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Discover weekly, the best short stories

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 358 of 496

A monster encounter

Submitted to Contest #79

All stories usually start the same. Or at least they have similar elements. And this one should be no different. However, what happens in this story? That is what interests the reader.The main character is neutral, accurate and a rather optimistic person. Yet, like a lot of people, there's more to him because he has a tormented past. And the guy didn't have any passion. He's just been working many long hours. He was just a guy of your modern day. His life was certainly nothing extraordinary. It didn't even have to be explained, just men...

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Reboot required

Submitted to Contest #79

Images flashed before his eyes. They disappeared too fast to see, but he knew they were memories. Maybe he still carried memories of a previous life with him? They said it wasn’t possible, but the technology was still under development. The only thing he was certain of was that the flashing images were a bad sign.*“Did you sleep well last night?” She asked it every morning, but today she already knew the answer. He had been sleeping restless the whole night.“No.” He couldn’t hide the concern in his voice.“The images again?”He nodded.“I know ...

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The Event

Submitted to Contest #80

One day, all over the world, a strange phenomenon was reported by the press. Children were all drawing the same strange, unsettling image, over and over again - a smiling face, done all in black scribbles that suggested a gleaming smile and bright eyes in a face made of shadow. The pictures were unsettling, not just because of what they portrayed, but because all over the world, in every country and culture, children who were old enough to hold a crayon up to pre-teens were all drawing, stroke for stroke, exactly the same thing. Then, as nig...

12 likes 1 comment 1
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inv(A)s(I)ion

Submitted to Contest #80

Rick was standing in the open kitchen, making a sandwich while watching CNN on the living room big screen. The screen was split into three. The morning show host was on the left part. She was too young and overwhelmed to handle this kind of situation that was bestowed on her instead of delivering a piece about “morning exercises for busy moms.” On the right side of the screen was the CEO of Tyrell Robotics. He looked calmer and more confident than the young host, but his red eyes revealed his lack of sleep. The middle part of the screen disp...

15 likes 1 comment 1
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Rescue Mission (Origins, Part 4)

Submitted to Contest #79

(Part of a series; for better understanding, I recommend reading the other ones first) “Stop freaking out,” Ali says, peering out the front window. “Easy for you to say,” I mutter. “It’s not, actually. At least you can defend yourself with more than Brandon’s baseball bat.” Alex’s phone call echoes in my head. I’m in trouble, she’d told me. But I managed to communicate with a friend. He’ll be there soon. Okay? Her voice wobbled on the next sentence. Don’t worry about me.  That really just cemented my worry. Alex, our caretaker, our ...

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Mothercall

Submitted to Contest #79

The signal pulses under my skin in exit-sign red. I rub at the subdermal display, then scratch fiercely, as if I can dig it out. On the inside of my left arm, the word MOTHER flashes in disconnected digit letters.  I press the inside of my wrist, trying to get my InDisplay device to return to the navigation menu. Nothing happens. Rushing to the bathroom, I squeeze concealer onto my arm and try to cover the pulsing light. The makeup does nothing more than add an orangish tint to the red letters. I remember the day when Udy, my frie...

4 likes 2 comments 2
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Our Vampire Heroes

Submitted to Contest #80

The world was in chaos. Covid was rampant with several strains running throughout the world. Social distancing was mandatory in most countries. Mask mandates were placed in most states and the vaccines seemed to be running short. It didn't matter who you were if you believed the covid virus was real or not, anyone could fall ill with the virus. These were different times. In 2021, Some people protested at the White House for Trump to be reinstated, that the votes were faked, some were protesting the vaccine and some were tryin...

28 likes 13 comments 13
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The Multiverse and Hash browns

Submitted to Contest #79

Slouched in his leather sofa, sucking on an ice block, Jimbo Timbo had to break it to his family that he was needed on an inter dimensional, multiverse quest to save reality. They didn’t take it very well. Simon, Jimbo's dad, folded his thick arms while Becky, Jimbo's mum, scratched Jimbo's back with concern. It was all a drag, they always made a fuss about everything.Jimbo had one ear phone in and rocked his head softly to some Guns N’ Roses. His family sat awkwardly on a sofa opposite Jimbo that barely managed to fit the four of them....

6 likes 2 comments 2
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Ghost Eyes and Cyberspace

Submitted to Contest #79

Casaya dripped of instability as we watched 1s and 0s fall from his mind into a sea of cerulean radio waves. Maybe it was due to our lack of emotional intelligence, but neither Yinna or I cried for him. The next moment, Casaya was gone, only to be a part of the universe of expired binary numbers. Casaya's lasting energy left a silhouette of his shapeless figure. Certain sections made their way to the invisible escape above us in unorganized spasms. Yinna went straight for the board of prototype names and marked down the name of Prototype A-3...

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Secret Lives

Submitted to Contest #79

Secret Lives John Meiners, Jr. The next morning Pamela, Bob, and Stefan wake and sit at the table drinking coffee, having breakfast. Pamela and Bob tell Stefan about the dangers facing them all and the status of their investigation. He is shocked when told Neville Dugat is a Draakar. He thought they all had perished in the woods the day he and Bob swam away to escape the wolves. Of course Pamela never knew any Draakar were ever among their group of aliens that escaped from th...

9 likes 2 comments 2
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Singing Stars

Submitted to Contest #79

The sky is why I fly. To the different hues of the atmosphere. To the puffy clouds and the purest shades of all colors of the universe. I challenge any cosmic or mystical power to say otherwise.“Clair”?“Remember Dad, when I sat on your shoulders and you pointed out star constellations after the sun went down. I do.I remember your big smile when I asked “do the stars talk to us daddy”?You laughed into the still night and passing shadows and said “yes my sweet pea. They even sing if you know how to listen”.“Lieutenant Donavan”!Clair snapp...

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Who is your Daddy and what does he do? An Another Earth Short Story

Submitted to Contest #79

Chicago 2058 Mid-Level, Residential district Mid-level was crowded, buildings and towers stretching into the space between the mid and upper levels, criss-crossed with walkways, stairs, and of course the traffic lanes of hover-vehicles and other flying contraptions. Holo billboards hovered above rooftops or covered entire sides of buildings, encouraging the ever increasing consumerism that had seemed to engulf the world of the megacities.  It had been the study of the Great War and the Infection War in his history class that had got...

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Family Is Forever

Submitted to Contest #79

There’s something not quite human in me. When I should be grieving a loss, I find myself oddly serene. In the moments when others panic, I’m met with a calm that makes it easy to weigh my options and choose a course of action.I was warned, of course. The more implants I collected, the greater the impact on my humanity. After the corporate wars divvied up the planet between the victors it seemed I had little reason to care any longer. I knew my family was gone. By the time my little sister found me, and I found out she was still alive, it was...

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A Sound Like Wind Chimes

Submitted to Contest #78

Marianne was reading by the fire when the starman came in with the fishing rod. For a moment, she had to stifle a laugh. The image of him standing over her, decked in the cargo vest and bucket hat hung with fishing lures (where had he gotten it?) was simply too ridiculous, too unreal. He looked at her with that same mild look of confusion and she shook her head, smiled up at him. “Sorry, it’s hard to explain. Going somewhere?” The starman opened his mouth and there was a sound like wind chimes. That meant “yes.” Or maybe “weather.” She thou...

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Bygone

Submitted to Contest #78

1930. That was the year the first symposium took place. Wrist watches had already overtaken the market, but true gentlemen still knew elegance and sophistication could only be achieved through the ownership of a pocket watch. They came in many sizes and many shapes, some made of gold and some made of silver, yet all of them had one thing in common: they bestowed upon the buyer a spell of refinement, an enchantment rooted in the mystical qualities of more fashionable days. Gentlemen adorned with pocket watches were warriors, guardians who s...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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