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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.

7360+ 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 483 of 491

Octopus

Submitted to Contest #30

Amadis the octopus seller had never tasted an octopus. A long time ago he lived on the banks of the Campisi—but that was a long time ago, and he doesn’t live there anymore. Nowadays I hear he lives in a deflated balloon in Mongolia somewhere, but I don’t tell stories in the present, I tell them in the past. Amadis the former octopus seller who probably lives in Mongolia is a lot less interesting than Amadis the octopus seller who lives on the banks of the Campisi. So a long time ago he lived in a fish stall by the Campisi. He didn’t sell fis...

59 likes 6 comments 6
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Prelude to the Prequel

Submitted to Contest #26

Baal Abraxah was an Arkhonh; an Ethereal Being born into the glorious zone of Typhareth. He wasn’t always the supreme monarch on Karataz (his home planet) but he did distinguish himself as a sagacious sorcerer from an early age. The nickname Brax followed him well into adulthood, although it originated during those early days.In any event, Brax rapidly ascended the ranks of the Arkhonz without missing a step. For instance, there was once a competition across the Megalocosmos to determine if the innumerable planets inhabited by the Arkhonh Al...

6 likes 1 comment 1
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Found

Submitted to Contest #26

For those lucky enough to meet me, I always ask them the same question: will it be worth it?   They usually answer yes, thoughts of their wildest dreams being fulfilled blind their rational mind. But since they gave me their consent, I grant them. It’s what I was made to do. Sometimes it turns out good, other times… not so good. I don’t stick around any more to see which outcome they receive. Based on past experience it doesn’t matter what happens, they always come back to me. They want me to fix their mistake or exploit my ta...

13 likes 4 comments 4
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An Uncertain Future

Shortlisted for Contest #25 ⭐️

The ground isn’t burned beneath your feet. It makes sense that it wouldn’t be—the bombs never came here—but the grass under your toes is deceptive. You sigh, and put your shoes back on. You’ll never admit it, but your mom is right. There’s too much broken glass left over from the riots.Nobody thought it would come here—there hadn’t been a war on American soil since… well, the Civil War, you suppose. Nobody was expecting it, at least. And in true American fashion, the backlash caused uproar throughout the city. More people had been killed by ...

24 likes 4 comments 4
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Be You, Be New

Submitted to Contest #25

Kirsty couldn’t believe it. She had found the book that would change her life: Be You, Be New. The front cover had a large ornate mirror with a golden background. The book’s title was written in the center of the mirror in a large, solid white font.    Kirsty picked it up and turned it around to read the synopsis on the back cover.     Ready to turn your life around? This book will teach you all the tools you need to live the life you’ve always wanted. The best part? You don’t have to be anything but y...

14 likes 3 comments 3
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Space Oreos

Submitted to Contest #24

They'd finally run out of oreos. It took months, but finally, finally, they'd run out--the last one accidentally ejected into space. Sirius stood stewing in front of the glass window of his ship. It wasn't his fault the oreo had been in that little cup he'd tossed in the trash. Oren was the one who had hidden it there, figured he'd never find it. He hadn't. Obviously. Which was why it was floating in space right now instead of in his stomach. Sirius scowled at the speckles of light drifting out of the immense black. "Go see the sta...

22 likes 8 comments 8
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The War of the Feather Duster

Submitted to Contest #24

“I never thought it was possible for a person to be so damn arrogant!” Zed screamed as he slammed the front door of his house. “Your ass better stay on your own damn asteroid or I’ll kick it all the way to one of Jupiter’s moons!” Through the blinds of his window, Zed glared at the abyss of space outside his personal asteroid upon which his house sits. His eyes zoned in on the house of his one and only neighbor, Mandy. Across the asteroid belt, he saw Mandy’s front door fly open and her step out in a space suit with a brick in hand. She thre...

20 likes 4 comments 4
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Colleagues

Submitted to Contest #24

My God she is being such a bitch.“So” Ryka said, "The man died and on the third day walked out of the tomb. Another zombie story is what this sounds li  “It isn’t a zombie story! He was living. Zombies don’t live.”    “They walk-“  “They’re dead!” Why couldn’t she understand? “They rot. It’s an evil spirit that animates them. He was alive, as you and me are.”   “And he said this is my body and my blood, eat and drink it. You have to admit that is very strange.”  “It’s symbolic,...

6 likes 0 comments 0
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I'll call you S.T.A.R.

Submitted to Contest #24

The abyss had a way of looking at me that made me feel safe. It was quiet, peaceful. Quite lovely to be frank. The immense blanket of darkness that surrounds me has comforted me as long as I can recall. From time to time there would be music, murmurs that travelled from far away to be translated into unrecognizable syllables. Sometimes the darkness would bring me friends, some would stay and some would go. A few times us gaseous clouds dissolved into one another and created a new being. I let myself indulge in relaxation as I melt into the u...

4 likes 0 comments 0
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A Place in the Sun

Submitted to Contest #24

The metallic surface of the Cleveland Company logo glimmered faintly as the space station became slowly bathed in the dim glow of moonlight. Eileen sat in the control room chair looking straight ahead, not distracted by the sight of Umbriel passing the window; she’d seen it a thousand times. Her eyes were fixated by the 50-inch rectangle of light above her head. “He never takes me anywhere” she sighed. Prodding the remote control repeatedly at three second intervals, she continued browsing images of the inner Solar System - far off places, c...

9 likes 5 comments 5
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I Need Some Space!

Submitted to Contest #24

“Mom! Have you seen my Astrology book?” Isandi shouted into the space below her bed as she searched frantically for her missing course book. “Mooooommmm! Mom, you’ve got to help me find it! I’m going to be late!” Their quarters weren’t that large, so she knew her mother could hear her. Her face contorted in annoyance as she started to shout again for her mom to come help. Before she could even get the first sound out her mouth, her mother appeared in the doorway of her room holding her astrology book. At the sight of her missing bo...

3 likes 0 comments 0
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Beyond the Event Horizon With Snyder and Tompkins

Submitted to Contest #24

Snyder awoke to Tompkins sitting on his face for the third time this week. A year ago he would have been livid, but by now the resignation had set in. He pushed Tompkins off with a firm thrust of his hand.-"Dammit Tompkins! Of all places..."He trailed off as he attempted to resume his sleep. Tompkins made no reply. Snyder attempted to roll over and resume his rest, but he was awake now. Eyes bloodshot he rolled out of his cot, headed toward the coffee machine while Tompkins followed.They both sat on a bench in front of the large window...

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Through a Great Distance

Submitted to Contest #24

Through a Great Distance       “Andrew, God, I can actually hear your sulking,” Becky said across the hull to the large man sitting with his head hanging and his back facing her. “It’s like I have the endangered, sniveling vagina bug crawling in my ear, right now.”            “I am not sulking!” Andrew informed her angrily as he lifted his head and stared ferociously at the corner. “As a matter of fact, I was just now having a soliloquyial discussion on the selfish disreg...

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Life on Mars

Submitted to Contest #24

Andrea was tying her hair up in a bun when Oliver came into the room.  They two of them had been stationed here together for almost three months now, but they still hadn’t quite gotten used to each other. Andrea Stanford, better known as Andy, was a short, plump woman who took her work extremely seriously.  She was in the army for a couple of years, earning herself a few promotions, before being recruited by NASA to train for this assignment.  They had been tasked with an important mission, to find and document evidence of lif...

3 likes 1 comment 1
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Life Beyond

Submitted to Contest #24

It was 2:08 ante meridiem Universal Time, and the Electro Boyz were already blasting at maximum volume. Annika, aroused by the pulsating synthesizer, groaned and fumbled for the temperature dial on her sleeping pod. Aside from the electronic beat vibrating through her skull, the cold was also a shock to her senses. Space was cold. Very cold. Her fingers, nearly frozen, continued to twist the dial, but to no avail. Finally cracking her eyes open, she saw not the simulated wallpaper of her sleeping pod’s screen, but the fluorescent ceiling lig...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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