for 3 months. The “eureka” moment has arrived. After several trials, they...

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Fun News

Submitted to Contest #162

Dad’s made his world-famous lasagna tonight, and that means something’s up. He gives me a long stare after setting an extra-big piece on my plate. “You alright, Clay? You look a little green under the gills.” “I’m fine, Pop,” I reply, though I can’t meet his eyes.  He smiles, ruffles my hair, and takes his place at the head of the table. “C’mon, everyone, there’s plenty to go around!” The giant slab of noodles, sauce, and cheese is calling my name, but my stomach is too swishy to do anything about it. The last time Dad made lasagna ...

13 likes 4 comments 4
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Feast

Submitted to Contest #162

The stranger eats like an animal. He tears into the day's bread before I've set it properly on the table, fingers prying apart the hard crust to make way for the porous, soft insides. He eats like he's dying. We're a simple family, it's simple food. A thick porridge of grain with shaved, dried meat and pinches of cheese, topped with fresh herbs plucked from the garden.The porridge stains his mustache, flakes get stuck in the stubble on his cheeks. "Travel takes it out of you." He says. "You gotta fast for days, dependin' on the when." He dri...

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Last meal.

Submitted to Contest #162

Trigger warning: Swearing. Descriptions of violence, death, mention of suicide and the end of the world.I hadn’t even finished my breakfast at the diner when my whole life, the whole world, changed. Sometimes I wonder if I did actually die that day and the past twelve months have been my own personal hell. Especially on days like this. When the screaming goes silent and there’s just that clicking. That incessant, aggravating clicking. I’m not gonna miss that.Man, I would give everything, every last thing I have, to relive one single moment o...

22 likes 11 comments 11
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Three Minutes Until the Conclusion

Submitted to Contest #161

Advisory: the following short story contains descriptions of violence, scariness, and thematic issues.The success of his lecture was pictured in their eyes. The people fixated upon him and their ears' reception of each sound wave of his words. The speech of famed scientist-environmentalist Terrance Secreto held his audience's attention. In his heart, the drums rolled after a quick glance at his pocket watch; 6:56 p.m., almost three minutes until his conclusion.For over 50 minutes, Secreto updated his listeners about the advanced alarms of cl...

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GAME OVER!

Submitted to Contest #161

The inquiry was done in secret, and the assembly was quickly handpicked upon his arrest. At the long table, three interrogators were centered, flanked by official witnesses. The rest was security. Darius assured himself there were multiple weapons trained on him at every corner; he saw them in the infrared scan.            The central figure, a military VIP well past middle age, finally spoke with a degree of haughtiness. “I’m interested with how you evaded the record...

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Below Zero

Submitted to Contest #161

The shovel made a sickening thud, as it came into contact with flesh. Daniel gagged at the odor of death and reeled backwards. You'd think he would be used to the smell by now. He covered his mouth and nose with his thick, homespun winter scarf, but nothing could keep out that stench. Damn, but it permeated everything! Maybe you never got used to it, he thought, but then maybe you weren’t supposed to? His father would say that was just his moral compass kicking in, good and strong, as it ought to be. Lately though, he wasn’t sure i...

8 likes 2 comments 2
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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